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Chapter 49: Shining Knight (7)
“What if it's Daisy Hexter... The eldest daughter of Count Hexter...?”
Asena continued to ask questions with her hand on her forehead.
Sharon pondered cautiously as if walking on thin ice.
Now, she had to tell exactly what she could do and what she couldn’t.
She couldn't just agree now and not deliver what was asked of her.
Sharon responded hesitantly.
“…Daisy Hexter is usually close to…Cayden-sama…”
“I am talking about when she is away from Oppa.”
“Then I think I can kidnap her for a day or so. I don’t think it can be any longer. There is a risk of getting caught.”
“…You can do it only for one day?”
Asena finally turned her head to look at Sharon.
Sharon hurridly coordinated her response, hiding the pressure she was under right now.
“…it looks like it could be up to two days. It’s really hard beyond that.”
“What if the target is a maid working in the academy kitchen? How long can you keep her?”
“My lady, are you talking about a maid...? A commoner...?”
“Yes.”
Sharon had a strange expression on her face hearing the target was a commoner, but soon, she spoke confidently.
“If it is a maid, there is no problem. We can take care of her if you want.”
Both of them knew what ‘take care of her’ meant without talking about it.
Asena approached Sharon and fiddled with her hand.
Cayden kept moving away from her, and she couldn’t help but watch that happening. She needed to do something, but she didn’t know what it was, so she came here to check this option.
In fact, Asena knew better than anyone that it was not rational to visit Sharon now.
But when she saw Cayden smiling brightly with another woman leaving her behind, she began to react emotionally.
But no matter how emotional Asena was currently, it wasn’t that she didn’t think about the aftermath of her actions. So far, many things had been discovered by Cayden. She couldn’t help but fear that even this would be noticed.
But nevertheless, Asena continued to stare blankly at her hand.
Because it was possible...
If she wanted, she could threaten Daisy and deal with Ewin...
Because that’s what Pryster did.
If something bothered her, she could it them away. That had always been Asena’s way.
If only she gave orders now... If she told Sharon to go ahead with it... if she just uttered those light words...
“…Asena-sama, what should I do…? Is it okay to kidnap Daisy Hexter?”
Sharon interrupted her thoughts.
Asena closed her eyes and thought deeply... Soon, she said:
“…No. forget about it.”
“Yes?”
“Forget everything I said. It was just nonsense.”
“…should I forget about the maid too? When it comes to maids, things are very simple.”
“…forget everything.”
Asena instantly wanted to be alone. She was so weak that she couldn’t stand it.
“…Sharon... Leave.”
“…..”
When all the tension disappeared in an instant, Sharon sighed and got up from her seat without disturbing Asena. After bowing to Asena, who was covering her face with one hand, she left the room.
– Crick, thump.
Asena couldn’t figure out why she was doing this. All other methods aside, only extreme, violent methods came to her mind recently.
It got even worse when she kept worrying about it even though she knew that worrying about it won’t make things any better.
Asena was in a difficult situation because of these emotions. She wanted to destroy Daisy without thinking of the aftermath. She still shuddered at the sight of Daisy sitting next to Cayden and both of them smiling happily together.
But actions had consequences. If she used all the violent acts that ran through her head on Daisy at will, Cayden won’t stand still.
And if she took action against Daisy, Cayden would follow through to the end to find who ordered it, and eventually, he will reach her.
Then... then...
Everything will be over.
She couldn’t lose Cayden because of a moment of insanity.
In the end, she struggled in pain again without being able to reach any conclusion.
When would Cayden come back?
Did she have to approach him?
Couldn't he see that she was breaking down like that? Couldn't he see that she was going insane? Or he could see but... But he wasn't worried at all?
Asena wanted him to value her. She wanted him to see her as a woman and treat her with respect.
Cayden always thought of her as a little sister and gave only that kind of love. And the more she struggled against it, the farther he went.
She whispered to him inwardly.
‘Oppa…I’m having a hard time… Can’t you see me? Or do you not care anymore?’
Cayden always noticed whenever she was having a hard time.
Was he unaware of it now, or was he just ignoring her and pretending not to know?
Either way, Asena’s heart was only uncomfortable.
✧ ✧ ✧
The same day, Sharon walked the alleys outside the academy.
Farmers were living around here, but most of these were streets where maids, servants, and laborers working at the Academy, lived.
When all the classes were over and the cleaning was done, people went home one by one or had a beer at the bar, washing away the hardships of the day.
For some reason, Sharon was drawn to their laughter. She stood there blankly for a while, watching them, and finally, after some time, moved on. Because her target wasn’t them.
Along the winding road, she headed to a place where even the moonlight did not reach. When she reached her destination, she knocked on the door with a steady rhythm.
– Knock. Knock.
– Druck!
A small window on the door opened, a pair of eyes checked Sharon, and then the window closed again. But immediately after, the door opened.
“…are you here?”
The gatekeeper greeted her.
Sharon didn’t answer and headed inside.
The inside was also dark enough to be similar to the outside; with only one candle illuminating a large space, everyone present looked at Sharon as she entered.
A large man who was seated in the deepest part, in the center, looked at her and asked-
“Sharon, the reason you came to us today…”
-At the same time, he got up from his seat.
Sharon took the seat he was sitting in as if it was obvious.
The large man leaned a little, bowing his head and concentrating on her words.
Various people inside also gathered along.
“Miles. How many people in your organization can enter the academy?”
“About… about 20 people.”
“Can’t we do more?”
“Hmm, we can send more if you want. After all, if they walked around like laborers, they won’t be noticed.”
“……”
The head of the organization - Miles - watched Sharon’s eyes. He nodded to his subordinate, who was standing around and ordered something to them.
There was only one reason why they were respectful to Sharon; because she was a member of the Payne family.
In the end, the Payne family, which focused on espionage, was in close contact with the world of darkness.
Although the Payne family was not very large, they certainly had more power than the three street gangsters or three criminal gangs.
As a result, the Payne family, which had been associated with this world for several generations, became famous in the back alleys, and Miles could not treat the second daughter of such a family recklessly.
Also carrying the activities of Sharon Payne and her family on their backs had been successful, and recently, the size of the organization had grown significantly. At the same time, he was put in a position to do whatever Sharon wanted. Miles didn’t dare go against Sharon’s words.
Sharon pondered for a while and finally opened her mouth.
“…there seems to be a problem with Asena Pryster.”
“I am listening.”
Miles held out an ear to Sharon. The lord of Sharon, whom she served was Asena Pryster. Even with her small breath, people like Miles were shaken. Just like Sharon was shaking now.
“She seems to still be thinking about it…but it’s just a matter of time. Daisy Hexter. And… a maid working in the kitchen who may have been associated with the Prysters recently... Watch them both.”
“…and who the kitchen maid is…”
“That’s for you to figure out.”
“Okay. That’s right. Still, there was a guy working in the academy kitchen among my subordinates, so I’ll ask him about it.”
“…..”
Sharon recalled the incident the other day. Asena was contemplating, but, as she said, Sharon thought it was only a matter of time.
It was the first time she had seen Asena’s expression like that. Asena seemed to have suppressed her emotions for a while and put her plans aside, but she was going to talk about it again.
Every action comes with a preparation period.
If Asena gave her orders again when the time came, Sharon wanted to be ready to move right away.
Sharon had a conversation like that with Asena today, and she didn’t want to wait without doing anything. At least the next time Asena asked about Daisy or the kitchen maid, she wanted to tell her something that Asena didn’t even know about.
Sharon wanted to believe that she was doing well. She suddenly thought of her family at home.
Did they know that she was working hard enough to come to the criminal organization on such an ambiguous night?
With a sigh, she explained what to do to Miles.