It was late evening when I wore the blue pendant again and turned myself invisible. It was time for action.
I got out of my room and scanned my surroundings before I started making my way towards the room from where I had to pick an important item before I started towards the black tower.
The party must be in full swing right now so, nobody would be out here to witness anything and even if someone were here they would still be clueless about what happened.
I made my way past the forest and felt the heaviness of the barrel that I had snuck backpack that I had gotten from Silas before he left to carry out his part of the plan.
I walked inside the tower finding the two guards inside. They didn't see me as I was invisible and also because they were busy drinking, I smirked as I made my way up the stairs hearing the sound of the wine dripping behind me from the barrel that I was carrying.
During our training in my past life, the most important thing was to erase your traces well so that no one would find out that the Intelligence agents were involved in some scuffle. Being in that profession for almost seven years had almost engraved the paranoia and perfection into my bones.
Yet, for this mission, I had to leave some traces.
I reached the top of the stairs and saw the door ajar, there was a muffled scream from inside and I rushed in to see a figure dressed in black standing over Elise clamping her mouth with one hand while the other held the knife high up in the air.
I shot an icicle just in time stabbing the guy's hand and making him drop the knife and then turn to spot who had interrupted him. I was still invisible so he didn't see me.
I didn't stop as I rested the barrel down and rushed towards him after activating my Dragon's Presence on full scale making him gasp and fall to his knees.
I stood shielding Elise, who looked around in panic before I walked towards the assassin watching as he gritted his teeth under the pressure of my Dragon's Presence.
Till the time I was in front of him, he was already writhing on the ground as if he was being crushed by an invisible boulder.
"Thank you for being here at the right time." I smiled watching as the assassin passed out not being able to withstand the pressure.
I deactivated the Dragon's Presence and then turned to look at Elise who was sitting up in her bed with a pale face looking haggard but alive.
"You," I spoke up making her eyes go wide and fix on my position.
"You kept your word and held on."
Her lips curled up in a smile as tears ran down her face, "You-You really came."
I smiled as I reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I said I would." I said as I held her hand and she slowly climbed down from the bed.
"Bu-But where is my son?" She asked as I walked over, grabbed the assassin and threw him on the bed.
"If I take you both she will come after you again."
"Then what will... we do?"
"Leave it all to me. Now close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you." I ordered and she obliged.
I took the barrel and splashed the leftover wine all around the room and on the unconscious assassin before I picked up the gas lamp and tossed it over the bed making the sheets catch fire.
"Let's go now." I said as I held her arm and closed my eyes focusing my mana on the device that Silas had handed me in the afternoon.
The bright light sprouted from the ground and I saw the fire spreading rapidly across the room before everything disappeared.
I gripped Elise's hand as she stumbled when we were back on the ground again, she gasped as she clenched my hand tightly.
"You're late." Silas said as he approached me.
I removed the invisibility spell and he stood in front of me looking at me and then at Elise who still had her eyes closed.
"Take her to where I told you."
"Isn't it risky to take her there?"
"We will use the device that I told you to make so that nobody would know who she is."
Silas sighed deeply as he placed his hand over Elise's head making her fall unconscious before covering her with a black cloak.
"Are you all right?" He asked and I nodded.
"I don't have time. I'll go back now." I said and Silas picked up Elise.
"Go back safely."
"You too."
With that said, I teleported back to my room and Silas went his way with Elise.
I gasped lightly as I reached inside my room and sat down on the bed catching my breath and feeling my heart beating fast because of the adrenaline.
"Let's see what the Golden Serpent does now." I smirked.
[Quest completed.
Rescue Concubine Elise.
The host can choose one of the following rewards:
- Transcendent Invulnerability.
- Teleportation.
- Flight.]
I hummed as I looked at the three skills in front of me wondering which to choose, all of these skills were good and my Patron was generous enough to hand over two skills when the bet was only for one.
Still, I wasn't complaining.
I gave it a little thought and read the descriptions again before I made my decision.
"I choose Transcendent Invulnerability and Flight as my skills."
[Rewards received: Transcendent Invulnerability and Flight.]
I felt the surge of energy fill my body making me feel as if my body had suddenly grown lighter.
I could use Silas's teleportation device so, these two skills were the best choice at this moment.
The commotion started quite later than I expected and Rune came running to my room while I lay peacefully in my bed.
"Reina... Are... you... all right?" He asked as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Rune, are you all right? Why are you huffing so much? Come inside." I said as I ushered him inside my room.
He sat down on the chair and I handed him a glass of water. He drank a sip and then looked at me.
I wasn't going to let them know what I did until we were back home.
"We-Were you sleeping?" He asked.
"Yes, but what's wrong? Why did you come here so late at night and why do you look so pale?"
[Goddess of Wisdom finds your acting commendable.]
"Thank you."
[Defender of Divine Glory is wary of your plan.]
"You recruited me for my planning skills now shut it."
"You... Well, if you were in your room sleeping then it's all good." Rune sighed.
"What do you mean? Did something happen?"
"We-Well... there was a fire in the palace."
I gasped.
"What?"
"Yes, I don't know much details but it seems quite serious."
"Is everyone all right? Where is Father?"
"Everyone is fine, they were at the party when the fire broke out. Father is currently helping sort the situation."
"Where did the fire break out?"
"It was an isolated tower so there might not be anything but Her Majesty seemed quite anxious when she saw that place on fire."
"I wonder why?" I suppressed my smirk.
"But, what were you doing outside?" I asked Rune and he shook his head.
"I-I wasn't outside. I just heard the commotion and went to see if there was some trouble."
"It would be better if no one was hurt."
"Yes."
The next day, the banquet was cancelled and the news about the death of the Concubine who was residing in that tower spread like wildfire. Nobody could keep quiet as they started forming stories about assassination and suicide.
Queen's dislike for the Concubine and Prince Eric's harassment because of that wasn't a secret.
The investigation was carried out, but it was of no avail as none of the nobles were found guilty. Additionally, the children who weren't part of the party involved in this matter were also cleared of suspicion because the entire tower was set ablaze.
In the end, the guards were executed with the explanation that they ended up setting the tower on fire when they were intoxicated.
The funeral was going to take place in a few days and till that time all the nobles attending the party returned to their estates.
My family and I returned to the Duke's mansion in the capital where a guest awaited us.