“Lord Yi Yue, you’ve forgotten your manners.”
Until Yan Wei Fu behind her whispered a reminder, Yi Yue noticed she had been standing there frozen, failing to follow the courtier’s etiquette and not kneeling on one knee.
“Yi Yue Nelf.”
Knight Waleidina’s voice turned icy. “You are a member of the Royal Guard. And the Guard’s oath is lifelong. Her Majesty not holding you accountable for dereliction of duty and breaking your oath four hundred years ago is already the greatest mercy…”
Then her tone suddenly rose, her solemn countenance imposing without anger.
“Do you think that because you’ve performed many exploits, you can treat the oath and the Royal Court as nothing? Do you intend to defy the decree?”
“……Your subject would not dare.”
“Then accept the decree.”
Seeing Yi Yue finally bow down, the Guard Knight’s expression and voice returned to normal.
She placed the scroll with the imperial edict into Yi Yue’s hand, then walked past her toward the office door—
“Wait, Waleidina.”
Yi Yue called out to her, and the knight’s footsteps halted mid-step.
“What do you want to say?”
“You said earlier that the girl is at the Royal Court… is that right?”
Waleidina finally turned around. She looked at Yi Yue without a word.
“Why did the Royal Court take her away?”
“I have no obligation to answer your questions. Just remember to attend the Audience Ceremony on time.”
Waleidina still maintained that solemn, statue-like dignity… just like the other Guard Knights standing beside her in Yi Yue’s memory.
But after spitting out this cold response, a hint of disgust tinged her gaze as she looked at Yi Yue.
She turned and continued walking toward the door.
Just before leaving, she spoke: “I advise you not to dress in that ridiculous manner of yours when you meet Her Majesty.”
Then she stepped over the threshold and disappeared into the dimly lit street.
“What a decisive lady. Is she an old acquaintance of yours?”
“……”
Yan Wei Fu dusted off his knees and walked over to Yi Yue, who was holding the scroll—while the Guard Knight had been reading the edict, he had remained kneeling on the ground in accordance with etiquette.
“You forgot you’re still holding your gun.”
“Can you tell me what exactly happened today?”
Yi Yue did not answer him. She returned the gun to its holster, then turned to ask the anxious female clerk.
“It was like this—”
…
Returning to the mansion, Yi Yue sat on a chair, eyes closed, head bowed in thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
Yan Wei Fu asked while removing dust covers from the furniture in the room.
“……None of your business. Why are you still here?”
Yi Yue opened her eyes and gave him a cold look.
“Because you seem to still need my help. When I followed you in, you didn’t stop me, did you?”
The doors and windows were tightly shut… because when the two returned here, they had spotted the Ranger Corps nearby.
Seeing the room grow dimmer, Yan Wei Fu fetched a new candlestick and prepared to light it.
He murmured a spell, snapped his fingers—a flame ignited at his fingertip.
But just as he was about to light the wick with that flame, he stopped.
“Hmm?”
He stood still, pressed a gem cufflink on his hand. Then he held the cufflink to his ear, closing his eyes as if listening intently.
“……What are you doing?”
Seeing this inexplicable behavior, Yi Yue frowned.
“Please wait a moment.” Yan Wei Fu only replied briefly.
After this action continued for about a minute, he turned around and explained to Yi Yue:
“I received new intelligence from the family. During Lady Nefitalia’s ball today, a major incident occurred—a Shadow Demon infiltrated the ball.”
“Nefi’s ball… a Shadow Demon?”
These keywords made her expression change. She asked almost neurotically:
“Was anyone hurt?”
“Please rest assured,” Yan Wei Fu continued.
“Aside from that Shadow Demon, no one was hurt. The New Hero pulled out the Shadow Demon and subdued it with lightning speed… This incident has already spread in the social circles of the family and the nobles of the Upper City Forest District. If not for your sudden return being more shocking, this would probably be the talk of the streets today.”
“Only the Shadow Demon?”
“That’s what the news I heard says. Is there something about this information that concerns you?”
“……No, nothing.”
Sizing up the Yan Wei Fu before her, Yi Yue hesitated whether to tell him about matters related to the Demon Race to seek help… but she ultimately gave up.
Because she did not trust the man before her to that extent.
This person had provided her with much information about the whereabouts of Relics, yet the compensation he demanded was only a paltry sum of money, and—
“You only need to tell me whether you found the Relic based on my information… and if you can determine the specific effects of each Relic you find, please do not hesitate to inform me.”
This was the rule agreed upon when the two first traded intelligence.
This man sold information, and the compensation he demanded was also just information… This might be reasonable enough for an intelligence dealer, but Yi Yue always felt it wasn’t that simple.
After all, these Relics possessed power enough to change and destroy the world… And over the years, the only ones pursuing them besides herself were those Demon King’s Remnants.
Because he never asked about the whereabouts of the found Relics, Yi Yue didn’t think he was one of the Demon King’s Remnants… But this matter was too important, so she decided not to reveal information to this man whose depths she didn’t know.
“Then allow me to make a suggestion.” Yan Wei Fu’s words interrupted her churning thoughts.
“With the Audience Ceremony approaching, Lady Nefitalia, the New Hero, and yourself will all attract more attention. This means the window for you to silently take the Relic is narrowing. If you still want to ensure your actions remain hidden like in the past, you’d better act quickly.”
This suggestion made Yi Yue abruptly lift her head.
“……Not going tonight.”
Yan Wei Fu was slightly startled.
“Lord Yi Yue?”
“I said, not going tonight.” Yi Yue tried to keep her voice calm. “Tomorrow. I’ll go tomorrow.”
The room fell into brief silence. The candle flame illuminated Yan Wei Fu’s profile; his expression remained unchanged, still retaining elegance and composure.
“I understand.” He nodded slightly. “It must be the series of events today that have tired you. Since you’re going to act, it’s indeed better to conserve your strength first.”
With that, he stood up and walked toward the door.
“I will come to receive you tomorrow morning—as the butler of the Nelf family.”
“You… why did you show up this time?”
Just before he left the room, Yi Yue suddenly asked this.
“What do you mean?”
“In the past, our cooperation was limited to letters. You never showed your face… but this time, you suddenly appeared. Why is that?”
This was a question Yi Yue had not expected to get an answer to, but Yan Wei Fu revealed a relieved smile and answered her directly:
“Because this should be our last cooperation. So I thought I should show up and say it to you.”
“……You’re retiring?”
“You can think of it that way. Have a good night.”
With these words, Yan Wei Fu gently closed the door.