Five weeks ago – the fourteenth day of the eighth month, 879 Imperial Calendar:
It was a perfect summer day. The sky stretched clear and endless, and a gentle breeze whispered through the world as if granting everyone a brief, pleasant respite.
At the heart of the scene stood a stately white palace, its wide windows reflecting the full blue of the heavens. The palace gardens were meticulously arranged, each section resembling a living painting, while the soft murmur of the central fountain offered a subtle comfort, almost a solace, to weary souls.
Inside the colonnade, steady footsteps echoed against the marble floor. A tall young man, dressed in ivory attire, with black hair flowing gently and piercing blue eyes that held a faintly restless glint—as if bored with the monotony of the day—was Gilbert.
He passed by the servants without exchanging a word, though he did not miss their evasive glances. He paid them no mind; he was accustomed to such attention. His destination was clear, his purpose resolute.
He stopped before a massive dark-red wooden door, nearly reaching the ceiling, adorned with ornate carvings and a golden handle. He sighed, furrowing his brows as a flurry of unpleasant thoughts surged through his mind at the sight of the familiar door. He calmed himself, knocked lightly, and waited for permission. Only after hearing the acknowledgment did he enter.
"In one month, you will enroll in the academy."
The red-haired lady behind the desk spoke without looking up. She was engrossed in her writing, as always.
"You mean… the Regin Grand Academy?" Gilbert asked.
"Do you think there's any other academy I might send you to?" she replied, her tone as cold as ever.
"…"
"News of Alice has been cut off for almost three weeks. Your task is to verify whether she is still alive and ensure that no information leaks from her regarding the organization or the other mission assigned to her…"
Gilbert glanced out the window at the sky, thoughtful.
'It's unusual for Alice to delay her reports for this long…'
He clenched his fist, furrowing his brows, then fixed his gaze on the woman before him.
'Her tone hasn't changed a bit… even after being told her daughter might be dead. Is completing the mission and preventing information leaks all she cares about?'
"Regarding her mission, is there any notable progress I should be aware of?"
At this question, the red-haired lady set down her ink pen into its holder and looked at Gilbert with her piercing blue eyes, a trace of annoyance in her gaze—but she answered nonetheless.
"Child abductions decreased significantly after the Imperial Slavery Trade Prohibition Law ten years ago, but in the past seven months, they have surged again. Though scattered, the cities and villages are in utter chaos, the people living in daily panic. Even with tightened security, it has been virtually meaningless. This indicates that insiders within the security forces are involved, and the Archduke's faction has their tendrils deep in the state's roots. It won't be easy to find clear evidence implicating the academy's executive directors, especially since the institution itself was established by the Archduke…"
She lowered her head, pressing a hand to her temple, then continued.
"It seems it would have been better to send the three of you instead of that lone girl… though I do not doubt her capability."
Gilbert remained silent, letting her speak, preferring to absorb the details he had not known.
Usually, tasks of such high risk were not assigned to him or Athena, but to the family heir, Alice Klein. In this case, however, the Marquise had no choice but to rely on others to fill the void Alice left. Was she late in summoning them, or was there still a chance to turn the game in their favor? These thoughts swirled through Gilbert's mind in the few minutes the red-haired lady explained why he had been summoned.
"I understand what I need to focus on for this mission. May I ask one more question?"
He spoke in his usual calm, direct tone, prompting the woman to look him in the eye again, despite her clearly sour mood.
"What is your question?"
Gilbert looked away, exhaled, then returned his gaze to her eyes.
"Putting the mission aside… do you remember our agreement? I mean… the conversation we had seven years ago, after that incident…"
The woman raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Gilbert understood she grasped what he meant, so he continued.
"This will be my last mission as a member of the Klein family. I want this… play, with Gilbert Klein, the youngest son of the imperial assassins' family, to end as soon as possible."
The woman smiled with forced composure, fingers interlaced under her chin, regarding him with faint satisfaction before replying.
"Believe me, I am not the only one looking forward to the end of this performance."
"Have you grown more honest with yourself, Marquise? Well, that comforts me as well. I am not one to enjoy speaking with people who wear masks constantly…
So in the end, you must keep your promise and tell me the identity of the man who brought me to this doorstep eleven years ago."
"Even if I do not tell you, you will know everything in due time…
And before you leave, take these with you."
She gestured to objects on the desk: a book and a simple, single earring.
"It will be useful… in a way."
He stared at the earring, puzzled, and spoke hesitantly.
"I understand the book, but…"
Noticing his gaze, she continued.
"It can be worn without piercing. Consider it a good-luck charm."
His eyes narrowed in visible annoyance. He could not suppress the feeling—it was not the gift itself that bothered him.
(I do not care for such things… why insist? Is this revenge for my blunt words before? What nonsense is this… luck?)
He exhaled, forcing a calmer expression.
"Anything else?"
"I will send you the remaining details later. You may leave."
"Then, with your permission."