Searching for a motive.
But Olivia’s motives were terrifyingly simple.
Protect them.
That was all.
Then Lem asked,
“What exactly do you want from me?”
Olivia answered carefully this time.
“Information networks.”
Lem listened.
“Protection outside noble authority.”
A pause.
“And if necessary…”
Her eyes darkened slightly.
“…fear.”
Nur swallowed hard quietly.
Because Olivia spoke that word without the slightest discomfort.
Lem, however, looked thoughtful rather than surprised.
“You sound like someone preparing for war.”
Olivia leaned back calmly.
“I am preparing for survival.”
The candlelight flickered between them again.
Then Lem suddenly stood.
Nur tensed immediately.
But he only walked toward the nearby window, looking down at the dark district beneath them.
His entire presence changed the atmosphere of the room.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Like danger itself had taken human form.
“Do you know what people call me now?” he asked quietly.
Olivia remained seated.
“Yes.”
“The Red Ghost.”
Nur visibly disliked hearing the title spoken aloud.
Lem’s black eyes shifted toward Olivia.
“And you still walked into my territory personally.”
Olivia answered simply,
“Ghosts are useful.”
For the first time—
Lem genuinely smiled slightly.
Crooked.
Small.
Dangerous.
But real.
“You truly became strange.”
Olivia’s expression remained calm.
“I became practical.”
Lem stared at her for another long moment before asking quietly—
“And what happens when your noble world discovers you are connected to me?”
Olivia answered immediately.
“They will become more careful about touching what belongs to me.”
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Lem laughed again.
Longer this time.
Low and rough enough that even Nur looked startled.
Because she had not heard him laugh like this in years.
Lem finally turned back toward Olivia fully.
“Do you know your biggest problem?”
“No.”
“You say terrifying things like they are ordinary conversation.”
Olivia did not deny it.
Lem walked back toward the table slowly.
Then stopped directly in front of her.
Close enough that most people would have stepped back instinctively.
Olivia didn’t move at all.
His black eyes locked onto hers.
“And if I agree,” he asked quietly, “what exactly do I become to you?”
Olivia answered without hesitation.
“An ally.”
“Not a subordinate?”
“No.”
“A weapon?”
“No.”
Her gaze stayed steady.
“A necessary force standing beside me.”
The room quieted again.
And something about those words— standing beside me— felt unfamiliar to Lem.
Because people usually wanted to control him.
Use him.
Fear him.
But Olivia?
She spoke like strength simply had a place naturally beside her.
No chains attached.
Lem stared at her for a long moment.
Then finally—
“…Interesting.”
Not agreement.
Not refusal.
But enough to make Nur stare at both of them like they had both lost their minds
The room remained quiet after Lem’s last word.
“…Interesting.”
Olivia did not push further.
That alone caught Lem’s attention again.
Most people, after reaching this point, would rush to secure agreement.
Pressure.
Promises.
Fear.
But Olivia simply sat there calmly as if the decision belonged entirely to him.
No desperation.
No pleading.
Only certainty that her offer held value.
Lem watched her silently for a long moment before speaking again.
“You came here alone at night.”
“Mostly.”
Nur immediately looked offended.
“I am standing right here.”
Neither of them acknowledged her properly.
Lem’s gaze stayed on Olivia.
“You walked into the center of an assassin territory without fear.”
Olivia corrected him calmly. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I walked in knowing Nur’s brother values intelligence more than impulsive violence.”
A faint smirk tugged briefly at Lem’s mouth.
“You really know how to flatter dangerous people.”
“It was not flattery.”
That answer amused him again.
Nur looked deeply tired now.
Lem suddenly turned away from the table and walked toward the weapon rack near the wall.
Several blades rested there.
Beautiful.
Sharp.
Deadly.
His fingers brushed lightly against one absentmindedly before he spoke again.
“You said you need protection untouchable by nobles.”
“Yes.”
“And if nobles decide your connection to me damages your reputation?”
Olivia’s answer came instantly.
“Then my reputation was weak to begin with.”
Silence.
Lem looked over his shoulder at her.
Still calm.
Still composed.
No hesitation anywhere.
Interesting woman.
Dangerously interesting.
Finally, Lem picked up his coat from nearby.
Nur blinked.
“…Wait.”
He slipped it on casually.
“We are leaving.”
Nur stared at him.
“WE?”
Lem looked at her flatly.
“You think I am allowing the Grand Duchess to walk back alone through my district after announcing she wants my organization beside her?”
Olivia stood slowly.
“That is unnecessary.”
Lem’s black eyes shifted toward her.
“No,” he corrected quietly.
“It is practical.”
The word choice made Nur nearly laugh from disbelief.
Because he was already speaking in Olivia’s language now.
Olivia watched him silently for a second before simply nodding once.
“Fine.”
Nur looked between them in horror.
This was happening far too smoothly.
A few moments later— the hidden corridors shifted again as Lem walked through them beside Olivia.
The assassins immediately straightened upon seeing him personally accompanying guests.
Shock spread quietly through the underground hallways.
Because Lem never escorted people himself.
Ever.
And yet here he was— walking beside the Grand Duchess calmly like this was ordinary.
One assassin carefully stepped forward.
“Leader, should we prepare escorts?”
Lem answered without stopping.
“No.”
The assassin immediately lowered his head again.
Olivia noticed the reactions around them carefully.
Respect.
Fear.
Absolute obedience.
Lem had built something powerful here.
Not through titles.
Through survival.
Outside, the cold night air greeted them again.
Nur walked slightly behind now, still processing everything.
Lem glanced once toward Olivia as they moved through the dark streets.
“You are surprisingly quiet now.”
“There is nothing left to say tonight.”
“That sounds disappointing.”
Olivia looked at him briefly.
“This was negotiation.
Not entertainment.”
Another faint smirk appeared briefly on Lem’s face.
The guards hidden through the western district visibly stiffened as they passed.
Every single one recognizing him instantly.
The Red Ghost.
And beside him walked the empire’s Grand Duchess without fear.
Rumors would explode if this became known.
Eventually the mansion gates appeared ahead.
The estate guards immediately tensed at the sight approaching from the darkness.
Hands moved toward swords instantly.
Because even without introductions—
Lem looked dangerous enough to trigger instinctive caution.
Lucas, who happened to be crossing the courtyard above, stopped walking immediately.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
Peter, nearby with several knights, noticed too.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Lem stopped calmly before the gates.
His black eyes moved across the mansion lazily.
Large.
Rich.
Clean.
The complete opposite of his world.
Peter stepped forward first, hand near his sword.
“…Who is this?”
Olivia answered before Lem could.
“My guest.”
Silence.
Peter’s instincts screamed that the man beside her was dangerous.
Lucas came down the stone steps slowly now, gaze fixed directly on Lem.
Lem looked back without concern.
Two predators measuring each other instantly.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
Lucas finally spoke.
“You brought an assassin into the duchy.”
Not a question.
Olivia remained calm.
“Yes.”
Peter looked genuinely stunned now.
“You are admitting that openly?!”
Lem finally spoke lazily beside her.
“She’s refreshingly honest.”
Lucas’ eyes darkened slightly at the interruption.
But Lem looked completely unconcerned by noble authority.
Then Olivia spoke calmly again.
“He will stay temporarily.”
This time— even Nur looked shocked.
Lem’s gaze shifted briefly toward Olivia.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Lucas’ expression became colder immediately.
“You already decided this without discussion?”
Olivia looked at him without emotion.
“Yes.”
And somehow— that answer irritated Lucas more than the assassin himself
The courtyard atmosphere became dangerously tense.
Cold night wind moved through the estate gardens while the guards stood frozen, uncertain whether they were supposed to attack, escort, or simply pretend this situation was normal.
An assassin leader stood inside the duchy gates.
Beside the Grand Duchess.
Like he belonged there.
Peter looked between Olivia and Lem in disbelief.
“You brought the Red Ghost into the mansion.”
Lem’s black eyes shifted lazily toward him.
“So people still use that title.”
Peter instantly disliked how calm he sounded.
Lucas, however, stayed focused on Olivia.
“You intend to keep him here.”
“Yes.”
“No explanation?”
Olivia answered evenly,
“You are receiving one right now.”
Lucas’ expression darkened slightly.
Lem watched the exchange quietly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because Olivia wasn’t asking permission from anyone.
Not even the Duke.
That alone told him enough about the current structure of this household.
Nur silently prayed this mansion survived the night.
One of the estate knights stepped forward cautiously.
“Grand Duchess… with respect, this man is dangerous.”
Lem looked at him.
The knight immediately stiffened.
Not because Lem moved.
Because he didn’t.
Stillness from dangerous people was always worse.
Olivia answered calmly before tension escalated further.
“I am aware.”
The knight hesitated.
“Then why—”
“Because dangerous people are useful.”
Complete silence.
Even Peter looked briefly speechless.
Lem slowly looked at Olivia again.
Then suddenly laughed under his breath.
Short.
Low.
Amused.
Lucas noticed that immediately.
And disliked it instantly.
Olivia began walking toward the mansion entrance again.
“Prepare a guest room.”
The servants nearby nearly panicked.
“A-A guest room?!”
Olivia glanced at them once.
“Yes.”
Nobody argued after that.
Because despite everything— her voice remained completely calm.
And somehow that made refusal impossible.
Lem followed beside her casually, hands in his coat pockets.
Several guards visibly tracked every movement he made.
Peter walked closer to Olivia once they entered the main hall.
Quiet enough only she could hear.
“You cannot seriously trust him.”
Olivia continued walking without looking at him.
“I trust his self-interest.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“It is more reliable than emotion.”
Peter went silent.
Because annoyingly— she wasn’t entirely wrong.
Behind them, Lucas walked several steps back, gaze fixed on Lem.
Lem noticed immediately.
“Careful, Duke,” he said lazily.
“You are staring too hard.”
Lucas’ eyes narrowed.
“You speak too comfortably for someone inside another man’s estate.”
Lem’s expression barely shifted.
“And you sound territorial for a man who barely speaks to his wife.”
The hallway instantly froze.
Nur almost stopped breathing.
Peter looked horrified.
Several servants silently wished for death.
Lucas stopped walking completely.
The temperature of the room seemed to drop.
Lem, however, looked completely unconcerned.
Olivia finally spoke before things escalated further.
“Enough.”
Not loud.
Not emotional.
But absolute.
Both men went silent.
Which shocked almost everyone nearby more than the argument itself.
Olivia looked at Lem calmly.