BBYW Vol. 4 Interlude 9 (WN)
The Empire’s Red Rose 9
【POV: Marquis Dagon】
Dyngir Maxwell…
Picturing the name of the man who impregnated Rossellia Baal made me grimace and click my tongue.
He was what caused the fall of two of Baal’s imperial princes, as well as the cause of the decline of my House of Dagon.
The fact that he also turned out to be the father of the child of my current worst political enemy, Rossellia Baal, sounded almost like a prank of fate.
(It was quite the stroke of luck to learn about the identity of the father…now that woman will have to negotiate with me.)
Dyngir Maxwell being the father was something revolting to think about, but at the same time it was also a chance.
Officially, the empire was now at peace with the Kingdom of Lamperouge, but there were many among the masses who still harbor hatred and resentment towards House Maxwell.
Many soldiers have lost their lives in battle against them, after all. Their families and friends will not be able to overcome that so easily.
(Hahaha…once the truth gets out, you will lose the people’s trust completely…and I will have you at my beck and call…!)
“Someone! Anyone! Bring me a new glass! Now!”
All the thinking made my throat dry. I rang the bell on the table and called for a new glass and more wine.
“What the…?”
Though strangely enough, there was no response from the hallway.
More precisely — it felt like the whole mansion had fallen into complete silence.
“There’s no one…? How come?”
I poked my head out in the corridor and called for the help again. And once again, I received no response.
“W-What is…going on here…?”
“T-The guards should be around here too…”
Eventually, I found a room where light filtered from beyond the door. I did not waste time knocking, but grabbed the knob and slowly opened the door.
“Wha—!!!”
My eyes then opened wide.
I found my servants inside the room — all lying on the floor.
“W-W-What is going on!?”
“I ask for your silence, Sir. We do not want them to be up just yet.”
“Eek….!!”
Someone whispered in my ear, and pushed a cold blade against my neck.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, good Sir. I am Hazuki, Fangs of Steel assassin.”
“A-A-Assassin!?!”
The individual behind me had a mellow, neutral voice: it was difficult to tell whether they were a man or a woman.
The last word they uttered, however, sent my body and soul in full alert.
“W-Who hired you? If you want money, I’ll give you double! Triple! Just spare me, please…!!”
“With all due respect, good Sir…no one ‘hires’ us. We are bound in contract with a certain person, a master we shall never betray.”
“Eep..eek…help…”
“Moreover…I believe I have introduced myself, yes? I assume you understand what that means.”
“….!!”
Assassins, naturally, strive to keep their identity concealed.
The fact that they revealed their name to me means that…
“Your death is certain. That is what it means.”
“Ghah….”
A flash of silver under the lantern light.
The sound of droplets hitting the carpet. Something warm spilling on my neck.
“Haah..gha…h…a…”
When I finally realized it was my own blood, I slumped on the floor.
I used my remaining strength to touch my neck, and found a wound slicing it horizontally.
“W…why…me…”
How could this possibly happen?
Whatever had I done to deserve such a thing.
“What goes around, comes around, as they say. Now rest, good Sir…in death!.”
As my sight was waning — I looked up, and saw a woman wearing a mourner’s robe.
(I was…killed by…a woman, of all things…?)
To die at the hands of a creature I always saw as inferior…
If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have treated them differently…
As such thoughts crossed my mind, my conscience sunk into pitch black darkness.
←Previous | Next→
