ADVD 22

Chapter 22

‘I wrapped the thermos in cloth so the hot tea wouldn’t cool down, and it’s still warm. Thank goodness.’

Cecil handed each member of the group a teacup and poured the warm tea.

The strawberry tart and pumpkin pie were met with great acclaim.

The decision to spread custard cream under the strawberries had been a brilliant one. The creamy richness of the custard perfectly embraced the tangy strawberries, creating a delightful harmony.

The deep, savory flavor of the pumpkin pie went perfectly with the Assam tea. If the tart and pie felt too sweet, the tea cleansed the palate nicely—it felt like she could eat endlessly.

“Tea and sweets on a picnic? Right now, I wouldn’t trade places with the emperor!”

“Hey, show some respect to Her Highness.”

One member jabbed his companion in the side with his elbow. But Cecil, who had long since lost even a shred of loyalty toward the emperor, burst into laughter.

“It’s fine. That was funny. Oh, and feel free to speak casually with me. I won’t tell the Duke.”

“Really? No take-backs, Miss Cecil!”

The members, apparently not big on hierarchy, immediately dropped the honorifics without hesitation.

“I do have something I’m curious about, though. What exactly does this organization do?”

“Let me, the Ace, answer that. We ‘Irregulars’ are a force to be feared. Especially by those who abuse power, bleed the people dry, or bully the weak—they tremble at just hearing the ‘I’ in ‘Irregulars’!”

Ace laughed and waved his fork around.

“We rough up the bastards and shake them down. Then we distribute what we get to the unfortunate and use some of it to keep our operations running. We’re the bad guys that bad guys are scared of—that’s us.”

‘It might technically be a criminal group, but it’s more like Robin Hood than actual villains…’

Cecil was perplexed. It was completely different from what she had imagined.

Although she had faced off against Ace once or twice before returning in time, she hadn’t had many direct dealings with him—certainly not as many as with Duke Bartholomew or Isaac. As a result, she knew little about Ace or the organization.

Duke Bartholomew, unable to trust anyone, had always preferred to chase her personally rather than send subordinates.

“Then what about the rumors that 70% of the capital’s crimes are the Duke’s doing?”

“Pfft! You believe that, miss? I mean, I get why people would say that. Our work involves taking down powerful scumbags, so Boss has a lot of enemies. There must be hundreds of people out there desperate to see him fall.”

“Don’t you think it’s unfair? That people spread those baseless rumors…”

“Not really. Being feared has its advantages. Especially when it comes to dealing with bad guys.”

Cecil also asked about the way the members seemed unusually comfortable around the Duke.

“That’s because we’ve known the Boss since he was ten.”

“Ten?”

“Yep. Back when he was just some street rat with no idea he was Bartholomew’s illegitimate son, suddenly thrust into life as a noble heir.”

The Irregulars had originally been formed by the former Duke of Bartholomew.

It started as a group of street kids raised to serve as informants and operatives.

All the empire’s information gathered in the streets, and no one paid attention to the ears of vagrants.

The current Duke had inherited the title and elevated the nameless gang of strays into a formal organization.

“He took us, dirty little street kids, and turned us into respectable members of a real group. Gave us work—gave us a purpose.”

Ace’s face held a layered expression, like a mille-feuille of memories.

“To him, we’re people—capable and useful people. He’s the only one in this world who ever treated us that way. He’s our savior.”

Ace didn’t notice, but Cecil’s expression was growing colder as she listened.

‘The more I hear… the less he sounds like a villain.’

But he was a villain. No one knew that better than Cecil, who had been hunted for years and eventually killed by his hands.

‘That means one of two things. First: the Duke and the organization weren’t so bad at this point in time but eventually became the monsters I know after 20 years. Second: he’s deceiving everyone.’

Her thoughts were interrupted by Ace’s next words.

“The Boss… has never lived a life close to happiness. Before ten, it was all survival. After that, duty and responsibility. Then, just when he thought he found happiness with someone he loved… that person left him.”

Ace trailed off bitterly, then glanced at Cecil.

“I know I teased him about doing charity work before, but… the fact that he’s raising a child is honestly a miracle. After losing his first kid, he swore he’d never grow attached to another. He might offer financial support, but no more than that.”

Cecil looked at him in disbelief. Ace grinned.

“But you’re different, Miss.”

“…”

“There’s something special about you. Please… take good care of Raven. We all hope you can make him happy.”

Ace looked around at the other members, and they all nodded. Each one smiled at Cecil with warmth and hope.

Cecil felt a heavy weight settle on her shoulders.

‘They really want me to become close with Duke Bartholomew… but that’s impossible. He’s my enemy—I can never forgive him. And I have the Nibelung he’s searching for. Between us is a time bomb that could go off at any moment.’

But she couldn’t say any of that to them. So Cecil smiled.

“I’ll do my best.”

Ace looked down at her and gently patted her head.

“Thank you, miss.”

A pang tugged at Cecil’s chest.

‘I’m only using the Duke and these people to achieve my own goals.’

She looked into her teacup. Her reflection shimmered in the reddish tea.

‘I’m a dark sorceress. I haven’t changed my mind about doing whatever it takes to survive. But… these people, they’re too good to be just used and discarded.’

Now that she thought about it, everyone she’d met since coming to the Duke’s mansion had been like that. Anne, Isaac, Hans… Ace and the members, too.

Even if she claimed she’d use any means necessary, Cecil found she couldn’t be completely ruthless to such good people.

Honestly, if possible… she wanted all of them to live happily.

‘Well, the members are kind of stupid, but… I don’t hate this kind of person.’

Cecil smiled faintly, unable to help herself, then lifted her teacup and looked up at the sky.

Above her, the sunset was settling in. Spring sunsets were clear and beautiful.

Over the next month, Cecil frequently visited the organization’s hideout.

Then, one day—

Duke Bartholomew made a rare visit to the headquarters. It had been a long time since his last personal appearance.

But the moment he stepped into the base…

Ace was holding Cecil in his arms. Around them, the other members were each holding baby items—toys, picture books, snacks. It was hard to tell whether this was a crime syndicate or a daycare.

“If… anything happens to her…”

From the center of the group, Ace declared solemnly while holding Cecil,

“I’ll kill you all… and then myself!”

This was the result of a month-long ‘training’ session led by Cecil.

Duke Bartholomew, upon witnessing this scene… immediately sensed that many things had gone horribly wrong.

“Well. Looks like everyone’s having a grand time… Hard to tell if this is an organization or a kindergarten.”

“Boss!”

“Your Grace!”

That day, the members faced an unavoidable catastrophe—one named the Duke’s wrath.