Chapter 29

Chapter 29

With a bit over half of her magic reservoir filled, it was objectively a stretch to call it “enormous.”

Well, from Rose’s perspective it was enormous—she’d never had this much before.

Either way, what she’d blurted out had certainly succeeded in shutting Crowley up, though in a very different sense.

Crowley slumped against the sofa, covering his forehead with one hand.

“I did say I’d allow it… but hearing it straight from you is something else, Rosie.”

“Uncle?”

Only then did Rose realize exactly how her words must have sounded, and she could only let out a silent scream.

“Uncle, I didn’t mean it like that—!”

“I’ll go with her as a guardian, Minister.”

While Rose scrambled to explain herself, James calmly cut in.

“Haah… Mister Dautryche. I thought you were a gentleman. How can you say that…”

“I’m not sure what you mean, but with me there, Rose can use her magic freely and she’ll be much safer.”

James replied with the same shamelessly calm face, not even blinking.

“Good grief…”

“I also have a gun to protect her.”

“You were just lucky last time. There’s no guarantee you’ll be lucky again.”

“Most importantly, I have enough money to smooth over whatever mess Rose might cause.”

“…Ho.”

“Excuse me? Mess I might cause? Not get into? Are you saying I’m a walking disaster?”

Rose had been nodding along in agreement until that last comment, leaving her completely speechless.

“I’ve never caused any trouble in my life!”

“I don’t know, Rose. I’d disagree.”

James smirked and tapped twice on the left side of his chest.

He seemed to enjoy her mortified expression before adding lightly:

“Don’t worry. The kind of trouble that puts me in the hospital is harder to clean up alone. But if it’s just you breaking things or setting them on fire, I can easily cover it.”

Their carriage rattled off toward Linden’s old city hall.

Sunlight poured through the window, catching Rose’s violet eyes and making them sparkle like sugared violet candy.

James watched her humming to herself. The corners of her lips curved up, a faint flush warming her cheeks.

“You look awfully pleased.”

At his comment, she gave a shy little laugh.

“Of course. Uncle gave me permission.”

“It’s not permission. It’s a test, Rose.”

“I know.”

The clatter of hooves echoed as the scenery of Linden’s streets blurred past.

“James. Thank you for convincing him.”

“Think nothing of it.”

It wasn’t like he’d persuaded Crowley for her dream’s sake, but there was no reason to reject her gratitude. He simply nodded, calm and matter-of-fact.

After all, what was a former necromancy showman for the upper classes in Romberton going to do in an investigation?

He’d stay close enough to keep her from real danger while giving her time to realize her own limits. He certainly didn’t plan to give her too much time.

“One of our agents will be waiting to guide you at the entrance.”

The Golden Crow agent posing as the driver spoke as he stopped the carriage across from the old city hall.

“Best of luck.”

Linden’s old town was shabby and neglected, left behind by redevelopment.

The city hall itself was half-demolished, its skeletal frame giving off an eerie vibe.

As soon as she stepped down from the carriage and saw the building, Rose froze.

“Rose. Are you all right?”

But James’s question didn’t even register in her ears.

Her eyes were locked on the silhouette standing in front of the building.

“Shit.”

The word slipped out, harsh and unfiltered.

That pale blond hair and green eyes—by any normal measure, a pleasant, well-bred young gentleman’s face.

To Rose Taylor, though, it was a disgustingly familiar mask of duplicity.

“Shi—”

She couldn’t even finish the word.

Because the figure she saw was Arthur Granfield.

It was already unbelievable enough that he was there, but what caught her eye even more was the gleaming Golden Crow badge pinned to his jacket.

“Rosie?”

He was approaching from across the street, confusion written all over his face.

Arthur’s green eyes flickered with anxiety and unease as they met Rose’s and James’s.

“Pleased to meet you. Arthur Granfield.”

He bit back all the words he’d wanted to say to her, swallowing them painfully.

“I’ve been ordered to guide you on behalf of the Director.”

Every word sounded forced and excruciating.

How did it end up like this?

Arthur almost wanted to curse the gods for throwing this trial at him.

He’d wanted to check on Rose’s safety more than anyone when he heard she’d caught the serial killer Robert Burns.

When he learned she’d been marked as the fifth target, he’d nearly lost control completely.

That bastard Burns. Maybe I should have just killed him myself.

Who the hell does he think he is, going after her?

But in the end, all of this mess had been created by his own choices.

So Arthur forced himself to hold onto reason.

Still, to think the special guests he was assigned to guide turned out to be Rose…

He silently cursed Crowley for giving him this assignment, trying desperately to maintain a calm expression.

But no matter how hard he tried, the air between them was unbearably strained.

It was like pulling both ends of a tangled thread tighter and tighter until the knot became impossible to undo—the clash of emotion threatened to swallow them both.

James, realizing who Arthur was a step later, raised an eyebrow.

Of all people to assign… Crowley really is a twisted old fox.

There was no way Crowley, who knew everything about Rose’s life, didn’t know about their history.

James didn’t know the exact reason they’d split, but there had clearly been something there—and now they were being forced back together.

For the moment, though, he decided to defuse the tension.

“Nice to meet you, Arthur Granfield. James Dautryche. We met under your alias, Mr. Huckerd, when you were doing spirit work. Do you remember?”

“Honored you’d remember that name, Mr. Dautryche.”

When James extended a hand, Arthur took it with the formal politeness of someone burying the wreckage of a disastrous reunion under layers of social ritual.

“So you’re Mythos as well. Funny meeting here in Linden.”

“If you’re a Revis, you’ll have a hard time. Don’t hesitate to come to me if you need anything.”

“I’ll be fine. I have Miss Taylor and Minister Crowley, but I appreciate the offer.”

The two men eyed each other carefully, polite words thinly veiling their wariness.

“This way, please. I’ll take you to the Linden branch.”

Arthur was the first to break eye contact.

He led them to a hidden door behind the old city hall.

As they walked down a narrow, dim corridor leading underground, Rose glared at the back of Arthur’s head like she might clobber him at any moment.

Up close, she saw that the badge on his jacket wasn’t some novice rank.

She didn’t know the Golden Crow’s exact promotion system, but to wear that badge, he’d have to have been an operative for at least three or four years, maybe ten.

So you really were the investigator assigned to watch me.

Another wave of betrayal crashed over her.

You lied to me all that time…

When she’d run away and tried to slip into Morgenia illegally, she’d run into Arthur on the street not long after.

Her heart had nearly stopped then; after all, Arthur had been one of her father’s protégés.

I really thought that was the end. That I’d be dragged back home for sure.

It hadn’t taken long to grow close to him—Arthur had mourned with her for her parents and shared in her outrage at the Golden Crow’s indifference.

But did he ever really love me?

He approached me on Crowley’s orders from the start.

He kissed me. Whispered he loved me. When he didn’t even mean it.

All the questions she’d never dared ask, for fear of getting hurt, now churned like poison in her mind.

“This is the Linden branch chief’s office.”