Though she yearned for it so deeply, Shigure Kira also understood the difficulties involved.
But having learned Lady Cecilia and Siegfried's shopping route, she had already devised a brilliant plan.
All she needed to do was step forward to protect the two of them when they were in danger, sustain severe injuries in the process of saving them — ideally with her life hanging by a thread like a candle in the wind — and then, in her dying moments, request Lady Cecilia to become her mother.
In that scenario, Lady Cecilia could absolutely not refuse.
"Hmph hmph hmph — what a brilliant scheme!" Shigure Kira couldn't help marveling at her own brilliance.
Whether it was her imagination or not, she had always felt that ever since getting to know Lucius, her entire way of thinking had become more clear and insightful — she frequently came up with brilliant ideas.
Then Shigure Kira took out her communicator and sent a message to her friends.
[Kira-Star: Everyone — Lady Cecilia should be arriving soon. Where are you all right now?]
Pulling off an operation like this was something she naturally couldn't manage alone — this was precisely the moment to call in her friends for backup.
They would play the villains. She would play the hero rescuing the beauty.
[Salome: Sorry, Kira — I might not be able to make it.]
[Kira-Star: Huh?]
[Salome: I have something quite urgent to deal with. I'm so sorry… Kira (apologetic)]
Staring at her friend's reply, Shigure Kira was dumbfounded.
But thinking it over, she realized there were still plenty of other friends — one fewer shouldn't really matter.
[Kira-Star: It's… it's fine, there's still plenty of backup...]
[Shub: Actually, I have something urgent too.]
[Patrick: Sorry — me too.]
[Lixue: +1]
"..."
[Kira-Star: What do you mean you all have urgent things at the same time?!]
[Salome: Sorry.]
[Shub: Sorry.]
[Patrick: Sorry.]
[Lixue: Sorry.]
Watching the replies come in on her communicator, Shigure Kira's expression was deeply aggrieved. Still, she didn't question her friends further. After being close for this long, she knew them through and through.
If it weren't genuinely urgent, there was absolutely no way they would stand her up at a moment like this.
"Looks like I'll have to do this alone."
Though her plan had hit a major snag, Shigure Kira had no intention of giving up. Even if she was the only one left, she would absolutely see it through!
"Come on, my brilliant mind — I command you to get moving!"
But before her brilliance could produce an answer, an unexpected development below caught her attention.
"Hm? Isn't that Kiana?"
Through her monocular, Shigure Kira spotted Kiana sprinting down the street — and very quickly noticed another white figure in the distance behind her.
"Is that... Siegfried?"
Shigure Kira watched the scene below with some surprise. "He's chasing Kiana?"
Watching the two figures pursuing each other below, Shigure Kira's blue eyes darted around, and a genius idea surfaced in her mind.
"Since Teacher Cecilia cares so much about Siegfried — why don't I just tie him up first, then play the whole thing out myself and accompany Lady Cecilia to rescue him?"
With that thought, Shigure Kira produced a face mask and sunglasses to cover her features.
Then, from some inexplicable location, she produced rope and a burlap sack. When Siegfried passed by below, she leaped down from above.
Shifting perspective to Siegfried's side.
After Kiana bolted out, Siegfried chased her trail, trying to get her to stop.
He very quickly discovered that although the girl looked delicate and soft, her stamina was truly extraordinary. Even with his physique, just keeping her figure in sight required draining every bit of his endurance.
"Stop... stop running... I just... want to ask you something..." Siegfried called out as he ran, feeling his lungs were about to explode.
But hearing him call out, the Kiana running ahead not only didn't slow down — she actually sped up, disappearing at the end of the street in just a few breaths.
"What in the... this... is this speed even human?!" Siegfried ground to a halt, leaning against a wall and gasping for breath. He couldn't help but complain.
But even so, Siegfried had no intention of giving up.
If he couldn't figure out this girl's origins, and Cecilia happened to see her, there would be absolutely no way he could explain himself no matter what he said.
For the sake of his perfect and flawless marriage, even if it cost him his life, he had to catch up with her!
"Don't underestimate me!" Siegfried drew a deep breath, settled into a starting stance, gritted his teeth hard. "I am a true man!!!"
After that roar, Siegfried took one powerful stride forward and shot off like the wind.
"See, I knew it — my body still had reserves. Excellent — with this momentum, I'll charge forward and catch up to that girl in one breath!" Siegfried thought with full confidence.
And then — he found the world suddenly going dark above his head.
Thud! Siegfried hit the ground.
Before he could even get up, someone pressed him down. Then Siegfried felt his arms being pulled behind his back and bound together.
"Wait! What are you doing?!" Siegfried struggled, but immediately discovered the other person's strength was astounding — he couldn't resist at all.
Still, once his arms were bound, he managed to roll over and catch a look at whoever had ambushed him.
The attacker was wearing sunglasses and a face mask. A woman, with long blue hair reaching her waist, tied back in a simple ponytail.
Upon seeing this person, Siegfried blinked — then asked automatically: "Shigure Kira?"
Though Shigure Kira was well covered, the moment Siegfried spotted that distinctive long blue hair, he recognized her instantly.
Of course, there were other factors that made recognizing her so effortless.
In truth, he had long been rather annoyed by this person who always found excuses to come over to his house and freeload meals. Not because of the freeloading itself — but because Siegfried had always felt she had some kind of strange designs on his wife.
"I am not Shigure Kira. I am simply a kidnapper devoid of all human emotion!" Shigure Kira subtly adjusted her voice, trying to make sure nothing would give her away.
But this minor maneuver was obviously not going to fool Siegfried.
With his hands and feet tied, Siegfried writhed on the ground and shouted at Shigure Kira with great fury: "Shigure Kira — drop the act, I know it's you! Cecilia was looking at me in that strange way yesterday — was that you stirring up trouble between us?!"
Hearing Siegfried's accusation, Shigure Kira also flared up.
"Nonsense, all I did was spread rumors that you were violated by some degenerate wom——" Before she could finish, Shigure Kira slapped her hands over her own mouth.
"I knew it! Shigure Kira, so it really was you!" Siegfried was furious.
"Err... you've got the wrong person, I really am not Shigure Kira..."
Siegfried, who had been writhing on the ground, suddenly stood up. The rope around his wrists had been snapped clean — in his hand was a small blade that gleamed with a cold light, which he used to effortlessly slice through the ropes around his ankles as well.
Once he was back on his feet, he fixed Shigure Kira with a furious glare.
"Shigure Kira — I have had enough of you for a long time. Tell me the truth — do you have designs on my Cecilia?"
Seeing that Siegfried had completely confirmed her identity, Shigure Kira simply dropped the act and glared right back at him with equal ferocity.
"What if I do? Lady Cecilia deserves only someone worthy of her!"
Siegfried was so incensed by this that he actually laughed. "Oh, is that right. Very well, Shigure Kira — I am going to teach you a proper lesson right now!"
Shigure Kira responded with a raised middle finger. "I've been fed up with you for a long time too — come on then! Whoever chickens out is a little dog!"
Their gazes collided. Then they collided themselves.
"Get away from my Cecilia!"
"That's the one thing I will never agree to!"
Thud!
With the sound of someone hitting the ground, Siegfried was once again pinned down by Shigure Kira, who swiftly and efficiently tied up his hands and feet with rope.
"How... how is this possible?" Siegfried said in disbelief. "How could I lose to you?!"
"Heh... I'm actually quite strong, you know." Shigure Kira said cheerfully, looking at the thoroughly trussed-up Siegfried. "Siegfried — just have a nice little rest. I'll take care of Lady Cecilia."
At that moment, Kiana's weak voice drifted over from nearby.
"Lucius..."
Only now did Lucius remember that Kiana was still somewhere in the vicinity.
He quickly looked around — and found Kiana standing unsteadily nearby, eyes spinning in circles.
Then with a thud, she dropped to the ground, murmuring feebly.
"Lucius... quick... quickly deafen my ears..."
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