KFBRV Pt 2 Ch 47

Odette sat alone on the sofa after sending Lize away. She studied the papers one by one.

The report revealed a treasure trove of information. Raphael bought arsenic regularly. While the detective, Müller, failed to grasp the meaning of these purchases, the truth stood out clearly to her. She knew the events of the game, The Only Savior, better than anyone.

I was right. Raphael killed the Pope in my previous life.

She had suspected him because the timing of the previous Pope's death was perfect. The old man died the moment Raphael became a candidate for the position. While people blamed the Pope's age and chronic illness, arsenic poisoning likely caused those symptoms.

He was already poisoning him slowly.

The Pope refused to name Raphael as his successor. To a man like him, the Pope was merely an obstacle to remove.

Odette checked the address where the poison was sold. It was nearby. A note from Müller caught her eye.

⌈The shop disguises itself as a regular home, but it sells almost every type of poison. It specializes in toxins extracted from insects.⌋

Her interest sharpened.

I will use this to trap Ferdinand.

An efficient plan formed in her mind—a way to strike at both Charlotte and Ferdinand at once.

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A massive man with silver hair stepped off the first-class carriage at Edelweiss Station.

Zion chewed on a cigar so expensive that most people would never even see one in their lifetime. He radiated a terrifying energy, like a guard from the gates of hell. Travelers hurried to move out of his way, fearing his wrath.

He tossed the remains of his cigar into a bin and growled.

[Zion] "That crazy monkey. If he wanted to drown in the river, he should have died alone."

A Transcendent was a weapon against Calamity. They possessed great strength and healing, but they were not immortal. When two S-class Transcendents fought, they could easily kill each other.

Viktor's actions were a murder attempt. He had electrocuted Zion and shoved him into the river. If Zion hadn't dragged the unconscious bodies of Viktor and Johan out of the water while dying himself, they would all be in the afterlife.

He had left the other two on a beach somewhere. They were alive, and that was enough. Zion shared no bond with them that required a proper escort back to the capital.

If he wanted to kill me, he should have done it two years ago.

Odette had finally returned. How could he die now?

If Zion knew the agony of those two years without her, even Satan would hesitate to strike. He couldn't close his eyes if it meant leaving Odette behind.

[Zion] "Find me a high-quality carriage. I want to travel alone."

He handed a gold coin to a boy working at the station exit.

While he could run faster than any train or horse, he insisted on using vehicles ever since hallucinations began to haunt his life. Furthermore, the burns from Johan's power hadn't fully healed.

[Zion] "I will give you five Atasha if you bring a coachman."

The boy's eyes widened at the mention of such a massive sum. He dashed off immediately.

Zion turned his gaze toward the station window. He froze. His vision locked onto a figure standing in front of the station.

A mint-colored satin dress with a bow on the back. Ivory shoes and a matching bag. Even with the mesh veil covering her face, the silhouette was Odette. She was placing something into her handbag—a small bottle containing sloshing liquid.

Am I still seeing hallucinations?

The doubt vanished as the scent of peach blossoms washed over him. It was a fragrance that thrilled him more than anything else in existence. This was no trick of the mind.

Zion strode toward her.

[Boy] "My Lord?"

[Boy] "My Lord, My Lord!"

He ignored the boy and the coachman.

Odette looked frustrated, likely because she couldn't find a carriage. Her veil hid her identity, so the locals didn't recognize her.

She is wearing that veil because she doesn't want to be called Odette.

He stopped a step away from her.

[Zion] "Lina."

It was a name he had used for two years in his dreams. In those dreams, she always used 'Lina' as an alias while running away. He spoke the name without thinking.

Odette turned, and her eyes held a sharp, vivid terror. It was the same expression she wore in his dreams whenever he caught her.

[Odette] "Your Excellency?"

Her low, trembling voice also matched his dreams. For a second, Zion confused his memories with reality.

Odette scanned her surroundings, her eyes shaking. She closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath, and slowly calmed herself.

The coachman and the boy caught up to Zion.

[Coachman] "Marquis Kleist! The carriage is ready right over there. It is a new, luxury model. It will be an honor to serve you......"

The man babbled, but Zion never took his eyes off Odette.

Why......? Why does she react this way?

He felt a desperate need to hold onto her in this moment. But she spoke with a dry, calm tone, as if her earlier distress was a lie.

[Odette] "Good afternoon, Your Excellency."

He realized he had approached her to offer a ride. His instincts told him her moment of agitation was important, but if she wanted to hide it, he wouldn't press her.

[Zion] "You need a carriage. I will take you."

He was finished with making deals. He didn't ask where she was going or what she needed.

He would do what she wanted and avoid what she hated. That was his new, simple rule.

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