CHAPTER 96………………………………..
[It seems our turn has finally come. I’ll see you soon at the detached palace, my lord.]
The telepathic message from Nox, hidden within the shadow of a woman, echoed in Asterios’s mind.
‘Alright. Be careful not to get caught. If it’s the Holy King, even you, hidden in the shadows, might be discovered.’
[Yes.]
After giving his warning to Nox, Asterios rose from his seat. The last drop of water fell from the spout of the watering can into the flowerpot.
It was already the second week of the second trial. If his calculations were right, by the morning of the thirteenth day, the buds would begin to bloom.
“I hope it blossoms right on time.”
The seed he planted had been a day later than the others. Whispering softly, Asterios brushed his lips against the leaves that had grown more than a hand’s span tall. Perhaps it was because the Empress had told him to raise it with the same care he held for “her” — tending to the flower felt as though he were raising that woman from childhood.
Thankfully, the sprout had burst forth with vivid green leaves and had grown rapidly within a week. Now it stood as tall as an adult’s hand, and within another week, it would grow even faster. By the following week, it would surely be ready to bloom.
Asterios turned the pot slightly so it could receive the most sunlight streaming into the room. He prayed that all the flowers in everyone’s pots — each imbued with their own secret meanings — would bloom safely.
Then he turned and headed toward the Princess’s palace to serve as Roziana’s escort. Today, too, the princess had two scheduled tea sessions with the chosen candidates.
Mephisto entered the Tower Master Edwin’s room as naturally as if it were his own, settling onto the sofa. The waiting attendant mage, well-accustomed to his visits, poured him tea. Mephisto lifted the cup with practiced ease, while Edwin, brewing a potion at his desk, clicked his tongue.
“Hah, at this rate, we might actually start liking each other.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Thanks to Asterios’s mediation, the two men had been meeting daily outside of their flower-tending hours. Until they could fully uncover the Holy King’s plan, they gathered to share information and devise countermeasures.
Conversations between two men whose combined age neared a thousand years were, to say the least, uneventful.
“Tenebres must be having a rough time,” Mephisto said with a smirk. Edwin raised an eyebrow, curious.
“What do you mean?”
After sealing the potion bottle he had just completed, Edwin came over to sit across from him. The servant set another fragrant cup of tea before him.
“Think about it. He has to watch the woman he’s devoted his life to meeting other men — all under the pretext of being her guard.”
Mephisto chuckled, but even his laughter felt dry and brittle. Even without seeing her directly, the thought alone burned them up inside.
“Hm. Personally, if I couldn’t draw her attention anyway, I wouldn’t mind just watching,” Edwin mused.
“Click.” Mephisto tsked disapprovingly. “That’s foolish. It only stirs up your heart for nothing. Better not to see at all. If I saw my lady sipping tea and locking eyes with another man, I’d probably burn the place down and kidnap her on the spot.”
Edwin shook his head — as expected, that temper of his hadn’t changed a bit.
“You think Asterios is any different? His love has lasted the longest of us all. If anything, I admire his restraint.”
Surely, Asterios’s heart must have already been scorched black by now, serving faithfully by her side despite his feelings.
“It’s about time, isn’t it?” Edwin said, glancing at his pocket watch.
Right on cue, the door opened, and Asterios entered.
“Welcome.”
Edwin, who had been on icy terms with him just days ago, greeted him warmly. Mephisto only snorted, tilting his chin slightly — a gesture telling Asterios to sit beside him. Understanding, Asterios took his seat next to Mephisto, his long black hair swaying softly.
“I’d like everyone to make time tonight,” he said immediately.
Both Edwin and Mephisto turned their gazes toward him. They were already aware, through Asterios, of the woman the Holy King was searching for — and that her appearance perfectly matched that of Izeph.
“So the woman is coming here tonight, then,” Edwin noted.
Asterios nodded.
“Just as planned. Mephisto, prepare Neir.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll prepare to divert the Holy King’s attention,” Edwin added.
Mephisto nodded, and Asterios gave a faint smile.
“Good. The duke’s carriage and men are already on standby.”
With that single statement, everything necessary to smuggle the woman to the Grand Duke’s estate was confirmed.
Had Izeph been in better health, he too would have been here with them, Asterios thought briefly — until Mephisto’s voice cut through.
“But what about that ex-priest? Is it alright to just leave him be?”
Today was the day the woman resembling Izeph would enter the detached palace. None of them knew why the Holy King sought her or what connection she might have to Izeph. Even Izeph himself seemed unaware of who she truly was.
Could it be… that the woman the Holy King sought was the last surviving celestial?
They also had to consider the possibility that this was all a trap.
“I asked His Highness to have Sir Thomas remain by Izeph’s side for now. Let’s focus on winning the woman over to our side first,” Asterios said.
Both Edwin and Mephisto nodded in agreement. Since they couldn’t read Gregoryan’s true intentions, all they could do was chip away at the mystery, piece by piece. Outside, the setting sun slowly sank past the gardens.
And at last, night fell.
At Mephisto’s command, Neir transformed to look identical to Izeph. The plan was simple — Neir would go in the woman’s place to approach the Holy King and uncover his motives, while the real woman would be escorted to safety.
At the rear of the shadowed detached palace, the Bastel family’s carriage arrived, carrying two cloaked women. Each held a basket in hand.
“This way, please,” said Sir Bastel. The women silently followed, baskets filled with freshly baked bread and fragrant flowers. The pretext was that they had come to offer thanks — as the Bastel viscount’s father had been miraculously healed by the Holy King’s power after a crippling wartime injury.
In truth, Bastel had never expected the search for the white-haired woman the Holy King requested would be so arduous or long.
“Haa… I really hope this one passes the test,” he muttered under his breath. Finding the right woman had proven far more difficult than delivering gifts.
“Now, one at a time, step forward.”
Tonight’s destination was the Great Sage’s chamber. After repeated failures, the procedure had changed — the women would first be shown to the Sage, and only if he confirmed a match would they be taken to the Holy King.
The attendant priest knocked on the door after confirming Bastel’s identity. Just then, from the shadow of the second woman, a dark ripple extended — and yanked the leg of the woman standing in front.
“Ah!”
The woman stumbled, spilling the contents of her basket.
“Oh my! I-I’m so sorry!”
Flustered, Bastel hurried to help.
“Oh dear… These offerings can’t be presented once dropped. I’ll fetch new ones from the carriage. Please wait here a moment.”
As he ordered someone to retrieve replacements, Nox emerged from the shadow of the flustered woman and took control of both women’s minds.
“I-I need to use the restroom,” one said.
“M-me too…” the other stammered.
“Both of you? Now?” Bastel’s face twisted at the absurdity of the situation.
“Well… fine. While the goods are being replaced, let’s make it quick. This way.”
He escorted them to the servants’ washroom and stood guard outside.
Inside, Neir awaited — and came face to face with the woman identical to Izeph.
“Hello.”
“Oh— oh my!”
The woman fainted instantly, and Nox appeared from the shadows to catch her falling body.
“My, my. You look perfect like that,” Neir teased, licking her lips — only for Nox to shoot her a frosty glare.
“Cut the nonsense and stick to your role.”
“Hmph.” Neir sniffed and exited the washroom in place of the unconscious woman.
Cloaked and composed, she followed Sir Bastel and the other veiled woman down the corridor. Their footsteps echoed softly until they reached the door of the Great Sage Daniel’s chamber.
Creak— The door opened, and Daniel appeared.
“Ah, offerings for His Holiness. Please, come in.”
He held the door wide, inviting the three inside.
At the same time—
Izeph, lying in bed, suddenly opened his eyes.
