The Beloved Daughter of the Crime Family, Even After Reincarnation Became the Young Lady of a Gangst

The Secret of the Forest

Leaving the capital on a carriage, one would soon see the lush greenery of nature spreading wide across the country.

After the heavy rains of June, the summer was mostly clear weather every day.

During the rainy season, it’s always a heavy downpour, as if trying to wash away everything with it, but then after that, it disappears like a traveller passing by.

Under the bright sunlight, the grass and plants that had been raised plentiful thanks to the heavy rains before, were now lush, lively and looked full of vigour. Even as the winds blow strongly, the fresh greenery was deeply rooted the soil and showed no signs of budging.

Walking through said forest, Francesca inhaled deeply to breathe in and enjoy this fresh air to its maximum.

“Mmm, What a nice wind……!”

The hem of her summer-use thin dress danced and swayed with the wind as well, as if it too was enjoying it. She wore her straw hat, decorated with the ribbon and flowers, which was of course, Francesca’s favourite one.

A large river was flowing beside her, and the surface of the water was sparkling like gems under the sunlight. Birds sang while sitting on the branches of the trees surrounding her as Francesca continued to make her way through the forest.

“A bright sun, the cool shade of the trees, now this truly is the perfect atmosphere for a forest! And above all…….”

Turning to look behind her, she waved the hem of her dress.

“this is perfect for a BBQ, Leonardo!”

“Hahahaha!”

Beside the river, a bunch of adults had built a makeshift stove and kitchen with rocks and stones.

Leonardo who was walking beside her, for some reason, seemed to be genuinely happy, as he continued to observe Francesca.

“You really are incredible. To think a day would come where the family heads and members of the Calvino and Aldini family would come together and cooperate, all for the sake of roasting meat beside a river.”

“Aren’t summer vacations just the best! After all, this is the only time we can have fun like this! And above all, I’ve longed for this for so long! A summer vacation with a friend……!!”

A long lasting dream from her past life, was finally being fulfilled today for her.

Before she fell asleep last night, she kept pinching her cheeks to make sure that this was not all just a dream but, even now she still felt that it was surreal that this was all actually happening.

“I doubt you could even imagine just how long, how much I have waited for a day like this Leonardo!”

“I wouldn’t go that far, you know?”

Standing under the shade of the trees, Leonardo giggled as he took Francesca’s hand in his own.

“It’s not just you. I too had been looking forward to today quite a lot.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Leonardo normally had his usual musk-scented perfume applied on his body.

Whenever the wind would blow, he would give off this adult-like air that you wouldn’t expect from a 17yr old but, today he had a different scent on.

It was a clean, clear green scent. Normally it’d make one feel pure and fresh but with Leonardo being who he was, and couple with his deep voice, in the end he ended up having his usual but slightly different seductiveness anyway.

“……..that very ‘summer-like’ hat of yours, it suits you quite well.”

Saying that, he gently combed through Francesca’s hair.

“hey Leonardo!”

“Oops.”

Francesca made a big cross with both her hands in front of her face.

“STOPP! Your overly flirty gentleman-mode towards ladies is coming out again!”

“Is it? I really only do this stuff with you alone though, Francesca .”

“Still, that’s no good! After all, this feels more like we’re lov—–….”

“Francesca.”

“!”

Smiling, Leonardo questioned Francesca.

“Do you mind verifying my hypothesis? The real reason you came to this forest is because you want to get close to them, right?”

His golden moonlit eyes stared directly at her.

“——-the assassin themselves, that is.”

“……….you saw through me after all huh Leonardo…….”

Hearing him hit the bull’s eye, Francesca easily admitted to it as she never intended to hide it in the first place. Leonardo shrugged his shoulders, gazed towards the river flowing past the trees.

“This forest is also the territory of one the great 5 families, specifically the Ranieris. But you made a request to Luka-sama directly, and got special permission from the King himself.”

As for how they ended up coming to this forest, it would seem Leonardo had been closely paying attention to it all as well.

Francesca had made this request to Luka the day they met in that throne room.

[This is my request Luka-sama. Could you please use your authority to allow us to enter the forest in the Ranieri family’s territory?]

[That forest specifically?]

[Yes, we can go with the story that I made a selfish request to you to [play in the forest close to the capital!] or something like that!]

Francesca continued to tell her request to Luka who was earnestly listening to her request.

[I’m sure all nobles already know how kind you are towards kids. And all noble families, cannot refuse the use of their land temporarily if it is a request directly from you, their King.]

[That is certainly true. “Francesca asked me to let her play in that forest so lend it for a while.” If I order it like that, I doubt they’ll raise any suspicions. And neither would they refuse.]

Luka was always quick on the uptake. He closed his eyes with [hmm], and then questioned Francesca.

[But if you do, the Ranieris would certainly decrease their respect and valuation of you Francesca. They would call you a dumb tomboy that selfishly asked the king to play in someone else’s territory.]

[I’m okay with that. I don’t plan on living in the underworld in the future anyway!]

It didn’t matter to her no matter what kind of spoilt kid they think of her to be. Luka laughed amusingly, and consented to Francesca’s [selfish demand].

And thus, they had arrived at the forest to solve the assassination plot. And of course, Leonardo had deduced it all already.

“A vast majority of Ranieri family’s profits comes from their brothel business. Even among those, their main source comes specifically from the high class prostitutes.”

It was as Leonardo had said. Those girls were just your ordinary prostitutes that offered a temporary love for a night.

“These high class girls are taught proper etiquette and education, and would come as escorts with their customers to socialite parties, and were often required to entertain guests from neighbouring countries as well, right?”

“Precisely. And this forest is a place that the Ranieris often rent to their guests as a place for relaxation and clean socialising.”

That was also a reason why this forest, that was only a little bit away from the capital, was a place commoners couldn’t and wouldn’t enter. This forest was sealed to prevent crimes, and anyone that didn’t agree with the Ranieri family’s wishes were not allowed inside.

And so, Francesca had to use the authority of the king to enter this place.

“Graziano’s father……..marquis Savini is a top rate trader from what I understand, right? And whenever he’s negotiating with a foreign country, he asks and cooperates with the Ranieris for help, corect?”

“Amazing. You’ve already investigated that much eh?”

“I heard a lot about the marquis from Luka-sama himself, and I assume that he’s already very cautious against the killer. Inside the city, he’ll always be surrounded by guards, who’ll be on high alert……..and the only place where he can’t arm himself like that is here, a place designed to keep its inhabitants relaxed.”

And sure enough, in the game as well, the marquis was not allowed to bring his full set of guards into this forest.

“And the assassin will also move knowing full well of this fact. That’s why……..I think the killer will hide among the guests inside this forest.”

And of course, in the game the marquis was indeed shot to death by a [guest] as well.

(The assassin, was quite literally some random mob character. He had no name, and not even a distinct face illustration, so I don’t know who or what kind of person I have to be on the lookout for……..)

Like last time, even if the general framework of the story was followed, there was a good chance various details might change.

(Things might not go the way it did in the game whose answer I already know. After all, this is..)

Francesca continued to stare at Leonardo standing in front of her.

(A world where I know that Leonardo is not the mastermind and is in fact my dear friend after all.)