"Good evening, [Blood Bishop]."
Inside the carriage, the red-haired, golden-eyed woman greeted him with a smile.
Luther looked at her coldly.
The carriage's interior was luxurious by any standard. Pale satin lined the walls, hung with burgundy velvet tapestries embroidered in gold thread with the emblem of the Feysac Royal Family. A soft, long-pile carpet from Intis lay underfoot. A hand-painted starry sky adorned the ceiling, and crystal wall lamps cast a warm glow.
The seats were covered with thick velvet cushions. A man and a woman sat facing each other, both wearing clothing unmistakably characteristic of the Feysac Royal Family.
The man had short, bright red hair and wore a dark Feysac military uniform with paired fastenings, his chest laden with medals. He looked past his prime, his features full of authority, but a closer look revealed the dullness in his eyes. He was clearly nothing more than an empty shell.
This imposing puppet never even looked at Luther. He simply kept waving out the window.
"Long live! Long live!"
The crowd's cheers rose in response.
Meanwhile, the carriage's true master, the red-haired woman, met Luther's gaze with a smile.
Her appearance was identical to that of Miss M, whom Luther hated. In particular, the emotionless molten gold flowing in her eyes was so familiar it made him sick. But unlike Miss M in her white Ascetic robes, she wore extraordinarily lavish clothing: a fitted gown of gold brocade and a red velvet cloak, with white ermine trimming the collar and cuffs.
She toyed with a translucent object in her hand. On closer inspection, it resembled a skull made of black crystal. The skull radiated a dense aura of spirituality, its contours shifting constantly. "...Ivanova Einhorn?"
Luther asked in a low voice.
"That's me."
The red-haired, golden-eyed woman answered.