Chapter 6 

6. Helpers in the Afterlife 

 
Adelaide walked out of the pawnshop with an odd sense of relief. By throwing away the earring, she’d completely erased any lingering feelings toward Elkius.
 
Why hadn’t she let go of something so easy sooner?
 
“Are you okay?”
 
“What?”
 
“That…… not.”
 
Margaret seemed worried that she might have been hurt by the cheap earrings, so she casually changed the topic.
 
“Well, since we’ve come all this way, do you need anything? If there’s anything you want, let me know.”
 
“Really? Let us buy one scarf, then.”
 
“Sure. Let’s go.”
 
Margaret, who was familiar with the market geography, quickly ran into a nearby general store. There were many interesting things in the general store that carried items from the empire, kingdom, and Caucasian
 
“Which one looks better on me?”
 
Margaret asked, holding a leopard-print scarf and a leaf-print scarf around her neck.
 
They both seemed overly old to Margaret, who was not yet 20 years old, but Adelaide smiled and answered.
 
“They both look good on you. Buy both.”
 
“I’ll take one.”
 
“I just need one.”
 
After repeated refusals, Margaret giggled and took the two scarves.
 
“It’s been a long time since you came out; do you have anything to buy? ”
 
“Well, I don’t really need anything…….”
 
Adelaide’s gaze wandered absentmindedly through the general store and landed on a display of gloves.
 
Suddenly, she remembered Callion’s cold hands.
 
She approached the rack, mesmerized, and the shopkeeper rushed over.
 
“If you need anything, let me know.”
 
“I need a pair of men’s gloves, would you recommend something warm and soft?”
 
“Speaking of warm and soft…… how about these?”
 
The shopkeeper rummaged through the shelves and held out an unusual pair of gloves. It was a glove with all the fingers attached together except for the thumb.
 
“What are these?”
 
“These are gloves that are popular in Helenia these days, and there is nothing like them for warmth. Would you like to try it on? ”
 
Before she could answer, he slipped the gloves on. They were lined with fleece, so they felt nice and warm.
 
“These will do.”
 
“Okay, I’ll wrap it up nicely.”
 
The owner, who assumed it was a gift for her lover, carefully wrapped the gloves in floral wrapping paper with a ribbon.
 
“Here they are. They’ll make a nice gift.”
 
Blushing unnecessarily, Adelaide hurriedly paid and left the general store.
 
Holding up the bag of gloves, Margaret asked gruffly.
 
“You’re giving these gloves to the Duke, aren’t you?”
 
“I don’t know.”
 
“Oh, don’t be shy in front of me. I’m sure His Grace will love it when he receives it!”
 
Adelaide rolled her eyes at the boisterous voice.
 
“Lower your voice. Someone can hear you.”
 
“No one can hear me when I’m this loud.”
 
“It’s just the two of us, so it’s best to be inconspicuous.”
 
“Humph, yeah.”
 
Margaret looked around and fell silent.
 
It’s too crowded to stand out, but she doesn’t want anyone to recognize them. She can’t guarantee there won’t be any of Elkius’ henchmen in this crowd.
 
Adelaide made her way to her destination, wary of her surroundings.
 
The grocer’s shop in the corner of the market was deserted. Finding the door open, Adelaide whispered quickly to Margaret.
 
“Margaret, you wait here, and if I don’t come out after half an hour, you go to the Duke’s mansion and deliver the letter I put in the first drawer, do you understand?”
 
“What do you mean by that?”
 
“I don’t have time for long explanations; just remember my words.”
 
Adelaide turned away from the bewildered Margaret and walked into the shop.
 
The shop was smaller and shabbier than it looked from the outside. The young man behind the counter asked gruffly.
 
“Are you looking for something?”
 
“I’m looking for a Sycamore Venture.”
 
The man’s face hardened. He’d come to the right place. Adelaide smirked.
 
“Who is he?”
 
“Someone who knows him, let’s just say.”
 
The suspicious man rose from his seat and locked the shop door.
 
Perhaps she should have brought an escort. Adelaide raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
 
Anyway, it’s all or nothing. She expected it to be dangerous, so there is no need to be anxious. Adelaide calmed herself as she remembered the instructions she had given to Margaret.
 
“Come this way.”
 
He tugged on a handle disguised as a coat rack, and a hidden passage opened. Adelaide followed the man into the passage.
 
After walking for a while, she started to smell strong alcohol and hear loud noises. It seemed to be a passage connected to the tavern across the street.
 
A man at the end of the passage opened the iron door. Several burly guards were gathered in the cramped room. The man who had ushered Adelaide in spoke to one of them.
 
Sycamore Venture
 
Master of the guild with the fastest and most accurate intelligence network in the Empire. He was once the king of the underworld, a place beyond the reach of the law, but his reign was short-lived.
 
“You asked to see me?”
 
The man, who was now alone, asked, smiling softly. He looked to be around twenty-four, but his eyes were creepily fierce. Adelaide shrugged off the stare.
 
“You don’t even offer your guest a cup of tea.”
 
“Because I’m not sure if you are a guest or not.”
 
Sycamore Venture replied sharply. Judging by his hostile reaction, he knew who she was.
 
“You came alone without any escorts. Didn’t you think you wouldn’t be able to return safely?”
 
“The great Sycamore Venture wouldn’t do such a foolish thing.”
 
Sycamore Venture huffed at the thought of turning Duke Tiflis and the Emperor into enemies.
 
“What is your business?”
 
“I’m looking for a supplier of ingredients, and I heard that you run a grocery store, so I came to make a deal.”
 
“I’m afraid the goods we carry are not of high enough quality to supply the Duchy, but I can refer you to a good grocer instead.”
 
“That’s disappointing, Sycamore Venture.”
 
Adelaide raised one corner of her mouth.
 
“No, Michael Alberden.”
 
“……!”
 
Sycamore’s eyes widened in horror.
 
Sycamore Venture’s identity was revealed when he was about to be executed for his failed assassination of Elkius.
 
Until then, few had known that Sycamore Venture was the bastard son of the Marquis of Alberden, who had been exterminated by Elkius.
 
Sycamore Venture, whose identity was unknown to even the guild members, was discovered, and his mouth dropped open. Adelaide warned him as he put his hands in his pants pockets.
 
“I’ll say it again. If you lay a hand on me, you won’t be safe either.”
 
Gritting his teeth, Sycamore placed his empty hand on the table.
 
“What do you want?”
 
“I already told you earlier. I want to make a deal.”
 
“Don’t beat around the bush and tell me your real purpose.”
 
“I’ve been in Tiflis, so I’m in the dark about the current events, so I’d like to hear if there are any interesting stories.”
 
“What do I gain from joining forces with you?”
 
“I’ll help you retrieve your lost family name and honor.”
 
The estates of the Marquis of Alberden had been incorporated into the imperial family.
 
It was never meant to be in the hands of a bastard, but now it was his.
 
After a long silence, Sycamore spoke up.
 
“Why do you want to betray him?”
 
“Betray him?”
 
“You’re his woman.”
 
Adelaide lowered her gaze at the implications of her relationship with Elkius.
 
“Because he abandoned me first.”
 
“It’s more surprising that you didn’t know that from the beginning.”
 
Sycamore sneered sarcastically.
 
“So you’re going to use me for revenge?”
 
“Rather than using, let’s call it cooperation.”
 
“And if I refuse?”
 
“Then Elkius will know who you are.”
 
His eyes sparked with fire. He glared at Adelaide and let out a harsh breath.
 
It would be easy for him to kill the woman in front of him. But the storm that would follow would be anything but.
 
The Emperor’s mistress and the wife of the Duke of Tiflis.
 
Sycamore had to admit he was outmatched.
 
Adelaide rose from her seat.
 
“I’ve said all I need to say, so I’ll leave you to it. If you are inclined to accept my offer, come to the castle by the day after tomorrow. We don’t have enough food, so I can’t give you more time.”
 
“I will escort you.”
 
Sycamore opened the door to the chamber and stepped forward.
 
Adelaide didn’t take her eyes off his back as she recalled their conversation earlier.
 
If he refused her offer,  Adelaide planned to expose his identity and destroy the guild.
 
A hasty assassination attempt would be a bad idea, especially with Elkius’ increased security.
 
“I will give you an answer by the day after tomorrow.”
 
“I expect good news.”
 
“Be careful on your way back.”
 
Adelaide calmly left the grocery store.
 
⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜
 
“My Lady!”
 
Margaret ran after her, too scared to leave the grocery store. Her cheeks were frozen from the cold wind.
 
“It hasn’t been thirty minutes yet?”
 
“Exactly thirty minutes. What were you doing inside?”
 
“We were discussing ingredient supplies.”
 
“Do you know how worried I was, thinking something had happened? Next time, take me with you.”
 
“Okay, okay, let’s go.”
 
Adelaide paced diligently, trying to soothe the whining Margaret. She’d been gone too long without speaking.
 
No one seemed to follow her after the knight training, but if she stayed out too long, Callion might get suspicious.
 
“Huh?”
 
Reaching the carriage house, Margaret frowned at the empty coachman’s seat.
 
“Where did this man go again?”
 
“It looks like we made him wait too long.”
 
“He must have gone to drink. I’ll find him.”
 
“He’ll probably come back if we wait.”
 
“He’s probably at the tavern. I’ll be back!”
 
Without a second thought, Margaret ran to the bar. Adelaide shook her head at the foal-like figure behind her.
 
It had been a long time since she’d been out, and she felt drained from her conversation with Sycamore.
 
She pulled on the handle of the carriage, ready to go back and rest.
 
“……!”
 
Thud.
 
An object leaning at an angle against the carriage door fell out of the carriage. It was the coachman’s corpse.
 
And then.
 
“Die!”
 
The chef, hiding in the carriage, lunged at her.