How is the young lady… faring now?

Is she eating properly? Sleeping well?

Without me there, the mansion is filled only with snacks and cakes. Overindulging isn’t good for her health…

Suran had been away from the Crimson Garden for many days, and worry for Lyasis crept in unbidden.

No, no, no… She’d come this far. No turning back. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it…

Suran shook her head sharply, trying to shake Lyasis from her thoughts.

Yet even without consciously dwelling on Lyasis, her body instinctively discarded the “apply as a servant” plan.

Then… only other ways remained to find Elsa.

What to do…

“Lady Elsa! Lady Elsa has arrived!”

An excited cry erupted from the crowd. Everyone turned toward the same direction.

Suran followed their gaze.

A short-haired woman rode a white horse, heavy armor shed, clad only in the Holy Flame Order’s uniform. She led a group of knights approaching slowly from the far end of the street.

“Is that Elsa?” Suran watched her, mind already calculating.

She’d been wondering how to locate Elsa—and now Elsa appeared right before her.

Suran reached for the Lait Magic Crystal’s presence… but sensed nothing on Elsa.

As expected. It had been moved elsewhere.

In that case…

Elsa suddenly shuddered, a chill racing up her spine. A piercing gaze locked onto her from the crowd—but when she scanned the faces, the spine-chilling sensation vanished, as if it never existed.

“Just my imagination…?” Elsa murmured inwardly.

Under respectful gazes, she stepped to the bulletin board and announced:

“I trust you know Her Highness the Princess seeks temporary servants to attend to Plamia in her final days. Plamia is now ‘contained’ and poses no further threat. You need not fear harm while serving.”

“Registration begins now. Step forward if you wish to apply.”

A wave of commotion followed. Some rushed to sign up; others hurried off to fetch skilled relatives or friends.

Due to Plamia’s status and the nature of her “crimes,” nobles and Rhine City’s major families avoided involvement for political reasons. Even the princess’s plea to accompany Plamia was denied by the king.

Thus, recruitment opened solely to commoners.

For them, this was a rare chance to stand near a Holyflame Knight. Plamia’s crimes did little to dim that longing.

A long queue formed. Suitability was judged at a glance—most were turned away swiftly; only a few advanced.

“Next.”

As the screening knight spoke, Suran reached the front.

The knight frowned at her hooded figure. “Lift your head. Lower your hood.”

Suran didn’t lower it. She raised her face—and looked straight at Elsa.

In that instant, Elsa felt the gaze again. Closer now. Colder.

Her pupils widened. Her hand twitched toward her waist.

“Hey! Where are you—?” the knight barked—then froze as steel flashed in his vision.

Suran surged upward. Silver light gleamed on her dagger as it lunged for Elsa!

The cloak hid her maid uniform.

Now, Suran was an assassin.

The ultimate assassin.

Elsa’s sword was a heartbeat too slow. Before the blade cleared its sheath—*thud*—the dagger struck her abdomen.

“Assassin! Assassin!!”

“Protect Lady Elsa!!!”

Screams erupted. The orderly line shattered into chaos. Knights drew swords and closed in.

But Suran had already vaulted onto the white horse, seated behind Elsa, dagger pressed to her throat. A whisper: “One step closer… she dies.”

“This is Capital City Rhine! You dare strike in daylight? You won’t escape!” the knights roared—but stood frozen.

They saw it: Elsa offered zero resistance. That silence spoke of terrifying skill.

*Gulp…*

Even swallowing felt dangerous.

She hadn’t lacked the will to fight.

But she couldn’t imagine a single move that wouldn’t end her life.

“Escape? Impossible.”

Suran’s voice was calm. Amidst armies, pinpoint strikes, claiming bounties—this was routine.

She hooked an arm around Elsa’s waist, leaped onto a rooftop, then dashed across tiles. Shattered clay and dust rained down on the knights below—a silent mockery.

“The assassin took Lady Elsa!! Call reinforcements!!”

“Seal the gates!! Don’t let her flee!!”

They chased desperately. But Suran moved like wind—carrying Elsa, leaping rooftops with effortless grace—vanishing beyond sight.

…

Night fell.

News spread: Elsa, Second Knight of the Holy Flame Order, abducted in broad daylight. The king himself was informed.

Holy Flame Order, noble houses, adventurer teams—all poured out of Rhine City to hunt the assassin.

But Suran had outwitted them. She never left.

After hearing “You can’t escape Rhine City,” she’d simply said “Impossible,” then vanished before their eyes—crafting the perfect illusion of escape.

Now, deep in a tavern cellar within Rhine City.

“Mmm… mmm.”

Elsa, gagged and blindfolded, wrists shackled above her head, ankles chained—utterly immobilized.

A knight should break these restraints easily.

But the moment she strained, searing pain lanced from her wound.

Strange… right after the stab, it hadn’t hurt this much. Now, even a slight effort brought agony.

As if struck in a hidden vital point—even she didn’t know it existed.

That assassin… who *was* she?!

*Tap tap. Tap tap.*

Crisp footsteps echoed.

Elsa’s heart hammered: “Mmm! Mmm mmm!!”

Suran had arrived.