The silent message from Reina was clear for all the men present in the dining hall.

Meeting after dinner.

As soon as the dinner was done, the men inconspicuously made their way towards the library at their own pace.

Rune was the last to arrive as he had to escort Celestia to the guest room first and then return without raising any suspicions.

Reina stood near the large conference table with the men already in their seats. Rune walked over and took his seat beside Duke Aurelius and Reina glanced at Silas to begin.

"The results were inconclusive but it is confirmed that it’s human blood." Silas said.

"You didn’t find the traces of demon blood?" Reina asked.

Silas shook his head, "There were only traces of human blood and some strange liquid which Master Vonstein is still testing. But it’s not demon blood."

"How could he be possessed by any other thing?" Rune asked looking at Silas.

"Speaking about spirits then they are the remnants of the human consciousness, they carry memories and desires of the dead." Silas started explaining.

"So, it’s dead mana?" Kai asked and Silas nodded.

"Yes and no, this one has the traits of being infused with dead mana but it’s not exactly dead mana. It’s something else." Silas said.

"This is complicated." Rune sighed.

"Could it be a curse?" Kai asked.

"It is a kind of curse," Silas answered, "but it’s a complex one."

Reina who was silent to this point glanced at Silas and asked, "Could it be the blood of someone who lived a long time ago?"

Silas looked at her and nodded, "That’s the theory we are working with. But, we don’t really know."

Reina pondered over it and Silas started speaking, "Assuming this spirit was once a human then it could have been one of the old Witches whose blood was preserved to curse someone."

"Makes sense." Duke Aurelius said.

Reina shook her head, "Not possible,"

Everyone looked at her and Reina said, "The Witches drink the demon’s blood at regular basis to keep growing stronger so, the human traits start to vanish from their body. If this was an old Witch’s blood then it would only show the traits of a demon and it would have already started taking control over the human traits."

Silas nodded, "That’s why we are stumped."

"And even if were of someone belonging to the dark forces they wouldn’t easily betray their side." Reina added.

There was silence for a moment and everyone seemed to think about some possible reason or explanation.

After the long silence, Marquis Fairisles asked.

"What if it’s the blood of someone who had been a human but someone significant enough that the Witch kept that person’s blood to use it later?"

Reina looked at her Grandfather for a moment and Silas nodded.

"That’s possible."

Reina pondered over whose blood it could be.

"Blood cannot be preserved for long but since they can still use the demon blood so, it’s clear that they have some way of doing it, if it is a human’s blood then this theory works." Silas said.

"But, how would we know whose blood it is?" Kai asked.

"Ruel." Reina spoke and everyone looked at her.

"Who’s that?" Duke Aurelius asked.

"That’s the name of gave me," Reina said and the men exchanged glances.

"Ruel..." Marquis Fairisles pondered over it.

"I can’t recall any significant person who has that name." Silas said.

"A human who has strong swordsmanship skills," Reina spoke, "and is smart."

"He could be a knight." Rune suggested.

"Or a mercenary or anyone. We can’t be sure." Silas said.

Reina tapped her finger on the table as they all thought about it.

Celestia who had changed out of the gown she wore for the dinner, was helped by the two maids into a comfortable white night gown.

"My lady is so beautiful."

"Your hair is so long and silky."

The maids praised her and she smiled at them as they brushed her hair preparing her for the bed.

But she couldn’t help but keep thinking back on the look that had passed between everyone. She couldn’t ask Rune because he seemed to be in a hurry and also because he wouldn’t tell her.

She watched as the maids hovered around her admiring her beauty and she decided to get the information from them.

She smiled at one of the maids who had introduced themselves as Silvy and Nancy.

"You are praising me but, Reina is even more beautiful than me." She started and the maids blinked caught off guard before their eyes started twinkling and then leaned in.

"I know, right?!" The two said in unison.

Celestia chuckled, "Yes, well, she is so beautiful that at times even I can’t help but keep staring at her... But, she’s always so busy that she doesn’t even stay at her own house so, it’s hard to catch a glimpse of her."

The maids nodded with sympathetic looks and Nancy said, "Indeed, the same is for us, even we want to wait upon Miss Reina but she’s rarely around."

"And even if she is here, she doesn’t stay for longer than one night and before we all know it she’s gone again." Silvy sighed.

Celestia’s eyebrows furrowed, "Wait, doesn’t she live here?"

The maids gave her a puzzled look and Silvy asked, "Miss Reina? Here? No."

"Miss Reina usually lives at Aurelius mansion or the manor in the country side. She rarely ever stays here."

"The shortest I’ve seen her here is for an hour and even at that time she and everyone else were in library having some meeting." Nancy said.

"Like how they are now... I think she won’t be staying for the night." Silvy sighed.

Celestia couldn’t help but feel sick, not only was she lied about Reina staying here but, even her own fiance had been hiding things from her.

Her anger surged and it automatically made her nose prick as her tears threatened to fall.

She turned her face away from the maids and then rose to her feet.

"I-I’ll go to sleep now." Celestia said as she headed towards the bed.

"Good night, My Lady." The two maids greeted her and turned the lights in the room off before leaving.

Celestia lay awake in her bed for a long time unable to make sense of anything. She had no idea on what to make of these lies. She wanted to go home to her mother. The feeling of being betrayed was too painful but apart from that she was livid for everyone lying to her.

She at least wanted answers before she left.

Celestia got out of her bed and walked to the doors. She opened the doors and peeked out wondering if there were guards of maids around but there was no one, the corridor lay empty and silent.

Celestia walked out of her room and made her way to the left, at the end of the corridor was the staircase. She knew the library was upstairs but she was also wondering how she would demand the truth from them. She was going to marry Rune and she loved him but to have him lie to her... Didn’t he trust her?

She shook her head and then made her way up the stairs, her ears pricked for any sound as she glanced at her back occasionally to make sure nobody was coming.

She reached the third floor where the library was the then glanced around, this was the floor that had the Marquis’s bedroom, office and library.

The corridor was dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the windows and the right side the corridor was dark and quiet. She turned to her left and then started walking as she saw the faint light streaming from the single door in that direction.

Her heart started beating loudly as she heard the muffled voices from beyond, she couldn’t clearly hear them but she was sure that the maids were right, there was a meeting going on in the library.

Celestia, as quiet as a mouse, reached in front of the doors and stood there. She expected to see guards but there was no one on either floors.

"I’ll check the royal archives to see if there was someone of that name." She heard Duke Aurelius’ voice.

"No, the name could be an alias." It was Rune’s voice, "Why would he give his real name?"

"That’s true," she heard Kai’s voice this time. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

A lump formed in her throat, even the child from Ryujin family was involved in this meeting and she who was going to be their family wasn’t even told about this.

Celestia couldn’t help but feel as though she had gone back to when she was ten when her father was alive. Her mother was always busy with the Duchy’s administration and her father was the knight who was rarely home. She wanted to spend time with her parents but, both of them were so entangled in their work that they couldn’t give her any time.

Celestia recalled her child self running behind her mother who even when she would be home couldn’t stay around her. She was always in her office, holding meetings and Celestia would stand in front of the doors like the present only listening quietly, waiting till her mother would be free enough to give her some time.

Celestia tried to indulge into her mother’s business but she was always told by her mother that, she need not worry about the things that are beyond her power.

Celestia’s fists clenched around the fabric of her night gown as she stood there.

"Besides, Reina." She heard Rune speak, "When are we going to tell Celestia about you?"

Celestia’s heart picked its pace again as she waited for the answer.

"I was planning on keep it till the time of your wedding but..." Reina said and Celestia frowned.

"But?" She heard Duke Aurelius ask.

"My sister-in-law is so smart that it seems like she has already started investigating on her own." Reina said.

"She won’t find the right answer even if she did investigate." Silas said in a dry tone.

"Are you going to tell her the way you told Aunt Alys or Eric?" Rune asked.

Celestia’s eyes widened, even Prince Eric was involved in this?

"Well, unlike those two, Celestia isn’t close to Ocean." Reina said.

"But she will have to know sooner or later." Duke Aurelius said.

"No sooner than now then." Reina said.

"What do you mean?" Rune asked.

Celestia waited when suddenly the doors that were closed before her opened on their own. She stood there stunned, nobody stood near the doors and everyone were farther inside, all heads turned looking at her.

Rune quickly rose to his feet watching her and everyone else seemed surprised except for Reina, Kai and Silas.

"Why stall if you knew she was here?" Silas asked to which Reina responded.

"Let’s welcome her in first."