The Freedom and Happiness We Long For

Evelia — Evelia Croyer.

Once belonged to Eric, his most loyal subordinate assassin, codenamed “Scarlet Crow.”

Back during the struggle between the two imperial princes, the mothers of the two princes naturally made preparations in advance.

Eric’s mother established the “Nightingale House,” a legendary assassin organization.

There were even novels and stage plays among the common folk based on this organization.

However, due to its extreme secrecy, no one had ever truly seen the assassins of the Nightingale House.

Even if someone did see them, it was basically impossible for them to live long enough to tell the tale.

Aside from some “low-level hired muscle,” the Nightingale House had only five assassins who possessed code names.

The leader of the five-man team known as “Azure Eagle” was Falk — a man who constantly longed for utopia.

He joined the Nightingale House back then simply because of a single sentence from Eric:

“We might be able to change this country, but the price may be our lives.”

Choosing “Blue Sparrow” as her code name was a gentle woman who wished to become everyone’s protector, named Alita.

She was sworn siblings with Falk, and had long been placed by Eric within the church, disguised as a kind-hearted nun.

She herself seemed to like this role very much, and for a long time, she even regarded herself as a nun.

Then there was “Gray Dove,” Killian — a thoroughly mad woman.

When she was young, she escaped from the black streets during a chaotic era.

In order to survive, she joined the Nightingale House.

In the end, she became someone not quite normal due to the stimulation she had experienced in the black streets during childhood.

She admired handsome and powerful people, and thus became a fan of that “Scarlet Crow.”

And then there was… “White Dove.”

He had no name, or rather, he had never told Eric his name.

A man even more insane than Gray Dove by a hundredfold.

He was originally a doctor, but later suddenly came to believe that “perhaps some sacrifices are needed to save more people.”

From that point on, he walked the path of “constantly testing medicine on people.”

Whether cats and dogs, or nobles who touched Eric’s interests, all became his targets.

Lastly, there was “Scarlet Crow.”

Only, there were some slight differences compared to the one by her side now.

Evelia, this pink-haired girl, indeed bore the appearance of “Scarlet Crow.”

But to be precise, Scarlet Crow was originally male.

The story behind this was rather complicated.

If one were to explain it properly, even a million words might not be enough.

In short, Scarlet Crow, originally male, became this girl through special alchemy.

He then became a spy planted beside the commander of the Royal Knights.

But—how else could one describe it but “losing both the wife and the soldiers”?

After becoming female, Scarlet Crow was simply taken away by Yarman — that is, the Agmad of this world.

In this world… she was even his wife.

It was enough to make one die of anger 😠.

However, the Evelia of this world seemed to be just Evelia.

Ellie sized up the girl in front of her from head to toe.

She saw her wearing an elegant long dress, holding a white lace parasol in her hand.

If this were her Scarlet Crow from before… she truly could not imagine her walking this ladylike style.

“So you’re saying that Agmad said I wanted to see you?”

While sizing Evelia up, Ellie finally reacted to the fact that Evelia was still standing there obediently, waiting for her words.

She sighed and continued from what Evelia had just said.

“Yes, Mr. Agmad said that you wished to see me.

He even said you kicked him twice.”

…Why does that sound like someone going home to complain to their wife…

No, no, no! Who agreed to let her be his wife?!

“You—you… forget it. Come take a walk with me.”

As Ellie said this, she waved her hand, signaling Evelia to follow.

She then glanced at the attendants following behind and said to them:

“I need to talk to Miss Evelia about something.

You don’t need to follow us. We’ll just go to the lake ahead to get some fresh air.

If anything really happens, then come look for us.”

The former Ellie had been gentle, even somewhat docile, and rarely spoke so directly to drive people away.

This time, perhaps because seeing Evelia stirred a mix of complicated emotions, she subconsciously reclaimed that manipulative temperament of the former second prince.

With a single wave of her hand, she turned around and left.

She did not care what expressions the attendants behind her had.

So what if they were displeased? They were just servants — could they really climb over their master’s head?

Evelia did not say anything either.

She obediently followed along, making Ellie recall a long time ago, when her Scarlet Crow was still by her side.

Back then, she was still the second prince, Eric.

And Evelia was still the most loyal assassin at her side.

Eric had once believed that even if the sky fell, Scarlet Crow would still be there beside him.

But now, the two of them — one had become someone else’s wife, and the other had died and come to another world, changing from prince to princess…

What kind of mess was this? It was enough to make her laugh in anger.

Back then, she had never cared whether Scarlet Crow faced any inconvenience after becoming female.

At that time, he was ruthless, and Scarlet Crow was utterly loyal.

Ellie knew very well that all of Scarlet Crow’s loyalty had been forged through so-called training of flesh and pain.

Blood, scars, and screams — these things filled the Nightingale House.

That kind of silent violence had begun with her mother, continuously influencing the still-young Ellie back then.

Ellie had always felt that those people in the Nightingale House were all somewhat mentally unstable.

Gray Dove, who had entered the Nightingale House from a very young age, was especially obvious.

But now, after experiencing a bit of normal life, Ellie suddenly realized that she herself might also be abnormal.

The loyalty she desired was nothing more than beating someone into submission.

Like dealing with a biting dog — hitting it again and again, hurting it again and again, until that person understood that resistance meant pain and death.

Only then would that kind of corpse-like loyalty appear.

Ellie had never claimed that she was a good person in her previous life.

She truly was a villain, an antagonist in a story.

So now, when she was enjoying a happy life, she could not help but wonder — did she really deserve all of this?

Ellie led Evelia to the lakeside.

The two of them remained silent the entire way.

Ellie seemed to have many things she wanted to say, yet did not know where to begin.

She could hardly start with something like “a friend of mine,” after all.

And Evelia simply looked like someone who did not like to talk much, just as she had been in the past.

A breeze blew over from the lake, bringing a hint of coolness that cleared Ellie’s head considerably.

She turned her head to look at Evelia, who was holding the parasol.

Evelia’s gaze happened to meet Ellie’s at the same time.

Ellie hated the color pink.

Because her eyes were pink, and pink was an impure red — the mark of inferior royal blood.

But she did not hate Evelia’s pink hair.

Because even if Evelia had ultimately betrayed her, she could still say that at least, once, she had possessed Evelia’s sincerity.

Even if that sincerity had been forced out through violence.

Evelia longed for freedom — Ellie knew this.

Because she herself was the same.

As the second prince of the royal family, burdened with her mother’s expectations, she had been forced to take up knives and swords and fight her brother to the death.

She had never once lived her life according to her true wishes, except for that death she had planned for more than ten years.

She too longed for freedom.

That was why, after Evelia betrayed her, she already knew, yet did not immediately have her killed.

Even when Evelia was captured and then escaped again, she pretended to know nothing.

She allowed that final night to come, when Evelia climbed onto her balcony with a dagger in hand.

Everything was the punishment I deserved. I willingly accepted my own death.

But—she was still a little curious.

“Are you… with Yar— no, are you happy following that Agmad?”

“Mm.”

Evelia answered without hesitation.

“I’m very happy. Very happy, Your Highness.”

“I see.”

The wind blew again, stirring her golden hair.

“That’s good, then.”

Perhaps for just a fleeting moment, she too longed for such happiness.

But she still had self-awareness.

She knew that she did not deserve it.

As a villain, she had long since committed unforgivable sins.