"The High Lord invited the leader of the
"But… why would the High Lord invite someone like that?"
"I don't know. I also heard that the prince of Rosette is here along with the king."
"Prince Alaric?"
"Yes. Prince Alaric arrived yesterday alongside Duke Renardo De Lysandre and his daughter, Lady Marguerite De Lysandre. And now, this morning, the leader of the
"Wow, I'm—flabbergasted to be honest. Should we be worried? Our queen is being executed, and now—who knows what the High Lord has in mind."
The officer scoffed. "Marc, don't sweat it. The queen was a traitor. She never truly belonged here. Just a mistress who was promoted because she carried King Josef's daughter. Now both are traitors."
He paused, then whispered.
"Remember how I told you that the foreign girl was hired? Yeah?"
Marc nodded.
"I'm pretty sure that bastard Ereck knows the full story." The officer continued, keeping a low voice. "But from what I dug up—after the High Lord announced Queen Mei's death sentence, he sent invitation letters to the Rosette Kingdom.
He hesitated. "And I suspect the girl was hired by Duke Renardo De Lysandre himself."
"Do you remember her name?"
Marc frowned. "Something like che—charry? Charlie?"
"It was Cherley." The officer said.
"The five hundred-million winner girl."
It was right then—just after I took my last bite of the sandwich—that the name struck me like a blade.
"Cherley…" I muttered.
She was the girl who had stood by our apartment gate, waiting for Eda.
She was the last person who had been with him.
I quickly got up, my sudden movement made the guards turn their head towards me.
[ I must find Cherley. ]
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
I ran through the vast city just until I spotted a small shop selling newspapers.
[ If I recall, one of the guards said she was mentioned—briefly. If I can see her face, even a hint… maybe I'll find my brother. ]
With my last pennies, I bought a newspaper and sat next to the wooden table nearby. I quickly began flipping through the pages and eyes skimming headlines.
I was half way through the end, yet I didn't see anything mentioning the winner— or the capturing of the queen.
[ This can't be…! ]
[ The guard clearly said it was mentioned. ]
Tears began forming, making my vision blurry, my hands trembling, barely keeping with the pace.
Two to three tears dropped and I had reached the end of the newspaper.
There was nothing.
[ how could this be.. possible..? ]
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
The sun dipped low, staining the city gold and red.
I stayed where I was.
I had reread the newspaper almost forty-four times now.
The streets had emptied. The crowds were gone. Silence filled the emptiness.
I was giving up.
"Is everything alright, miss?"
I turned to my right and saw a man walking toward me.
I didn't pay attention and didn't bother to look or even greet him.
"You must be very interested in newspapers."
I stayed silent.
[ Was he hitting on me? ]
"Hm, what's your name?"
[. . . ]
A long silence followed before he opened his mouth again. "Don't worry, I'm not an officer or a guard. You can talk to me."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
I decided to finally speak up, not being able to handle any of this bullshit.
"They say today, the seas were very busy." He held his arms close to his stomach, a maple leaf resting in his hand.
When I looked up, the man was a strange looking one.
He had painted his face in chalk and other playful colors. He wore a black-and- white striped shirt, puffy trousers, suspenders running over his shoulders. His hair golden in the ray of the sunset.
"A halloween costume, sir?" I asked flatly.
He laughed. "No. I like to linger around the city. Talk with people."
"Except I don't speak. I mimic."
"What a fool." I muttered.
I was getting irritated with everything. Dealing with a fool was the last thing I had in mind.
"Would you mind leaving me alone?" I said with a strict tone. Hoping he would get the hint.
He didn't back down. "Oh, I was hoping to make friends, I mean after I saw you go through the journal over and over, I thought you needed someone to chat about everything that's going on in the world."
Even his voice was annoying.
"The news…," he added, clicking his tongue, "they're not very convincing."
"If you're trying to seek more, the news isn't a good source. They're hundred percent manipulated by the
I raised an eyebrow, looking dead at him.
"Go on, dear. Tell me, what do you wanna know?"
I knew I shouldn't tell someone like him. But time was crucial and I was getting impatient. With worry and concern killing me slowly on the inside. I had no choice but to shoot my shot.
"I'm… looking for someone."
He put his hands behind his back. "Oh? And who is this person you're looking for?"
"She's the winner of the five hundred-million Vekos."
The man stared at me, his mouth remained open.
"The girl… who captured the…um… the um queen. Her name's Cherley."
[ . . . ]
Now he had stopped blinking.
"You know what— Nevermind." I stood abruptly, tossing the newspaper aside.
"The winner of the five hundred-million," he said suddenly, "is in
"It was written in yesterday's newspaper before they removed it."
I turned my head back, but before I could thank him, he had walked away.
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
[ City of Victoria, 5 pm, The Saint Golden Loaf ]
"Victoria Sponge, Treacle Tart, Seed Cake, freshly brewed Assam."
Anny read the menu overhead.
We sat at a round marble-topped table with wrought-iron legs. I ordered what she chose, and we ate in silence.
The Saint Golden Loaf wasn't just a balery—it was Kim's home in Victoria. His wife ran the shop, and Anny and I had been staying there for the past few days.
Victor spent most of his time out in the city, gathering information about the queen's whereabouts.
After all, he was still a royal guard—and a member of the MistFortunes.
With his luck, we were sure to find her before seven.
Because at seven, the execution would begin.
Victor had warned me not to mention any of this to Anny, assigning me the role of babysitter.
The first few days were hell. Anny constantly asked about Zack and her mother. Victor and I refused to answer—every time. With Kim's wife's help, we eventually manage to calm her.
After a while, Anny stopped asking about Zack.
As for her mother, Victor promised he would save her—just like he saved Anny.
The bakery bell rang.
Victor burst inside, red-faced and drenched in sweat.
"Were you running?" I asked, approaching him calmly.
"Yeah," he gasped. "No time. I found her. The queen's being held near
He swallowed. "If we want to stop it, we have to go. Like now."
"Go where? What's the plan?"
"We head to the execution site. It's just beyond the river separating the palace from the castle— near the
"What about Anny?"
"Mrs. Kim can watch her."
"You can't be serious. That's not safe."
"Then—I'll go alone," he said. "You stay here with Anny."
Victor glanced toward the table. Anny was eating her dessert peacefully.
He turned back to me and forced a smile.
"I'll see you after I rescue the queen."
He waved once. The bell rang again.
Then he was gone.