Lucien, of course, didn't keep me waiting for long.
"Open the gate," came his voice.
Calm. Cold. Confident—like an executioner arriving for his usual work.
The gate creaked open, and Valente, with devilish politeness, stepped aside.
Lucien entered.
Still impeccably handsome.
Dressed in black, with a crimson brooch gleaming at his collar.
"I didn't kill the Emperor," he said, not even looking at me. "But not because of what you said."
He didn't believe me… but didn't kill him either?
Is that bad? Or good? Or bad that it's good? Or—
"Then… why?" I asked cautiously, lifting my gaze.
He looked at me, and the corner of his mouth twitched in a smirk.
"There was a commotion at the palace. The Saint appeared."
Aha. There it is. The plot is starting to move.
"Before that," he continued, stepping closer, "no one even knew she had arrived.
No rumors. No signs.
No one knew…
Except you."
He leaned down, and I instinctively shrank back against the wall.
"You said a Holy Knight… and the Saint… would rise against me.
And now…
Today, she appeared."
Shit.
"Exactly, my lord!" I nodded frantically. "I… uhh… I saw it. I mean, read it. I mean… I'm all-seeing. Yes. Like… a prophet!"
He squinted at me like I'd just compared myself to a goddess.
"I don't believe in such fairy tales," he said, his voice like ice. "And I certainly don't believe some pathetic insect like your so-called Saint could ever kill me."
I swallowed hard.
No, please, don't get mad… not now…
"Perhaps… we should give her a chance, my lord?" Valente cut in, wearing that deceptively naive smile. "If she truly possesses a rare gift… such things only appear in legends."
Lucien turned to him with a heavy, scrutinizing look.
"And how, Valente?"
The man looked like he'd been waiting for that question.
"For example… why not ask Lady Flora to tell us where the diamond mines are—the ones you've been searching for?"
Yep. That's it.
Game over.
Why did I say that?
I froze like a mouse caught in a hawk's shadow.
Lucien's gaze was now fixed on me like I'd suddenly become ten times more interesting. Or dangerous.
Or both.
"You," he said, slowly stepping closer, "you're telling me you're omniscient now?"
"Heh… kind of," I whispered, already picturing shovels, deep mines, and my fragile back breaking under rock.
"I'll give you five months," he said slowly, stepping in close.
"A generous amount of time… but if you fail—your end will come that very minute."
I gulped and nodded like a wind-up doll.
"Yes, my lord!"
Why is his cloak so soft?
As he turned away, I couldn't help but brush my hand against it.
"I'll do it, I swear!" I squeaked and immediately took a step back.
"You may return to your room."
Room…? Not the dungeon?!
That's basically a vacation!
I didn't wait for a second invitation. I grabbed the hem of my dress and bolted without looking back.