#107. A Dangerous Invitation (3)
Sasha watched Ruslanâs smiling face with caution. He continued smoothly,
âThereâs a relic I treasure, but Iâve always wondered about its use. Even though I invited renowned historians and magicians, none of them could tell me.â
âI doubt I could know what the experts didnât,â Sasha answered calmly.
âNo, I have a feeling youâll know.â
âWhy is he so certain?â she thought, uneasy at Ruslanâs mysterious tone.
âPerhaps you do know. Please, just take a look.â
As Ruslan pressed her, nearby nobles chimed in.
âIâve heard of your accomplishments, Countess. They were impressive.â
âIâd also love to see the relics His Highness has collected. Letâs all go together.â
With no reason to refuse, Sasha agreed.
âIf I donât know, Iâll just say so. It wonât bring me harm.â
The group left the banquet hall and walked toward the Crown Princeâs palace.
Unlike the arranged seating earlier, now everyone could move freely. Naturally, Sasha moved close to Pavel, linking her arm through his.
But before long, she noticed something wrong. Pavelâs face seemed flushed, and his breathing was rough.
âPavel, are you alright?â she whispered.
ââŠYes.â
His answer was slow.
âIâm fine.â
He even slipped into his old casual way of speaking, forgetting they were supposed to use formal words in public.
âHe doesnât look fine at all.â
Her worried gaze met his, and Pavel gave her a small smile.
âMaybe the wineâs hitting me.â
âOhâŠâ
Sasha realized she had never really seen him drink much since theyâd become adults. Apparently, he was weak to alcohol.
âSo Pavel canât hold his liquor.â
âDo you want to rest instead?â she asked softly.
He shook his head. Though his body felt strange, there was no way he would leave her alone hereâespecially not in a place arranged by Ruslan, who always seemed to be scheming.
Pavel forced himself to stay upright, holding on to his fading clarity.
Soon, they reached the relic chamber.
The room was arranged like a museum gallery, with dim lighting, controlled humidity and temperature, and rows of glass-covered displays.
Nobles admired the sight.
âMagnificent! Just as Iâve heard.â
âHis Highness truly has a remarkable collection.â
But Sasha and Pavel werenât impressed. To Sasha, who had seen far greater things left behind by her old friend Tavaris, this was hardly worth surprise.
Ruslan pushed through the crowd and offered his hand to Sasha.
âThis way, please.â
With Pavel slowed by his âdrunkenness,â Sasha reluctantly allowed Ruslan to escort her forward.
She tried not to look back, but couldnât hide her worry. Still, Pavel didnât seem completely unwellâjust tipsy. Nothing serious.
âLetâs just go along with this quickly and then leave.â
Ruslan pointed at a relic.
âThis one produces sparks when pressed. But itâs all used up now.â
Sasha only glanced and immediately understood.
He gestured to another. âAnd this?â
âThat purifies polluted water,â Sasha said confidently. âIt canât handle large amounts, and it has daily limits, but it would be very useful in emergencies.â
âHoâŠâ Ruslan sounded genuinely impressed.
One after another, he asked, and Sasha answered without hesitationâsometimes even explaining more than he asked.
Ruslanâs eyes gleamed.
He had only invited her here with flattery, not expecting much. But she truly knew more than even the best experts he had gathered before.
âSheâs more knowledgeable than renowned relic scholars.â
His desire for her deepened. A woman like this should shine at his side.
After a moment of thought, he drew out something he always kept with him.
âThen perhaps you can tell me about this.â
It was a translucent orb, filling his large palm.
Sashaâs eyes widened.
âWhy is that here?!â
It was a forbidden relic that induced false dreams.
The owner could dream whatever fantasy they desired, as if it were real. But the price was severe: the userâs mind and life force were slowly consumed.
Sashaâs thoughts raced.
âThat explains it. His tired face, his strange mutterings about dreams, his odd behavior⊠it was all because of this.â
The orb glowed faintly redâit was active.
That meant Ruslan had been using it recently. Within months, it would drain him to the sickbed. Within a year, he would fall permanently into dreams, never to wake.
Sashaâs lips parted.
âYes, I know what this is.â
âTruly?!â
Ruslan sounded genuinely shocked.
âNo scholar has ever figured it out.â
âOf course not,â Sasha muttered. This magic had been banned a thousand years ago, all records erased, all relics supposedly destroyed. Yet here one remained.
Ruslan leaned in eagerly. âThen what is it?â
Sasha hesitated, then asked instead,
âYour Highness⊠where did you get this?â
ââŠWhat do you mean?â
âItâs important. I must know where and how this came into your possession.â
The smile faded from Ruslanâs face.
Far away, in the northâat the border of Volkov lands and the frozen wastes.
Where once there had been nothing, now a dark castle stood, filled with sinister energy.
It was the dwelling of the dead and the witch who commanded them.
At the very top floor, great windows blazed with light like a lighthouse piercing the mist.
There, Raissa gazed into a pale orbâher treasured relic.
Unlike others, to her it showed distant scenes. Even now, she watched what unfolded in Kalitaâs palace: Ruslan drugging Pavel, standing beside Alexandra, showing her the orb.
Raissa scowled.
âI told him to get rid of Alexandra, and he wastes time toying with Pavel instead. Some Crown Prince he isâŠâ
She planned to interfere again in Ruslanâs âdreamâ later, bending him closer to her will.
At that moment, Gregory Volkov appeared through the window.
âHow goes it?â he rasped, his voice like claws on glass.
Irritated, Raissa turned from the orb. Gregory, blood-stained, approached with a foul stench.
She pinched her nose and answered, âBelow, things are still in motion. What about the north?â
âAlmost done,â Gregory said.
The battlefield raged, Grand Duke Dmitri Volkov leading his soldiers against waves of monsters. For now, they held their ground, but in the long war, humans had limits.
âAnd once Dmitri Volkov is dealt with, the rest will fall easily.â
Raissa smirked. âConfident, arenât you?â
âHow could I not be?â Gregory grinned.
âLooking forward to returning?â
âOf course.â
Gregory Volkovâonce Count of Tulaâsmiled slyly.
The day he reclaimed the castle he had been cast out from, as its true master, was close at hand.