The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

"...A little butterfly once saved the lives of not only one devil, but an entire group of them. Madam Adriana, I'm not the only one deeply in gratitude to you... but I might be the only one willing to love you as much." She said, her head still lowered.

Oh? That explains my safe status to the Gray House. But then again, that does not explain why they are sneaking up around, at our estate.

"Can you... tell me the details of your mission?" I tested the waters.

"No." And a fast reply came. It seems her love for me did not overshadow her love and loyalty to the Gray House. Pity.

"Figures. But why are you after my siblings now? Is there going to be an assassination among us?" I changed my question.

"That answers your previous question, madam Adriana... But , I can assure you with my life that, none of your family members will be negatively affected."

She said, and after a light pause, added. "None from us. But if they, themselves, dig their own graves, that's on them and not us." She concluded.

"I see..." I responded with a nod of my head. It made sense, but I was still not satisfied.

"...I can also give you information from your brothers and sisters if you so desire. And also act as an errand lady for you. I am quite powerful. Please use me to the best of your abilities." She added moments later.

"..."

Now I'm convinced. This woman before me... is either willing to do anything for me, or is pretending to be so willing.

"Alright then, Secretary Emily. Or rather, do you have a real name?" I asked. As for this scandal, let's put it aside and just use the chess piece I've been presented with.

"I do not have a birth name. The Gray House have officially given me Betty Gray as a name." She replied obediently.

Oh? So things not pertaining to the Gray House or your mission, you would answer me honestly? Okay. Let's test that, shall we?

"Alright, I'll call you Betty from now on. How old are you, by the way?"

"I am 23 years old, madam."

"Not much older than me. We are in fact the same age. Do you have a crush?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

"My senior."

"An assassin higher ranked than you? Should I say it's to be expected from you?"

"..."

"Forget it. Let's just pretend nothing is wrong, and act like best friends. What do you say?"

"I'd be more than honored, madam Adriana."

"...We'll have to deal with that though." I said, a bit dissatisfied.

"And I'm not old you know. At least call me young miss or something." I added, playing down our little scuffle. Now down to official business.

"..."

Bella had also fixed her posture, taking up the confident and stern vibe she usually has. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was not fitting.

"By the way... how does it feel to be a Gray House member?" I asked her, my eyes trailing on her face once more.

"It feels normal. Like a family gathering." She said, without much thought. But perhaps, that was to be expected from her.

"Then let me change my questions. How does it feel to kill a person?" I inquired, still reading her facial expressions for any change.

But there was none.

"For me... it feels void. There is no emotion, or much desire when I kill." She once more obediently replied.

"...Then it's correct for me to imply that, you've killed so much that, you feel nothing at this point?"

"Not necessarily so. Even my first victim, I felt nothing much from killing them... I believe I have been mentally bothered, or simply, I had problems since childhood." She plainly responded.

"..."

I will not lie, I was scared by that. Slightly. "...Okaaaay. Let's put aside that." I said, an attempt to change the mood and the topic.

"Yes, my lady." And she obliged.

"Anyway, tell me more about you guys. Do you just kill for a living or..?" I inquired once more, curious.

"It's like work. A contract of sorts between two parties or more. Unless you mess with us, we will not attack you... the only exception being if someone ordered for your death." She said.

"So, to summarize, you'd kill anyone as long as someone came and asked it off you?"

"No. Asking is a misused term in this scenario. You pay, we kill. And yes, we will target anyone as long as the money and information supplied are enough."

"...Is that so?" My tone softened, a sign of me slowly losing interest to the matter at hand.

"Yes. The other exception is if you're a tool, a pawn or an assert of the Gray House. Oh, and also friends and relatives, which they are few." She truthfully added.

My tone brightened once more, showing my reinvigorated interest to the matter. "...Am I friend of the Gray House?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"What about my family?" I asked. But I could already guess what the response was.

"Most of you siblings are tools and pawns. Your parents though, are unmarked... If necessary for the plans of the Gray House to progress, they could be killed anytime." She said.

"...What plans? No, never mind. Please explain yourself." I frowned at those words. I don't care much about my siblings, but my mother is a different matter altogether.

"No worries, my lady. Your mother is considered a friend of the Gray House by default. But say, if your older brother was soft natured and required a reality check... we could skillfully assassinate his mother to sharpen him." She said.

Then added, "Or perhaps... if creating conflict within your family benefits the growth of our pawns, we wouldn't mind slowly instigating the matter secretly."

"..."

I was speechless. Never in my entire life would I have thought that such ruthless people exist... But then again, they are no different than the nobles aren't they?

Not much difference in between.

"So... that explains you guys snooping around within our terroritory? You're monitoring your tools and pawns? And friends? " I asked her.

"Yes." She honestly replied.

I like your blunt truth, but you know... sometimes lying isn't a sin. But of course, I would not say that to her. I like her honesty.

I instead stared at her, stern and focused. She returned the gaze, her clear blue eyes reflecting nothing but simplicity within them.

Even when I tried to pressurize her, her beauty did not allow me to. "Haaa... What about that man? My father. What is he to you guys?"

"Allianz? He is nothing much to the Gray House. Niether a pawn nor a tool. Not a friend nor a relative. Just a helpless nobody who will be unfortunate to suffer because of us. But..."

She paused, and turned her eyes to me. I understood what more she wanted to say, but I didn't stop her.

"...But it matters not, for even he cares little about his women and children." She said, a bit of guilty dancing within her eyes, like a flickering flame on a candle.

"Haaa... As I thought. Anyway, nobody cares about him either. My brothers and sister are only pretending because they desire his throne. And I'm glad he knows that too." I said.

"..."

We were left in silence after those words. I could see her sitting there and staring at me in innocence. Nobody would believe that such a beautiful woman was a cold blooded killer.

While I sat parallel to her, an expression of conflicted emotions on my face. Happy, yet bitter. Sad, yet satisfied.

At the sane time, the candles I lit were about to burn out. Which made me push away all the remaining questions I had and just bluntly stated.

"...I want to join you guys." I said, the fire burning on the three candles prematurely snuffed out, leaving us in endless darkness.

The sort of darkness that was dark, yet still visible. For I could see the peaceful expression of Bella, warping into that of frozen shock. "Excuse me?"

She said, quite in disbelief. It's to be expected though. My words were nonsensical. "Haha... nothing nothing. Let's just move on. By the way, what's your favorite color?"

"..."

She remained shocked. And I just pretended as if I said nothing. Then I saw her stand up, and offer a professional salute to me.

A noble etiquette if you will. Then she said, "My lady, I'd advice you not to entertain such presumptuous ideas. If there is something you desire, I repeat, please use me."

"If you want to kill someone, please send me. If you want someone to do your dirty work, I'm here for you. If you desire a weapon to use at will, use me however you like." She said.

"..."

Now I was the one staring at her in disbelief. The level of loyalty she was portraying right now, was too absurd. So much I had to ask myself. Why? Why do I deserve this?

I began questioning myself over and over again, yet never coming to an answer.

Bella herself did not speak anymore, and stood awaiting my response. But I was caught between great doubt right now.