Thief Marigold

12.

The Imperial Capital was truly a city of discord, but there were times when the notes aligned.

When a topic caught fire, starting with the trend-sensitive nobles and spreading to the commoners, like the play “Empire of Flowers.”

Thanks to that, Lancel Dante was bothered wherever he went for a while.

“Sir Lancel, about what I mentioned before. How are the VIP seats coming along?”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Sir Lancel! What do you want? Just tell me!”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Ugh, really!”

It was common for high-ranking Misses to subtly poke and prod him for VIP tickets.

“Sir Lancel, that woman playing Lisanne… I want to have her for just one night…”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“R-Ridiculous! How dare you call my pure love and romance ridiculous!”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Nonsense!”

He was almost fed up with turning away lecherous, good-for-nothing nobles who wanted private meetings with the actress.

“How much do you want! Just name it!”

“I won’t do it.”

“Would you do it for twenty Gold coins?”

“I won’t do it.”

“Thirty!”

The entreaties of nobles who wanted the “Empire of Flowers” performed at their parties were starting to grate on his ears.

Baron Ibil Shen seemed a little puzzled by his firm stance.

“Lancel, they’re offering so much money, wouldn’t it be worth doing just once? They probably just want to attract more guests to their parties.”

“You misunderstand. Why do you think I keep the theater troupe actors tied to the theater and manage them? It’s all about mystique.”

“Mystique?”

‘Once you’re successful, you have to manage the brand.’

If he gave in even once, it would become a huge hassle in the future.

There weren’t many nobles in the Imperial Capital who were generous enough not to get upset and say, ‘Why do you do it for him but not for me?’

Moreover, what Lancel wanted wasn’t money, but to make Marigold a prima donna of the theater and leave her mark on the history of art.

But…

“Robbed again?”

Lancel, who was in a cafe in the Imperial Capital, perked up his ears.

“Brutal, so brutal.”

“What on earth are the incompetent Imperial Knights doing? All they do is swagger around, showing off their swordsmanship.”

“Shh. Be careful. Have you forgotten who the Sixth Prince Karin took as the head of the arrest squad? Your Highness Sixth Prince Karin.”

That’s it.

Another trend these days.

A new name subtly rising amidst the sensation caused by the play “Empire of Flowers.”

“The Phantom Thief Honey Candy.”

“Even hearing the name again is ridiculous.”

“The fact that they can’t catch them is even more pathetic.”

“Shh! I told you to lower your voice.”

What a terrible name.

But it wasn’t like they chose it themselves.

The target was being chased by a Prince’s arrest squad, so wouldn’t giving them such a shameful name be self-defeating?

The name Phantom Thief Honey Candy was a name that came about naturally.

The reason was simple.

“I heard they always leave a honey candy behind at the places they rob. And it’s always one that’s been partially eaten.”

“Why would they do that?”

“The higher-ups speculate… that they started eating it when they started the theft, to show off the time it took them to steal the item.”

“What?!”

“If the candy is almost intact? That means they stole it very easily and quickly. Before the candy even melted!”

“I’m going crazy!”

It was enough to drive you crazy.

Really.

“What are you eating?”

“Iheryo.”

Marigold opened her mouth to show the contents. A half-melted honey candy was visible.

It seemed her earnings were quite good these days, as she repeatedly ordered Hesti to procure honey candies in exchange for money.

-Hesti, you must give me honey candies at once!

Hesti seemed happy with the extra income…

“If you keep eating those, your teeth will rot.”

“I’ve already decided to only eat two a day.”

Phantom Thief Honey Candy.

‘It’s gotta be this kid.’

Lancel lay on the floor of the practice room, intently watching Marigold roll the honey candy around.

13.

Late at night, Marigold took out a letter from her bosom.

—————————

-To my beloved Noé. I regret to inform you that this is my last letter.

Due to an unfortunate accident, my father is no longer able to work, so I have no choice but to do whatever it takes for my younger sibling and parents. This must be fate bestowed by God.

Therefore, this is my last farewell to you, Noé. I pray that the day will come when I can meet you again…

-Yours, Anna Plan.

—————————

“It could just mean she’s going to work. Miss.”

Marigold shook her head at Pina’s words.

“The person who severed this kid’s father’s leg ligaments was a Count Dank, a strange person who picks fights with anyone he can grab. He picked a fight with this kid’s father while he was walking down the street drunk?”

“Wow. That’s the average personality of an Imperial Capital noble.”

“Because of that, he can’t do his delivery job anymore, and his family of six is immediately struggling to make ends meet… My fan is now considering whether or not to go into the red-light district! I can never forgive this!”

“Did the mice tell you this information too?”

“Yeah.”

Marigold’s eyes blazed as she looked at the letter.

“Lancel, I’m going to be a righteous thief. It’s not because I can’t stop stealing. Absolutely… absolutely…”

Marigold’s face, puffing out her cheeks, seemed a little excited.

A feeling akin to joy spread across her flushed face.

“Ehehehehe…”

“It’s getting worse, Miss.”

The Fairy Pina sighed as she watched her.

“It’s okay! This is righteous thievery, so it’s okay! Lancel said that God allows this kind of thievery!”

“…So what are you going to steal this time?”

“Count Dank’s prized sword and a jar of Gold coins.”

“Hee.”

Marigold said that and pried off a wooden plank from the floor.

There was a box hidden underneath.

When she opened the lid, she saw a pure white outfit, hat, and mask stored inside.

“Hehe.”

From gloves to hat to shoes, all pure white. An outfit with an obvious design that stood out clearly even in the dark night sky.

It was an outfit that didn’t seem to have any intention of being stealthy.

Marigold, wearing the mask, popped a honey candy into her mouth.

“Shall we go, Pina?”

“How can I stop you, Miss?”

==========

※Faith, Charm, Sex Appeal UP!!

==========

“May God watch over this thievery.”

14.

“Count Gavin, Viscount Octane, Count Gulas, Duke Puen, moneylender Ansel, Mercenary Captain Mars, smuggler Gend, and the Third Bureau of the Imperial Capital Monopoly? All of these places were robbed in the span of a month?”

Sixth Prince Karin Craig Phrygia grimaced at the continuous reports.

“You stupid bastards! There’s no way this is all the work of one person! Stop talking about the Phantom Thief Honey Candy.”

“…Your Highness, there are already many people who have witnessed the same appearance.”

“Just because they’re the same doesn’t mean they’re the same person, that’s what I’m saying.”

“It’s a little hard to believe that there would be multiple thieves with the same pure white outfit, small build, and that level of physical ability…”

“Shut up, you incompetent bastards!”

“Cough!”

He kicked the Imperial Knight Commander in the shin.

“Because you guys are Imperial Knights in name only and loaf around without any results, I’m being ignored as well, you morons. You’re worse than bedbugs.”

The Sixth Prince’s eyes, on edge, turned vicious.

“My sister will be leading the Imperial Knights and interfering soon. If we lose the credit to her, it’ll be a disgrace like no other. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, Your Highness…”

“…Hurt?”

“Ah, no. Please continue.”

“Ugh!”

The Knight Commander groaned at the kick that came again.

It was then that the Sixth Prince, who had swept back his hair, turned his head.

“So. Who are you? I don’t recognize your face.”

“My name is Lancel Dante.”

“Dante?”

As Lancel answered, the Knight Commander quickly came forward to introduce him.

“He’s the one who joined the arrest squad this time. Don’t you know him? He’s the owner of the Dante Theater…”

“I thought I’d heard the name somewhere, so it was that guy.”

“Please take care of me in the future, Your Highness.”

For reference, Lancel had to give up two VIP seats at the roadside theater just to join the arrest squad.

To his regular customer, Third Princess Claria Arild Phrygia.

‘No way. A regular meeting with Noé is out of the question. No way. Even if it’s Her Highness the Princess, what’s not allowed is not allowed.’

‘Tch, then give me two more VIP seats. Then I’ll write you a recommendation letter. How about it?’

‘Excuse me? We’ve already given one seat each to the royal guests, haven’t we? There are less than fifty seats in total, how can we give three seats to one person?’

‘You’re so frustrating! I need at least two more seats to show off when I go somewhere! Just give them to me without complaining!’

‘Hmm… I don’t give them to just anyone.’

‘Eeeek! Do you know that a Princess’s recommendation letter isn’t given to just anyone!’

‘…I guess…’

He thought it made sense when he heard it, so the deal was made.

He decided to be careful because the memories of when he was the Red Coral Parrot kept making him recognize her as something less than a Princess.

Anyway.

Like that.

Lancel had entered the headquarters of the Imperial Knights. The place where the so-called ‘Phantom Thief Arrest Squad’ led by the Sixth Prince was staying.

Yes.

Arrest squad.

‘Why is it an arrest squad and not an assassination squad?’

‘Well, I want to see what kind of person they are before killing them. Her Highness the First Princess also told us to keep them alive.’

‘Pure curiosity, then.’

‘I’m curious, honestly?’

Although the Phantom Thief Honey Candy was a heinous criminal who not only mercilessly robbed the storehouses of innocent, guiltless, virtuous, devout, and domestic Imperial Capital nobles.

-I ate well! She was also a very nasty criminal who left behind a sign of mockery.

-It’s a waste to execute them right away!

She was even more of a celebrity than that.

They wanted to use her in a more useful place.

“Tsk.”

The Sixth Prince clicked his tongue.

“…Since things aren’t going well, all sorts of riffraff are joining in. Ah, did you hear that? Sorry, sorry. I’m not good at formalities.”

Judging by what had happened over the past few months, the Sixth Prince’s face was full of spite.

‘He must have thought that catching one Phantom Thief was nothing.’

Obvious, obvious.

But the result was always a failure. Failure. Failure. Another failure.

For months, they had been searching only for the Phantom Thief Honey Candy’s sucked and spat-out honey candies.

“That bitch. If I catch her, I’ll just…!”

The Sixth Prince’s patience was slowly running out. Deep down, he thought she had lasted longer than he had.

‘He must have wanted to arrest the famous Phantom Thief among the nobles in a spectacular way and make it a lifelong story. I can see it all, Karin.’

“Anyway, Lancel Dante!”

Lancel came out of his thoughts after thinking that far. The Sixth Prince was beckoning him with a flick of his hand.

“You’re my subordinate now, so come and massage my shoulders. From today, I’ll use you as my masseuse.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Yes, yes. It’s good that you listen well… Aaaaargh!”

“That’s good to hear.”

“You bastard, did you put strength into it on purpose? You son of a bitch!”

“It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.”

It was then.

“Your Highness!”

The door burst open and a scout came in.

“What is it?”

“They’ve come!”

“What has?”

“The Phantom Thief!”

The Sixth Prince jumped to his feet.

“We’re deploying immediately!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Lancel also hurriedly followed behind him.

Although it was for a completely different purpose than the Imperial Knights.

‘Let’s see your skills. Phantom Thief Marigold.’