Ruel returned a little after midnight feeling satisfied to have drank till his heart’s content and having found out what he needed to begin when he started to feel the effect of the Dragon’s mana stone overpowering his.

Ruel released a sigh as he slowly withdrew his power feeling as the Dragon’s mana quickly took over and pushed him further back.

Carlos’s consciousness and control returned along with his appearance going back to his usual one, but since he wasn’t used to drinking so heavily he ended up passing out on the bed in the same clothes that he was wearing throughout the night.

The next morning, Carlos woke to the pounding headache that made him stay still in the bed for a long time after waking up. He kept on thinking about all the information that he had gotten the other night. Matthis was a gambler who had brought the Barony to the brink of ruin and spread the rumors that Nyx’s lavish lifestyle was the reason to hide his deeds. And if that wasn’t enough he had arranged an engagement between Nyx and Earl Kirkland who was around thirty years older than her and had five wives before Nyx that passed away within two to five years of marriage.

Carlos again felt the surge of white hot anger running through him tightening his chest but what it did was only worsen his headache and made him feel sick.

He groaned as he pressed his temples and then heard the sound of the knock on the door.

"Who the hell is it?" Carlos asked, not caring about his attitude now that his head was splitting.

"Y-Your Highness, I-I’m your maid Susan, may I please come in?"

Carlos groaned and turned in his bed, "Come in."

He heard the door open and Susan walked in.

Before she could ask anything, Carlos began his orders.

"Draw a bath for me and also pick out my outfit. I’ll take the bath myself so, once you’re done go and get my breakfast."

Susan kept her head down, "Y-Yes, Your Highness."

"And also, bring some medicine for me, my head hurts."

Susan glanced once at Carlos taking in his clothes and state, finding it strange. She also noticed the mud tracks on the floor and the stains on the sheets which made her wonder if Carlos had gone out at night, but how? There were guards outside of his door and the night servants were also awake for any order from him.

She wanted to know but couldn’t dare ask and he already sounded pissed enough, one wrong word and she might lose her life. So, she did what she had been doing for years, she kept her head down and let the stronger party hear what they wanted to hear.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Susan and some other maids carried out Carlos’s orders before they all walked out of the room.

Carlos dragged himself out of the bed only after he had taken the medicine to bring down his headache. He entered the modest bathtub feeling it being a little small considering his body but felt his muscles relax in the warm water.

"Ruel, please, drink in moderation next time. The cheap liquor of the commoners can kill me." Carlos groaned.

Ruel chuckled, "There was nothing wrong with the beer, boy. It’s your tolerance that’s bad. I should teach you how men drink and that’s how you’ll enjoy your liquor."

Carlos groaned hearing that but he also knew that if not for Ruel then he wouldn’t have gotten that much information and he wouldn’t even have a plan to deal with this Trial.

Carlos wore the pendant again feeling the remnants of his lethargy fading away rapidly. He checked himself in the mirror and saw how his skin, hair and eyes were all the same as he remembered.

The last evening with Ruel was quite surreal, he couldn’t even put it in words as to how he felt feeling his body being in the control of someone else and then running, leaping and drinking like that.

He could also faintly remembered how happy he felt when he was winning against the heavy drinkers of the town.

He had his breakfast in his room, appreciating the quiet after the loud and boisterous night.

After the breakfast, he stuffed away the clothes that he had worn the other night before he stepped out of the room.

"Let’s go out today," Ruel said and Carlos hummed.

He would have to be out of the mansion today at least for the sake of the Trial. If he stayed back and ran into Matthis then he might just end up impaling him.

"Are we going now?" Carlos wondered.

"Yes, but we need someone to go along with us or else it will be useless." Ruel said and Carlos frowned.

"Who should we take?"

"Matthis." Ruel said making Carlos’s face to scrunch up.

"Wait, what?!"

"Calm down, boy and listen-"

"If I see him, he’s dead."

"So, I assume you don’t want to teach him a lesson."

Carlos paused hearing that and frowned, "What do you mean?"

Though he couldn’t see Ruel but he felt Ruel’s smile as he said.

"You don’t save lambs by arguing with wolves. You buy the butcher."

Carlos was a little confused but then Ruel explained him on what the plan was and Carlos stood there in the corridor facing the window feeling as a smile appeared on his face face reflecting in the mirror. It wasn’t a harmless or charming looking smile, but the one that would make wolves run for the hills.

Carlos walked around the mansion looking for Matthis but he couldn’t find him when he went over to the office to see if maybe Matthis was there, he found Nyx there along with the aide Marimer standing near her desk. Marimer gasped nearly rushing to hide away the papers while Nyx sat in her chair calmly.

"How may I help you, Your Highness?" She asked politely and Carlos strolled in.

Carlos made no attempt to ask for the documents that Marimer was so conspicuously hiding but he smiled at Nyx instead.

"I was looking for Young Master Matthis, do you happen to know where he is?" he asked and Nyx blinked, her face betrayed no emotion and her eyes remained impassive.

"I’m afraid he is out for some work and probably won’t be returning late. Is there some urgent matter?" She asked and stood up, "If you need anything, I can help you."

Carlos paused for a moment, waiting for Ruel’s approval before he smiled, "All right."

"So, what is it that you want, Your Highness?" Nyx asked walking around the desk towards him.

Carlos kept his smile as he said, "I have rested enough so, I suppose it’s time that I look around the territory for my work."

Marimer dropped the documents in his hands, too shocked by Carlos’s words while Nyx remaiend quiet for a moment before she put on a polite smile.

"All right, give me a moment, I’ll arrange for a carraige and we can head out." She said and Carlos nodded.

Carlos watched Nyx walking out of the office before he looked at Marimer who was too alert. Carlos’s smile dropped and he glanced once at the documents that Marimer was gathering.

After a few minutes, Carlos and Nyx along with Sir Hopkins and a few knights from the panel were out on horsebacks going along. Carlos watched as Nyx sat with her hands folded over her lap, her back straight and eyes downcast as if she was deep in thought. He looked out of the window contemplating what he could say to her to start a conversation when she started herself.

"I apologise that we aren’t able to provide you the kind of aid you need to win your Trial."

Carlos opened his mouth to deny it but then closed it back, letting her continue.

"My father, the Baron hadn’t passed that long ago and we have been having some troubles that’s why everyone is defensive, so, I implore you, Your Highness, please don’t be angry at the people here."

Her eyes showed faint emotions and Carlos felt his heart picking its pace as he leaned ahead, "So, will you be willing to give me some information that I could use to solve your problem?"

Nyx stared at him for a moment before she lowered her eyes and a sad smile appeared on her face, "I’m afraid you won’t be able to do much as everything is already being solved by my... brother."

Carlos’s eyes grew rigid and despite himself he asked in a cold voice, "How?"

Nyx pursed her lips, her fingers tightening before she looked up at him with a smile that felt like someone was driving a knife in his heart.

"He has a good way to do it."

Carlos couldn’t understand why she was ready to sacrifice herself for the people who couldn’t do anything for her or even for the sick bastard who was tossing her to another swine that would drive her to death in few years just like his other wives. But he couldn’t bring himself to ask her anything, Ruel had strictly warned him against any slip that he could make in front of Nyx. Their plan was simple but leaking anything would lead to problems.

Carlos remained quiet for a while leaning back in his seat and then he said, "Still... I can’t just sit back and do nothing."

Nyx watched him as he stared out for a while before his gaze slid back to hers and the two stared at each other for a long moment before the carriage jerked to a stop. They had arrived in the town’s market.

The people gathered as soon as they saw the carriage. Carlos got down first and instantly noticed as the gathered people gave him displeased looks but they all bowed looking disgruntled before they started leaving. He held it in and turned giving his hand to Nyx.

Her small hand felt fragile and cold in his and she stepped down. The people who had started leaving stopped and returned at once as they saw Nyx.

"Young Miss!"

"It’s the Young Miss!"

"How are you, Young Miss? Are you eating well?"

"Oh my! You look even thinner!"

The people started hovering around her without giving Carlos a glance and Nyx answered to them with a polite smile before noticing Carlos who was quietly watching it all.

"I am accompanying, His Highness and showing him around the territory." She said and the people glanced at him more defensive of their Mistress as he could see the women trying to shield her from his view.

Carlos appeared nonchalant about it and looked around at the same market where he was the other night. In the daylight, the market appeared more dirty and dusty making him wonder why Ruel had to eat the streetfood.

"Let’s go." Ruel pressed, bringing him back and he cleared his throat looking at the people.

Nyx understood the gesture and stepped towards him, "Please come this way, I will show you around. Our market isn’t too big but it has a lot of things including the local specialities."

Carlos went along feeling people’s eyes on him, the tour went on foot and by carriage for around two to three hours until they returned to the market square.

"Is there anywhere else you would like to visit, Your Highness?" Nyx asked him.

Carlos hummed before he shoved his hands in the pockets of his trousers and asked, "I heard about a nobleman here who takes care of the entertainment of the young masters. Do you happen to know of him, Miss Nyx?"

The color drained from her face and her eyes became hollow again as soon as Carlos said that.

"Why would you be asking for someone like that, Your Highness?" Sir Hopkins asked.

He had been thinking that if nothing then Carlos was at least pretending to see the problem that this terrritory faced but to straight up ask for a man that was responsible for entertaining the young noblemen clearly suggested that he had no thoughts of helping at all.

Carlos gave Sir Hopkins an impassive look before saying, "I’m bored, that’s why."

Nyx didn’t appear fazed as she answered, "That would be Earl Kirkland, his mansion is in the farther south, Your Highness."

Carlos smiled at her, "Thank you, Miss Nyx. You may return home now, I will see you for dinner."

Nyx curtsied with a polite greeting and then got on the carriage before leaving while Carlos watched her leave feeling the bitter aftertaste on his tongue watching her look so disappointed in him.

"Your plan better work, Ruel." Carlos muttered as he walked over to a horse feeling the displeased eyes of the knights panel on him.

"It will. You better act your part or remove that pendant so that I could do it for you."