Episode 11

Upon entering the building, another man guided them to the second floor and to the end of the hallway, where there was a red door. The man knocked, and upon receiving approval, Ritter and Alesha entered, leaving the man to guard the door.

Inside the office, a man with black hair and brown eyes, somewhat corpulent, received them. He appeared to be in his 30s. Ritter spoke, explaining the situation and giving the name of the bandit leader he had managed to obtain earlier. The man searched through a pile of documents, but at times, he glanced at Alesha, who remained silent behind Ritter.

"You look too young to be a knight..." the man said, addressing Alesha.

"He is a young apprentice close to my family," Ritter replied.

The man kept his gaze fixed on Alesha until he noticed something and smiled slyly.

"How curious, I didn't know apprentices wore lipstick."

Although the hood covered her face, the part of her chin was visible, which allowed him to notice Alesha's lips.

"For the information you want, I want the money and for you to leave me that woman," he said, pointing at Alesha.

"I'm sorry, for your own good, she can't stay. Believe me, it would be the worst thing you could wish for," Ritter replied.

"What a shame, I guess the information will have to be lost," the man mentioned.

Alesha took a couple of steps until she was standing in front of Ritter, who just shrugged. He wanted to warn the man, but now all that remained was to wait. Alesha removed her hood, revealing her face, causing the man to smile with satisfaction at seeing the beauty her face hid.

"Perfect. Ritter, give me an hour with her, and I'll give you the information for half price," he said, looking at Alesha lasciviously.

"Escalante, leave me alone with him, and we'll get the information for free," Alesha added.

She approached the desk, staring fixedly into the eyes of the man, who felt a chill run down his spine. There was an eerie atmosphere around the young woman. The man felt his body tremble at her closeness and swallowed hard.

"Fine, I'll wait outside," Ritter mentioned.

"Wait! I was just kidding... Here's the information."

With trembling hands, he placed the folder on the table. Alesha grabbed it and walked away, passing Ritter, who tossed a bag of coins at the man.

"You have made a wise decision," Ritter said to the man.

Alesha and Ritter left the room, being guided to the exit by the same man.

After leaving the building, they both returned to Alesha's mansion. It was already common for everyone there to see Ritter accompanying Alesha. They both went to Alesha's study. There, she opened the envelope with the information and was surprised to learn who had ordered the assassination attempt. Ritter read it too, surprised to learn who it was: Marquis Lange, Delia Lange's father.

"I could believe it was even the prince, but this is unexpected..." He never considered that Marquis Lange would go that far.

"Perhaps he is not happy with the outcome of the trial and wants to take justice into his own hands," Alesha replied.

"I'm surprised he would do such a thing. I suppose he just wants to secure the throne for his daughter."

Ritter pursed his lips. He never imagined that Marquis Lange would go that far. He also didn't know that ambitious side of him, and from the beginning, the man gladly accepted an engagement with the Escalante family, whose title is the same, although, of course, wealth is what differentiates them, but it doesn't even come close to that of the royal family or a duke's. Ritter sighed heavily. It was a shame to have to go against a family that had been close to his parents, but neither could he allow him to do something as unfair as killing Alesha out of revenge or ambition.

"I need that man out of the capital's territory. For now, I can't do anything." It would be risky to sneak into the capital.

And even more so when he thought about finishing him off, it would be a problem if they investigated his death, being the father of the future empress, he would surely have priority, but if he died outside the capital, they could easily think it was the bandits.

"Are you going to get rid of him? I could hand over the evidence for a trial; I don't think it's necessary to go tha..."

"You are too soft, Escalante. He wanted to kill me; I'm just returning the favor... But go ahead, send him to prison. No matter where he is, I'll kill him anyway," she said with a malicious smile.

Ritter just sighed. It wasn't that he was soft, but if it was discovered that it was Alesha, she would be in serious trouble, especially since he was the father of the future empress. Alesha stood up and approached Ritter, running her hand over his cheek.

"Escalante, being soft in this world is the same as wishing for death. So, I will teach you how to end plagues." Alesha showed a cold expression.

With that said, she walked away and called Laurie, who entered immediately. Alesha ordered her to send the head of one of the bandits to the Marquis' residence, along with a note saying that they already knew what he did and that his crime would be exposed.

"Do you think your daughter will be empress when everything is known? That is what you must say," Alesha ordered.

"Of course, my lady..." Laurie replied and left.

While Ritter was surprised by that order, especially since time had passed, and the bodies of those bandits were buried in a mass grave, where by now they must be rotting.

"Just sit back and watch how it's done."

...

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