Chapter 98: I Am Holding Fireworks That Will Disappear in an Instant
Evelia didn’t expect that the “perfect spot” Armand mentioned would actually be the clock tower.
As Armand led her toward it, Evelia instinctively tensed up.
Because she had to rush to the ballroom, she hadn’t done any cleanup, she never cleaned the “crime scene.” Based on how long the party had lasted, the inside of the clock tower must still be full of the bloody smell from the broken body. So when she heard Armand say they were going there, she almost reflexively wanted to resist.
But that feeling only lasted a second. When she heard the word "clock tower," her steps just paused for a moment.
Of course, she knew that no matter what happened, she couldn’t show it too clearly.
In a situation like this, the best thing to do was to play dumb, to act like she didn’t know anything. If she acted nervous, she might give herself away.
So she followed behind Armand calmly, thinking about how she should react later if he saw the body that had fallen to the first floor.
Thud—
Evelia swallowed hard as she watched Armand push open the heavy door of the clock tower.
“...!”
But what she saw was completely different from what she had imagined.
Back when she snuck in, the candles inside the tower had clearly been put out on purpose. But now, all the wall lamps were lit. The candlelight cast a warm yellow glow that made this once dark and creepy place feel a little cozy.
And the body Evelia had been most worried about? It was gone, as if it had never been there. The first-floor hall had no sign of a corpse at all, not even the slightest bloody smell. What used to be a murder scene was now bright and clean. The firelight lit up the clock tower’s classical decorations and carvings, making the place feel elegant.
“Want to rest for a bit? We still have a few floors to climb. The top has the best view.”
Armand stood casually right where the body should have fallen, asking Evelia, whose face looked a little pale.
“It’s fine, Mr. Armand. I can keep up.”
Actually, this level of physical activity was nothing for Evelia. Her slightly pale face was just because she was shocked by how much the inside of the clock tower had changed.
Who did all this? Could it be that the Second Prince had arranged a “clean-up crew” afterward?
If so, she owed that guy at least some thanks… because if Armand had seen what the place looked like before, things would’ve gotten a lot more complicated.
If Armand were just a regular citizen, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But he was the leader of the Knights, he’d definitely investigate a murder scene, and that would not be good for Evelia.
She never expected Armand to bring her to the clock tower to watch the fireworks. And she definitely didn’t expect someone to clean up the place for her. It was a relief.
“Let’s go then. These stairs are old, so no need to rush. Don’t fall.”
“Mm.”
After that, the two of them quietly walked up the spiral stairs, lit by candlelight. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly. It reminded Evelia of that heavy-footed man in black armor from before. But Armand’s steps were steady and firm. The sound of his boots hitting the ground gave her a sense of calm.
Back then, when she was racing against time to escape that shadowy fgure, she thought these stairs were never-ending, she just wanted to fly straight to the top. But now, with Armand holding her hand and walking slowly to match her pace because of her long skirt, she found herself wanting to stay in this quiet moment a little longer.
Whoosh—Boom!
Just as the two of them stepped onto the top floor, the first firework exploded right in front of them, as if celebrating their arrival. Armand held her hand tighter and quickly led her to the glass window.
Evelia once again stood beside the large glass window, looking up at the fireworks that seemed so close. The colorful lights were reflected in her golden eyes.
The moon hung high in the sky as always, and its gentle light fell on Evelia through the dancing colors of the fireworks. This time, she didn’t avoid the moonlight or hide in the shadows behind the wall.
She had come here twice and seen two amazing fireworks shows, but her feelings each time were completely different.
Now, she didn’t need to hide her face, and she didn’t need to stay alert for a surprise attack. She was no longer the assassin known as "Red Crow." She was standing here as Evelia, as Armand’s “Eve.”
Armand quietly watched the blooming fireworks as well. One after another, the bursts of light lit up both of their faces, and lit up the darkness behind them too.
This time, no one was hiding in the shadows, because both of them were standing in the open, right next to each other.
Tonight’s fireworks were clearly more beautiful than the ones at the opening of the festival. Fireworks of all kinds exploded in different shapes in the sky. People under the clock tower were shouting, cheering, and even swearing in amazement. The brilliant display, paid for with lots of money, was a symbol of how prosperous the royal capital had become.
If only things could stay like this forever…
As Evelia listened to the loud booms of the fireworks, she also enjoyed a peacefulness completely different from the last time she came here.
That longing for peace began to take root in her heart. This assassin, who had always lived in shadows and killing, also wished she could stay in this peaceful moment.
The way Evelia had acted before… it was because she had never seen the outside world. The Second Prince had kept her sealed away since childhood, like being trapped at the bottom of a well, never seeing anything beyond it. But people are greedy by nature, once you’ve seen what you truly desire, even the strongest heart can begin to waver.
But—
But still...
Evelia was struggling inside.
She gently touched the glass, as if she wanted to reach through it and feel the sparks outside. But no matter how hard she pressed, all she could leave behind was a blurry handprint.
She felt like she could never escape the control of the Second Prince. She felt like no matter what she did, it would all be useless. After all, wasn’t she born only to carry out the prince’s orders?
“Eve.”
In a quiet moment between fireworks, Armand called her name and walked up beside her.
“This old clock tower is really old. Don’t lean too close to the glass, be careful.”
“Ah, okay.”
Evelia pulled her hand back at his words and stepped away from the window.
She felt like she was once again farther away from that unshakable wall, and farther from those fireworks, too.
Armand noticed the direction of her gaze and looked up at the sky, smiling.
“You want to touch the fireworks?”
“……”
Evelia paused, because she knew how silly it was to want to reach something so far away and fleeting.
Seeing that she didn’t answer, Armand copied her earlier movement. He reached out and gently tapped the glass with a soft “tap”, touching the same cold surface.
“Sorry, Mr. Armand. That thought was too childish.”
“What are you talking about?”
Armand smiled and looked up at the next round of fireworks. As the light bloomed in the sky, he followed the glow with his hand and gently touched Evelia’s cheek. His fingers softly brushed the corner of her eye.
“See? You touched it after all.”
“Mr. Armand…?” Evelia looked a little confused.
“The light of the fireworks fell on your face, didn’t it? And it also reflected in your eyes. That light will stay in your eyes forever.”
“……”
Evelia didn’t know why, but her throat tightened for a moment.
Armand looked at her as she slowly reached out her hand. He gently bent down, letting her fingertips touch his face. When the next firework bloomed, her hand softly touched Armand’s cheek. She saw the soft pink glow from the fireworks shining on his face, and also the pink light reflected in his eyes. But it wasn’t just the firework she saw there.
“So this… is what it means to catch a firework?”
“Yeah, it’s that simple.”
Armand placed his hand over hers, the warmth from his palm slowly spreading across the back of her hand.
“……”
Yes.
It really is that simple.
Looking at Armand’s smile, Evelia felt that the coldness in her heart that had lasted for so many years was slowly starting to melt.
She couldn’t fully understand what she was feeling, but she knew it wasn’t a bad feeling.
The two of them stood there quietly, getting closer and closer, holding each other’s warmth in the light of the fireworks.
After who knows how long, the fireworks festival ended. The party also came to a close. Evelia and Armand had already returned to the estate. The two princes also went back to their own places after the closing ceremony.
The Second Prince didn’t see Evelia again afterward. Although he was a little curious about where she went, he didn’t think it was important, so he just let it go. When he returned to his office, he found a folder placed on his desk.
Of course, Red Crow wasn’t the only person the Second Prince could use. For small tasks like this, he could always find someone else. The folder he received this time contained information he had bought from an intelligence dealer.
As for why he had that dealer killed, the reason was simple, to silence him. The prince couldn’t be sure whether the dealer had read what was inside the documents.
The same was true for the First Prince. That dealer had information both princes wanted, so once they completed their trades, both of them decided to eliminate him.
The Second Prince opened the folder, pulling out a few scattered pages. At the same time, the First Prince had also returned to his palace. He poured himself a cup of tea, sat on the sofa, and slowly opened his own sealed file.
The contents inside were quite simple, just a few ordinary-looking photos.
The Second Prince had received photos of the First Prince’s private activities, while the First Prince had photos showing the Second Prince secretly talking with other politicians.
Although the images were taken with a high-end recording crystal, they had to be taken from hidden locations, so the quality was quite blurry.
Behind those photos, the Second Prince found an old, blurry picture. It showed a dark shadowy figure. Below the shadow was the same carriage involved in the accident that killed his mother ten years ago.
The figure looked very familiar to him. The way it moved and its body shape… it reminded him of someone he had once used as a tool when he was a teenager. But by all logic, that person should’ve been dead.
Over on the First Prince’s side, the last page he pulled out was a short investigation letter about alchemy and an alchemist who had suddenly gone missing. Although it wasn’t long, it revealed that the Second Prince had been researching a certain kind of alchemy. What the First Prince didn’t know was how far that research had come.
Whether it was the First Prince or the Second Prince, both of them now had clues that would keep them busy for a long time.
This night was destined to be a long one.
(End of Volume One)