"Why did you call ? I don't have ti to discuss anything with you," Myrcella said, her tone laced with annoyance.
A chuckle rang out from an old man, his eyes twinkling with amusent. He was none other than Alector, the Guardian of the Holy Tree of Eden. In Claudia's absence, he had taken on the responsibility of caring for it. However, today he was present at the engagent party between Amael and Elizabeth.
Upon seeing Myrcella, he had requested a private conversation, prompting her to separate from the others.
"I never imagined you as soone who would attend such parties, Myrcella," Alector said.
"Don't pretend you know ," Myrcella retorted coldly. "You know nothing about ."
Alector smiled, not upset by her hostility. "On the contrary, you are mistaken. I know you quite well. Years ago, Kleines sought my help. He had found a young girl in a dire state and asked for my silence and protection. I swore to the Tree that I wouldn't utter a word to your father. Yet, in the end, you chose of your own volition to leave in pursuit of vengeance."
Myrcella remained silent, her expression unreadable.
If she claid she had no regrets about her decision, it would be a lie. If she had stayed, perhaps she could have prevented their deaths. Now, while Kleines seed to be alive, Connor was gone. But she couldn't change the past. Her nightmares about her ti with the Iris Project still haunted her. The screams of her fellow subjects echoed in her ears even now. She wanted to end everything, to find peace for herself and others.
"You should have followed Emilia's example and stayed back," Alector said.
Myrcella laughed, a harsh sound. "If you think Emilia is staying back, then you're completely wrong."
There was a tense silence before Alector spoke again, his voice softer. "How is she?"
"You don't need to know that," Myrcella replied curtly.
"I have the right to know. She is my granddaughter," Alector said, his glare hardening.
"She can open the gates between worlds," Myrcella cut him off.
Alector's eyes widened in shock. He glanced around, making sure no one had overheard their conversation.
"You might think that, but believe , Emilia thinks nothing of you or anyone else in this world. The Queen that the Raonpherys nurtured out of pure selfishness to be your perfect puppet is gone," Myrcella said.
"You don't understand the precariousness of her situation. This child can—"
"She can open the gates between worlds," Myrcella cut him off.
Alector's eyes widened in shock. He glanced around, making sure no one had overheard their conversation.
"No one heard it. I soundproofed this whole, useless conversation," Myrcella replied.
"You know..." Alector trailed off, dumbfounded.
"I know about her and why you're so obsessed with her," Myrcella began. "A year ago, the Key to the Holy Garden of Eden was stolen, yet you showed no reaction. None of the other Heads did anything to help Celesta either."
Alector remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Myrcella scoffed, a sound filled with disdain. "The Key wasn't an object. It was always a person. The Key to Open World-Gates. Emilia Raonpherys. I don't know what Key Ante-Eden was after, but I do know that the true Key was stolen centuries ago by Dorian Celesta, the Founder King of Celesta. The First Holy War was all about the Key, the Key to open World-Gates."
Alector could no longer hide his shock. The depth of Myrcella's knowledge was unsettling.
"I don't know what exactly transpired during the First Holy War, but Dorian Celesta committed a great sin," she continued, her voice tinged with disgust. "Then, a hundred years later, another war broke out between Celesta and Arvatra, the Second Great Holy War. It wasn't just a re quarrel; it was about the Key once again. The woman who possessed the Key had been taken from the Holy Garden. Years later, the Blood Moon War began. The Head of the Falkrona House died, and Alphonse Celesta and Lisandra Arvatra vanished, along with the woman who held the Key. Nineteen years ago, the Prince of Raonpherys found his perfect match—a very beautiful woman, or so I've heard. Is that just a coincidence? Their child, a girl blessed by the Mother of All and loved by Enigma Beasts, Emilia Raonpherys, now possesses a power surpassing anything that has ever existed: the Key to open World Gates."
Alector's shock deepened. Myrcella's knowledge was not only extensive but dangerously accurate.
"The First Holy War, the Second Great Holy War, probably even the Blood Moon War—each of these conflicts centered around the Key," Myrcella pressed on. "And now, Emilia Raonpherys is the current bearer of this imnse power. Her existence alone is enough to shift the balance of our world."
Myrcella stopped and glared at Alector. "Tell your family to abandon whatever plans they have for Emilia. She is blessed by the Mother of All, Ymir, and is protected by her Three Holy Beasts."
Alector gritted his teeth. "I care about her. I don't need—"
"I don't care about what you think. I just want the Raonpherys to know that Emilia is untouchable. If you touch her, you will be erased from existence," Myrcella said. With that, she turned on her heel and left promptly.
***
"Hey, Elizabeth!" Celeste and her group joined us as soon as they saw us.
Having greeted many nobles already, I felt it was acceptable to converse with them.
Victor, however, had been dragged away by Selene halfway through.
A pang of jealousy hit again.
Why did I have to witness two perfect couples today?
First John and Alia, and now Victor and Selene.
I wished I could have such monts with Layla or Miranda.
No, I shouldn't think about that.
Today I was with Elizabeth, and feeling this way seed disrespectful.
[]
Can you say sothing positive for once, Cleenah?
I scratched my head, seeing Celeste's expression turn slightly sad. It tugged at sothing within . Whatever it was called, I didn't like seeing her upset since she was usually the smiling and cheerful one.
"I admit I'm clueless about etiquette, but that doesn't change the fact that you look truly beautiful today," I said, trying to repair my mistake.
"Yeah, fine…" Celeste nodded, but I wasn't satisfied with her answer.
"You are hot."
Celeste's brooding face froze at my words as she raised her gaze. "W-What?" she stuttered.
I grinned. She was so easy to fluster, despite being used to complints.
"I said you are hella hot, Celes. Beautiful isn't quite the right word for you," I said, scanning her body. "Hot is the fitting word."
"W-Wha…whaaa!!" Celeste's face turned bright red as she mumbled so incomprehensible words before storming away.
I was a bit at a loss for words at her reaction. Why was she acting like a teenage girl in love?
Taking a glass of whatever was available, I sipped a little, thinking a bit.
I suppose it's the first ti she heard soone calling her hot.
[]
Shaddap.
"What?" I looked at Alia, who was staring at with her mouth wide open. What's with her reaction?
"I-I can't believe it! Celes!!" She yelled before running after Celeste.
What the hell is happening?
Soone explain to .
"..."
I turned toward John, who was staring back at .
"..."
He sipped from his glass while staring at , then put his glass away and left.
Useless brother-in-law.
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