Chapter 8
Shairin calmed Lelina down and sat with her in the empty seats. Though they were somewhat far from the stage, it was still close enough to see the movements of the people clearly.
Lelina rolled her eyes curiously, and the sight was so adorable that Shairin smiled, her eyes crinkling gently.
‘I was like that in my past life too.’
One day during an undercover mission in her previous life, she had encountered something called a play for the first time.
Unlike the formal and somewhat dull operas, the raw charm of the performance captivated her.
So, until she was broken by brainwashing, Shairin used to watch plays often.
“They say this is a talented theater troupe that travels across the entire kingdom. It should be fun.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
Just as Lelina spoke with a bright smile, a host came out and announced the start of the play.
Soon after, the actors began their performance.
Love, friendship, betrayal, adventure, and the founding of a nation.
The protagonist of this play was the first king of the Ravantra Kingdom.
The story of a girl born a slave, growing through various trials, and in the process, becoming a hero who founded the Ravantra Kingdom.
Since it was a story she already knew well, Shairin’s expression remained indifferent.
Having seen many of the play’s highlights and entertaining points before, there was nothing surprising about it.
But for Lelina, who was watching a play for the first time, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
While munching on the snacks the knights had quickly brought for her, she never took her eyes off the stage.
She cried when the actors cried, and laughed when the audience laughed.
Fully immersed until the play ended, Lelina looked disappointed when all the actors came out together, held hands, and bowed.
Shairin reassured her, saying they could watch another play next time or invite the troupe to the palace, before finally getting up from her seat.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Well, I ate what the knights gave me earlier, so I’m fine.”
“Is that so? Still, I think we should rest a little before heading back.”
Considering the child’s stamina, she decided it was better to sit for a while rather than move around before returning to the palace.
It wasn’t as if today was the only chance for this, and she didn’t expect them to become close just by watching one play together.
So there was nothing to regret.
“Then can we rest nearby while drinking something? I want to keep watching this scene.”
“Hmm…”
Although going indoors seemed like a good idea, she didn’t want to refuse the child’s request.
Shairin glanced sideways at the knight commander standing guard near them. He nodded.
‘That means it’s safe enough to stay here.’
“Then we can just stay here.”
Meanwhile, one of the knights had run off toward a street branching left from the square.
A short distance down that road was a café that catered to nobles, popular for its delicious drinks and desserts.
Even royal events sometimes used this shop’s desserts, so Lelina was probably familiar with it.
The two sisters sat on a bench under a tree and looked out at the square.
They could see workers busily clearing the stage and children running around playing.
Shairin glanced at Lelina’s eyes, thinking how she hoped that joy was genuine, not artificial.
“Prin—I mean, Lady Shairin. I’ve brought drinks for both of you.”
“Good work.”
A knight brought them refreshments: fruit juice for Lelina and iced flower tea for Shairin.
Shairin took a sip of her tea and asked casually, “How did you like the play? You looked like you were enjoying it.”
“It was good. I’d only ever read about the founding king in biographies, so seeing it adapted into a play felt fresh.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“The play itself was fun, but… I think I liked seeing the people smile even more.”
Shairin drank her tea calmly while watching Lelina closely.
“I loved seeing the vitality and energy people give off.”
“I see.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it? Seeing that made my heart race so much I felt like I wasn’t myself.”
“Isn’t that love too?”
Love for the people. Perhaps Lelina was naturally born with such a heart.
‘The goal has been achieved to some extent.’
One of today’s goals had been for Lelina to become even slightly aware of her love for the people.
Seeing that a small seed had been planted reassured Shairin.
It seemed her little sister possessed the qualities of a wise ruler.
As a former tyrant and failed monarch, Shairin believed that a king’s most essential quality, above all else, was love for the people.
Without love for the people, a king would grow numb to all their duties.
Just as they were continuing their conversation about the play, the knight commander stepped in.
“Lady Shairin, it’s time to return now.”
“Hmm. Is it already sunset?”
“Yes. I’ll bring the carriage you came in.”
To conceal the royal presence, they had left the unmarked carriage in front of the busy street, so it was somewhat far from where they were now.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
A few knights disappeared to speak with the coachman.
Meanwhile, Lelina bought flowers from a child carrying a basket and buried her nose in them.
The rough but fragrant scent lifted her spirits even more.
Shairin patted Lelina’s head and looked ahead.
Soon, the carriage appeared. Shairin helped Lelina in first, then placed her foot on the step.
That was when—
“I absolutely… said…”
“And we told you… you have no choice but to… beneath…”
Her eyes caught a ragged-looking man arguing with a group of men.
Though quite far away, he was almost shouting, so fragments of the conversation drifted over.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Just because I was born lowly doesn’t mean I have to give up being human!”
The man shouted angrily, and his last words struck a nerve with the others.
“That’s what you people always do!”
The smug atmosphere of his opponents turned cold. Their demeanor grew sharp.
‘They’re about to grab him by the collar and fight.’
Sensing the hostility, Shairin watched them intently from her position.
Then, her eyes narrowed.
Because the man standing alone against those burly thugs was exactly the person she had been looking for.
‘What a twist of fate.’
In a good way—a crazy coincidence.
As if someone was pushing luck her way.
Shairin stepped back down from the carriage, and Lelina tilted her head.
“Sister? Is something wrong?”
“No. You go home first, alright? Sister suddenly has something to do.”
“Huh? Something to do?”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon.”
Before Lelina could answer, Shairin closed the door.
She whispered to the coachman to take Lelina safely back and then request reinforcements. After that, she waved.
At the sudden turn of events, half the knights followed Lelina, while the rest stayed with Shairin.
The remaining knights looked bewildered, but she didn’t offer any explanation.
“Damn it.”
In the moment she looked away, the man had disappeared.
He must have been dragged off by those burly thugs.
As she clicked her tongue, the knight commander, having sent off his subordinates, asked her on behalf of the others.
“Your Highness, what is the matter? If we don’t return now, we’ll be late.”
“Returning is not the issue right now.”
She hid her excitement at having caught a big fish and declared solemnly:
“From now on, we’re going to rescue an innocent citizen.”
In her past life, there was someone who completely conquered the underworld.
Originally from poverty, he was unfortunate but worldly-wise.
He was brilliant—so capable that if only his status had been better, he could have advised royalty.
But his birth held him back from everything.
He was frustrated. He resented the world that blocked his every path.
He had no choice but to give up on everything and live the same life as his ancestors.
But just as an awl hidden in a pocket will still be sharp, his talents became famous in the underworld, and the king of the criminal underworld reached out to him.
He promised wealth and honor if the man would join him.
The man knew he could never soar high.
But that didn’t mean he wanted to give up being human.
He refused, became a target, but in the end, he turned the underworld upside down and became its king.
His name was Sentileon Prox.
The man Shairin absolutely needed to uncover the mastermind behind the incense.
And the very person she now needed to recruit.
