The Girl Who Doesn’t Act Like a Coquettish Person

By his calculations, Jiaye shouldn’t have found the secret passage yet—let alone stolen anything.
So the Violet-Gold Dragonbone should still be where it was.

He still had plenty of time to act tonight!

At that thought, Black unexpectedly remembered Loyre.
He wondered how that woman was doing in her cell.

But the magic scrolls’ effects couldn’t last forever.
She’d be waiting for the perfect moment to assassinate Empress Elizabeth.

Just as long as it’s not tonight.

Black believed his luck couldn’t be that bad.

****

The night was clear, the moon full, the sea calm. A cool breeze drifted by—perfect for moon-gazing.

Laughter echoed across the deck. Someone had started it, and soon, others followed.

An open space was cleared, filled with tea, fruits, sweets—nobles chatting, sipping tea under the moonlight. A rare luxury.

Occasionally, whispers about Miss Lily’s scandal floated by.

Ordinary nobles wouldn’t dare mock a duchess’s daughter.
But here? Everyone was at least a count’s heir—raised in high society.

“Tsk tsk. The evils of feudalism!”

Black lurked in a dark corner of the cabin, using shadows to conceal himself.
The sight of delicate pastries made his stomach growl again.

His dinner tonight? A few moldy breads.

These noble banquets—these pampered aristocrats—shouldn’t belong on the Hodir.
This was a dragon-slaying mission, not a vacation.

But a closer look at their identities revealed the truth:

These weren’t ordinary nobles.
They were descendants of dragon-slaying families—raised from childhood with elite dragon-hunting education, nurtured with rare treasures.
Each was exceptionally strong.

Even plump Lily and Marsha were nearly Level 30—Healers and Summoners.
In a fight, two Blacks wouldn’t last ten seconds against Lily.

They were here for one reason:
Their duty.

Yes, they were spoiled, extravagant.
But they had principles:
When dragons came, they stood in front of the common people.

Black scanned the deck—spotting several familiar faces.

Elaina sat quietly, listening to gossip, expression cold.
She looked upset—eating sweets like a hamster, one by one.
As a neglected bastard daughter, no one paid her much attention.
She was invisible.

In contrast, Krystin—the Church’s Saintess and genius Priestess—was surrounded.
Men and women alike fawned over her, subtly flattering.

Krystin, used to this adoration, didn’t seem flustered.
A soft smile always on her lips, nodding, even equalizing her responses—making everyone feel special.

Even if fake, it felt warm.

Truly the Saintess.

Yet, sharp-eyed Black noticed the fatigue in her eyes.
Being a star wasn’t easy.

This wasn’t just a party.
It was social climbing—what nobles loved most.
Through idle chat and flattery, they pleased the powerful—gaining future rewards.

In the upper class, only interests exist—no friends.

The other side of the deck was quieter.
Black glanced over—curious.

Only two sat there: Second Princess Alice and her maid.

Logically, Alice—a royal princess—should be swarmed with admirers.
Yet, no one dared speak to her.

Given her personality, Black found it normal.

Alice was spoiled, domineering—almost reclusive.
Since childhood, only her personal maid and her red sword kept her company.

It wasn’t that she refused friends.
In truth, the princess longed for them—envied other girls with close companions.

But she was clumsy, twisted.
She misunderstood imperial pride as absolute solitude—creating the unlikable person she was now.

Harsh, ruthless, no warmth.
Even those who tried to flatter her couldn’t endure it.

In one phrase:
A girl who never learned to be cute.
While others learned to pout and charm, she trained with her sword every day.

Black turned away, scanning the crowd.
No Jiaye.

Strange.
She was a count’s daughter, loved gathering intel—why miss this?

But he didn’t dwell on it.
He had more important things to do.

Silently, Black pulled on a black mask—finely crafted, embroidered with bat-like patterns on the sides.
He’d stolen it from some unlucky noble.
Now he looked like a cinematic Batman.

Dressed in black, he began his mission.

Following memorized routes, he moved along the ship’s edge, slipping deep into the cabin.

Dragoncleaver Guards patrolled, but he’d studied their schedules and paths—easily avoiding them.

Soon, he reached an unremarkable room—slipped inside.
It was a storage room, piled with dusty junk.
Perfect—no one would notice the hidden passage here.

Yes—the secret tunnel to the empress’s chamber was here.

Black quietly moved boxes aside, jumped in, then shoved a large water jar—revealing a dark hole.

Exactly as expected.

Taking a deep breath, he crawled in, lit a candle, and crept forward.

After a while, he reached a fork—two paths.
Thankfully, he remembered the game walkthrough—chose the left.

Five minutes later, another fork.
Ten minutes after that—three paths.

Black thanked his memory.
Otherwise, he’d be lost.
Damn game designers—why make a maze to torment players?!

Sweat-soaked, he finally saw the end—no exit.
Just a wooden panel.

Behind it…
Empress Elizabeth’s chamber.