Chapter 86
“Then just to the carriage.”
She walked alongside him across the dimly lit garden.
There had been countless moments where she and Gideon were together in silence, but for some reason, it felt slightly uncomfortable today.
‘Because I said something unnecessary earlier.’
Rita brushed her falling hair behind her ear. She wanted to just tie it all up. Gideon, who had been silent, glanced over at her.
“Come to think of it, Rita.”
“Yeah?”
“My cravat? You’re not going to return it?”
“Ah.”
She had completely forgotten. Seeing her expression, Gideon teased playfully.
“So you really weren’t planning to return it, huh? I may be a rich crown prince, but still, isn’t that a bit much?”
“I forgot. I’ve had a lot on my mind… and that thing even caused a misunderstanding…”
“A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?”
Remembering Richard’s reaction when he saw the cravat tied around her hair, Rita involuntarily grimaced.
“It’s… a thing. Don’t ask.”
“Hmmm.”
Gideon narrowed his eyes and smirked. His expression, as if he knew everything, was irritating, and she almost smacked his arm or back, but she let her raised hand fall.
‘I really need to keep my distance now.’
Sensing this perfectly, he opened his mouth.
“Why’d you stop mid-slap, Rita?”
“Do you want to get hit?”
“Getting hit by you isn’t so bad though.”
“You’re so full of nonsense. Anyway, I’ll wash the cravat and send it back later.”
“Send it back? What, planning to deliver it to Onyx Palace?”
“Obviously.”
“Just give it to me in person next time we meet.”
“And when’s that supposed to be? Ah, during the garden salon next month?”
“That’s cold, Rita. Are you really planning not to see me for an entire month? After we just finally met again after years?”
Gideon leaned in, putting on the most pitiful face. It was obvious he was pretending, so Rita scoffed and pushed his face away.
“A month will fly by. I can’t meet you while trying to approach the Grand Duke.”
“…You don’t have to meet me separately. It’s not like only the Grand Duke will be attending the Frontier Festival.”
The Frontier Festival, held in mid-May, was one of the empire’s three major social events. It commemorated the founding emperor driving out monsters with the legendary black dragon and founding the capital, Ramcard.
Because it commemorated both conquest and frontier establishment, it was held in the outer forests of the capital in the form of a royal monster hunting tournament. Almost all nobles participated, and of course, the crown prince would attend to preside over and award prizes.
“Give it to me then, mm?”
Gideon dragged his words out cutely and folded his eyes into a charming smile. Others might faint at the sight, but Rita was used to it. She frowned.
“Fine, just stop being gross with the cutesy act, Gideon Pascal.”
“How can I stop when it works so well? You just agreed, didn’t you?”
“You’re seriously shameless…”
Rita was grumbling when she suddenly tensed up.
She smelled patchouli.
At the same time, Gideon’s voice dropped to a low tone.
“Rita, Beacon Garden doesn’t carry patchouli.”
He added in a whisper.
“Never.”
Through the neatly trimmed hedges, she caught a glimpse of Laskail’s carriage.
But the coachman and Lindsay, who were supposed to be waiting, were nowhere in sight. In the dead silence, only the faint scent of patchouli lingered in the air.
Rita immediately closed her mouth and gestured.
‘I’ll go front, you cover behind.’
Gideon nodded slightly, understanding the signal.
She groped around her thigh, then remembered the gift Olivia had given her today and touched the bracelet. Silver Grace was quietly drawn.
With her revolver in hand, Rita silently approached the carriage door. Gideon circled low toward the coachman’s seat, moving to the other side.
Rita crouched and gripped the door handle. No signs of movement inside the carriage.
Still, she couldn’t let her guard down. Some named monsters couldn’t be sensed even when seen directly.
A faint light flickered beneath the carriage, then went out. It was a signal from Gideon on the other side using a portable magic light.
In Beacon, signals were always done with light. Flickering twice then off meant he was ready.
Rita stretched her hand under the carriage. From her palm, a globule of aura crafted from light floated out like a firefly, drifted under the carriage, and dropped to the ground where Gideon could see it. She measured the amount precisely; the light would extinguish in three seconds.
‘One, two…’
Three.
As the firefly-like light vanished, they simultaneously flung the carriage doors open.
“…”
“…”
They exchanged glances filled with anticlimactic disappointment. Gideon shrugged.
“Nothing here.”
“But the scent remains.”
“Who was supposed to be here?”
“Two people. A male coachman in his 40s, around 170cm, wearing a leather flat cap, checkered vest, tall leather boots, large nose, brown hair, and a short beard. The other is a female secretary in her 20s, similar height, black jacket, cream blouse, black pants. Black hair in a ponytail, black eyes, a beauty mark under her right eye, and daggers hidden inside her right sleeve and left ankle boot.”
“The secretary carries daggers?”
“She also acts as a guard.”
“Got it. Let’s search.”
“You don’t have any guards or aides waiting for you?”
“I was late, so I came alone.”
“Surprising, for a crown prince.”
There was no need for more words. After quickly exchanging the necessary info, they moved quietly. Following the scent of patchouli, they reached a side entrance for staff in a corner of Beacon Garden.
Rita silently pointed her revolver at the door, and Gideon, crouching, grabbed the handle. The door creaked open with a squeal of old hinges.
The light from the streetlamps streamed into what looked like a storage room. Rita lowered her weapon and said,
“No immediate threat. One door on the left side up ahead. Seems to lead to the garden.”
“They went inside?”
“Probably. But it’s weird—there are no signs of a struggle. Too neat.”
“A shapeshifter or mimic?”
“Could be a charm type. I’ll prep a smoke grenade. If it’s a sonic-type, block your ears.”
Gideon gripped his sword and reached for the door leading deeper inside. Rita followed, loading an empty cartridge in her revolver with aura to emit smoke.
“Loaded.”
“Confirmed. Breaching.”
Again, Rita aimed, and Gideon opened the door.
Nothing leapt out.
“…All clear. Come in.”
After confirming the area, Gideon motioned her forward. Rita lowered her revolver and followed him inside.
With the salon and shop closed, Beacon Garden was eerily quiet. Isaiah must have shut the lights down, so only moonlight filtering through the ceiling glass lit the place.
Along with the damp air, a burst of fresh grass and floral scent filled the space. Gideon frowned.
“It’s masking the digestion scent.”
“Of all places… a greenhouse, no, a flower shop.”
The digestion scent—another name for the patchouli smell—was coined during the Age of Ashes. It was the scent emitted by powerful monsters while digesting humans.
Rita inhaled the mixed air of countless plants, then frowned as she scanned the shadowy interior.
“We should find Senior Isa and regroup. He knows the layout be―”
“Wait.”
Gideon held a finger to his lips. Rita instantly shut up and lowered her posture.
A faint sound came from beyond the flowerbed, where unknown plants grew taller than a person. Light footsteps.
They exchanged a glance.
Gideon signaled her with a raised hand and crept around the flowerbed toward the sound. Rita followed a few steps behind, then stopped at the corner and listened.
“…Ah!”
A startled gasp from someone—then a familiar voice.
“Your Highness? What are you doing here?”
Lindsay Dices’ voice. Rita hesitated briefly before stepping out.
Thanks to the earlier briefing, Gideon recognized her and stood facing the surprised amethyst-eyed woman with arms crossed. Confirming Lindsay was safe, Rita let out a small sigh of relief.
“Lindsay, what are you doing here?”
“Miss!”
Lindsay’s eyes widened as she spotted Rita and grumbled like a scolded cat.
“I should be the one asking that! The salon was over, everyone left, but you didn’t come out. I got worried and came looking!”
Lindsay approached Rita, grumbling all the while. Rita stared at her for a moment, then ground her teeth and muttered softly.
“Gideon, restrain.”
Gideon acted instantly. As Lindsay passed him, he grabbed her arm, twisted it, kicked the back of her knee, and pinned her down. The secretary, now restrained by the crown prince, looked up at them, shocked.
“Your Highness? Miss?”
