----


    ‘This wasn’t unusual—witches were notorious for being vtile,


    crazy bitches.


    "Please, yourdyship, calm down! We are soldiers of the Royal


    Family! Please, stop!"


    At the mention of Royal Family, I did what any sane person would


    —I stopped whipping them.


    They showed me a golden insignia—the real one


    "Fine! But get the hell out of my sight, you filthy perverts!" I


    snapped the whip again, and their eyes lingered suspiciously on


    the house behind me.


    ‘They exchanged nces—silent signals—annoyance and hidden


    intent shing in their expressions.


    Maybe they didn’t believe mepletely, but they left. I exhaled


    sharply, nearly copsing from the tension, my wrists sore.


    Iwas terrible at ying the evil witch. I scanned the surroundings


    ‘They were really gone—for now. Something felt off. Why had they


    given up their pursuit so easily?


    I walked toward the darkened house, my senses on high alert.


    Opening a window, I slipped inside, bracing for an attack that


    never came.


    "seems like he fled," I murmured, standing in the small parlor. "


    Maybe that’s why they gave up so fast."


    "Tt’s empty."


    ----


    Ss’s voice came from the kitchen door.


    "There’s a small window that leads to the alley."


    He answered before I could even ask. Damn it.


    T could have snuck in that way—warned him—instead of putting


    on that ridiculous scene. Why hadn’t I searched more?


    “Alright. Let’s go for now. We need to find a ce to stay and


    retrieve the horse," I muttered, avoiding his gaze.


    ‘We left through the same damn window that could have saved me


    from this whole humiliating mess.


    At least I had aplished my goal—he had escaped.


    I left a hidden spell behind. If he returned, I would know. He was.


    supposed to meet someone.


    So why were the Royal Family’s soldiers after him? That night, we


    found an inn nearby.


    Unfortunately, thanks to the auction and the city’s fairs, it was


    packed. Only single rooms were avable.


    "T’ll step out so you can bathe," Ss said once we were settled in


    the tiny room.


    “No, no. I’ll hide behind the screen—don’t go out alone. Too many


    sorcerers are lurking around. I don’t want anyone recognizing you.


    Tt was well known that Lucrecia loved to unt her trophies.


    ----


    Despite the scars and the mask, I feared someone might recognize


    Ss.


    "Alright. I... Pll stay in that corner. I won’t look," he mumbled,


    lowering his head.


    "Rx. I know you won’t," I replied.


    Honestly, I trusted him. With everything he had been through, I


    doubted he had any interest in sex.


    I walked behind the waxed-paper screen, already stripping,


    desperate to rid myself of the filth of the road and the exhaustion


    pressing down on me.


    seek


    SILAS


    Who was this woman—this woman pretending to be Electra de


    Croix?