Chapter 131
What if Miki Died? Part 5
In the divine temple, Ruijun seriously studied the yellowed ancient text in front of her, contemplating the fading words for a long time before finally grasping a thread of understanding.
“Your Majesty.” As night deepened, the servant knocked for the third time. “You have a meeting with the ministers tomorrow morning. Perhaps you should rest early and take care of your health.”
Without looking up, Ruijun calmly replied: “Bring me more tea. Stronger this time. I won’t be sleeping tonight.”
Knowing he couldn’t persuade her, the servant sighed and went off to brew the tea.
As Ruijun stared at those few lines of text, an indescribable thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
The scripture contained a short passage that essentially said:
“A Saint appears only once every hundred years, is invaluable to the nation, but is destined to die young. Buried in the land she loves, her lingering attachments bind her spirit, often remaining for a century after death…”
That’s what the book said, but no one had ever witnessed it firsthand. When she had read these words before, Ruijun hadn’t taken them seriously. But now, with Miki’s body missing…
Could it be that her attachments had brought her back from the grave?
Ruijun’s heart trembled at this inexplicable thought.
The more she searched for related clues in the scriptures, the more alarmed she became. Finally, she closed the book heavily. Looking up, she realized dawn had broken.
It was time for the meeting.
Ruijun wearily rubbed her temples, abandoning proper tea drinking etiquette to gulp down an entire cup of strong tea, trying to lessen her fatigue.
Before leaving, she remembered something and called for a servant. “Also, deliver this letter to Captain Hua.”
The servant accepted the order and tucked the letter away.
The thin paper bore only a few hastily written words:
“Stop searching for the body.”
—
Wakako’s illness had come swiftly and left just as quickly. As soon as the weather cleared, all symptoms vanished, and she became once again the energetic senior sister Lin Lin knew.
However… she could never forget what happened that rainy night.
The fingerprints and marks on her body gradually faded with time, leaving no evidence. Sometimes sitting alone in her empty room, Wakako wasn’t sure if it had all been a dream.
Was she missing Miki too much? But if it was a dream, how could it have felt so real?
Soon, Wakako had no time to dwell on it. After regaining her health, she had many tasks assigned by the Queen to carry out.
Recently, they suspected a high-ranking minister of embezzling significant funds from the treasury. Though they were almost certain of his guilt, they lacked concrete evidence. So, the mercenaries took turns shadowing him, hoping to catch him in the act.
Conveniently, Miki came from the noble Jin clan, which had previous connections to this minister. A visit to his residence would seem natural, so they decided she would be the cover for their operation.
Having already conveyed her feelings through Lin Lin earlier, seeing Miki again filled Wakako with awkwardness.
After all, Miki had done nothing wrong, and Wakako didn’t want to cause her more pain.
But pain was inevitable. The moment they met, a layer of subtle sorrow clouded Miki’s eyes, forcing her to lower her head to hide her tears.
Wakako didn’t know what to say. She wanted to offer comfort but feared Miki might misunderstand her intentions.
After a while, Miki looked up, quietly wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I’m sorry, Senior. We’re on a mission – I shouldn’t lose composure like this,” she apologized softly. “I just didn’t know that you even stopped wearing the necklace…”
After all, it was a gift from the Queen. Would she rather risk disrespecting the Queen than stay connected to her?
Wakako unconsciously touched her bare neck.
Ever since that night, it had disappeared. Even after turning her room upside down, she couldn’t find it.
“It’s not that,” she said. “I accidentally lost it.”
But the explanation sounded hollow. After so many years as a mercenary, always cautious in her actions, how could she carelessly lose a royal gift?
Although Miki didn’t say anything, her expression clearly showed disbelief.
Later, Wakako searched the training grounds, quarters, and all her usual places again, but found nothing.
Could a necklace just vanish into thin air?
Wakako never expected that half a month later, Senior Sister Liu Siruo would bring it back. The engagement necklace looked dull, its silver luster significantly dimmed.
“I tried cleaning it, but couldn’t get it completely clean,” Siruo said helplessly. “Many people in the city have been helping to clear the recent mudslide. They found this necklace somewhere and handed it to me. Maybe you accidentally dropped it when you went out?”
Buried in the mudslide? Wakako frowned at it, finding it unlikely.
The night she was ordered to search for the Saint’s body, she hadn’t lost anything, and she clearly remembered the necklace hanging safely around her neck when she returned.
Since it was the Queen’s gift, she couldn’t let it remain in this state. Wakako decided to ask a renowned jeweler to clean it.
“Also,” Siruo added, “the person who found your necklace owns a wine house in town. He’s done us mercenaries a favor. He said he doesn’t want any reward, just hopes you’ll honor him with a visit to support his business.”
“Visit his wine house?”
“Yes, it’s opening in a few days. He’d like you to attend, for good fortune.”
Wakako understood what these merchants were thinking. After all, the Second Daughter Kitagawa was such a person. Using the banner of “the mercenaries have visited,” they could attract many customers.
“I don’t mind, but is it appropriate to use the mercenaries’ name to draw attention? If the Queen finds out, she might blame us.”
“Don’t worry about that. The owner knows the captain – he understands discretion.”
Since she owed him a favor, it was only right to pay a visit. Just as Wakako was about to agree, she suddenly thought of something and stared intently at the necklace in her hand.
Buried in the mud outside the city…
Could such a coincidence really exist?
Se Seeing her silent for a while, Liu Siro thought her junior didn’t like crowds. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine. I can decline for you…”
“No.”
Wakako spoke softly, as if reaching some decision, suddenly looking up at Siruo.
“Please tell him I’ll attend as promised,” she said. “If the owner doesn’t mind, could he provide a few more invitations? I’d like to bring others along.”
Liu Siruo was somewhat surprised but didn’t question it, simply nodding in agreement.
***
On the wine house’s opening day, Lin Lin rode there with Wakako, they couldn’t contain their smiles.
“Finally, we can openly go out for drinks. Senior Sister, you promised we wouldn’t return until we’re drunk!”
Her junior had always had a fondness for alcohol, but being young, overindulgence could lead to trouble, so the masters never let her drink too much. Having her senior take her to the wine house was a great joy.
Wakako agreed verbally, “Mm, we won’t leave until we’re drunk,” but her gaze was distant, as if thinking of other things.
Lin Lin didn’t notice. She suddenly remembered that her senior sister had also asked her to send an invitation to Miki and felt a bit confused.
The atmosphere had been so awkward between them during the recent mission. Perhaps this was meant as an opportunity to clear the air completely?
The wine house’s grand opening was lively. The staff placed several small cups filled with different kinds of wine at the entrance for people to taste, quickly attracting many guests.
Since Wakako and Lin Lin wore their mercenary badges, they had special status and entered through the side door.
The owner had prepared a private room for them, separated from others.
On the table was a jar of wine prepared in advance. Even before opening, the rich aroma filled the room. As the attendant opened the jar, he introduced with a smile: “This wine is called ‘Face of an Old Friend.'”
Face of an Old Friend.
Wakako looked out the window. At some point, thick clouds had gathered, pressing down gloomily. It seemed another heavy rain was imminent.
She took a sip.
Bitter at first, then sweet afterward, just like an old friend’s face.
Miki’s invitation was with hers, but since an unmarried Alpha and Omega couldn’t openly drink together, the owner arranged a separate room for her, right next door.
From downstairs came the staff’s boasting: “We have a mercenary visiting our establishment today.”
“Which one?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Are you just making this up?”
“Of course not! We wouldn’t dare use Lord Mercenary’s name falsely.”
Lin Lin giggled, downing a large cup of wine. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks.
Wakako deliberately restrained herself, sipping only half a cup over a long time. It wasn’t until the sound of rain intensified outside, soaking the entire street, that she finished the remaining wine in her cup.
A soft voice came from the next room. It was Miki. Her speech was unusually slow, almost hesitant.
“Thank you… Senior… for inviting me… today.”
Lin Lin, with her low tolerance but love for drink, was soon utterly intoxicated, oblivious to everything as she slumped over the table.
Wakako gave a soft “mm.”
She lifted the curtain and saw raindrops so heavy they seemed about to pierce the window paper, splashing fine droplets.
“Miki, Lin Lin is drunk. Would you like to come over and sit with me?” Wakako suddenly said.
She sensed the person next door pause for a moment, then ask for confirmation:
“Senior… is inviting me… over?”
Wakako didn’t hesitate: “Yes.”
Soon, a slender figure appeared at the private room’s door, knocking gently – the same three perfectly spaced knocks of noble etiquette.
The door opened softly, revealing Miki’s face, usually rosy, but now pale and delicate.
“Senior.” Her emotions were unreadable as she stared directly at Wakako, repeating: “You want to… drink with me?”
Wakako lowered her head.
She saw the wet footprints at the doorway.
Small and familiar.
