Stay Out
Chapter 49: Stay Out
Clementina's lips parted slightly in surprise at Sevi's blunt acknowledgment.
For a moment, she didn't say anything, and the guarded look in her orange eyes faltered. Finally, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes. It was me. I switched Noemi's medication to trigger the fever... but it was only a mild toxin. Nothing more."
Sevi crossed his arms, his brow furrowing.
"Why? If you're working for the Red Crescent, you could've done something worse. You could've crippled her—or worse."
"But you didn't. Why hold back?"
Clementina looked down, her fingers gripping the edges of the chair tightly.
"Because I didn't want to hurt her." Her voice carried a firmness that made it clear she wasn't going to elaborate further.
Sevi opened his mouth to press her for more, but she cut him off with a raised hand.
"Listen, Sevi," Clementina said, her orange eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him pause.
"I don't want you caught up in this fight. It's already dangerous enough without dragging you and Noemi deeper into it."
Sevi's brow furrowed.
"You can't just walk away and expect us to stay out of this. You—"
Before he could finish, Clementina rose to her feet. She reached into a hidden pocket and retrieved a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid.
"Stay here, Sevi. This isn't your fight," she said, her tone firm but not unkind.
She uncorked the vial, drinking it in one swift motion.
Almost immediately, her features began to shift.
Her red hair darkened to jet black, her vibrant orange eyes dulled to an ordinary brown.
Within moments, Clementina had transformed back into the persona of Carla, the assassin of the Red Crescent.
Sevi stepped forward, alarmed.
"Wait, what are you doing? You're still not fully healed—"
Clementina silenced him with a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I'll be fine," she said, her voice now carrying Carla's colder, detached tone.
Without another word, she moved toward the window.
As someone who had done this countless times, she unlocked it and pushed it open.
The sunlight flooded the room, illuminating her silhouette as she turned back to Sevi one last time.
"Don't follow me," she said, her voice low and resolute.
"And... take care of Noemi."
Then, with a swift motion, she leapt out of the window.
Sevi rushed to the ledge, but by the time he looked out, Clementina—no, Carla—was already disappearing into the streets below, her movements silent like a shadow in broad daylight.
Sevi clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up inside him.
"Dammit, Clementina," he muttered under his breath.
As Sevi stood at the window, watching the empty streets below, the faintest glimmer of blue light flickered in the corner of his vision.
He barely had time to react before a new mission notification materialized in front of him.
[Mission Alert!]
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Mission: The Saintess' Shadow
Description: Ensure the safety of Clementina Medici, the true heir of House Medici, and prevent her from being caught by the Red Crescent guild.
Failure to do so could jeopardize not only her future but the stability of the Holy Church itself.
Mission Reward: +10 Favorability with Clementina Medici, +5 Favorability with Noemi Nighshade
Failure Penalty: -20 Favorability with Clementina Medici, Destruction of Medici House and the Holy Church
Time Limit: 40 days
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Sevi blinked and took a moment to process the information.
The mission was unlike any he had received before, with stakes far higher than he could have imagined.
"Destruction of Medici House and the Holy Church..." Sevi whispered to himself, trying to comprehend the gravity of those words.
'Losing favor with Clementina would make things difficult, but the destruction of both the Medici House and the Holy Church?'
'That would be a disaster on a global scale.'
"Alright, Clementina," Sevi muttered under his breath.
"I don't know what's going on with you, but I'm not going to let you fall into their hands again."
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