But… the angel who was supposedly invited by "Lust" but was actually leaning toward "Pride" or Vera—was their primary goal to watch over George III?
Not "Hand of Order" William I, not "Balancer" Duke Nerville… but specifically George III, who outwardly wasn't even a demigod!
That meant Princess Vera knew George III's background very well… which wasn't surprising, but she had actually said it outright without the slightest hesitation!
What exactly was she trying to do?
Before meeting her today, Ebner's impression of Vera had been that she was a marginal figure in the secretive Augustus family—someone who, although she had become a demigod through her own efforts, was still a pitiable soul who could be casually sold out…
But after the conversation they had just had, Ebner completely overturned his earlier assumptions. This princess clearly hid far greater secrets than he had imagined. Her stance was unclear, her mind unpredictable, and she wasn't even a character who had appeared in the original story. That made it even harder for him to figure out her background and intentions.
At most, he could roughly judge that although she was George III's younger sister, their relationship was very poor—otherwise she would never have brought Xio, who bore a grudge against the king, into MI9, nor would she so casually reveal the royal family's deepest secret.
Was she doing this deliberately, using him to leak news to the orthodox churches backing him? Or was she certain he already knew, and thus unconcerned?
He was starting to doubt whether seeking her cooperation had been the right choice… but Lilith's oracle had been for him to "go ahead without hesitation"… which meant it probably wasn't a big problem? Or that even if there was, she would handle the fallout?
Thinking this, Ebner spoke half in testing, half in sincerity, "Your Highness… no, Vera, to be honest, this was really beyond my expectations… It seems that even without my help, you wouldn't be in any danger."
"No, without your help, I might have exposed some issues to my brother. That's why I'm willing to help you cover certain things… because it's beneficial to me as well." Vera replied with a smile.
Although it made sense, he still felt she was plotting something deeper… Ebner muttered to himself but didn't probe further. After all, this was only their second meeting; it wasn't the right time to dig too deep… everyone had their own secrets.
As for whether she would turn on him afterward, Ebner wasn't too worried. Not only did he have plenty of cards up his sleeve, but based on past experience, Lilith or the Evernight Goddess would never allow his life to be at risk in Backlund… if necessary, perhaps even vessels for their descent would come flying to him…
And as long as he stayed alive, Xio wouldn't be in danger either.
With that thought, Ebner said solemnly, "Since the plan is already set, let's sign a 'contract.'"
But Vera shook her head, pricked her finger to draw some of her own blood, and said with a smile, "No need for something so troublesome. I'll give you my blood… if I truly break our agreement, you can use it against me anytime… I'm guessing you have many ways to track me or even curse me using it.
"This is also my sincerity."
Willing to give her blood, yet unwilling to request a god to notarize the contract? And given that he was openly known as a Blessed of a deity—if she really broke their agreement, and he handed the blood to that deity, the punishment she would suffer would be far worse than from a "contract"!
It seemed the secrets she carried were not small at all.
After thinking for a moment, Ebner accepted the blood, sealed it with spirituality, and then looked into Vera's eyes. "Sorry, but I won't be giving you my blood in return."
"That's fine, I told you… I trust you!" Vera's eyes curved as she replied casually.
This… really didn't seem like a lie… but where did her trust in him come from? Your Highness, we barely even know each other! Ebner was puzzled, even rifling through the original body's memories, but confirmed he had never had any contact with her before.
Even until the sun was nearly rising, when Vera stood, lifted her skirt slightly in a curtsey, and departed, Ebner still hadn't figured out the answer.
Her trust in me… is very similar to Lilith's indulgence toward me, and the Goddess's favor toward me… But those two are likely because I'm a transmigrator bearing the "Pure White Eye"...
Could she be one too?
Hmm… boldly guessing, maybe she's not truly Vera at all… which is why she feels no attachment to the Augustus family and can casually betray their secrets…
A certain long-lived demigod or angel who once had dealings with previous transmigrators?
I recall Xio once telling me that this princess not only possesses a sealed artifact from the Tamara family, but also knows quite a bit about their history…
And when Xio was in East Chester County, she once met members of the Tamara family, even served as a tool for a certain psychic dragon, delivering a letter for a lady of that family…
So, could this Princess Vera actually be a member of the Tamara family? And Xio's encounter in East Chester was arranged because she carried traces of the "Pure White Eye"'s aura?
While such speculations crowded Ebner's mind, Xio, who had been busy all night, pushed the door open and entered, carrying breakfast.
After greeting him, she sat on the sofa Vera had occupied earlier, pushed a plate of bread and bacon toward him, and asked casually, "How did your talk with Her Highness go? She's a serious and conservative person, so don't take offense."
Serious and conservative… Ebner recalled her attire and the ever-present smile on her lips, and suddenly felt as if he'd met the wrong person last night.
"Very smoothly. We'll act tomorrow night." Ebner didn't elaborate, just nodded, then sandwiched the bacon into the bread and took a bite.
…
In an unremarkable villa in St. George Borough, "Lust" Owen Delien had just settled the visiting ladies "Greed" and "Sloth" into their respective rooms before politely taking his leave and returning by carriage to the embassy in West Borough.
Upon arrival, he went straight to his office, spent some time indulging himself with the waiting "Saintess of White" Katarina, then exhaled in relief and muttered as if venting, "The aftereffects are getting worse… I almost couldn't suppress my urges just now, nearly making a move on 'Greed' and 'Sloth'…
"The side effects of that item, combined with the 'Lust' mask, are truly terrifying!
"Fortunately, I'll soon have Vera under my control. Once I get the complete brain of the 'Mist Monster' from her, I can advance to Sequence 3 'Cognizer' of the Reader pathway!
"And as a 'Cognizer,' I should have enough means to counter these desires… after all, the 'White Tower' is absolute madness within absolute calm… the desire for knowledge will suppress all other desires."
The "trampled" Katarina silently dressed herself, her eyes shifting as she asked with a smile, "So, those two ladies 'Sloth' and 'Greed' are both very beautiful?"
"I didn't see their faces, but their figures, bearing, and status already stirred my urges!" Owen finished, then looked at Katarina with a meaningful smile. "I know what you're trying to do. I even know that your pirate admiral daughter has already arrived in Backlund, but I don't care, because she and they will all be mine sooner or later.
"Your little scheme to provoke me against those two ladies, and the little moves you and your daughter make, are just small episodes in my future conquest of them. Sooner or later—I'm in no rush.
"We'll talk after I become a 'Cognizer.'"
With that, he gave Katarina a squeeze, then left the office to her pained cry and headed toward the study.
He had already sensed the arrival of his brother, the "Black Knight" Seyrow.
Only after watching Owen's back disappear did Katarina slowly take out a red gem from the mirror she carried and murmur, "He really didn't notice… this gem works!"
A strange gleam shone in her eyes.
…
March 6th, Sunday night, 8 p.m.
The ball at the Cross Earl's mansion was in full swing. At this moment, Princess Vera, led by the Earl's eldest son, Wilson, entered the underground projection hall.
The moment she stepped in, she sharply sensed that the space was completely sealed off, as if cut off from the real world.
On the small stage before the curtain, Owen was leering at Vera with a wide grin.
"Welcome, Your Highness.
"This is a play I've prepared just for you.
"Thanks to the machine invented by Detective Bryan, I'll be recording your process of submitting to me in full shortly."
With that, he clapped his hands, and the five demigods—"Greed," "Pride," "Sloth," "Black Knight," and "Unaging"—appeared together on the stage.
"Six against one, Your Highness… I hope you won't resist." Owen offered "politely."
(End of this chapter)