Chapter 207
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“It’s a good thing if there are those who are jealous between you and me.”
Adrian said it with feigned innocence.
“Are you planning to visit this street as well? I would think it’s not an appropriate place for Your Majesty.”
“Do you not think it’s a place that suits me well?”
He seemed surprisingly objective, or perhaps he was just skilled at making self-deprecating remarks.
“If you think so, that’s unfortunate.”
“The back streets of Delphora… I’ve never been there, but I guess this will be a good experience.”
Adrian walked ahead, while Mikhail narrowed his eyes, watching the knights who hadn’t returned.
“Your Grace, we still haven’t received any news.”
Byne approached cautiously and whispered.
Mikhail wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or anxious with the lack of news.
“Your Majesty, there’s been a fire in Delphora’s street. It seems there was friction during the building search.”
“…So, they confronted royal guards?”
Adrian’s expression stiffened.
“Women who sell their bodies confronted knights? And even started a fire?”
“I’m sorry, it happened so suddenly that we couldn’t respond in time.”
“And the knights?”
“The five who entered the building have been injured and taken away.”
“Ha!”
Adrian tilted his head back and laughed.
“Even if they’re not royal knights, they’re probably mercenaries. Not only did they confront them, but they even set a fire? Whoever it is, they have guts.”
“…I’ve ordered them to be captured immediately.”
“Any identifying features?”
“They said she had brown short hair.”
“Anything else unusual?”
“She had her face covered, and due to the fire and smoke, they weren’t able to see properly.”
“Find her immediately. Confronting royal guards is like defying me directly. That woman must know something.”
Mikhail nodded towards Byne.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that she was there.
“Perhaps we should move quickly to Delphora’s street.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Mikhail mounted his horse and looked down at Adrian.
“Your Majesty, the road is treacherous. Please take a carriage. I’ll head there first.”
Before Adrian could stop him, he and the knights rode ahead.
Mikhail spurred his horse harder, lowering his body to increase the speed.
Even while riding, he could see black smoke rising in the distance.
His heart pounded harder.
“I’ve heard she confronted the knights with a sword.”
Byne shouted as he matched the speed of his horse.
His suspicions were turning into certainty.
He hoped the woman holding the sword was Emilia. He didn’t care if she had defied the king.
He would handle it himself.
As long as she was alive, it didn’t matter to him if she was a traitor or a murderer.
The backstreets of Delphora were utter chaos.
Mikhail searched for the brown bobbed hair amidst the mess of the street.
“Find her. The brown bobbed hair.”
He ordered briefly, unable to relax until he had personally confirmed with his own eyes.
He looked up at the blackened building, then stepped into the alley, scanning his surroundings.
“If I were her…”
He imagined where he would hide if he were in this situation.
Following his instincts, he slowly stretched his legs and wandered through Delphora’s back alley.
“Your Grace, we…”
Before the knight could finish, Mikhail reached out and grabbed his throat.
“I don’t want any interference with my work.”
“C-can’t breathe…”
“Understood?”
The knight nodded. Only then did Mikhail release his grip.
The knight slumped to the ground, his face filled with fear.
“Are you still searching for the woman who ran?”
“Yes, yes we are.”
“Who’s chasing her?”
“Everyone is looking for her.”
Mikhail nodded lightly. It seemed no one had found her yet.
A smirk tugged at his lips as the duke’s knights rushed over.
“We still haven’t found her.”
“There’s no place left for her to hide here.”
He turned his head.
“What about those women gathered over there?”
“Oh, they’re the women who sell their bodies in Delphora’s street.”
He quickly scanned the gathered crowd, his gaze fixing on one spot.
“Then let’s send them away. It’s too chaotic here.”
“But…”
“Was there a woman with brown bobbed hair among them?”
“No.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
The knight gave a slightly puzzled look at Mikhail’s words, then walked over and whispered something to another knight.
Soon, the confused knight spoke to the women, who quickly got up and scattered in all directions.
Mikhail quietly followed one woman’s trail.
She turned the corner and exited the backstreet of Delphora, looking around before quickly heading somewhere.
As he closed the distance between them, he sensed a presence behind him.
Suddenly, a sharp feeling pierced his waist, and he stopped in his tracks.
His heart began pounding. The faint scent carried by the wind made his lips curl into a smile.
Just as he was about to turn, the pressure on his back increased as the sword that had been poking his side dug in deeper.
He didn’t mind. Without a second thought, he turned and grabbed the sword at his waist, pulling it toward him.
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