Chapter 6: Avyanna’s Double Life

While studying with Kairus in the warm, inviting ambiance of the coffee shop, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Avyanna’s phone. The sound cut through their focused silence, making her jolt slightly. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and answered it swiftly.

"Avyanna, come here immediately," Rin’s urgent voice came through the other end of the line, his tone carrying an undeniable weight of urgency.

She let out a quiet sigh, already sensing that something serious was happening. Adjusting her grip on the phone, she responded in a calm but firm voice. "What is it?"

“Naoki requested you to be here. Same address. It’s an emergency,” Rin added, his voice tense, making Avyanna immediately straighten up in concern.

Her eyes flickered toward her study partner, Kairus, who remained completely absorbed in his book, seemingly unaware of the call. The dim glow of the coffee shop lights cast soft shadows on his face, accentuating his sharp, stoic features. Avyanna then shifted her gaze to the large window beside them, watching the city lights flicker beyond the glass. The bustling streets outside contrasted sharply with the stillness inside, but her mind was already racing, calculating her next move.

"Okay, I’ll come," she finally responded, her voice steady despite the tension creeping into her chest. "But let me say goodbye to my study mate first. I’ll contact you once I’m on my way."

Ending the call, she turned back to Kairus, who remained as unreadable as ever, his unwavering focus on his readings. Avyanna hesitated for a brief moment before speaking.

"Isn’t it tiring, reading so much?" she mused internally, watching him before finally gathering the courage to interrupt.

“Can I go home first? I have an emergency at home,” she said, forcing a small, apologetic smile onto her face.

Kairus, with his usual stoic expression—one that reminded her of a strict, no-nonsense CEO—simply lifted his gaze to meet hers.

“Sure, you can go home. It’s okay," he replied in his usual composed manner. Then, with a slight shift in his posture, he added, "I feel drowsy anyway, and I need to close the shop.”

Avyanna glanced around the nearly empty coffee shop before returning her attention to him. His words made her pause, and a slight crease formed between her brows.

“Are you sure you can go home alone? Or should I send you home first?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Kairus looked at her, momentarily confused by her offer. Then, with a slight shake of his head, he reminded her, “You have an emergency, right? You should go now.”

He was right. She did have an emergency.

Letting out a small sigh, Avyanna nodded. "Yeah, sorry, I almost forgot." She quickly began gathering her things, her movements swift and efficient. Kairus watched as she zipped up her bag with practiced ease, her urgency evident.

“I gotta go. Good night!” she called over her shoulder before dashing out of the coffee shop, her heart already racing with anticipation.

As soon as she stepped onto the pavement, the cold night air hit her skin, but she didn’t slow down. She sprinted down the street, weaving through the light evening crowd. The city lights blurred around her as she pushed herself faster, the weight of the unknown pressing against her chest.

Upon reaching the designated meeting place, a black van suddenly pulled up in front of her. Without hesitation, the door slid open, and she swiftly climbed inside.

Inside, the familiar face of her colleague, Ruth, greeted her. Without a word, Ruth handed her a jacket. Avyanna took it, her breath still uneven from running, but she didn’t need to ask any questions.

Something big was about to happen.

Avyanna could feel it in her gut, the way the air inside the van felt heavier than usual, thick with an unspoken tension. She turned to Ruth, her voice steady but laced with curiosity.

“Do you know what happened? Why is it an emergency?” she asked, her sharp gaze scanning Ruth’s face for any hint of information.

Ruth let out a quiet sigh, her fingers tightening slightly around the fabric of her jacket. “Naoki didn’t give us any details, but…” She hesitated before adding, “it’s about the mayor’s event.”

Avyanna’s mind immediately started piecing things together. The mayor’s event? That wasn’t just any gathering—it was high-profile, tightly secured, and heavily guarded. Whatever the mission was, it had to be big. Before she could ask more, Katherine, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“The new girl—her mission is to invade the mayor’s house,” Katherine said, her voice calm yet tinged with something unreadable. “I guess she needs to back out.”

At those words, Avyanna’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. Ever since that girl had arrived, the boss had been unusually indulgent toward her, as if she were something precious to him. Almost like… a daughter.

But how?

The image of the girl flashed through Avyanna’s mind—those unmistakable gray eyes. And then, another image followed: the boss, his eyes the exact same shade of gray. A rare color, one that wasn’t easy to dismiss as coincidence.

But that didn’t make sense. The boss never had a wife.

Ever since Avyanna had stepped foot in the Black House, she had never once seen the Lady of the house. The thought lingered in her mind like an unsolved puzzle, one she couldn’t quite piece together.

She turned to Katherine, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Does the Lord have a wife?”

Katherine blinked at her, then shook her head. “I don’t know either. I haven’t seen her since I started working here.” Her words carried the weight of uncertainty, as if she, too, had wondered about it but never dared to ask.

Before they could continue their conversation, Rin—who had been quiet until now—spoke abruptly, his voice sharp like a blade.

“You two better shut your mouths.”

Both Avyanna and Katherine turned toward him, surprised by his sudden outburst. His expression was unreadable, but his tone left no room for argument.

“The Lord forbids us from discussing the Lady,” Rin continued, his voice dangerously low. “Just obey. If you value your lives, don’t ask questions you’re not supposed to.”

The van fell into an eerie silence.

Avyanna clenched her jaw but said nothing more. She simply leaned back against the seat, letting the weight of his words settle over her.

Something about this entire situation felt off.

Avyanna couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at the back of her mind, but she pushed the thought aside. I guess I don’t need to think about it right now.

“We're here,” Rin announced, his voice breaking the heavy silence inside the van.

Avyanna shifted her gaze outside the window and found herself staring at the grand structure before them—the mayor’s mansion. Towering gates, intricately designed with gold embellishments, stood between them and the sprawling estate beyond. The place radiated power and wealth, its lights gleaming against the dark night sky.

As she studied the building, Rin’s next words caught her completely off guard.

“We are here to assist the mission of the Young Miss.”

Avyanna’s head snapped toward Katherine, who looked just as confused as she felt. Young Miss?

The term wasn’t used lightly. It was a title reserved for someone of high status, typically the daughter or daughter-in-law of the boss. But as far as Avyanna knew, the boss had no daughter… or at least, none that had ever been acknowledged.

For a fleeting moment, her mind drifted back to the past—back when she used to be called "Young Miss" before everything was taken from her. Before her parents were gone.

Rin didn’t give them time to dwell on the information.

“Let’s go. Katherine, just guide Avyanna—you know what to do,” he said before stepping out of the van, his movements swift and purposeful.

Avyanna barely had time to process everything before Katherine turned to her, holding out an outfit.

“Change your clothes,” Katherine instructed, handing her a maid’s uniform. “Wear this.”

Without hesitation, Avyanna grabbed the dress and quickly changed, her mind racing. So, we’re infiltrating as part of the household staff? It wasn’t an unusual tactic, but the lack of information made her uneasy.

Once dressed, the two of them stepped out of the van and approached the mansion's entrance. The grand hall was filled with well-dressed guests, the atmosphere thick with chatter and the soft clinking of glasses. The air carried the scent of expensive cologne, wine, and delicately prepared dishes.

Avyanna forced herself to focus, following Katherine’s lead as they slipped seamlessly into the line of maids serving drinks and food to the attendees. She kept her head slightly bowed, her hands steady as she carried a tray, but her mind was scattered. Who exactly is this ‘Young Miss’ we’re supposed to protect? And why is the boss so invested in her?

“Let’s go,” Katherine whispered, keeping her voice low. “We need to cover the Young Miss. Rin said she’s wearing a gold hairpin.”

That was their only clue. Avyanna’s eyes subtly scanned the crowd, carefully observing every guest.

Then, she spotted her.

“She’s over there,” Avyanna murmured, nodding toward a girl in an elegant dress, a gold hairpin glinting in her neatly styled hair.

Katherine moved first, approaching the girl with practiced ease. She offered her a glass of wine, and without hesitation, the Young Miss took it with a slight nod, acknowledging their presence.

“Be ready,” Katherine warned, her voice barely audible.

At that moment, the lights suddenly went out.

A wave of gasps and startled shouts filled the mansion as guests reacted to the sudden darkness. The once-lively event was thrown into chaos, the flickering of emergency lights casting eerie shadows against the walls.

Katherine moved fast, slipping something into Avyanna’s hand.

“Wear this,” she ordered.

Avyanna didn’t need to ask questions. She immediately put on the item—glasses, or more specifically, night-vision eyewear.

At first, she had thought this mission would be an easy one. How wrong she was.

Pain shot through her body as she pressed a hand against her left arm, where a bullet had torn through flesh. Warm blood seeped between her fingers, staining the fabric of her uniform, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through the agony. The mission wasn’t over yet. She had to endure.

By the time they had completed their task, dawn was already breaking, the first hints of sunlight creeping over the horizon. Exhaustion clung to Avyanna like a heavy weight, but she had no time to rest.

“Just drop me in front of my apartment,” she murmured, barely able to keep her eyes open.

Rin, who had remained silent throughout the ride, simply nodded, maneuvering the van through the quiet streets.

As soon as the vehicle rolled to a stop, Avyanna dragged herself out, her body screaming for rest. But sleep wasn’t an option—not yet.

The moment she stepped into her apartment, she headed straight for the bathroom. The metallic scent of blood clung to her, mixed with sweat and the faint remnants of gunpowder. Stripping off her clothes, she stepped under the cool spray of the shower, letting the water wash away the evidence of the night’s events.

Once clean, she grabbed a roll of bandages from her cabinet. She had initially thought she’d only been hit in the arm, but now that she had time to assess the damage, she realized there were multiple injuries—scratches littered her elbows, deep bruises darkened her legs. She sighed and wrapped the bandage carefully around her wounded arm before pulling on a long-sleeved blouse and a flowing skirt to conceal the bruises.

No one needed to know.

Despite the exhaustion clawing at her, she still had a full day ahead. Class started at eight, but she needed to go earlier—she wanted to have breakfast at the coffee shop first.

By the time she arrived at the café, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, momentarily easing the tension in her body. Moving swiftly, she approached the counter, placed her order, and then settled into a corner table, flipping through her notes while waiting for her food.

She barely had time to process anything before a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Your order,” a deep voice announced.

She looked up, expecting to see a barista, but instead, the man placed her food on the table and then casually slid into the seat across from her.

“You look exhausted,” he noted, his gaze studying her intently. “And alone too. If I remember correctly, you usually have company.”