Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 81

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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 operated by the successor of the Dark Guild.
81
‘There’s something going on, it seems.’
Mason had asked him to probe the relationship between Arthor and the princess, and that’s all he’d done.
But he saw clearly how Melissa’s pupils dilated.
“Then I’ll be going.”
Having excused himself, Bittler decided to have Seniel look into the two of them further.
That’s why he’d placed two people in the Imperial Knight Order in the first place.
Instead of leaving the Imperial Palace at once, he set out to find Leo.
“Brother?!”
Leo, who was crouching in the Garden as always, came running over with a bright smile.
“What are you looking for?”
“I haven’t seen the cat lately.”
“The cat you mentioned seeing before—was its fur silver by any chance?”
“Yes!”
Something strange flickered across Bittler’s face as he watched Leo answer with such enthusiasm.
“If you see that cat again, don’t touch it under any circumstances.”
“Why?”
“It’s temperamental.”
As he spoke, he drew out a small vial he’d prepared in advance before entering the Imperial Palace.
“Leo, close your eyes for a moment.”
“Like this?”
Leo, who adored Bittler, closed her eyes without the slightest hesitation.
Bittler gazed at her with a complicated expression, then positioned himself so that Leo wouldn’t be visible from the maidservants’ line of sight.
“It’ll sting a little.”
“Okay. I’m good at being brave.”
After confirming no one was watching them, Bittler inserted the needle into Leo’s arm.
‘I’m sorry.’
He didn’t want to hurt Leo, but he had no choice if he wanted her blood.
He quickly held the vial up and collected a few drops. Fortunately, because he’d pricked shallowly, no mark remained.
He sealed the vial with a stopper and tucked it away.
“All done.”
“Did I help you, brother?”
Leo opened her eyes and twirled her arm, her eyes sparkling.
“You were a huge help. I brought this for you.”
“Wow!”
Leo bounced with joy at the sight of the Cat-shaped Doll Bittler handed her.
“Play with this instead of chasing after that silver cat.”
The Empress, who tried to control Leo in everything, had forbidden doll play as something only girls did.
Leo’s cheeks flushed red as she held the doll for the first time in a long while.
“Hide it well so no one finds out. You mustn’t tell anyone about what happened today.”
“A secret? Hehe. I like that!”
Leo reached out her tiny hand and wrapped her pinky around Bittler’s, sealing the promise.
But as Bittler tried to leave, her expression grew sullen and she grabbed his leg.
“Brother, aren’t you living in the Imperial Palace anymore?”
“…No. I’ve just been busy lately.”
“I want to watch you train. The Palace is so boring.”
“I’ll visit often.”
Bittler hesitated, hand half-raised, then finally ruffled the whimpering Leo’s hair a few times.
***
Clione was irritated by a situation that stubbornly refused to bend to her will.
She was confident she could sway the Emperor regardless of Bittler’s opinion, but the Emperor proved unexpectedly robust.
“Ugh…”
She hurled the pillow on the sofa across the room, suppressing her rage.
“Should I give him more of the drug? I wanted to proceed slowly for Arthor’s sake, but if he keeps acting like this, what am I supposed to do?”
She had been secretly administering a lethal poison to the Emperor all this while.
In small amounts, it would never be detected and caused no immediate harm, but it slowly led to intoxication and diminished mental capacity.
Once addicted to the drug, one had to live as its slave for life.
It wasn’t easy to obtain, and she was waiting for a fresh supply to arrive, but in the meantime the Emperor’s mind had become far too lucid.
“Your Highness.”
The Bedchamber door opened and the awaiting knight entered.
Clione rushed to the knight with a wide smile and seized his waist.
“You’re here. How is home?”
“Nothing of particular note, but… it seems Juliano is preparing for a business venture.”
“My brother is?”
“Yes. The household head appears to have approved it.”
“…Ten years is a long time to wait. Father’s starting to forgive him, it seems.”
“And he continues to operate the Sailing Guild.”
“Find out what he’s being directed to do.”
“I could not ascertain that much. My apologies.”
“Never mind. Look into exactly what kind of business my brother is running. I must interfere with it.”
“Understood.”
Just then, a maidservant knocked on the Bedchamber door.
“Princess Melissa has arrived.”
Clione gestured for the knight to hide briefly, then spoke in a measured voice.
“Admit her.”
Melissa had been staying in the Empress’s quarters and frequently visited the Bedchamber for intimate conversation.
It was part of Clione’s strategy to make Melissa her instrument.
But now, with the marriage proposal discussion on the verge of collapse, Melissa seemed pitiful for failing to win even Bittler’s heart.
“Your Highness, I encountered the Second Prince today.”
“What of it?”
“Your Highness?”
“If winning his affection is difficult, then use your body instead. That’s how things progress, is it not? Tsk.”
“I apologize.”
“Time is running out. If you don’t wish to be cast out, don’t hold back. Neither body nor heart.”
“…Yes.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, nothing.”
As Melissa left the audience with the Empress, whose demeanor had transformed in an instant, a poisonous glint filled her eyes.
‘So that’s how she’s going to play it?’
In truth, while Bittler had been absent from the Imperial Palace, Melissa had continued secret meetings with Arthor, now the Crown Prince.
She had already shared his bed multiple times when he visited at night.
Believing she had sufficiently won his heart, a few days ago, after they finished, Melissa asked carefully.
‘Your Highness, the Empress asked again about a marriage proposal discussion with the Second Prince. What should I do?’
‘What do you mean, what should you do?’
‘I prefer you, Your Highness.’
‘You don’t actually think we’re suited for each other, do you?’
‘…Your Highness?’
‘Don’t mistake my playing with you for something real. I only like those who know their place. Marry Bittler as Mother wishes. Then we can continue like this.’
She had given both body and heart to Arthor, believing his feelings for her were genuine, but she was utterly betrayed.
His promise to make her an Imperial Concubine when he became Emperor was all a lie.
“Just wait. I’ll make you pay for all of this.”
She was sick of the Empress, oblivious and pushing the marriage with Bittler, and of Arthor, who wanted only her body.
Melissa knew all too well that the marriage to the Second Prince was already finished.
At this rate, she would return to her kingdom having given only her body to Arthor, gaining nothing.
Until now, she had taken contraceptives each time she lay with Arthor.
But a few days ago, she began secretly discarding the pills he brought instead of swallowing them.
“I’ll have the Crown Prince’s child.”
From Melissa’s wounded heart, a twisted desire took root and grew.
***
A day passed in a flash.
In the morning, I prepared to open the shop; during the day, I greeted customers; in the evening, I finished dinner with Cayden.
“Finally, tomorrow’s here.”
The day Raven and Aide were supposed to meet and negotiate an alliance.
Just thinking about being able to unseal the Map made my heart race with anticipation.
“Where could it be?”
A place where vast amounts of Magical Stones might be buried.
Raven was speculating it might be the snowy Northern Region, or perhaps some island beyond the sea.
Before bed, I was looking around the shop to see if there was anywhere else to clean when I felt a familiar presence approaching.
A moment later, the door chimed.
Bittler entered, dressed in crisp formal wear.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“Were you in the middle of preparations?”
“Not yet.”
“Fortunate.”
Bittler removed his jacket and draped it over a chair, then swept his hair back.
On his back was a large bag like a turtle shell, and his hands were full of luggage.
As I stared at all the things he was carrying, he set down the box in his hands on the table first.
“I brought these from the bakery.”
Desserts from the Capital that I love.
I hurried over to look, and he’d bought an assortment—Cake, Macarons, and Pie.
“There’s plenty more.”
Satisfied with my reaction, Bittler set down a storage box for the desserts as well.
“So much?”
Mesmerized, I was gazing at the desserts when I turned my head and found Bittler standing very close beside me.
He was watching me intently from right beside me.
The moment our eyes met, I suddenly remembered the Guild Tournament and involuntarily turned my head away.
Even though I’d taken the drug and changed my appearance then, so he couldn’t possibly recognize me, my heart was pounding.
Bittler chuckled softly and this time held out a small bundle.
“These are medicines.”
“Medicines? Why?”
“You’re likely to get injured in the mountains.”
There was medicine for when your stomach hurt, for headaches, for injuries, and even an Antidote for when you’d been poisoned.
“What is this one for?”
“Snakes.”
It was reasonable enough, but a suspicious feeling wouldn’t go away.
“There must be a reason you’re doing this.”
I set the desserts and medicines on the table and narrowed my eyes.
Then Bittler scratched his forehead and finally brought up his real purpose.
“Actually, I came to ask a favor. I’d like to rent the shop tomorrow.”
I already knew from Riley, so it rankled.
How could he come the day before when tomorrow was the promised day and ask like this?
He must be absolutely certain I wouldn’t refuse.
“It’s important business. I’ll definitely compensate you for any losses from closing.”
“…I understand.”
Of course, being someone who couldn’t refuse, I reluctantly agreed despite my displeasure.
“Thank you.”
Bittler smiled broadly and naturally moved to the sofa.
The way he leaned back and crossed his long legs looked so comfortable, as if he were in his own home.
“What kind of business requires renting the whole shop?”
“I’m making an alliance with a guild.”
“With which guild?”
“Raven. Have you heard of it?”
The moment Raven’s name came from Bittler’s lips, my heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

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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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