The mont the voice ca from behind, Rosalina froze.
She knew that voice instantly. Her expression darkened as she turned around.
Julius followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing.
A woman in a maid’s uniform stood there.
Her skirt was wide like a bell, and her hair was tied neatly in a bun, held in place with small pins.
"Jannie... what are you doing here?"
Rosalina asked, her brows pulling together in clear irritation.
The maid said nothing.
She walked forward calmly, stopping close to Rosalina.
Then she leaned in and whispered sothing into her ear.
Julius watched closely. As the whisper continued, Rosalina’s frown deepened.
Her fingers curled tightly, veins rising across her hands as her jaw stiffened.
"Is sothing wrong, Rose?" Julius asked, his voice low with concern.
Rosalina didn’t answer.
Her lips moved slightly as she muttered, "What is he doing here...?"
The maid stepped back once she finished, standing straight again.
Rosalina clicked her tongue.
She pressed her fingers against her temple, her face filled with clear annoyance.
The calm and warmth from before had completely vanished.
"You can go," Rosalina said coldly. "I’ll return after I finish my business."
She turned toward Julius, but the maid didn’t move.
She stood still, then spoke in a firm voice.
"I was ordered to bring you imdiately... even if I have to use fo...."
She couldn’t finish.
Julius’s gaze locked onto her. It wasn’t normal anger. His eyes burned with raw killing intent, so heavy that even the air felt still.
"Know your place, woman," he muttered, his voice low and sharp.
But the maid didn’t step back.
Her face stayed calm, almost stubborn, as if she refused to be shaken.
Slowly, her hand moved behind her skirt.
She was about to grab a dagger.....but then it ca.
Another presence.
It slamd into her from behind, far heavier than Julius’s.
It held her in place, pressing down on her like an unseen force that refused to let her breathe properly.
Her body stiffened.
’W-who...?’ she thought, trying to turn....but the pressure surged again.
Her face lost all color.
Sweat gathered on her forehead and slid down her back, soaking into her clothes.
Her grip shook as her fingers barely held onto the dagger.
’What... is this...?’ Her thoughts trembled as panic crept in.
Just as her hand tightened...
a voice echoed inside her mind.
[Touch that weapon one more ti... and your head will roll.]
The mont it ended, the pressure disappeared.
And she dropped to her knees.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Her breathing turned rough and uneven, her chest rising and falling fast.
A mont ago, she hadn’t felt anything.
She hadn’t even known soone else was there... until it was too late.
’King of Assassins... Alfred!’
The na echoed in her mind as dread spread through her whole body.
Only he could release such killing intent and control it so perfectly.
There were stories that he could crush enemies without even touching them... just with his presence alone.
’He’s here...?’
Julius looked down at her trembling state.
When he released his own bloodlust, he already knew he couldn’t overpower her.
But he didn’t need to.
"Fuck off," Julius said coldly.
Just then, Rosalina stood up.
"Rose?" Julius looked at her, slightly surprised.
"I’ll see you tomorrow," she said quietly, her voice calm again.
Then she stepped past the bench and began walking away.
The maid forced herself to stand.
Her breathing slowly steadied, but her body still felt heavy.
She gave Julius one last look, this ti without defiance, before quickly following after Rosalina.
Julius stood there, watching Rosalina’s back as she walked farther and farther away.
"Rose..." he murmured.
It felt like she was about to say sothing earlier... sothing important.
But that mont was gone now, cut off before it could even begin.
He kept watching silently. From behind, her figure looked... distant. Almost lonely.
’Should I go after her?’ A faint uneasiness settled in his chest. It wasn’t strong, but it refused to go away.
"Alfred," Julius called.
In the next instant, Alfred appeared in front of him, silent as a shadow.
"Do you know why she looked like that?"
Julius asked, his eyes still fixed on the dark path where Rosalina had disappeared.
"The First Elder of the Valentina Clan arrived today," Alfred replied.
"It may be because of him."
Julius humd softly, his brows pulling together.
"Why is that old man here all of a sudden...?"
He rubbed his chin, thinking.
Wasn’t he supposed to stay at the border for five more years? Sothing wasn’t adding up.
In TST, that man only appeared in the final year of the academy.
He was the main villain of the last phase... a famous spell caster from Auranel.
’So why is he here now?’
Julius’s gaze sharpened. "Did anyone else co with him?"
Alfred shook his head. "No. But..."
He stepped forward and handed a paper to Julius.
Julius took it without much thought, his eyes scanning the contents casually at first....and then they stopped.
"The eldest son of the Valentina Clan... has been here for the past five months."
For a split second, everything went silent.
Julius’s eyes widened sharply. The paper in his hand crumpled slightly as his grip tightened.
"What...?" His voice dropped, filled with disbelief.
His head snapped up, locking onto Alfred.
"What do you an he’s been here for the past five months?"
Alfred spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"While I was investigating the people you asked about," he said, pointing at the paper in Julius’s hand, "I found that the eldest son, Nickel Valentina, has been here for the past five months... and he is still here."
Julius didn’t respond imdiately.
His eyes narrowed, but the mont the words truly sank in, a clear wave of shock spread across his face.
His grip on the paper tightened without him realizing it, the edges crumpling slightly as his gaze dropped back to the list.
It was a long list, nas of people who could afford to maintain at least a hundred spies a day.
Powerful figures, influential families... and right there among them was Nickel’s na.
The timing matched too perfectly.
Julius’s expression stiffened, his thoughts racing faster than ever.
He had transmigrated four months ago... and Nickel had appeared five months ago.
His eyes flickered with disbelief, then slowly sharpened as a chilling possibility ford in his mind.
’Could it be... him?’
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