Chapter 178 - Testing My Assassin Stalker

Nathan Evenhart:

We were exploring the bustling streets of Apsalon, walking down a busy avenue filled with all kinds of shops. The city was known for its many factories and companies that exported goods to the three kingdoms, with stores catering to both locals and tourists. I had never seen so many hurried people, many carrying paper bags filled with equipment or food.

My stalker is hidden somewhere in the crowd.

Unfortunately, I had to step out and expose my family to danger just to act normally while analyzing my stalker more closely. The truth is, each one of them was a deadly warrior, so I wasn’t too worried. Besides, I was constantly observing them to ensure their safety. My main objective was to discover why I was being watched, what they wanted from me, and whether I was the only target.

At that moment, my mother was nervously examining my head.

“This is happening much faster than I thought,” she said, clearly worried.

We had stopped near an alley while Chloe, Kinue, and Martha went into a shop. Even Cylla went along, probably because she knew Martha would buy her some treats from the stalls if she asked.

That little cat is quite clever.

“Is it really that bad, Mom?” I asked, trying to hide my own concern.

“Bad? Bad doesn’t even begin to cover it, it’s awful,” she replied, her attempt to hide her worry betrayed by her smile as she showed me a strand of silver hair.

My hair was turning silver again, much faster than I’d anticipated.

“That magical dye was supposed to last at least two months in your hair. It’s barely been a month, and it’s already turning silver again.”

The first silver strand had appeared after just over two weeks...

“This is really bad...” I muttered.

She glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then went back to inspecting my hair.

“I’m going to have to talk to Adrihna about this. We used the best dye available; there’s nothing else in the world that works better.”

“And now?” I asked, feeling the weight of the situation.

She stopped messing with my hair and looked at me seriously.

“You’re going to have to dye your hair at least every 15 days to keep it black. We’ll need to buy more dye. I bought enough for two years, but at this rate, it won’t last even six months,” she said, rubbing her temples.

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My mother took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

“Every 15 days? I’m doomed. I’ll have to constantly dye my hair,” I sighed.

“We’ll need to talk to Adrihna to figure this out. And the worst part is, I bought a two-year supply because I know the production is limited, and the demand is high...”

And there’s the cost... I thought, calculating that it would cost me one gold coin every 15 days.

At least this won’t come out of my allowance...

My mother continued to smooth my hair with her hands.

“How many silver strands are there?” I asked.

She laughed nervously.

“Too many! I can’t even count them...”

Sensing my worry, she pulled me into a hug.

“At least now you’ll always have an excuse to come spend the weekend with me. I’ll have to help you dye your hair,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’d always come spend the weekend with you,” I replied, trying to reassure her.

My mother released me from the hug, but a new concern crossed my mind.

“What about when I’m on academy missions and need to be away for a few days?” I asked.

Her smile faltered for a moment.

“Let’s hope that by the time those missions come around, we’ll have sorted out your diplomatic situation,” she said, trying to hide her anxiety.

***

"Are you sure you're going to eat all of that?" I asked, glancing at Chloe's plate, which was piled high with food.

"Of course! I got a bit of everything," she replied, full of enthusiasm.

We were at a restaurant where you could build your own plate from a wide array of options, creating a personalized meal. Chloe, captivated by the variety, had loaded her plate with all sorts of meats. I did the same, though the meat I selected wasn’t for me—it was for the cat sitting on my lap.

“Girls need to eat properly,” Cylla said, noticing my gaze as she devoured her portion with gusto.

I glanced between the two of them, both happily savoring their meat, and I had to hold back from making a comment.

For my own sake, it’s better not to mention that they look like wild cannibals.

My mother and Martha joined us with their plates, followed closely by a shy Kinue.

Kinue also likes meat, just like Thyra.

“I like this kind of restaurant. It feels like a feast with all those buffets,” my mother said, clearly enjoying herself.

Martha’s plate was also piled with meat, but unlike the others, her steak was still bleeding. The sight of her smiling as blood dripped down the side of her plate reminded me of the time I saw her extracting information from someone.

She had the same smile then... I thought, trying to shake off the memory.

“I really like this meat. It’s from an animal we don’t have in our territory,” Martha said, satisfied.

Martha was dressed in her usual maid’s uniform, something she rarely took off, even in casual situations.

“I’ve only been here once before with Professor Adrihna. I knew this place would be a hit,” Kinue said, pleased with the restaurant choice.

“When are the girls coming back? I miss them,” my mother asked.

“If the academy schedule doesn’t change, they should be back next week,” Martha answered.

Natty and Catty were on an excursion with some students in the demi-human kingdom. The academy liked to promote these trips to encourage cooperation between the kingdoms.

“Are you planning to stay here in Apsalon until the end of the year, away from Hugo?” Kinue asked Martha.

“The pain of missing someone is a kind of torture too,” Martha replied, laughing.

Chloe and I exchanged glances, choosing not to continue the topic. Even Kinue fell silent.

“He’ll be visiting me soon. Hugo is coming to the city with Lady Margaery. He’s dying to see the girls,” Martha added.

“Is there any chance my mom will come? I thought we wouldn’t see her until the holidays,” Chloe asked.

Martha and my mother exchanged looks.

“She’ll have to come to the city for a work meeting with some important people,” my mother replied.

“At least it’s here in Apsalon, so we can see her,” I commented.

The cat casually swiped more meat from my plate, without a shred of shame.

“What’s the meeting about? She rarely leaves the territory and usually sends someone in her place,” my cousin pressed.

“Grown-up business,” my mother said, clearly ending the conversation. We understood there was no point in pushing further.