CHAPTER 88…………………………
“Oh!”
“To think I’ll be having tea directly with Her Highness!”
At the announcement that they could win a public date right, the candidates burst into excitement, their faces lighting up instantly.
“The time and location of the tea time will be arranged according to Her Highness the Princess’s schedule and condition. We will inform each of you in advance.”
Among the delighted candidates, Izeph’s face too was slightly flushed with anticipation.
Asterios, quietly lowering his gaze, fell into thought.
Since Roziana would have to meet several people, he worried about how exhausted she might become — and the idea of her drinking tea with someone else made his heart feel unsettled.
“Her Majesty the Empress may also attend the tea time, and she has said that this too will be reflected in determining who passes the second round of the competition.”
So it seemed this tea time would not be a purely blissful date. A few faces visibly tensed at the mention of being evaluated by the Empress. Watching the situation as if it were a show, Edwin and Mephisto burst into laughter.
“Now, we will be handing out the seeds to the candidates.”
At the steward’s nod, several attendants entered, each holding golden trays filled with seeds. The participants approached and selected whichever tray they desired.
Once everyone had received a seed, the chief steward continued his explanation.
“As you can see, all the seeds are of identical size and color — plain black. However, depending on how you nurture them, they will bloom with different scents and colors. Her Majesty the Empress has asked that you reflect carefully on what kind of heart and devotion you will show in this task. The tea time schedule will be delivered to each candidate’s room by this afternoon. We wish you all good fortune over the next three weeks.”
What kind of soil to use, which pot to plant in, what water to give — all of it was up to the candidates.
When the steward finished speaking, everyone returned to their rooms with their seeds in hand.
The sight of over ten grown men carefully carrying trays with tiny seeds on them was rather striking. Asterios’s gaze, however, was fixed on two men he needed to speak with. Daniel had disappeared after following the Holy King, and Mephisto too was heading back to his quarters.
Then, Izeph quietly approached Asterios and asked,
“Your Excellency, have you ever heard of this seed before?”
Unlike the other candidates, who looked bewildered, Izeph’s expression was calm and composed.
“I only know the name.”
He had heard of it before — a mysterious seed that once grew only in the ancient Fairy Forest.
Obrenymphe.
A magical seed said to bloom into flowers of different colors and scents depending on the grower’s state of mind.
“And you, Izeph? You seem rather confident.”
“I don’t know what kind of seed it is, but I’ve always liked raising plants. Somehow, I feel confident about this.”
Izeph smiled faintly. Seeing that rare brightness on his face, Asterios smiled back.
“Yes. I believe you’ll do well.”
“Yes. And… I’m also looking forward to sharing tea with Her Highness.”
Ah. So that’s the real reason, then.
Asterios thought that for someone who couldn’t hide his feelings so easily, it must be even harder to conceal the pain he endured each night.
“Izeph.”
Asterios stepped closer and spoke softly.
“It’s all right. If there’s something you wish to say to me, you may send it by letter.”
“Ah…”
Izeph flinched slightly, then widened his eyes and quickly forced an awkward smile.
“Yes, of course. Then I’d better go and plant this seed right away. I should also find a spot with good sunlight.”
After bowing, Izeph took his leave. Watching his retreating figure — steps lighter than they’d been in a long time — Asterios also turned away. His destination: Mephisto’s room.
“It’s something important.”
He knocked on the door and spoke in a firm tone, almost like a warning.
“This isn’t the time for childish games.”
A soft click sounded — Mephisto’s door opened slightly.
“Come in.”
This was unusual. Instead of ignoring him or shutting him out, Mephisto actually opened the door.
When Asterios stepped inside, he was caught off guard by what he saw.
Sunlight was streaming through wide-open windows, and Mephisto was standing there, basking in the bright light.
That sight — him, of all people, enjoying the sunshine — was something Asterios had never seen before.
“The contest must be rather important to you, huh?”
To make a seed sprout and bloom, sunlight, fresh air, and clean water were essential. No matter how much Mephisto preferred the dark, he couldn’t defy nature’s laws.
The sight of him standing in sunlight with a seed in hand was almost amusing.
“Believe it or not, I’m quite fond of flowers.”
Well, beauty captivates everyone, after all.
At some point, he had already prepared a fairly large, elegant porcelain pot.
“You didn’t come here to discuss how to make seeds sprout, did you?”
He set the pot on the windowsill, then sprawled lazily across the sofa.
“So, what’s this important thing?”
Sitting across from him, Asterios met his eyes and began.
“Back when Her Highness the Princess was still young and living at the Grand Duke’s estate…”
At that, Mephisto raised an eyebrow as if to say, You’re really bringing up something that old?
“Was it you who sent monsters there?”
“Hah!”
Mephisto gave a short, scornful laugh, twisting one corner of his mouth.
“What’s this about digging up the past all of a sudden? Yeah, I sent a few scouts to the Grand Duke’s estate.”
As expected, Asterios’s brow furrowed.
“At the time, my lady was constantly radiating traces of mana. Of course, she’d always been special since birth, but you know I wasn’t particularly interested in such things back then. The situation’s different now, of course.”
At the words my lady, Asterios’s expression darkened slightly, but he kept listening.
“So, before that time?”
“Before that? She did use mana a few times in the palace, so I gradually began to sense her presence… but the first time I actually sent someone to investigate was when she was with the Grand Duke.”
“I see. I thought so.”
So, the intruder who had entered the palace back then hadn’t been sent by Mephisto. Realizing this, Mephisto’s face hardened.
“Don’t tell me…”
Guessing what Asterios had come for, Mephisto straightened up.
“Someone before me put her in danger? Using dark magic, of all things — and in my name?”
“…Yes.”
Asterios nodded.
“Hah. Now that’s starting to piss me off.”
It was impossible not to care.
This wasn’t something he could let slide.
“Endangering my lady — and pretending to be me?”
Unforgivable.
All Mephisto had ever wanted was to stand at Roziana’s side, take her to the Demon Realm, and live together after a grand wedding. But now, to hear that someone had been impersonating him — and might even be manipulating monsters —
For the first time in a while, Mephisto’s eyes burned with real fury. It was exactly the reaction Asterios had anticipated.
“Yes, it’s serious. So tell me, Mephisto…”
You know, don’t you?
“When someone with immense divine power — like Gregorian — resonates with mana.”
“…”
For a brief moment, their gazes locked, sharp and calculating.
Neither man wanted to yield. Both were determined to win this competition — and that fleeting stare-down felt much longer than it was.
“It’s simple,” Mephisto finally said. “It’s the same principle as two sides of a coin.”
“But Princess Roziana’s body once suffered a fever from divine power and mana clashing within her, didn’t it?”
At that, Mephisto spread his hands, explaining,
“Of course. That’s because she truly possesses both within her. But the Holy King? He only has one. When that single power becomes strong enough, its wavelength can align with its opposite — allowing it to resonate, but not belong to him.”
“So he can’t use mana directly… but he can disturb or control it.”
Asterios crossed his arms, eyes narrowing as he calculated possibilities.
“That’s right. And the ancient curse used through that victim at Secret Fog likely worked in the same way. If you know the ancient rites properly, it’s possible. The victim’s heart would’ve continuously shown hallucinations to both you and my lady.”
At that, Asterios clenched his fist tightly.
Putting all the pieces together, he could now clearly see Gregorian’s motive.
“To Gregorian, Her Highness’s body itself would be a vessel — a tool filled with immense mana.”
“Exactly. And if he uses the same trick again, my lady will lose control of her body because of the mana overflowing inside her.”
If Gregorian could control Roziana at will, it would be like an angel and a demon joining hands to plunge the world into chaos.
“Mephisto.”
After organizing his thoughts, Asterios spoke his name.
Then, honestly, he confessed,
“I believe Gregorian is Gabriel.”
“What?”
Mephisto’s black eyes flared wide — shock, then pure hatred, filling them in an instant.
