Chapter 147: Sophie Wexler Slipped Away

Leo Fane was under orders to protect Sophie Wexler. He’d been tailing her in secret recently, but just a little while ago, he’d managed to lose her.

He had clearly seen Miss Wexler enter a shop, but she never came back out.

She had simply vanished. More than two hours had passed, and he still hadn’t found her.

Then, a commotion erupted over in Salencia, and he had gone to investigate. Some idiot had fired an Energy Gun in the city, causing massive damage. Luckily, there were no casualties. He only returned after dealing with the situation.

He decided to go check the Marshal’s Residence.

’What if Miss Wexler still isn’t back?’

Leo Fane’s scalp prickled at the very thought.

The political situation with the various factions was so complex, and today, of all days, was the election assembly. If something happened to Miss Wexler on his watch, then he truly... he wouldn’t know how to answer to the Marshal.

Leo Fane stood before the front door, just about to raise his hand to knock.

The door was suddenly yanked open from within.

Sophie was in a frantic hurry, her mind filled with only one thought: escape. She never expected that upon opening the door, she would find Leo Fane standing right outside.

Sophie’s hand froze on the doorknob. She stood rooted to the spot, not even having time to wipe the panicked look off her face.

Leo Fane, for his part, hadn’t expected Sophie Wexler to open the door before he could even knock. His hand was still raised awkwardly in mid-air.

Sophie stared at the man before her. After a long moment, she slowly blinked twice.

The next second, the door was slammed shut right in Leo Fane’s face with a loud BANG!

Leo Fane’s hand was still in the air. "???"

Sophie leaned against the back of the newly shut door.

’How could I have forgotten about this!’

’Leo Fane had said before that he was here to protect me, sent by His Majesty.’

’But now it was obvious. His Majesty? No, it was clearly Cillian Forrest who sent him!’

’They weren’t comrades-in-arms at all; it was clearly a superior-subordinate relationship. And Ethan Cross was probably the same.’

’Before the matching banquet, Leo Fane said he was ordered to ensure my safety. But the banquet’s been over for a while now. I can’t believe he’s still here.’

’If that’s the case, how am I supposed to escape?!’

Sophie felt a massive headache coming on.

Just as she was on the verge of tears from frustration, an idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

’The mask!’

Locked outside, Leo Fane was still wondering if he had done something to make Miss Wexler angry. ’Otherwise, why would she have slammed the door in my face?’

Just as he was mulling this over, the door before him opened once more.

Sophie looked at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Major General Fane, did you need something?"

Leo Fane instinctively shook his head, then, as if catching himself, quickly nodded.

Sophie watched his antics in silence, just smiling.

Looking at Sophie’s smile, Leo Fane felt something was off. ’Does Miss Wexler’s smile always look so... forced?’

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it, because Sophie was still looking at him, her gaze unwavering, as if waiting for his answer.

He couldn’t just admit he’d been tailing her, lost her, and was now checking to see if she was home.

He could only say, "It’s Cill..." Leo Fane wasn’t used to calling the Marshal by name, but he forced himself to continue. "Cillian Forrest. Since he’s not around for a few days, he asked me to check in and see if you needed help with anything."

Sophie saw the guilt in his eyes and scoffed inwardly. ’Yeah, right. Keep spinning your lies.’

"Nope." Sophie’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "I don’t need help with anything."

With that, she stepped out and pulled the door shut behind her.

Watching her step outside, Leo Fane asked, puzzled, "Are you going out, Miss Wexler?"

’It’s almost dark. Going out now?’

Sophie replied, "That’s right. I forgot to buy something earlier, so I’m just running out to get it now."

"Do you want to come with me?" Sophie asked, her tone deceptively sincere.

At her words, Leo Fane immediately waved his hands in refusal. "No, no, that’s quite alright. You go on ahead, Miss Wexler. If there’s nothing else, I won’t disturb you."

’She’s the Marshal’s partner. I can’t go shopping with Miss Wexler. What would that even look like?’

’I’ll just protect her from the shadows. That’s enough.’

Sophie’s heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled back into her chest.

’Thank goodness. Otherwise, I really don’t know how I would have gotten away.’

’I know Leo Fane will definitely still be following me in secret, but that’s fine. With the mask, he won’t be able to keep track of me.’

Sophie was incredibly grateful for that mask. Without it, she really wouldn’t know how she could have escaped from right under Leo Fane’s nose.

Leo Fane followed Sophie Wexler from the shadows and sent a routine report to Cillian Forrest: *Marshal, all is normal on Miss Wexler’s end.*

He received no response. ’He must still be busy,’ Leo Fane figured. After all, the election assembly had only concluded two days ago.

The Marshal had been so busy these past two days that he hadn’t even had time to return home, let alone check his communicator. He definitely wouldn’t have had time to see the message.

Leo Fane put away his communicator and continued tailing her as usual, his thoughts drifting. ’The Little Prince has been successfully elected as the heir. Things should be much simpler from now on.’

’Once the post-election procedures are complete, the Marshal will surely purge certain factions within The Empire. Then Miss Wexler will be safe, and I won’t have to follow her around anymore.’

As he was thinking this, he saw Sophie enter a shopping mall.

As far as Leo Fane could tell, Sophie just seemed to be wandering around aimlessly.

Sophie clutched her purse. Nestled quietly inside was the small box she had purchased just a short while ago.

’It was meant to be a surprise for Cillian Forrest, but in the end, it was me who got the big shock.’

Sophie tightened her grip on her purse, turned, and slipped into a restroom.

When she emerged again, her appearance was completely different.

Sophie walked out the way she came in, her face stern and expressionless.

As she left, she even caught a glimpse of Leo Fane out of the corner of her eye.

Sophie’s breath caught in her throat. ’I knew it. He’s definitely following me.’

’It’s fine, it’s fine. I have the mask. He won’t recognize me.’

Sophie did her best to remain calm. ’As soon as I’m out of Leo Fane’s sight, I’ll buy a new flyer and disappear!’

Leo Fane had no idea that Sophie had already discovered Cillian Forrest’s identity and had also figured out his own.

And now, she was slipping away right under his very nose!

The moment Sophie was clear of the area, her shoulders instantly relaxed. Without a moment’s hesitation, she bought a flyer and took off!

’I don’t know where I’m going, but I’ll run first and figure out the rest later!’

Meanwhile, the election assembly had been over for two days. During that time, Parliament had been busy drafting all sorts of documents, and a mountain of tasks had been thrown at Cillian and his subordinates, one after another.

There were endless documents to read, unending case files to approve, and all sorts of committee meetings.

Cillian Forrest was so busy he was running in circles. He had absolutely no time to video call Sophie Wexler.

After several days of working around the clock, things were finally settled. Cillian Forrest piloted his flyer home.

When he returned, he found the house was dark.

Cillian Forrest: "???"

’Where is she?’