Chapter 562
Melania and Clark glanced at each other simultaneously.
What advantage could there possibly be for them if Gypsy were to meet with Rutherford?
“None at all.”
Gypsy was a dealer in secrets. If she traded Rutherford’s secrets but ended up spilling Ian’s instead, that would be absolutely disastrous for Ian—no matter what those secrets were.
Melania gripped the hem of Gypsy’s robe tightly, and Clark drew his sword, stepping in front of her to block the way.
“What’s with you two?”
“Don’t go.”
“Do we have to ask your permission just to make a living? This is why people say you shouldn’t take in humans. I saved you from the abyss, and this is how you repay me—with swords drawn?”
“We don’t mean to harm you. We just want to stop you. Wouldn’t it be better if you went to see Sir Ian instead?”
“I told you! He’s no use to me anymore.”
The only thing left was the contract between Rutherford and Ian, but Ian supposedly didn’t remember its contents. And Melania didn’t seem inclined to share it.
So, they had no choice but to go to Rutherford. And while they were at it, maybe they could pick up something else to fill the slowly fading sense of satisfaction.
“Fine. I’ll tell him myself. So please, don’t go see Rutherford. There are other reasons, but honestly, it’s dangerous.”
Melania finally shook her head as if surrendering completely.
Gypsy’s eyes narrowed, her gaze turning suspicious.
“And then you’re just going to spout nonsense again?”
“Tomorrow’s the battle, and I know Rutherford is right there. How could I do that?”
“Hmm. Then whisper it to me.”
Gypsy plopped down and beckoned with her hand. Melania hesitated, then leaned in close and whispered.
“All of this… it’s what Ian told me.”
Young Melania was utterly exhausted.
How could a child who had lived luxuriously near the Ruthwena palace endure the journey through Hawan Kingdom to Bariel? Just sitting in the carriage made her feel drained. The wedding of Hawan’s cousin was quite a spectacle, but it wasn’t enough to handle the child’s constant mood swings.
“Miss, are you feeling unwell?”
“Yeah, it’s boring… and just… ugh.”
“Then how about we step outside for a bit? The city center is safe, and it’s nice for sightseeing.”
That day was unlike any other. The usually strict nanny had surprisingly suggested an outing. Melania nodded obediently, and together they ventured into the noisy city center.
Thwack!
And there, she met Ian.
His clothes were ragged, his hair unkempt, but his emerald eyes were so deep and beautiful. He was small and thin, and at first, Melania thought he was a girl like herself.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
“Nanny, I’m fine. Are you okay?”
Ian smiled brightly at the question. It was the first time Melania realized a person’s smile could be so radiant.
“You’re from the guild, aren’t you?”
“Sorry, but if you call me that around others, you’ll get scolded. I’m a noble of Bariel and royalty of Ruthwena. Even the prince with the guild can’t treat me carelessly. Really.”
“Ah, right, right. Want to try this?”
“Hmm. It’s edible, right?”
Despite their different statuses, the two often crossed paths. Once was chance, twice was fate, and the third time was destiny, they said. They became close friends, eventually setting times and places to meet and say goodbye.
That was a week before the guild would move again.
Tap tap tap!
“Why aren’t you here yet?”
“Melania!”
Ian came running from afar, carrying something heavy.
Melania, about to complain, raised an eyebrow in curiosity. A flowerpot?
“Huff, huff…”
“Why are you late? And what’s with the flowerpot?”
“I finally, finally met Rutherford.”
“Oh, the guildmaster?”
Melania, uninterested, toyed with the red petals. What kind of flower was this? She’d never seen it before.
“What did you do when you met him?”
“Look at this.”
Ziiing. Ziiing.
Melania’s eyes widened instantly as she focused on Ian’s palm. A soft, glowing light gathered there, forming an amber gemstone.
Her mouth fell open as she stared at Ian.
“Th-this is…”
“He liked it a lot when I helped make it. Said I have talent.”
“W-what is it?”
Ian smiled gently and whispered.
“The Balance Scale—”
“What?”
“…that’s what the guildmaster called it.”
Ian’s smile was as bright as ever, but Melania couldn’t shake a strange feeling.
Ian handed her the gem he’d made.
“It’s a gift. You’ll need it someday.”
“…Thank you.”
Melania fiddled with the jewel and tentatively made a suggestion.
“Why don’t you come with me to the capital? It’s hard to survive here, and I can give you a room in my family’s mansion. It’ll be much more comfortable.”
A breeze seemed to flow through Ian’s golden hair. He looked at Melania with a subtle expression, then shook his head.
“Sorry. I have to stay here.”
“Why? Because of your mother? You can come with me, no problem.”
“Melania, I really appreciate the offer. But it’s not because of that. I just have a reason to stay.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I can’t explain now. Anyway, that’s why I made a contract with Rutherford.”
“A contract?”
While the guild was here, Ian would produce as many amber gems as possible in exchange for the red flowers. He would have freedom until he turned sixteen, but after that, he would serve Rutherford faithfully. Everything was sealed by magic to prove their trust.
Melania frowned as she listened.
“That’s such an unfair contract. Don’t you know how magicians are treated in the capital?”
“But I had no choice. If I didn’t agree, they were ready to put me in a box and take me away.”
“Do you think I’d just let that happen?”
“Oh, Melania. Rutherford is scarier than you think. We’re still too young. We need time.”
Melania wondered if nobles and commoners were treated very differently. Ian showed her his hand and added,
“And it’s okay. After sixteen, I won’t be here anymore.”
“Why are you saying such strange things today?”
“Just… because I’m happy.”
Happy about what? Melania asked silently with her eyes, but Ian only smiled, holding up the amber gem.
“Because the Balance Scale is finally made. Like Rutherford, I’m happy too.”
Gypsy’s eyes widened and narrowed repeatedly as she listened.
Having already learned something about Ian’s identity from the abyss, she could fill in some of the gaps in Melania’s story.
“Oh? I see.”
“So, I haven’t seen Ian since then.”
“Ah, that explains a lot.”
Gills fluttered.
Melania finished her story and looked at Gypsy. Was that enough? She seemed to say, “I’ve given you what you wanted, so don’t even think about going to Rutherford.”
But Gypsy closed her eyes, savoring the secret, lost in thought.
“Hmm.”
Something felt off. The secret was a secret, but it wasn’t nearly as delicious as before. The secrets related to Ian from the abyss had been unbelievably exquisite.
Gypsy kept smacking her lips, puzzled.
“Has it lost its flavor?”
Or maybe it’s no longer a secret?
She fiddled with her cheek, clearly disappointed, and fell silent.
Noticing the odd mood, Melania grabbed her robe again.
“Don’t. Please don’t go.”
“Go where? Wherever I want, that’s my choice!”
“Think from Rutherford’s perspective. Ian’s secret is already in his hands. Do you think he’ll just let you go, knowing that? The battle is right around the corner. If it’s a weakness, even the smallest, he’ll expose it.”
It was like walking into a bandit camp carrying a treasure chest. Do you really think Rutherford plays by the rules of fair trade and social contracts?
“Hmph. What do you take me for? Even that great Ian couldn’t catch me.”
“That was then! Who knows now? Look, even Clark and I, with no special abilities, have tracked you down several times.”
“Several times? Only twice!”
Melania felt blood rush to her head and pressed her palm to her forehead. The war was just beginning, but the situation was clear. There was no outcome other than Bariel’s victory.
Wouldn’t it be the same for Rutherford? Cornered as he was, Gypsy’s arrival would be his salvation.
“I’ll give you one more secret.”
“What secret?”
“Promise me you won’t meet with Rutherford if you take this.”
“Let’s hear it first.”
“Promise me first!”
Melania’s sharp tone made Gypsy frown but nod reluctantly. She hesitated a moment, then flipped open the inside of her robe.
“I hid a royal palace jewel in here.”
“What? Where?”
“It’s a jewel with a tracking function. So far, we’ve been using it to locate Gypsy.”
Gypsy looked flustered, flipping the cloth over and over but clearly struggling to find it.
With a sharp tug, Melania finally tore the cloth herself and shrugged her shoulders.
“Enough, right?”
“Good grief, why would you hide something like this here… honestly.”
“At dawn tomorrow, Bariel’s forces will push inside the barrier. By then, it’ll be too chaotic and noisy to move around easily. So—”
Snap!
Seizing the moment, Gypsy darted off around the corner. How she managed to move so fast without legs was beyond Melania’s understanding. Melania grabbed at her robe but couldn’t keep up and stumbled helplessly.
“Get lost! You leech-like humans! Ahahaha!”
“Ugh…”
Clark quickly gave chase, but as he rounded the corner, Gypsy vanished. There was no way a human could keep up with her.
He shook his head in disbelief, while Melania brushed the scrapes off her palm and muttered under her breath.
“…damn fish.”
Not exactly something you’d expect from a noble lady, but Clark felt the sentiment deeply. Helping Melania to her feet, he asked,
“Did you recover the jewel?”
“Yes. Gypsy will probably head toward Rutherford, right?”
“That’s likely.”
They glanced in opposite directions—Clark to the left, Melania to the right—and nodded to each other. They both understood their new objectives had just been set.
“I’ll head toward Rutherford as well. I have prior connections there, so it should be easier to infiltrate close by.”
“I’ll go to Bariel’s camp. I’ll deliver the situation report and meet with Lord Ian. And this.”
Melania slipped the jewel that had been attached to Gypsy into Clark’s pocket. If they managed to get close to Rutherford, it would be used to track his location.
Clark would infiltrate toward Rutherford and look for an opening, while Melania would relay everything to Ian. That was their new plan.
With a light tap of their hands in a brief handshake, the two parted without hesitation, sprinting off in opposite directions.