Chapter 28

Chapter 28

James masked his regret and handed over the badge just as the Minister had asked. Rose ran her fingers over the small metal piece in the box. Unlike her parents’ badges, which had been intricately worked with symbols and marks, this one was simple in design, but it was still unmistakably the Golden Crow.

With this alone, she could use the organization’s nationwide network and receive support. If it meant she could avenge her parents and uncover the cult’s secrets…

The Golden Crow she had hated so fiercely, cursed, and run from for so long was now an essential tool for her goal. What had all those days of grinding her teeth in hatred and fleeing amounted to?

What about in my last life? I never even met Uncle Crowley, just kept running from the Golden Crow until I was offered up as a sacrifice to end the world…

“Ahem.”

James’s deliberate cough snapped her out of her thoughts.

“It’s getting late. Don’t you think you should get some rest?”

“Ah…! Sorry. I must have spaced out for a moment.”

“Well, if you had something else in mind, I wouldn’t refuse.”

“Something else?”

“It’s late at night. Just the two of us here. Holding hands and being led into a private room—one might see it as a rather sexual invitation.”

Rose sprang to her feet, appalled.

“Wh-what are you even saying!”

“Just reminded me of the night at the Countess’s estate.”

At that, she recalled two months ago when she’d clung to James’s sleeve and dragged him up to her guest room on the second floor. The memory made her dizzy.

“Don’t worry, Rose. I have no intention of doing that tonight.”

“Were you teasing me again?”

Instead of answering, he chuckled softly and opened the door between their rooms.

“Good night.”

The gall of him, twisting her around with that silver tongue and then acting the perfect gentleman as he held the door open! Rose felt utterly exasperated.

“Good night,” she managed, turning her head away in embarrassment.

That way, she never saw the look in his eyes as he watched her go, and so she was able to sleep soundly.

Meeting Minister Crowley again at the Caldea Hotel was easy. It was as if he’d known they would come; the Golden Crow agent in the lobby immediately led them up to the suite. As before, Crowley waited in the grand reception room.

“So. You read the letter.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re formally joining the Golden Crow?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Rose replied with determination, hands clasped tightly.

“Rosie, I want to make sure you don’t misunderstand. When I asked you before to join the Golden Crow, it wasn’t to give you dangerous work. It was so you’d be protected inside the organization.”

Sounding frustrated, he picked up a thick cigar from the box on the table.

“Let’s be clear now. I have no intention of sending you into the field.”

“Uncle Crowley!”

She jumped up, shouting at his blunt declaration.

“If that was the plan, you should have kept it all a secret! You tell me about those bastards and then expect me to just sit quietly?”

“You needed to know. That doesn’t mean I wanted you chasing after them.”

“Why? You think I can’t do it?”

“Not because you can’t. Because it’s dangerous!”

Their disagreement seemed endless. James sipped his third cup of tea, half-listening to them squabble.

“I’ve grown over these five years!”

“Oh, sure. Nearly getting yourself killed in this last incident is your idea of growth?”

“I still caught them!”

“Because Mister Dautryche happened to find you in time!”

“I finished them off myself!”

Their argument went in circles.

At this rate, we’ll be here until sunset, James thought, realizing someone needed to end it.

“Both of you, calm down.”

But neither one did.

“James! Uncle wants to take back what he gave me—do you think that’s fair?”

“What did I even give you? Look at her, Mister Dautryche—like a wild colt!”

Were they really not related by blood? They argued just like the most stubborn niece and uncle. James hid his private thoughts and focused on cooling things down.

“Rose. Let’s think rationally. Can you even throw a proper punch?”

She hesitated, unable to answer.

“What about running? Self-defense? Do you know any?”

Again, no answer.

“See, Rosie? He’s right. And be honest. Did you do any magic training these past five years?”

“Uncle, that’s…”

She was completely defeated. She’d abandoned magic entirely after running away five years ago, disillusioned with Mythosi and convinced that, as a near-neutral with almost no power, there was no point learning anything.

“Rosie. For now, just do office work with the Golden Crow…”

“I can study now!”

“What?”

“I can start now, can’t I?”

Growing desperate, Rose grabbed James’s arm. A surge of magic made her want to gasp, but she bit hard on her lip to suppress it.

“And James is here!”

She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t back down. I’m the woman who traded my first night to save the world. I’ll do anything I set my mind to!

“He can teach me to run, fight—anything. He even knows how to shoot. Besides, we’re bonded. Staying together makes it easier to manage that.”

James looked down at her in amusement; her round pink head trembled with determination, though her voice wavered and her grip on his arm was white-knuckled.

Crowley was so shocked he could only stare, speechless.

“Mister Dautryche! Listen to what she’s saying!”

But Rose rushed ahead.

“Uncle! You’re not going to just abandon James, are you? Do you want him to blow up from magic overload because he couldn’t see me?”

“What did you just say?”

“Oh, poor James! I didn’t know you were so heartless, Uncle!”

Now she was clinging to James’s arm, tears welling in her eyes.

Shameless and utterly brazen, James thought.

To him, her obsession with revenge was hard to grasp. It was reckless, foolish. Even going after one person was dangerous; an entire organization was suicidal.

Besides, if she got involved, it would only make trouble for him. He still had to finish that “find the girl” job. There was also that marriage certificate he intended to slip past her…

I’ll just have to make sure she gives up on her own.

With the smooth smile of a seasoned businessman, James turned to the Minister.

“We don’t have much choice, Minister. Let her try.”

“Mister Dautryche, are you telling me to humor her ridiculous demand?”

“No. I’m saying we test her. Give her a simple mission, see if she can handle it. Then she’ll accept reality.”

“Even an easy mission is dangerous for someone who can’t use magic!”

Crowley’s face looked ashen, as if he’d been told to abandon a child in the water.

“I said I’ll study!”

“Sure. You really think you’ll master magic after five years of doing nothing?”

“I’m different now!”

She bit back her next words for a moment, rolling them around in her mouth before finally squeezing her eyes shut and shouting.

“My magic has built up like crazy!”