Amanda sat in silence, her mind a whirlwind of calculations. The idea of escaping her current predicament was tempting, especially if it meant avoiding further entanglement in her marriage with Kael.
However, Leona's allegation of her mother was puzzling to her. It was well known that K was the enemy of the throne, targetting the criminals who the Queen pardoned. Everyone was also aware of the Queen's personality. She can be as straightforward as a person can be. How could she have such shady dealings with an assassin? But Leona was quite confident that K was the Queen's hound. She couldn't help but feel like she was standing in a fog; the surroundings were blurry to her. Was the Queen also playing politics behind her back? Was K not as noble as people thought him to be? Or was this woman pulling her leg?
A lot of thoughts flooded her head for a while.
"Fine," she finally said, her voice steady but cold. "I'll consider your terms. If you assist me in claiming those two items, I'll make sure my mother accepts your request, whether K is involved or not.
"Good." The Duchess's smile widened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. She nodded and rose, preparing to leave. "You've made a wise choice, Amanda. Trust me, this will be worth it."
Unknown to the women, Kael had been quietly eavesdropping on their entire conversation from his own chamber. The noise-canceling barrier created by Duchess Leona couldn't stop his technique, "Whisper of the Wind." The ability allows him to hear even the faintest sounds carried on the wind. Unless the space itself is disconnected, he could hear everything he wanted to.
Usually, he would feel blessed to learn his technique when he was a child. But, as he listened to Amanda's resolve, his heart sank. While he understood Amanda's plight, the idea of her willing to end their marriage left him feeling a little bit of disappointment.
"She wants to break free, huh," Kael thought to himself, his expression unreadable. "If that's her wish, I won't stop her. If anything, I will help her instead. That's the least I can do."
Kael sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes, formulating a plan. To break free, she wants those two items. But what if Amanda failed to secure the items through the auction? He would be left with no choice but to intervene. "I would steal them and ensure they found their way to her just before we board the ship—secretly and without implicating her in any theft." He murmured softly to himself. "I hope that they don't fall into the hands of those with a demigod as a protector."
The night had settled quietly over the castle, the only sound being the faint rustling of leaves outside. Inside the royal guest chambers, everyone was asleep, unaware of what was going on outside. In the dead of night, a group of highly skilled assassins infiltrated the heavily guarded castle. They made their way to the royal guest chambers on the Western Quarters, where Kael and his wife were staying.
With deadly precision, they released a potent into the living room, a smoke-like substance that quickly spread to all the rooms in a matter of seconds, overwhelming everyone's senses. One by one, the guards and servants succumbed to the intense odors, slipping into unconsciousness.
But not everyone was affected. Kael completely resisted it but stayed in his room. His connection with his spectral wolf remained strong, and he ordered the beast to go into invisibility. As it disappeared from their eyes, the assassins assumed that its summoner, Kael, had probably fallen dead from the toxic gas and proceeded to intrude into the princess' chamber.
It was then Cain left his room, drawing out the sword with a roar. "How dare you?" He was visibly angered at the five intruders and charged at them.
The leader of the group spoke. "I'll take care of him. You go and kill the princess."
Kael's facial expression turned cold when he heard those words. He closed his eyes, telepathically connected to the wolf instantly. "Go and protect Amanda."
The spectral wolf stayed in its invisible form and made its move.
Meanwhile, Cain, the seasoned warrior, struggled slightly as he fought against the effects of the smoke that invaded its body but clashed his sword with the leader of the assassins.
One of the assassins was about to reach her room door, and Cain shouted in panic, "No…" The master assassin of the Tier-7 realm smirked under his mask, pushing him back with the dagger, and then lowered his body swiftly, slashing at the captain's waist. Cain, who didn't wear equipment, had his flesh cut off, and blood gushed out from his abdomen. "Argh…" he roared in pain.
It was at that moment the spectral wolf, invisible and silent until now, materialized and pounced on the assassin that tried to enter Amanda's room, tearing through the air with a speed that left the attackers in panic.
"Sh*t… This beast is still there. That means Moonstone is alive." The assassin leader panicked a little bit as one of his subordinates fell to death with the wolf crushing his neck under its sharp teeth.
Nyx threw away the assassin's body and growled at the assassin leader, guarding the door. "Grrrr…"
Cain, meanwhile, hurriedly gulped down a healing potion and closed off his wound. He took his sword from the floor. "I appreciate your help, Nyx."
The assassin leader spoke. "Plan change. You two handle the warrior. I will take care of this beast. Number 145, you kill the princess at all costs.
His three remaining subordinates nodded in unison.
As the assassin leader planned, with two of them engaged Cain as planned, trying to subdue him, and he kept the beast locked onto him, the last remaining assassin managed to slip inside her room filled with smoke.
The chaos reached its peak as the castle's guards began to scramble in response to the commotion.
One of the assassins reached Amanda's seemingly unconscious form, ready to strike her.
However, Kael appeared out of nowhere, cutting through the smoke, his figure materializing as if summoned by fate. Without hesitation, he intercepted the assassin's path and caught the dagger with his bare hand.
The assassin was taken aback, looking at his appearance. "You… How?" The assassin, his eyes wide with surprise, attempted to pull back. But he couldn't do it. Kael's grip on his dagger was too tight. All of a sudden, his legs became weak, and he started to shiver, fear creeping up his spine.
Kael's eyes were cold, filled with killing intent. He raised his hand, dark energy enveloping it and transforming it into a sharp blade. "Goodby… Hmm?"