WTFLR 18

Chapter 18

At the chilling voice, Mongol was visibly shaken. Fine hairs stood upright on his arms.

“I-I didn’t see anything!”

But Vendia was not one to back down so easily.

Without hesitation, she let out a scream and spun around, bolting in the opposite direction.

Clatter clatter clatter!

Her frantic footsteps echoed through the deserted street. She calculated that she needed to get to a crowded place fast in case the woman gave chase.

Clatter clatter clatter?!

Another set of footsteps overlapped with hers—faster, even.

Dread washed over her as she turned her head.

“You did see!”

The woman was sprinting at full speed, closing in fast.

“Aaaah! I told you I didn’t see anything!”

Don’t follow me! I don’t want to be involved in this!

Vendia focused straight ahead, running with every ounce of strength she had.

But—

“Got you.”

“Eek!”

She was caught.

“I didn’t see anything! I swear! My eyes are closed! Even if I did see, I’ll say I didn’t! I’m great at that! Please, spare me!”

Her captor had her by the scruff of the neck, and Vendia pleaded with tightly shut eyes.

In situations like this, it was best not to look.

She had to make it clear: I didn’t see your face, I won’t say a word.

“Why would I kill you, sis?”

A surprisingly casual question. Wait—sis?

She’d been too terrified to notice, but the woman’s voice sounded about her own age.

Vendia was curious but didn’t dare open her eyes just yet.

Is this a trap?

What if she opened her eyes and got stabbed the moment she did?

As she played through all the possibilities in her head, the woman spoke again.

“You misunderstood. That guy’s not dead—just unconscious.”

Her tone had noticeably softened compared to earlier.

After much hesitation, Vendia swallowed and cautiously cracked one eye open.

Through the blurry vision, she saw the woman without her robe’s hood. She wasn’t holding any weapon.

“You can open your eyes. I said it’s fine.”

It didn’t seem like a trap anymore. Vendia opened her eyes fully.

As her vision cleared, she noticed details she hadn’t seen before.

For instance, the woman standing in front of her was around her height, with soft brown eyes looking straight at her.

She was a round-faced beauty who looked a bit like a rabbit. Her slightly tousled brown bob reached her shoulders, and she looked perhaps a year or two younger than Vendia.

Overall, she didn’t seem like a dangerous person.

Still, Vendia didn’t let her guard down.

“Then why did you chase me?”

“Because I thought you misunderstood! I wanted to explain!”

The woman finally released her grip on Vendia’s neck.

For a moment, Vendia considered running again—but immediately dismissed the idea.

She knew she’d just be caught again. The woman had outrun her effortlessly.

“That guy made the first move. He was sneaking up on me, so I taught him a lesson.”

The woman shrugged off her robe, revealing a slender figure underneath.

She wore a sheer, sky-blue chiffon blouse tucked into riding pants embroidered with golden thread, along with high leather boots.

Both the clothes and boots looked expensive—well beyond what a commoner could afford.

So, a noble? Or a knight?

But seriously, how did someone with such a slim figure take down a grown man?

“I didn’t do it barehanded—I used a weapon.”

The woman reached into her pocket, startling Vendia, who instinctively stepped back.

“These knock guys out in one hit.”

With a dimpled smile, the woman proudly showed off her hand.

Leather gloves?

On closer inspection, the gloves were studded.

Before Vendia could question it—

Crackle!

The woman pressed a tiny button on the thumb of the glove. Sparks burst menacingly from the studs.

“One hit is all it takes.”

She said it shyly, lowering her eyes as her pale cheeks blushed pink.

Why is she blushing?

Still frozen in a mix of awe and horror, Vendia quickly snapped herself out of it.

Something sparkled in the sunlight—catching her eye.

It was the woman’s brooch, pinned to her shirt collar. A familiar design.

A blue rose brooch with a pearl in the center.

Vendia recognized it instantly. It was the one she had delivered to Elstin a year ago.

“Heden…?”

“Hmm? You know me?”

The woman’s round eyes widened even further. She furrowed her brows in focus, staring at Vendia until recognition dawned. She pointed.

“Oh! You’re the lady who came to our house the other day!”

“Denros, are you leaving now?”

Jane approached after Denros had changed into his uniform, ready for deployment.

Denros didn’t spare her even a glance and walked straight past her.

“Do you really have to do something so dangerous yourself? There are plenty of knights—why must it be you? Honestly, His Majesty…”

Jane had to walk quickly to keep up with his long strides, her voice nagging beside him.

“Denros, the imperial princess wants to meet you. Isn’t it time you started thinking about remarrying?”

For a moment, Denros thought she might be expressing genuine concern—but as expected, the true intent came at the end.

He stopped walking, his face cold and expressionless.

“I’ll schedule the meeting for a time that suits you, alright?”

“Mother.”

“Yes, dear. When would be good for you—?”

It had been a long time since she’d heard him call her that. Jane looked delighted—until she met his eyes.

She froze.

“I told you to stay out of my marriage.”

“Denros…”

Jane bit her lip, unable to continue.

His gaze didn’t see her as a mother.

It was the look one gave to something detestable. His icy blue eyes were devoid of warmth—as if looking at a worthless microorganism.

“I also told you to stop pretending to be my mother. Did you think I was joking?”

“Denros! Is that any way to speak to your mother?!”

The former duke—his father, Flame—suddenly appeared, furious.

“She’s just concerned for you, and this is how you respond? Remarrying is only natural! This whole mess started because you married into that family in the first place!”

“Darling, please stop.”

Jane tried to calm Flame, glancing nervously around. As a long-standing power in high society, she was quick to pick up on shifts.

And lately, the power in this household had shifted drastically.

Flame had stepped down from his title and was nearing seventy. He had maintained influence through the council of elders, but everything changed when Denros stepped up as the vanguard against the Shadow issue.

He had gained the Emperor’s favor.

And the Emperor’s support outweighed everything else.

Denros was still a young duke—barely two years into his title. He’d once been scorned for marrying into a lowly count’s family. But now he was divorced and backed by the Emperor himself.

Even the loyalists and elders who once opposed him had all switched sides.

Flame had become a powerless old man.

“Instead of worrying about me, perhaps you should be thinking about your own retirement.”

“You insolent brat!”

SMACK!

The sound of the slap echoed down the hall.

Flame’s arm trembled from the effort of striking him. But Denros didn’t flinch.

Even after being hit, his head stayed rigid, eyes still as cold as ever.

No—he was colder now.

Anyone could see it. He’d let himself be hit.

“Stop pretending to be the Duchess. There is no more Duchess of Kalbermer.”

His icy blue eyes locked onto Jane’s.

“You—how dare you—”

“You dare speak to your father like that?!”

As his parents sputtered in disbelief, Denros smirked.

“When I return, the two of you should be gone from this house—without a trace.”

His final warning was delivered in a voice like a growling beast.

His chilling blue gaze swept over the parents who had never truly been parents.

And then Denros turned and resumed his steps forward.

At that moment, his eyes landed on something outside the window.

The garden bench where Vendia often sat. Now empty.

But that was all.

His expression didn’t change. His eyes moved forward again.

And so did he.