Chapter 015
Clink.
Blood dripped from the woman’s lips to her chin. Her gaze, with her fists clenched, burned with a dark intensity.
“Did we fail again?”
“They say someone got involved. The Crown Prince not only collected the sacrifice but also discovered the abandoned mansion…”
“AAAAAAAH!!!”
The woman screamed and swept everything off the table with her arm. Crash. Crash! All the utensils were shattered. Her slender arms trembled violently.
This time, the situation was indeed desperate.
The desperation was compounded by the limited number of available locations. There were several conditions for the ritual location:
First, it had to be at a high altitude; second, it should be a place where moonlight doesn’t reach well; third, it needed to be a deserted area; fourth, there should be many trees nearby.
Finding a location that satisfied all these conditions was like trying to catch stars in the sky.
‘What I have to give up… I must give it up.’
Mateo, that cunning guy, would find a way to get out of it. The problem was the people involved in this matter. Unlike the abandoned building used previously, this mansion had many people entangled in it.
Starting with the mansion’s caretaker.
“…Kill the caretaker.”
“Yes. I will handle it without mistakes.”
The woman nodded.
“And Sera has contacted us. Should we continue having contact with the sacrifice as is?”
“Is it certain that her identity has not been exposed?”
“Yes.”
The woman sighed and wiped the blood with a handkerchief. Everything was in disarray.
“Well, at least there’s a silver lining. Let’s do that.”
“Yes!”
The woman threw the handkerchief onto the floor. They say nothing in this world is easy, but handling a sacrifice that she brought in herself was proving to be this difficult. Her eyes darkened.
Filled with anger and turmoil.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Sera licked her lips. There was a hint of discomfort in her gaze as she looked up at Evelina’s office.
‘I never thought she would come back.’
A small resentment towards Evelina for complicating matters emerged.
It had been easy this time, but next time would surely be difficult.
Sera sighed and folded her parasol. She entered the building, calculating how she should react and running various simulations in her head.
“Ah, Lady Regnis!”
“Sera…?”
Evelina’s gaze wavered.
“Did you get home safely that day?”
“Ah.”
Evelina smiled awkwardly. Seeing Sera brought back the terror of that day. However, Sera was not to blame.
It was Evelina who mistakenly got into the wrong carriage.
“I never thought you would get so drunk from just a glass of wine.”
Sera smiled playfully.
“I did check to see that the carriage had left.”
“…Thanks to that, I was okay.”
“You look unwell, though.”
Sera added a few worried words and handed over the newspaper she had brought.
“This is an article based on the interview from that day. I came to show it to you, milady.”
Evelina checked the article. It was a neatly written piece for the weekly magazine of Reginox, presenting the facts well.
It was definitely an article that would catch people’s attention.
“It looks good.”
“Right? I’m quite a decent journalist.”
Evelina swallowed a sigh. The memories of that day were still fresh, making her somewhat distant towards Sera, but she shouldn’t blame an innocent person. Evelina steadied her mind.
“I’ve reserved a spot for you at the fashion show. I’d love for you to attend and write an article about it.”
“Oh! Thank you so much. I actually wanted to get a ticket, but I couldn’t afford one!”
Sera expressed her gratitude repeatedly. In fact, Evelina had been considering bringing Sera on board at the magazine for a longer term. After all, there was no reason to pass up a good opportunity.
The discomfort was something only Evelina had to endure.
After all, the incident that day was just a coincidence.
* * *
“Hm, did you receive an invitation from Lady Regnis?”
“Of course, I did. How presumptuous of her to send an invitation from her ruined family…”
“Do you know where she is staying now?”
“No one knows. It doesn’t seem like she’s staying in her office. She might have become a wealthy old nobleman’s second wife. Otherwise, why would she sell off the mansion…?”
“Are you going this time?”
“I guess so…”
The ladies’ gazes turned toward the invitation.
“I suppose I have to go.”
The ladies collectively sighed. For some reason, the invitation bore the name of the Crown Prince. As a patron!
How Regnis managed to gain the Crown Prince’s support was unclear, but it was the Crown Prince nonetheless.
If Alejandro were to inherit the throne later, this would be an opportunity to make an impression on a powerful figure. What if, for some reason, Regnis had managed to secure a position as Alejandro’s right hand?
What if this event was organized by Alejandro to raise political funds?
Various speculations circulated.
In any case, the important thing was that they had to attend this event for whatever reason. Whether they liked the host or not!
The ladies clicked their tongues.
“Could it be that Lady Regnis and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are… ?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! There should be a certain level of propriety!”
The ladies fanned themselves more vigorously. Regnis was already ruined. And yet, the Crown Prince? No matter how terrible the reputation of the Crown Prince, he wouldn’t stoop to associating with Regnis.
“The late Empress must be weeping in her grave.”
Alejandro may not have been loved, but the deceased Empress was cherished and revered by all the nobility. She had been a paragon of elegance, a true noblewoman, and a member of the illustrious Delilah family, which was now on the brink of extinction.
If the late Empress had given birth to one more child, that child would have become the Duke of Delilah.
In any case, Regnis was far too inadequate for Alejandro, a descendant of the royal family and the Delilah lineage. After all, Crown Prince Alejandro had discerning eyes.
“Even if he’s cursed, you can’t deny the nobility of that bloodline. Don’t say such foolish things.”
The ladies nodded in agreement.
Regardless, it was almost certain that many nobles would attend the most anticipated social event right now.
As long as Alejandro was behind Regnis.
And Regnis’s suspicious event was only five days away.
* * *
Three days before the event.
Alejandro let out a hollow laugh. He couldn’t believe the headline printed in the magazine he held in his hands.
It was clear that Evelina had a natural talent for attracting attention. And at the same time, she was truly fearless.
Was this level of audacity nothing to her if it meant getting what she wanted? Alejandro rubbed his face, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to emerge.
He could confidently say that he had never encountered such an interesting person in his life.
Rebecca, who had personally brought the magazine, was also smiling with a face that looked like she might cry. As if she couldn’t bring herself to laugh in front of Alejandro.
<The Worst Bachelor in the Empire – No. 1>
Beneath it was a printed photo of Alejandro’s back, dressed in a suit with red accents, unlike his usual attire.
Alejandro wiped his face.
‘This is madness.’
No one had ever dared to mock him like this before. But strangely, he didn’t feel bad about it. Alejandro let out a dry laugh.
That day.
With tears welling up in her always shining eyes, she looked at Alejandro.
“I’ll do anything for you. Just don’t abandon me.”
What did she think Alejandro was to cling to him like that? That woman was excessively fearless.
Certainly, Alejandro thought that even if Evelina were to die, it would be unavoidable. While there might be some regrets, Alejandro could sacrifice things if it meant obtaining what he needed.
Alejandro frowned.
What should he do with this fearless woman?
“Your Highness Alejandro.”
At Emil’s call, Alejandro stopped his thoughts.
“I’ve found out who owns the abandoned mansion.”
Alejandro’s eyes gleamed coldly. The captured sorcerer had vanished. More accurately, he had melted away.
Only black residue was left behind.
From the moment they had captured him, it was clear he was no longer human, so it didn’t matter.
