Getting up and drinking from her sachet, Ett continued to move forward.


    "Then I''ll follow you…"


    It''s not like she can do anything about it.


    Soon, they arrived at the second boss''s den. There were moans to be heard and different voices of women whimpering and groaning. This is an automatic Rated 18+.


    "Stay there."


    Ett stopped him from moving closer to her, but the boy shook his head, smiling like a cute, innocent bunny, "This is normal."


    "…"


    This is live pvrno, dude. No, child.


    "Right, I forgot."


    This world is full of depravity behind the female and male lead''s love development. Stories of mobs and side characters that would neither be written nor read by the audience are behind the closet.


    Taking off her shoes, the cold wind immediately felt like ice wrapping around her feet. The soles of her feet, whenever she stepped, made her frown. There was some shattered glass, but it''s alright. Most dangerous pointed things were avoided.


    The boy behind Ett was so anxious seeing how the girl, revealing her flawless porcelain skin, took a step on the ground. He felt he was being stepped upon, and it pains him to see her state; he already knew this person must be noble yet reckless. Look at those snow feet; if possible, he wanted to be the one to be stepped on. Such a taint!


    This place is too dirty for the soles of her feet.


    What is she desperate for and stoops so low to remove her shoes just to make sure not to make a sound? Look! It even has some blemishes. Of course, she avoided those sharp shards, but some left marks on her lovely feet. How does she not care? Don''t nobles care?


    "Hey…"


    The boy called out once again, but Ett ignored him. She seems to hate him; why? What did he say to make her look at him discontent? He was good at reading people, and even though the person in front of him always had a placid face, a slight expression passed her eyes.


    "Ahm…"


    "Boss~"


    The boy had already grown numb to this occurrence, which happens every day. Still, the voices of the females made him saddened. They were just like him, a slave ready to be thrown out and sold. Shaking his head, he saw the girl look around as if a way to enter the place sneakily.


    "Here."


    He whispered, pointing to a dog''s hole, then soon stiffened. Noble, she''s a noble.


    ''I''ll do it for you.''


    The boy gestured, but Ett shook her head. Gritting her teeth, she kneeled down then crawled inside the dog’s hole.


    Cold.


    Ugh, what''s this disgusting thing that splattered on my palm. Urk. Hold on, you must hold on. She didn''t expect it to be this hard and long to go after what she was searching for.


    Seeing she was obliging, the boy sighed in relief but still full of worry.


    ''I''ll go.''


    He signalled and whispered, "What do I need to do?"


    Ett shook her head, even breathing is difficult. "I''ll follow."


    "Alright..."


    She really doesn''t trust him. That''s fine. I''ll just protect you.


    On the other hand, Akan was drinking his tea while overseeing the alley where Her Ladyship had left off. It''s been a while now, and he had not heard of her.


    "Adviser, what are we waiting for?"


    The commander asked; the imperial knights were all dressed like commoners, melding with the people. Some were drinking rum, controlling their drink as they observed their surrounding.


    "A ruckus."


    "Ruckus?"


    Commander Gammarad frowned. This alley goes forth for the people who are primarily beggars without a proper house; they were all staying there. Since there was nothing problematic, they left it alone. Did something happen?


    "Should my men scout the place?"


    "Not yet."


    Akan uttered.


    Her Ladyship asked him about Beggars Street, where it is, and its map. It was an abandoned estate of a famous merchant six decades ago. Akan was curious why she would be interested in such a place and had the urge to visit Her Ladyship with an excuse to say something urgent when it was actually not. The moment he knew it wouldn''t open after calling a few times, he already knew Her Ladyhisp was gone.


    The recent talked had him understand where Her Ladyship might be playing.


    "Be patient, commander; we didn''t come here for nothing."


    It''s the first time he has experienced Empress Dowager do it personally; therefore, it must be worth something.


    "Never mind, I''ll go and take a look. Once you hear the whistle, you can charge without a care."


    "Was this the Dowager''s move?"


    Gammarad whispered. He was one of the people who knew the mother of the Emperor existed and knew her old self, not the current physical body of Ett. That was just one time, though.


    "Perhaps."


    "You…"


    This bold move of Akan won''t escape the Emperor''s eyes, but so what. He is serving his mother.


    Gammarad sighed.


    Well, then they will wait. Really, he can''t understand the right-hand man of each royalty; they are all enigmatic and cold like their master. That may be why he is not like them; their relationship, even if he is the commander of the empire, is as it is, and he most often had more contact with the Imperial knights than the Aidand royalties.


    "Men, be ready just in case."


    Gammarad commanded.


    "Yes, sire."


    Now, all Gammarad and his imperial knights had to do was wait.


    Currently, Ett and the boy were in the basement just above the creaking sounds of the debaucherous man.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Geez, the sticky scent of sex and sweat has even pervaded below. Ett scrunched her nose; she glanced at the boy, who seemed to not be bothered by the smell. He''s used to it. She really needs to find it ASAP and get out of here.


    Thankfully, torches were already lit up, so she had no trouble with her sense of sight. According to the novel, it should be here.


    "Find me the Han Herb."


    "Is that what you''re searching for?"


    "En."


    The boy had a flicker of fear but soon went to the corner, carefully rummaging through the chest contents. On the other hand, Ett unfolded the paper, looking at a specific artefact.


    Based on the novel, a skilled thief has taken something important on Garth''s estate, and the male lead has taken something from the West Wing of the Merry House and later on was revealed as something essential to their noble lineage, which he successfully retrieved. That was why she came here.


    When she asked the boy about the Han Herb, she thought maybe even the second boss must have had one; either it was given by the boss as his own reward, or he felt like he had to have one, too. After all, the Han Flower is a scarce commodity; if they sold it to the aristocrats, they could even buy a humongous house with lots and lots of booze and women.


    It should be here.


    Cough. Cough.


    I really hate the dust and that smell from above. It''s too thick, just too dense.


    She turned around, hiding how she wiped the blood on her mouth and had another handkerchief to cover her mouth.


    The boy neared him with an eight-leaf clover Han Herb.


    "Here."


    "Thanks."


    Awesome. Now that she''s done, it''s better to leave.


    "Let''s go."


    Sneaking out undetected, the boy led Ett to an escape route, slowing down whenever he saw how pale she was and paused to drink from her satchel.


    "…"


    The boy was filled with angst seeing someone so frail as her going all for this.


    Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard not far from them. Ett already knew who did it.


    Moran.


    I thought I should first make the explosion as a sign of signal. Knowing Akan, he must have known I was missing, and from the previous talk, he must have realized I came here as it was timed that he came to attend to me before I ate my dinner, and I didn''t respond.


    "What was that?"


    "Just an insane person."


    So Moran killed the First Boss, huh? Then he must be coming this way to avoid his pursuers or target the Second Boss, which is highly likely. Then, another sound of a whistle was also heard from another area. Ett knows that whistles. Akan. He''s here.


    "Nice timing."


    That guy must have been irked when she mentioned this Beggar''s Place.


    "Pull me up."


    Ett said, who was kneeling.


    "Where are you going?"


    He asked, gently assisting her while pulling her to lean on him.


    "Ah, I''m ashamed if you''re disgusted by my bearing."


    Ett ignored his words and pointed in a specific direction, "That whistle came over there, follow it."


    "Oh, you''re companion!"


    "Mmm."


    When she was pulled up, the boy flinched. Ett narrowed his eyes, glancing at his body, which was covered in tears. This boy seems to have more unhealed wounds than she thought, and still, he guides her? Ett doesn''t find this selfless boy kind and helpful at all.


    "It''s, it''s nothing."


    "I apologize."


    With no time to dilly-dally, they both went to the southern alley.


    She could hear the lackeys rushing to the east part, where the fire broke out. That explosion just now was a first. Black powder must be traded, too.


    A sharp glint, Ett pulled the boy to kneel down.


    "Quick, catch that bastard!"


    "I can''t find him!"


    "He must be hiding!"


    "Search all sides!"


    "Look for the Second Leader!"


    Ett and the boy only moved away from their hiding place when all the men dispersed from different sides, looking for Moran.


    "Ugh."


    Her right foot just slipped.


    "Are, are you alright?"


    "Of course not."


    "Erm…"


    Ett closed her eyes, leaning on a wall. They were walking, and she was limping carefully instead of running cautiously. Too slow.


    They''ll be caught up if this happens, but if she runs, who knows how much her HP level would drop, and she''ll just plop down and faint. That can''t be done. Controlling her emotions and breathing is already a blessing. Wiping the blood from the edge of her lips, she tapped the boy''s shoulder.


    "Hey."


    "Yes?"


    "There will be knights coming in; they must be coming from the entrance."


    "What?!"


    "I can''t walk much longer. Find the knights for help."


    "But I can''t leave you alone like this!"


    Ett inhaled a deep breath.


    "Once I whistled as loud as I could, run to the nearest shortcut."


    The boy clenched his fist, seeing Ett pull a whistle underneath her cloak.


    "I can carry you."


    "…"


    This kid is testing my patience. Since you don''t want to be saved for a specific reason, then at least call a secondary help for me if Akan still takes too long to find me.


    "You alone can''t help me."


    "Still! You''re badly sick and injured."


    Ett put her two fingers in her mouth, and just like how she remembered doing on earth, with all strength, she whistled loudly.


    Splurt! Cough, cough, cough.


    "You''re blood!"


    The boy panicked and wanted to wipe the blood but trembled. His hands are dirty, and his clothes are tattered, too. Nothing is clean.


    Ett shook his head, pointing him to leave.


    "Then wait a bit!"


    He ran in the direction she had told him.


    This would be the last time she would see the kid.


    Spitting the remains of her, the blood on her mouth, Ett wiped her lips, looking at the starry skies mixed with fire. Now, all she needs to do is wait for Akan.


    Cough. Cough. Cough.


    "Aiya..."


    Just annoying


    Cough.


    Ugh.


    "Your Ladyship!"


    Akan was horrified seeing the blood on her veil and clothes. The amount was too much!


    "Quiet…"


    "Forgive me for holding your royal body."


    Akan whispered, carrying Ett and covering her face even though she was unrecognizable as a royal, moving in haste till his stature wasn''t seen anymore.


    For some reason, before Akan covered her vision, a small shadow seemed to be watching her from afar.


    "Who…"