"Miss Alice is our most exquisite girl. Your Lordship will find no finer company in all of this district."
The madam requested the girl to twirl around, and she obliged with a sweet smile gracing her innocent face. Yohana couldn't deny that the girl possessed beauty, but she questioned whether it was sufficient to captivate noblemen.
"Her beauty rivals the noblewoman because as of a week ago, she was. Her family went bankrupt, so she's forced to work here. But don't let her circumstances fool you, she's still in her sixteenth year and has a freshness and radiance that can light up a room," the madam added proudly.
That was quite a story, one that would raise this girl's value. But it wasn't the one that Yohana sought for.
"His Lordship requested the finest, Madam. Might it be Ramona?"
The madam's business smile vanished. "There is no such name here. Please leave," she said in a firm tone, gesturing at the door.
The madam's reaction to Yohana's request raised an alarm. But since the madam had seen her face, she had no choice but to retreat for now.
***
Yohana remained on stake for days, observing the activities at Nanty Narking. As she had heard from the other prostitutes, noblemen indeed presented various gifts to the establishment.
However, what intrigued her the most was the fact that these gifts were subsequently sent out again by the madam herself.
Upon closer inspection, Yohana discovered a fire escape ladder beside the building. She witnessed the madam discreetly transporting the gifts, one by one, through the ladder, taking into account their weight and size.
For larger items, a rope was attached, and they were pulled up from the third-floor window.
Furthermore, it became evident that the noblemen themselves would visit this mysterious prostitute. They would either ascend the ladder with the assistance of their servants or come alone, likely to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
The more Yohana observed the situation surrounding Ramona, the deeper her confusion grew. But she wasn't there to seek answers. Her sole purpose was to assassinate the woman.
After carefully monitoring the area, Yohana concluded that the security around the ladder was most lax at night, when the madam was occupied inside the establishment tending to her girls.
Saturdays proved to be the busiest day, with upper-class men also visiting. On these occasions, the madam personally attended to their needs.
Therefore, Yohana planned to strike on a Saturday. She had prepared a potent poison that could be easily mixed into drinks. Her intention was to carry out the mission indirectly, minimizing the risk of exposure.
***
Saturday finally arrived. The uproarious atmosphere at Nanty Narking gave Yohana the confidence that the busy time had just begun.
She made her way to the ladder and began her ascent. The window was securely locked from the outside, but locks posed no challenge for Yohana, thanks to her exceptional lock-picking skills.
With a swift and silent motion, she successfully opened the window and gracefully entered the room, ensuring not to create any noise. The raucous cacophony and loud music from the floor below provided a convenient cover for her footsteps.
Inside the room, there was only one door, and Yohana was certain it led to Ramona's quarters. She approached the door with caution. She could hear faint music from the room, which grew louder as she drew closer.
"She's awake," Yohana thought, a hint of concern creeping into her mind. Her plan would have been smoother if the target had been asleep.
Considering that noblemen visited Ramona during the day, Yohana assumed she must follow a nocturnal schedule like most people.
Nevertheless, Yohana had a backup plan in place. If the opportunity to poison her drink did not present itself, she would resort to injecting the poison directly, as she had done with the exiled prince.
With resolve, she pushed the door open and quietly entered the room. Her eyes meticulously scanned the room, searching for any potential threats.
She couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the opulent decor in the room and the gritty surroundings of the red district.
Ornate rugs adorned the floor, intricate chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and luxurious furniture was scattered throughout the space.
Among the lavishness, Yohana's attention was drawn to the numerous boxes and packages, clear evidence of the gifts bestowed upon Ramona by various nobles.
As she approached the center of the room, she laid eyes upon the woman seated at the dressing table. With fair skin and clad only in a nightgown, she was gently brushing her own silver hair.
A sudden realization struck Yohana, causing her to pause. They shared the same hair color.
For the longest time, Yohana had considered her silver hair to be an oddity, setting her apart from others. It was only recently that she had come to accept and embrace her unique appearance.
Yet there she stood, staring at someone who shared a similar feature, exuding grace and elegance.
All of a sudden, a sharp pang struck Yohana's head, causing her to stumble and crouch down, desperately trying to regain her balance. As she fought against the throbbing headache, she noticed Ramona approaching her with a stoic expression.
Surprisingly, Ramona didn't seem surprised or alarmed by Yohana's uninvited presence. Instead, she appeared to have been anticipating Yohana's arrival.
"You're here to kill me, aren't you?" Ramona's soft voice spoke, her face exuding a sense of arrogance as she bent down, gazing down at Yohana.
"What…? I'm not…"
"So, this is the face of his favorite servant," Ramona mused, gently caressing Yohana's cheek. "He thinks he's so clever, but in reality, he's just a nobody. He will never surpass me."
Confused and weakened by the pain in her head, Yohana wanted to deny Ramona's assumption, to declare that she was nobody's servant. She served only the currency that accompanied the orders given to her. But her strength failed her, preventing her from forming a coherent sentence.
"I can't comprehend how you became his most prized possession when your movements are so easily tracked. You directly engaged with Madam Geneviere yet failed to extract any valuable information from her. Now, you're left with no choice but to take matters into your own hands."
Ramona brushed away the stray strands of hair that obstructed Yohana's face, feigning sympathy as she continued to speak.
"Darling, how could you be so oblivious? Perhaps you've been too consumed with monitoring me that you failed to realize that you, too, have been under surveillance."
Gritting her teeth, Yohana struggled to recall the sequence of events, questioning herself if she had truly been oblivious to being followed. But how could Ramona have foreseen Yohana's arrival when she had remained in this room the entire time? It didn't make sense.
"I must admit, I find it rather exhilarating," Ramona remarked with a laugh, her voice filled with amusement. "An assassin who relied on poison to eliminate her targets, only to be defeated by a poison she couldn't detect. How amusing!" Ramona's laughter filled the room as she displayed her perfect teeth. Rising to her feet, she began to pace around the room, twirling her wavy silver hair.
Summoning her last ounce of strength, Yohana reached for her pocket, determined to administer the poison to Ramona's body. She believed that it would only take a small effort to inject the lethal substance and see Ramona's end.
However, before Yohana could retrieve the jar and syringe from her pocket, Ramona swiftly intercepted her. "Oh, my dear, you're still so persistent," Ramona remarked, seizing the opportunity to search Yohana's pocket.
She deftly retrieved the tiny jar containing the deadly poison and the syringe, taking both objects into her possession. Stepping away from Yohana, Ramona leaned against the bed, her gaze fixed upon the liquid inside the jar.
Curiosity tinged her voice as she questioned, "What is this? What do you call it? Will it bring about my swift demise? I must confess, I'm not well-versed in the realm of poisons."
Despite her weakened state, Yohana persisted, crawling forward with unwavering determination. She was resolved to complete her final task, even if it meant meeting her own demise. The taste of defeat was something she simply couldn't bear.
Ramona's demeanor shifted, a flicker of irritation crossing her face as she witnessed Yohana's resolute actions. However, in a matter of seconds, she reverted back to her sweet and cheerful facade, concealing her animosity.
With a playful tone, Ramona remarked, "I suppose you can't answer my questions, not because you choose not to, but because you lack the ability. That's alright. I have experts at my disposal who can provide me with the answers I seek."
She paused, then continued with a sinister tone, "Hmm... I know I shouldn't go to such lengths, but what can I say? I want to make things more challenging for your employer, and especially for you. Why? Because I despise you."
Her words trailed off into a maniacal laugh, a stark contrast to her delicate appearance, leaving an eerie impression in the room.
Whether due to Yohana's regular health regimen or an unconscious instinct to ingest only a small portion of the poison Ramona had administered, she began to feel a surge of strength returning to her body.
Seizing the moment while Ramona's back was turned, Yohana swiftly reached for a letter opener on the dressing table and swung it toward the prostitute's neck.
Ramona collapsed with a resounding thud, blood spurting from her neck as she fought for breath. While the letter opener was still lodged in Ramona's neck, Yohana managed to rise to her feet and stumbled out of the room, her own movements unsteady.
After regaining some composure, Yohana leaned against the wall for support. Though the dizziness still lingered, she gradually felt a sensation returning to her limbs.
In the daylight, the once bustling red district appeared eerily quiet and devoid of activity. When Yohana caught the faint sound of footsteps trailing behind her, a sense of foreboding washed over her. She halted abruptly and pivoted to face the source of the noise.
A mysterious figure stood before her, their faces concealed beneath a hood, while a thin scarf concealed the lower half of their visage.
Before Yohana could react, the man drew out a knife and slit her throat. The last thing she saw was a curious symbol of two circles, one white and one black, overlapping in the center to form a gray area.