Chapter 93: Chapter 93 - A Word from Violet

I fell silent, and soon grasped the meaning of his words. [Surely not.] Ash shook his head with amusement dancing across his lips. [Throughout my life, there's been only one instance when a woman resembling Rosenis appeared before me. When that woman was a spy. In other words, a trap.] [Did your mother spread false prophecies to lure out spies? ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠⁠⁠‍‍⁠‍‍And even write a novel to do it?!] The Tale of Lady Rosenis had been nothing less than a mentor to me during my childhood. To think such a novel was merely a trap and a conspiracy. I felt as though my cherished childhood memories were being torn away entirely. [Of course not. Sometimes the truth becomes the greatest bait of all.] Ash answered calmly. I turned his words over in my mind. [The prophecy your mother saw regarding Lady Rosenis was genuine, and you exploited that very fact.] I said. [When you asked Marin about Lady Rosenis, she answered without hesitation. If that were a secret I was hiding, would Marin have spoken of it?] [I thought she told me because we were friends.] Though I had also believed she told me because I seemed trustworthy with secrets. I felt embarrassed. [Of course she would, as a friend. But no loyal subordinate would carelessly divulge their master's secrets.] [Well, that's true....] If Marin had spoken so readily, it couldn't have been a significant secret. It was merely the sort of information those who took pains to investigate Ash Ravens would eventually uncover. I didn't know it then, but the secret surrounding Lady Rosenis was precisely that caliber. [But Bella was far too perfect. The red hair, her manner of speech, the way she smiled, even her habits.] I spoke in a deflated voice. [This time she was quite ingenious. Upon investigation, even her name turned out to be her real one. Rosebella.] Ash reached out and gently stroked my hair. [Kaizeria possesses all manner of cosmetic techniques. There are dyes that can turn hair red, and those who receive excessive divine power sometimes experience changes in hair and eye color. Speech patterns and habits? Those can coincide by chance, and if someone intentionally mimics them, it becomes even easier.] [So you weren't shaken at all when you saw Bella, Ash?] [I had a hunch. Ah, this woman—Rosebella or whatever—her appearance made me think the Shatra Holy Knight Order was definitely suspicious.] Now that I thought about it, everything aligned perfectly. Ash had come to the Knight Order suspecting the Shatra Holy Knight Order from the start. And the moment he saw Bella, who seemed possessed by Lady Rosenis, he reached his conclusion that something was amiss. [The reason Ash couldn't take his eyes off Bella] was not, as I now realized, the expression of a man captivated by a woman. It was the sharp gaze of an investigator—a Heresy Inquisitor—observing a criminal to be apprehended. 'It was all just a misunderstanding on my part....' The moment I realized this truth, my face burned crimson. Ash immediately caught the shift in my emotions. He smiled knowingly and leaned closer. [Violet, were you jealous? Worried that Bella might be my fated one?] [No, that's not it—] I was still terrible at lying. I didn't think it was jealousy, but I couldn't deny that something bothered me. [There ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠⁠⁠‍‍⁠‍‍it is. Jealousy.] Ash looked satisfied, like a well-fed predator. [It's just strange, isn't it? That Mother's prophecy has already bound me to a fated one. If such a person exists, then no matter how hard I try, I can never become your destined match—] [Hair color, eye color, personality, trivial habits. All of it can change as we live. ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠⁠⁠‍‍⁠‍‍I've even seen someone escape death's door only to wake with white hair, transformed into someone entirely different.] [Then how will you recognize Lady Rosenis?] [Recognize her? My heart will know. Of all Mother's prophecies, there's only one I trust: that I will love my woman with a terrible, consuming love.] My cheeks flushed pale, then burned red again. [I have no interest in a political marriage with you.] [Neither do I, for now.] [....] [What interests me now is simply Violet Everdin. Desperate love, passion, excitement. Even your obsession with romance novels.] [Ash... I can't afford this right now... I'm in a critical period of my life.] I barely managed to suppress my racing heart and speak. It was true. I had decided to infiltrate the Shatra Holy Knight Order to save Cyril. [Important matters, I see. Then shall we discuss business first? About the Shatra Holy Knight Order. Tell me—do you plan to remain with the Order?] [Yes.] [Even knowing that the thread you've grasped might be a rope frayed by a Cult?] [That's exactly why I must.] [Why?] Ash's eyes flickered with faint suspicion. [If they've fallen to corruption through a Cult, it must be exposed. Especially if the renowned Shatra Holy Knight Order has....] [So it's for the public good?] [That too—in any case, something feels off about that place. I have a feeling.] Ash mercifully didn't press further. [You have good instincts. The makings of a fine Heresy Inquisitor. Would you consider joining us this opportunity?] [No, I'd prefer to become an ordinary knight, so I'll have to decline.] [I thought as much. Then will you cooperate with my investigation just this once?] Ash said. [I'll help gladly.] It was exactly what I'd hoped for. I nodded. [Then I'll send you the tools tomorrow.] [Tools?] [We need to make this incident significant. We have our own magical tools exclusive to the Heresy Inquisitors for situations like this.] Ash said. [Understood.] [I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning. I'll bring the tools as well.] [Yes.] For someone who had dragged a man into her residence in the dead of night, the situation was remarkably proper. Though Ash had attempted one more seduction before leaving Violet. [If I had my way, I'd stay the night and be with you, but we are a gentleman and a lady. ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠⁠⁠‍‍⁠‍‍So I must leave.] Ash leaned toward Violet and whispered. [What are you thinking right now, Violet?] The dream I had moments ago came to mind. Ash drawing closer, the warmth spreading across my body. His sandalwood scent filling my senses entirely. And.... [I'm thinking about when you kissed my cheek.] Ash brought his lips close to Violet's ear. [Stop.] Violet spoke firmly, summoning superhuman restraint. [Go home, Ash.] Ash smiled with angelic innocence. As if he harbored no ulterior motives whatsoever. As if only Violet's own passion was to blame. [See you tomorrow morning, Violet. When I truly love someone, I want to see them all night and into the morning.] Ash's mysterious crimson eyes gleamed. That was what had happened in the early dawn of that day.

Chapter 93

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