Chapter 92: Duty and Responsibility
“Your Highness?”
The voice at the door was familiar, but Kruse couldn’t quite place it.
“Come in,” Lilia said softly, recognizing the voice.
The door opened, and a flash of crimson caught Kruse’s eye.
He almost dropped his coffee.
“Queen… Shaya?”
Bai, who had just entered, also heard his startled whisper, her gaze darting around the room.
“Queen Shaya? Where?”
Her recent… encounter with the Queen had left her on high alert.
“Aren’t you her?” Kruse blurted out, then, seeing Lilia’s amused expression, quickly corrected himself. “My apologies, Miss Bai.”
Lilia, who had recognized Bai’s voice, chuckled.
Even she was surprised by Bai’s new appearance, her hair in crimson pigtails, but she wasn’t as shocked as Kruse.
But Bai’s reaction… was quite amusing.
“So it’s you, Miss Bai…” Kruse said, composing himself, looking at the girl with the purple-haired companion and the oversized glasses. And the dress, clearly a Leticia creation.
It was definitely Miss Bai… but why did she look like this?
She had looked like a Shadow Demon before, but now… a Vampire? Did her demonic bloodline just… randomly switch?
“Ah, something… came up,” Bai said, touching her pigtails. “So, I dyed my hair.”
It was a weak excuse, and she knew it. Kruse didn’t believe her either.
But they had an unspoken agreement, a certain… understanding. So he didn’t press the issue, changing the subject instead.
“Miss Bai, have you finished your other duties?”
“Yes,” she replied, going along with the change of topic. “But I encountered something on my way here.”
“Oh?” Kruse’s expression turned serious. “Tell me.”
Lilia, realizing they were about to discuss official business, stood up. “Gentlemen, I’ll leave you to it. Erlra and I have to prepare for the festival.”
“Your Highness, you should head to the parade floats. The court makeup artists are looking for you,” Bai said.
She had come to the café to escort Lilia to the floats, but this matter with Shaya was more urgent.
“Alright,” Lilia said, curtsying to Bai and Kruse, her gaze lingering on Bai. “Little Sister Bai, you look… very pretty.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. You as well,” Bai replied, her tone flat, her mind already on the next task.
Lilia wanted to say more, but seeing Ara’s possessive glare, she simply left, her steps slightly hurried, a hint of fluster in her movements.
Erlra gave Bai an apologetic look, then followed her princess.
Kruse wondered why Lilia was acting so… girlish, but Bai’s next words snapped him back to attention.
“I just encountered the assassin who attacked His Majesty.”
“Are you certain?” Kruse’s expression was grim.
“Yes,” Bai nodded, then recounted her encounter with Sasha and Ice Lily.
Of course, she omitted certain details, like Ara being the Weapon of Vikarn, and her own history with Sasha and Ice Lily in Vikarn Port.
Kruse’s frown deepened as he listened.
Bai hadn’t explained how Sasha had used the scepter, only that it wasn’t unlimited, that there were strict preconditions, though she hadn’t mentioned that Ara’s proximity was one of them.
Even so, Kruse was worried. The ability to use the scepter, even with limitations, made the assassin far more dangerous.
And with Bai’s assessment of their strength, their ability to take on at least two Legendary Knights, the situation was even more dire.
“We’ll adjust the search strategy and wait for the other Legendary Knights to arrive tomorrow before making any decisions,” Kruse said, and Bai nodded in agreement.
In Bai’s description, the attacker had used [Absolute Negation] to evade the capital’s detectors, a use of Authority Kruse hadn’t considered. He immediately remembered his failed pursuit of Isabelle.
Besides the scepter, only Leticia possessed [Absolute Negation]…
And it was around that time that Bai’s appearance had changed from the rumored light brown hair to long, black hair.
Kruse didn’t dwell on it. Bai knew they were all aware of the situation, and they had to maintain a semblance of civility, feigning ignorance.
“I’ve already prepared the new patrol routes. You can adjust them as needed,” Bai said, standing up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
She had to get to the parade floats, not only to protect Lilia, but also to oversee the Knights’ movements during the parade.
And she had to… be a pretty decoration on one of the floats…
It had been Lilia’s request, and Bai hadn’t seen any harm in it.
Her conspicuous hair could be hidden by a hat. Although red hair wasn’t unheard of in the Empire, no one had hair with the same… sinister, otherworldly crimson as hers.
“Yes, we’ll handle the rest,” Kruse said, also standing up. He hesitated, then added, “Thank you for your hard work, Miss Bai.”
“It’s my duty,” Bai replied, then left with Ara.
Kruse stood there for a long time, then shook his head, sighing.
“Duty, she says. What kind of creature has Leticia brought us…?”
“A demon, yet she speaks and acts just like one of us…”
