Chapter 164

Feb 01, 2024

The look in our siblings’ eyes changed as they noticed my smile also took on a different shade from mere moments prior. With the help of my butterflies, I had actually witnessed the Fipellions speaking ill of our clan on numerous occasions. I would not have minded so much had their insults been directed at Agrece as a whole, but they would often slander Jeremy exclusively. That was something I simply could not allow.

“Of course, that’s only if our eventual purpose is to ‘befriend’ them.”

I had faith in the inherent cunning of all Agreces that the siblings who had congregated in my room would understand exactly what I meant.

“When it comes to those who step out of line... Well, you all already know what happened to Father.”

I reached out for the vase and plucked out one of the flowers. I took a long whiff of its sweet aroma, then whispered the Agrece maxim.

“Never forget everything that takes place in the shadows.”

Flutter.

I dropped the enticing flower and it seemed to slowly fall to the floor without a sound. Little did I know then that the following day Noel Vertium would at long last arrive at Yggdrasil castle.

* * *

Almost immediately upon his arrival, the attendants took note that the Gold Master seemed to have adopted an entirely different persona from what he had shown to everyone at the gathering that previous winter.

Apart from his leaner physique, his complexion appeared sickly compared to before as well. But other than what was visible to the naked eye, something else seemed off with him that no casual observer could pinpoint. Of course, those who were at least partially familiar with the Vertium leader soon realized that his steward Dante, who was always at the young man’s side, was nowhere in sight.

Nix... I need to find Nix.

He also appeared oddly preoccupied from the moment he disembarked from his carriage and throughout being escorted to his chambers in the Gold clan’s wing of the castle. In truth, he had hardly slept a wink during the long journey from the Gold lands to the neutral territory as one thing alone plagued his mind.

Then someone in the corridor caught his attention.

Click, clack.

A woman he had become all too familiar with in the previous months approached him quietly from the opposite end of the long hallway. The sunlight seemed to serve as her spotlight as she continued to traverse the pearl-white floor at her feet. In his mind, she was undoubtedly as stunningly beautiful as she had been that first day he beheld her at the Gold manor.

“L-Luna!!!” Noel stopped dead in his tracks to cry out to her in a small voice.

Roxana Agrece came to a halt as well, then met his emerald gaze. “I am quite certain that I told you never to call me by that infernal name again.”

Although her beauty rivaled that of a spring goddess, her demeanor was infamously closer to that of a wintery one. He flinched at the iciness of her tone but decided to take another chance at speaking to her. However, as he parted his lips, the words would not sound.

“‘Luna’?”

Just then, a new and audibly curious voice sounded in the void between the blond beauty and the orange-haired fellow. It belonged to none other than Luzark Castro. He had been passing by when he noticed the young Vertium leader call out to the Agrece.

Roxana, however, did not bother to glance at the Red Heir and instead acted as though the only one present was the stubborn Gold Master.

“Noel Vertium.” Cassis suddenly approached, then joined the group. He had decided to go to the Gold wing almost as soon as word reached him that their clan had arrived. “Are you still feeling fatigued from your long trip here? Perhaps I should personally escort you to your quarters.”

To an unwitting observer, his offer might have seemed like a simple and kind offer, but it was in reality closer to him detaining the Gold clan leader. Almost immediately after making the suggestion, the Blue Heir cast a quick glance at Roxana and Luzark, then grabbed hold of Noel’s arm.

The Pedelian finally gave a slight nod to the Agrece before essentially dragging the Gold Master away. Unlike how he would have reacted back at the Gold manor, Noel did not put up much resistance. To the Blue Heir’s surprise, the carrot-top followed behind him obediently. Although, the golden-eyed man took note of the fact that the young leader appeared preoccupied as though his thoughts were elsewhere.

Roxana’s crimson gaze bore into the shrinking image of the Vertium’s back with cold intensity. Meanwhile, the Red Heir took the uncharacteristic initiative to approach the Agrece after the confrontation seemed to have reached a natural conclusion.

“Now that the Gold Master is here, I expect the hearing will be held in a matter of time.” His mother Badrisha had likely informed him about Vertium’s puppetism crime.

“Yes, I suppose.”

The red-headed man stopped roughly five paces short of standing directly in front of the blond before properly fixing his gaze on her. He had always seemed to instinctively adopt a hardened expression whenever he saw her, but for whatever reason, he didn’t have one at that moment.

“I’ve also heard that both the Red and Black Masters will be holding talks soon.” She had already surmised that he wouldn’t have any other reason to approach her apart from that matter. He was, of course, referring to Badrisha Castro’s upcoming meeting with Jeremy Agrece to continue their in-depth discussion about the unfinished business between the two clans. “Will you be joining them, Red Heir?”

Although she already knew what he had decided, she thought it best to play innocent.

“No, I don’t believe I will. I think only our leaders need be in attendance.”

“I see... Well, I think it would serve you well to listen in.”

For a brief moment, the Castro appeared stunned. Although she delivered the advice in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, it sounded like a hidden message lay dormant in her words to him.

“Who knows? They may end up discussing certain things that you as the heir of Castro would benefit from learning.”

In truth, it mattered little to not at all to them if Luzark chose to attend the meeting. Roxana was simply extending a small kindness to him by planting the thought in his mind. Of course, even that wasn’t based on purely kind motives. She had simply reached the conclusion that allowing him to learn the full details concerning the matters between their clans would both benefit him in leading Castro in the future, as well as benefit the Black clan inadvertently.

“I do hope you’ll reconsider. It matters not to us Agreces who all is there.”

He stared at her as she continued to make her way down the corridor. Before long, the sunlight reflecting off the white, marble floor soon stung his eyes.

* * *

Later that day, Luzark could be seen escorting his mother down a hallway. Even though he was walking behind Badrisha, he could see her lowered gaze in his mind’s eye. At the end of the hall was the room in which she would continue her discussion with the Black Master.

“Luzark, as I have already told you, I am the only one who need attend this negotiation meeting.”

This was evidently not her first plea to her son in hopes that he would reconsider accompanying her. Although her tone was calm, it retained an intriguing sort of distance. And while the pieces of the puzzle finally seemed to be falling into place, both the image of Roxana Agrece and her cryptic advice began to overwhelm his thoughts.

It was becoming more and more clear that she already knew what the topic of discussion would be between the two clan leaders. When he considered how close the Pedelian siblings were, he presumed it wouldn’t be all that unexpected for Jeremy Agrece to share sensitive information regarding clan matters with his older half-sister.

Such thoughts left the Red Heir with a visible valley forming between his brows. Although he thought it peculiar, he could not help feeling a hint of shame at the possibility that the lady Agrece knew of Castro’s most hidden secrets.

“As the heir meant to take up your mantle, I believe it is imperative that I join you.” He spoke in a refuting and almost defiant tone that left Badrisha at a momentary loss for words.

“Very well. If you insist, then I won’t try to stop you.”

Once she finally agreed to respect her son’s decision, the two continued to the meeting room where the other party was already awaiting their arrival.