Chapter 19 : a courier of hearts

Ryo checked the address scribbled on the envelope for the fifth time. He didn’t usually care about names—packages were packages—but this one had a red wax seal, pressed with a heart-shaped crest. That alone made him uneasy.
Lara walked at his side, twirling her hair as if bored to death. “So… what’s in it?”
Ryo gave her a sharp look. “It’s sealed. Confidential.”
She smirked. “Confidential? You mean juicy.”
“It’s a love letter,” he admitted reluctantly.
Lara gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “A love letter? And they entrusted you of all people to deliver it? The one who trips over words if a girl says ‘thank you’?”
“Shut up.” He adjusted his satchel and quickened his pace. “I don’t trip over words.”
“You do.”
“Not always.”
All the time.
Ryo groaned. He wasn’t about to let her win, but his face was already heating up. He was sure that delivering weapons, maps, or even cursed artifacts was easier than this.
When they reached the narrow street of the recipient, Ryo hesitated at the door. It was painted a delicate shade of blue, with flowers hanging from the windowsills.
“Go on then,” Lara urged, grinning like a cat ready to pounce.
Ryo knocked.
A moment later, the door creaked open, and a girl with auburn hair peeked out, blinking in surprise. “Yes?”
Ryo froze. For one insane moment, he wanted to drop the letter and run.
Lara coughed loudly behind him. “Say it.”
“Uh… courier delivery,” Ryo muttered, shoving the letter forward like a weapon.
The girl tilted her head, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she recognized the seal. “Oh… it’s from him…”
Ryo turned away, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, uh, good day.” He was already halfway down the steps when Lara called out—
“You’re supposed to wait for a signature, idiot.”
The girl giggled softly, signed the parchment with a trembling hand, and thanked him before closing the door, clutching the letter to her chest like treasure.
Ryo exhaled once they were back on the street. “Done.”
“Done?” Lara raised an eyebrow. “You looked like you were being executed.”
“I was,” Ryo muttered. “Executed by embarrassment.”
Lara laughed until her sides hurt, her golden eyes gleaming. “Who knew the great Ryo, survivor of marauders and assassins, would nearly faint over a love letter delivery?”
He shot her a glare. “I’ll take twenty blades over that any day.”
But even as he grumbled, a faint smile tugged at his lips. For once, it wasn’t death or monsters at the door—it was just human feelings. And maybe… that was scarier.---
“by the way, why a parchment and not a magic paper?”“You brought a letter, not a mana crystal.”“Ah, I see.”“Look, here comes Roseille.”

Roseille chest tightened as she saw him.He fought Storm and still keeps going… he is so manly.
Ryo gave a tired half-smile.“Didn’t expect to see you here,” he said.
Roseille’s lips curved into a teasing smile, though her heartbeat quickened. “Me neither. What did you come here to deliver?”
“A...love letter.” Ryo answered with burning cheeks.
“I didn’t expect to see you carrying other people’s love”
Ryo flushed faintly, scratching his cheek. “Work’s work. Doesn’t matter what it is.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Most men fight to prove they’re strong. You fight, deliver letters, and keep moving. That’s… rare.”
Ryo blinked, caught off guard. “…You make it sound like a good thing.”
Roseille smirked faintly, though her gaze lingered. “Maybe it is.”
The air between them thickened with something unsaid.
And then—
“Ughhh, seriously?” Lara’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. She walked over, arms crossed, her expression dripping with mockery. “Do you two need me to fetch rose petals and background music, or are you fine making me gag right here?”
Roseille’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned her face away. “I was just—”
“Just nothing,” Lara interrupted, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Ryo, you can take a punch from Storm but apparently can’t dodge falling into clichés.”
Ryo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Why are you always like this?”
“Because someone has to keep your admirers in check,” Lara replied sweetly, flashing Roseille a fake innocent smile before leaning closer to Ryo. “Careful, hero. One more of those gooey stares and she’ll be writing you the next love letter.”
Ryo muttered something under his breath, his ears faintly red, while Roseille bit her lip, torn between irritation and embarrassment.
They left, but Ryo didn’t feel well. First the crazy spider girl, and now Storm’s healer… If Storm were to find out, Ryo would be in for another rough time.
Roseille hadn’t expected much when Storm challenged the newcomer. Storm was ruthless, cold, the kind of courier who only focused on work and not word. She’d seen him break men twice Ryo’s size.
But then—against all odds—Ryo had stood his ground. He’d been beaten, bloodied, knocked down more than once, yet something inside him refused to break. The moment his eyes shifted, dark and beast-like, and that strange aura wrapped around him, she felt a chill run down her spine.
And then… admiration.
No one else noticed it, but she had: the way he endured, the way he clawed back into the fight despite the odds. It stirred something in her chest she hadn’t felt in years.
Who are you, Ryo…?


The young woman who had received the letter, was now tracing the wax seal with her fingertips, her eyes narrowing as she studied the letter.
“I see” she murmured softly, almost to herself. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness beneath it, a hidden edge of calculation.
She leaned back slightly, holding the letter up to the light, reading between the lines with a practiced eye. “Not a love letter. A coded message… instructions for spies from another kingdom, the Kingdom of East Geneva.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she shook her head ever so slightly. “Delivering it is one thing—but the consequences if this falls into the wrong hands… could be disastrous.”
She tucked the letter carefully into her sleeve, her gaze lingering on the seal. “Innocence can be dangerous. Too easily exploited.”
For a moment, she let the silence stretch around her, considering the web of intrigue she had just uncovered. Then, with a quiet resolve, she turned and disappeared into the shadows.
She entered the dimly lit chamber, the soft echo of her boots on the stone floor sounding unnaturally loud. The letter was folded carefully in her hand, the wax seal intact, though the coded instructions it contained burned in her mind.
“Sir,” she said, keeping her voice steady, “the delivery has arrived. It was… clever. Disguised as a love letter, but the intent is clear. Instructions for covert operatives from East Geneva 
Her superior looked up from the desk, his sharp eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “I expected as much,” he said calmly. “And the courier?”
She paused, recalling the figure briefly seen in the alley. “Innocent. Unaware. A pawn, nothing more.”
A thin smile curved his lips. “Innocence can be… useful,” he murmured. Then, tilting his head, he added, “But sometimes it’s dangerous. Especially when others are watching. The messenger often carries more than just paper.”
She frowned slightly, a chill running down her spine. “Sir… I trust our network is ready to respond if the sender makes their next move?”
He laughed softly, low and almost predatory. “Response is the easy part. Anticipation—that’s the skill that matters. And we are very skilled.”
The candlelight flickered across his face, shadows dancing in a way that made her wonder—was he truly her superior, or merely another player in this web of spies, waiting to see which way the wind blew?