Chapter 11

The fugitive was Ludwig Rohitham, son of former Duke Wilhelm and nephew of current Duke Rudolf.

Adam explained that Ludwig, coveting the ducal throne, killed his father and fled to the kingdom.

‘He’s a terrible parricide. However, because there is no physical evidence, it is difficult to turn it into an open investigation.’

It was an absurd explanation. Even a little thought revealed holes in the logic.

If Ludwig indeed aimed for the ducal throne, why didn’t he ascend to the vacant position left by his father instead of fleeing? Especially without any evidence that he killed his father.

If Adam’s explanation was correct, Ludwig killed his father to clear the path for his uncle and then fled.

His brother Rudolf is now ruling the duchy in Wilhelm’s absence.

However, Oscar suppressed such doubts internally. He had to believe that there was not a single falsehood in Adam’s words.

It is his duty.

“If you capture and deliver the villain, Duke Rohitham will praise you greatly, and he will write to the kingdom to thank you in a formal letter. Then, your entry into the council will no longer be a futile dream.”

Oscar pictured a conference room with thirteen of the highest authorities seated around a round table.

In his imagination, a chamberlain in royal uniform brings in another chair, places it at the head of the table, and quietly leaves the room. 

The seat belongs to the Duke of Crestwell.

After a little more maneuvering and perhaps eliminating the Crown Prince through some means, seizing the throne might not be an unrealistic dream either.

Oscar, lost in sweet fantasies, was awakened by Adam.

-“You know what you have to do, right? ”

“I feel the information bureau alone isn’t enough, so I’m thinking of hiring some journalists. Their network reaches far and wide across the nation, more so than ordinary informants.”

-“That’s a good idea. That’s the kind of thinking I want. I entrusted this task to you, hoping for such insights. You’re doing well, so keep it up. Do you remember the description I gave you?”

“Yes. You said light blond hair and violet eyes?”

-“Correct. He might manage to cover his hair somehow, but he can’t change his eye color, and he’s quite noticeable in appearance. Well, this communication has been long. I should leave before someone eavesdrops.”

“Got it, Adam. And, I……. if this goes well, as promised.”

-”Ah, yes. Orchid, I’ll send you a quill.”

Oscar’s face instantly brightens at the mention of sending a quill. 

Though the other party couldn’t see Oscar, he instinctively bowed into the air.

“Thank you, Adam. Thank you.”

-“Then let’s end this.”

Adam disconnects without giving Oscar time to respond.

Oscar, who usually couldn’t stand such treatment, showed no signs of anger this time.

He was just excited about the prospect of being named to the council and the prospect of earning a quill if he did a good job.

Receiving the quill meant ascending to the head of the Red Crows.

If he succeeded in this task, he would have both the empire’s name and shadow in his hands.

With both, the possibilities are endless.

After calming his excitement for a moment, Oscar called the manager.

According to Marlena’s opinion, the manager, who was in a rather pitiful position, trembled as he entered Oscar’s office. If the process from the call to the knock took more than three minutes, Oscar always became irritated.

“What’s Nina Ford doing tomorrow?”

Nina Ford was the signature actress of the Crestwell Grand Theater. Tickets for her plays sold like hotcakes, no matter how expensive they were.

Meanwhile, the manager quickly realized that Oscar’s words were meant to clear Nina’s schedule.

“From what time to what time do you need her? ”

“All day. I’ll be busy.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Call the reporters from five newspapers and two magazines. Tell them to meet me tomorrow. Instruct Ford to rehearse ‘Purple Spring Buds’ and leave out a few dancers.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Is there anything else you’d like me to do…”

Oscar, pondering over what else to order, suddenly felt uncomfortable. Marlena’s face popped up in his mind like a pop-up card, causing him to scowl.

Oscar frowned and said,

“I need to be cautious with that woman. Find out where she is,” Oscar said, his expression souring.

Though he referred to her simply as ‘that woman,’ the perceptive steward quickly understood. He nodded repeatedly and left the office.

If he was to fulfill Oscar’s orders, he had to hurry.

* * *
A young man woke up in a hostel bed.

His vision was blurry, and his head was pounding. It felt like his insides were twisted and turned. A feeling of nausea surged momentarily.

Instinctively realizing that he couldn’t just throw up on the bedclothes, he looked around with his unobtrusive vision. But all he could see was a blur.

He tried to get out of bed and fell with a loud thud.

“Ouch…….”

He hit the floor and gagged. Fortunately or unfortunately, his stomach was empty, and only a few drops of saliva stained the floor.

“Ha, ha, ha…….”

The image in his mind’s eye barely came into focus, then split in two. His vision went from hyperchromatic to black and white and back again.

It felt like the world would spin if he moved.

After what seemed like an eternity, his vision finally returned to some semblance of normalcy.

He breathed heavily and looked around him. There was a mirror in one corner of the spacious inn room.

He crawled over and approached the mirror. It was almost an instinctive gesture.

As he looked straight into the mirror, a pale man with auburn hair, emerald eyes, and a very attractive but somewhat dull face stared back at him.

“Huh.”

He took a step back in dismay. A terribly unpleasant feeling of discomfort enveloped his entire body.

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and the image of the beautiful young man flashed across his closed eyelids. Hen opened his eyes again and looked into the mirror.

There was still the young man with chestnut hair.

“I don’t think that’s me.”

He backed away from the mirror hesitantly. The image in the mirror did the same.

“Who are you?”

With fear in his voice, he asked the mirror.

Just then, an excruciating headache hit him like a needle through the folds of his brain.

“Kkh…!”

Just as his vision had been disoriented a moment earlier, this time he began to hear voices.

[■Ha! ■■■■■■……! ■……!]

“What the hell is he saying?

It was just noise, amplified and diminished at will.

[■■I’m■■ alive■■…….]

[■■Please! ■■■■■, at that time ■■■ ■he, that shine…!]

The unknown voices began to sound a little clearer.

He tried to make out what they were saying through his headache. But it was of no use.

The visions were fleeting; they left no residue in his mind, swept away in a man-made torrent that seemed to have been created by artificial means, and disappeared beyond his memory.

Peering into the rough waters of the river of oblivion, all he could see was a chilling sense of enmity.

Who does this hostility belong to?

Who am I?

He was engulfed in fear. The real-time disappearance of memory was enough to evoke such emotions.

He struggled to grasp onto something, anything, pleading for memories to return.

Then, in a flash, like floating from the bottom of a river to the surface, a memory came to him.

“A woman?”

A woman crouched on the ground, staring at him in bewilderment.

But he couldn’t quite remember what she looked like.

He had a fleeting impression that she looked like a wary cat.

“Uh…….”

He wrapped his head around it, feeling like it would split open.

But unlike other memories, her image, like a sponge, was thoroughly squeezed and stubbornly stuck in his mind.

Red hair, bare hands, green dress…….

It was then.

“Why didn’t you hear me when I knocked?”

A voice came from behind. A pleasantly husky, mid-tone woman’s voice.

An unfamiliar voice…….

His body, tense from pain and confusion, reacted instinctively before his mind. The instinct to protect himself and survive took over. 

He lunged at the owner of the voice as if he were a panther, immediately pinning them against the wall. The vibrations from the impact against the wall and floor worsened his headache.

He squeezed his eyes shut as the world seemed to spin upside down, then opened them again with a grimace.

A pair of brilliant golden eyes stared up at him. Dense lashes cast a shadow over the brilliant golden eyes.

He froze momentarily. He just stood there dumbly, keeping her pressed against the wall as if he were still holding her captive.

Her hair was damp, so lukewarm drops of water dripped down the back of his hand that held her shoulders.

He was taken aback.

Though this tall woman didn’t look particularly friendly, she didn’t seem like she would harm him either. She just seemed to be waiting for him to release her arm.

There was something about her face that he couldn’t look away from.

As his harsh breathing began to slow, he realized why he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her face.

It was because her face was the only image that hadn’t escaped from his memory.