CH 39

Chapter - 39 || The Worst Was Yet To Come

Youssef naturally strolled over towards the building, making sure no one was watching him.

Then, he slipped the cart behind a pillar, out of sight.

"There we go."

I had to hurry.

Time was short, and the gathering was to take place behind the kitchen.

"It's probably this way."

He had learnt the directions to some extent.

He had also been to multiple mansions growing up, so he left it to his experience.

However,

"This is bad..."

I was so nervous that I inadvertently walked out into a small, clean place.

There were neatly pruned plants and delicately carved fountains.

It was a courtyard for noblemen to walk around in, not a place for menial workers to hang out.

Youssef hurriedly tried to turn back.

But then,

"Who are you?"

A sharp voice rang.

Multiple knights surrounded him.

Youssef understood the situation and hastily apologized.

"I apologize. I am a street vendor who sells goods but I got lost. Please pardon my rudeness."

He said this desperately, hanging his head low.

One of the knights said coldly,

"Hands up."

I had to do as I was told.

—One of the knights scanned me for any weapons.

"I don't have anything on me."

"I see."

One knight said to another who was yet unconvinced.

"Well, well, Julius. Indeed, I've heard that today's dinner is quite large in both variety and quantity. An unfamiliar vendor could wander in."

Youssef bowed his head.

"I apologize for the inconvenience."

Youssef was a merchant to the core. He was used to apologizing.

Perhaps due to that, the knights bought it and moved along.

"This is no place for the likes of you. Leave."

"Yes!"

On the verge of breaking out in a cold sweat, Youssef hurried, knowing that the knight Julius was glaring at him to the end.

The gathering of the vendors was at a damp, deserted, and shadowed place.

"You're late."

Jay said.

Youssef replied, wiping the sweat with his sleeve,

"I got lost."

"Oh."

Jay said while giving a concerned face.

"No, I'm fine. I'm sorry to keep you waiting when we were short on time."

Jay was a cook at the court and Youssef's drinking buddy.

They had met by chance at a bar in the capital, and since then they had become friends and had started drinking together.

It was thanks to Jay that I was able to impersonate as a food vendor this time.

"I'd better get back soon. You must be very busy on a day like this."

It was the King's wedding. He must have been dizzyingly busy.

But Jay laughed,

"Well, if you work as fast as me, it gets easy."

"Oh, we need to hurry."

Youssef said, and Jay pointed.

"This way."

In the dimly lit bush Jay indicated, a large bag was hidden.

"Look."

He looked inside and saw that it contained the clothes of a security guard. Youssef quickly changed into it.

"What do you think?"

"For all intents and purposes, you look like a tired, middle-aged security guard."

"Tired? Well I guess so."

"It's no use. You've been so tuckered out lately."

Youssef tried to laugh at Jay's light-hearted remark, but he couldn't do it well.

Jay didn't laugh either.

Youssef didn't say what he was going to do, and Jay didn't ask.

He just cooperated with him.

For that, Youssef was truly grateful.

"Thanks for your help. Here's half the money I promised."

When I said that and tried to give him the same amount I had given him before, Jay shook his head.

"Yes?"

"I'll take half."

"Why?"

"You can pay me back in booze when you get back in one piece. I'll drink it all on your account."

Youssef could not agree immediately.

Jay raised a eyebrow painfully.

"I don't know what you're going to do, but does it have to be you?"

"...I don't know."

"Then why are you being so reckless? You could have just pretended not to know anything."

It was the same thing that Youssef had been thinking about for a long time.

Why am I risking my life for an old man I've never met?

However, Youssef muttered,

"I have a feeling that if I turn a blind eye here, something worse will happen."

"Worse?"

"Oh, the worst is not now. The worst is ahead. So, I thought, maybe it's not too late."

Jay's mouth moved as if searching for words, but he soon took on his usual cheerful tone.

"Alright."

"Jay—"

"Just so you know, I'm not saying I won't take your money. When you're done, come to my regular bar. I'll order all the expensive stuff."

And then Jay walked off.

Youssef thanked him in the back of his mind.