Chapter 3 - Leaving A Trace Behind
Chapter 3 – Leaving A Trace Behind
[NOTICE: Sudden POV change.]
Lawrend looked at the bag of gold coins on the bed. He was currently inside his father's room. He just retrieved the gold from inside a compartment in the room.
Lawrend felt giddy when he looked at it. It contained 800 gold coins. Enough to feed 800 families for a few months.
3 minutes have already passed since he left his room. Actually, he wasn't sure. It just felt like 3 minutes had passed for him.
He opened the door and sneaked a peek outside the hallway. He looked left and saw no one, to the right, no one. He sighed in relief. No one knows he entered this room.
He sneaked a furtive glance towards the door to his room. The assassin was still inside. He had double thoughts on actually complying with her.
Lawrend remembered that this mansion still has guards even though his father left with the bulk of them. Lawrend made up his mind and walked out of the room. He went downstairs, and when he was about to open the door to call for the guards outside he realized something.
If the guards were unable to detect her entering his room, how would they protect him? He had no time to think any further. He walked back and grabbed the bag of gold. He wasn't willing to take any risk.
After all, his father brought with him the strong guards. The ones left in his mansion could be considered small fry.
He felt the bag of gold grow heavier the closer he got to his room. It felt like he was carrying a ton when he was directly in front of the door.
Gulp
Lawrend silently consoled himself that it would all be okay. He was the son of the wealthiest merchant in the city. She wouldn't dare to kill him.
Knock Knock
Lawrend opened the door and saw the assassin lying on top of his bed on her side while she looked at him. She was hugging his pillow as she stared at him boredly.
"What took you so long?"
Her cold voice made Lawrend shiver in fear. There was raw killing intent within it.
"I- I had to pee…"
Lawrend quickly thought up an excuse on the spot. The assassin stared straight into his eyes and frowned. Lawrend felt his fear mount when he saw her do that.
"Liars don't live long. Give me the money!"
She rose from the bed and grabbed the bag of gold in Lawrend's hands. Lawrend shivered when he heard her blatant threat.
"Hmmm… how am I sure that there really is 800 gold here?"
The assassin raised the bag of gold up and down and felt its heavy weight. It was something characteristic of gold.
"I- I can swear on it!"
Lawrend immediately replied. His life was basically in her hands right now. If she decides to kill him right now then he wouldn't have the chance to be indignant when he is dead.
"Thank you."
With a beautiful smile on her mouth, the assassin pulled the dagger on her waist and stabbed Lawrend's heart. Lawrend had no chance to react but only stared widely.
"That is what's gonna happen if you lie to me again."
The dagger's tip stopped just as it was about to penetrate Lawrend's skin. Lawrend was frozen in fear when he felt the dagger's tip poking on his skin.
"Th-thank you!"
Lawrend blurted out instinctively. The feeling of being between life and death was too much for him to handle.
A rare smile appeared on the assassin's mouth. She found the way Lawrend was acting kind of cute and funny.
"You saw no one tonight."
After saying so, the assassin turned around while holding the bag of gold. Her trip tonight has been very fruitful.
She didn't kill Lawrend as he had already given her the gold.
"Y-yes!"
Lawrend watched as she disappeared as quickly as she appeared. Relief overwhelmed him, and he crashed down to his bed.
He took a deep breath of his pillow to confirm that he was still alive and caught the scent of the assassin from earlier. She smelled like flowers. For an assassin, it was something he would have never thought of.
He fell asleep quickly as he was already tired and coupled with the stress of having his life in the hands of an assassin. He was glad that he thought quickly and offered her money.
Lawrend realized that money is something that can solve death. In his sleep, he dreamed about riding inside an iron bird. He looked down and saw skyscrapers that reached the clouds. The lights from the commercial and residential buildings in the city lit up as night approached.
He heard a man's voice, and then his dream was cut off. By the time Lawrend opened his eyes, it was already morning. The chatter from the busy street outside can be faintly heard if he paid careful attention.
"A dream? Again?"
Lawrend looked blankly outside. It has been years since he last had a dream. He looked at the windowsill, and the image of the assassin last night appeared in his mind.
"Wait! That was real…"
Lawrend realized that it was not just one of his dreams. It was something that actually happened in reality.
"Father will kill me if he finds out!"
Lawrend sat up from the bed. But suddenly, he felt something in his hand. It was cold and hard.
He picked it up and looked at it with his right hand. It was a silver locket.
Lawrend's jaw dropped. This was something from the assassin last night!
He quickly opened it and saw a portrait of a black-haired little girl smiling.
"Is this her little sister or something?"
Lawrend guessed.
"I will track you!"
Lawrend grinned when he realized that he now had a clue on his assassin. The 800 gold was gonna return to him.
Lawrend quickly prepared himself and left the mansion together with an old butler.
Meanwhile, in the slum district. A black-haired woman woke up from the hard stone floor. Her face was flawlessly smooth, and her skin was white. She had that perfect nose, symmetrical eyebrows, and plump lips. She was one of those rare beauties that you would only see in a hundred million people.
"Good morning, Ella."
She turned to her left and greeted a small little girl that looked just like a mini version of her.