Her golden hair fell like a waterfall. Against the pure-white evening gown and its golden trim, her already rare and noble hair and eyes were displayed to their fullest. The little skin visible beyond the gown was as white as snow, a striking testament to her origins among the Federation’s great families.
This was the sight that greeted Kain when he entered the room.
At that moment, the Devil seemed to have become an angel. Everything was so perfect it couldn’t be real… except for the expression on that exquisite face.
“How many times have I told you? Don’t call me Elizabeth in front of people!”
Kain was momentarily stunned by the captain’s almost divinely blessed beauty. Only when her lowered complaint reached his ears did he snap back to reality. “What else am I supposed to call you? It’s not like I can call you Captain.”
“Anderson.”
Roy gritted her teeth and stressed, “Miss Anderson.”
“All right, all right, Miss Anderson. If you’re ready, then let’s go.”
Seeing the captain’s usual expression, Kain gave a silent, bitter smile. He’d been a fool to hope a dangerous tiger might turn into a docile white rabbit.
“W-wait…”
Roy stopped her deputy as he turned to leave. Meeting his faintly puzzled gaze, she showed a touch of shyness for the first time. She stammered for a long while before finally managing, “H-how does it look? I mean this dress. Does it give me away?”
Kain was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood what the captain meant. He couldn’t hold back any longer and let out a soft laugh at the sheer contrast.
His gaze traveled slowly from her golden hair downward, taking in every detail. It passed over her increasingly dark expression, the silver necklace set with brilliant pearls hanging at her slender throat, and the sapphire teardrop ring on her delicate finger. He missed nothing, as if admiring a splendid work of art.
Roy had been ready to snap at her deputy for “laughing” at her, but his scrutinizing gaze—like that of someone examining an ancient relic—left her feeling strangely less sure of herself. She furrowed her brow slightly. “If there’s a problem, say so. Don’t wait until the ball to let something slip.”
“A problem? No, Miss Anderson. As a matter of fact, you have a good eye. This dress looks like it was made just for you.” Seeing Roy’s disappointment, Kain quickly wiped the smile from his face and gave her a sincere compliment.
“Really?” Roy gave him a suspicious look.
“Yes. Though it’d be even more perfect if you looked a little gentler.” Kain gestured for the captain to follow him.
Roy hurried to his side, and the two of them left the room together. The major had been waiting outside for ages, looking thoroughly put out. As soon as he saw them emerge, he hurried off at a jog to arrange their departure.
“I know that, but there’s no need to keep up the disguise when nobody’s around.”
With no one else nearby, Roy stretched her body, slightly constrained by the evening gown. Her voice was as languid as a house cat’s just after waking up.
“And once we’re outside, I have my own way of making them believe my identity beyond a doubt.”
Just as the girl had said, the moment they left the main keep, she seemed to become a completely different person.
Her smile was polite but not cold, and her gentle gaze seemed to hold a thousand tender feelings. Her posture was flawless. The overwhelmingly forceful Captain Roy had truly become a young lady from a collateral branch of the Anderson Family. That innate air of nobility was something ordinary nouveau riche nobles could never possess.
With her angelic face and a gown and jewelry that seemed made just for her, she looked as if she’d stepped out of a painting. The soldiers waiting outside the main keep all stared, momentarily spellbound.
A pairing of a cold-faced, iron-blooded officer and a graceful, elegant young lady from a great family was bound to draw every eye.
Once Kain and Roy had climbed into the carriage, the major, seated on the front bench, flicked his riding crop through the air. He laughed and scolded the soldiers who were still staring. “We’re leaving! What are you standing there gawking for? She’s the young master’s woman, not yours!”
The soldiers burst into laughter, then set off with the carriage, leaving the castle behind. They passed through the town and headed for the estate where the ball was being held.
Thanks to the duke, a wide, carriage-friendly road ran from the town to the estate. The carriage traveled smoothly and quickly, without a bump. Only the raindrops striking the outside of the carriage continued to speak of the danger this journey held.
With the downpour and thunder to cover their voices, the two inside the carriage spoke in whispers.
“Where’s Elfie? You let her out first thing this morning. Did you send her to keep an eye on the Black Crow Society’s assassins?”
“As if. There are hundreds of assassins on this island. How could she keep tabs on all of them?”
Roy glanced at her deputy. His face was calm, but his hands had clenched without him realizing it. “Besides, those people are just tools for killing. It won’t matter how many you take out. As long as they can eliminate Federo, the Black Crow Society will consider any number of deaths worth it.”
She was right. Assassins were difficult to train, but they could always be replaced. But if the governor, the very symbol of darkness, fell, no one in the entire Orlan Empire would be able to stand against the founder of the Black Crow Society head-on. And that was exactly what the other side wanted.
“So I sent Elfie to find the few people carrying out the operation. Then she can follow the trail and flush out the biggest fish.”
Listening to Roy, Kain raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you worried she’ll run into danger? Or that she’ll give away your identity instead?”
A girl with dark-gold eyes might really be able to fool the big shots in the Black Crow Society. But if that girl had a Jackdaw named Elfie with her, there’d be no chance of keeping up the deception.
“Relax. Elfie isn’t that stupid. The Black Crow Society’s ravens are no match for her, and their falcons definitely can’t catch her.”
Captain Roy had always been this confident, whether she was the one doing something or it was her beloved pet.
“All right. If you really do find where that…big fish is, I hope you’ll tell me.” At this point, Kain had no choice but to trust the captain’s judgment.
“Why should I tell you?” Roy asked, entirely unapologetic.
Kain thought she was about to make him bargain for it again. His eye twitched a few times, and he lowered his tone. “Then I’m asking you, Captain. Will that do?”
Only then did Roy realize he’d misunderstood. She couldn’t help laughing. “No, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not asking you to beg me. Telling you would be useless. Do you think they’d just sit around waiting for you to show up with troops?”
Kain fell silent for a moment. “You’re right. Telling me wouldn’t help. But if the governor knew, I’m sure it’d be of great use.”
“That won’t do. If that old man finds out, this game will get a lot more complicated.” Roy wagged her index finger, still refusing.
“All he has to do is play the bait. Your job is to lead the navy and keep those assassins occupied. That’s all.”
Wouldn’t that put the governor in terrible danger? If so, what was the point of coming here in the first place?
As if she’d guessed what her deputy was thinking, Roy leaned back so she could settle more comfortably against the velvet cushion. She half-closed her eyes, savoring the comfort. “Kain, you need to understand: I’m the protagonist of this game, not you, and certainly not your governor. Everything has to go according to my wishes.”
At that, her voice—soft and languid until then—changed abruptly. It became a biting wind sweeping between the glaciers of the Far North, and its unmistakable warning rang in Kain’s ears.
“If anyone breaks the rules, I’ll flip the table…even if that person is you.”
