Eric watched the door close softly behind Lysanne and remained seated for a few seconds longer, eyes resting on the chessboard.

The pieces were scattered in quiet imbalance.

The supervising panel members shifted in their seats before standing one by one. A murmur passed between them. One of the civilian panel members, Hasik, stepped closer, hands folded behind his back as he studied the board.

"Oh," Hasik remarked, tilting his head. "It’s a checkmate."

Eric glanced at the board as if seeing it for the first time. The path had been obvious. One more move and the game would have ended cleanly.

Instead, he reached forward, gently laid his king on its side, and pushed his chair back.

Hasik frowned. "Your Highness?"

Eric smiled faintly as he stood. "This wasn’t a game, Mr. Hasik."

The words were light, but his tone wasn’t playful.

Hasik opened his mouth, clearly wanting clarification, but Eric had already stepped away from the table. Drac followed without a word.

They exited into the corridor, the heavy wooden door shutting behind them with a muted thud. The hallway was quiet, afternoon light stretching across the stone floor.

For a few steps, neither of them spoke.

Then Drac said, "Master uses chess to explain strategy."

Eric let out a small breath of laughter. "Yes. I tried to act like him."

Drac glanced sideways at him. "You were not playing to win."

"No," Eric admitted. "I was watching how she moved when she wasn’t thinking about the board."

He folded his hands behind his back as they walked.

Drac gave him a brief side look, the kind that meant he was listening closely even if his expression didn’t change.

"You ever wonder why Master plays chess while talking?" Eric asked, his tone turning almost boyish with interest.

Drac shrugged slightly.

"I asked him once," Eric continued. "He said during normal conversations, people have pauses. They think. They rearrange their words. They hide things." He gestured vaguely in the air. "But when they’re playing a game, their mind is divided. Their guard slips. The way they move their pieces mirrors the way they handle problems."

Drac hummed.

"So when they try to win," Eric added, "they end up revealing what they’re afraid of losing."

They turned a corner.

"Why did you use that on her?" Drac asked calmly. "You thought she would lie?"

"Not lie," Eric corrected. "But hold back." His voice softened a little. "It’s an internal matter. Pride is involved. If I asked directly, she might have defended her people instead of telling me the truth."

Drac considered that.

"She stopped paying attention to the board halfway," he noted.

Eric smiled. "Exactly."

Silence stretched between them for a few steps before Drac asked, "So what will you do now? How will you fix it?"

Eric hummed, and a small, knowing smile curved his lips.

"I have a way."

Drac glanced at him again, waiting for elaboration.

Eric only beamed and walked a little faster, lightness returning to his step as though the weight of the issue no longer pressed on him.

"Besides," he added casually, "I wonder what Master and the others are doing right now."

Drac’s gaze lingered on him.

He could see it clearly- the difference.

Where Master moved like a shadow that quietly rearranged the board from behind the curtain, Eric moved like sunlight- visible, warm, and impossible to ignore.

Different methods.

Same goal.

Drac followed behind him without another word.

Back at Oasis, things had been calm. Even Ryujin, for all its political undercurrents, carried a sense of order.

But Aurelius felt... different.

Not chaotic. Not visibly troubled.

Just slightly off.

Celestia had been staying at the Aurelius mansion long enough to grow familiar with its rhythms, the times Duke Aurelius left for council meetings, the hours Rune disappeared for knight training, the quiet efficiency of the household staff.

But one thing bothered her.

Reina was almost never there.

At first, Celestia hadn’t thought much of it. A noble lady with responsibilities would naturally be busy. But weeks had passed, and Reina’s absence felt... patterned.

Too consistent.

Whenever Celestia asked, the answers were always smooth and identical.

"She’s at the countryside manor recovering from fatigue."

"She’s assisting at the Mage’s Tower."

"She’s staying at Fairisles with the Marquis."

Never vague.

Never detailed.

And never verifiable.

Celestia wasn’t naïve. She had grown up around politics and power. When multiple people repeated the same rehearsed line, it usually meant one thing, they were instructed to.

Which meant Reina was either involved in something important...

Or something dangerous.

That thought made her chest tighten.

She remembered the last time she had properly seen Reina during that small outing with Rune and Reina’s soon-to-be aunt. Reina had smiled, spoken gently, acted perfectly normal.

Now, sitting in the garden with Penny, the quiet felt heavier.

The afternoon sun filtered through the trimmed hedges. Tea steamed between them, and the porcelain cups clinked softly against saucers.

"But wouldn’t the Archmage’s son inherit the Marquisate in the future?" Celestia asked, stirring her tea absently.

Penny hummed while nibbling on a cookie. "I don’t know. Marquis Fairisles is... kind of scary," she admitted in a lower voice. "But he cherishes Miss Reina and Young Duke more than even the Archmage."

Celestia blinked. "More than his own son?"

Penny shrugged. "The Archmage prefers the Tower. He never cared much about noble responsibilities. Miss Reina, though..." She smiled faintly. "She listens. She understands the estate accounts. She visits the villages personally."

Celestia paused mid-bite.

"She’s going to inherit it?" she asked carefully.

Penny nodded casually, as though it were common knowledge. "Yes. The Marquis chose her. She’s a bit too capable for the Duchy he said."

That made Celestia thoughtful.

It wasn’t rare for the women to inherit titles in Denril but it was still not common enough in Sestia.

"So, Marquis chose Miss Reina because she is intelligent," Celestia murmured, more to herself than to Penny.

Penny nodded, dusting crumbs from her fingers. "That, and because Miss Reina is like Lady Serene."

Celestia’s gaze softened. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Rune had spoken of his mother before. Lady Serene- graceful, composed, frighteningly perceptive. He had once said that Reina resembled her not only in face but in temperament and sharpness while he himself had inherited more of Duke Aurelius’s softness.

"Is Miss Reina engaged?" Celestia asked, keeping her tone light.

Penny let out a small laugh. "Not yet. But I pity the poor man who eventually becomes her husband."

"Oh?"

"Duke Aurelius, Young Duke, Marquis Fairisles and even the Archmage," Penny counted on her fingers. "They won’t make it easy. Miss Reina is treasured. Whoever marries her would be scrutinized to the bone."

Celestia chuckled politely, though something in that answer made her thoughtful.

A woman that protected. Guarded. Positioned carefully.

She tilted her head. "Then why doesn’t Miss Reina host tea gatherings? Or balls? After the Duchess, isn’t it usually her responsibility?"

Penny hesitated this time.

"Well... Miss Reina doesn’t like crowds," she admitted. "She has only a few close friends. She avoids social events whenever she can."

Avoids.

Celestia’s fingers tapped lightly against her teacup.

Penny sighed. "I keep telling her she should attend more events. But she always escapes, saying she has work."

Work.

Again.

Celestia smiled faintly.

Reina was intelligent. Capable. Chosen to inherit a Marquisate. Guarded by powerful men.

Avoided social exposure.

Frequently "away."

The pieces didn’t feel random.

Penny brightened suddenly and leaned forward. "But once you come here as the new Duchess, I’m sure the Aurelius residence will be lively again! Tea parties, seasonal balls, noble gatherings-"

Celestia shrugged lightly, though her smile was measured. "Perhaps."

But inside, her thoughts were not on balls or social gatherings.

If Reina avoided crowds... it wasn’t merely preference.

It was strategy.

The more visible one became, the easier it was to track movements. The easier it was to study patterns. The easier it was to interfere.

Reina’s absence wasn’t social awkwardness.

It was controlled exposure.

Celestia lifted her teacup again, watching the surface ripple slightly in the breeze.

She had come here believing she was stepping into a noble household.

But it felt increasingly like she had stepped into the quiet center of something much larger.

And Reina.

Reina was not simply an intelligent heiress avoiding parties.

She was operating somewhere in the shadows.

And Celestia wasn’t sure whether she was meant to notice that... or not.

But then both of them noticed a carriage rolling past the iron gates of the estate.

It was polished and elegant, but it did not bear the Aurelius crest.

Penny straightened at once. "Who could that be?"

They moved closer to the entrance path. As the carriage came to a halt, Penny stopped short, recognition dawning on her face.

"Ah... it’s Miss Brielle."

Celestia followed her gaze.

A young lady stepped down gracefully from the carriage. Her strawberry-blonde curls were tied back into a high ponytail that bounced as she moved. She wore a jade-pink gown that caught the light beautifully, fitted at the waist and flowing just enough to suggest she was here for something far more interesting than a casual visit.

Servants hurried forward to greet her.

Celestia found herself staring.

The girl looked like something from a fairy tale- bright, animated, almost glowing with life.

"Where is she?" Brielle demanded immediately, not bothering with pleasantries. "I even sent her a letter!"

Penny sighed softly under her breath. "Oh dear... she’s angry."

"What’s going on?" Celestia whispered.

"Miss Brielle is Miss Reina’s closest friend," Penny murmured back. "But Miss Reina... well... she rarely replies to letters. And she almost never attends tea parties. Even the ones Miss Brielle hosts."

One of the maids stepped forward nervously. "We apologise, Miss Nash, but—"

"Is she not here again?" Brielle cut in sharply.

The maid lowered her eyes. "Yes."

Brielle threw her hands up in frustration. "This is the third time in two months! She won’t even meet me-"

She stopped mid-complaint.

Her eyes had landed on Celestia.

There was a brief pause, Brielle looked like she was assessing, calculating, before she composed herself instantly and walked forward.

She curtsied elegantly. "Good noon. I am Brielle, daughter of Count Nash."

Celestia inclined her head politely. "I’m Celestia Konstantinos."

Recognition flickered across Brielle’s face, followed by a bright, genuine smile.

"Oh! It’s so nice to finally meet you."

Celestia smiled back, slightly taken aback by the girl’s direct energy.

Brielle seemed to think for a second, then her eyes lit up.

"Are you free right now?" she asked suddenly. "I came to drag Reina out to try on my dress for the upcoming spring ball. Since she has vanished yet again..." She spread her hands dramatically. "Would you come instead?"

Celestia blinked.

The invitation was unexpected.

But so was the boredom she had been feeling in this quiet, secretive estate.

She heard herself answer before she could overthink it.

"All right."

Brielle beamed like she had just won a battle.

"Wonderful!"

Within half an hour, Celestia had changed into a lighter outdoor gown. The two young women climbed into the carriage, and it rolled away from the estate toward the town market.

As the Aurelius gates disappeared behind them, Celestia glanced back once.

Reina was absent again.

Her closest friend was frustrated.

And now, by pure chance, or perhaps not chance at all, Celestia was about to step into Reina’s social circle.

If Reina moved in the shadows...

Then perhaps the light around her friends would reveal something the shadows did not.