“As a rule, the opinions of others are steeped in lies or half-truths. Their true thoughts are revealed only as trust grows.”

  [ 01st Lumiran 1749 | Eltar | 15:25 | Temple District ]

  We stood in silence by our carriage as the people on the square dispersed about their business, leaving an open space in the wake of numerous noble coaches. Only a few nobles remained; some decided to visit the twins’ memorial, while others lingered by the Valtheim family crypt. No one planned any public discussions with either Frederik or Evelina today, and only Queen Margaret was still in the crypt with her late husband, which was why so many guards remained in the temple quarter.

  Nova was the first to speak. “I feel terrible about this.” She looked sadly at Evelina. “I’ll probably have to leave you with Arta, hopefully not for long.”

  “Your parents?” Evelina asked with understanding but no emotion. She was utterly drained by the events. For a moment, she leaned against the cold metal of the carriage, as if seeking support not only for her tired body but for her rapidly changing inner world. However, as soon as she realized we were watching her intently, she pushed herself away from her newfound support, sharply and almost nervously.

  Seeing this, Nova blinked slowly, keeping her eyelids closed a little longer than necessary, and then nodded obediently, as if once again accepting an internal decision. “You know they’re from Invendor. It’s unlikely I’ll see them again anytime soon.”

  “Alright, then go…” Evelina replied with a sigh.

  “Thank you, I’ll try not to be long,” Nova answered, a slight tremor in her voice. Then she shifted her gaze to me and, with just a few blinks, as if to say, ‘Take care of her,’ she turned and walked toward the Valtheim crypt, where her parents still were.

  Evelina stood in silence for a few moments more, then commanded the driver, “To the ‘Duchess Amarets,’” and opened the carriage door herself, climbing inside.

  I followed her example and sat across from her, closing the carriage door behind me.

  Evelina spoke only when the coach began to move. “Arta, now tell me everything you saw and learned about my father’s death.” Her voice was cold, and it carried a command, reinforced by the magic of the blood pact, which made the blood in my veins run cold, and an intense pressure began to build in my temples.

  “Conrad Cross…” I deliberately paused, “I felt a bloody impulse in his head. It could be magic or a very rare poison.”

  Evelina’s hands trembled. “Magic? So it was that…” She stopped, as if afraid to speak further.

  Evelina leaned back against the carriage seat and looked at me angrily. “And what did the bishop say?” Evelina asked, trying to stabilize her internal state.

  I deliberately blinked, to create the impression that I was recalling the conversation. “He said it wasn’t murder.” I shrugged, making it clear that I doubted this version.

  “The best doctors examined my father; no one said it was poison,” Evelina said angrily, looking me straight in the eye.

  “In any case, there are poisons whose traces are practically impossible to find in the body,” I countered. “Benedict said he was found with a glass of wine, but was your father truly the sort of man to drink wine alone?”

  “No, he hardly drank at all.” Evelina’s eyes flashed with something unkind, and she continued. “So you’re saying my father was killed by poison? And I’m supposed to believe your version, even though you’re not a poison specialist?!” Evelina asked angrily in a raised voice.

  I could comprehend her emotions, her instability, and even her shortsightedness; yet she failed to grasp the game she was playing. Any action taken against Vespera now, without proper preparation, would end in swift death. Arguing with her in such a state was reckless, but I needed to stabilize her urgently and force her back into the bounds of rational analysis. And the best tool for this was half-truth and conjecture.

  “Have you heard of the powder derived from the Red Argea leaf? It is a fern native to Arzanir. If one grinds it, mixes it with water, and lets it brew, in twenty-four hours it becomes a mild neurotoxin. In six months—a lethal poison. And after a year, a single drop is enough to bring death.”

  I paused, allowing the information to settle, yet decided to drive the argument home:

  “Or do you suppose that the poisoned wine at the Ball of Duality and this death are not links in the same chain?”

  Evelina lowered her gaze and, for a fleeting moment, barely noticeably bit her lip, plunging into heavy contemplation.

  “In that case, perhaps I was too hasty with my conclusions... But are you certain it is poison?” she asked, though her eyes no longer held their former confidence, only cold calculation.

  “No, it could well have been magic,” I replied dryly, realizing that lying here would be pointless, though the risk that she would think of Vespera again remained. “Nevertheless, I know perfectly well that such forces rarely act with their own hands. They utilize third parties, accidents, or a chaotic correction of the vector.”

  “So, it is Vespera after all?..” Evelina’s gaze turned glassy, and behind that veil, it was difficult to read her true feelings.

  “To exclude that variable would be too reckless. But I do not think Vespera would dirty her hands herself. Which means we have no direct evidence against her.”

  “Meaning she had an executor? Just like at the ball?” Evelina raised her gaze, and a desire for vengeance flared within it.

  “Undoubtedly. Why act directly and risk everything if one can find a pawn?” I confirmed, noting with satisfaction that the vector of our discussion had entered the necessary channel.

  “Artalis, you speak logically. But I am certain Vespera is capable of anything,” Evelina replied, straightening her back. “I need evidence. I must present it to Mother.”

  Evelina smiled predatorily, but in that smile, there was not a shadow of kindness:

  “And then we will declare her wanted throughout the kingdom and, sooner or later, destroy her.”

  Evelina’s desire to destroy the avatar of Chaotic Darkness was fatally arrogant. Continuing to dissuade her from anything was useless; I only needed to support her desire to gather evidence. Although, if her plan ever led to action, the kingdom’s forces could hardly withstand such a threat in any way.

  “In that case, we need to gather as much irrefutable proof as possible?” I clarified calmly.

  Evelina looked at me for some time, but then averted her gaze. Her shoulders slumped barely noticeably, as if something inside her had cracked.

  “I... I just don’t know how else to fight her, Arta...” she whispered. “She... she already speaks freely with my mother... If I cannot convince the Queen...”

  Evelina fell silent and looked at me again. An unspoken plea for help was legible in her gaze. I understood perfectly where this was leading. It was absolutely in the spirit of Chaotic Darkness: infiltrate trust, create an emotional attachment, and then manipulate the victim, enjoying the disintegration of their personality.

  “You are afraid she will convince Her Majesty to pass the throne to Frederick?” I asked, deliberately darkening the colors.

  “Mother would never agree to such a thing! She honors tradition!” Evelina objected hotly, but immediately cut herself off. A sticky fear emerged in her eyes. “Unless... Do you really think Vespera actually has the power to suppress the will? To change the very essence of a person?”

  She was frighteningly close to the truth. And to confirm her fears, a curt nod was sufficient. Evelina paled, finally realizing the scale of the threat.

  “We need insurance. We need to obtain contact with the soul mage Terren found. Such specialists are extremely rare, but if something happens to Her Majesty’s consciousness, only he will be able to help,” I replied, placing my hands on my knees in anticipation of her reaction.

  “A Soul Mage?” Evelina pondered again. “Very clever, Arta. However, I do not trust Terren’s people, and I will find my own executor for my Mother.” She paused again. “As for your theory, I suppose we need to test the effects of soul magic on my brother?” Evelina’s eyes gleamed, as if the final fragment of a complex mosaic had assembled in her consciousness.

  “Yes, we need to conduct an experiment,” I nodded. “Your brother will be the ideal target for it,” I answered, closing the loop of logic toward Terren’s plans.

  Evelina leaned back contentedly against the armchair and adjusted her dress. The tension that had just distorted her features vanished completely, and her gaze regained its cold and almost predatory traits.

  “Artalis, if you need help with the plan of our not-so-crazy rector, let me know.”

  “Very well,” I nodded.

  A calm silence arose between us. Stone capital buildings flashed past the window, and twenty minutes later we stopped near a massive structure made of red brick, hidden behind a latticed metal fence.

  『 ?? 』━━━???━━━『 ? 』

  [ 01st Lumirana 1749 | Eltar | 16:12 | Restaurant “Duchess Amarets” ]

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  We leisurely exited the carriage and, passing by clusters of people, approached the gate where a man in a linen shirt and matching white linen trousers stood. The man looked up at us and then nodded. “Your Highness, shall I call the owner of the establishment?”

  “There’s no need, I’ve just come for lunch,” Evelina waved him off, not wanting to get into a lengthy discussion.

  “I understand.” The man bowed low. “Allow me to escort you and your companion to a free table.”

  With those words, the man led us to a door on which a picturesque sign read “Duchess Amarets.” There were many people in the establishment, but one could not say they were wealthy; however, they were undoubtedly nobles. It was evident in their manners and gestures, yet almost none of them paid any attention to Evelina. They probably just didn’t know her by sight, which was not surprising; after all, she was still the heiress, not the queen.

  The interior of the establishment was done in cherry wood; the walls were partially unplastered, revealing a view of perfectly smooth brickwork. In the corridors, halls, and other places where one’s eye might fall, there was either a tapestry or a painting with unobtrusive landscapes. Not a single detail of the establishment spoke of politics, not a single coat of arms, not a single portrait of the queen—nothing. Perhaps the owner of the establishment deliberately avoided political themes, or perhaps it was a tactical move to attract different strata of society to the establishment.

  We were led to a table in the corner of the hall on the first floor, next to the staircase leading to the second floor. “Unfortunately, there are no more secluded tables at the moment,” the man apologized, and then, after a polite nod from Evelina, he helped us into soft armchair-like chairs.

  Only after waiting for the waiter did the man bow politely again and return to the entrance of the establishment.

  Evelina didn’t look at the menu and simply told the waiter, “For myself and my companion, cream-braised fowl, a fresh green salad, and a forest berry mors.”

  The waiter nodded politely. “The dishes will be ready in 15 minutes. Shall I bring the drinks right away?”

  “Yes, you can bring them now,” Evelina replied wearily. She clearly didn’t want to engage in a long conversation with the waiter.

  The waiter, seeing Evelina’s reaction, nodded obediently and headed toward the kitchen.

  Evelina placed her hands on the table, interlacing her fingers, and looked me in the eye. “Given the circumstances,” she nodded toward the nearby tables, where two elderly women sat at one, and a young man and, presumably, his wife at another, “we’ll talk about less serious topics.” Evelina tried to smile, but the smile didn’t come out. The stress of the day had likely taken too great a toll on her.

  “As you wish,” I replied coldly, obediently waiting for her questions.

  “You know, Arta, you’re too serious. Always. Tell me, do you dream or have you ever dreamed of anything?” she asked thoughtfully.

  “You want to know my dreams?” I paused to make the conversation sound more engaging. “Of course, I dreamed, like all children.” I feigned a casual smile.

  “So what do you dream of, Arta? Tell me, please, I really want to understand what a noble girl like you lives for,” she said quietly, freezing in anticipation of an answer.

  “Many things…” I began, trying to sound uncertain. “For example, I would like to become an archmage in Tarvar. It just so happens that in my homeland there are only nine archmages, and to become one of them, you need outstanding magical abilities.”

  “What a goal…” Evelina whispered. “If I remember correctly, Emperor Gregor IV has never appointed a woman to such a role.”

  “That’s right,” I smiled gently, feigning engagement. “But it’s more a matter of talent than gender. Emperor Gregor values loyalty, tradition, and strength.”

  Evelina smiled wistfully and nodded. “Right, just don’t start a lecture on Tarvar, I already know what’s what there.” Before Evelina could finish her sentence, a waiter approached the table with a tray and laid out silver cutlery, plates, and glasses in perfect order.

  Then the waiter placed a carafe on the table and poured us each half a glass of mors, after which, not wanting to disturb our conversation, he disappeared from view again.

  “I will try not to engage in such lessons,” I replied coldly, letting her know that I was ready to play by her rules.

  Evelina took a sip of mors and, apparently feeling a surge of energy, resumed her political game. “Excellent, I’m very grateful to you, Arta.” She took another sip of mors and said unhurriedly. “Listen, what do you think about Nova and Reina’s union? Don’t you think they’re not a very good couple?”

  The question was strange and a bit strategically ill-advised. After all, it was me that CL was currently observing, and any direct move against “her favorite girls” could have unpredictable consequences.

  “It depends on how you look at it,” I said, trying to sound uncertain. “After all, Nova loves Reina.”

  “Loves…” Evelina shook her head. “Hasn’t Nova told you how she met Reina?”

  I shook my head. “No, she hasn’t shared those memories, and I’m not sure it’s right to engage in such gossip behind her back,” I answered firmly, although this story would undoubtedly be useful for my further analysis, but circumstances did not allow me to say otherwise.

  “Arta, I won’t say anything unnecessary, be assured.”

  “Alright…” I replied, creating an awkwardness, waiting for the information.

  “Reina, she was born in the southernmost city of Valtheim—Agaris. It’s a beautiful, eternally warm seaside city that borders our ‘friendly’ neighbor, the Anix Empire, across the Eliran Bay.”

  “And how does this backstory relate to Reina and Nova’s meeting?” I asked, although the question of Reina’s birth, due to the CL anomaly, had always been a question for me.

  Evelina smirked with effort. “Directly, Arta, directly.” Evelina paused. “Do you know that Reina’s parents were poor nobles? However, by some miracle, on the day of her birth, deposits of a rare mineral—Golderium—were discovered on their small patch of land, which is necessary for the production of runic conductors, which, as you know, are necessary for the autonomous production of magic.”

  “Yes, I know what Golderium is,” I nodded, “it began to be actively used after the destruction of the Veytra of Order, but this resource is not infinite and is extremely expensive.” I paused.

  “Arta, you know everything,” Evelina smiled. “But I suppose, with your help, I could create crystal conductors charged with the magic of Order, which were used instead of Golderium before.” Evelina paused and then drank some more mors. “But that’s not what we’re talking about. Reina’s parents, Aronar and Alusenta, sold their lands to my mother and then moved to live in the Anix Empire.”

  I understood where Evelina was leading, and for me, it was the perfect way to express myself without attracting the attention of Chaotic Light, as the rumors about Anix were well-known. “So you believe that Reina was formed there and…” I paused and said the rest of the phrase almost shyly, “developed a love for her own sex?”

  “Precisely, Arta,” Evelina looked around. “In Anix, almost all forms of forbidden love are permitted; they are not condemned there and are approved at the highest level.”

  “Now I understand why Reina is so obsessed with novels from Anix…” I paused to make my surprise seem sincere, although, of course, it was not. After all, I couldn’t tell Evelina that she came from another world.

  A waiter once again approached our table, placed the main dishes that Evelina had ordered earlier on our table, and left as if nothing had happened. The smell of chicken baked in cream hit my nose, and my body’s hunger reminded me of itself with a pitiful rumbling in my stomach.

  I cut myself a small piece of chicken and began to chew it thoroughly, and Evelina, looking at me, also began to eat. We sat in silence for a few minutes, and then I decided to ask the obvious question that would allow me to maintain the conversation with Evelina. “If you believe Anix is the cause of such influences, then why Nova?…” I didn’t finish my question; it was already quite obvious.

  Evelina put down her silver cutlery and looked at me. “You know, Arta, Nova—she’s different…” She looked at a painting depicting golden wheat fields and a windmill. “Do you know that Nova had an older brother?”

  I shook my head in the negative, although I knew this information, but it was the first time it had been said to me directly. “Well, her brother, a wonderful boy…” She sighed. “He was very smart, talented, practiced fencing, and was only four years older than Nova.” Evelina bit her lip; she clearly didn’t want to tell this story. “His name was Wilhelm, and he had a childhood crush on me, although he understood that nothing would come of it, because I am the future heiress, and he… although from an ancient lineage, he is first and foremost my cousin, and marriage between us was impossible. My mother would never have allowed it…”

  “And what happened to him?…” I asked, creating a slight tremor in my voice.

  “He died. During a riding lesson, while crossing a river, he fell and hit his head on the rocks. They say death came a few moments later…” Evelina lowered her eyes. “He was 12.”

  I sighed heavily to appear more human. Such cases are not uncommon, and it is primarily a matter of negligence on the part of teachers and parents, but one cannot say that it is a rarity in the universe. In any case, the soul will be more experienced and careful in the next life. Life experience is an invaluable facet of the soul, provided by the Origin Absolute, and a person, like an uncut diamond, becomes a perfect brilliant over endless cycles of rebirth.

  “I’m very sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago, Arta, no need to stir up the past.” Evelina paused and frowned. “That’s not what we were talking about.” Evelina looked at the painting again. “After that, I cried a lot, and one day Nova came to me. We played together and shared our closest secrets. Then, when I was 11 and she was 10, she declared to me that she would take care of me and take me as her wife. She said that Wilhelm had appeared to her in a dream and asked her to take on this role.”

  “And did she really take on Wilhelm’s role?” I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side.

  “Yes, she not only abandoned all girlish pursuits, she began to practice fencing, magic, and horse riding. And most importantly, she began to try to flirt with me, imitating Wilhelm’s phrases,” Evelina shook her head.

  “And since then she has developed?…” I again did not finish the question; after all, there were people nearby.

  Evelina nodded in response and, anticipating the next logical question, replied, “If you think that Nova was interested in girls from childhood, that’s not the case. Before those events, she actively discussed boys with me and talked about what a good wife she would be.” Evelina paused; she clearly did not want to talk about this topic. “And don’t think, I’m sure if she were to meet a worthy man, she would fall in love with him.” Evelina smiled sadly and lowered her eyes.

  “And that’s why you think Reina and Nova are not a couple?” I asked, although I risked drawing the attention of Chaotic Light.

  “Yes, I believe that even you would be better than Reina,” she replied coldly.

  I pretended to choke on air. “Me?…” I mumbled incoherently. “But… I already said that I’m against such relationships.”

  “I know, I know, but that’s the point. You, unlike Reina, believe that any woman should be a mother, am I right?”

  “Of course, you’re right,” I nodded in response, confirming this cosmic rule in our conversation.

  “There you go, and I’m almost certain that even in a relationship with Nova, you would find a reason to have children for both yourself and for her,” Evelina sighed and added. “But Reina, she’s different, she’s a selfish, possessive person. I managed to talk to her in my first year, and since then I try not to interact with her anymore.”

  I would have very much liked to support Evelina in this conversation, but my last conversation with CL did not give me the opportunity to speak openly, and fearing to attract even more of her attention, I answered with a short, “Nevertheless, Nova must decide for herself what she wants.”

  “I agree, but one thing I can say for sure: she feels more stable around you,” Evelina smiled.

  I smiled back at her, and then asked the question from which she seemed to have strayed, “So how did Reina and Nova meet?”

  “Ah, yes, they…” Evelina smiled. “Sorry for getting a little sidetracked. So, Reina and Nova met due to a series of circumstances that you only hear about in fairy tales.” Evelina looked me straight in the eye. “First, she convinced her parents, who were against her studying in Valtheim, to send her to the Academy of Duality. Second, from the very first day, she began to actively and at first even a little aggressively pursue a relationship with Nova.” Evelina looked toward the exit of the establishment. “I even had a vague feeling that something was wrong here, but all my attempts to figure out the situation ended in nothing. Reina, she is too cunning and smart to talk about her goals directly.”

  “Very interesting, but maybe she fell in love with her at first sight?” I asked, deliberately steering the conversation away from a dangerous topic.

  “Maybe, Arta, maybe.” Evelina smiled coldly. “Someday we’ll return to this question, but not today,” she said, as if she knew some other details that she preferred to keep silent about for now.

  “Alright, then when the time comes, I’ll be ready to keep you company.” I deliberately smiled and, picking up my cutlery, continued my lunch.

  Time passed unhurriedly, and lunch in the atmosphere of light noise, the smells of food, and the quiet conversation of people at neighboring tables passed almost serenely, and soon we set off again for the Lenford estate.