Karl had no choice. As Calis’s accomplice, he silently placed the two corpses into the Lost Ring.

Little did the ring know—it never expected to become a mobile morgue after falling into Karl’s hands.

After securing the bodies, Karl quickly scooped up the shattered flashbang casing from the ground and staggered toward the outer street.

Since Calis’s sole goal was to assassinate the prince, Freya and the others were safe.

Stepping out of the alley, Karl immediately spotted the arriving guards and Lord Winter, his face etched with panic.

As the mastermind behind the parade float procession, Lord Winter would unquestionably bear full responsibility for the incident.

The moment he saw Karl, Lord Winter urgently demanded,

“Karl! Where is His Highness the Prince?! Didn’t you carry him away?”

Karl paused slightly, then replied,

“I ran into assassins in the alley… nearly got killed.”

He was weaving a story to cover his tracks.

But Lord Winter cared nothing for Karl’s survival. He pressed on,

“And the Prince?! Where is His Highness?!”

Karl continued smoothly,

“Just as I was about to collapse, a man Prince Elgin called Abraham stepped in and saved me.”

“A… Abraham?!”

At the name, Lord Winter’s eyes instantly lit with hope.

“I knew it! How could the Prince lack a capable guard? So His Majesty secretly assigned Lord Abraham to protect him! Now I can rest easy. With Abraham around, the Prince is perfectly safe.”

Karl feigned confusion.

“My lord… this Abraham you speak of… could it be…”

Lord Winter, visibly excited, declared,

“Yes! None other than Abraham—the Imperial Guard’s deputy commander, a mid-tier Diamond-ranked expert! What are mere assassins to him?!”

Karl’s face shifted to stunned awe.

“No wonder he was so formidable… So it really was *that* Lord Abraham.”

Pity he was already lying inside Karl’s ring.

Lord Winter grew curious.

“Then where are they? Why haven’t they shown themselves?”

If Abraham had rescued the Prince, there was no reason to hide.

Karl answered without hesitation,

“He… took the Prince and left. Said nowhere is safe now. Told me to look after myself.”

Lord Winter nodded.

“True. After this, trust no one. His judgment was sound.”

He patted Karl’s shoulder.

“You’re badly wounded. Go to the Church for healing, then rest. Princess Alice is under my protection. Your family has been safely returned to Count Watt’s manor. No need to worry.”

“Thank you, my lord. I’m deeply grateful.”

Lord Winter smiled, ordered a carriage prepared, and had Karl escorted home.

Alone with his thoughts, Karl had only one urgent goal: dispose of Prince Elgin and Abraham’s bodies before complications arose.

---

That night, in Count Watt’s study, Calis—dressed in a maid’s uniform—stood before her father-in-law, recounting the day’s events.

When she finished, Count Watt asked, brow furrowed in confusion,

“So… Karl desperately tried to stop you at first, but the moment Abraham appeared, he instantly joined your side?”

“Exactly. His actions made no sense. I still can’t figure him out.”

Calis remained baffled by Karl’s abrupt shift in allegiance.

Count Watt gazed at her meaningfully.

“Well, well… I never expected this boy to see further than we did.”

“What do you mean?” Calis asked, puzzled.

Count Watt chuckled softly.

“He *seemed* to stop you—but he was actually saving you. He knew Abraham was lurking nearby. That’s why he fought so hard to hold you back… fearing you’d clash with him. Against Abraham? For you, that would’ve meant a brutal fight. Or death.”

“S-so… he was trying to *save* me?!”

Calis’s eyes widened in shock. She’d never imagined Karl’s resistance was protection.

“Precisely. The second Abraham appeared, Karl stood with you—unhesitatingly.”

Calis finally understood.

No wonder he switched sides so fast. He’d meant to help her all along.

Without Karl, she would not have survived.

“But… how did he *know* Abraham was there? Our stolen guard roster listed no Abraham!”

She’d assessed the prince’s security thoroughly—that was why she dared strike. Had she known Abraham was present, she’d never have attempted it.

Count Watt fell silent for a moment, then spoke gravely.

“Karl saw through the trap long ago. This was bait—using Prince Elgin to lure *us* out. Abraham stayed hidden *on purpose*, waiting to draw you out, capture you alive… and extract our secrets.”

He sighed deeply.

“How careless of us. Our haste to avenge our brothers blinded us. We nearly walked right into their snare.”

Calis murmured softly,

“Thank goodness for Karl…”

“Indeed,” Count Watt affirmed. “Without Karl, our vengeance fails. Without Karl, you wouldn’t be standing here today.”

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gaze drifting outward.

“This boy… he’s no ordinary fellow.”

As he spoke, his eyes caught sight of Karl—bandaged head to toe—sneaking through the garden under cover of night.

Karl reached the incinerator a hundred meters from the rear garden. Seizing the empty moment, he dumped Prince Elgin and Abraham’s corpses inside. He also tossed in a stack of shredded paper, punched full of holes.

Without pause, he flipped the switch. Roaring flames swallowed the remains.

“Grudges have roots, debts have owners,” Karl murmured, hands clasped. “If you seek justice… take it to Calis. Please don’t come for me. I had no choice. I never truly wished you harm.”

He bowed once toward the furnace.

A faint scent of roasting meat drifted out—then vanished on the night wind.

(End of Volume 1)