Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 119

They abandoned the wide road and escaped into the forest. With the police in hot pursuit and two people with poor stamina in tow, fleeing wasn’t easy.

Only after the four of them squeezed into a dense thicket did the police pass them by. However, they had to remain there for a while, as the police might return.

How much time had passed? When Damian, who had been scouting the area, returned, the three, including Lilliana, emerged from the thicket. Following Damian’s instructions, they chose a deserted path and headed towards home.

“The police didn’t see our faces, did they?”

Lilliana asked worriedly, and Damian shook his head.

“I’m not sure. There weren’t any people around when I took out the gun, but if anyone saw us before that, they could give a description of us.”

“So I’m going to be a wanted criminal?!” Annette exclaimed in horror.

“Tell me quickly, you two. Why did you suddenly pull out a gun? Was it really to catch that crow?!”

“That’s not it, Annette. This is a golem, and…”

“That’s a golem?”

“That was a golem?”

Damian and Lilliana frowned at the crow Casey was holding.

“Golem? What’s that?” Annette asked, bewildered.

“A golem is an artificial lifeform created with magic, and…”

Damian hurriedly covered Casey’s mouth. He opened and closed his mouth at Annette, unable to speak in Casey’s stead.

Then, he looked at Lilliana with a pleading expression. How could he explain this situation? Lilliana also broke out in a cold sweat and shook her head.

Annette put her hands on her hips, her face flushed with anger.

“What are you talking about? Golem? Do I look like an idiot?”

“W-well, you see…”

Lilliana stammered, trying to explain as simply as possible.

But Casey tilted his head and asked, “Can’t we just erase Annette’s memory? I still have some of the magic Pascal received from Soliel.”

“What?! What are you saying?!”

It was only natural for Annette to be shocked by Casey’s words. Damian scratched his head and tried to dissuade Casey.

“But we can’t erase Ms. Annette’s memory every time something like this happens. She lives in the same house, so she could get caught up in our affairs someday…”

Lilliana muttered with a hardened expression, “Should I have lived alone after all… Should I move out now?”

This time, it was Damian’s turn to dissuade Lilliana.

“First, let’s explain the situation to Ms. Annette and let her decide.”

“What are you guys talking about amongst yourselves? Tell me too!”

Annette looked genuinely angry now.

The three exchanged glances. Then, Damian and Casey nudged Lilliana. Seeing the two men push the important matter onto her, Lilliana wanted to say something.

However, she had to admit that she was the only one with the intellect to explain their situation coherently.

“So, Annette, it’s going to be a long story, but I’ll explain everything when we get home. Can we get moving? It could be dangerous to stay outside… Right, Damian? Brother? We’re in a bit of a dangerous situation, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. But I’m not sure if home is safe either. This golem, I think it was one of the ones they sent to track our location. I wonder how much sense it makes for us to hide at home in this situation.”

At Casey’s words, Damian shrugged.

“It’ll be fine. If the magic is working properly, that is.”

“Magic?”

Annette frowned. Damian felt a sense of kinship with her reaction, reminded of his past self.

Lilliana asked Annette, “Do you believe in mythical creatures and magic?”

“…”

Annette’s expression clearly said, “What is this nonsense?” A cold silence followed, and Casey briefly stepped aside, then quickly returned.

“Guys, I got a taxi.”

Thanks to Casey, who had commendably hailed a taxi without being asked, they were able to return home comfortably, maintaining an awkward silence.

***

“So…”

Annette, sitting in the middle of the sofa, crossed her legs and tapped her foot as she organized her thoughts. She had just listened to Lilliana and Casey’s explanation.

About them being half-spirits and being pursued by the royalist faction who wanted to exploit them.

By the time they finished explaining, the sun had already set, and it was dark outside. Damian had been anxious as he listened to their explanation to Annette. He was worried she would react the same way he had, dismissing it as nonsense.

And seeing Annette’s expression change from moment to moment, he belatedly understood how frustrating Lilliana must have felt with his reaction.

“First… I understand.”

“You understand? That? About myths and spirits and all that? And you believe in magic too?”

Damian asked again in disbelief, but Annette nodded with a clear expression.

“Yes. Well, Lily and Casey showed their abilities, so there’s no reason not to believe it. Though it still feels unreal. Ah, it is surprising. I am surprised.”

It was the other three who were surprised by Annette’s unexpectedly calm reaction. Annette quickly accepted Lilliana and Casey’s true nature and moved on.

“I knew there were several royalist factions. It’s only natural, in a way. There are always people who try to overthrow the government, in every era and every country. And I often overhear rumors.”

Then she asked with a meaningful look, “The people after you, they want to crown Charlotte Shelbyr as queen?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So that’s why they’re so arrogant.”

“Arrogant?”

“As you know, there’s more than one royalist faction. And they each have their own candidate for the throne. The largest faction is the self-proclaimed ‘Knights of Kemper,’ led by Marquis Loachel. And then there’s the one led by Marquis Sutton, calling themselves…”

“‘Lion’s Heart.'”

Damian finished her sentence, and Annette nodded.

“That’s right. And in terms of bloodline, Veronica Shelbyr, the candidate of the Knights of Kemper, has a stronger claim to the throne than Charlotte Shelbyr. Veronica is from a collateral branch, but both her mother and father have Shelbyr blood. That’s why they have the most nobles on their side. On the other hand, Charlotte, although not from a collateral branch, only has Shelbyr blood on her father’s side.”

Up to this point, Damian and Casey were already aware of the information through their prior investigation. Lilliana, on the other hand, seemed to be hearing this for the first time and was listening intently.

“But the arrogant ones were the ‘Lion’s Heart.’ I was wondering what Marquis Sutton was relying on to look down on the ‘Knights of Kemper,’ but now I understand. They have a wizard on their side.”

“Um…”

Lilliana carefully raised her hand to get their attention.

“Annette, you seem to know quite a lot about this.”

“Yes. My family has a history of involvement in the independence movement, so I know a lot of people involved in politics or those working behind the scenes with the government. I’ve picked up a lot of information here and there.”

She put her hands on her hips and continued, “The person who tells me these things is an informant. A former independence activist who worked as a spy during the colonial period. I’ll connect you with them, so why don’t you make use of me? My contact is quite competent.”

The three stared at Annette with wide eyes. They exchanged glances, and then Casey asked, “Why is Annette…?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you helping us?”

In response to Casey’s question, which also spoke for Damian and Lilliana, Annette crossed her arms and pondered for a moment.

“Ah… how should I explain this? Part of it is because Lily is my precious friend, but more than anything, I don’t like those guys. What era do they think this is, trying to restore the royal family now?”

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