The Daughter of Evil - Volume 3 - Chapter 3.24

Chapter 3, Section 2-Full Moon Visitor; Scene 4
Praeludium of Red, page 185-187

✥ Kyle ~In the Lucifenian Palace, “Guest Room”~

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The Lucifenian palace had several guest rooms prepared for visitors who would arrive from far-off places. Back before Lucifenia was under Marlon’s rule–in the time of the Lucifen dynasty–I too had stayed here as a guest several times.

The commotion was going on in one of those rooms. Several soldiers had already arrived there before us when we got there.

Among them was Clive. He was wearing pajamas instead of his armor, as though he’d been sleeping.

Wearing pink pajamas, of all things…That’s something I didn’t need to know.

Even so, I could praise him for noticing the disturbance and getting here so quickly.

“What’s going on?” I asked him.

He replied, puzzled, “It looks to be the work of those masked people.”

“Which masked people? Ours? Or the guests?”

“The ones of our country.”

“The Special Maneuvers Task Force? Where have they gotten to?”

“By the time I ran here they were already gone. According to one of my subordinates, they were pursuing the resident of this room.”

When I glanced at the room, the insides were in a terrible state. Had they used gunpowder? There were black scorch-marks in various spots. But there were no corpses or injured people inside.

I had granted them freedom to act, but not to lay waste to the palace like this.

What in the world are those women doing?

What they were doing…upon consideration, I realized my own thoughtlessness. The identity of the one the Special Maneuvers Task Force was pursuing…It was obvious if I just recalled what their mission was.

Even so, assuming that was true, why was Yukina working with these people?

“What of Yukina? This was her servant staying here.”

“One of our servants visited Yukina’s room after the explosion, but there was no one in her room. It’s the same with her other attendant.”

“Wake all the soldiers! Bar all the exits, let no one leave the palace. Find and capture Yukina and her two servants. …And make sure you don’t hurt her.”

“What about the servants?”

“You need not go easy on them. The both of them are likely skilled opponents. Depending on the situation, you can kill them on the spot.”

“What of the women in the iron masks?”

“Let them do as they like. If you see them, tell them my orders.”

The soldiers scattered in all directions.“

"Clive, you come with me. I’m joining in the search.”

“Can we do that after I’ve gone back to my room first? I need to change clothes.”

Ah, that’s right. He was still in his pajamas.

“Well, I suppose you oughtn’t go out in such a fancy getup.”

“…Sorry.”

“I understand. Make your preparations.”

“Yes sir.”

Well then, you blasted mice. Where in the world have you run to?