A letter was sent from the boss about a joint mission. It was rare mission with other leagues so a meetin’ was held.

Today in an old abandoned house, 3 others with covered faces stood around a table to discuss the scoutin’ operation in the Mastris Manor’s security. The nobles finally decided to kill Mastris, he was nice and all but money is still money.

“Dorun, right? We’ll split up on four sides of the estate. Then meet back here to consolidate. You’ll each have to escape on your own, understand?”

The man acted high and mighty as he acknowledge my presence. He ordered us around like he’s some big shot. Damn snob actin’ like he knows everythin’. He pointed our positions in the map of the estate, my side was the southwest corner where the larger part of the garden was.

“The infiltration will start before dawn and we’ll scout and record the movements of the guards and all the people inside. Yes… a day should suffice.”

He said in thought, his brows were as usual but it seemed more intense today. One day? You serious?! We typically need three days! The other two was as surprised as me.

“Um, Mr. Tyle, I’m not so sure about this. It’s too hurried, we’d cause a huge commotion if we’re caught! It’s treason you know! We’ll be hunted down to the last man if we fail!”

The youngest tried to persuade the snob. I know Tyle, even though he’s a snob, he’s the most cautious of all the scouts I worked with, he often had power over missions, which means…

“We don’t have time! During the Lord’s daughter’s birthday, security will change then after that, both his children will leave for the capital. Our orders are to kill all the members of the Mastris nobility.”

He punched the table as he complained. I knew it, they’re in a hurry. For the snob to be powerless, this is crazy. But if we succeed, there’ll be a lot of money. I can at least support my siblings properly.

“Hmph. Let’s just do this. Not like we can do anythin’ about the nobles, right? Let’s just do our job and get paid.”

At my words, their faces turned stiff. Everyone is here for the money, everyone has their own problems and everyone has their own reasons. This job will definitely change our lives, for better or worse.

Before dawn, I ran up to the manor. We all separated back at the abandoned house and found our way in on our own. When I first came to Turqo, I used to steal from this manor, so I already made a hidden entrance near the garden. The area here is too dark during the night so it’s easy to enter without getting noticed.

“Hehe. I’m so lucky to have the gardens.”

Excitedly, I ran to the hedges. Underneath, an area where the gates were cut and dug was hidden. I entered by crawlin’ inside and looked for a nice tree to wait in.

Mornin’ slowly came and the manor was bustlin’ with servants preparin’ for the day. Soldiers were patrollin’ and a gardener tended the garden. On a tall tree, dark with all it’s bushy leaves is where I sat, full view of the garden and the back of the manor behind the leaves.

I’ll just enter, do my job then leave. Easy money! Then I’ll leave the league and go back home…

As I was plannin’ my future, a woman with a weird colored hair walked out of the manor. She wore a black dress vest and boots, on her hand was a lute. She walked leisurely, every step felt like flowers would bloom and the sway of her hips made somethin’ else bloom.

I drooled at the sight of her. If I could bring her home as my wife then I’d be in heaven!

I saw her look at my direction briefly but turned back seeing the young princess of the Mastris household following behind her. Her fluffy red hair bounced runnin’ after the pretty woman.

Odd, did she see me? No... not possible. But, I really am lucky to have the gardens!

They played the lute, they sang a song unfamiliar like those bards sing. It had a different tune, a different feel? Either way, it was different than most songs sang by local bards.

The lute resounded and their voice filled the garden, I felt light just listenin’ to their voices and completely forgot about my job. The sweet voice of the woman blended well with the princess and formed an entirely different sound. I started to quietly hum the song myself.

An hour or so passed, they spent their time, sometimes with just playin’ the lute or teachin’ the princess, but I got careless.

And as soon as I realized this, I was caught. I felt a prick on my neck.

“Wow, you’re so carefree mister~. Peeping is bad you know~.”

A girl the same age as the red-headed princess sat on the branch beside me. She leaned towards me, her pink hair smelled of roses while her hand reached for my neck and she pulled out a needle. Showing the needle trickled with blood, I finally know what happened.

I was paralyzed.

Who—?! When did that—? … WHAT THE FUCK’S GOING ON?!

My whole body was numb, I couldn’t move a single finger and my voice won’t come out. But it wasn’t because of the poison, no, I couldn’t speak because of fear. If she hadn’t spoke, I wound’t have noticed her. And her smile, she was cute, her face was completely bare so I could see. I could see that scary smile that sees me nothing but a pest.

“Yes. Yes. Oh brother, I found something interesting~.”

She quietly laughed lookin’ up while holding her ear. She was talkin’ with somebody?

Telepathy? Are they from a league? Which one?

“You see, I found sister here~! And she’s doing quite well~!”

She smiled again, but this time it was a genuine sweet smile. It felt like I could taste the sweetness itself. She was really happy talking with her ‘brother’ about her ‘sister’.

“Oh right, I forgot. We need to punish those who commit crimes y’know~! Peeping at girls is a big no-no mister~! So~… I’ll just have to kill you.”

Her tone started sweetly, reprimandin’ me at my crimes. It seemed playful at first but at the end, I felt that those words alone would be able to kill me. She was angry, deep hatred seeped from her eyes, her smile and her words.

At that moment, I knew, that I would die by her hands, helpless and alone. Fear gripped my throat, my body wouldn’t move and all I could see was my death approaching in a form of a sweet girl with the sweet aroma of roses.

She reached for my neck and a cold string wrapped around it and slowly squeezed the life out of me. My mind went blank, I couldn’t move my body so all my fluids came out. I felt my throat get tighter and tighter. Slowly, air stopped coming in, the passage was blocked.

I was in agony.

My eyes rolled, tears fell and my saliva foamed splattering all over as I forced my self to inhale air.

“Eww! Gross!”

Like revolving lanterns, my life flashed through my eyes.

Weena, Tino… I’m sorry… big brother will go ahead… I’m… so…

Soon, life slowly left my body and I felt my heart slowly stopped beating. And with my final struggle, I saw nothing but white and then, eternal blackness.