Bad Born Blood - Chapter 80



Only Noblemtl

080

The Custoria mansion is as solemn as its ancient architecture. Even the maids coming and going keep their mouths shut and their gazes down, as if silence were a virtue.

If you had something to say at the mansion, you would go into your room and say it. It seems like even though they are family, they have a lot of secrets between them. Other noble families wouldn’t be much different.

Heilas and I waited, calling Giselle.

Squeak, thud.

Giselle opened the door and entered Heila’s study. She looked startled when she saw me. She probably hadn’t expected me to be there.

“Please sit down, Giselle.”

I spoke on behalf of Heilas.

Heilas was lost in thought, looking out the window. He must be planning and plotting an operation, including variables we don’t know about.

Giselle came to me and whispered.

“What’s wrong? Your father’s face looks serious.”

“I have a mission, housework.”

I spoke briefly. Only then did Giselle sit down on her chair with a stern face.

“Because of Nicholas?”

I nodded without answering.

Swish.

Heilas turned his back to the window and looked at us. He looked at Giselle and opened his mouth thoughtfully.

“Giselle, Luca and I are looking for the person who ordered the assassination of Nikolaos. We’re already pretty close.”

“… … Isn’t that Nemesis’ doing?”

Giselle’s words contained a lot of meaning.

‘It is impossible to destroy Nemesis.’

It is a terrorist group that even the empire could not eradicate. Furthermore, because it is a guerrilla organization, it is difficult to eradicate it in a chain.

“We need to show them our power… so they won’t touch the Custoria family again.”

At least we will track down and kill those involved in the assassination of Nikolaos.

‘It’s a matter of family prestige and safety.’

I also know why Heilas is investing so much time and energy into this.

“Wasn’t the perpetrator Rick Silva Nunez? Luca killed him.”

“Rick is a Nemesis executive, but we all know he’s not the type to plan and direct. He’s someone who carries out orders from above.”

That’s right. If Rick were really the boss, he wouldn’t show up on set every time.

Rick is a capable warrior, but he is replaceable to Nemesis. Those who truly cannot afford to lose are surrounded and protected by people like Rick.

“So does that mean I have a role to play?”

Giselle read the mood and got straight to the point.

“We have to bring out Barbara of Nemesis, Giselle. I mean, the girl who went to Kratzia Academy with you.”

Heilas said calmly.

The fact that Barbara is a ‘spy for the Empire’ is a secret to Giselle. Giselle only knows that Barbara is a psycho terrorist.

“Barbara… … .”

Giselle flinched. Her hands, which had been shaking slightly, began to shake noticeably. I grabbed her shoulder as if to suppress the shaking.

Giselle flinched at the touch of my hand. Her agitation subsided, as if it was having an effect.

‘Giselle is still afraid of Barbara.’

Barbara was a terrible person, a woman with a nature that Giselle found difficult to handle.

“Luka said you could act as a decoy for Barbara. Do you agree with that idea?”

Giselle’s gaze turned to me. I didn’t avoid her eyes. She bit her lower lip lightly.

At first, I thought she would pour out blame or anger on me. But her emotion was… …sadness.

“… … It’s true that that woman was strangely obsessed with me. I don’t know if she’ll show up because of me, but maybe Luca is right. She has better intuition than I do.”

Giselle brought her thumbnail up to her lips and then down. I could sense her anxiety and nervousness in every little action of hers.

But Heilas paid no attention to his daughter’s emotional turmoil. Whatever his inner self, he was a man of steel on the outside.

“We need to contact Barbara, Giselle.”

Heilas looked down at Giselle and said.

There was no need for a detailed explanation. All three of the people gathered here were smart. I feel embarrassed to say that, including myself.

Giselle closed her eyes, seeming to sort out her emotions. Her eyelids slowly opened. The light of intelligence pushed away her anxiety.

“If you tell me your plan, I will prepare it.”

* * *

The plan was simple.

Send Giselle outside Akbaran with a plausible excuse. If Barbara is still interested in Giselle, she will come to contact her somehow. Either in person or by sending a representative.

‘Whoever comes, they will be questioned about the death of Nikolaos.’

Of course, it is not good to give off the impression that Giselle is bait and a trap. But it is even worse to send her out without an escort.

But if you assign me as an escort, it smells strongly of the ‘Custoria family’s’ business. And on top of that… … .

“If I officially assign you as Giselle’s escort and send you out of Akbaran… … there will definitely be an assassination attempt. They’ll target you for killing Rick. Rick was a popular man. You’ll want revenge, too.”

There were many who were after me. If you think about it, I was in a more dangerous situation.

But Giselle can’t be sent out without an official escort. It’s also strange for a military family with a captain of the guard to hire private mercenaries.

It was difficult to find a suitable person to escort Giselle.

“Assign Ilay Kartika to guard Giselle as a cadet mission. I can arrange this at my discretion without any internal discussions. It won’t seem strange.”

“Is that Ilay? By any chance… … .”

There could have been a situation where I had to keep my mouth shut. Not only was Ilay my friend, but I wasn’t sure if I could handle Ilay on my own.

“Luka, doesn’t Ellie owe you a great deal? She’ll keep most secrets. I won’t say anything more with my own mouth.”

Heilas said it casually. I barely managed to suppress the words that were on the tip of my tongue.

‘How much do you know?’

I remembered the past events. Iley and I had done anti-imperial things to save ‘Lillian Ramones’.

Even back then, Heilas had been poking me as if he knew something.

‘Are you trying again?’

I opened my mouth to act calm. I felt like I had to change the subject.

“Then I will keep my distance and follow Giselle and Ilay.”

“No, that won’t do. Immediate response is important. I have prepared another identity for you.”

There was a hint of excitement in Heilas’ voice. My anxiety grew.

… … I felt uneasy.

There have been similar situations in the past.

‘When Heilas sent me to Krachia Academy… … .’

Heilas handed me a piece of paper. The electronic ink glowed softly.

“This poem is bitter.”

As soon as I saw the document, I mobilized every muscle in my face to frown. The curses flew out of my front teeth and swirled around on my tongue.

“Are you serious?”

I barely managed to control my emotions and spoke as politely as I could.

“There’s no joking around when it comes to housework.”

“No, what the hell, what the fuck is this fucking operation… … .”

Ah, I blurted it out. If I had said something like that in front of the captain of the guard three years ago, I would have been summarily executed.

“Hmm, it’s not a fucking operation, it’s a no-fuck operation. This is the most reliable camouflage method, Luca.”

Heilas laughed until the wrinkles on his lips deepened, as if he was pleased with his own joke.

Yes, I have to act like a woman. As Giselle’s maid.

* * *

I want to die.

I stared out the window of the moving air vehicle. A more specific fantasy came to mind.

I want to open the door and jump out. If I hit it head first, there won’t be any pain.

“Hmm, open your eyes a little wider and look this way. Keisa.”

Giselle said with a smile in her voice. Inside the autonomous flying car, there was only Giselle and me.

‘Case.’

That’s my alias. On paper, I was a servant employed by the Custoria family.

“The mission hasn’t even started. If you call me Keisa one more time… … Ugh.”

Before the swearing could even finish, Giselle grabbed my eyelid with a strange tool.

“If you call, what?”

Giselle continued to search through her bag of makeup tools without paying attention. She continued talking, holding the strange tool between her fingers.

“And that name has to be familiar to me so I won’t make mistakes later. Unlike you, I’m not used to these missions. Isn’t it a soldier’s job to prepare thoroughly? Are you the kind of person who increases the chances of mission failure just because you’re in a bad mood? Huh? Casey?”

Giselle spoke fluently. It was so concise that there was no room for argument.

“……okay.”

I said it in a self-deprecating tone.

“You’re quite handsome, but you’re masculine, so you need to work on your appearance to look like a woman.”

Giselle spread the cold liquid on my face. I frowned at the unfamiliar feeling.

Swish.

The liquid that had heated up to my body temperature adhered to my skin as if absorbed into it, hardening into a texture similar to flesh.

“This will replace the fat that is lacking in your face. The sharp lines will become round and thin. Since your face is originally sharp, it works well.”

Giselle’s makeup skills were amazing. I could feel my face changing when I looked in the mirror.

Whoosh.

Giselle moved her brush over my face as if she were painting a picture.

My lips were flushed, my eyes looked much larger, and my forehead, cheeks, and chin were gently curved thanks to some unidentified liquid cosmetic.

“I can’t change my physique, so I prepared some loose-fitting clothes that don’t reveal much. I need to cover my Adam’s apple, so I wore a choker… … .”

Giselle took out the clothes she had prepared and threw them on my lap.

“Skirt? Women wear pants too.”

“Where do those legs look like a woman? Shut up and get dressed. Are you going to keep whining like a little kid? Lucas Custoria?”

Hmm, I had nothing else to say.

Giselle didn’t just prepare one set of clothes. She took each of the clothes she had prepared and held them up to my body, checking them out.

It seemed to me that anything would work.

“Giselle, it’s good to have fun, but this is a mission.”

I was starting to get bored so I started complaining.

“I know very well. Brother Lucas planned to throw me out as bait.”

The sharp words stabbed me.

“There was no other way. And I owe Nikolaos something. I think it’s my duty to find the person who ordered it and pay him back.”

“Yes, throwing me as bait is the most effective way. That’s really great, you’re a soldier who has received many medals. Should I give you a round of applause?”

I grabbed her wrist as she tried to clap her hands.

“It’s dangerous for me too. If we’re in danger, I’ll die for you. Don’t worry. I’ll never leave you to suffer alone.”

I said it strongly.

I’m like that too, but Giselle’s tantrums weren’t very mature either. She’s smart, so she knows she’s being childish.

Giselle sighed and let out a relieved voice.

“… … You won’t die in my place, Luca. Oh, this is how you should wear it. Don’t forget to attach the jammers to your arms and legs.”

Giselle placed her clothes next to me and moved to the front seat.