Birthday Trap 1
On the night of the new moon, as preparations were underway throughout the capital city to celebrate the tenth birthday of the Crown Prince of the Slibegrad Kingdom, the man listened irritably to a report from his subordinate.
“It’s been a year already. Why can’t we make contact?”
“Unfortunately, our collaborator recently had a riding accident,” the subordinate said.
The man let out a sharp click of his tongue. No one was foolish enough to take the accident at face value. In other words, the collaborator had been killed under the guise of an accident.
“There’s no way the Death Worm hasn’t been found after all this time, especially with our clan involved. Couldn’t we attract it with something, like a dangling apple?”
“Well, if we mention Lord Tenner’s name, there might be a chance of flushing it out.”
“I don’t want to take such a risky move.”
The man dismissed the subordinate’s cautious suggestion with a frown. He welcomed lucrative work with open arms but avoided tasks that put his own safety at risk. That was why he worked as an information broker. His clients were mostly from the underworld. Nobles familiar with the underworld would listen to him, while those who were not had no place in his clientele. The nobility was too entangled in political interests, pride, and power shifts to be reliable. As a result, nobles would turn to the “Clan” for their tasks. Known as the “Great Calamity Clan” in public, they were simply referred to as the “Clan” in the underworld. The man thought the grandiose name likely appealed to the nobles.
In contrast, relationships in the underworld were straightforward. Despite its complexities, the reasoning and thinking of the underworld fit well with his own. There was no condescension, and working on an equal footing was much easier for him.
The current client was a regular and generous payer, often paying the asking price without hesitation. Although this client was posing as someone else, the man suspected they were a noble based on their mannerisms. Although there was no set deadline for the task, he knew from experience that results would soon be demanded.
“Let’s give up on the Death Worm. What about Kokoefuki?”
“As for Kokoefuki, we have tracked its whereabouts up to a month ago.”
That meant contact could be established soon. The man nodded.
The client had requested “the best assassin with exceptional skills.” While the Death Worm was the top assassin he knew, Kokoefuki was also a good choice. Though not on par with the Death Worm, Kokoefuki would handle most tasks efficiently and was easier to manage than the Death Worm.
The subordinate seemed to have had the same thought and nodded slightly.
“There seems to be about a year left of work, but there are no other appointments after that. It might be a good idea to book now.”
“Very well. We’ll arrange for an extension with advance payment, and the contract will be for two years.”
The subordinate nodded in acknowledgment but wore a puzzled expression. The man found this understandable.
A two-year contract with an assassin implied an exclusive arrangement. It was rare for someone to hire an assassin for such a lengthy period. The cost would be enormous, and it was unwise to secure an assassin for an extended period, given the unpredictable nature of their profession.
“Is the client planning to deal with them themselves?”
“Exactly. That’s why they’re interested in either the Death Worm or Kokoefuki.”
The man confirmed the subordinate’s concern with a dismissive tone. The subordinate nodded in understanding.
Typically, advance payment was only a portion of the total amount, with the remainder paid upon completion of the contract. However, a regular client insisted on full advance payment, implying that the assassin might be silenced to prevent any loose ends. The client’s payment was essentially a covert threat not to interfere with the assassin’s fate.
Ordinary assassins might face a fatal end due to such circumstances. However, the Death Worm or Kokoefuki could likely escape on their own. The man had no intention of letting a valuable asset like an assassin be killed by the client.
There was also the issue that for the two-year contract, the assassin would be unable to take on other jobs. In a continent growing increasingly dangerous, binding a skilled assassin to a single client was not ideal. Historically, shadowy figures had often influenced events, but the man cared little for national trends. What mattered was that this client paid well, and his only concern was that if Kokoefuki took the job, he would not be able to commission him for two years.
“It would be fine if it were the Death Worm.”
With a sigh, the man muttered to himself.
The Death Worm would disregard any restrictions on accepting other jobs. His whims often disrupted many, but Kokoefuki was a serious individual. Once he signed a contract, he would likely stick to his exclusive duties.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
When the man spoke, the subordinate bowed and vanished. If Kokoefuki accepted the job, he would need to inform the key figures in the underworld. The man sighed softly.
“—I suppose I should do some groundwork.”
It was a hassle, but better than being overwhelmed with the aftermath. The man calculated the required amount for payment and added the figures to the contract he would send to the client.
*****
Riley would be turning ten. On the day of his birthday celebration, Liliana had to dress up and attend the royal palace for the event. She would also encounter the other engagement candidates. While Marianne was excitedly preparing, Liliana felt gloomy. Not only was it troublesome to go to the palace and participate in the birthday celebration, but staying at the Duke of Clark's residence in the capital also added to her unease.
Despite the birthday celebration lasting all day, the mansion, which she rarely visited, felt uncomfortable. The only relief was that her father was not present.
Furthermore, the king’s condition had not improved, and time continued to pass. Liliana thought it was quite inappropriate to hold a birthday celebration under such circumstances, but most of the powerful nobles apparently supported it. Riley, whom she had met a few days ago at the palace, had revealed this with an unmistakable expression of frustration. Since Riley's visit to the Duke of Clark's domain, his attitude towards Liliana had become more familiar, but she had been unable to ask him to stop, leading to the current situation.
“You look stunning, Young Lady!” Marianne exclaimed.
In Marianne's delighted gaze, Liliana must have appeared in her dress, which combined elegance with a delicate charm. According to Marianne, the theme for this event was “mystical fairy.” Liliana's dress, a pale green matching her eyes, was adorned with frills at the neckline and scattered with colorful small flowers from the bust through the waist and down to the hem. The dress flared out as it reached the bottom, with layered lace creating a light and airy effect.
“You look every bit as beautiful as Princess Fiondi,” Marianne declared.
—That seems a bit exaggerated.
At Marianne’s emotional praise, Liliana tilted her head in discomfort.
Fiondi was the most famous fairy in fairy tales. Though sometimes called a spirit in other stories, her beauty was said to be unparalleled on both earth and in the heavens. Fiondi was more than just a fairy tale character; she appeared in various stories, always portrayed as a tragic fairy princess.
Fiondi was loved by the king of the heavens, but her life was cut short by a demon. The king mourned deeply, the skies darkened and became murky, and he continued to wander in search of his beloved princess. The fairy tales and operas typically end there. However, some historical texts recorded what happened next. The king’s sorrow over losing Fiondi led to the world losing the sun. Evil spread across the earth, people and creatures suffered from plagues, and plants withered. The era of despair lasted for three hundred years, known as the “Three Hundred Years of Darkness” by historians.
—Following the story of the heroes who ended the Three Hundred Years of Darkness, Fiondi was a famous figure in the Slibegrad Kingdom.
(I’ve heard that women often admire such figures.)
Although the tales and operas depicting Fiondi were always tragic, her pure love with the aloof king was appealing to women. Fiondi-themed outfits were frequently seen at social gatherings. However, for Liliana, the villainess, Fiondi was the exact opposite.
At that moment, there was a timely knock on the door. It seemed that her brother Clyde had come to fetch her for their departure. Marianne answered the query for permission to enter, and Clyde opened the door and stepped in.
“You’ve changed so much.”
Clyde’s eyes widened in surprise, and he smiled. Approaching Liliana, he took her right hand and gently kissed the back of it. Looking at Liliana with a warm smile, Clyde said happily,
“You look beautiful, Lily. It suits you perfectly. I’m proud as your brother to be able to escort such a lovely person.”
Instead of thanking him, Liliana smiled and gave a slight bow. Clyde, who had undoubtedly understood Liliana’s intent, smiled even more and asked Marianne, “It’s almost time, but are we ready?”
Marianne nodded firmly and declared, “Everything is perfect.”
Liliana was escorted by Clyde and entered the duke’s carriage waiting in front of the mansion.
Even though they were only traveling within the capital, the number of escorts was substantial. Recently, the number of monsters appearing had increased, and their appearance locations had expanded beyond just the main roads. Consequently, many nobles in the capital were becoming more cautious. For Liliana, who could handle a stampede of monsters on her own, this level of protection felt excessively restrictive, but she accepted it quietly without complaining.
“Do you know the schedule for today?” Clyde asked.
<Yes, I understand it’s going to be a standing buffet> Liliana responded.
“Correct. Initially, you’ll be greeting the royal family, but due to His Majesty’s condition, you’ll only be meeting the prince and the grand duke. After that, it will be a standing buffet for mingling. With a sizable number of guests, you probably won’t have a chance to speak with the prince during the party. Although, it seems the prince would like to talk to you.”
At Clyde’s words, Liliana’s smile turned into a wry expression.
It seemed Riley wanted to talk to her—but then again, they frequently engaged in lively discussions at tea parties. His interest in speaking with her at this birthday celebration was likely an attempt to showcase her as a prominent candidate for the prince's fiancée to the nobles. However, this was something Duke Clark would never permit. Liliana’s father still hoped she would be removed from consideration as the prince’s fiancée. The private agreement that if Liliana’s voice did not return by the age of ten she would be removed from the list of candidates was still in effect. Moreover, Liliana wanted to avoid any actions that would publicly confirm her status as a fiancée.
Unconsciously, Liliana touched the bracelet on her wrist. It was a communication device given to her by Riley. Riley had asked her to wear it for the birthday celebration, but this bracelet was meant to transmit Liliana’s voice to Riley and could not be used the other way around. Unless Riley came close to her, Liliana could not hear his voice, but if she did, those around her would surely notice how Liliana was responding to Riley. Riley seemed to want to keep the existence of the magical device a secret.
What could Riley be thinking? Liliana still had no idea.
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