“How did you even know I was here?”

“This is my mansion. Did you think I wouldn’t notice with all the hidden eyes around?”

Come to think of it, that wasn’t wrong.

The mansion was mostly filled with Ascan’s people. The only ones I could call my own were those from the Brellof family who came with me to the Kalua Empire.

Since I moved quickly after receiving the message, there were many loopholes. Plus, without Zen, I wasn’t prepared for such unexpected situations.

Ascan’s eyes silently scanned the interior of the carriage. It felt like he was searching for something.

“Where are you looking?”

At my question, Ascan replied with a noticeably relaxed expression.

“It doesn’t seem like you were planning to leave my mansion.”

Huh?

His completely unexpected words left me stunned.

“Why would I leave this place?”

“I just wondered. I thought maybe you called for a carriage without telling me for that reason.”

“What, you had such a ridiculous thought?”

It was meant to be a reproach, but somehow he seemed to be in a better mood.

We had kissed not long ago. We hadn’t formally agreed to be together, but leaving without a word would be no different from a breakup notice.

But that wasn’t the important thing right now.

I glanced around once more to make sure no one was nearby, then pulled Ascan into the carriage.

Ascan gave me a puzzled look but obediently stepped inside.

I glanced at him as he sat beside me and spoke to the coachman again.

“Take us to the downtown area for now.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The carriage soon set off.

I didn’t let my guard down until the very last moment, worried that Zen might notice and follow.

Only when the carriage left the mansion and entered safe territory did I turn my gaze to Ascan.

“…!”

I was startled for a moment.

Ascan had turned his body completely toward me, arms crossed, staring at me.

Since when had he been looking at me? His gaze suddenly felt intensely warm.

“What’s that look for?”

“Is someone chasing us or something?”

“Well, that’s…”

I hesitated briefly, wondering if I should tell the truth, but since Ascan wasn’t from the Brellof family, there was no reason to hide it.

“I was worried I’d get caught because I deliberately ditched Zen.”

“Zen, you mean your bodyguard?”

“Yeah. The place I’m going to is a secret from Zen.”

“You should’ve told me beforehand. I could’ve made sure Zen couldn’t follow.”

His words sounded oddly suggestive.

Images of ways to keep Zen from leaving the mansion flashed through my mind.

Like tying Zen up and locking them away, or injuring their leg or something.

My imagination seemed to lean toward the worst, but since it was none other than Ascan, the story’s villain, saying this, it didn’t feel far-fetched.

If he hadn’t turned dark, maybe it’d be different. But in his current darkened state, he might use methods even more brutal than I could imagine.

I shook my head and spoke.

“No way. Don’t even think about touching a hair on Zen’s head.”

In an instant, Ascan’s eyes sharpened. He looked at me with narrowed eyes and said in a deeper voice.

“Hearing you say that makes me not want to leave them alone.”

“That kind of joke isn’t funny.”

Despite my words, Ascan didn’t respond. He just gave a cold smile.

The Ascan now was different from the boy I remembered. Back then, maybe because he was a slave, I felt like I could stop him if I tried.

But now, he was completely uncontrollable.

It felt like the safety line between us had vanished entirely.

“Don’t forget. You promised me you wouldn’t kill innocent people.”

At my words, Ascan seemed to recall the promise we made not long ago, and he made a displeased expression.

“Is this why you made me promise that?”

“What do you mean?”

“To take another man’s side in front of me.”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. I hadn’t expected Ascan to take my words that way.

I was worried about Zen getting hurt, but I had no intention of taking someone else’s side in front of Ascan.

“What are you talking about? I’m always on your side.”

At my words, the sharpness in Ascan’s eyes faded as if by magic. His brows furrowed, but the corners of his mouth turned up.

“Are you trying to tame me now?”

“Are you willing to let me?”

Ascan frowned and laughed. He didn’t say anything, but his lack of refusal was answer enough.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Why is this so thrilling?

It felt like all my dormant romantic cells had awakened.

This tingling relationship with Ascan was so exciting it left me breathless.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Before I knew it, we had arrived in the downtown area, and the coachman spoke in a cautious tone.

“My lady, we’ve arrived at your destination.”

“Oh, thank you.”

As I prepared to step out of the carriage, Ascan moved first.

He got out ahead of me and extended his hand toward me. Thanks to that, I could naturally take his escort and step down from the carriage.

It wasn’t the first time he’d escorted me, but the feeling from his hand was different from before.

How should I put it?

It felt much more dependable, and my heart fluttered.

I paid the coachman a tip and walked along the route I’d seen on the map from the message.

Ascan walked beside me and asked in a low voice.

“By the way, where are you going that you had to ditch even your bodyguard?”

“There’s someone I want to catch and interrogate in secret.”

My answer must have been unexpected, as a hint of surprise flashed across Ascan’s face.

“Who is it?”

“Probably someone connected to my mother’s death.”

It was a brief explanation, but surprise lingered in Ascan’s eyes. Soon after, he looked ahead with a subdued expression and replied.

“You should’ve told me earlier.”

Huh?

I looked up at Ascan without thinking. He kept his eyes fixed forward, as if hiding a cold glint, and continued in a low voice.

“I would’ve brought them to you right away.”

For some reason, I laughed. Perhaps it was because I could feel Ascan’s concern for me.

“I’ll ask you next time.”

My response must have pleased him, as Ascan gave a small laugh and nodded.

And so, Ascan and I entered a secluded alley behind the bustling downtown.

Kains, a former mercenary, had retired twenty years ago and lived extravagantly until he fell into gambling and was now in financial ruin.

The residence provided by the Kalua Empire’s informant was in a narrow alley too tight for a carriage, so we got off nearby.

As we walked a bit, I saw vagrants loitering in the dark alley.

At a glance, we looked like nobles, and they started to approach, but strangely, they all hesitated and backed off when they met Ascan’s cold gaze.

Ascan was the strongest in the story’s world. The silent warning from such a top predator seemed to carry a different weight.

Soon, we arrived at Kains’ residence.

The house, roughly built with wooden planks, looked so flimsy that a strong wind might knock it over. But that didn’t matter.

I wanted to catch Kains as soon as possible and uncover the truth about Charles’ death.

I took out the map I received through the message and checked it.

“This is the place.”

“Who do we need to catch here?”

“A former mercenary named Kains.”

Ascan nodded and stepped inside first. I followed him into the shabby house.

The first thing I noticed was a stench so foul it numbed my nose.

‘What on earth is that smell?’

I grimaced and turned my head, only to see a corpse lying on a bed.

It had been dead for quite some time, as it was already decomposing.

The sight was gruesome enough to make me nauseous, but more than that, I was worried that the corpse might be Kains.

‘No way. That was the only lead I had from the novel!’

I quickly moved toward the corpse. But soon, Ascan’s firm arm blocked me.

He looked at me calmly and said in a soothing tone.

“I’ll check. You stay here.”

I wanted to do it myself, but I’d never examined a corpse before.

Rationally, I knew Ascan would do a better job, so I reluctantly nodded in agreement.

With my permission, Ascan strode toward the corpse. As he examined the decayed body, he asked.

“What do you know about this man named Kains?”

In the novel, the characteristics of the intruder who broke into the villa the day Charles died were briefly described.

One of the intruders used dual swords and had a red cloth tied to the handle of their sword.

After searching for such a person for a long time, Kains was the first to come up in the information network.

I answered as calmly as I could.

“He’s a man who uniquely uses dual swords. He ties a red cloth to the handles of his swords.”

Ascan immediately checked the corpse’s hands. Then he nodded and said.

“There are calluses on both the left and right hands from wielding swords. It’s certain this person used dual swords.”

“Does that mean… the dead man is Kains?”

“Dual-sword users are rare. It’s highly likely this is Kains, but I’ll order the guards to investigate further for accuracy.”

As he spoke, Ascan continued to inspect the house, looking for any clues.

Soon, he pulled something out from a corner. It was two dust-covered swords, left neglected for a long time.

The handles of the twin-like swords had the red cloth I’d seen described in the novel.

“Ha—”

I staggered without realizing it.

Ascan quickly came over and supported me, as if he sensed it.

The disappointment felt as great as my expectations had been. I wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but the circumstances suggested the decayed corpse was indeed Kains.

‘I wanted to help somehow…’

The desire for revenge went without saying. But more than that, I wanted to fulfill Orland’s long-cherished wish.

All I had were faint memories of Charles. The regret and sadness of what could have been if she had lived were always there, but…

Compared to Orland, who had spent over twenty years searching for the true culprit, it was nothing.

Orland still drank on the anniversary of Charles’ death. He, who normally never touched alcohol, would drink until he passed out on that day.

Unlike when I was younger, I could now share a drink with him, but that didn’t erase Orland’s sorrow.

Seeing Orland like that every year broke my heart. I wanted to help somehow.

I thought that was how I, possessed as Tanashia, could repay my family.

But now that path seemed to have vanished before my eyes, and I felt deep despair.

That’s when it happened.

With a creak and a metallic sound, the door opened, and a rough male voice echoed.

“Brother, you in there? It’s about time you paid back the money you borrowed from me.”

The mocking tone immediately sparked a single thought in my mind.

This was someone close to Kains, whose whereabouts had been shrouded in mystery.

Ascan must have had the same thought. But before he could move, I threw the necklace I was wearing.

Whoosh—

What looked like an ordinary necklace was actually a magical engineering weapon with a special mechanism.

By manipulating the pendant and throwing it, the cord would extend instantly, capturing the target like a net.

Ascan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the unfamiliar magical engineering weapon and he asked.

“You had something like this?”

“Of course. There’s a lot more you haven’t seen.”

At my words, Ascan’s eyes curved into a smile.

He looked at me warmly, then stepped forward. Pressing his foot firmly on the man I’d captured, he spoke.

“You. What’s your connection to Kains?”

Either not hearing the threatening tone or ignoring it, the middle-aged man widened his eyes upon seeing Ascan’s face. Then he shouted, as if in disbelief.

“Number 13? It’s been a while, so my memory’s fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure they called you Number 13, right?”

Did he know him?

I looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression. But Ascan showed no sign of recognizing the man.

“You know me?”

At Ascan’s question, the middle-aged man burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, you forgot me already after meeting ten years ago? I’m a bit shocked our meeting wasn’t that memorable.”

The middle-aged man didn’t seem ordinary either. In an instant, he cut through the magical engineering weapon I’d made and stood up.

With greedy eyes gleaming, he muttered in a low voice.

“You’re a survivor of the human weapon experiment, aren’t you? Even now, turning you in would fetch a hefty reward, right?”

Come to think of it, if it was ten years ago, Ascan might not remember.

Who was this man, knowing that Ascan was a survivor of the human weapon experiment?

‘Who the hell is he?’

Ascan seemed just as curious about the man acting familiar. In a lower voice, he said.

“Stop acting like we’re close, it’s annoying. Don’t just call my name—say yours too.”

The scrawny, sly-looking middle-aged man grinned and answered.

“Don’t remember? Ten years ago, I personally caught you and brought you to the Kalua Empire. Does the name Andro ring a bell?”