In a dimly lit room, Xerta sat across from Nicholas, who was quietly watching him.
From the moment he'd seen the man standing at Nicholas's side, Xerta had known. Even with his identity concealed, there was no mistaking him—the masked man from the Norven Organization. The man who frequently traded information with him. The man who, it turned out, was not the organization's true leader.
That man's name was Rubert—at least, that was what he was called within the organization.
So that's how it is… N was you all along, Nicholas Eldoria.
Nicholas smiled faintly, lacing his fingers together as he leaned his elbows on the table. "Let's introduce ourselves again. I am N, leader of Norven," he said evenly. There was none of the foolish, absentminded expression he usually wore. Only sharp calculations are left in his eyes now.
The illegitimate son of the king. The abandoned prince. And yet, this man was N—the one who held the kingdom's deepest secrets, the one pulling the strings in the capital.
"I never would have imagined… Lord Nicholas, you are the head of Norven," Xerta said, his voice betraying uncertainty.
His fingers tapped against his thigh. The pressure bearing down on him was immense—made worse by Rubert's sharp gaze from beside him.
"There's no need to be so tense, Xerta. You know I don't bite."
So this is his true face. A wolf dressed in sheep's clothing.
"Rubert, stop glaring at Xerta. Wait outside."
"But, sir—"
"Rubert."
Just one look from Nicholas was enough to silence him. Without another word, Rubert obeyed and left the room.
"Now then, Xerta. The reason I wanted to meet you directly is because I'd like to continue our… mutually beneficial relationship. In return for Norven's aid in your investigations, I'd like you to assist me as well."
"What is it you want?"
Xerta's chest tightened. Surely Nicholas wasn't about to propose an alliance to overthrow the king? After all, Nicholas wasn't the chosen successor to the throne. His younger brother, Rodhius, had been given that right.
That can't be it… right?
"Have you heard about the recent incidents in the capital?" Nicholas asked, his expression sharpening. "Children from the slums being exploited—forced to steal, sold into slavery. I want you to help me in this matter. As someone with influence among the nobility, your cooperation would be… invaluable."
Xerta hesitated. Solum had already reported disturbing activity in connection with this, and he'd heard the same whispers himself. He had nearly been ensnared in it as well—promises that these guys could cure Sera's curse had lured him.
Leyla… It was because of her that I resolved myself. That's why I proposed to her the very next day at the Nerwine estate.
That day, he had met a man claiming to be a merchant in the Nerwine marketplace. Leyla's intuition had been right about him. Thankfully, he had ordered Solum to follow the man afterward.
I dealt with him quietly.
"Honestly, I've met someone involved in that situation before," he told Nicholas.
"Is that so?"
"That man claimed he could provide a potion to cure my sister's curse. But it was all lies. Unfortunately, I didn't investigate his ties further."
Their gazes locked.
"Heh. Just as I suspected. Truly a reputation befitting your name, Lord Duke," Nicholas said with a sly smile. "Did you kill him?"
"…Who's to say? Interpret it however you like."
Nicholas's lips curved upward, just slightly. "I can imagine you must be even angrier at the one who ruined your wedding."
Xerta's jaw tightened. Rage burned in him even now. The one who had dared murder Priest Johannes, who had nearly taken countless innocent lives… he wanted nothing more than to erase them from existence.
"During our investigation of the ruined church, we discovered something that surprised even me. A dark essence. And it was strong—so strong it felt as though it belonged to a being ancient as the gods themselves."
"Hah… Are you saying the mastermind is as powerful as Helius himself?" Xerta scoffed.
"No, that's not what I mean." Nicholas leaned forward, his tone grave. "Tell me—do you know what people believed in, long before our kingdom was founded? They worshipped a mountain. According to the kingdom's oldest records, it was called Monzuero. The legends say that one night… the mountain vanished."
"That's absurd. A mountain doesn't just disappear."
"Perhaps. A legend, nothing more. But what if it wasn't a mountain at all? What if it was a being—a colossal, otherworldly entity that only appeared to be a mountain? Doesn't that sound… more plausible?"
The moment Nicholas finished speaking, a sudden gust of wind blew the room's windows wide open. The shutters slammed against the walls, startling both men.
It was late, after all. Too late for a conversation like this.
"Let's continue this tomorrow morning," Nicholas said calmly. "I'll share the rest of my theory then."
With that, he left the room.
Narnia, his secretary, entered soon after. Noticing the open windows and the icy wind pouring in, she hurried to close them.
She mumbled, "The snowstorm just won't stop."
Xerta sat back in his chair, exhaustion weighing on him. Yet he doubted he would find sleep tonight.
---
Nicholas awoke from his sleep, convinced that everything would return to its proper course today.
"Today, I'll live positively once again."
After his nighttime meeting with Xerta, he ran into Keith, and they strolled along together. Soon, they found themselves in a room with a mysterious, unconscious woman.
Shortly after, Keith also passed out, leaving Nicholas worried. Even stranger, he knew the lady is move.
Now, Nicholas was back in Xerta's chambers. This time, though, things were different; Rubert wasn't outside but sat beside him. Xerta, meanwhile, was on the sofa across from them. Between them, a steaming pot of tea sat on the table.
"Please have some. It's ginger tea. My secretary prepared it."
Nicholas and Rubert sipped quietly.
"To be honest, I'll need to leave for my fief by ten today. I must visit the village under my care. Forgive me if this meeting feels too early."
"It seems we've come at a busy time for you."
"I can't deny it. Lately, my head has been full of troubles."
"You haven't even had the chance for a proper honeymoon with your wife."
"You're right…" Xerta admitted, a little embarrassed.
"Let's get straight to it, Xerta. There are three irregularities about the incident at your wedding." Nicholas raised three fingers before him.
"One: Prometheus. Prometheus is the spirit of fire. The summoner must be present at the time of summoning, and it requires immense mana and technique to call it forth."
Xerta clenched his teeth. Prometheus was a being he himself could not yet hope to match.
"Two: Traces of dark essence remained at every point of the explosions. Even on the late Johannes's body—the essence was thickest there."
'Dark essence.'
The term still felt foreign to him.
"And three: your wife, Leyla Nerwine."
"…What?"
"Listen carefully first. As I've said before, during the blast, dark essence spread everywhere. From childhood, I've always been sensitive to it. And yet, in that moment, everyone was tainted by it—except for one. That woman. She remained untouched. Pure."
"What are you suggesting?" Xerta's heart pounded. He couldn't follow where this was going.
"My point is this: she might be immune to dark essence. And the only one capable of such a thing… is a chosen representative of the god Helius. An official Saintess. The chosen one. That is the only explanation. Though for now, it remains my theory."
"…"
"Do you see now, Duke Xerta? Behind the incident lies a deeper truth." Nicholas glanced at Rubert. "Bring it out."
"Yes, sir." Rubert nodded, then pulled a shard of glass from beneath his cloak, sealed carefully in a pouch.
"The bottle held a dark, potent substance. Whoever the culprit is, they are tied to this fragment. Coincidentally, I found it in the bridal waiting room."
Thud—
Xerta's chest tightened. Somehow, the evidence screamed Leyla's name. He refused to believe it. He knew Leyla. She could never…
"For that reason, would you allow me to keep watch over your wife for the next two days?"
"I beg your pardon?" After a pause, Xerta continued, "You mean to say you'll be staying here during those two days."
"Of course. The investigation must continue. Conveniently, five of my men will join us soon."
Xerta fell silent. This was for the best. If the truth came to light, then the chances of Leyla being falsely accused would shrink.
"…Very well. I permit it."
"A wise decision. Ah, and I nearly forgot—there's something else I must ask."
"What is it, Lord N?"
"The lady lying in the secluded room by the stairwell corridor. What happened to her? Who is she?"
"She is my sister, Sera. She suffers from a curse that forced her into slumber…" Xerta lowered his gaze sorrowfully.
But Nicholas was unconvinced. He needed to see for himself.
"May I see her condition?" Nicholas asked.
After a long hesitation, Xerta finally nodded. Together, they entered the chamber where Sera von Helming lay.
But when Xerta opened the door, his breath caught. Instead of staying still in bed, as she should have been, his sister was sitting and staring out the window. already waking up.
Noticing the open door, she turned and smiled at him. "Good morning, brother."
"S-Sera…" Xerta rushed to her side in disbelief. "Y-you… how are you feeling?"
Tears threatened to spill as he gently gripped her shoulders.
"I'm fine, brother. But… may I ask how long I've been asleep?"
"You've been asleep for nine months—nearly a year…"
"What's today's date?" Sera asked.
"October 3rd, year 1118 of the Lunar Calendar."
Sera seemed to ponder this. "I see… Brother, you've been worried about me, haven't you?"
"Of course I have. Terribly so." Xerta's calm tone couldn't hide the emotion on his face.
Sera smiled, pinching his cheek playfully. "Don't be such a crybaby. You're a duke, after all."
"Bratty little sister." Then, as though struck by the realization, Xerta added, "Oh! I'm married now. I'll bring my wife and introduce her to you."
"Truly? I can't believe someone actually agreed to marry you."
"Wait here a moment!" Xerta bolted from the room, forgetting Nicholas's presence entirely.
The instant he was gone, Sera's expression shifted—her cheer evaporating into weary calculation. Nicholas recognized that look all too well. It was like staring into a mirror.
She turned her gaze on him, her tone sharp. "Tell me. What happened after my brother chose his bride?"
'She's serious about this? Now?' Nicholas thought, incredulous.
The woman before him was deliberate, calculated.
Nicholas began recounting the incidents he deemed important. As she listened, her expression darkened.
"Damn it… why is the story unfolding like this?" she muttered.
'What?'
"Thank you for telling me, Lord… Nicholas Eldoria."
'She even knows my name?'
"There's no need to thank me. In exchange, would you answer a question of mine?"
"What do you wish to ask?"
"Last night—you were already awake, weren't you?"
A sharp exhale. Then, with a haughty stare, she replied, "So the intruder who entered my chamber last night… was you?"