Carlos blinked, once—then again—as though the world had slipped out of alignment and was only now settling back into place.

A strange lightness washed over him. Not relief exactly—more like the absence of something heavy he hadn’t realised he’d been carrying. His balance faltered. He lifted a hand to his head, fingers brushing his temple, half-expecting pain, half-expecting proof that something was wrong.

That was when he noticed Ocean.

He stood before him, close enough that Carlos could make out the sharp clarity in his gaze. For a fleeting second, Carlos had the unsettling sense that he had interrupted something mid-motion—something important—but the thought refused to solidify.

Something had happened.

He just couldn’t remember what.

His eyes drifted downward, drawn by an unfamiliar weight against his chest.

Blue.

A stone lay there, smooth and polished, suspended from a thin chain around his neck. His breath caught. Slowly, cautiously, he reached for it. Cool. Solid. Undeniably real.

His gaze snapped up.

Ocean was holding an open box.

Empty.

Confusion tightened its grip on him. Carlos looked from the vacant box to the stone, then back again, as if the answer might reveal itself if he stared long enough.

When did he put it on?

A dull pressure bloomed behind his eyes. He shook his head, sharply, trying to force the fog away—and that was when the realisation hit him.

There was a gap.

A moment missing so completely it left no edges behind.

His heartbeat quickened.

How did he not remember?

He glanced down at himself, at the chain resting against his skin, then at the pendant once more before lifting his eyes to Ocean, searching his face for something—anything—that might anchor him.

"How are you feeling?" Ocean asked.

Carlos’s eyes widened.

He opened his mouth to speak, to tell him about the voices—the overlapping whispers, the way his reflection had changed and a strange evil looking man stared back at him—but the words never came.

Because suddenly—

Nothing.

The voices were gone.

Carlos froze. His breath stuttered as he turned his head slowly, almost afraid to confirm what his mind was already screaming.

The mirror.

His reflection stared back at him.

Normal.

Whole.

Unmistakably him.

His jaw slackened. He raised a trembling hand and touched his face. The reflection followed instantly. No lag. No distortion. No alien wrongness hiding beneath his skin.

His pulse thundered in his ears.

He looked at Ocean. Then at the mirror. Then back again, caught between disbelief and shock, as though reality itself had rewritten the rules while he wasn’t looking.

"That—That—This..." His voice cracked. He pointed at himself, then at the mirror, fingers shaking. "I—"

The sentence collapsed before it could exist.

Ocean glanced briefly at the mirror, then returned his gaze to Carlos, calm and unreadable, as if this outcome had been expected all along.

"I–I don’t know what it was," Carlos said slowly, a crooked, almost sheepish grin spreading across his face, "but something strange was happening to me. I feel fine now though."

He lifted his hand, gesturing vaguely at himself. "What did you do?"

Ocean didn’t return the smile. He didn’t even soften.

"Dispelled your mother’s poison," he replied flatly, as though he were commenting on the weather. "For the time being."

The grin froze.

Not cracked. Not faltered.

It vanished—as if it had never existed.

Carlos swallowed. His throat suddenly felt too tight, too dry. "P–Poison?" he echoed, the word foreign and heavy on his tongue.

Ocean’s gaze didn’t waver. There was no satisfaction in his eyes. No anger either. Just an impassive, almost clinical assessment—like a man stating an unpleasant fact he’d long since made peace with.

"It would be generous to call it that," Ocean said. "Your mother didn’t merely harm you this time. She forsook you."

The words landed harder than any blow.

"The only reason you’re alive," Ocean continued, unflinching, "and still sane, is because you are under my roof."

Silence crashed down between them.

Carlos stared at him, his mind blanking out in self-defense. The room felt distant, unreal, like he was observing the moment from somewhere far behind his own eyes. He had always known Ocean wasn’t gentle with him. Hell—he hadn’t even pretended to like him. His disdain for Carlos, and his outright loathing for his mother, had never been subtle.

And yet—

He was standing here.

Breathing.

Saved.

Why?

His fingers curled slowly at his side.

"You..." Carlos began, his voice rougher than he intended. He hesitated, then forced the words out, eyes searching Ocean’s face for confirmation or denial. "You’re on Eric’s side, aren’t you?"

The question hung in the air, fragile and dangerous.

Ocean’s eyes narrowed by a fraction before he answered.

"I’m not on anyone’s side," he lied.

"But both you and Prince Eric are here on my responsibility. If anything happens to either of you, my people and I will be in trouble and I don’t want that. So, I’m doing this."

Carlos pursed his lips and looked down.

"Keep that pendant on you all the time." Ocean said pointing at the pendant that was on Carlos.

"Yes?" Carlos blinked and Ocean leaned closer, his eyes glinting blue.

"I’m warning you, Your Highness. If I see you without this pendant, I’ll personally cut you open and put in inside your body."

Carlos’s eyes widened and he felt his heart hammering loudly and the cold sweat dripped down his back.

Ocean wasn’t bothered to keep his face under a mask now and Carlos knew this man never went around without covering his face so, the fact that he was so openly showing him his face then that meant that Carlos might either not be that big of a threat to him or he might be close to death.

"I-I understand." He responded.

Ocean leaned back, turned on his heel and then walked towards the door.

"Ha-Have you given this pendant to Eric as well?" He asked.

Ocean stopped and turned, "No."

Carlos didn’t say anything after that and just walked out.

Carlos sat there watching the pendant which had suddenly cleared his mind. He also had the strange feeling that he was surrounded by Ocean’s essence somehow, a powerful feeling of being under someone’s protection.

His mind then drifted off to the blackouts that he was having, at first it was during the second Trial, then when he was back at Ryujin estate and now again. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with his body and if he was going to survive whatever his mother had done or not.

Ocean walked out of Carlos’s room finding Enora standing outside.

"Keep an eye on him and if you think he’s losing it, stay away. We can’t be sure of anything until I exorcise him... Or even after that." Ocean instructed her.

Enora nodded, "I understand, Master."

Ocean had only taken one step when he saw Eric coming his way. Ocean walked up to him and Eric stopped opening his mouth to start speaking when Ocean raised his hand and gestured for him to follow along.

Eric went quiet and Ocean walked past him, Eric followed Ocean until the two reached the reception room.

Eric took a seat and Ocean looked at the maid.

"Bring in some tea and refreshments for four to five more people." Ocean instructed her.

The maid bowed before she left and Eric looked at him slightly confused.

"Why did you ask for the tea for five people?" Eric asked and Ocean walked over and stood by the window.

"Some people will be joining us." Ocean said without looking at him and Eric pursed his lips for a moment.

"Master," he spoke and Ocean hummed.

"How many more people know about... you?" He asked sounding tentative.

Ocean looked at him and then back outside, "Some close aides here, close friends and my family."

Eric pondered over it for a moment and couldn’t help but connect dots now as why Rune and Duke Aurelius were so protective of Reina and so assured about Ocean’s all plans.

"Speaking of family, I want to introduce you to someone." Ocean spoke making Eric look up at him.

"Who?"

Ocean nodded, "Wait."

After a few minutes, there was a fluctuation in the mana before three figures suddenly teleported into the reception room. It was Silas, Alys and Rune.

"Welcome." Ocean spoke sounding almost bland.

None of the three who had arrived greeted him as they all were too shocked to see Eric there.

"What’s he doing here?" Silas asked bluntly.

Ocean looked at him and then at the other two, Alys looked a little wary but since she was in her disguise it was obvious that Eric wouldn’t know who she was. Rune was mildly confused as he looked at Eric.

"I’ve told him the truth." Ocean said and the three turned their heads to look at him.

"You what?" Silas blurted out and Ocean simply shrugged.

Rune turned and looked back at Eric who looked awkward.

Nobody said anything for a while but then Silas released an exasperated sigh.

"All right, we’ll discuss that later, why’d you call for us?" Silas asked.

Ocean turned ed his gaze on Alys who had a sling bag over her shoulder.

"Did you prepare what I asked you to?" He asked and Alys perked up and pulled the sling bag off her shoulder and held it out to Ocean.

"Here you go, I made ten of them." She said, Silas looked at the bag suspiciously as Ocean took it.

"What’s that? What did you ask her to make?" He asked Ocean.

"Something that’ll help me in Elvenland and probably also here." Ocean spoke inspecting the contents of the bag.

Rune and Eric remained silent while Ocean placed the bag down.

That was when the maid arrived.

She served the tea and refreshments with practiced efficiency. Cups clinked softly against saucers, the sound far too ordinary for the tension coiled in the room. No one spoke until she finished.

Ocean gestured for her to leave.

She bowed and exited, closing the door behind her.

Only then did Ocean turn back to the others.

"I have a plan for after the Trials," he said, voice steady, "in case something unexpected happens."

Rune frowned. "What do you mean by unexpected?"

Ocean exhaled slowly. "Carlos’s curse will remain suppressed. But the Golden Serpent won’t let that stand. She’ll attempt something again." His gaze darkened. "And with the Third Trial taking time to conclude... anything is possible."

Rune’s face drained of colour. "You mean there’s a chance Eric could lose?"

"We have to account for that possibility," Ocean said grimly. "But even if it happens, I still have a way to get what we want."

Silas stiffened. "What way?"

Ocean’s eyes drifted toward Alys.

Silas followed his gaze—and his jaw tightened instantly. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Wait," Silas said slowly, teeth clenched. "You don’t mean—"

"Only under desperate circumstances," Ocean cut in. "I’m aware of the risks."

"I thought we made that very clear—"

"I understand," Ocean snapped, tension finally bleeding into his voice. "But she has already appeared before the King and Lady Elise. That door is open whether we like it or not. We can take that chance."

"You should have consulted us before even considering this, Reina!" Silas barked. "If she steps out fully, she’ll be in danger."

The three who had remained silent could only watch as the tension bounced back and forth between Ocean and Silas—sharp, unresolved. Ocean looked uncharacteristically strained, the tightness in his jaw betraying a conflict he wasn’t voicing. Silas, on the other hand, was visibly agitated, his patience fraying by the second.

"We’ll at least have to introduce these two," Ocean said at last, his tone heavy with resignation rather than decision.

Silas scowled. His gaze shifted to Alys.

She had been quiet, but not absent. Something had clicked for her now—pieces aligning, implications settling. Her expression didn’t soften, but it steadied. Understanding dawned, followed swiftly by resolve.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, the room seemed to hold its breath.

Then Alys gave a small, deliberate nod.

She turned to Eric.

Not hurried. Not hesitant.

She studied him carefully, as if weighing something far beyond rank or circumstance—measuring the kind of person he was rather than the title he carried.

When she finally spoke, it was clear that whatever came next was no longer optional.