"The Chasing of the Departed Rose, The Maiden of Blood?" Hans repeated what he heard.
"An interesting title… but Lady Evelyn, with all due respect, I'd rather not get in the way of that woman," he said. It wasn't fear he felt, but the logical instinct of someone who valued his own survival.
The mistress chuckled softly. "You won't have to. I'm the only one capable of dealing with her."
Hans smiled. Perhaps the lady's confidence was what made her words so pleasing to listen to. "Indeed, my lady…"
Twenty minutes later, the carriage came to a halt. They had finally reached their destination.
Hans opened the door like a gentleman and stepped aside for the lady in velvet. As Evelyn descended, several bystanders turned their heads; few had ever seen such striking features before.
"Remember my face," she murmured under her breath. "You only get to see it once."
Before them stretched the Calasi River and the Blacked Mire Bridge. The sound of rushing, crystal water could bring a smile to even the hardest soul.
"That shade of blue, it's rather rare, isn't it, Hans?" Lady Evelyn murmured.
"Of course, My Lady. A clean river in these parts is as rare as a diamond in the sand," the gentleman replied, nodding as he paid the driver a generous sum for his service.
"Shall we go, Lady Evelyn?" Hans offered.
"Lead the way," Lady Evelyn replied.
They proceeded toward the one-kilometer bridge that connected the eastern edge of Gravenhurst to the Mireline District. A steady stream of delivery trucks and other vehicles passed by, each bearing the unmistakable name of the Blackthorn Family.
The smaller conveyances operated under the Blackthorn Transport Authority (BTT) — carriages, cabs, and public transport. The Blackthorn name was stamped on nearly every street vehicle throughout the empire.
The heavier machines fell under the Blackthorn Logistics Division (BTL) — freight carriers, transport trucks, and locomotives. The division supplied the Royal Army with military vehicles and war transports, all manufactured in its massive Mireline factory.
From the bridge, one could see laborers with sunken eyes moving about ceaselessly, pushing carts and machinery, crossing in and out of the district like clockwork.
"These people… they aren't paid well, are they?" Lady Evelyn remarked.
Hans lowered his voice as they walked slowly, taking in their peculiar surroundings.
"Precisely, Lady Evelyn. They earned just enough for food and rent, but never enough to rise above their circumstances. I doubt these people could even afford to save, given how little they made."
He paused… "No matter how hard they worked, they died no richer than the day they were born."
Lady Evelyn listened to his quiet musings with a faint smile. "Are you reminiscing about the days you used to work in Mireline?" she asked.
Hans let out a soft laugh at the remark. "Perhaps, my lady," he admitted, releasing a quiet breath.
"I remember when I worked the docks in Mireline. Back then, I earned barely seventy Copper Solis a week!"
"It was just enough for bread and a cot in a room shared with five others. By the time rent and food were paid, I had less than ten coppers left to my name!"
"I'm glad that you're doing well for yourself…" Evelyn took note of every word; she seemed quietly proud of what he had become.
Hans felt a quiet pride as they walked, gratitude welling in his heart. "Lady Evelyn, I've always been grateful for the chance to experience a little luxury."
"I had never held a single Silver Solis until I met you. It wasn't just the wealth I was thankful for, but the fact that my family back in Inals was lifted from hardship because of your generosity…"
"Getting too emotional, are we?" the mistress teased lightly.
Hans laughed it off. "Well, I do mean it, Lady Evelyn."
The lady softened her gaze and smiled as if Hans were her own son.
"Hans, you're welcome," she said gently. "Your consistency is a fine addition to the Malefactors."
"I plan to continue working even harder for the Malefactors, Lady Evelyn," he replied, conviction clear in his tone.
"Then I plan to keep my promise of saving all of you." At her words, the gentleman fell silent.
Lost in thoughts of the uncertain future, he finally replied, "Indeed, Lady Evelyn," he said solemnly.
At the end of their musings, they finally set foot on the Black Mire Bridge. The air grew colder, and the mist thickened around the hauntingly beautiful structure.
It was paved with cobblestones and bore the Gothic signature of pointed arches, spires, and stone gargoyles perched along its sides.
"You're dismissed, Hans." Lady Evelyn stood, her presence perfectly matching the grandeur of the bridge; she was a blessing to the misty atmosphere itself.
The man bowed respectfully. "Please be careful; she can be quite aggressive," he warned before departing to attend to his next duty within the Mireline District.
"No need to worry. I find that side of her rather charming," Lady Evelyn remarked.
Hans paused for a moment before replying, "I see, Lady Evelyn." He gave a short chuckle.
"Very well, I'll report once I'm done with my investigation. I'll be on my way, Lady Evelyn."
"Likewise, Hans…" Lady Evelyn replied softly.
Though some civilians and bridge guards wanted to question her, they refrained. She looked every bit an authentic noble, and in this part of the district, the negative reputation of nobility alone was enough; no one dared to stand in her way.
For most, such an act could very well get them killed.
At that moment, a few trucks laden with timber rumbled past, and more laborers made their way home from work.
The bridge led to Avelrowe Forest, whose dying black trees and widespread deforestation threatened the fragile balance of its natural habitat.
She witnessed a couple of humans cutting down wood in the distance. With each thump of their axes, her furrowed brow deepened in frustration.
"Animals," she muttered.
She mocked the view from Black Mire Bridge, the passing ships below, the wet stone walls, the stagnant puddles.
Yet beneath that stillness, a man was being murdered. One could only wonder how they had ended up there.
Pale, delicate hands gripped his neck against the wall. Agonizing pain shot through him as sharp fangs sank deep into his skin, and a hand clamped over his mouth to silence his muffled screams.
A black monster resided within the woman's shadow. It sent out a dark, misty shroud, ensuring the man didn't shed too much blood, avoiding unnecessary mess.
"Clean it thoroughly. I don't appreciate a dirty floor," the unknown woman murmured in a voice too soft and gentle.
As she indulged in the man's blood, a violet butterfly drifted into view.
To the unknown woman's left, Lady Evelyn walked through the puddles, her silhouette slowly taking shape of her original appearance, her curves outlined in the dim light.
"You seem to be well, Entel." Lady Evelyn said with a delighted voice.
"Oh? I have a pretty visitor?" There she was, the woman who was called Maiden of Blood.
Chapter End...