Saga of the Two-World Emperor
Volume 1: A Spark in the Ashes
Chapter 13 – Misinformation and an Unexpected Condition
In Lady Isabella's opulent study, the fragrant scent of fine floral tea filled the air. The servant girl, Emma, stood before her mistress, her head bowed low. Her body trembled slightly, an uncontrollable reaction not to the cold, but to pure, unadulterated fear.
"Well? What has the boy been doing?" Lady Isabella asked, her voice a smooth, silken thread as she slowly traced the rim of her porcelain teacup with a manicured finger.
"My Lady… the Second Young Master has spent most of his time in his room," Emma reported, reciting the words Adrian had coached her on verbatim. "He… he just reads strange, old-looking books and mutters to himself about 'the philosopher's stone' and 'turning lead into gold'."
The phrase "turning lead into gold" made Lady Isabella's fingers pause for a fraction of a second. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Alchemy… Utter nonsense," she said aloud, but her tone held a flicker of interest she couldn't quite conceal. "And the money he gave to Demian? Did he say where it came from?"
"I… I tried to ask Lilia, my lady," Emma stammered convincingly. "But Lilia said the Young Master wouldn't say a word, only that it was the 'last treasure' left to him by the former Lady."
*Her treasure?* Lady Isabella frowned. *I went through everything. There shouldn't be anything left… Or did she truly hide something?*
"Very good," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "Continue to watch him. Especially those books. If you find anything that looks like a 'formula' or a 'diagram', bring it to me immediately. You may leave."
"Yes, my Lady." Emma curtsied and scurried out of the room.
Lady Isabella took a sip of her tea, her eyes glinting with a complex light.
*Forbidden arts… While it seems like foolish superstition, if there is even the slightest chance of it being real… it is worth keeping an eye on.*
Meanwhile, Adrian was using every minute to his advantage. He paid no mind to his stepmother's schemes, as everything was proceeding exactly as he had predicted.
The following two weeks were dedicated to "investing" in his most crucial asset: his own body.
Every morning, he forced himself to do light exercises in the abandoned garden. It wasn't strenuous training, but a slow, deliberate process of stretching and rebuilding strength. Where he once would have been breathless after walking a few hundred paces, he could now walk around the entire manor without feeling overly exhausted. The better-quality food that Lilia secretly brought him every day was also working wonders, nourishing his body from the inside out.
His nights were for absorbing knowledge. He would sit under the flickering candlelight, devouring the texts Finn had procured for him at an astonishing speed. His brain, once used to managing complex business data, assimilated the laws, history, and geography of this new world as if it were familiar territory.
"My lord… this is the last text you ordered."
One night, Finn snuck into his shabby room as usual. He placed an old, leather-bound book on the table.
"Fundamentals of Potion-Making… This one was the hardest to find. Cost me a pretty penny," Finn said with a shrug.
"You've done well," Adrian said, handing him another small pouch of coins. "This is your payment. And I have a new task for you."
"Name it," Finn replied, catching the pouch deftly.
"I want you to start building a 'network'," Adrian said in a low voice. "Not just in the Shadow Alley. I want you to have 'eyes' and 'ears' everywhere… in the taverns, the markets, the docks, even among the city guards. I want to know every rumor, every movement, every piece of gossip that happens in this city."
Finn let out a low whistle.
"That's a big job, my lord. It will take a lot of money and time."
"I know," Adrian replied. "And I will provide you with both. Start small. Show me what you can do."
"You got it, my lord," Finn grinned slyly. "Let's just call it an investment in our shared future."
After Finn left, Adrian immediately opened the potion-making text. He scanned the illustrations of herbs and symbols with interest, but then… his eyes locked onto a drawing of one particular flower.
It had layers of deep blue petals and a shimmering silver center… it was the exact same flower as the **pressed flower** he had found in his old notebook back in his world! (Reference: Chapter 3)
Beneath the illustration was a description:
**"Shadowmoon Bloom - A mythical, illusory flower. It is said to bloom only on the night of the Blue Moon. Possesses the property of 'amplifying' the spiritual energy of its holder, but is a deadly poison if used incorrectly… Currently believed to be extinct."**
Adrian's heart began to beat faster for reasons he couldn't explain.
*This flower… it's from this world? Then how did it end up in my notebook in Valeria?*
A new, profound mystery had presented itself… but he had to push it aside for now, as a more immediate problem had arrived.
The next morning… Demian kicked his door open once again.
"Mother is asking for you… now!" he said, his voice laced with unconcealed glee.
Adrian followed Demian to Lady Isabella's study. This time, the atmosphere was different. She was waiting for him alone. On her desk lay a letter with a broken wax seal.
"Sit," she said flatly.
Adrian sat down quietly.
"It seems your 'fiancée' is eager to get acquainted," she sneered. "Lord Cornelius has sent a letter… He wishes to 'test' his future son-in-law."
She slid the letter across the desk towards him.
"He is a merchant. He sees everything as an investment. And he wants to be sure that the 'product' he is acquiring… has enough 'value' to be worth his massive dowry."
Adrian picked up the letter. The handwriting was elegant, but the tone was condescendingly polite.
The gist of it was this: Lord Cornelius owned an old iron mine that had once been immensely profitable, but for the past few years, it had yielded no ore and had become a failing, money-losing asset. He was "inviting" Adrian to travel to the mine in three days to "offer his advice" on how this failed business could be turned around.
It was an impossible test… a setup designed to publicly humiliate him in front of the wealthy family.
Lady Isabella watched him, expecting to see despair and fear.
"You understand what this means, don't you? If you fail… this engagement might be called off… and you will go back to being a 'burden' to this family."
But what she saw… was not fear.
Adrian placed the letter down gently. He looked up and met her eyes… and for the first time, Lady Isabella saw him truly smile.
It wasn't the cold smile from before… it was the smile of a **predator** that had just seen a plump, juicy prey walk right into its trap.
"Interesting…" Adrian said, his voice a low, thrilling whisper.
"Very interesting indeed."
(End of Chapter 13)