Chapter 48: Important Mission It wasn’t that Azel was ugly the last time they met — gods no. Even at the time when he saved her, he had been handsome. The kind of boy you noticed once and remembered for a long time. But now... something had changed. Naelia couldn’t take her eyes off him. After he left the estate all those months ago, she’d spent time talking with other noble girls her age. They had whispered and giggled in private salons, comparing lists of handsome young men they wouldn’t mind marrying one day. At the top of that list had always been her older brother — Aegon Starbloom. The crown prince. The golden-haired genius swordsman destined to sit on the throne of the empire. His handsomeness was talked about like myth; a blend of noble bearing, a sharp mind, and sculpted looks. But now... As Naelia stood there at the door of the library, staring at Azel’s face, she knew the truth. If Aegon was first on that list... Azel had taken that spot now, without question. His beauty had transcended "handsome." There was an otherworldly sharpness to his face, a wildness barely hidden beneath well-kept poise. His long silver hair, cascading down to his shoulders in a ponytail, caught the sunlight from the open window behind him and shimmered like strands of woven moonlight. She wanted to run her fingers through it, to see if it felt as silky as it looked. And his eyes... Crimson. They looked like rubies that burned softly. She could barely conceal the heat rushing up her cheeks. "It’s been a while, Azel," she said, doing her best not to look flustered, though she felt like her entire face had turned scarlet. She hoped he noticed her dress — she and her maids had spent the last thirty minutes tailoring it just right for this moment. Elegant but not too formal. Pretty, but not desperate. Azel gave a small smile and nodded politely. "Nice to see you again, Naelia. You look rather stunning." The compliment hit harder than expected. She didn’t know if it was because it came from him, or if her mother’s light nudge into his ribs had made him say it, but her stomach flipped like a dancer mid-spin. Her face flushed deeper, and before she could stop herself, she let out a tiny yelp. Without a word, she spun on her heels, rushed out of the room, and slammed the door behind her with a loud bam. Inside the library, Edna watched the entire interaction unfold, a satisfied glint in her eyes despite the soft pout that formed on her lips. "Don’t go seducing my daughter," she said teasingly, her fingers not stopping their movement through Lillia’s pink hair. The little girl was curled against her lap, humming contentedly as Edna began to plait her hair into neat rows. "She asked me to tell her she looked good," Azel said with a shrug. "I didn’t want to lie." Lillia giggled, kicking her small legs, then said in her sing-song voice, "Mama, plait it like the braids from the fairy princess story that Papa was telling me about!" Edna smiled warmly. "Of course, darling." Still, as her fingers moved with practiced ease, she tilted her head slightly and mumbled under her breath. "You have the mother opening her arms wide for you too..." Azel blinked. He caught it. Of course he did, he had enhanced hearing after all. He looked at her — at the way the sunlight caught in her soft blond curls, at the way her lips trembled just slightly after saying that. And suddenly, he understood. It wasn’t just a passing crush. Somewhere in the quiet, in the stolen glances and shared smiles, Edna had truly developed feelings for him. And Azel... didn’t know what to do about that. He wasn’t a womanizer. Hell, in his past life, he’d barely known how to talk to women outside of gaming forums. He had no experience — none of the suave moves or smooth words other guys had. What was he supposed to do now? Flirt? Tease her? Pull her close? She was still officially another man’s wife after all. "Hm, did you say something?" he said honestly. Edna’a cheeks redenned. "Forget it." Even her voice sounded cute now. She finished the last braid, tied it off with a pink ribbon, then leaned down and kissed the top of Lillia’s head. no, The little girl turned to show Azel proudly, her eyes shining. "Look, Papa! I look like the princess now!" "You always have," Azel said, ruffling her hair gently. There was a brief moment of silence and warmth. And then... [New Quest Detected] [Quest: Protect the Heroines and Edna Starbloom as well as her other daughter from the Assassins] [Rewards:] [100 Fate Tickets] [1000 Fate Points] [5x Fate Stat Rolls] [1x Special Dungeon Key] [Time Until Attack: 24:00:00] Azel’s eyes narrowed as he read the glowing interface only visible to him. ’So it begins...’ he thought. Meanwhile... [Assassins of the Fog – Eastern Headquarters] Two people sat in a dimly lit room. The first was a man dressed in tight black leathers, his face partially covered by a dark veil. His aura was like a blade — silent, sharp, and deadly. He was known only as Whisper, he was a descendant of the most feared assassins on the continent. A killer of kings, of ministers, of emperors — if the coin was good enough. The second was a woman whose very presence demanded attention. She was dressed in regal robes of deep maroon, trimmed with gold and spider silk. Her black hair flowed freely down her shoulders, and her eyes gleamed with veiled contempt. Behind her lace fan, the First Empress of the Empire spoke in a voice as smooth as silk but as venomous as a snake. "I need you and twenty of your finest," she said, her fan hiding the smirk on her lips. "In exactly twenty-four hours, you will break into the Starbloom estate and remove the head of Edna Starbloom." Whisper leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "You’re asking us to storm a royal estate," he said, voice flat and cold. "That’s suicide, not a contract." The First Empress hummed. "I don’t recall asking for your opinion." He raised a brow but said nothing. With a flick of her fingers, she dropped a storage ring onto the table between them. Whisper arched a brow, then tapped it. Golden coins poured out in a glimmering cascade. Jewels followed. Rare metals. Enough wealth to fund a private war. Only then did he smile. "Well," Whisper said. "I suppose we’re now in agreement."