A Villainess pulled out the Sword instead of the Hero.

 

As she pondered, a small skewer suddenly caught her eye.

 

Seeing a kid walking around the street selling skewers, she asked.

 “Would you like one?” “Oh, thank you.” 

Morgana said as she handed the kid the money for two.

 “There’s another man behind me with blond hair and blue eyes and a white uniform, can you give him one too?” “Lady, the brown-haired man in front has already paid for three…” 

Kellive held up an index finger as if to silence him.

 

The kid nodded curtly and turned away.

 

Before Morgana could look, he continued casually.

 “Normally, a letter of introduction would say who the head of the household is, like the maid or the butler.” “No, it was the head of the household.” 

Morgana remembers the signature and the author of the letter of introduction clearly.

 

‘Caradoc Equator.’ 

 

The second generation of the same Caradoc name, a loyalist and head of the royal house of Britain’s musketeers.

 

If nothing else, he was the last person to betray Britain.

 

‘He defended Guinevere until Arthur drew the sword.’

 

Kellive rubbed his chin silently as he listened to Morgana’s story.

 

Certainly, he hadn’t heard that the guild had taken over Britain’s house.

 

If anything, when he killed thirty-two of his brothers, the losses were great, and he wouldn’t have much money to spare for any kind of advocacy.

 

That said, I’ve never seen any indication that the Duke of Fay has made a direct acquisition.

 

As the House of the Lake Fairies, it was clear that Raves had been keeping tabs.

 “If I had known this would happen, I should have left one behind.” 

But they were all dead, and there was no one to tell the truth.

 

Kellive needed to decide if the man who had provided the letter of introduction was an ally or an enemy.

 “Who do we leave behind?” 

Morgana glanced at him as he spoke.

 

The mood seemed different now that it had subsided a bit.

 

Then he smiled again, as if to remind her of the time.

 “Do you happen to know which family this letter of introduction belongs to?” “That’s a bit…” 

He’s an Avalonian, no matter what. There was only so much he could do as a favor.

 

Morgana rose from her seat, keeping a respectful distance.

 

Snatching the pack from his hands, she announced triumphantly.

 “Well, my tour is over. I’ve told you everything you need to know, and you’re welcome to explore the rest!” “Lady?” “Farewell, then!” 

With a neatly learned bow, Morgana scurried away before he could catch her.

 

As he watched her disappear down the street, Kellive muttered quietly to himself.

 “I guess I’ll have to get to know her first.”  

The tavern of Raon was noisy with mercenaries again today.

 

Morgana watched the mercenaries drink, picking at the cheese served as an appetizer with a fork.

 

The mercenaries sat in a circle around the table, with Count Equator’s letter of introduction in the center of the room, watching and commenting.

 “It’s signed by the Count, isn’t it?” “Is it?” “Hmph… Is this possible?” 

Raon pressed a hand to his forehead in frustration.

 “No, young lady. Listen, I asked around and found a servant who goes in and out of Count Equator’s house, and we have a letter of introduction.” 

What could Raon possibly be guilty of, if it wasn’t even a forgery, there was no way to tell if it was a lie.

 

Raon snatched the mercenary’s cup from his hand and downed it in one gulp, then rubbed the corner of his mouth with a grunt.

 “But what’s even more insane is that they don’t know if it’s Levira or Evitaine, what kind of nonsense is this?” “Ah, why are you drinking other people’s liquor?” “I’m the boss, don’t complain, I’ll give you more.” 

Amid the bickering mercenaries, a man crossed his arms gravely and stared at the letter of introduction with a tilted head.

 

It was Jayden, the mercenary who had been slapped in his sleep earlier.

 “This is a rumor, so I don’t know for sure.” 

As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone’s attention snapped to him.

 

Jayden frowned slightly at the memory, closing his eyes as he spoke.

 “Why, I once escorted a certain noblewoman.” “Oh, you begged her father to let you be her escort, and he came running to you with a stick accusing you of flirting with her?” “No one woos a bloodsucker like that. I have a conscience, that’s not the point!” 

Jayden’s eyes widened at Raon’s string of answers.

 

He was certainly a moderately decent-looking man.

 

Looked like he did a lot more escorting than killing.

 

Jayden pointed a finger at the Equator’s signature.

 “I hear all sorts of rumors when I’m with the ladies. But lately, I’ve heard that Count Equator has lost the use of one of his arms, and it hurts so bad he can’t even sign his name.” 

The mercenaries booed before he could finish.

 “‘Whoa, cut the crap. Don’t you know who the lord of Equator is?” “The head of the Musketeers said he used to train the children of the royal family. I don’t know.” “If you’re going to start a rumor, at least verify it.” 

Jayden winced at the string of retorts and took a rough swallow of his drink.

 “Ey, I told you I wasn’t sure!” 

His face flushed with embarrassment and alcohol, his hand trembled as he held his glass.

 

Morgana watched, shoveling the last of the cheese into her mouth.

 

Then Arthur, who’d just dumped a new cheese appetizer in front of her, sneered.

 “I’m pretty sure his arm was injured.” 

Raon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

 “Where did you hear that?” 

But Arthur remained tight-lipped as if he had always been.

 

At the first person to agree with him, Jayden stood up and pointed his glass at Arthur, exclaiming.

 “Look, that’s the scar he got from being cut by the King during the Pendragon purges?” 

For a moment, Morgana’s fork stopped.

 

Unaware that Arthur was the illegitimate son of a House Pendragon, he casually recounted the incident.

 “You were the only one who warned us that we’d regret it if we struck a Pendragon. In your anger, you picked up your sword and cut off an arm.” “Wasn’t that better? You’re still using a sword to this day.” “I don’t think he could sign his name…” 

Morgana squinted, studying Arthur’s complexion.

 

He was sipping his drink in familiar silence.

 

Just before, the mercenaries started fighting over the unanswered question.

 

Morgana scrambled to her feet, pulled the money pouch from her arms, and handed it to Raon.

 “Just make sure Lord Caradoc’s arm is indeed intact, then, and I’ll be on my way.” “Ah, well, charge me for this. We got the wrong maid.” “Then keep it and pay me later. Let’s go, Arthur!” 

Morgana stormed out of the tavern.

 

Arthur followed bluntly, not saying a word.

 

He didn’t blame the mercenaries, they were probably just giving information.

 

It was no consolation that Arthur had never been mentioned as the illegitimate son of House Pendragon.

 

I didn’t know if I was supposed to think Lord Caradoc was a great man.

 

The greater question remains.

 

‘What if Lord Caradoc really, truly, one in a million… wrote a real letter of introduction?’

 

From Arthur’s point of view, Caradoc was the only person who ever tried to defend his father and got hurt.

 

I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this.

 

Nodding, Morgana turned sharply as they entered the mansion.

 

Arthur, who had been following closely behind, stopped dead in his tracks.

 “What is it?” “Who, by any chance, is the best at spreading rumors in Britain?” “The merchants, I believe.” “Very well, then I suppose we’ll have to do a bit of walking around the merchant district tomorrow. Don’t stay up all night, and get a good night’s sleep.” 

With that said and done, Morgana strode into the mansion with ease.

 

Pausing for a moment, Arthur stiffened, but quickly followed, asking.

 “How did you know?” “What, that you work overtime at night?” “You knew?” 

Morgana replied, looking down at him as they climbed the lobby stairs to the second floor.

 “I see you every day, I don’t know how anyone doesn’t.” 

It was scary, though sometimes he felt a little lively.

 

Arthur’s eyes narrowed in embarrassment.

 

In a rare show of emotion, Morgana stood up firm.

 “We’re walking really hard tomorrow, so you need to get some sleep.” 

Arthur watched her back as she ran up the stairs two at a time, mesmerized for a moment.

 

Then he let out a small chuckle and lowered his head.

 

His little master was too fierce to be fooled.