Chapter 110
A man in a black knight's uniform asked.
Noah was startled and waved his hand.
"I will take care of it. Go."
"Yes? But......."
"Just go."
At the firm order, the man left the room with a displeased face.
He himself was not of low rank, but how could he go against the order of the master's aide.
Left in the room, Noah was troubled with a serious face.
In his hand was a secret letter.
Elvin's current location was a rural village close to the border.
It was the emperor's secret order to organize the rebels rampaging around the border area as there had been recent suspicious movements.
This job was very risky and he needed to be cautious.
However, if Noah told Elvin the news about the Princess now, it would only add to his worries.
Besides, Elvin was far away anyway, so even if he knew this, there was nothing else he could do.
Before Elvin left, there seemed to be something between the princess and him.
However, the marriage was ordered by the emperor and the second Prince confessed his love.
It was too sweet a temptation not to fall for.
So, how could there be guaranteed that the princess would not change her mind while Elvin was away?
Noah resealed the Emperor's secret letter, put it in the envelope, and took out a piece of paper.
Then he paused while writing a report to Elvin on the big and small things that had happened in the capital.
It was because he had not yet made up his mind whether to report the news of the marriage of the princess and the second prince.
"The timing is not good."
He shook his head and sighed.
Why did this happen while Elvin was away?
If the 2nd prince was the light, Elvin was the shadow.
Unlike the 2nd Prince, who was liked by many for his gentle personality and kind attitude, Elvin was notorious for being ruthless and arrogant.
In addition, the 2nd prince moved in the sun and received cheers, but Elvin hid his identity and worked in the shadows.
Normally, there were no complaints, but today Noah felt particularly dissatisfied with that.
In a way, the two were similar, but very different, from their high social status to their painful family affairs and to doing dangerous things.
The second prince was a young hero and unlike anyone else, he had a good character, so Noah respected him as a citizen.
But he couldn't help but be greatly disappointed by this.
Until now, Elvin and the second prince had never collided with each other, so there was no grudge between the two.
But, while Elvin was away, the second Prince was trying to marry the Princess.
It was still unknown which of the two men the princess would choose.
However, under normal circumstances, she would choose a nice and friendly person.
When he thought of Elvin, who always had a cold face but had a rare smile while choosing a gift for the princess, he felt even more pity.
Noah picked up the pen again and started writing.
The mission was important, but this job was also important.
In addition, before Elvin left, he earnestly asked Noah to help the Princess if something happened or if she came to the organization.
But what should he do about this important news?
***
"What?!"
Claire shouted sharply.
She looked thinner than before, but she was still beautiful.
The maid didn't know what to do and lowered her head.
"Marry?"
The maid opened her mouth with an anxious expression.
"I'm not sure, but when I went down to the first floor earlier, I overheard the baron discussing the marriage of the lady with the guests."
Claire couldn't contain her anger.
Her own father, Baron Dana, was truly incorrigible.
He tried to sell her to an old and ugly nobleman for money, but was prevented by the crown prince.
However, he did it again as soon as a gap opened between her and the Crown prince.
"Which family did they say this time again?"
"Name is Baron Mikhail."
At the maid's words, Claire frowned.
She had never heard of that family before.
It must be an insignificant family in a rural area.
Still, it seemed they had enough money, seeing that Baron Dana was about to marry her off.
"My father is very persistent."
"...."
The maid bowed her head without answering.
Claire looked down, lost in her thoughts.
The first maid was gone, and she was still in confinement.
The place of the missing maid was replaced by another, and no news was heard from the crown prince.
She felt strange and bribed another maid. She gave the maid her things and instructed to deliver a note, but that maid quit that day.
Claire was extremely furious. Because the maid took her things and quit without delivering the note.
She couldn't calm her rage at the thought that she had been fooled by a lowly woman of mere commoner status.
She said her maid was suspicious, who immediately quit after her things were missing from her room.
Baron Dana was very strict and treated his servants in a very harsh way.
Claire deliberately emphasized that a very expensive item was missing, so the Baron searched for the maid.
Perhaps the maid would soon regret it bitterly and suffer greatly.
Perhaps she will have to live crippled for the rest of her life, or perhaps she will not be able to bear it and die in the middle of a severe punishment.
A cold sneer crossed Claire's lips when she remembered the treacherous maid.
But now recalling her own situation, she awoke from her thoughts.
The maid in front of her still stood there with her eyes down.
When she looked up, she could see the fight in her glowing eyes, but she looked very docile now as she stood there with her head down.
Besides, perhaps because she was still young, she was easy to coax, unlike the other maids who were wary of even talking to Claire.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"...?"
"I've been locked up for so long, it's kind of frustrating. Will you get me a copy of the newspaper the next time you come?"
Claire schooled expression and spoke in a soft voice.
She looked terribly lonely and sad.
"Yes. Okay."
The young maid replied, looking at Claire pitifully.
"You have to keep this conversation a secret from other people. It doesn't matter to me, but I'm afraid I might harm you if you don't."
"My lady, thank you for your concern. I'll go now."
"Wait a minute, come here. I have something to give you."
Looking at the puzzle faced maid, Claire calmly took out a small necklace from a drawer.
At the end of the necklace was a small piece of gold the size of a pinky fingernail.
It wasn't very valuable, but it should have been enough to satisfy the young maid.
"Thank you for the trouble. If you listen to me, I'll give you something better next time."
***
The maid kept her promise.
Over the past few weeks, Claire and the young maid have grown quite close.
When Claire gave the maid a few of her pennies or the occasional silver coin, the maid became even more delighted and ran her errands dutifully.
Most of it was simple.
It was like eavesdropping on a conversation going on in the newspaper or at the baron's residence.
"Is this true? The Crown Prince and Princess Lillian annulled their marriage?"
Claire asked with an incredulous face.
The newspaper in her hand crumpled in a mess in her hands.
The maid nodded her head and asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yes. It's true. Aren't you happy, lady?"
It was already an open fact that Claire was the Crown prince's secret lover.
Unlike the princess who had a strong family backing, the crown prince was overly generous with Claire's status.
However, now that things had turned out like this, she was able to have the Crown Prince all to herself. But why wasn't she happy?
Claire's expression contorted even more at the maid's innocent question.
Happy?
A light of contempt flashed in her gaze at the maid.
It was definitely something to celebrate since she got rid of the thorn in her eye.
However, she herself knew why the crown prince had been unable to let go of a stupid and vulgar woman like the princess.
It was because of the Duke of Lillian's power.
In order for the crown prince to ascend the throne, he desperately needed the support of the Duke.
But now that they went separate ways, what would happen in the future?
Claire looked down at the newspaper with a sunken face, then folded it up and put it on the table.
Then she took out a gold necklace from a drawer.
"Good job. You did well, so you'll be able to do the job well this time too, right?"
Seeing the maid's eyes widen, Claire smiled.
"Go to the Hermes. I can't fail this time, so I need to find a proper guild. It doesn't matter the cost."
"My lady, what are you going to do?"
"I must see the Crown Prince in person."
***
A large falcon soared through the clouds at high speed.
As soon as it found something, it slowed down the speed, circled, and lowered itself.
A group of people on horseback lined up under the sky with hawks.
They were dressed as servants, but some wore swords around their waists.
Judging by the dangerous atmosphere exuded from his body, he did not look like an ordinary servant.
In the lead, Elvin with a solemn expression rode a shiny black horse.
He wore a gorgeous uniform with gold thread, and a brooch hung on his chest.
A deep and vivid red jewel embedded in the middle of the brooch gave off a brilliant shine depending on the angle.
The hawk spread its large wings outstretched so as not to collide with the ground and flew in a nimble and graceful manner.
People raised their heads at the loud flapping of wings.
Elvin also looked up and saw a hawk flying overhead.
He ordered by pulling the reins.
"Everyone, stop."
He held out his one arm.
Then the hawk flew leisurely and landed on his arm.
Elvin casually opened the small barrel tied to the hawk's ankle.
It contained two notes.
One must have been sent by the emperor and the other by Noah.
Elvin first opened the message sent by the emperor, then frowned.
His face was full of displeasure.
"Master, what's going on?"
The servant next to Elvin asked.
"I have work to do. Find an inn, rest, and leave early tomorrow. Don't waste time, finish quickly and go back."
"Yes, sir."
Looking at Elvin's expression, it seemed that something unusual had happened.
Before leaving again, he opened the second note.
His complexion changed once more.
Seeing his expression, the servant took a deep breath. A chilly silence passed.
As Elvin radiated murder with a cold face, the people around him did not dare to breathe deeply.
Even the best shooters felt the pressure, so it wouldn't be strange if a weak person was scared.
A few minutes later he opened his mouth.
"Leave now. Finish it as quickly as possible and return to the imperial palace."