Still reeling from the shock, Camilla stood frozen while the sound of wastewater rushing through the sewers filled the silence.
After a moment, she managed to pull herself together and looked at Mercer.
"How... how did you find out?"
"I found you a bit suspicious, you see. So, I did a little background check."
Mercer added that since they were going to be working together, it was only natural to know each other's names.
Camilla felt a surge of resentment toward Mercer, who spoke of his investigation as if it were nothing. Immediately after, a sense of dread took over.
'If my brother Lucan finds out, he'll lose his mind...'
She had to prevent her identity from being exposed at all costs.
"Whoa, those are some murderous eyes you've got there," Mercer said, raising both hands in a mock gesture of surrender as she glared at him.
"Don't you dare let that out."
"Why would I do that to such a precious ally?"
'Precious ally? Don't make me laugh.'
Camilla wanted to ensure his silence permanently, but since he was currently the Guild Master, there was nothing she—a mere low-ranking member—could do to him.
"I'm going to go rest."
She decided to escape the situation. Pushing the complicated thoughts aside, she just wanted to wash off the fatigue of her missions at the inn.
"Heh, enjoy your rest."
Ignoring Mercer's parting words, she exited through the secret passage.
Walking through the city streets after leaving the guild, Camilla kicked a stray stone, deep in thought.
She wanted to run away from the guild entirely, but her real name was already compromised. A man like Mercer would easily find out she had been staying in Riverwood.
"Haa..."
Camilla let out a heavy sigh, trying to organize her thoughts while wandering the Riften market. However, she grew curious when she noticed a large crowd gathered near the main gate.
Initially thinking a pickpocket had been caught, she approached a passerby and asked what was happening.
"Apparently, a wanted criminal turned himself in."
She had no interest in fugitives and was exhausted enough to just go sleep, but then a familiar voice reached her ears.
"There's no way Mister committed a crime!"
That elf girl from Riverwood. The annoying brat who was always clinging to that man.
If that kid was calling someone "Mister," there was only one person it could be.
"It's pathetic that you can't even handle a simple matter like this."
At Camilla's words, everyone's eyes snapped toward her.
"Big sister? Do you know her?"
"I do not recognize her," Lydia and Eloise replied respectively.
At their responses, Camilla pulled back her hood, revealing her bare face. Upon seeing the familiar features, the female Choi Ha-neul reacted as if she'd finally remembered something.
"Ah! You're from Riverwood, right?"
"That's right. I see you remember."
"Your name was Cami..."
"Camilla."
"Right, that was it!"
However, the Dragonborn was bewildered by how much Camilla had changed. Moreover, it was strange to see her all the way in Riften, so far from Riverwood.
"You look so different... Wait, what are you even doing here?!"
Questions swirled in the girl's head, but Camilla had no intention of answering them.
"More importantly, it looks like someone's been locked up. Maybe I can help?"
"Really?!"
"How?!"
At the hopeful words, the entire party focused their attention on her.
Meanwhile, trapped in a cell and unable to do anything, I was lying on the bed with my fingers interlaced behind my head.
Killing Klimmek back then was an obvious mistake.
"Sigh... Why did I do that?"
As I was regretting my past actions, I heard footsteps coming from beyond the iron bars.
Clip, clop.
'Is a guard doing his rounds?'
I waited for the footsteps to fade, but they stopped right in front of my cell. A familiar voice drifted in through the bars.
"Quite a pathetic sight."
I sat up and turned my head toward the voice, only to freeze in place.
"How... how are you..."
Camilla of Riverwood was standing there with her arms crossed. She looked down at me—dressed in rags and rotting in a cage—with an appraising gaze.
Then her attire caught my eye.
'How did Camilla get here? Those clothes... did she really join the Thieves Guild? Even if things aren't following the original game perfectly, can she really change this much?'
My mind was a mess of confusion at the sight before me.
"What on earth happened to you!?"
"A lot happened after you rejected me."
"Rejected you? That was a decision I made for your own sake!"
I protested out of a sense of unfairness, but her expression didn't even flicker.
"You'll never know how hard things were for me during that time."
Her attitude, her aura, even her facial expression—so much about her had changed. She spoke with a casual, relaxed confidence, signaling that she was no longer the one desperately clinging to the relationship.
The power dynamic had completely flipped since we last met in Riverwood.
'I know I have no conscience for this, but right now, Camilla is the only one who can help me.'
I was about to swallow my pride and ask for help, but she spoke first while looking me over.
"Anyway, do you want some help?"
I had been worried she might harbor a grudge, but for some reason, she was willing to help me. Despite our unpleasant history, I couldn't afford to waste time in a dungeon, so I nodded vigorously.
Camilla took out a lockpick and prepared to pick the cell door, but I stopped her.
"Don't tell me you actually want to stay here?" she asked, puzzled.
"No, it's just that I have a better idea."
Breaking out of jail would grant temporary freedom, but it would add more crimes to my record, potentially barring me from Riften forever. However, there was another way.
As someone who had played through Skyrim more than ten times, I just had to use my knowledge of the original game.
I explained to her the relationship between Anuriel and the Thieves Guild and told her where to find the evidence.
Additionally, I asked her to dig up information on the Stormcloaks. I finally had someone who could move freely on the outside, and with her newly acquired thief skills, this was the perfect mission for her.
"Blackmail her with that. And can you also find some intel on the Stormcloak army?"
"You really have a lot of nerve asking for that."
"Haha... please, I'm counting on you."
Though she spoke sharply, her heart was still swayed by me, and Camilla couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"...Fine."
Ultimately, Camilla agreed. After our conversation, she quietly slipped out of the jail and headed toward the fortress where the Jarl resided.
Sneaking in through a second-story window, she used the information I provided to evade the guards and infiltrate the chambers of Anuriel, the Steward of Riften.
'He said the dresser across from the bed.'
When she found the dresser, her eyes lingered on the expensive gems and jewelry sitting atop the shelves. Her instincts almost forced her to snatch them up.
'Damn, I almost did it without thinking.'
Obsessing over valuables was a bad habit she'd picked up during her time in the Thieves Guild.
Focusing on the evidence, she opened the drawer to find a chaotic mess of quills, official documents, and miscellaneous items. She checked each document one by one and, after a while, found the incriminating letter.
The letter contained records of her clandestine dealings with the Thieves Guild.
'Finally found it.'
Camilla clutched the letter and waited for Anuriel to return. After about two hours, the Steward returned from her office to retrieve some materials she'd left behind. Camilla hid behind the door and slammed it shut the moment the woman was fully inside.
BAM!
"Who are you—mph!"
Camilla promptly covered Anuriel's mouth. The woman tried to pry the hand away to call for help, but there was no way a woman who spent all day doing paperwork at a desk could overpower Camilla, who had survived all sorts of life-and-death struggles. Camilla shoved Anuriel against the wall and pressed a sharp dagger to her throat.
Shink.
At the cold sensation against her neck, Anuriel froze, tears welling in her eyes. Camilla whispered softly.
"Listen carefully to what I say from now on. And keep your answers quiet."
Anuriel nodded, and only then did Camilla release her mouth.
"I assume you know what this letter is?"
Upon seeing the object in Camilla's hand, Anuriel's eyes trembled with fear.
"That... that is!"
Having seized control of the conversation, Camilla pressed her advantage.
"What do you think will happen if this goes public?"
Riften was already a deeply corrupt city, but not so far gone that corruption could be openly flaunted. If she was reported using this document as proof, Anuriel would undoubtedly be stripped of her position as Steward.
"I understand... what do you want?"
"The Empire wants information from you."
"So you're blackmailing me... Very well. I don't love the Empire, but I have no loyalty to the Stormcloaks either."
Anuriel massaged her forehead in thought before finally agreeing.
Acting on my behalf, Camilla secured the location of a Stormcloak gold transport and several documents containing military secrets.
"Haa... Now, will you give me the letter?"
Anuriel reached out, but Camilla added one final request.
"There's just one more thing I want."
"And what is that?"
"Actually, there's a Nord who was imprisoned this morning—"
A short while later, as I sat on my bed, I jumped up at the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway. A guard stood there holding a set of keys.
"Hey, you! The Nord! The Steward has granted you a special pardon. You're one lucky bastard."
'Camilla did it.'
I cheered internally.
Under the guard's guidance, I retrieved my equipment and signed the release papers.
"Haa. The air sure is fresh out here."
I was back in society only five hours after being locked up. This victory was entirely thanks to Camilla.
"Mister!"
"Are you alright?"
The moment I stepped out of the jail, I had an emotional reunion with the girls.
"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
The girls looked relieved to see me unharmed.
"Phew—thank goodness."
"By the way, that murder charge was a setup, right?"
Amidst the emotional reunion, Eloise asked a sharp question.
I hesitated for a moment, but since they were companions I trusted with my life, I decided to tell them the truth. From Narfi's tragic story to the atrocities committed by the people of Ivarstead, and how I had succumbed to my emotions and committed the murder.
"It wasn't your fault, Mister!"
"That man only received the punishment he deserved."
Fortunately, the party members understood, and while I was being moved by their broad-mindedness, Camilla—who had been watching from a distance—approached and handed me the Stormcloak military documents.
"Camilla. Thank you so much for the help!"
"I wouldn't have gotten through this crisis without you."
"Th... thank you."
I approached Camilla and expressed my sincere gratitude. My party members did the same.
"Sure..."
Camilla replied while scratching her cheek, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Ahem. Since we've met again like this, why don't you join us?"
The Camilla of the past was one thing, but the current Camilla possessed excellent infiltration skills and combat prowess. She would surely be a great asset to the party. More than anything, if she still had feelings for me, this would be what she wanted too.
However, her answer was unexpected.
"I appreciate the offer... but I still have work to do."
Camilla was slated to join Mercer in hunting down a woman named Karliah. Since it was a promise made to the Guild Master, she had no choice but to see it through.
Having declined my offer, Camilla wore a somewhat bitter expression as she continued.
"That offer... will it still be valid later? I'll make sure to find you once this business is over. See you next time."
"Wait!"
Before I could finish my sentence, she vanished into the crowd.
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