‘How far will you really go?’

This curiosity could only be satisfied in a self-destructive way. For Reid, it was hardly a concern.

He was someone who didn’t value himself much, so he decided easily.

He would endure it knowingly.

“...Why are you smiling?”

“Who knows.”

Reid slowly pulled the glass toward him as he looked at Rigares. The moment his charmingly curved lips kissed the rim, the sharp blue eyes watching flickered.

The meaning of this change was clear: joy at achieving his goal.

As he read that lowly delight in detail, Reid’s glass tipped fully. The tempting liquid slipped down his throat.

Rigares only rolled his eyes and glanced at the edge of the table. The second hand of the pocket watch he’d carelessly set down completed one full rotation.

“Aren’t you curious what you just drank?”

“Not really.”

“You should be.”

Those drunk on victory tend to talk too much.

“It’s a deadly poison known as the wizard’s bane. It reverses both the bloodstream and mana circuits, reducing you to a wreck within half a day.”

“Oh, really.”

“How do you feel? Starting to notice?”

“A bit drowsy.”

“You truly aren’t an ordinary guy, monster brat.”

Despite the insult, Reid only half-closed his eyes and stared vacantly.

Rigares reached out to tap Reid’s cheek. His unresponsive body was defenseless.

He grabbed Reid’s chin and breathed out the scent of the drink.

“You should’ve said you’d let me meet our brother. Then who knows, I might have softened.”

“......”

“Take him away.”

Two knights roughly grabbed Reid’s arms from either side. His body, as unconscious as his mind, was dragged like cargo into the dark basement.

✠

If the reckless youngest prince had one good trait, it was that he obeyed his mother well.

Around the time I was about to eat my third macaron, Rigares arrived at the tea table.

“...I came to see Mother.”

Gaunt and even more foul-tempered than before, his clothes and hair were noticeably disheveled, showing he hadn’t been doing well.

Though his face was handsome enough to be called a pretty boy, it darkened as soon as he saw me.

“Mother has done something pointless.”

“Agreed, Your Highness.”

“What’s with that tone?”

“I decided to speak casually in case you might like me.”

Reid was too young and naïve to understand my deep meaning.

“Want your throat cut?”

“Can you do that?”

“......”

“......”

As we quietly clashed, Rigares was the first to look away.

He gave a mocking smirk as if indulging me and pulled a chair to sit. Spreading raspberry jam on a scone, he said,

“Astrologers and their assistants are all the same.”

Mentioning Reid caught my attention reflexively. When our eyes met, Rigares boldly bit into the scone.

His predator-like act was honestly amusing, so I tilted my head.

“Last time, you seemed to behave somewhat appropriately.”

“That’s no longer necessary.”

The plan had entered its third phase.

Rigares smiled bitterly.

“Do you know I’ve been quite lenient with you?”

“Well. It’s not that important to me.”

“If you knew what happened to the astrologer, you wouldn’t be so cocky.”

“......”

An ominous phrase. My expression vanished.

“You...”

I sensed it. That brat had done something to Reid.

Only the sound of crumbling scones echoed in the suddenly cold room. I glared at Rigares and spoke.

My voice was so flat it sounded surprising even to myself.

“You’ve done something to regret.”

“Regret? That’s his, not mine.”

“...Ha.”

Rigares still ate scones, completely unaware of the damage he caused.

[‘The Sarcastic Balancer’ tsks that now is not the time to swallow scones.]

[‘The Cliché Gourmet’ loves the karmic buildup.]

I couldn’t hold back.

“Youngest prince, shall I make a prophecy?”

“Since you were once an assistant, you must have some skill. Go ahead.”

“You’ll soon be crying while pounding the ground.”

Of course, Rigares ignored it.

“Prophets mistake desperate wishes for the future. You don’t seem very talented.”

No more charity for talk.

I rose immediately and stood before the balcony railing. Then I swept up the flowing skirt.

“Well, I’m leaving.”

“What?”

Oddly, only then ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) did Rigares show real confusion. Watching his awkward rise, I waved my hand lightly.

“No escort needed. Goodbye.”

“What are you doing! This is the second floor...!”

Hooking one heel on the railing, I jumped down. I had to find Reid immediately.

✠

Though the regent’s duties were busy, checking birthday gifts and sending replies was not urgent.

Yet the maid interrupting the queen’s tea time was a coded sign that something important had come up.

“The Dark Information Guild sent a letter stamped with the black seal?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Queen Raviosa felt her heart, which she hardly knew existed, pounding fast for the first time in ages.

For thirteen years, she had pursued one case with unwavering focus: the kidnapping of her eldest son, Reminic, which haunted her deeply.

As regent and queen of the Kingdom of Vinchester, she had used all her power, but the truth remained elusive. Three years ago, she secretly contracted the Dark Information Guild.

No matter how famous the guild was, even the highest authority in the land struggled to get results.

The prolonged frustration only left her more barren and exhausted. Yet her lingering attachment prevented her from giving up. Surprisingly, the situation changed from a month ago.

Rumors spread that the Dark Information Guild had allied with an underworld figure, and Queen Raviosa began uncovering and delivering the truths she sought for thirteen years.

One letter, one truth. Like water drops teasing the tongue of the thirsty.

And only just before her birthday banquet, it seemed she was finally ready to end the torturous hope.

“This is it...”

The letter, thick enough to be a parcel, bore a black seal. Proof that the Dark Information Guild had completed its task.

At last, the truth was in her hands.

Taking a deep breath to calm her excitement, Queen Raviosa broke the seal.

Inside were dozens of documents: evidence of secret deals, testimonies, and well-organized reports.

Her wide eyes didn’t even blink as she read. Her hands trembled, crumpling the papers.

“Ha, ha ha... hahaha...!”

The woman who’d stood still like a statue suddenly lifted her head and burst into maniacal laughter.

“So... so it was like that. That day thirteen years ago... so that’s why... hahaha... the whole truth... was like that!”

The chandelier’s light pierced her retina. Tears welled in her bloodshot eyes.

“Hadeil! Hadeil, you bastard...!”

If an enemy stood before her, she would have immediately slaughtered him to the bone. Even the queen’s closest maids had never seen her like this—turned into the most beautiful demon.

Only the head maid, who had served the queen long, stepped forward calmly.

“You seem pleased with the gifts, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, pleased beyond words.”

“Will this aid Your Majesty’s great work?”

“Yes. With this, I can put Rigares on the throne.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

In her hand was perfect evidence that could topple the last silence.

At the upcoming birthday banquet, she planned to crown Rigares and behead Hadeil. The queen’s lips curved into a smile—wicked and poisonous, yet as beautiful as a flower.

Drunk on joy, she read and reread the informant’s reports. Especially the parts about young Reminic, what he did and endured to escape the fanatic’s den, fascinated her endlessly. She etched every word deep into her mind to recall until her dying day.

Then suddenly, a strange doubt flashed in her mind.

“This informant... you said he was a big shot in the underworld?”

“Yes. A very capable one.”

The Dark Information Guild leader personally vouched for and connected this person to the queen.

Until now, she had paid no attention to his identity. Even if he were a demon, she would have made a contract—identity didn’t matter.

But today, perhaps because it was the last letter, she found herself unable to look away from the flowing, neat handwriting.

Soon she realized the source of this peculiar, almost hypnotic unease.