The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 62.2
“Let us focus only on our goal for now. Later, we will bow our heads to Her Majesty as much as she wishes.”
The moment they stepped into the sunlight, they would kneel before the Empress in full view of everyone.
When the commander deliberately led her to picture that day, Empress Tera’s expression softened noticeably.
“I will trust you.”
“I will do my utmost.”
***
On his way back after class, Leslun stopped when he saw delivery crates piled up in the corner near the administration building.
He stepped closer to take a better look at the insignia stamped on the crates—and his expression stiffened with surprise.
“Why is it from the Locke Trading Company, and not Luna?”
It was not the supplier he knew. Curious, he began checking the other crates one by one.
Food ingredients, general supplies—nearly everything used inside the academy was marked with Locke’s insignia.
When did this change?
Tilting his head in puzzlement, Leslun decided there was nothing more to confirm and turned to leave—only to pause.
Had he just seen something?
As he turned back to check once more, he heard footsteps approaching.
“Classes are over. Why are you still here?”
It was Cal, who had taken the political science lecture with him. Another man who usually stayed close to Cal followed him, quickly filling the narrow corridor.
If they did not move aside, Leslun had no way of passing through. He lowered his head politely.
“I was just on my way back.”
“On your way back? It looked more like you were snooping.”
His tone made it clear he had been watching Leslun.
“Why not be honest? Say you came to sneak a look, like a little rat, because the supplier changed.”
There was an unmistakable edge in Cal’s tone.
Come to think of it, at the previous banquet he had been accompanied by two men—today there was only one.
“What exactly are you trying to dig up? I can’t tell if you came to the academy to study or to play politics.”
“That is not for you to decide.”
Leslun lifted his head firmly. Cal burst into incredulous laughter.
“What?”
“I will be going now.”
Leslun looked at him as if asking him to step aside.
His upright attitude made the man standing behind Cal hesitate.
Perhaps because Leslun was the Crown Prince’s aide, the man seemed reluctant to harass him openly.
As he hesitated and glanced at Cal, Leslun stepped closer.
Caught off guard by the sudden narrowing of distance, the man instinctively took half a step back.
“Tch. Let him through.”
Cal snapped irritably, and the man turned aside to make a path.
“Next time, you won’t get through so easily.”
Leslun simply dipped his head lightly in acknowledgment of Cal’s warning spoken at his back.
Even on his way out of the academy and back toward the Imperial Palace, Leslun kept recalling what he had seen.
Was it only the supplier that was changed? And if not…
His instincts told him this was not just a simple discrepancy.
***
Late into the night, Leslun was still turning through reports without pause.
Moonlight streamed in through the window frame, casting its glow across his profile.
It was a night so still it felt as though even time held its breath.
Not even the chirp of an insect could be heard from the garden beyond the window.
The entire palace was wrapped in silence, broken only by the faint rustle of paper as pages turned.
It was a night both solemn and sacred.
Then, as though to shatter that silence, came the faint scrape of a door opening.
Whoever entered moved so silently that their footsteps were swallowed by the thick carpet.
Even the air in the room seemed to hold its breath—the presence of the intruder was heavy and soundless.
Everything was so quiet it felt as though the night itself was foreshadowing some ominous current approaching Leslun.
“This isn’t it either…”
Unaware that someone had entered, Leslun muttered to himself as he worked, left hand flipping pages, right hand moving the pen.
The ink-stained cuff of his sleeve was blotched, but the letters he inscribed on the paper were neat and elegant.
With only his elbows resting on the desk, the way his hand glided across the page was the result of long, disciplined training.
As if fascinated by the sight, the intruder in the shadows silently watched his fingertips.
“I’m sure it was here…”
Still unaware of the presence behind him, Leslun turned another page with his left hand—then flinched.
It felt as if the paper had cut his finger.
The pen trembled for an instant, and a drop of ink fell onto the pristine document, spreading like a stain.
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