“Background?”
As the man spoke those words, Tina clearly felt Irene clutch her hand tighter, wearing an expression of panic and unease.
Was she worried? Worried that once she knew about her past, Tina would abandon her?
Still, she said it so innocently.
“That’s right. This blonde lady seems to have amnesia, and you don’t know her. Aren’t you curious about her past?”
The man picked up his teacup, blew away the steam, and gently swirled the liquid a few times.
“I can tell you everything you want to know, no charge. How about that?”
Tina observed Irene’s expression. Though she couldn’t see her eyes, her demeanor was not hard to interpret—she didn’t want to know, and didn’t want Tina to know either.
“No need.”
Tina wrapped Irene’s hand between both of hers, expressing their resolve with warmth.
“Thank you for your help, but I don’t need to know the trivial details of the past. They have nothing to do with who she is now.”
“Haha.” The man barely frowned before awkwardly smiling and spreading his arms, showing no intention to force them.
“Alright then, Miss, sorry to bother you. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.”
Before leaving, Tina had the man mark the location of the mansion on the map, then she and Irene left without looking back.
At that moment, a masked figure slipped out from the man’s shadow inside the office.
“Boss, you’re really letting them go just like that?”
“I never said that. It took a lot of effort to find this sinner. How can we let her off so easily? You—go undercover beside her. Find the right moment, kill them all, and bring back the sword.”
“Die.”
Outskirts of the city.
“I—I’m supposed to attack the Royal Guard Captain?” The masked man felt genuine fear.
“Are you blind? Didn’t you see she’s like a cripple since losing her memory? Show some courage worthy of an Empire assassin, or I’ll deal with you right now.”
“Yes, boss!”
The masked figure became a streak in the darkness, slipping into the shadow of the blonde girl the moment she was distracted, following the two toward the main boulevard of the city.
Irene only relaxed once they had left the crowded Investigation Bureau behind.
“Thank you.”
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s; if Tina hadn’t been standing next to her, she wouldn’t have caught a word.
“Why thank me? Everyone has their own secrets and the right to hide their past. This is what I should do.” Tina didn’t think it was anything special.
Take herself as an example—if she didn’t wear a disguise and openly showed her past to the world, she’d probably have been arrested or killed by Princess Lia’s people by now.
Hiding oneself is only natural, and a necessary means of survival.
“I just think you’re a good person, Tina. You care about me and are trustworthy.”
During all those years Irene spent alone, barely scraping by, no one ever cared about her like that.
Even well-meaning strangers would only bring food a few times, never concern themselves with her every detail.
“So, I want to stay by your side and protect you.”
“Eh?” Tina seemed to hear something serious.
Irene, rarely stumbling over her words, pronounced this vow clearly, as if she had said it thousands of times before, making it feel like a second nature.
It gave Tina a strange sense of déjà vu, though this was their first meeting and she had never heard the girl’s oath before.
“It’s too soon to say such things now.”
Tina smiled bitterly, standing on tiptoes to pat Irene’s head.
The most worthless thing in life is a promise—at least for her. She’d heard many, made many herself, but to this day none had ever been fulfilled.
Maybe someday, maybe never.
She was just a villain who often deceived others, unable to handle such genuine words.
“I believe in my intuition—that by following you, I can protect you.” Irene’s thoughts were truly like a child’s, never looking to the future, only valuing the present.
“Mm, then follow me.”
Tina glanced at Irene’s shadow without thinking, pondering.
After walking some distance, they arrived at the outskirts of Valencia’s border. Not far ahead, just as marked on the map, stood a brown mansion.
But it still had lights on inside, not empty as the man had said.
They seemed to have been deceived.
“Since we’re here, let’s go in and take a look.”
Tina listened at the door for any sound. Inside, it was lively—just on the first floor, she could hear the voices of at least twenty people.
“I’ll be the head.”
“I’ll be the feet and legs.”
“I’ll be the torso and arms.”
They seemed to be playing some kind of strange game.
Through the window, Tina saw knights dressed in armor, gathered around a gigantic suit of armor, trying to climb inside and combine into a giant knight.
But then, looking to the side, a girl tied to a chair locked eyes with her.
Tina recognized her—that was the young lady she was searching for, Vanessa.
“The man was right. The target is here, but guarded. Could his plan be to lure us here so they can eliminate us all together?”
But these guards were far too foolish. How did he think a few of them could stop them?
Just as Tina was about to act, a shadow snatched the opportunity first, throwing a poisoned dagger at her head. Tina dodged quickly but still felt a sharp prick as the dagger pierced her shoulder.
“Ugh—” she covered the wound and stumbled backward. The noise by the window caught the attention of the knights inside.
The shadow, seeing the assassination fail, immediately emerged from Irene’s shadow and darted into the group of knights.
“Brothers, go hold down that blonde. I’ll take care of the poisoned one first, then come back to help. There’ll be a great reward when it’s done.”
“Got it!” The knights quickly switched from leisure to battle mode, drawing their longswords.
But when they saw who the target was, they froze, unable to move.
“Huh? Hold down who? Her? Her?”
“You go first.”
“No, you go.”
The older knights kept pushing responsibility off on each other.
Still, a reckless newcomer shouted, “Come on, why are you all such cowards? I’ll go!”
The rest gave him thumbs up. “So bold, man. You say it’s ridiculous, right?”
The rookie charged but was kicked away like a stray dog after just one second.
“Bro, no sleeping on the job.”
Seeing the knights cowering in place, the shadow lost patience. “Imperial curse”
“You useless lot, cover me with magic. I’ll handle this myself.”
A thick smoke spread in the cramped space—this was the Empire’s exclusive Dark Assassination Art, making him invincible within the haze.
Judging by the time, the poisoned one should be close to collapsing. If he took her out first, he could use her to threaten Irene.
“Got it!” The shadow grabbed someone’s arm in the smoke.
But when he focused, it was Tina smiling up at him.
“Just kidding. Actually, I’m immune to poison.”