[TVL] 13 – First Encounter

“No, where are you going? We haven’t had enough time to play.”

He grabbed his black robe holding it in.

“I’m using Earl Pavon to deliver something to Callisto, but it’s my first time here and I can’t figure out where his room is. I have to find it.”

“Well, I don’t quite know either. The castle is wide and complicated. I’m at a loss.”

The woman then fluttered at the mention of Callisto’s room, and then added as she thought.

“Hey, deliver it soon. I’m waiting here, so let’s continue?”

♔♔♔

He became a maiden and lifted his lips cleanly. Passing the guards’ eyes and crossing the marble-clad corridor, Luciano reached a large room. The room he looked into was luxurious, but the owners probably emphasized the function, as the furniture was simple compared to the Earl’s room. However, that was why he thought the other person would be more alert. The used swords that were scattered about and the books that were piled up also confirmed his theory. The owner of the room, sitting in a chair, scratched his black hair. He was the queen’s entourage, Callisto, as evident by his neat appearance.

Luciano expected Callisto would go to his lover. The expectations seemed right. Callisto stood up, closing the book he was reading. His destination was in front of a living room closed by a golden door. The door had a pattern consisting of a hawk and a snake. It was the coat of arms of Armenia. Callisto entered the room comfortably without knocking.

“Alana, are you alright? Have you warmed up?” From the words, one could understand the relationship between the two. Status did not exist between them.

Perhaps because the reply was too quiet, the other party’s voice did not reach Luciano, who was hiding behind the pillar.

In front of Callisto was an elaborate bathtub. There inside was a naked girl. The girl, who wasn’t wearing anything at all, appeared to be even younger than 14 years old.

“Come. Shall I help you get dressed?”

Following the instructions, Queen Alana, who stood up from the hot water, slowly approached Callisto. She did not hide her small bulging chest or shame. Her arms and legs were thin, her face was expressionless, and her skin was pale enough to appear bluish in the sun.

Luciano scrunched his face unintentionally. It was because he felt strange. It was common for the royal family to have many servants around to manage the surroundings. Even if they were naked.

It didn’t matter if you were accustomed to being taken care of by others. But now, there was no servant to follow the Queen, and it seemed that only Callisto cared for her. There was no common sense in the fact that a man was taking care of a woman. Moreover, Callisto himself was the son of the Prime Minister and a high-ranking nobleman. Originally, it was a position where they were to be waited upon, rather than waiting upon others.

Callisto carefully wiped Alana’s body with familiar hands and put on her nightwear.

“Let’s straighten your hair. Sit down? Oh, that’s right, why don’t you try putting on that Eijitsu rose perfume?”

“It’s okay now... I’m tired today. I’m sorry, can I be alone?” her voice was thin and seemed to disappear. Her body seemed to be really weak.

“Okay, it’s better to sleep now. I’ll carry you.” Callisto, placed his hand under the queen’s knees and, holding her lightly, walked to the back of the room. The small white hand around Callisto’s back hurt for Luciano to look at for some reason.

“Good night, Callisto.”

“Good night. Alana, see you tomorrow.”

Luciano, who listened to the conversation, grabbed his sword in his black robe.

-There would be no tomorrow.

He acted only after Callisto left the room and the candles that were still lit were much shorter. When the fireplace burst into a spark, he approached the room in the back with silent footsteps. He drew closer to the bed surrounded by thin cloth. Behind that curtain was his prey, another piece on his path of revenge. There was a rising shadow. It was Alana, who he thought had fallen asleep long ago.

“Please, come here.”

Luciano’s eyes were shrouded behind his hood. Through the thin cloth, he could feel the gaze on him.

“I’ve finally cleared out the people in the room, yet why haven’t you come closer?”

Luciano was startled. He was confident in his covert abilities. Until now, he had never felt anything from the way people spoke—that was until this girl.

“Tonight is a wonder, isn’t it? We aren’t on the terrace, but there is light. It is not a new moon either, but you’re here.”

Luciano twitched; the tip of his nose raised. It seemed that Alana had mistaken him for another. He did not reply or ask for elaboration.

He was right to be confused.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d see you again until years later.” The thin cloth slowly lifted. In front of him, wearing a black robe, Alana in a silk nightwear appeared.

Her height was only up to Luciano’s chest.

Her gold hair, which was close to white, was a colour that was so pure that it was hard to imagine that it was even human hair. Vivid green eyes fluttered around her golden eyelashes. However, he couldn’t help but wonder why those eyes were so devoid of spirit. Luciano had never seen such intense eyes. They held a strength and depth that could not be expressed in a single word.

Strangely, his heart rate increased. Even if he was covered by his hood, it seemed as if those green eyes could see through to his very being.

Recognising his knee was shivering, he leaned on his leg, hoping the pressure would force it to stop. Never in his life had he felt awe at meeting any king.

Hurry up. You have to kill her.

However, his hand, which had been prepared to swing down, stopped without permission. Remembering he was breathless, Luciano gulped on his saliva. He had remained standing, and she must have noticed his mistake.

At once, those eyes widened but gradually narrowed down. Luciano didn’t understand himself. When he finally noticed it, he was leaving the room without fulfilling the original goal.

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