"...I must admit, Magus Nilrem."
Queen Amira set the teacup down on the table and said with a faint smile, "Your research on the Dark King’s life is very extensive."
Nilrem leaned back in his chair, revealing a humble expression. "I know just as much as the next scribe, Your Majesty."
He paused for a mont, then added, "In fact, at one point, I had even wished to personally interview the rising star of the Acadian Empire. I wanted to write his biography, you see. After all, a young Magus like him with monstrous talent is rarely seen in one’s lifeti.
"That is why I carried out such thorough due diligence and researched his background. Alas, who would have thought... the conclusion of the Battle of Ravenfell would mark him as the villain and not the hero."
A contemplative silence settled between the two. Amira pondered all that she’d heard from Nilrem just now, cross-referencing it with what her daughter had told her about Adam.
anwhile, Nilrem lowered his head and patiently waited. They had been talking for almost an hour now, and throughout it all, he kept his opinion about himself — the Dark King — neutral.
He did not take his side, nor did he speak against him. He simply laid out all the facts and allowed Amira to decide for herself.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, his pale blue pupils flashing with alarm.
Just now, he had received disturbing intel through the telepathic link he shared with the serpent he’d left to spy on Marlow. The creature had just sensed the presence of a Mana Core existence nearby!
Nilrem closed his eyes, swiftly absorbing everything the serpent had experienced up to that mont.
Then, without hesitation, he wove a secret hand seal.
And right at that mont, Amira turned to him and said with a gentle smile, "I appreciate you coming here, Magus Nilrem. You took the ti to tell about the Dark King, and that is sothing I’m grateful for."
The Queen had fully expected the elderly man to ask her about why she was so interested in the Dark King, considering that the youth was arguably the most wanted man in the world.
But surprisingly, and much to the Queen’s relief, Nilrem didn’t.
He gave a slight nod and politely smiled, "I simply shared what little I know, Your Majesty. My understanding of the Dark King is far from complete, but I hope my knowledge of him was worthwhile for you."
The elderly man paused, then added softly, "If there is nothing more, may I take my leave?"
Queen Amira studied him for a mont before nodding.
"You may," she said gently. "And for what little you claim to know, you have given much to consider."
Nilrem rose to his feet and offered a bow. "Then I hope it serves you well, Your Majesty."
With that said, he turned around and took his leave.
Queen Amira glanced at the elderly Magus’s retreating figure for a long while, until he finally disappeared beyond the doors.
At last, she let out a soft sigh and turned to look at the view beyond the arched window.
As for her thoughts... they remained a mystery.
***
Osbert had a dark look on his aged face as he coldly stared at Marlow’s unconscious body sprawled before him.
He couldn’t help but frown as he murmured, "What was that just now?"
The cultist bent down and roughly searched every inch of the Prince’s clothes, then thoroughly examined his body for anything out of the ordinary. But all he found were jewelry and several magical artifacts.
Yet Osbert couldn’t shake the strange feeling that he had sensed a living creature on the Prince. After checking again and finding nothing suspicious, he cald down a little and eventually dismissed that feeling.
He rose to his feet, then turned to gaze at Burne Ward and Leila. He couldn’t help but sneer, thinking to himself, Had I not been here, our plan would have failed spectacularly!
Neither of them had expected Marlow to behave like that. They had done a thorough analysis of his personality and were certain that he would fall for a woman as beautiful and alluring as Leila.
But this man has been suspecting everything the mont he stepped inside this manor, Osbert thought to himself as he gazed at Marlow’s unmoving body.
What changed?
He couldn’t help but wonder.
"Ugh..." Leila’s groan echoed in the chamber.
Osbert turned towards her and scoffed. "So Enchantress you are."
It took Leila a few monts to register what had transpired. Soon, she glared hatefully at Marlow. "That bastard! How dare he!"
"Shut up and put on so clothes." Osbert sneered.
"I’m going to kill him!" Leila gnashed her teeth in fury.
"No, you won’t." Osbert’s voice turned cold. "We will continue with our plan. As for what happened just now..."
He turned back to the Prince and continued, "I’ll feed him a potion that will help muddle his mories of the last couple of hours."
Osbert paused, then turned towards Leila. Then, he said in a threatening voice, "He will wake up in your arms. You will make love to him. Then, you will plant the seed deep in his mind, as we’ve discussed. Understood?"
Leila hatefully stared at Marlow.
"I said... do you understand?" Osbert released suffocating mana pressure upon the Enchantress, causing her to wince.
"I... I understand." She nodded.
"Good." Osbert nodded. "Now fix your damn face and take him to the bedroom."
Leila wiped the blood from underneath her nose, then coldly glanced at the knocked-out Burne Ward.
"What about him?" She coldly muttered. "It’s because of his false intel that this happened."
Osbert glanced at the Count and shook his head. "Sothing tells it wasn’t his fault. Besides, we can’t kill him yet."
***
At the sa ti, outside the opulent two-story manor, an unassuming middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes passed by, dressed in the understated finery of a wealthy rchant.
Nothing about him stood out. His robes were well-tailored but conservative, his steps were unhurried, and his gaze calm and uncurious.
In a district where affluent patrons ca and went at all hours, he looked no different from any other resident. He was just another prosperous man attending to his affairs, easily overlooked and quickly forgotten.
The man casually turned towards the lavish manor, silently spreading his senses across the compound. A peculiar light flickered in his brown eyes as he probed the interior, his steps never slowing as he walked past.
Wearing another face, Adam couldn’t help but think to himself in dismay:
Marlow... just what the hell have you gotten yourself into?
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