True Nature

The Modiste Information Guild’s secret hideout in the capital fell into a deep silence thanks to an unannounced guest. Originally, two people had come, but the talkative guest had briefly left.

“After looking into it, it’s quite the unique organization. An organization granted freedom by the Reverend Mother-nim… The Guild Master has skills similar to Confession-nim. What reason could there be for such special treatment?”

Estelle swallowed hard. She had never met the man before, but he possessed Confession-nim’s seal. She didn’t know why the new Confession No. 3 had appeared in the capital, but the oppressive feeling from the man’s gray eyes awakened Estelle’s instinctive aversion. However, Estelle skillfully smiled and replied in a calm voice.

“I can’t carelessly speak about the promise with the Reverend Mother-nim.”

“…Is that so? You don’t seem to have much loyalty to the Order.”

It was a passing remark, but the blade within was threatening enough. Estelle stared straight into Mesmer’s eyes and replied in a firm voice.

“We Modistes are all affiliated with the Order and pledge absolute loyalty to the Reverend Mother-nim.”

As if hearing a boring answer, Mesmer rested his chin on his hand and spoke with a yawn.

“Well, I don’t care.”

Staring at Mesmer’s sullen face, Estelle asked.

“…What is your purpose in coming to the capital? I will help as much as possible.”

“I think I’ll be more of a hindrance than a help?”

Mesmer twisted his lips and glared around. The Modiste members wearing masks lowered their heads at his gaze.

“I can feel the emotions you guys are feeling. Embarrassment, anxiety, fear, things like that. No one welcomes my visit.”

Mesmer slowly turned his head and looked at Estelle.

“And you feel hostility towards me. Towards me, the Reverend Mother-nim’s direct subordinate… Why is that?”

Estelle remained calm and wore an indifferent expression.

“Perhaps it’s jealousy for not becoming a Confession-nim. To be honest, when a vacancy opened up, I naturally thought there would be a spot for me. My subordinates thought so too. I’m sorry for showing you such a lacking appearance because of that.”

Mesmer gave a strange smile and spoke with a sympathetic expression.

“Looking at your skills alone, you could have become a Confession-nim. Jamie, who became a new Confession-nim with me, is less than half as skilled as you. It’s understandable that you’d be disappointed.”

As Mesmer briefly raised his head while saying that, Estelle quickly signaled Amber. And she pretended to be nonchalant, but Mesmer was already looking down at Estelle.

“How skilled do you think Roel is, having met him in person? Could you kill him?”

After thinking for a moment, Estelle spoke honestly.

“I can’t be certain. It would be even more difficult if he’s in the Academy.”

“So you’re saying it’s definitely possible outside the Academy?”

Estelle and Mesmer stared at each other without a word. Feeling the gaze observing her reaction, Estelle said in a stiff voice.

“If it’s an order, I will follow it.”

Mesmer, who had been staring at Estelle, said.

“Thanks to the information you sent, I was able to come up with a good plan. Jamie will kidnap Ross, Roel’s younger brother, and lure him out of the Academy.”

Amber’s shoulders twitched for a moment as she listened quietly. Ross was the benefactor who helped her find her lost younger sibling. She wanted to warn him of the danger right away, but she couldn’t move rashly.

“That’s fortunate. I’m glad our information was helpful.”

Saying that, Estelle tapped the end of her mask. It was Modiste’s secret signal to stay still and wait.

Mesmer was reading Estelle’s reaction right now. It was an attempt to see what kind of reaction she would show after hearing his words. Noticing that, Estelle had already suppressed her emotions and physical reactions.

This is a battle of wits to gauge each other’s reactions. To find out the other person’s true purpose, it was necessary to take risks. Estelle took out a document from the drawer of her desk and handed it to Mesmer.

“This is the additional information we were going to send this time. Would you like to take a look?”

She asked about his intentions, but Estelle’s hand was already untying the leather strap that bound the documents on the table and placing the paper on top. Estelle, who had confirmed what the paper was that Mesmer’s gaze lingered on for a very brief moment, immediately raised her hand and slightly removed her black cat mask.

“I’m sorry. It was a little stuffy.”

“Hmm, you were hiding a lovely face behind the mask?”

While Mesmer’s gaze was briefly distracted by the face behind the mask, Estelle signaled Amber without him noticing. She had to somehow let Ross know.

The place where Mesmer’s gaze lingered was Ross’s lover. It was the paper with Luna Grace’s information written on it.

***

“Huff, huff….”

Breathing heavily, Luna wandered endlessly through the mansion. She returned to the end of the hallway, but the mansion door would not open no matter what Luna did. Luna desperately ran to survive, but she knew she was being hunted.

Jamie, who suddenly appeared from somewhere, had left wounds on Luna’s body several times. He could have aimed for vital spots, but Jamie’s dagger only targeted areas that would allow her to escape even if she was injured, such as her forearms or thighs.

Having lost a lot of blood, Luna’s vision was unfocused and shaky. She felt dizzy and as if she would collapse forward and faint if she relaxed her body like this. Looking down at the ring that had already turned red, Luna bit her lip tightly and regained her senses.

She couldn’t die here. It hadn’t been long since she had promised to be happy with Ross.

,I haven’t even been of proper help to Ross yet.’

Behind Luna, who was leaning against the wall and walking with difficulty, Jamie’s maniacal laughter could be heard.

“Hehehe, heeheehee. Who do you think will be here if I follow these bloodstains~~~? This time, I’m going to cut off a pinky finger and keep it in my pocket!”

At that voice, Luna moved her steps with difficulty, shedding tears but not giving up.

,Ross… I’ll definitely go back.’

***

I promised to make Luna delicious food when she came back after the exam. It’s autumn now, so the weather was a bit chilly. I was preparing the ingredients with the thought of filling her up with warm food.

Since Luna was going to eat it, I couldn’t skimp on the ingredients. I cut the best ingredients and the high-quality meat I had bought in advance into large pieces, marinated them in sauce, and even prepared the red wine recommended by the store owner.

While I was wondering what to make for a side dish, thinking that wasn’t enough, the call bell rang. It seemed like a visitor had appeared in the club. For some reason, the bell was ringing urgently, so I roughly wiped my hands, went past the closet, and opened the door to the club room.

It’s a stranger I’ve never seen before. And a senior in their fourth year.

The senior, who was panting as if they had run in a hurry, fumbled and handed me a piece of paper.

“This, this is an urgent message from Modiste.”

Puzzled, I hurriedly checked the paper at those words. There was only one line written, but the content was shocking.

-Luna is in danger. Confession No. 8 is heading to the Academy.

The moment I saw that, I forgot about the person in front of me and ran recklessly. I ran madly down the hallway, went up the stairs, and tried to enter the auditorium on the first basement floor where the exam was in progress. But the supervisor of the exam blocked the door to the auditorium.

“Students from other departments are prohibited from entering during the exam. Please go back.”

“It’s an emergency! I need to check right away!”

“Step back. I said entry is prohibited!”

At the supervisor’s gesture, the security guard blocked the door and pushed me away. Unable to hold back my frustrated emotions, I shouted.

“The student inside might be in danger!!!”

“Professors and security guards are stationed for the safety of the students!”

At the supervisor’s shout, I couldn’t hold back any longer and took out the Spear of Destruction.

“Wh, what are you doing! Put down your weapon right now!”

As the supervisor made a fuss, the security guard drew his sword.

“Shut up and get out of the way!”

Just as I was about to knock them all down and go inside, putting strength into the hand holding the spear, someone blocked my path.

It was Roel who blocked my path. With the security guard who had drawn his weapon in front of him, Roel looked at me over his shoulder and asked.

“Ross, what’s wrong?”

I was relieved at the appearance of the overpowered Roel. If a Confession-nim was really targeting Luna, I could save her with Roel’s help. I explained urgently.

“Hyung, Luna is in danger. The Order is targeting Luna. We have to go inside right now and save Luna.”

At my urgent shout, Roel looked at me for a moment and then asked.

“…The Order is?”

In my haste, I approached Roel and whispered softly.

“Yes, Modiste informed me. A Confession-nim is targeting Luna. So hurry inside-“

Roel cut me off.

“I understand the situation. I’ll take care of it, so you go back to the club.”

“What…?”

I didn’t understand what I had just heard for a moment. Realizing the meaning belatedly, I shouted with frustrated emotions.

“Leave Luna and go back? Are you crazy! Do you think I can do that?”

Roel gestured to the security guard to lower his weapon and turned to grab my shoulder. It was the same touch as usual, but today there was strength in the hand grabbing my shoulder.

Roel looked at me with a cold gaze and said.

“You promised me. That you wouldn’t get involved with the Order anymore. So don’t worry and back off.”

“What are you-“

Before my protest could end, I felt a strong shock that shook my brain. Strength left my whole body and the world tilted.

The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Roel looking down at me with an extremely cold gaze.