Gabrielle’s POV
It was 5 o’clock, and there I stood in a dark alley, feeling like some shady character trying to pull a fast one on unsuspecting passersby. I waited for the person I was supposed to meet.
After a few minutes of anticipation, the person I was supposed to meet finally arrived. She was draped in a cloak, obscuring her entire figure. I couldn’t help but wonder about her choice of attire. Wouldn’t she attract more attention this way? Then again, it was still dark out, so I supposed it was probably fine.
“Are you here?” the woman inquired. Her name was Vicky. She served as the personal maid to Duke Sierra’s daughter.
I emerged from the darkness, revealing myself to Vicky, who visibly flinched at my sudden appearance.
“Don’t just pop up like that out of the blue! Give me a heads-up next time!” she scolded.
“I don’t have time for chitchat, let’s get down to business,” I retorted.
“What business? Fork over what you owe me first!” she demanded.
This woman had been assisting me in keeping her master from meeting Professor Sesillian. Essentially, I was cockblocking her master. And her payment? Well, just a bottle of wine.
Not just any ordinary wine, though. This was crafted by Leonamon.
“Here you go,” I replied, handing her the bottle.
“Yes! Finally! After so long, I’ve managed to get my hands on this! I’ve been yearning for the divine taste of this wine ever since I first sampled it for free! But with my meager salary, I couldn’t afford it,” she exclaimed with delight.
She wasted no time in uncorking the bottle with her teeth. Was this woman a barbarian or what? After popping it open, she took a swig straight from the bottle. Quite unladylike, if you ask me. Sure, I may have been a bit unladylike back in my teens, but I don’t think I was ever this rough around the edges, right?
“Puhah! That really hits the spot! This wine is incredible!” she exclaimed, her voice carrying a bit too much enthusiasm. If she kept it up, she’d probably wake up the whole neighborhood.
“Keep it down,” I cautioned. “Anyway, I’ll provide you with more of this if you cooperate with me.”
“Seriously?” she asked, eyes widening with excitement.
“Absolutely,” I confirmed, my lips unconsciously curving into a smile. It must have been a habit picked up from Master, who always seemed to wear the same expression. Regardless, it appeared she was taking the bait eagerly. That was promising. “You just need to do one thing.”
“What is it?” she inquired eagerly. I wondered if she’d be willing to follow through once I revealed my plan to her.
I explained my request to her, my grin taking on a creepy quality. Even though I couldn’t see my own face at the moment, I could sense that my smile was utterly terrifying. As Vicky comprehended what I was asking of her, shock painted her expression.
“Y-You… You want what?” she stammered in disbelief.
“You heard me correctly,” I affirmed. “All you need to do is that, and in return, you’ll have an endless supply of wine every month. It’s a pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.”
“But that’s… you’re basically asking me to betray our Masters!” she exclaimed. “I can’t do it! Both my mother and father work for the Duke. If they catch wind of me doing something shady behind the Duke’s back, it’ll mean the gallows for me. Or worse, it could put my whole family in jeopardy – my parents, siblings, even my husband and son!”
It seemed like Vicky was wrestling with the idea of betraying the Sierra family.
“And besides, I can’t just turn my back on Lady Charlotte. My mother made a promise to Lady Alette, Lady Charlotte’s deceased mother, on her deathbed to watch over her daughter. Since my mother passed that responsibility to me, there’s no way I can…”
“You’re not exactly betraying Lady Charlotte, Vicky,” I interjected. “And let’s refrain from using such harsh language as ‘betray’ because it’s not quite like that.”
Over the years, I’d come to realize that most high-ranking nobles in this country were corrupt to the core and deserved punishment for the atrocities they inflicted upon the lower classes. As a former magic knight, a title I once believed symbolized justice, I had learned the hard way that it was anything but noble.
Master had expressed his intentions to take action regarding the state of the kingdom, laying the groundwork by expanding his connections. He had already established a relationship with the Princess of Bethlan, a neighboring kingdom, becoming her lover. Now, he aimed to establish ties with the Princess of this kingdom as well.
Right now, I’m laying the groundwork, starting with purging those nobles who pose a threat to society. It’s not betrayal, in my eyes. It’s justice.
“I’m just doing what needs to be done to those who deserve it, and Duke Sierra deserves every bit of it,” I asserted.
Currently, I’m working on dismantling corrupt noble houses, reducing them to mere shadows of their former selves. I’ll erase their names from nobility and bring them crashing down. Starting with Duke Sierra feels right; I want to witness their downfall just as much as my Master desires to claim the daughter.
“That Duke isn’t some saint. He might have played the part in front of you, but he’s got a dark side too. Murders, kidnappings, human trafficking, rape—you name it, he’s done it,” I stated firmly. And I wasn’t just spouting nonsense; I had plenty of proof to back up my claims. “If you need clarification, I’ve got something for you to read. All of Duke Sierra’s atrocities are documented in there. Read it all, and if you still choose to turn a blind eye, well, that’s on you. So, what’s it gonna be? The ball’s in your court.” With that, I handed her the book.
She took it, clutching it to her chest as if trying to shield it from prying eyes. Inside that book lay all the evidence of the Duke’s crimes.
“All you need to do is plant enough information to expose everything and bring down the Duke. I’m counting on your cooperation with this, Vicky. I promise you’ll get the reward you desire,” I assured her before spinning around and disappearing into the shadows.
