Everyone in the chamber rose from their seats as the Emperor entered.

Heads bowed in unison.

Aries followed.

Though his posture was respectable enough, it was nowhere near as precise as everyone else’s.

As Mikhail, he had never been accustomed to ceremonies like this.

The Emperor took his seat at the head of the table.

“Be seated.”

The council obeyed.

Silence immediately settled over the chamber.

The Emperor picked up the documents placed before him and began reviewing them.

No one dared interrupt.

The atmosphere was noticeably heavier than the banquet from the previous night.

This was no celebration.

This was an investigation.

Finally, the Emperor broke the silence.

“He was last seen with Kaius Aegis de Lelouche?”

Aries’ eyes shifted toward his brother.

A young man seated among the representatives answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The information comes from a witness who was present in the garden last night.”

The Emperor’s gaze remained on the document.

“Continue.”

The man nodded.

“According to the witness’s statement, Lord Raven de Astralis was seen strolling through the palace garden with his fiancé, Lord Kaius Aegis de Lelouche.”

Aries picked up the report in front of him.

His eyes moved across the parchment.

The statement continued.

“The two were observed beneath the moonlight. Shortly afterward, clouds covered the moon, causing the surrounding area to become considerably darker.”

“The witness then reported that a strong wind swept through the garden. When the moonlight returned, Lord Raven was no longer present.”

“Lord Kaius was later found alone.”

Aries’ eyes narrowed slightly.

The report continued.

“It is therefore suspected that Lord Raven was the victim of an attempted kidnapping.”

“Given the location of the incident, it is believed that the perpetrator may have been connected to one of the noble families.”

The man lowered the document.

“Sire, the palace garden is heavily guarded. Other than members of the Imperial Court and their authorized personnel, very few individuals should have been capable of entering the area.”

“Therefore, we believe…”

He glanced toward Kaius.

“…that Lord Kaius may possess information regarding Lord Raven’s disappearance.”

Aries slowly lowered the parchment.

May possess information?

That was an interesting way to phrase it.

Across the table, Kaius remained silent.

His hands were clenched tightly against his lap.

Aries could see the emotions on his brother’s face.

Worry.

Anger.

And something dangerously close to self-blame.

“If only I had been more careful…”

Kaius’ voice was barely audible.

“If only you hadn’t left him alone…”

“Alistair de Astralis!”

An older voice cut through the chamber.

The young man who had spoken earlier immediately fell silent.

Aries recognized him as one of Raven’s brothers.

His expression was tense.

“Forgive my son’s insolence, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor looked toward him.

“It is understandable.”

His voice remained calm.

“We all know how valuable Raven is to this Empire.”

The Emperor placed the report on the table.

“Raven de Astralis is a five-star mage.”

The room became quieter.

“His magical abilities alone would make him capable of overwhelming an entire legion.”

Aries’ expression changed slightly.

A five-star mage?

That explained some things.

The Emperor continued.

“He is also highly skilled in teleportation.”

Aries immediately looked up.

Teleportation.

That was considerably more interesting.

“It is an exceptionally useful ability.”

The Emperor’s gaze swept across the council.

“Especially for those who have no intention of obeying Imperial law.”

Aries’ fingers stopped moving.

Rebels.

So they still existed.

Despite the Empire’s apparent stability.

The Emperor continued.

“These rebels have been hiding in the shadows for some time.”

“There is a possibility that one of them may even be connected to this incident.”

A brief silence followed.

“Perhaps even someone within this very council.”

Several nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

“But I sincerely hope that is not the case.”

Aries leaned back slightly.

Interesting.

If the rebels wanted Raven, his teleportation ability alone could explain why.

But there was something else.

Why take him from the palace?

Why during the ceremony?

And why leave Kaius behind?

The Emperor continued.

“We have other matters requiring our attention, but Raven’s disappearance cannot be ignored.”

“If the rebels possess him, the situation becomes considerably more dangerous.”

“Raven may be capable of protecting himself under ordinary circumstances.”

“But if he is being held by people who understand his abilities…”

The Emperor paused.

“…it may only be a matter of time before he is harmed.”

“And once we recover him, he may provide us with information regarding the rebels.”

Aries quietly studied the report again.

Something bothered him.

Not the possibility of rebels.

Not even Raven’s disappearance.

It was the testimony.

Everything in it sounded reasonable.

Too reasonable.

The witness had seen Kaius and Raven together.

The moon disappeared behind clouds.

The garden became dark.

A strong wind passed through.

And when the moonlight returned…

Raven was gone.

Aries tapped his finger lightly against the parchment.

Technically, nothing here is impossible.

Yet something felt missing.

A detail.

Something small.

Something the report didn’t mention.

He couldn’t determine what.

And without evidence, there was no reason to make an accusation.

The Emperor finally turned toward Kaius.

“As for you, Lord Kaius…”

Kaius immediately straightened.

“You will remain under house arrest until further notice.”

The room erupted in quiet murmurs.

“You will also be questioned regarding the circumstances surrounding Lord Raven’s disappearance.”

Kaius’ eyes widened.

“But Your Majesty—”

“I want to help find him.”

The Emperor’s expression hardened.

“Your carelessness has already contributed to his disappearance.”

“If you had remained by his side, would he have vanished?”

Kaius lowered his head.

Aries felt something stir inside him.

A strange discomfort.

His chest tightened.

He didn’t understand it.

Why did hearing those words bother him?

Mikhail had no reason to care.

Yet somewhere inside him…

Something did.

Perhaps it was Aries.

The original Aries.

The body may have belonged to him, but perhaps his heart had not disappeared as completely as Aries once believed.

His fingers tightened around the parchment.

Before he fully understood what he was doing—

His hand rose.

The movement immediately drew everyone’s attention.

The Emperor looked directly at him.

“Yes, Young Lord Aries?”

Aries slowly lowered his hand.

“Is Lord Kaius the only person who will be placed under house arrest?”

The room went silent.

Kaius looked at him.

So did the Duke of Lelouche.

Even Alistair’s expression changed.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Aries remained calm.

“You just stated that Lord Raven is an important individual to the Empire.”

“Correct.”

“And yet my brother is being treated as though he alone was responsible for protecting him.”

Several nobles shifted uncomfortably.

Aries continued.

“Was Lord Raven was inside the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t we also ask how someone managed to disappear with a five-star mage from a heavily guarded Imperial residence?”

Silence.

Nobody answered.

Aries placed the parchment down.

“If Lord Raven was truly taken from the palace, then the question should not begin with who abandoned him.”

His eyes swept across the council.

“It should begin with how someone managed to enter, take him, and leave without the Imperial guards noticing.”

The atmosphere changed.

Several members of the council exchanged glances.

Even the Duke of Lelouche looked toward his son with surprise.

Alistair slammed his hand against the table.

“How insolent!”

Aries turned toward him.

“You disagree?”

“You’re defending your brother without knowing the facts!”

“No.”

Aries smiled faintly.

“I’m questioning the facts we’re being given.”

Alistair’s expression darkened.

“You dare—”

“Alistair.”

The Emperor’s voice immediately silenced him.

Aries looked back toward the Emperor.

The Emperor was staring at him.

Not angrily.

Rather…

With interest.

“You speak boldly for someone who is not on his place to decide the matter.”

Aries calmly met his gaze.

“Boldness and authority are not the same thing, Your Majesty.”

A few nobles exchanged surprised glances.

The Emperor’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Indeed.”

Aries continued.

“Besides, my brother must have had a reason for leaving Lord Raven behind.”

He knew exactly what that reason was.

Kaius had saved him.

But Aries couldn’t reveal that.

Not yet.

“And if the palace’s security can be bypassed so easily…”

He paused.

“…then placing my brother under house arrest does nothing to answer the more important question.”

“Which is?”

The Emperor asked.

“Who actually took him?”

Silence returned.

This time, heavier than before.

The Emperor leaned back in his chair.

“Then what do you suggest, Young Lord Aries?”

Aries shook his head.

“I’m afraid it is not my place to decide that, Your Majesty.”

A faint smile appeared.

“But perhaps it would be more convenient to locate the witness first.”

“The witness?”

“Yes.”

Aries glanced toward the report.

“The testimony may be accurate.”

The room became still.

“But we should hear it directly before drawing conclusions.”

The Emperor studied him.

“You believe the testimony is unreliable?”

“I did not say that.”

Aries calmly folded his hands.

“I simply believe that there is a difference between knowing what happened…”

“…and knowing everything that happened.”

For a moment, nobody spoke.

The Emperor’s expression became unreadable.

Then—

“Understood.”

He turned toward the officials.

“Locate the witness.”

“Bring him before the council when he is found.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The matter was temporarily settled.

The council moved on.

Other members began discussing possible rebel movements, palace security, and the political consequences of Raven’s disappearance.

Aries remained silent.

He listened.

He observed.

He memorized.

But his mind kept returning to the same thought.

Something is missing.

The testimony had been too clean.

Too convenient.

Yet he couldn’t identify the missing piece.

Not yet.

Then—

A commotion erupted outside the chamber.

The large doors remained closed, but hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Several nobles turned toward the entrance.

A moment later, an Imperial guard rushed inside.

He immediately bowed before approaching the Emperor.

“Your Majesty.”

He leaned closer and whispered something into the Emperor’s ear.

The Emperor’s expression changed slightly.

“Let him in.”

The guard immediately stepped aside.

The massive doors opened.

A young man entered the chamber.

Black clothing.

A silver mask covering the upper portion of his face.

Calm steps.

Confident posture.

The Crown Prince.

Valtherion Ashen de Nocthar.

He walked toward the council table as though he had every right to interrupt the gathering.

His gaze swept across the room.

Then settled upon the Emperor.

A faint smile appeared beneath his mask.

“You should include me in something like this, no?”

He paused.

“Father?”

 

TO BE CONTINUED…