Ch.58 Do You Need to See a Doctor?
Upon hearing the Security Captain's words, Luo Nan's expression hardened.
'Two incidents breaking out simultaneously on adjacent streets at the exact sa ti, and the security squad responsible for this area just happens to have been diverted away — leaving this street's security presence completely hollow…This is definitely no coincidence.'
'It's as though everything was designed in advance, with the singular purpose of creating enough of a 'vacuum' for this assassination attempt.'
'The opposing party's reach has either already infiltrated the Duke Manor itself, or they've had their entire force on standby these past few days, simply waiting for
to step outside. Which of the two it is will need investigating.'
With that thought, Luo Nan turned to the Security Captain standing at attention beside him and asked, "Have the identities of the attackers on the next street been confird yet? And what do I call you?"
The Security Captain snapped to attention instantly and gave Luo Nan a salute. "This subordinate is Grego Hoke, Captain of the Fourth Patrol Unit of the Third Brigade, Opalia Security General Bureau!"
Grego produced a Magical Imprint that had just been taken from the scene and handed it to Luo Nan.
"Young Master dillion, the identities of the attackers have been confird — they are Abyssal Followers devoted to 'Nature.'"
Luo Nan took the Magical Imprint. Printed clearly upon it was the emblem of the inverted figure and the ring.
'Them again, as I suspected. Two assassination attempts against
in under ten days — whoever is pulling the strings behind all this seems to be in quite a hurry…Is there so reason they simply cannot afford to wait?'
'And yet the original storyline of The Shining Myriad Trails made absolutely no ntion of any of this. Could this, too, be a Butterfly Effect triggered by my alterations to the Worldline?'
'I need to root out whoever is behind this as quickly as possible. This eting with Serela — I'll need to approach it seriously.'
Collecting his thoughts, Luo Nan gave his instructions to Security Captain Grego. "Captain Grego, simply proceed with the investigation through normal channels on both matters. Let
know wherever you need my cooperation."
"No, no, no — Young Master dillion, that you were attacked in the first place is already a failure on our part. How could we possibly impose further on your schedule? Should any progress arise, we will dispatch soone directly to the dillion Duke Manor to report to you."
At those words, Luo Nan's gaze shifted. He had just thought of an excellent thod to determine whether there was a mole inside the Duke Manor, and he turned to say, "Mm, Captain Grego, for the subsequent investigation results, please send them to…"
"This…" Upon hearing Luo Nan's instructions, a look of difficulty crossed Grego's fleshy face.
Luo Nan could see his hesitation clearly. He reached into his jacket and produced a silk pouch, giving it a light shake — the tinkle-tinkle of gold coins rang out from within. "I understand how hard Captain Grego works. Consider this…a token of my financial support for the Security General Bureau."
Grego glanced around in all directions, hesitated for a mont, then accepted the silk pouch Luo Nan extended to him. After gauging its weight, he straightened up and gave a proper salute. "Young Master dillion will not be disappointed!"
"Anya, let's go. Since the carriage is wrecked, we'll walk," Luo Nan smoothed out his jacket. "Serela's private residence isn't but a few steps away."
"Coming!"
The girl re-tied her ponytail, shook the blood off her longsword, and quickly fell into step behind Luo Nan.
***
Serela's private residence was located at No. 3 Violet Street in the Upper District.
An elegant, off-white three-story duplex manor stood quietly to the side of an immaculate road, and the fragrance of various flowers in full seasonal bloom drifted into Luo Nan's nostrils on the late-sumr breeze.
Passing through the small garden in front of the estate, Luo Nan brought Anya along and, guided by a female guard clad in gleaming silver armor, ca face to face with the Fourth Imperial Princess Serela — who was lounging at ease on the second-floor balcony, sipping tea.
"Your Highness, the guest has been brought." The female guard pressed her hand to her chest and gave a deferential bow toward Serela.
"Mm. Tanya, you may go. I have matters I need to discuss with Luo Nan in private."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The female guard withdrew without a mont's hesitation, stepping through the door and resuming her duties from the other side.
"And what about ? Should I…step away for a mont as well?"
Anya had only just picked up a nearby small pastry and was about to pop it into her mouth when she heard Serela's order to her personal attendant.
'It seems like what the Princess wants to discuss with Luo Nan is confidential? Should I leave?'
Unable to make up her mind, Anya finally spoke up and asked Luo Nan.
"No need. The matter I'll be discussing with Luo Nan shortly is actually one that Miss Anya is directly involved in as well." Serela straightened up in her seat, responding at a calm, unhurried pace.
"Oh — alright then."
"Luo Nan, I haven't seen you at any of the social gatherings in the Upper District these past few days. Has sothing co up?"
Rather than getting straight to business, Serela opened with a question about Luo Nan's recent whereabouts — in the manner of an old friend checking in.
And yet, to Luo Nan's ears, her concern carried a subtly different undertone.
It couldn't be helped — he had long since learned the true nature of the breathtakingly beautiful Imperial Princess before him.
The Benevolent Imperial Princess — but her benevolence…was not sothing she extended to him.
'What does she an by that? I was literally assassinated at her hocoming banquet. Is it not perfectly natural that I would be lying low at ho for a few days?'
Uncertain of Serela's intent, Luo Nan had no choice but to respond with a catch-all answer:
"My thanks for Your Highness's concern. As my father has been occupied of late, there have been certain household affairs requiring my attention, so I have been unable to spare the ti."
Luo Nan considered for a mont, then decided to use his father, Duke dillion, as a convenient excuse — his father really was genuinely busy, after all.
As expected, the mont the words "affairs requiring his attention" reached her ears, a flicker of curiosity surfaced in Serela's violet eyes — beautiful eyes that always seed to hold a trace of a smile — though she suppressed it just as swiftly.
"I see… By the way, Luo Nan, since when did things beco so distant between us? You never used to call
'Your Highness,' you know."
He had slipped up — the influence of his mories from his previous life had made him default to a formal form of address without even thinking.
"……After all, you hold a position of great honor, Serela. Calling you 'Your Highness' is both proper and appropriate, and it prevents anyone with ill intentions from using our familiarity against us."
"In a public setting, I can understand that concern — but…we are speaking in private right now, aren't we?"
"Oh, right, we are speaking in private — so naturally there's no need to worry about those sorts of formalities."
Luo Nan continued along with her words. "Indeed, given the relationship between the two of us, there really is no need for such a distancing form of address. Serela."
Though that was what he said aloud, every fraction of every second of his attention was being spent analyzing the true intentions of the golden-haired Imperial Princess across from him.
'From the look of things, she doesn't seem to want to sever the connection between us — and yet in the original storyline of The Shining Myriad Trails, that was not the case at all. Could this, too, be a Butterfly Effect born from my alterations to the Worldline?'
'Never mind, I'll take things one step at a ti. Even if I've decided to keep my distance from her, I still need to get through the 'assassination investigation' incident first.'
Hearing Luo Nan call her na directly once more, the golden-haired Imperial Princess couldn't help but reveal a breathtaking, faint smile.
A breeze drifted past, lifting the golden strands of hair at her temples — like golden irises blossoming in the wind.
"Serela, we can catch up on old tis later. Were you aware that…on my way here to see you just now, I was subjected to a second assassination attempt?"
"Oh?"
The violet-eyed Imperial Princess visibly paused, her right hand — just in the act of raising the teacup toward her lips — stilling in place.
The Princess gently set her teacup down, smoothed a slightly-curling lock of golden hair at her temple, and said with a look of genuine concern:
"Then…Luo Nan, are you injured? Shall I summon a Royal Physician to give you a full examination?"
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