Chapter 16: The Thorn of the Black Rose
As a member of the Bloodwine Society who hadn’t even joined for half a year, Paul, who fancied himself a master of deception, felt particularly lucky today.
Because he had accidentally discovered a girl who was alone.
“Hey, Paul, listen to me... that girl clearly isn’t ordinary. She’s nothing like those who come from poor families. What if she’s the daughter of some count or duke? What then?”
But the fat man Andy just had to lean in at that moment, elbowing his waist to say some buzz-killing nonsense.
“Oh, my God! You really are a stupid coward. Sometimes I really want to put on Mr. Weipson’s stinking, tattered boots and kick your cheese-stuffed gut hard!” Paul gave Andy a hard slap on the back of his head, then leaned in to whisper, “Boss told us to grab healthy girls. The ones from poor families all have sallow skin and emaciated bodies—strip off their tops and they’re nothing but skeletons. How could they compare to this tender, shiny-skinned, top-grade goods? Besides, what count or duke would be in Graycloud Fortress? Even the Church doesn’t dare stir up trouble here!”
At that, Paul couldn’t help glancing sidelong ahead.
The silver-haired girl standing there was poised and elegant, her features exquisitely delicate and unreal. Her ornate dress and accessories made her look like an expensive doll displayed behind a shop window, every visible item on her body obviously of the highest value at a single glance.
Andy’s concern wasn’t entirely unreasonable, and Paul certainly believed the girl was most likely the treasured daughter of some count or duke. After all, the aura of refinement unique to a noble girl wasn’t something a poor family’s child could easily imitate or perform.
“Remember to speak less later, don’t give yourself away.” Putting the thought aside, Paul gave Andy a final reminder and then strode toward his chosen target.
Just as he crossed the street, before Paul could speak, the noble girl lifted her skirt and curtsied first.
The crisp sound of heels tapping against the brick road was like a cold spring trickling through his heart, making even the tense and strained Paul unconsciously relax.
Only when he got truly close did Paul begin to tremble with astonishment at the girl’s dazzling beauty. Facing such a respectfully posed, coldly divine statue-like presence, the son of an old cobbler who had never seen the world even forgot to breathe.
It was Andy again who elbowed him back to his senses. “Don’t daze out, Paul.”
Paul looked around—the damp street held no other “gentlemen” besides the two of them. That beautiful and graceful noble girl was undoubtedly curtsying to them.
What an honor...
Wait!
Paul almost got caught up in it himself.
Clearly, he was supposed to be the one leading this conversation, charming the naive, sheltered young lady into entering an unseen alley alone, then drugging and bagging her to hand over to the boss!
“Ahem, beautiful miss, are you lost from your parents?” Paul cleared his throat and began searching his rather impolite vocabulary for something remotely courteous.
The girl didn’t speak. She stood straight again and stared at Paul in confusion.
“Uh, I and... th-this gentleman here, we can help you find your family...”
The girl remained silent. Under her gaze, Paul began to panic, the seasoned scammer now stammering in front of a girl who looked no older than twelve.
But still, the girl didn’t respond. She tilted her head slightly, her long silver hair falling gently, still staring at the confused, sweating Paul as if puzzled.
That look was like she was staring at an idiot.
Just then, Andy suddenly spoke up, pulling a handful of fruit candies wrapped in colored cellophane from his pocket.
“I’ve got some candy—”
“I’ll go with you.”
?
It was so abrupt that Paul didn’t even register what had happened at first.
So the self-proclaimed master of deception just stood there, watching the cold, beautiful statue unwrap the candy with practiced ease, popping the colorful sweets into her soft little mouth, and obediently follow Andy’s lead, walking slowly away from him.
But no matter how absurd the process, the result was what mattered—she had been successfully lured. That was what counted.
He and Andy brought the noble girl into the most remote and hidden alley in the area, where two more Bloodwine Society members were lying in wait—in case something went wrong and the girl tried to escape.
Paul had relied on his scams many times before. Once they entered the dim alley, the girls never came out again.
He didn’t know what the boss wanted with these not-yet-developed little girls, but this job paid by the head, and the clink of gold and silver coins in his purse was a melody too beautiful to resist.
But this time, he hadn’t done anything. Andy had lured in a girl more valuable than diamonds with nothing but a handful of cheap candy.
Paul was dazed.
Until the crisp echo of high white heels striking stone suddenly stopped.
And echoed back.
Seeing the girl pause and slowly begin to close her parasol, Paul suddenly sensed something was off.
Andy had only offered candy, hadn’t even made any promises or demands, yet the girl had followed them into the alley without hesitation.
It was as if the girl herself had wanted to come into the alley...
From the shadows stepped the other two men, both tall and bearded. One held a cloth soaked in tranquilizer, the other carried a burlap sack and thick rope. With sinister smiles, they slowly surrounded the girl, who now looked so small and helpless by comparison.
Just as they were about to pounce—Paul saw the parasol handle in her hand begin to slide apart from the ribs. A gleam of cold light flickered through his vision, like a blade unsheathing.
A pale blue sunhat flew high into the air.
Silver strands fluttered gently. The arc of a blade traced a circular path midair, pouring out thick killing intent with pinpoint precision.
The two men’s throats burst into a spray of red mist.
Like blooming blood azaleas.
As if dancing effortlessly, her skirt flared like a butterfly with every step. The taut calves beneath moved with grace, and the girl spun a perfect circle. The slender ribs of the parasol shattered silently in her dance, becoming their scabbard.
The corpses were still warm.
Blood pooled outward.
Her white ceremonial dress was unstained—untouched by even a single drop of red.
Andy was terrified senseless. He stumbled back a few steps, turned to flee, only to feel a cold piece of metal pressed against the back of his neck.
The trigger clicked; hammer and cylinder clacked.
The flash lit the alley.
In a single instant—Another blood azalea bloomed.
Like a specter, that cold and slender figure flickered and blurred, like silver lightning too fast for the eye to follow, vanishing and reappearing in impossible movements.
Paul looked up, trembling.
At last, he locked eyes with the grim reaper bearing transparent horns. Her pale purple eyes glistened like crystal glass, yet her gaze was eerie and cold without a trace of light. A silver stiletto with a butterfly-shaped guard drove straight for his throat.
Pain.
No air.
His mind began to dim.
In his fading, darkening vision, he saw the girl lift her skirt to curtsy, as if before an invisible audience in some unknown place, marking the end of a splendid performance, a flawless dance.
A silver bell chimed.
Only then did the pale blue sunhat begin to descend from the air, as if casually taken from a coat rack. The girl reached out and caught it.
“Just scum who trick girls.”
She turned and placed it on her head once more.
Covering the horns.
Lightly licking her fingertips.
“But the candy wasn’t bad.”