Chapter 16: The Entrapment Operation
Late at night, in the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, within the maids’ resting area.
Shirley agilely climbed through a window, landing silently on the floor.
Entering the hallway, she bent over, cautiously scanning both sides of the corridor.
After confirming that she had avoided the guards’ patrol schedule, she tiptoed deeper into the maids’ resting quarters.
Tonight, Shirley was dressed in a tight-fitting night suit, her graceful curves accentuated, and a long brown ponytail swaying back and forth in the moonlight.
Shirley was the finest scout and vanguard nurtured by the Queen among the Silver Dragon clan, so such infiltration was a piece of cake for her.
Using the faint moonlight streaming from outside, Shirley examined the names on the doors of the maids’ rooms one by one.
Finally, at the door of a particular room, Shirley found the name she was looking for:
Maureen.
A nondescript little maid within the maid troupe.
Shirley didn’t have a particularly good or bad relationship with her, they were just acquaintances who nodded to each other in passing.
Usually, Maureen would address her as Sister Shirley, showing a bit of respect for her seniority.
Standing at Maureen’s door, Shirley double-checked her surroundings to ensure no one was around, then gently knocked on the door.
A muffled sound came from inside the room, indicating that Maureen was still awake.
However, she didn’t respond immediately. Instead, after a few seconds, she cautiously asked, “Who is it?”
Shirley lowered her voice, “It’s me, Shirley.”
Light footsteps could be heard from within.
Click—
The lock clicked, and the door opened inward, but only a crack, revealing one side of Maureen’s face.
She wasn’t particularly beautiful, quite ordinary in fact, and her expression looked tense, not like someone who had just woken up.
Maureen glanced briefly at Shirley’s face before lowering her eyes, her voice barely audible, “Sister Shirley, what brought you here so late?”
Shirley crossed her arms, her gaze icy and her tone even colder, “Constantine is dead. Staying here any longer is meaningless. With fewer guards on patrol tonight, we should escape quickly.”
Maureen stiffened slightly, clearly startled by Shirley’s sudden statement.
She quickly turned her head away, replying softly, “Sister Shirley, I… I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Shirley let out a mocking laugh, “Didn’t Constantine tell you? Hmph, not that he has the chance to anymore. Did you really think that old man would only send you to gather intelligence on the Silver Dragon clan? If you’re discovered, it will mean certain death.”
Upon hearing this, Maureen bit her lower lip, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her dress into fists.
After a moment of hesitation, she finally mustered the courage to look up at Shirley, “Sister Shirley, I really don’t understand what you’re talking about. I won’t tell anyone about what you said tonight. Please, go back. I… I need to sleep.”
With that, Maureen attempted to close the door.
But Shirley was quick, slamming her palm against the door.
The loud slap startled Maureen.
She shrank back, her voice trembling, “Sister Shirley…”
“I’ve received news that Rosvitha and Leon are about to conduct a thorough investigation of the Silver Dragon clan from top to bottom. You and I both know what happens to spies and traitors under dragon law. If we don’t leave now, we’ll never get another chance.”
“I… I…” Maureen hesitated, her eyes full of panic.
“Tomorrow morning, Anna will gather all the maids and Silver Dragon guards for questioning and investigation,” Shirley pressed on, her voice speeding up.
“Maureen, are you sure that after all these years of passing information, you haven’t left a single trace? Are you certain you won’t be discovered?”
Shirley’s tone grew more urgent, “Even I can’t guarantee that, which is why I’m planning to run tonight.”
“Escaping offers a slim chance of survival. But staying here, if we’re discovered, it’s a death sentence. Don’t you understand that, Maureen?”
“I know you might be clinging to a shred of hope, or maybe you think Rosvitha might show mercy if you’re caught. But we can’t leave our fate to luck or someone else’s hands.”
“Our lives… are only truly secure when they’re in our own hands.”
With that, Shirley lifted her hand and firmly placed it on Maureen’s shoulder.
“I’ll be waiting for you in the back hills of the sanctuary. You have ten minutes to decide. If I don’t see you in ten minutes, I’ll leave on my own. Whether you live or die, it’s up to you.”
With those words, Shirley turned and walked back into the corridor, climbing out of the window again.
The sound of her footsteps faded away, leaving Maureen standing at her door, feeling a chilling cold spreading through her body.
That coldness came from fear.
…
Ten minutes later, in the back hills of the sanctuary, Shirley, leaning against a cherry blossom tree, finally saw the frail figure approaching.
Maureen cautiously approached, the tip of her tail curling slightly as her eyes scanned her surroundings warily. As she got closer to Shirley, she finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Have you made up your mind?” Shirley asked, arms crossed and head tilted.
“Yes, I have,” Maureen replied. “Staying here, if we’re discovered, there’s no escaping death… Besides, Constantine had promised me a share of the Silver Dragon territory if we successfully got rid of Rosvitha. But now that he’s dead, there’s no point in me staying here.”
Her tone was extremely flat, as if talking about ‘getting rid of Rosvitha’ was as mundane as asking ‘Did you have breakfast?’
Shirley raised an eyebrow slightly, “How long have you been with Rosvitha?”
Maureen thought for a moment, “Over ten years, I guess.”
Following a diligent and fair queen for over a decade, only to betray her for someone else’s empty promises. Shirley didn’t dwell on this thought too much. After all, she had completed her task for the night.
“Let’s leave quickly, Sister Shirley. We can talk more once we’re away from here.” Maureen stepped forward, trying to pull Shirley along.
But Shirley stepped back and shook off Maureen’s hand.
Maureen was momentarily stunned, “Sister Shirley, what are you…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the previously dark night sky was suddenly illuminated by several bursts of dragon fire.
Immediately after, several people carrying torches emerged from the cherry blossom grove.
And among them was Rosvitha.
With silver hair and tail, a floor-length gown, an icy gaze, and a face as cold as frost, Rosvitha exuded an unmistakable aura of queenly authority.
The moment Maureen’s eyes met those commanding dragon eyes, her mind went completely blank.
Cold sweat instantly covered her body, and a persistent ringing filled her ears.
Thud-thud—thud-thud—
She could hear the dull thumping of her heart clearly in her chest.
At this moment, all her senses seemed heightened to the extreme due to tension, shock, panic, and fear.
Even the air she inhaled felt like knives cutting her lips.
“Ros…vitha…”
Traitors belong on a pike