Esme's POV
Elle said she had been searching for me. Could it be that while her Prince was unconscious, she looked for the one he had trapped there?
I pulled away from her hold. "Why is he unconscious? Is it a stupid prank he pulled while he left me in the treasure trove?"
She shook her head vehemently. "He had wanted to show you a trick. A gold and silver rain shower kind of trick." She raised her hand to imitate rain, and that made me smile slightly.
So he had truly planned to entertain me?
Elle continued after dropping her hands limply. "But his twin returned yesterday. They had a fight about his remark during his first meeting with you. He got poisoned, hence he's been unconscious until now."
Wait, wait—that sounded serious. Elle only narrated it like it happened often.
I didn't think they should bind themselves by hierarchy since twins are usually seen as equals. If the Fourth wanted to beat up his older twin brother, then by all means, let him. He likely asked for it.
However, Grandus once said they never used their powers on each other. So what happened now?
I raised a brow. "The Fourth Prince didn't strike me as an aggressive type."
I never met him, but he doted on his knight and made his totem break carefully during the ritual. He should be a balance to his chaotic twin brother.
"Oh, he isn't," Elle said, blushing slightly. "He's very sweet."
My brow raised even higher.
"But he doesn't tolerate disrespect towards his Mistress. That's for sure." Then she sighed. "My Prince isn't always like this, but I cannot assure you that after he's stable, he'll be much better."
So he was a lost cause.
Uncle walked toward us, humming softly. I noticed Elle slid away from him and stood behind my back. Did she comprehend that I had brought my uncle here myself? I wouldn't be protecting anyone from him.
"The Third and Seventh are the ones to watch out for, Esme," Uncle said. "The Fifth and the First together are barely around, so ignore them. The rest are more level-headed."
How did he know the Fifth and First brothers were always together? These brothers never changed despite how long they'd lived.
And again, the Seventh was branded an unusual one. I grew more curious to meet him. "I still want to see them for myself. I met the Fifth, and he's more level-headed than you'd think."
Uncle tilted his head. "You met him? Physically, or one of his knights?"
The Fifth did seem like someone who'd order his knight to do everything for him. Apart from being the sin of Pride, I assumed he could also embody Sloth, since he'd rather stay in his dark room all day.
"Yes, physically. He took me hunting once. I don't want to judge them by their instability." I turned to the knight. "But the Third keeps disappointing me. I would no longer chase his understanding."
I meant that. He should chase my understanding this time. At the moment, I had the panel to tell me what I needed. I didn't have to second-guess his actions anymore.
She exhaled softly but nodded, wearing a worried expression as if she were the one I spoke to. The knights were still a part of their Princes, after all.
"However, he never wanted to keep you waiting in the treasure trove. I realized you waited for hours." She bowed. "I thank you for not destroying it upon your departure. He's really attached to those things."
Did she think I could have escaped there by myself? "Sanya, could Blood Will have helped me escape?"
"Simply punching a hole would have worked. As the Sixth had done."
Eh?
"But you would infuse your fists with mana—mana that you neither possess nor have interest in building. I could give you my innate mana, but you could faint. You're only strong enough to keep me awake."
In conclusion, I was weaker than I thought. At least for things pertaining to magic and mana.
"Thank you, Elle. From now on, if I have to address the Third, I'd speak to you instead. How do I contact you?"
She pulled a few strands from her white hair and wrapped them around her fingers. It morphed into a white thread with a wooden bead.
"Cut a part and call on it. When you release it, it will find its way to me." She placed it on my palms and folded my fingers around it. It wasn't very thick, so I would have to use it sparingly.
"Oh, and it also only works within the Haven," she added. "Outside the Haven, you'd need to infuse it with your own mana for it to reach me."
Those words confirmed two things. This Haven was infused with mana. First, obviously, it was definitely not an ordinary place. Second, it must be the mana overflowing from the brothers as well.
The other thing Elle confirmed again was that she expected me to have mana. She couldn't tell that I didn't. Sanya's innate mana worked for both of us.
"Thank you, Elle. This Fourth Brother. Can I meet with him? He was the one who woke the youngest ones, wasn't he?" I changed the topic.
I couldn't grow my mana at the moment. It would make me distinguishable from normal local people.
The way a Beta or Delta-ranked wolf stood out from others—mostly omegas or hunters—was the same way a mage stood out from non-mages. Their energy and aura signature was simply different.
I didn't want to be avoided by the village and friends after experiencing ostracism for having coloured hair and being an orphan from the capital as a child. I was already exhausted.
Now, I would use what I had to get what I needed. I wanted to meet another level-headed brother to renew my hope. And most especially, try out my panel.
"Oh, yes. Wait, I'll summon him here." Elle stepped back and moved into the inner rooms. She moved with stunning speed.
I couldn't feel her aura as a ranked wolf. Just like Grandus. I couldn't even tell if she was a werewolf or not. She was really excited about the Fourth Prince, though.
Uncle made himself comfortable on a seat. His gun rested on his thighs. "Let us see how this one would turn out." He watched the ground for shadows.
He was really serious. I plopped down beside him. "Yes, but I have good faith in this one."