Cecilia sat in her private study, flipping through documents even though it had long since passed midnight. Cecilia worked on her assignments seriously until a knock on her window made her turn around.
At the window connecting Cecilia's room to the balcony, a bird pecked at the windowpane, creating a sound that distracted her. Cecilia then approached the window. She opened it, then let the bird fly into her room before stopping near her.
Cecilia gently picked up the bird. A letter was caught on its leg. When Cecilia opened it, the corners of her lips curled into a small smile.
[You succeeded.]
The letter only contained two simple words, but it successfully made Cecilia let out a long breath. Her hard work finally paid off. Although Cecilia was initially hesitant because of Cedric's change in personality, she eventually got the same result.
With that answer, Cecilia finally felt like she could sleep soundly for the first time in a long time. Her struggle was not over yet. But at least, she had managed to prevent the Blaine Kingdom from attacking Magenta while she was still busy filling the kingdom's nearly empty treasury.
Cecilia took the bird out of her room, then let it fly back to its owner. She let out a long breath. From the balcony of her room, she could see how the torchlight from the Magenta capital looked like beautiful little stars.
That beauty was something Cecilia had to protect now. She was no longer alone. Cecilia tried to convince herself that she had the kingdom to support her this time.
"I will save this kingdom," she whispered, "...even if I have to make the whole world my pawn," she promised earnestly.
***
Sir Robert's routine as Cecilia's knight was simple. After he finished his morning training, Sir Robert would go to Cecilia's room to accompany her in her activities. That day was no different. Sir Robert stood in front of Cecilia's room door, then knocked while telling his master his identity.
CLACK!
"You're here."
When Cecilia personally opened the door, Sir Robert found that Cecilia was already dressed simply, without any jewelry or royal symbols.
The clothes were more fitting for a servant than a royal family. The meaning of the clothes made Sir Robert frown involuntarily.
"Your Highness, this is..."
"I must go to the city today. I must use a disguise to prevent unnecessary attention," she said lightly. Red hair and eyes were only possessed by the royal family. Therefore, Cecilia had worked hard to hide everything behind the simple clothes covered with a hood.
Cecilia worked hard on her disguise this time. However, Sir Robert seemed unhappy with her decision.
"You're not thinking of going alone, are you?"
Cecilia fell silent. She looked like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.
"I won't be long. Besides, I need you to make people believe that I'm in the palace."
Sir Robert frowned. "It's too dangerous. Please let me come along, Your Highness."
"I don't need guards today."
"I will stay with you, Your Highness. If necessary, I will follow you from a distance if you're afraid I'll blow your cover."
Cecilia sighed softly. Well, maybe some people do have different personalities from their previous lives. Even the usually obedient Sir Robert seemed more stubborn in this life.
"Alright, you may come along. But you must promise that you will not ask, will not speak, and will not reveal anything you saw today, not even to my father. This is my business, do you understand?"
Sir Robert looked into Cecilia's eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he finally nodded slowly.
"Alright."
They prepared to leave after that. Cecilia led him through a secret passage, one that was supposed to be used only by the royal family in emergencies. They exited outside the palace through that passage. From there, they walked to reach the commercial district.
Upon arriving there, Cecilia only stopped when she stood in front of an inconspicuous building. Sir Robert could see the hotel sign in front of the building. However, because of its hidden location, it was the first time Sir Robert had known of such a hotel in the capital.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a quiet and unconvincing hotel lobby. Cecilia approached the hotel guard, a large man who had been watching them since they entered.
"What do you want?"
Sir Robert frowned involuntarily as the big man spoke harshly to Cecilia. Cecilia had ordered Sir Robert to hide his sword. Therefore, he could only hold back as Cecilia confronted the man.
"I want a flower that only grows underground."
The big guard snorted, while Sir Robert became even more confused because Cecilia suddenly said something strange.
"There is no such thing in our place."
"Search deeper, and you will find it."
This time, the guard stared at Cecilia for a moment, then nodded. He walked over to open a hidden side door. A secret passage was revealed, and it looked in stark contrast to the abandoned state of the hotel.
"Robert."
With Cecilia's call, Sir Robert finally went down the suspicious hallway. They passed through a dark, narrow hallway and down an old stone staircase until they finally found another door.
Cecilia opened the door without hesitation. Then, as soon as the underground door opened, the smell of tobacco, drugs, and money wafted from the room inside.
Sir Robert could hardly believe his own eyes. Under the dilapidated hotel, there was a room that was far from quiet and boring. Gambling tables were set up and filled with gold, and women whined, spoiled in the arms of gamblers. Meanwhile, tattooed men with daggers sat quietly at the end of the room, watching how the room produced its money.
"Don't look back and just follow me," Cecilia said softly. Robert could only follow. They continued walking until they met again with a door that led to another room.
Cecilia opened the door without permission. Inside, a man had stopped writing since Cecilia entered his room. His black eyes stared at Cecilia without emotion when he opened his mouth.
"This is not a place where you can just enter. Go back."
But Cecilia did not listen to the warning. She took a few steps forward and then said what she wanted.
"I want to ask for your help to do something."
The man went back to writing. After failing to chase Cecilia away, he seemed to see that there was no point in him listening to what his intruder had just said.
"If you are willing to listen to me, I can give you a position in the palace as a prince protected by the Magenta royal family."
CLICK!
In just a few seconds, the pen that was previously used to write flew past Cecilia, stuck in the door, uncovering the hood that hid Cecilia's face. The man who should have been sitting in his chair quietly was suddenly in front of Cecilia. His hands were raised to strangle Cecilia until the girl's feet were lifted.
"Your Highness!"
Sir Robert was the best knight in the Magenta Kingdom. But at that time, he could not prevent someone from attacking Cecilia in such a short time.