Chapter 8. To Be Careful
1978 Words
Deep within the forest—
“Mmph!”
A muffled sound echoed through the trees.
“Shhh!”
Lisa quickly covered the knight's mouth.
Both of them were dressed entirely in black.
The knight struggled against her grip.
“Mmph! Mmmph!”
“Stop struggling.”
Lisa dragged him farther away from the campsite.
The knight tried to break free, but Lisa tightened her grip.
“Stay still.”
“MMPH!”
Lisa sighed.
Why is he so troublesome?
She continued dragging the knight through the forest.
The knight desperately tried to make another sound.
“Mmph—!”
“Shhh!”
Lisa glanced around to make sure no one had heard them.
The campsite was already far behind them.
She continued pulling the knight deeper into the darkness.
Meanwhile, the knight could only stare at her in confusion.
Why is a maid k********g me?!
Selene appeared from the darkness.
Her hood was still covering her face.
The knight's eyes widened.
Another figure?
Selene looked at him.
She had already cast a voice-changing spell.
When she spoke, her voice sounded completely different.
“What did you see?”
The knight immediately answered,
“I saw nothing.”
Selene's eyes narrowed.
“Whatever you do…”
She stepped closer.
“You can't hide it.”
The knight remained silent.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the knight finally sighed.
“I saw two people fighting each other.”
Selene's eyes flickered.
The knight continued.
“From their body shapes, I could distinguish that one was a woman…”
He paused.
“And the other was a man.”
Selene remained silent.
“I don't know their faces.”
The knight looked at her.
“They were wearing hoods and masks. I couldn't see either of their faces.”
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he hadn't seen their faces.
Good.
But he had seen enough to become a problem.
The knight hesitated.
“From their fighting movements…”
Selene's eyes narrowed.
“I could tell that the woman was probably an assassin.”
Lisa's expression remained calm.
But Selene's eyes flickered slightly.
The knight continued.
“Her fighting skills…”
He paused.
“They were not the kind of skills ordinary soldiers learn.”
His eyes lowered.
“They looked like techniques practiced in the underworld.”
Silence.
Selene stared at him.
So he noticed that much…
The knight swallowed.
“I don't know who she was.”
He quickly added,
“I didn't see her face, and I don't know her identity.”
Selene remained silent.
Her eyes became colder.
The knight had seen more than she had expected.
The knight continued.
“But the man…”
He paused, thinking carefully.
“He seems to be a swordsman.”
Selene listened silently.
“However, some of his movements were also similar to those of an assassin.”
The knight frowned slightly.
“So I guess…”
“He's a half-assassin.”
Selene's eyes flickered.
Half-assassin?
She remained silent.
But her thoughts began racing.
I guess I revealed too much of my assassin skills.
She glanced down at her dagger.
Next time, I should fight like a swordsman.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
Wait.
Selene's eyes narrowed.
That man was testing me.
The more she thought about their fight, the more it made sense.
His movements.
The way he approached her.
The way he fought.
He wasn't trying to kill her.
He was testing her abilities.
And then—
he disappeared.
He probably noticed that someone was watching.
Selene's expression darkened slightly.
That's probably why he left.
So the entire fight…
hadn't been an assassination attempt.
It had been a test.
Selene stared at the knight for a moment.
Then she asked,
“Do you think you know the woman?”
The knight frowned.
“No.”
Selene remained silent.
She carefully watched his expression.
His eyes.
His posture.
Even the way he answered.
He's not lying.
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
I can tell.
She looked away.
Good.
At least he didn't know who she was.
The knight hesitated.
Then he looked at Selene.
“Are you one of their accomplices?”
Selene's eyes narrowed.
The knight quickly continued,
“Or perhaps…”
“Are you also their enemy?”
He raised his hands slightly.
“I won't tell anyone. I promise.”
Selene stared at him.
For a moment, she said nothing.
The knight waited for her answer.
The forest remained completely silent around them.
Selene's eyes slowly narrowed beneath her hood.
He's trying to figure out who I am.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she simply continued staring at him.
Selene reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small vial filled with a clear liquid.
The knight stared at it.
“What is that?”
Selene held the vial toward him.
“Make a vow.”
The knight frowned.
“A vow?”
“Promise that you will never tell anyone what you saw.”
She paused.
“And forget everything you saw.”
The knight looked at the vial suspiciously.
Selene continued,
“Drink this.”
She placed the vial in his hand.
The knight hesitated.
Selene's voice remained calm.
“You will still remember that something happened tonight.”
She paused.
“But the vision of what happened…”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Will be erased.”
The knight stared at the vial.
He looked back at Selene.
“…You really prepared something like this?”
Selene said nothing.
She simply waited.
The knight looked down at the potion again.
Then he sighed.
“I'll make the vow.”
---
Selene returned to her tent.
The moment she stepped inside, she walked toward her bed.
Then—
Flop.
She collapsed onto it.
Selene let out a long sigh.
“Haah…”
She stared blankly at the ceiling.
After everything that had happened tonight, she was exhausted.
Lisa stood nearby.
She looked at her master helplessly.
She didn't know what to say.
Selene looked completely drained.
Lisa sighed quietly.
My poor master…
Selene remained lying on the bed.
After a moment, she turned her head toward Lisa.
“Lisa…”
“Yes, Master?”
“Did you see it?”
Lisa paused.
She knew exactly what Selene meant.
“The fight?”
Selene nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
Lisa hesitated before answering.
“Yes, Master. I saw it.”
Selene was still lying on the bed.
She looked at Lisa.
“Do you think you know him?”
Lisa paused.
She thought back to the fight.
His movements.
His speed.
The way he disappeared.
Lisa slowly shook her head.
“No, Master.”
Selene narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Are you sure?”
Lisa nodded.
“I've never seen him before.”
Selene remained silent.
She stared at the ceiling.
So even Lisa doesn't recognize him…
Her thoughts returned to the mysterious man.
Who exactly was he?
Selene remained silent.
Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then—
Something clicked.
Her thoughts began connecting everything.
The man from that night…
The one who had appeared during her mission.
He had been incredibly fast.
Before her dagger could even reach him—
he disappeared.
Just like tonight.
Selene's eyes slowly widened.
Wait…
That man.
A memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
---
The birthday banquet.
The ballroom was filled with nobles and guests.
Selene remembered the young man who had approached her and handed her the wine.
But that wasn't what caught her attention.
She remembered the feeling.
That gaze.
Someone had been watching her from above.
She remembered looking toward the upper gallery.
A young man was leaning casually against the railing, quietly observing the celebration below.
The corners of his lips lifted into a faint smirk.
“…Interesting.”
---
Selene's eyes widened slightly.
Yes.
She remembered.
She had heard it.
She had seen it.
And she had noticed it.
Ever since that man approached her with the wine and the message…
she had already felt someone's gaze from above.
Selene slowly sat up.
Her expression became serious.
Could it be…?
She looked toward Lisa.
But she didn't say anything.
Not yet.
Selene remained silent.
She glanced toward Lisa.
Lisa was already asleep.
Selene looked back toward the ceiling.
Her thoughts were still racing.
No…
No way.
She slowly narrowed her eyes.
There was still too much she didn't know.
But one thing was certain.
She had to be careful.
Especially tomorrow night.
Selene quietly lay back down.
I have to be careful tomorrow night.
To be continued....
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