He’s a strange one...
Cassandra muttered inwardly as she observed the young man before her.
Speaking of strange, she was reminded of that little girl again. Honestly, she didn’t want to say all those things, but she brought it upon herself. Who told the girl to repeatedly try to mess with her?
Yesterday, today, and just now.
She even wondered whether the girl had a screw loose on her head. If not, why do all of these?
But she could guess why she was . Her earlier guesses must have been correct. Either she was a spoiled brat or someone who craved the attention of her family.
However, that didn’t justify her actions in the slightest.
That was the only word that came to mind when she recalled the girl’s antics. She was like a child throwing pebbles at a mountain, convinced she could make it crumble with sheer petulance.
Take the prince, for example.
Cassandra heard the rumours, how she had ’won his heart’ or how he supposedly swore eternal devotion.
Please, let’s not be so foolish.
If she had to guess, the prince had likely seen what she saw: a noble daughter so desperate to matter that she’d trade dignity for fleeting whispers of affection. He must have used that weakness and seduced her.
That much was obvious.
In her opinion, men like the crown prince of this kingdom didn’t fall for girls this easily, especially these types. They would use them instead. And that girl, with her pretty face and empty head, had practically served herself on a silver platter.
He’d probably toss her aside after he was done, deny everything. Or at best, he would keep her as a concubine, a ’living trophy’ to flaunt while pursuing real power.
If he were the truly ambitious individual Cassandra suspected him to be, then his aspirations stretched far beyond a petty romance.
He likely wanted to swallow the girl’s family whole and in turn, their neighbours: The Fenvar and...
It might seem like a clever plan at first glance, but it becomes pretty obvious once you know the necessary info. Or you just had to be a citizen of this kingdom and know a bit about the politics and the news.
She herself made sure to gather enough intelligence before coming here.
According to the info, these three families might not be equal to other noble families in terms of sheer rank or wealth, but their prestige and influence made up for it. He probably wanted to make his standing as the crown prince even firmer.
But if he was really going to do it, she would have to intervene.
Not only because she wanted to help Amaniel’s family, but also to establish her business in the kingdom. And a kingdom where a manipulative prince consolidated his power by devouring his own nobles was hardly stable ground for long-term investments.
Cassandra’s resolve hardened even further as she analyzed the situation.
This little trip to her manager’s homeland was becoming far more complicated - and potentially more profitable - than she’d initially anticipated.
"My Lady, here’s your order."
The innkeeper’s nervous voice cut through Cassandra’s thoughts. He placed a steaming bowl before her, the rich aroma of the food filling the air. She nodded, her gaze briefly acknowledging his presence before he scurried away.
It was also at this moment that the monocle-wearing young man started moving. He wiped his mouth with a napkin before rising from his seat.
"I’ll take my leave now. Enjoy your meal, madam." He said in a polite tone. But his posture still remained a bit guarded - the careful distance of someone who had learned not to involve himself in strangers’ affairs.
Cassandra glanced up, her gaze resting on his figure for a moment. There was something vaguely familiar about him, a distant echo she couldn’t quite place. But the thought was fleeting.
"Mm." She gave a grateful nod in return before focusing on her meal. Her eyes lingered on the empty chair where the young man had sat.
There were more pressing matters to consider than a strange but polite traveler.
Like the whereabouts of her ’dead’ manager.
She harbored no personal attachment to the young man—or so she told herself. Business was business, and sentiment had no place in her calculations.
Yet for the sake of their past working relationship, for little Sara, who still asked about him, and most importantly for Knowledge Emporium’s extensive network and long-term strategic plans, it was necessary to ascertain the truth of his fate.
Yeah, nothing personal...
Anyway, she managed to pick up his traces two weeks ago with the help of the system, though they disappeared quickly a few days later.
The last known location was the Ashenfang Mountains, where his family ruled.
She didn’t know whether it was his ’dead body’ they found, maybe so the location disappeared once they buried him.
She’d only believe after seeing with her own eyes.
But if he’d indeed survived, it would, of course, be for the best. Not just for his own family or friends, but also for her ambitions.
His skills, abilities, personality, and intelligence were too valuable to waste in this foolish world.
She was even considering the possibility of bringing him with her to the Empire and making him her primary manager.
She would even give him a new identity if he wanted to hide. Yeah, she just had to give him an offer impossible to refuse.
First things first, I need to see a body or find a living man.
With that in mind, she dived into her meal, ignoring the glances at her and the whispers that had begun to drift from nearby tables.
"I thought she was hiding some great beauty beneath that veil..."
"...turns out to be nothing special after all."
"Such ordinary features for someone who made such a fuss about covering her face."
"Hmph, what was she trying to hide anyway?"
The murmurs weren’t particularly malicious, just the idle gossip of bored patrons, but they reached her ears nonetheless. Cassandra continued eating methodically, her expression unchanged.
Funny, she mused between spoonfuls, how much appearance really plays a role in our lives.
People made assumptions, crafted entire narratives around a glimpse of someone’s face or the way they chose to present themselves. The same individuals who might have treated her with exaggerated deference when she was veiled now dismissed her as unremarkable.
Not that she particularly cared about their opinions, this was exactly what she’d intended after all.
Perfect. The relic is doing its job. I can entirely focus on the mission now.