Purple Sunset

There were a lot of things Roland wanted to do and things he wanted to start, especially since he had the agreement from both Barov and Carter. But, looking at the massive gathering of dark clouds swimming in the sky, it was clear that it seemed going to delay his plans.

Without him realising, the winter's first rainfall was about to arrive.

Roland turned away his gaze to the empty office, his brows wrinkled. For some reason, he thought he was missing something. The fact he couldn't quite put it made him restless and he started to ponder about the possibilities he forgot.

But before he could reach any conclusion, a knocking sound entered his ears and interrupting his train of thoughts. He gave a short reply, which the door then opened gently. What entered was a young maid with her head slightly bowed down.

She was a very beautiful young lady, her long blonde hair had been made into bun style was very fitting with an image of the traditional maid he had. With a body that looked like a top model, even with the deceptive maid dress in the way, her presence was where it was hard to pull one's gaze away from her every action. She was the head maid that had been biasedly selected by the previous Roland due to his interest to her, and at the same time a ruthless pawn planted by his sister Gracia.

Tyre was someone Roland didn't know how to deal with.

Having a spy cum assassin living next to his room that was made to personally attend him gave his nerves pressure more than it needed for the first couple of weeks. He spent the days in vigilance before finally relieved that she was someone really only acted upon order, or under desperation like what he had known about her.

"Your Highness, your dinner is ready." Tyre gave a pleasant bow.

A flash of realisation swept Roland's eyes. Seeing Tyre, while he still couldn't pinpoint what he felt amiss, some things were recalled and became clear.

For example, the fate of this maid in front of her. The arrival of winter's first rain indicated it was getting closer.

If he didn't know what to do with her, part of it was because of this fact.

She was a spy that casually delivered lethal poison, this was something that he had little doubt. After all, he became Roland Wimbledon. Even so, he still had some sympathy for her. After all, if it was not deliberate misleading information that he knew, Tyre was also forced to act that way.

Her unnamed sister was most likely being held hostage, and whether her sister realised it herself was of no concern since Tyre believed it. Gracia Wimbledon had made the young her underwent professional training all in the hope that someday, she might see and live with her elder sister again by dirtying her hands.

Just as Tyre was about to turn and went her way, Roland called out and stopped her.

"Tyre, close the door and sit on that chair." Roland pointed at no particular chairs some distance away from him the people in the meeting previously dragged over to sit. It had yet to be taken care of.

Roland sighed softly, what he was about to do was very reckless, something Carter just reminded him three times in succession to not do.

"Um?" Tyre didn't hide her confusion. Though he often groped her butt, this kind of order had never happened.

Roland looked at her, wondering whether her bashful look was real or an act. She was not that old, so it might be really her real emotion. But he didn't know what kind of training a professional assassin had gone through, so he didn't dwell in it.

Instead, he coughed lightly and pondered for a bit what to speak. Tyre caught the hint and merely blinked her eyes waiting for him to speak.

Tyre was at a loss when Roland suddenly asked a private time for both of them. But she restrained her shock and turned alert without changing her expression of that initial surprise.

Roland Wimbledon most likely wanted to ask for some indecent requests, was something she was certain only until recently. He had changed, how could she who was supposed to be his personal attendant didn't noticed it faster than everyone else?

She didn't know whether his previous petty actions were all act, but whatever it was for, he was now someone people can't be underestimated. From bits of information she gathered from the assistants and knights, he had made quite significant changes to Border Town.

The cement that could quickly help to make the wall and the boldness to exchange with Willow Town instead of Longsong Stronghold were just the start if the talk about more projects underwent were the truth. Any of it was big, and it was more so from the unlikely lazy and silly prince.

Not to mention, the girl Anna that the prince brought back and quickly entered his life. Everyone might not think too much about it, the young girl was pretty and everyone knew the prince liked pretty young girls like Tyre herself who he chased all the way back then, but she had to know more than that as a spy.

Her identity appeared quite mysterious, but she soon found out that the prince didn't really bother to hide her information. He called casually of her name, and the girl responded naturally to it. Anna was her true name, and considering the day she came, Tyre was shocked at her own theory.

The prince sheltered a witch!

She went out of the castle several times, gathering information to support her guess. No matter how she looked at it, her suspicious was not without reason.

In fact, she was quite certain even though she never saw Anna used her witch ability. The prince purposedly made a cottage in the castle backyard and not just a few times have seen together over there. He just wanted to have a private time? He could always do that in his own room or one of the many empty rooms in the castle.

The significant of the fourth prince sheltering a witch was not as simple as being a hot gossip material. If used correctly, the already worse reputation he had in the town could be plunged even deeper and revolt might happen. Perhaps not with the food cargos he had bought for the people, but it was enough reason to make the Duke bring his troops to assault him frontally.

But she didn't act recklessly. Though it was doubtful whether the prince that finally showed a glimpse of his fangs could threaten Gracia Wimbledon, she stayed put waiting for an order to come while observing him attentively.

Till this confrontation.

Peering into his eyes that showed complex emotions, she got a very bad feeling.

"Tyre," The prince spoke, the sound behind that was calm without ripples. "I want you to work for me."

She jolted out of her chair.

Roland was feeling very jumpy too, but he held back doing anything as he found out she didn't seem to do any follow up after the surprising movement.

"What do you mean Your Highness?" Tyre's voice was pleasant to hear like usual, but hidden underneath her look was a sharp, penetrating gaze.

It was very subtle, Roland didn't feel confident to notice it if he didn't know the person. But he had monitored closely more than just her butt. Like him, she probably realised they were now at an important juncture.

"I can help your sister." Roland made a pretence of being composed and nodded. "You know what I'm talking about."

"How!?" Tyre's expression turned grim, she couldn't even hide the fact she was surprised since it was a very surprising statement.

"Killing me won't change anything since you won't be left alive," Roland tried to suppress his hands and legs that started trembling, he had a small realisation that killing intent was more impactful than he expected. "Nor your sister be left alone after my sister know you are no longer in this world.

The prince received silence. His latter part was just a conjecture, but knowing the character Gracia had, it was not so out there. Roland didn't know what kind of response it was, but so long she didn't commit suicide or trying to attack him, perhaps he should continue.

"You would wonder, what kind of rubbish I was talking about? Saving your sister, when she stays deep in the port of clearwater and here I am, still buried with problems from my side? More importantly, why all the troubles?" Roland didn't wait for her to answer or ask, he answered his own questions firmly. "I'm not talking nonsense, I know how, and I have received your graces for months now."

"Graces?" Tyre looked at Roland's with doubt. She didn't think being a head maid was anything praiseworthy or could it be he was talking about gropping her butt?

Roland didn't wait for her, he continued. "Before long, Timothy will cause a ruckus in the King's City that will draw the attention of both Gerald and Gracia. They would both went away with the majority of their forces from their bases respectively."

Roland tapped the table softly with his clenched fist and observed the once again shocked Tyre. "At that time, we have a very high chance to save her."

(If her sister really still alive that is.)

After that, Roland shut his mouth. Tyre was still looking at him, but her surprised face was gradually replaced with confusion and hesitation.

A strange silence descended to the room.

"My sister..." Tyre began to speak, her voice was low and quivering. "Can you really save her?"

"I will do my best to make it possible, that, I can wholeheartedly promise you." Roland gave her a strong affirmation, and his expression turned gentle with a hint of worry. "But, please, spew out the poison on your teeth."

Tyre left with a deep bow. It was like nothing had changed, she was still the castle head maid and his personal attendant who bowed respectfully after a duty.

He kept his pretence till the door was fully shut. As he laid weakly on his chair and uttered a sigh, he suddenly heard the sound of applause behind him.

The sunset sky was filled with dark clouds, painting the scene with an enigmatic combination of both light and deep violet colours. It served the uninvited guest from the window with a bewitching background and shade that seemingly came out of this world.

Robed and hooded, seeing that Roland's heart skipped a beat.