My steps carried me toward the Privy Council Chamber located in the eastern wing of the mansion, a space reserved for hosting Imperial Envoys and discussing matters of utmost importance.
The hallway's silence was broken only by the echo of my heels and the soft trickle of the water fountain outside the window. The golden and red decorations of the Eastern wing were indeed magnificent.
I couldn't sense any imperial guards or Nyxveil knights in the Eastern Wing - most likely removed to prevent word of the discussion from spreading.
Something inside me stirred with excitement despite the lurking danger.
I had carefully woven an invisible trap to reveal the puppet masters behind the scenes. The risk of being caught wasn't zero, but the greater the danger, the greater the reward.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I stood before the massive golden doors of the council room.
I should value my life more now that my little Salmon is here. He shouldn't have to witness my death again. And I'd promised Xavier to free him from the cursed demonic energy once we achieved our... no, my goal.
As I raised my hand to knock, the door swung open, revealing the tense scene within the private council chamber.
The crimson walls were adorned with paintings, some dating back to the time of Nyxveil's first hero. The black carpet bore intricate golden threadwork, while the ceiling's murals depicted mysterious, shadowy scenes.
The room contained only a large round table with ten chairs and five burning candles at its center - a deliberate arrangement to heighten tension.
Father and Kaelith sat facing each other, while Count Blue, one of the Emperor's loyal followers, stood holding the door.
He looked displeased by my presence, his frown openly dismissive. "What are you doing here, Young Lady?"
I smiled. "Should I answer you when His Highness the Crown Prince is present?"
A quiet chuckle came from within as Kaelith spoke in an amused tone, leaning lazily against his chair. "The Young Lady is right, Count Blue. Let her enter."
Count Blue pressed his lips together but stepped aside. I could easily guess his displeasure.
As one of the Emperor's closest advisors, he was undoubtedly a key member of the demon cult. My actions had cost them not only Belhier's vassal but also the rare dragon heart.
As if I cared about their displeasure!
I'd already addressed the Emperor's fears about Nyxveil and Nordwyn uniting by visiting the Nordwyn mansion and provoking Daniel Nordwyn's hostility toward me.
As I walked past Count Blue, I saw Kaelith watching me with a twisted expression - lips curved in a smirk, eyes burning with greedy anticipation.
It still hurt, losing a best friend of nearly forty years...
I performed a deep curtsey, lifting the hem of my skirt slightly. "Selentia Amaris Nyxveil greets the Little Sun of Wymhold. May Heaven bless you with great health and wise worldview."
"Wise worldview, hmm?" Kaelith murmured before signaling me to rise.
"You're coming from somewhere, Tia?"
I gave him a look of disinterest. "Please refrain from using nicknames, Your Highness."
"How audacious! You dare dictate to the Crown Prince?" Count Blue's voice rose angrily.
This bastard!
I glanced at Father. His eyes were cold with rage, his teeth worrying his inner cheek as he stared at Kaelith.
Kaelith's smirk vanished the moment their eyes met.
"I didn't know the Ducal Household failed to properly train its heir. What does it matter if she wields Crimson Blade? It's not even that impor—"
*Thud*
In an instant, the vase behind Count Blue shattered as an invisible blade grazed his cheek, drawing blood before striking the porcelain.
Count Blue stood frozen, his face turning purple-blue with fear as he stared at Father.
"I suppose this room needed dusting. The mice have grown far too noisy," Father said calmly, brushing his hands together.
I blinked in surprise and amusement.
He didn't even bother hiding his brutality before the Crown Prince. Kaelith paled before forcing a laugh. "How considerate of you!" He glanced at Count Blue, who trembled on the verge of collapse, realizing how narrowly he'd escaped death.
"Now that my daughter is here, shall we proceed, Your Highness?"
Uncomfortable goosebumps rose at Father calling me "daughter" in public rather than "heir."
No offense, but I was utterly unfamiliar with this sudden show of affection!
Don't get the wrong idea, Selentia. He doesn't care about you. It's only about Nyxveil. He wouldn't care if you didn't possess Crimson Abyss.
I repeated these words until they became permanent.
"Ahem," Kaelith began, his eyes darkening. "Word has spread about Grand Duke Nordwyn attacking Tia during her visit today. His Majesty is deeply concerned - particularly about the Grand Duke's audacity." His dramatic gasp irritated me.
"Tia, is it true the Grand Duke attacked you?"
He rested his elbows on the table, fingers interlaced as he watched me with a cold smile.
Such an obvious ploy!
The Emperor clearly sought confirmation about whether Nyxveil and Nordwyn's relationship was truly severed or if some conspiracy brewed beneath his notice.
Fortunately, I'd played this game too many times to lose.
"That's correct. The Grand Duke attacked me," I replied calmly. Kaelith's eyes widened slightly.
The sinister glint in his gaze instantly softened into apparent concern.
The bitterness in my heart surged, but yes, we had once been best friends.
Though I doubted his concern was genuine.
I pushed the bitterness aside and continued. "However, it wasn't intentional."
Kaelith frowned. "What do you mean?"
"His Grace suspected my involvement in the First Prince's death and doubted the Blood Hounds were responsible, so he questioned me." I maintained my calm demeanor while Kaelith appeared shocked.
"I refused his interrogation and suggested he question his son instead. This only deepened his suspicions." I covered my mouth, adopting a wounded expression.
Lowering my voice, I added complete nonsense: "He accused my father and me of conspiring against the Imperial Throne and staging everything!"
Fake tears welled in my eyes as I sobbed. From my periphery, I saw Kaelith's stunned reaction.
"His Grace's loyalty to the throne is so absolute that he couldn't bear the First Prince's death!" My dramatic sob made my shoulders tremble as Kaelith stood abruptly.
"Tia! Don't cry! This isn't your fault!" He rushed to my side.
I shook my head. "No, it is my fault. My failure to protect the First Prince is one thing, but to doubt my father and House Nyxveil's loyalty? That's too much!"
"Nobody doubts your family's loyalty," Kaelith said, his voice dripping with false concern.
I never thought I'd employ Alancia's tactics here.
After all, I was just a miserable sixteen-year-old, burdened with the Empire's worries and forced to appear strong. Beneath this cold exterior, I was merely—
A pitiful, clueless, miserable sixteen-year-old.
*Hnghhh* I made my sob sound even more strained and painful. Looking up, I saw what appeared to be genuine pain in Kaelith's expression.
Pain?
No—it was impossible to determine its authenticity. I needed to maintain the act.
"The Grand Duke's doubts are understandable, but what if His Majesty shares them?"
Kaelith shook his head vehemently. "Impossible! No one questions House Nyxveil's loyalty."
I shook my head. "Your Highness is kind, but others will whisper. Your personal visit alone raises questions, and..." I trailed off.
"And?" Kaelith pressed.
"And the promised reward remains undelivered. If His Majesty truly trusted us, he would have announced it by now."
Dead silence filled the room. Kaelith tensed, his fingers twitching anxiously.
"If my actions have caused this situation, as the Grand Duke claims," I wiped my tears, adopting a pained expression, "then kill me and spare my family from treasonous suspicions!"
I raised my voice dramatically. Kaelith and Count Blue both flinched.
"Tia!"
Tears streamed down my face as I reached for Slayer. "If you won't kill me, I'll prove my loyalty through death!"
I unsheathed the blade. Kaelith panicked.
"No! Stop!" He grabbed my wrist, his hands trembling, pupils shaking with apparent distress. "I swear on my name! The promised dragon heart will be yours by day's end, and no one will doubt House Nyxveil! To do so would be to question the Imperial Household itself!"
Count Blue recoiled in horror. "Your Highness! You can't—"
But Kaelith stood firm, his grip unyielding, his expression unwavering.
"You mean it?" I whispered shakily.
Without hesitation, he dragged his palm across Slayer's edge.
My eyes widened. Shit! Slayer would glow gold upon contact with demonic blood—and Kaelith practiced black magic. If he discovered my Nordwyn lineage, everything would unravel.
I quickly channeled my aura to suppress the glow.
"I swear on the blood of Wymhold's Imperial Family," Kaelith declared. "Selentia Amaris Nyxveil and House Nyxveil shall be exempt from all accusations of disloyalty and rewarded according to their merits."
Blood dripped from his palm, staining his coat's hem. I pressed my lips together, sheathing Slayer.
"You've only deepened our troubles, Your Highness," I said bitterly—and this time, it wasn't an act.
Nostalgia clouded my mind. This was the man I'd protected for thirty years, never allowing a single blade to touch him.
Yet my loyalty had been repaid with betrayal.
"Don't hurt yourself, Tia. Your tears pain me," he whispered hoarsely as I wrapped my handkerchief around his wound.
Of course I'd play along—pretending the pain of our past life never existed, that he hadn't manipulated me into endless wars under the guise of protecting Wymhold.
I would maintain this facade until he tasted his own medicine.
The betrayal of a best friend cuts deeper than any familial treachery.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I shall never forget your kindness."
I didn't smile, maintaining my pitiful mask.
Kaelith looked wounded but forced a tight smile before turning to leave. Count Blue, torn between conflict and relief, bowed to Father before shooting me a venomous glare.
At the threshold, Kaelith paused. "Tia. No matter how our circumstances change..." He tilted his head, revealing a bittersweet smile that didn't reach his pained eyes.
"You will always be the dearest to me."
With that, he disappeared through the door.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and breathed deeply.
It would be a lie to claim his words didn't shake me. Forty years of friendship carried countless memories—memories only I remembered, their value destroyed by betrayal.
"You've learned to manipulate people to your will, Selentia."
Father's composure hadn't faltered throughout my performance. He clearly believed my act. I sat beside him and poured tea.
"I still have much to learn before I can deceive you."
Father sipped his tea silently.
How ironic—sharing tea rather than exchanging harsh words.
"Life in the Holy Empire would be more peaceful. The climate is warm, the people kind like your mother. You'd have freedom. Your grandfather may seem cold, but he'd treat you well."
I smirked. "How strange. You sound eager for me to leave."
"I won't stop you if you choose to go," he said, turning to me. His expression remained calm, but his eyes... something was different.
Amidst the green, faint magenta encircled his pupils—nearly invisible unless seen up close.
Just like mine.
"Pyrexia won't remain peaceful. The entire Empire may soon be overturned. So if you—"
"I'll stay," I interrupted.
He blinked in surprise. I looked away, sipping my tea as he sat frozen.
"Why? Wouldn't accompanying your mother be better?"
His unusual insistence puzzled me.
"Shall I be honest?" At his nod, I leaned back. "Several weeks ago, I had a dream—long and terrible. House Nyxveil burned to ashes. Only Alancia and I survived. The Emperor made me his weapon while the Empire branded me a traitor's daughter. I lived alone in Nyxveil's ruins, fighting endless wars, pushing everyone away."
My gaze fell on a painting across the room—a lone knight standing in a bloodied field, rain falling through smoke-darkened skies. A mirror of my past life.
"In countless battles, only one person ever came to my aid. My few friends died protecting me. I served a manipulator who sent me to war in Wymhold's name. I endured hatred and isolation until my death, just when I thought peace might be possible."
Father's lips trembled. "Was it after this dream that you changed?"
I nodded. "I won't live that nightmare again. I'll eradicate everyone who wronged me—the Imperial Family, the demon cult, even Belhier himself."
My whisper carried decades of pent-up pain.
Father looked genuinely pained. After a long silence, he stood.
"Do as you see fit."
Those were his final words before leaving me alone in the silent, darkened chamber.
How strange.
I am feeling like crying for real.