Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 131

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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It’s a café operated by the heir to the Dark Guild.
Chapter 131
“I wonder how beautiful you’ll look once your hair is done and your makeup is finished.”
I knew flattery was part of the job, but I couldn’t help finding the excessive praise a bit burdensome.
I pulled my gaze from the mirror and nodded toward Biedler.
“Let’s go with this one.”
“Good. Ang, take care of Rosia tomorrow even if I’m not here.”
“I’ll serve her with the utmost care!”
Since I’d stopped by early just to decide on tomorrow’s dress, I changed back into comfortable clothes and slipped out of the shop.
Seniel’s house, where I always stayed whenever I came to the Capital, wasn’t far, so I walked with Biedler.
After about twenty minutes of walking, a familiar-looking building came into view.
“Go inside and rest.”
I searched for the key I’d brought along, inserted it into the lock, and glanced back at Biedler.
“Are you heading to the Imperial Palace?”
“I have to. The festivities start at dawn.”
At the thought of entering the Imperial Palace, his expression had hardened. He looked far colder than he ever did on the mountain.
“I’ll watch from the Plaza.”
“Knowing you’re watching will make it at least a little less tedious.”
Biedler’s lips curved up slightly in a smile. At that moment, there was a soft click as the lock disengaged.
I grasped the doorknob and was about to bid him a final farewell when he spoke quietly.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. That I was able to meet Seniel was because you sacrificed yourself and let me out of Raven. You’ve been there for everything I do. I’m genuinely grateful.”
It had all been circumstance, and I hadn’t really done anything for Biedler’s sake, so it felt awkward to receive his thanks.
Still, I knew I was important to him now, so I didn’t deny it.
“We’re simply walking in the same direction for now. We’ll part ways soon enough.”
“I wish we wouldn’t. I’m becoming greedy with you.”
Unsure what he meant, I furrowed my brow and studied his expression.
His eyes, fixed on me, were deep crimson as always.
“Because I’m competent?”
Biedler’s expression went blank for a moment before he burst out laughing, shaking his head.
“That too. We’ll talk about it later. Rest now.”
“All right.”
The moment I stepped inside, I lit a fire in the fireplace, then leaned my back against the wall and sat down to think.
“It’s been a while. So someone’s being greedy with me.”
Growing up, I’d received many scouting offers from other guilds. But after I’d turned them all down firmly, none had come since.
Knowing my abilities were recognized didn’t feel bad at all, and I shrugged.
***
The next morning.
After sleeping soundly through the night, I stirred and rolled my neck.
“Quite the commotion.”
I pulled back the curtains and looked outside. Long streams of people were heading toward the Plaza.
I remembered the sound of trumpets and cheers of the crowds drifting up since dawn when the New Year’s Festival began.
“The blessing speech is at noon, isn’t it?”
Even if I was indifferent to the other events, I was determined to see the blessing speech, so I checked the wall clock.
I still had time, so after washing and preparing, I opened the door.
I naturally blended into the festive crowd and made my way to the central Plaza.
A massive holographic screen appeared in the center of the wide plaza.
The Imperial Palace’s mages had created the device so that the New Year’s Festival proceedings happening within the Palace could be seen from the Plaza as well.
“With both of them here together, my heart feels so assured.”
“Shush. I heard that the Crown Prince will deliver the second half of the blessing speech today—let’s listen carefully.”
Surrounded by the dense crowd, I watched the screen. The sound and faces came through clearly, as if I were there in person.
The Crown Prince stood immediately beside the Emperor, commanding attention with his presence.
The Emperor began reading the blessing speech. Partway through, he handed the manuscript to the Crown Prince beside him.
As if this had already been arranged, the Crown Prince confidently began reading the latter half.
It was such a symbolic gesture that the people watching from the Plaza cheered.
“By the way… have you heard? About the Crown Prince?”
“What? The rumor that he likes married women?”
“You’ve heard it too. There are quite a few of them, apparently. He only chases after beautiful, young married women… surely not, though?”
“What could he possibly want with that? Watch your tongue. You could end up arrested for slander.”
I caught snatches of nasty rumors about the Crown Prince as well.
But they quickly died down, and on balance the reaction seemed positive, which meant Biedler appeared far worse off.
It seemed he needed to work not just on the Imperial Palace’s opinion, but on changing public sentiment throughout the empire as well.
Unfortunately, Biedler barely appeared on the screen. Even when he came into view, people’s reactions were negative.
“He’s famous as a war-monger prince, isn’t he? Ugh, terrifying.”
“Doesn’t he have a mother who committed treason?”
“The Empress was kind-hearted and spared her life. Tsk, tsk.”
Then I spotted several merchants selling postcards of Seniel and Biedler in the corner of the Plaza.
Regardless of the earlier reactions, they seemed popular with young women.
“Strictly decided by looks, then.”
I couldn’t find a single postcard depicting the Crown Prince, no matter how hard I looked.
I clicked my tongue and stared at the screen, which was filled with the distasteful Crown Prince.
I stood while the blessing speech continued, and returned to my lodgings the moment it ended.
A few hours later, there was a knock on the door, so I grabbed my coat.
“I’m going out.”
When I opened it, someone Biedler had sent was waiting with a carriage.
I rode that carriage to the shop.
Under Ang’s direction, the maids moved in perfect coordination and transformed my appearance.
My hair was half-pinned up and set in waves, and my makeup was applied heavier than before.
My reflection grew increasingly unfamiliar, but I told myself this was work and waited for it to end.
“Have a wonderful evening!”
Once I put on the shoes that matched the dress, my eye level rose considerably. My ankles already felt sore.
I rode the carriage again, this time into the Imperial Palace. After passing through several doors, I arrived at the entrance to the hall where the party would be held.
Carriages that had arrived earlier surrounded the area. Just looking at the family crests was impressive.
I got out of the carriage and was about to climb the steps when a hand suddenly appeared beside me.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“You could have gone in first.”
“Didn’t want odd people clinging to you. Like my brother, for instance.”
Knowing it was a joke, I smiled faintly, though tension crept into my body. The Crown Prince would be at the party.
After climbing the steps and stating my name, I waited briefly before entering the party hall.
Strangely, the line had gotten longer—apparently the Crown Prince was standing just inside the entrance, greeting people in person.
When he spotted us, his eyes widened.
“What’s going on? How did you get here? And who is this beside you…?”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s bewilderment written plainly on his face, I crossed my arms in front of Biedler.
“I mentioned there was someone else, didn’t I? This is that person.”
“This person? You’re telling me the reason you rejected me is because of this bastard? Am I supposed to believe that?”
The Crown Prince’s gaze at Biedler was pure contempt.
Biedler took that gaze in stride and loosened my crossed arms, taking my hand firmly in his instead.
Our fingers interlaced deeply, and startled, I looked at him, then quickly composed myself and played the role of his lover.
“Please stop regarding my person with interest. I heard about it and found it deeply distasteful.”
The Crown Prince glared savagely at the intertwined hands Biedler and I were holding.
“When we first met, you spilled wine on me. You do remember that, don’t you?”
“What? That time… now that I look at you, you knew everything all along… were you making a fool of me?!”
“How could I ever presume to mock Your Highness? That would be beneath me.”
I maintained a gracious expression and let a smile bloom at the corners of my lips.
The Crown Prince seemed to remember what he’d done to me at the previous party, and he bit his lip hard while glaring at Biedler.
“Did you know from the start whose granddaughter this woman is and approach her for that reason? Cunning bastard.”
“It seems you’re frightened of the Grand Mage.”
Unlike the Crown Prince, who was acting voracious, Biedler’s demeanor was relaxed.
The Crown Prince, raised like a hothouse flower, and Biedler, who’d only ever wallowed in mud, were simply vessels of different sizes.
“Neither the Grand Mage nor you have any eye for talent. I’ll make sure you understand what happens when you stand in the wrong line.”
“Yes. My grandfather will be curious as well. I’ll be sure to tell him.”
At my composed reply, the Crown Prince’s face flushed even redder.
“Go inside now.”
As Biedler escorted me past the Crown Prince, he suddenly lowered his voice and asked urgently.
“Wait! Did the Grand Mage perhaps do something to me at the shop last time?”
“Do something? What do you mean?”
“No, never mind.”
I blinked with a look of complete ignorance, and he turned away abruptly with a flushed face, huffing in irritation.
Biedler and I exchanged a glance and laughed silently.
I scanned the crowd while pretending to admire the ornately decorated hall.
The Emperor and Empress hadn’t appeared yet, and there were far more people than I’d seen last time.
In the center of the party hall, the scions of the Five Great Houses and Hestanya were visible.
Fortunately, she looked in better spirits than when I’d seen her in Helitria.
‘Where is Kayan?’
I looked around for Kayan, who was one of the reasons I’d come to this party.
He stood alone in a secluded corner, gazing at the decorations rather than with the Five Great Houses crowd.
“Your Highness! I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.”
“You came too?”
“Yes. The beautiful lady beside you… if I’m not mistaken? Your eyes are very similar.”
It seemed there was a member of the Black Eagle Knights among the party guests, as he came over to Biedler and made acquaintances.
Whether rumors about me had spread or not, it was clear everyone knew about Seniel. Their sparkling eyes felt burdensome.
“You’re so beautiful!”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“If not, what about me… ack!”
As the knights’ eyes lit up at me, Biedler scowled and pulled them all away.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“All right.”
While pretending to wait for Biedler, I picked up a glass of wine from a nearby table.
And I leisurely closed the distance to Kayan, who still seemed indifferent to whatever was happening around him.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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