TNMN 27

Chapter 27

“By the way, about that person in the prison. Was it Kyle? Why is he locked up there?”

At Alosha’s question, Whistler’s eyes sharpened.

“How do you know that bastard’s name?”

“How would I know? We were prison mates for a little while, even if it was brief. Isn’t it natural to exchange names?”

Whistler frowned, seemingly displeased about something.

“Oh! Could it be? Are you jealous right now?”

“Jealous? Who are you saying that to right now?”

Whistler threatened murder with a menacing aura, but Alosha saw a glimmer of hope in the situation.

“I understand. It’s natural to get angry when your lover mentions someone of the opposite sex.”

“…Haah”

A reasonable person can never win against a clear-eyed madman who just bulldozes through with sheer obstinacy.

“If it’s not jealousy, then tell me. About that person in the prison. Why is he locked up?”

When she persisted in asking about the prisoner without backing down from his threats, Whistler let out a short sigh and spoke.

“He snuck into the Duke’s residence like a rat in broad daylight, was ransacking my study, and ran into me.”

Alosha nodded, recalling Kyle from the prison. Considering the novel’s content, which was mostly about war and political intrigue, someone caught ransacking the final boss Whistler’s study must have come for information. But since he came in broad daylight rather than at night, he probably wasn’t a professional guild member—perhaps a pawn for some faction.

“What are you going to do with him?”

“…I’ll have to kill him.”

Seeing Whistler, who spoke so easily about killing someone like a true villain, Alosha smiled as if she were calm.

“How about not doing that and letting him live instead? He’ll surely be useful to you, Duke.”

“Why?”

Whistler tilted his head and waited for Alosha’s next words.

“Because it’s the will of the god Saebi.”

“What?”

“Surely you don’t think I, the saintess of the god Saebi, went to the prison for no reason, do you? My going to the prison and meeting that man there was all part of the divine plan.”

In reality, she had been thrown in prison for climbing over the wall and threatening servants because suspicious people couldn’t get in, but Alosha decided to just attribute everything to divine will.

‘If you look at it broadly, it’s not exactly wrong to call it divine will. My possessing this novel in the first place doesn’t make sense realistically, does it? At this level, it’s not unreasonable to say a god was involved.’

Once you believe it yourself, even lies become truth and reality.

That’s how Alosha, without blinking an eye, tried her soulful lie on Whistler.

“Put aside the talk of what the god said. Give me a reason I should let him live.”

“I know from experience, but the security and vigilance here are beyond imagination. And yet, he found his way through the garden and exactly to your office in broad daylight, not at night? That’s no ordinary skill. If you hadn’t happened to be there, Duke, you might not have even noticed if something went missing.”

Whistler looked at Alosha with a slightly surprised expression as she, who had been going on about divine arrangements, made such a sharp observation.

“Whether assassin or thief, if you value that skill and bring him to our side, he’ll surely be of help to you, Duke.”

Whistler frowned at Alosha’s advice.

Some fool had invaded the Duke’s residence with a purpose. Even if he failed, the thought of making someone who had tried to harm him an ally had never crossed his mind.

“Why should I do that?”

“Of course, you could just kill him, Duke. But what if there’s a faction behind him?”

At Alosha’s words, Whistler fell into thought.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered it, but there had been no particular movement—whether to rescue or kill the man—among the factions that kept him in check.

“Do you think he’ll really turn to our side?”

“It won’t be easy. But I’ll give it a try.”

“…How?”

“I’ll just try first.”

Hiding the truth that Kyle had to follow her words because he lost a bet, Alosha showed a bold front. She didn’t know if he’d actually listen, but trying was far better than not trying—that had always been rule number one of her life.

“Fine. I’ll give you authority over him.”

“That’s all?”

“What?”

“If I persuade him to join your side, Duke Whistler, shouldn’t I get some reward too?”

Saying that, Alosha smiled brightly.

“What do you want?”

“If I persuade the man in prison, promise me I can go on an outdoor date with you.”

Surprised that she wanted a date with him, not gold coins or power, Whistler was taken aback.

“A date? Not even an engagement or marriage?”

“Huh? If I asked for that, would you give it to me?”

“Are you crazy?”

“Exactly. Who would be foolish enough to bet on something with no chance?”

Though slightly disappointed, Alosha pouted as if she had expected that answer. Then she lifted her chin slightly and put on a confident expression.

“Besides, getting engaged or married to you is something I have to achieve on my own to feel accomplished.”

“….”

“You’ll go on a date with me, right?”

“Try it first.”

Once Whistler gave his permission, everything went smoothly from there. Under the Duke’s orders, she brought two guards and confidently went down to the prison. Opening the double doors, the first thing she saw was the prison door she had broken earlier lying on the floor.

“Ta-da!”

Alosha approached the cell where Kyle was held, raised both arms high, and smiled brightly. Kyle stared at her with an expression as if he’d seen a ghost, blinking his eyes.

“How did you get here…”

At Kyle’s muttering, Alosha put on the most solemn expression she could muster and gestured with her chin toward the guards standing behind her.

“We have things to say in private, so could you step aside?”

“But…”

The guards looked at Kyle with troubled expressions, then at Alosha, then at each other.

“It’s the Duke Whistler’s orders, so just leave for now. I’ll call you later.”

At the mention of Whistler’s name, the two guards, slightly relieved, stepped outside the prison door. After confirming they were gone and no one else was around, Alosha dropped her serious expression and smiled brightly.

“I told you I’d definitely get you out, Kyle.”

“….”

“Since you’re my servant, it’s only right for your master to take responsibility, isn’t it?”

Kyle was dumbfounded by Alosha, who said this with a cheerful smile. He had thought she was a strange woman, but the more he looked, the stranger she was—all he could do was laugh.

“I suppose so. You seem like a master worth serving.”

“That aside, I heard you got caught while ransacking the Duke’s office?”

“I’m no thief.”

“Then why did you sneak into the mansion in broad daylight and search Duke Whistler’s office? Are you perhaps one of the Emperor’s people?”

“How did you…”

Alosha’s innocent question startled Kyle so much that he accidentally blurted out the truth. At Kyle’s reaction, Alosha’s eyes widened, and she quickly turned her back to him, muttering softly in surprise.

“Wow, jackpot. I must really have some kind of divine gift.”

Kyle warily watched Alosha, who had suddenly turned her back and was muttering something. She had seen through his identity as the Emperor’s man with such a harmless face. She had broken out of this ironclad prison, said she’d come back later, and then returned with the Duke’s people to save him. She also seemed to know how he had been captured, as if she’d had a meeting with the Duke. He had no idea what her scheme was.

Alosha turned around and stared intently at Kyle before letting out a short sigh, looking genuinely troubled.

“Oh, but this is awkward. Having one of the Emperor’s people as a servant is a bit much… Hey, would you consider quitting that job and actually working for me?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Even though she had been speaking informally, now that some of his identity was revealed, Kyle thought he should be careful and deliberately spoke formally to Alosha.

“What’s this? Why are you speaking formally all of a sudden? Are you trying to keep your distance from me?”

Alosha had just made a joke to lighten the mood, but Kyle clenched his fists. She had even seen through his intention to subtly speak formally as a way of maintaining caution. Kyle wondered what the true identity of this woman before him could be. Alosha, on the other hand, seeing Kyle with his mouth shut tight and a stiff expression, thought he might be misunderstanding her, but she decided not to correct it, thinking it might help when she started persuading him to come under Duke Whistler.

“Well, I suppose that’s fine. When I talk freely, maybe you catch a glimpse of my dignity and feel like speaking politely. Isn’t that how it usually goes when ordinary people meet a priest of a god?”

“Priest of a god?”

“Don’t you know of the god Saebi, who commands us to benefit humanity widely, full of love and compassion? It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but I’m essentially an archbishop and saintess of the Saebi faith.”

Watching Alosha confidently spout off about a religion he’d never heard of, Kyle blinked. *So that’s why she seemed extraordinary—she’s a saintess of a faith.* Kyle accepted it calmly.

“Hah, so you said you’re a saintess? Then does the Duke know that the Emperor has been worried about his treason and has been spying on him for a long time?”

This was obviously news to her, so she couldn’t possibly know, but Alosha shook her head with a serious expression.

“He doesn’t know yet. I deliberately haven’t told him.”

“Excuse me? Why would you…”

“Because if the Duke finds out and a war truly breaks out, I—no, the god Saebi—does not wish for it.”

“You mean the god?”

“It’s difficult to explain in detail since it’s the future the god has arranged, but I saw a great war breaking out in the Empire. Many people died, and the war continued for a long time. I don’t want that future to come.”

Seeing Kyle’s complicated, speechless expression as she slightly twisted the future story into something like a prophecy, Alosha delivered the final blow.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m here to make sure that future doesn’t come. I’ll stay by the Duke’s side and prevent such things from happening.”

“What method do you have?”

At Kyle’s question, Alosha nodded and smiled calmly.

“Yes. I’m going to seduce the Duke.”