Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 64

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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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A café run by the Dark Guild’s Heir.
Chapter 64
Instead of the Party Hall, Bidler led me to a beautiful garden drenched in moonlight.
“Mother loved this place.”
Though small, it was decorated charming with fountains and flower beds arranged with care.
“I take pride in calling it the most beautiful spot in the Imperial Palace. Especially at night.” He paused. “It’s beautiful at night.”
Bidler’s eyes, fixed on the garden, brimmed with affection.
I could tell at once that this place held deep memories for him.
“You grew up here?”
“Yes. After Mother died, I was cast out. It took ten years for me to return.”
His tone was matter-of-fact, but a sorrow long embedded in him came through clearly.
“Shall we sit for a moment?”
“Yes.”
We settled onto a bench among the flowers. Designed to rock, it swayed gently with each shift of our weight.
Distant music drifted from the Party Hall, muffled and faint.
But here, the quiet was so complete that being there seemed impossibly far away from where we’d just been.
“How was today for you?”
“Enlightening.”
I was glad I’d come.
I’d learned that Bidler possessed a strength of will that let him ignore the Empress and the Crown Prince’s disdain without flinching.
I’d also taken note of the people who’d approached him quietly, offering their subtle support.
And I’d seen firsthand that the Crown Prince, whom I’d dismissed as merely reckless, was sharper than I’d given him credit for.
“You’ve already witnessed it—I have no allies within the Imperial Palace. Those who support me dare not show it. I am without power.”
Bidler spoke slowly, his voice grave.
“I lost Mother young and was driven from the Palace. After that, I lived consumed by rage—determined to survive and take revenge. That thought alone sustained me through all those years.”
I dragged my feet slowly, listening in silence.
“I endured the battlefields. I survived. And when I returned, I meant to hold every last one of them accountable for driving Mother to her death.”
This was the first I’d heard that he was sharpening his blade for vengeance, not rebellion.
“Then why do you hesitate?”
“Because I’ve witnessed war closer than anyone else. To avenge Mother, I’d have to bring my brother down.”
Bidler fell silent for a moment, then exhaled heavily.
“Every move I make would be branded treason, and the peace the Empire fought so hard to win would be shattered without mercy. War destroys all who touch it. It must be a last resort.”
It struck me as unexpected—that he could hate war enough to suppress even his thirst for vengeance.
“But my deliberation is over. There’s no time for hesitation now.”
He was right.
The Empress Clione was already moving to marry Bidler off to some princess and send him far away.
“I will bring down the current Empress. I will expose what she’s hidden and make her die in agony—as my mother did. And if it becomes necessary in that process, I will become Emperor.”
It was fine that he’d made his resolve with such certainty, but I couldn’t fathom why he was telling me all this.
After his long account, Bidler turned his head and fixed his gaze on me.
In his blood-red eyes, a round moon reflected. I was so caught in that reflection that I missed the weight of what he said next.
“Rosia, become my fiancée.”
‘What is he saying?’
Unable to take in the words, I turned them over in my mind—then recoiled in shock.
“Why?!”
“I need grounds to refuse the marriage proposal the Empress has presented.”
“If you only need a fiancée, shouldn’t you seek out a lady from a powerful house who could truly strengthen your position?”
Someone like Hestanya, for instance.
Any woman with the blood of the Five Great Houses would be better suited than I.
“I cannot trust them. What I need more than a powerful ally is someone I can trust.”
“And you can trust me?”
That was the strangest part.
We’d seen each other fairly often, but hadn’t Bidler suspected me from the very beginning?
“You’re Seniel’s older sister. I trust that you won’t choose a path that puts him in danger.”
He’d brought up Seniel—my only weakness—and laid me bare.
“It will be a dangerous position, but I swear I’ll protect you. Will you not stand with me?”
Looking into Bidler’s eyes as he laid out his offer with genuine sincerity, I felt a sharp ache bloom in my chest.
Heat rose to my face, and I squinted against it.
“Wouldn’t it make more sense, now that you’ve made your resolve, to accept the marriage proposal from the Roa Kingdom instead? You’ll need every alliance you can gather.”
“Contradictory as it sounds, I love this Empire my mother cherished so fiercely. I won’t borrow power from another nation.”
Fair enough.
If you only think of winning, perhaps—but with an alliance to a foreign kingdom in a civil conflict, it becomes a seed of division.
Even if the rebellion succeeded, the Roa Kingdom might change their tune and try to consume the Empire in the aftermath.
“I will tell the Empress that you are my intended.”
“…I need time to think.”
It was a proposal I should refuse outright, but Seniel—now under Bidler’s command—caught in my throat.
“Understood. I can’t wait long. I’ll come for your answer in two weeks.”
I nodded my assent.
“But tell me—is this such a grave proposal? For me to become your fiancée?”
“It’s absurd. I never imagined it.”
Bidler stared at me with eyes gone cold, then turned away.
After a moment of silence, I rose first from the bench.
“Shall we go? You should return to the Party Hall.”
“What about you?”
“I’m heading home.”
“Now? The Capital City is hosting a festival for several days. Stay the night at least, enjoy it at your leisure. And see Seniel.”
“I see Seniel all the time. And I’ve no interest in the festival.”
“You’re truly leaving on a night like this? Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Yes. I’d rather rest at home.”
“What in the world is so appealing about living in the mountains….”
Bidler muttered to himself in frustration, then shifted his weight awkwardly.
“If you’re set on it, fine. Take an Imperial carriage. I’ll assign an escort knight.”
“The escort isn’t necessary.”
“Tsk. As if you know the danger of a night road. If anything happens, it falls on me. Do this for my sake—accept the escort.”
“All right.”
“Thank you for today. Travel safely.”
With that final farewell, Bidler returned to the Party Hall, and I departed in an Imperial carriage toward the mountains.
***
As a cat, Meason was dying trying to shake off Leonard, the Third Prince.
Slipping into the Imperial Palace alongside Rosia had been easy enough, but everything fell apart the moment I encountered Leonard.
“I was worried about my granddaughter standing alone among all those nobles, so I came to watch over her. And this brat ruined everything. Ugh!”
The moment I entered the Party Hall, I caught Leonard’s eye—he loved cats—and had to flee.
No matter how I tried to hide, he chased after me relentlessly, grabbing at my tail, making it impossible to do anything.
Even when I escaped to the bushes outside, he pursued me, hounding me without mercy.
“If he loves cats so much, maybe I’ll turn him into one himself.”
I hurled every curse I could muster at Leonard’s retreating form—though to human ears, it was only a cat’s hiss.
Finally alone again, I was turning back toward the Party Hall when I heard hushed voices from behind a garden tree.
“Princess Melissa—you came to arrange a marriage proposal with my brother?”
“Yes. The Empress graciously offered to arrange the proposal.”
“She’s far too beautiful for my inadequate brother.”
Having discovered their secret meeting, I crept forward silently, keeping my footfalls soundless.
The Crown Prince—tonight’s party’s main attraction—was removing his Golden Mask.
He moved slowly toward the princess and stroked her hair.
Their gazes intertwined and their faces drew close—nearly touching—when the princess turned her head away.
“Congratulations on becoming Crown Prince, Your Highness.”
“Must you offer congratulations only in words?”
“Pardon? How else would I…?”
“I wish to be congratulated by your beauty.”
The Crown Prince traced her lips with a mischievous smile.
“Your Highness….”
The princess flushed but didn’t pull away, seeming not averse.
“I need more wine. Come to my chambers.”
“Your chambers?”
“I want to spend time alone with you. Do you object?”
“But… I’m supposed to be with your brother….”
“Nothing is confirmed yet, is it? If you do well, I’ll make you an Imperial Concubine. I’m destined to be Emperor. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Hearing the Crown Prince seduce the innocent princess was more than I could stomach. I scratched at the tree bark furiously.
“I have no intention of forcing you. If you refuse, I’ll simply call for another woman.”
“Y-yes, I accept.”
The moment she consented, the Crown Prince wrapped his arms around the princess’s waist and kissed her deeply on the lips.
A sticky sound passed, and the two figures, now pressed close, left the garden together.
The princess’s face was flushed crimson as she went.
“These young people nowadays… Tsk-tsk. I’ve lost all hope. Surely my grandchildren won’t turn out like that?”
Having witnessed the kiss scene against my will, Meason hurried off in frustration to find Rosia.

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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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