The Assassin and The Blind Saint

Arc 3 Chapter 2: Looking back on it

The festival was over, we were lucky that nothing big happened. The streets of the city were still full of trash due to yesterday's celebration. Today I was walking towards City Square where I and Chairman Serena had promised to meet.

I was ordered to accompany the Chairman in the meeting to be held at the Archduke residence. There will be many Nobles present there. And I heard, some Patrol Guard will also be assigned to guard the welcome night party later.

After arriving at the town square, I then saw the Chairman sitting on one of the Fountain dividers. I walked closer to him too.

"Oh, you've arrived. Let's hurry to the Archduke residence." The leader stood up and started walking.

We walked towards the Archduke residence which was 300 meters away from the Square. The Archduke residence is called Wienburg Palace. A large Palace specially made as the residence of the Crown Prince of the Habsburg Empire.

After arriving at the main gate of the residence, the guards then opened the gate.

A large palace was then seen.I guess the height of the walls reached 20 meters. The gate we just entered is the outer gate. We still have to walk to reach the inner gate.

In the outer area, there is a garden that adorns the castle. The Archduke's residential area is vast and I think it can accommodate up to ten thousand people inside.

We started walking through the garden area to get to the inner gate. Seen the servants and other nobles who were passing by in this area.

I then glanced towards the Chairman. He was silent and only spoke when we met. Looking at his facial expression, I think he's upset.

What the hell's going on?

"Chairman, you look like you're in a bad mood. Is there anything that is bothering the current Chairman's mind?" my many.

He then looked me in the eye sharply. Her expression was so cold that I wondered what could make her like this.

"My father will come here" he answered briefly.

Father of the Chairman Serena—Duke Franz von Ritterburg—Chancellor of the Habsburg Empire. The most influential person in the Empire besides Emperor Marx. Rumor has it, the current success of the Habsburg Empire cannot be separated from the iron fist of his government as a Chancellor.

"He will definitely talk about the engagement again, " said the Chairman in a high tone.

Well... This is none of my business. I mean, Chief Serena is the heir to Duchy Ritterburg. This is not the time I suddenly enter into the affairs of high nobles like the family of Chairman Serena.

After walking for a while, we had then reached the inner gate. This time, the guard did not open the gate immediately. Serena then shows a ring that became a symbol of the Ritterburg Family.

"Miss Serena von Ritterburg entered the Palace Area!" The guard announced it to his partner who was on top of the wall. Not long after, the inner gate opened.

It shows a beautiful front courtyard of the Palace.

"Come on, Sirius."

We both entered the palace area. There are more nobles who are enjoying the atmosphere outside the Palace. Unlike the Nobles in the Outer Gate Area, the Nobles who were here were great Nobles from various Countries in the Alterna Continent.

Before we entered the Palace, the Chairman warned me not to speak unless he ordered.

We entered the Palace, there were several large halls enough to accommodate thousands of people. If not mistaken, tonight there will be a Saint's welcome and a dance party in this hall.

"Miss Serena, I'll take Miss to your room. Let's follow me." A waiter approached us.

According to the Palace's servants, Wienburg Palace has 200 rooms for guests who come to the Archduke residence.

After a few minutes of walking, we then arrived at the room that had been prepared for the Chairman. The waiter opened the door and saw a large room.

This room has three transparent windows with views of Wien City from a distance.

"Please let Miss Serena rest first. The meeting with His Majesty will last another three hours. Please excuse me first." The waiter bowed to us and left the room.

Serena then sat down, then started to open some documents that were on her desk.

"Sirius, read the case report and give your analysis of the report." The chairman gave me a piece of paperwork.

......Cases of Drug Circulation......

- Month 8 days - 20 years 1123

Starting to circulate a drug that is widely consumed by the lower middle society. The intelligence agency has not investigated the drug because there has been no research on the drug's effects.

8 Months 29th day of 1123

The research results came out. The Department of Health released the results of his research. The drug has the effect of making people hallucinate their past but is not dangerous if consumed properly for the body.

With this report in place, the people from the Intelligence Department are not resuming their surveillance.

9 Months 11th day of 1123

People are taking more and more of these drugs. There are several cases of overdose that make people lose their mind over a long period of time.

9 Months Day 22 of 1123

The circulating drug was officially banned based on the decree of Chancellor Franz von Ritterburg because many victims began to suffer from overdoses due to taking the drug.

The intelligence department seized 70 kg of the drug ready for circulation in the Duchy Bradenburg area. However, there was no clue as to who was the mastermind who produced the forbidden medicine.

The intelligence department only has instructions on lists of names of the drug distributors.

10 Months 8th Day of 1123

The intelligence department arrested a mid-level official in the city of Mainsburg, Florenz Duchy. According to his testimony, the official was given a duty by an unknown noble so that the goods inspectors in the city did not check one of the drug manufacturing sites.

10 Months 9th day of 1123

The Department of Intelligence's field unit carried out a raid on a farm where, according to the arrested official, the drug was manufactured. However, they did not find any evidence or clues after conducting the examination there.

After half an hour of reading and analyzing this report, I reached a conclusion. The person doing this business had extensive connections with the Imperial apparatus.

Then the Ministry of Health, how they ignore the effects of opium from the circulating drugs. Could it be that a Great Noble was behind this case?

"What do you think, Sirius?" Looking at me who had finished reading, Chief Serena asked my opinion.

"I think whoever is the main mastermind in this case, he has quite a strong influence because he can make Imperial officials become the mastermind in doing this business" I explained.

"Is that so? The central government is ordering us Patrol Guards to assist in the surveillance and control of these drugs." The chief then sipped his warm tea. "Prior Trial Security, City Council Assassination, Illicit drug cases. We will be very busy from tomorrow," muttered the Chairman as he stared at the ceiling of the room.

While waiting for the meeting time, I helped the Chairman to plan the security that the Guard Patrol will do on the night of the welcoming party later.

***

On the other side of the Palace, Lena had just finished chatting with the nobles who wanted to meet her.

"Great Saint, are you okay? Do you feel tired from having to meet all those nobles?" ask Arthur who is next to Lena.

Georgy, who used to escort Lena, was meeting with his younger brother Duke Franz to talk about something. Thus, Arthur replaced him to escort Lena in her activities to this day.

"It's okay, Arthur. I'm just not used to socializing the way Nobles do" Lena said with a faint smile.

What is meant by the words of Lena noble language is, the ethics of speaking and all its rules in the spare scope of large people.

Lena for the rest of her life had never received any such direction or lesson. The main reason was because of the blindness he was experiencing.

"Saint the Great, in about 10 minutes, you'll see Duke Walter von Brabant." A servant suddenly approached him.

"Yes... I will prepare myself" said Lena weakly.

Looking at the Saint who looked uninspired, Arthur's heart felt claustrophobic. But whatever the power, he is still not officially a hero and has not had any influence in this world.

***

In the evening, the welcoming party began. I was in the corner of the main hall myself. After meeting with other important officials, the Chairman ordered me to join the other Guard Patrols on guard duty.

The Guard Patrol was asked to help the disembodied palace guards to escort the passing of this welcoming party.

The music hummed melodiously, the nobles present began to chat with each other. They will stay here for a few weeks until the hero Trial is over.

I then saw Chief Serena chatting with a man. Seen from his facial expression, he was very disturbed by the men who approached him earlier.

I think they want to try their luck to get Chairman Serena's heart. Many of them even asked to dance with the Chief. But no one managed to do it.

I hope, something works out of them to get the Chairman to dance. I was curious enough to see it.

"The Holiest, Saint Mary Magdalene enters the Main Hall!" A guard proclaims the coming of the Saint.

I turned my back to look at the main door. This will be my first time seeing Lena in person after we've been apart for a few months.

The open door revealed a beautiful, graceful, and charming female figure. Her skin was snow-white, her facial expression was soft, her platinum hair was decomposed like silk.

The woman then walked in the arms of a handsome man wearing a dashing, robed outfit. The smiles of the two of them made the entire room freeze in astonishment.

"Are they not a good couple? A Saint and a Hero. Two men united against evil in this world." I heard the voice of a man beside me.

The two of them walked side by side among the hundreds of nobles present. Lena with the man joined hands, smiled and became the center of attention in this room. They both look like perfect lovers.

The sight of the handsome and brave Hero walking hand in hand with this enchanting beautiful Saint is like a legendary painting that will be remembered for centuries.

Without realizing it, I began to clench both my hands. My chest felt tight to see Lena's hand clinging tightly to the Hero's hand.

It was the first time I felt something like this.

"Yes... A vile murderer like you will not be able to match the holy Saint. Only a Hero like himself has the right to be by his side."

I then turned towards the man beside me.

The burly and large body, the sharp eyes, the heavy Aura signified this man before me was a very powerful figure.

"Georgy von Ritterburg—The White Knight. What does the strongest Knight in the Empire want from me?" ask him in a cold tone.