A Mission for the Master

Fren came to find Vanessa again at sunset.

The moment the attendant informed her, Vanessa threw aside the weapon she had been polishing and sprinted at full speed to Fren’s room.

Being sought out by Fren was always the greatest joy.

Vanessa adjusted her clothes and steadied her breathing at the door.

Then, in the softest voice she could manage, she said:

“Lord Fren, it’s Vanessa. I’ve just arrived.”

She knelt and pressed her forehead to the floor.

“May I humbly enter your room, my lord?”

From beyond the door, Fren’s voice told her to come in.

Vanessa opened the door silently—and froze in place.

Fren had undone the top buttons of his shirt and was unbraiding his hair.

Running his fingers through the loose strands, Fren looked up and smiled sweetly when he saw her.

Vanessa felt herself grow hazy under the curve of his eyes as they bent into a smile, but forced herself back to focus.

Fren looked tired.

“Shall I bring you something comfortable to change into?”

Fren nodded, and Vanessa helped him change in the dressing room.

Once he changed into light, ivory-colored loungewear soft as air, he collapsed wearily into a chair.

Vanessa quickly brought soft slippers.

As she knelt to place them on his feet, Fren whined like an exhausted child.

“I’m tired.”

Vanessa immediately looked up at him with worried eyes.

“You truly look tired. Shall I prepare your bed?”

Instead of answering, Fren leaned forward.

Peck—

His lips brushed hers like soft flower petals, then pulled away.

Vanessa’s cheeks, pale as whipped cream, instantly flushed as red as strawberry syrup.

Heat swept through her body, and she ducked her head in panic.

Fren chuckled.

“I feel like I can breathe again. Thank you, Vanessa.”

“…I didn’t do anything.”

“Just being by my side gives me strength.”

Fren looked at her with warm eyes, then requested:

“Could you move me to the window?”

“Yes, Lord Fren.”

Vanessa lifted him with the care one would use when holding a delicate glass doll.

Easily, she carried him to the chair by the window.

Fren gazed at the orange-tinted sky and yawned softly.

Vanessa asked gently:

“Would you like to rest a little on the bed?”

“No, it’s fine. I can’t sleep before dinner.”

Even as he said so, Fren rested his head on the table, exhausted.

Vanessa searched desperately for something that might ease his fatigue.

“…Vanessa.”

Fren called weakly.

Vanessa immediately focused on him, ready to listen.

In the same tired tone, Fren continued:

“Neferr talks too much.”

He pressed his long ears as if they ached.

“If I stay with that Siren for more than half a day, I’ll go deaf.”

“Lord Fren…”

Vanessa sincerely pitied him.

Fren grumbled further.

“But he’s too competent to avoid. Even today he solved one of my problems.”

“Are you referring to that matter?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Vanessa recalled the gemstone Fren asked Neferr to find.

She had already suspected something was wrong when Neferr delayed mentioning it.

Fren rubbed his forehead as if troubled.

“Thanks to the clues Neferr found, I now know the one buying up all the gemstones is Prince Artua.”

“……”

“Strange. Why aren’t you surprised?”

“No one could move faster than you except the other Elders and royalty. And besides, Prince Artua…”

Vanessa trailed off awkwardly.

Fren spoke plainly.

“True. He considers me his rival. Ridiculous, isn’t it? No one else thinks so—not even me.”

“……”

Vanessa silently agreed and felt relief that Artua was not here.

Prince Artua Anata Mren was third in line to the throne.

Fren sighed.

“What should I do? I desperately want to see that gemstone with my own eyes. But I don’t want to be hated by him anymore. I really want us to get along.”

The moment Fren finished speaking, Vanessa said:

“If you allow it, I will infiltrate his residence and retrieve the gemstone.”

“You?”

Vanessa nodded.

Fren’s lips curved in amused delight.

He asked lazily:

“Do you know where His Highness is staying?”

“It doesn’t matter where he is. If it’s something you desire, I will retrieve it.”

“Vanessa.”

Fren clasped both of her hands.

“To be honest, I knew you would say that.”

“Truly?”

He nodded, and Vanessa felt admiration swell.

“You always think several steps ahead. You’re incredible.”

“I simply know you well.”

Fren released her hands and murmured as he settled back in his seat:

“If every living creature were like you, the world would be perfect.”

“…Pardon?”

“It would be wonderful, that’s all.”

After that, Fren stayed quiet for a moment, then brightened.

“In any case, this works out well. Prince Artua is not far from here.”

“You mean he isn’t in the royal palace?”

“He’s been working at the villa on the western cliff. He told me personally the day before my exhibition. Preparing for his own exhibition next month, apparently.”

Vanessa clicked her tongue internally.

A wealthy prince buying the villa near Fren and working there—clearly to provoke him.

Nothing was more exhausting than a powerful man with a rivalry complex.

Fren gently pressed Vanessa’s shoulder.

“So go, Vanessa. Infiltrate that estate and bring me the gemstone. If he plays dirty first, we play dirty too.”

“Yes, Lord Fren.”

“Oh, and if possible, bring it back before dinner.”

There were only three hours until Fren’s usual late dinner.

Yet Vanessa did not hesitate.

“I will do so.”

“Really? Even I think it will be difficult.”

Vanessa knelt before him like a devotee before a god.

“For Lord Fren, anything is my destiny.”

Fren smiled again.

There was no living being more beautiful.

That truth made him joyful and sad all at once, though he showed none of it.

Instead, he whispered gently:

“I’ll prepare a delicious meal and wait for you, Vanessa.”

“Then I shall depart.”

Vanessa bowed and vanished like the wind.

Fren watched the closed door for a long time, then called for tea.

The attendant asked carefully:

“If you’re bored, shall I summon another s*ave?”

“No.”

There was no need for anyone but Vanessa.

Fren sipped his tea.

How long had it been since he left her side?

Already, he missed her.

While Fren missed her, Vanessa’s condition was no different.

Her mind was filled only with returning as quickly as possible.

She mounted the calmest horse in the stable, dreaming of a warm dinner with Fren.

She stopped briefly in town, then hid the horse in the woods near the western cliffs.

“Stay still.”

The horse stared at Vanessa obediently.

After making sure it was tied securely, Vanessa pulled out a plain black mask.

She couldn’t wear the one Fren made, or she’d risk revealing her identity.

She turned toward the cliff.

A majestic villa stood atop the white cliff, like a beach of pale sand.

Its blue roof and arched windows gave it charm—not as magnificent as Fren’s estate, but beautiful.

Too grand and costly to be just a villa.

No one expected royalty to buy it.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

Vanessa took a deep breath.

Stay calm. You once infiltrated a place where Elders gathered. The security was just as tight.

She climbed into a tree.

Guards and magical barriers would surround the grounds.

But soon a supply wagon would pass.

There was only one grocery store trusted enough to trade with royalty nearby.

Thanks to Fren’s endless networking, Vanessa knew where that store posted its delivery schedule.

And then—
The wagon appeared.

“Can’t you hurry up a little?”

“No. The fruit will bruise. We can’t offer damaged fruit to His Highness.”

“So that’s why we left so early even though it’s close.”

While the two men chatted, Vanessa slipped onto the cargo bed.

Soon, the guards’ voices came.

“Is this from the grocer?”

“Yes. Supplies for tomorrow morning.”

“We’ll need to inspect it.”

A guard lifted the cover and looked inside.