“I want you to enter Windsor mansion.”
Quinlen’s eyes widened. He had taken on countless disguises in his work in assassination and infiltration. However, this time was different from when he set foot inside Windsor castle in the south. This time…Amelia knew his face. Quinlen spoke, his voice soft.
“As I told you before, General, the young lady of the Windsor mansion has already seen my face. I don’t believe I’m the right person for this task.”
Quinlen hadn’t told Amanda, but he had already reported to Oliver what took place in the palace. Oliver knew that Quinlen and Amelia had already met each other.
“I know. She saved you, and you gave your name to her.”
“…I did.”
“She doesn’t know the fact that you’re my subordinate, or that you’re taking action for the sake of Amanda, so there are no problems.”
Quinlen couldn’t think of a reply. In fact, all Amelia knew was that Quinlen was involved in dangerous work. Of course, any employer would be reluctant to let that kind of character work for them, but as Quinlen thought about it, he knew Amelia’s feelings toward him were of goodwill, not distrust. She wished to meet him again. Amelia was not likely to turn away Quinlen, even if she met him face-to-face.
After considering it rationally, Quinlen realized he had no reason to refuse this job. He had infiltrated enemy positions in worse circumstances–and yet somehow, he still didn’t want to do it. He never thought he’d see Amelia again.
“General, I–”
Quinlen was about to refuse. Oliver’s brow furrowed, and the prince interrupted, changing his expression into a cool stare.
“Why are you avoiding the mission? If you really don’t want to do it, capture the person who infiltrated Windsor mansion and bring them to me as soon as possible.”
“…”
“They were good enough to conceal their presence and escape from you. I’m sure you realize that I just can’t send anyone for this task.”
“…I understand.”
Quinlen fought down his reluctance and accepted Oliver’s order. Quinlen knew better than anyone else how formidable his opponent was, and the servants employed at Windsor mansion were the first suspects. Not one person particularly stood out to him, but that was only more troubling. After all, the most dangerous enemy was the one that appeared to be a friend.
“I’ll go to Windsor’s mansion as soon as I assume a fake identity.”
“Good.”
Oliver’s glare finally lifted. He glanced towards the word room where Amanda was asleep, a rare look of apprehension on his face.
“You haven’t forgotten my original order, have you?”
“Yes, General. I will put her safety first and foremost, no matter what happens.”
Oliver had ordered Quinlen from the beginning to save Amanda in an emergency and leave behind anyone else. If Amanda and Amelia were ever in danger, Quinlen had to choose the former without hesitation.
“If she resists, take her to me by force. It may be difficult for you, but…”
Quinlen did not know why Oliver’s words trailed off. It was easy for as assassin like Quinlen to overpower a woman like Amanda. Her ears were more sensitive than he expected, which aroused Quinlen’s suspicions somewhat, but he was not privy to those details.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Quinlen knew how much Oliver cared about Amanda, not from some detailed observation, but because anyone who saw how Oliver survived on the battlefield would notice the change in him. Oliver would never have worn such a worried look before.
But that was how it began. Before returning to the Imperial Palace, Oliver had etiquette instructors teach him how to treat women. In the past, Oliver considered women as inanimate objects, his behavior towards them appalling. Even Quinlen had never seen the prince treat women with any particular sensitivity in all his days with him.
Then suddenly, Amanda appeared. Quinlen immediately noticed the changes in Oliver when he first introduced Amanda to him. All Oliver worked towards was for her.
‘So he will send me further.’
Among the knights, Quinlen operated the best in the dark, and so he was often involved in assassination or infiltration of enemy positions. However, he was mostly in charge of guarding Oliver’s person. The fact that Oliver sent him to Amanda revealed how much he prioritized her safety.
Tabak tabak–
Oliver’s and Quinlen’s ears picked up the sound of Amanda moving about the room. She had woken up again. Oliver turned his head towards the door, then gave an order to Quinlen.
“There’s not much time, so you must infiltrate the mansion as soon as possible.”
“Yes, General.”
After Oliver finished speaking, he strode inside the room. As Quinlen watched Oliver’s urgently retreating back, he felt it again. He didn’t know if Amanda might accidentally summon a bloodstorm if she made a mistake…
Quinlen had heard of it once in the past. On the back of a dragon’s neck was a scale that had grown upside-down, and so it was called a reverse scale, and was said to be the dragon’s weak point.
Quinlen felt as if he had found Oliver’s reverse scale.