Chapter – 21
“How do you know?”
“If you can’t figure this out, you can’t really call yourself a member of the Empire’s top information guild.”
‘I didn’t notice, though.’
Mek forced a nod, hiding her thoughts.
“Then… what should I tell that woman?”
Mek asked cautiously.
A dedicated informant hadn’t been dispatched in recent years. It was inefficient.
No matter how wealthy the nobles were, Cassius’ main clientele consisted of such nobles. Information was expensive, and the value each person could bring was beyond imagination.
However, a dedicated informant had to focus on an individual, meaning they couldn’t earn other income during that time.
‘No way he’d agree to something like that.’
The agent seemed to have lived several lives, appearing indifferent and weary about anything troublesome.
So, Mek assumed the agent wouldn’t accept a task that was both inefficient and bothersome.
The agent, who had kept his gaze fixed on the necklace, finally lifted his head and spoke.
“Tell her I’ll do it.”
“So… you’re actually—?”
Mek stared at him, hoping she had misheard.
Under the cloak he wore, a flash of white teeth appeared.
“Seems fun.”
“Fun…? Then, who should I send?”
Mek swallowed a frustrated sigh and opened the informant list.
Kellen had gone to the provinces, and Aki was Cassius’ rising star. But she couldn’t leave them vacant…
“I’ll go.”
“Excuse me?”
Mek widened her eyes, hoping she had misunderstood.
But unfortunately, her hearing was perfectly fine.
“I’ll go myself.”
“W-wait—!”
Mek tried to stop him, but he vanished in an instant.
All that remained where he had been was a single purple communication gem.
“So, you gave me this?”
“Yes. He said we could communicate using this.”
I turned the purple gem over in my hands, examining it.
So this…
“It’s called a communication stone.”
“Wow… it’s actually a communication stone.”
It was my first time seeing one in person, so it was a little confusing.
‘And it really works.’
Honestly, sending Mary had been a gamble. She could have told someone, and on top of that, there was no guarantee that Cassius would really dispatch a dedicated informant.
Because the informants were meant to be discreet, it wasn’t even the sort of task you could ask a proxy to handle.
‘Still, seeing that necklace, he must have figured out who I am.’
I had given Mary a diamond necklace called Serena’s Tear.
It wasn’t the finest diamond, but it was expensive enough.
A little wasteful, maybe, but Asitria’s vault contained far grander treasures, so using this should be enough to get a dedicated informant from the other side.
‘And my guess was correct.’
I thought he might refuse if he discovered my identity, but…
‘Anyway, it’s good for me.’
At that moment, the communication stone I held began to glow and vibrate.
“Lady, it’s glowing!”
“I see.”
‘Already a message?’
It’s kind of like a cell phone.
“Um, so…”
I remembered I had to use the magic in my eyes to connect it.
‘I didn’t think I’d actually have to use it, so I haven’t practiced much with magic control.’
Contrary to my worry, holding the stone up to my eyes connected it automatically.
[Hello? Can you hear me?]
What…?
‘Voice modulation?’
The strange, inhuman voice made me pause.
[For security, this communication stone automatically modulates your voice, so don’t worry.]
Huh.
Indeed, Cassius is different.
Even if they already suspected my identity,
‘It might be better this way in case someone else overhears.’
[My name is Blake. And you? What should I call you?]
Hearing his name, I was slightly disappointed.
‘So he’s not the informant who was attached to Adrina.’
I had hoped for a coincidence, but no such luck.
…The informant’s name was Kan, wasn’t it?
“You don’t need to know my name. Just call me ‘Customer.’”
Wow, my voice gets modulated too. That’s amazing.
“By the way, is there an informant named ‘Kan’ among your agents?”
[…….]
What, already not responding?
“Hello?”
[Ah, sorry. I got distracted for a moment. There’s no informant by that name.]
…There isn’t?
‘That can’t be right.’
I had seen it in the original story—the existence of that person couldn’t have disappeared.
“Any similar names?”
[There’s Kellen, though.]
That wasn’t the right one…
[Our informants’ names are top secret. How did you even hear that, I wonder, Customer?]
His tone subtly probed for information.
‘You think I’ll just tell you!’
“I’m not selling information about myself.”
‘Maybe she’s not even with Cassius yet.’
The heroine was the same age as me, and she had hired the informant when she was eighteen.
Besides, it wasn’t very important information.
[Too bad. You seem sharper than expected, so I’m relieved. Anyway, why did you request a dedicated informant?]
“Well…”
Why is he speaking casually all of a sudden?
‘Kind of annoying.’
[Just so you know, I won’t ever speak respectfully to anyone, so handle it yourself.]
Whoa. Did he just read my mind?
I got goosebumps.
[Anyway, why did you request it?]
I glanced at Mary. She blinked at me with an innocent expression.
‘I feel a little guilty.’
I had deceived her, and there was more I would need to hide.
‘But I’m not about to just sit and die.’
I lightly covered the communication stone with my hand… so Mary could only hear me.
“Mary, could you step out for a moment?”
“Eh? Why?”
“Apparently, when a noble talks to an informant, it’s supposed to be just the two of them.”
“Oh, I see! Okay, Lady. I’ll leave, and let me know when you’re done.”
Mary smiled and left the room.
But… I think she might have been a little loud.
I lifted my hand from the stone just a little.
[What is our Lady trying to handle secretly, sending her maid away like that?]
…He keeps probing me.
“Well…”
[Well?]
‘I don’t need to reveal my entire plan on the very first day.’
“I want my maid, who just left, to remain unaware of the upcoming events. At least until I say so. Can you keep that secret?”
[Hmm. Since you’re our customer now, don’t worry. Even with a knife to the neck, the secret will stay safe.]
Indeed, in Cassius, there were cases where an informant died rather than reveal confidential information.
That’s why Cassius’ information guild had a reputation as the most secure in the Empire.
Knowing that, I had risked asking Mary for help.
“That’s enough for today.”
[Enough?]
“This communication stone—if I activate it, you’ll always answer, right?”
[Of course. For security, we won’t contact you first, so no worries.]
“That’s good. Then I’ll contact you when I need you. Thanks in advance, Blake.”
[Likewise, Lady.]
The connection ended.
He answered casually, but my heart was racing.
‘Wow… this is amazing.’
If I apply lessons from novels like this, getting a divorce might not be so hard after all!
I got up and carefully stored the communication stone in a drawer.
‘By the time Sidheron returns, I’ll have the divorce preparations perfectly ready.’
Time passed slowly, yet at the same time, swiftly.
I grew up, and with Blake’s help, I steadily transferred my assets.
Of course, Mary noticed, but I explained it as something nobles often do, and she accepted it.
As my guilt grew over deceiving Mary with such clumsy lies,
Seven years had passed.
I was now a 19-year-old adult.
During that time, memories of being with Sidheron occasionally surfaced.
But I had only spent a few months with him, and we barely spoke.
The strange feelings and confusion I had experienced around him gradually faded over time.
One day, the Sidheron inside me was remembered only as a murderer who would kill me.
“Lady!”
During my usual tea time, Mary came running in, panting. I set down my teacup.
“Why are you so out of breath?”
“Uh… haa, hup!”
Mary seemed to have something to say but struggled to catch her breath.
Feeling concerned, I handed her the tea I was about to drink.
“Here, drink this if you’re tired.”
Normally, it was absurd for a noblewoman and her maid to share tea together like this, but over seven years, Mary had become like family.
If Mary hadn’t supported me when I arrived here seven years ago, I could never have adapted to this mansion.
“Huff… No, Lady! You can’t offer something like this to a maid! How many times have I told you!”
Mary panted heavily, scolding me relentlessly.
“I’m not the one to lecture about drinking tea. Here, drink first, then talk.”
Mary shot me a side glance, snatched the cup, and gulped it down. Luckily, the tea had cooled enough; otherwise, she would have burned her throat.
‘That could have been dangerous if I hadn’t given it.’
“So… what’s the matter?”
“My master… is coming back.”
