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Chapter 76
‘What does that bastard plan to do with my magic tools? Why did he steal them?’
The answer wasn’t hard. Edward’s face twisted with despair.
‘He wants to pin Michaela’s death on me.’
Magic tools always carry traces of their user’s mana, like fingerprints. If Tiago used Edward’s stolen tools as evidence of curse orb production, Edward would have no choice but to admit guilt.
Edward’s face turned pale. He grabbed at his shining blond hair in frustration.
‘Damn it. That sneaky bastard… I didn’t think he’d act this quickly and thoroughly. This time, I really might be finished.’
He buried his face in his hands and thought hard.
‘I need to think. I need to find his weakness somehow. Some kind of leverage!’
And then one face flashed through his mind.
‘A weakness… of course.’
Delphine Plerion.
‘A person’s weakness is always the thing they cherish the most.’
He recalled the necklace Delphine always wore—the Mermaid’s Tear.
‘If Tiago gave her something that precious, then they’re not just casual acquaintances.’
He also remembered Delphine’s innocent, pure face.
‘But tricking Delphine is impossible now. I already made a huge mistake this morning. I lost control and cast a torture spell on her… That was such a blunder. I never thought she would become this useful.’
Edward considered ways to use Delphine against Tiago.
‘Kidnap her to threaten him? No… that won’t work. Tiago is too sly, too cunning. He wouldn’t fall for something so crude.’
He couldn’t use curse orbs either. The Mermaid’s Tear protected her from any curse magic.
Edward rolled his eyes around as he thought.
‘If I want to find Delphine’s true weakness, I first need to learn more about her. And who knows her best?’
He first thought of Frederic, but immediately dismissed it. Just remembering how Frederic had struck him earlier made Edward’s face ache.
Charlier also came to mind, but Charlier was still hovering near death.
Then, Edward’s thoughts landed on Leo. Like a lightbulb switching on, a smile spread across his face.
‘Yes… that fool. My stupid ally. Time to use him properly.’
* * *
There was a knock at the door.
When it opened, Frederic was standing there.
“Finished? Come in.”
I guided Frederic into the sitting room.
He had just finished being questioned about Michaela’s death and had stopped by to tell me how it went.
I poured him a glass of water and sat across from him.
“How was the investigation?”
Frederic gave a slight nod of thanks and said,
“It’s simple. You drink a truth potion, Tiago asks you questions, and you answer. The questioning is done one-on-one. Meanwhile, a special pen records everything you say automatically. That pen is interesting—it won’t write anything if you lie.”
“A truth potion, huh? What does it taste like?”
Frederic gave me a look as if to say, Really, that’s your question? He smirked.
“It doesn’t taste like anything. No color, no smell. Honestly, you must be haunted by ghosts—ghosts that died hungry, since you’re always obsessed with food.”
“What nonsense.”
I ignored his teasing but couldn’t stop a smile from forming. It had been so long since I saw him smile like this.
Right now, Frederic’s expression was as precious as sunlight after weeks of rain.
Ever since Charlier had collapsed, Frederic had spent almost all his time at her side, his face always dark with worry.
Even while exhausted from caring for her, his looks hadn’t faded. In fact, his tired, fragile appearance almost made him seem more beautiful.
Seeing him smiling like this again lifted my spirits. My voice came out slightly higher than usual.
“So then…”
Frederic looked up at me curiously.
“So then, you can only speak the truth right now?”
“…Yeah, pretty much.”
He answered as if it was obvious, leaving me feeling a little deflated.
“Oh, I just thought it’d be fun to play truth-or-dare. Ask you things I never had the chance to before.”
His eyebrow raised slightly, though his face still looked bored.
“What could you possibly want to ask me?”
“Um… um…”
I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind.
“See? I think I already know everything about you. I know who you like, your hobbies, your tastes… what’s left?”
I pouted, disappointed.
Frederic replied flatly,
“No one knows me better than you. Sometimes you even seem to know things about me that I don’t know myself.”
“……!”
‘Wait, what?’
My face flushed hot red.
I glanced at Frederic. His face was calm, no sign that he had said anything unusual.
Quickly, I turned my head away, embarrassed.
“What’s that supposed to be? A compliment, out of nowhere?”
“Not really.”
He lowered his head and chuckled softly. The sight made my chest ache strangely.
“It’s just how I feel. This truth potion really works well. Makes me say things I normally wouldn’t.”
‘It’s like being drunk… dangerous.’
I jumped to my feet suddenly.
It wasn’t on purpose—just instinct.
I couldn’t let the atmosphere between us go any further. His smile, his kind words—it was too much.
I knew it would only make my heart flutter, only lead to pain later. After all, I already knew where Frederic’s heart belonged. I couldn’t waste any more emotions on him.
“…?”
He gave me a questioning look, as if asking why I had suddenly stood up.
“Ah… I was just thirsty. I’ll get more tea or water.”
His gaze shifted to my teacup—it was still full.
“Ah… no, I mean water. I’m tired of tea.”
I turned my back and bit my lip.
‘God, I must look so weird right now. Why am I acting so clumsy?’
As I poured water into my cup, his voice came from behind me.
“There’s something I want to ask you.”
“…What?”
“Something I’d like to ask if you were the one drinking the truth potion.”
“What is it?”
I sat back down and lifted the water to my lips.
Frederic chuckled softly. His smile was almost shy, as if he were tipsy.
“Do you like Tiago?”
“……!”
I almost spat out my water. That question was completely unexpected.
I had thought he’d ask something trivial—like what I’d do with money, or why I disliked Charlier. I never thought he’d care about who I liked.
I downed the whole cup in one shot.
—Thump!
I slammed the empty cup onto the table.
Frederic’s eyes were steady, waiting seriously for my answer.
‘His face is flushed… he really does look like he’s drunk. Cute.’
I shook my head violently.
‘No way. Stop it. Don’t think Frederic is cute. He’s not for me. Don’t look at me like that, Frederic.’
“I’m not telling. I didn’t drink the potion, so I don’t have to answer.”
“Pfft…”
He blew air through his lips, pouting. He looked so disappointed it almost made me laugh. I wanted to tell him the truth—but I couldn’t.
Because even I didn’t know the answer.
‘Do I like Tiago? I don’t know. He’s good, but I can’t trust him yet. We haven’t spent much time together. But whenever something happens, he’s the first person I think of…’
I just gave a small smile. Frederic sighed, then stood.
“Fine, if you won’t say. Anyway… stay careful here for a while. But don’t worry too much. I’ll protect you somehow.”
“……!”
He spoke casually, without realizing what he had just said. But my heart went wild, pounding furiously.
With a small wave, he left for his bedroom. I sat there for a long time, dazed.
Then I laughed to myself at a ridiculous thought.
‘If Charlier hadn’t been in Frederic’s life… if he could have liked me instead… would I have ended up liking him back?’
* * *
—Creak.
A soldier pushed open the banquet hall doors.
Delphine stepped inside.
She had been there a few times before—on her first night in the palace, when Alexander made announcements. But each time, the atmosphere had been different.
Tonight, the hall was dark. Famous paintings and decorations were covered with cloth. The chandelier’s candles were snuffed out.
Only the center of the hall had light: a desk, glowing under a lone lamp.
In the middle of that desk sat Tiago. On it were a glass bottle of truth potion and a small wine cup.
‘Hmm.’
Delphine’s body tensed with nerves.
‘I didn’t do anything wrong, but… being interrogated is never pleasant.’
She swallowed hard and walked toward the center of the hall.
—Tap. Tap.
Each of her steps echoed in the empty room.
When she reached the desk, Tiago lifted his finger. Instantly, the chair moved back on its own, waiting for her to sit.
