Raven's POV.
I stood beside Princess Lyria in front of the grand doors of the ballroom. Even before we entered, I could feel it.
A foul presence. A stain hidden beneath layers of perfume, laughter, and expensive clothing.
Morvain floated beside me, invisible to everyone except me, her crimson eyes scanning the room beyond the doors. "He's inside," she said.
I nodded slowly.
"I know."
The corruption was impossible to miss. It drifted through the air like invisible smoke. Dark. Rotten.
The same magical signature I had sensed inside the transformed monsters. The same mana that had haunted Velmora.
For days we had searched for the one responsible. And now he was only a few meters away.
Princess Lyria turned toward me. Despite the calm smile on her face, I could see the tension hidden beneath it. Her shoulders were slightly stiff. Her fingers tightly clasped together.
She was nervous. This was her first appearance before Velmora's nobles as the future queen.
"I am ready," she said with a small smile.
The doors opened. The servant announced her arrival.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Lyria of Aurelia!"
The moment we entered, the entire ballroom fell silent. Every noble. Every merchant. Every council member. Every guest. They all bowed. For a brief moment the only sound was the music echoing softly throughout the hall. Then the whispers began. The smiles appeared. The masks were put on.
The moment the nobles lifted their heads, they began moving toward princesses Lyria one after another. Compliments. Greetings. Invitations. Praise. None of it felt genuine.
I watched carefully as they surrounded her. Some wanted influence. Some wanted favors. Some wanted connections to the future queen. Others simply wanted to boast.
The smiles on their faces never reached their eyes. Like vultures circling prey.
I sighed. "I truly hate these parties."
Morvain laughed. "Oh, my puppy. You'll have to get used to places like this if you plan to stay beside the princess."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't call me that. and I don't think I'll ever get used to it." My eyes swept across the room. "Look at them. They're all wearing the same expression. The same fake smiles. The same fake politeness."
"They pretend to be kind while calculating what they can gain." I crossed my arms. "A room full of parasites."
Morvain burst into laughter. "You really don't like nobles."
"I don't like people who think titles make them better than everyone else."
"Fair enough."
Then her expression changed.
"There."
My eyes followed hers.
The red-haired man. Standing near the far side of the ballroom. Unlike everyone else, he wasn't rushing toward Princess , He wasn't trying to introduce himself. He wasn't seeking attention.
He simply stood among a group of nobles. Listening. Speaking occasionally. Observing. Watching.
At first glance he appeared ordinary. Well-dressed. Confident. Respectable. The kind of man people naturally trusted.
Morvain folded her arms.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"He hasn't approached her."
I continued watching him.
"No."
"He's smart."
My gaze sharpened. "He knows what he's doing." And that made him far more dangerous.
Hours seemed to pass. I remained close behind princess the entire time. Eventually the crowd finally thinned. Princess managed to escape for a moment.
I saw her release a small breath of relief. The poor princess looked as though she had survived a battlefield.
The Duke approached her carrying two glasses. They exchanged a few words.
That was my chance. I stepped closer. Close enough that only they could hear me. Then I leaned slightly toward princess's ear.
"I found him."
Both princess and the Duke froze. "What?" they said simultaneously.
The Duke stared at me.
"Did you really find him?"
I nodded.
"I did."
His eyes widened.
"Who is it?"
I didn't point. Didn't even glance toward him. I simply said. "The red-haired man standing beside Lady Cecilia."
The Duke immediately turned. The moment his eyes landed on the man, his face went pale. His mouth opened slightly.
"Malvias?"
Princess Lyria looked between us.
"You know him?"
The Duke slowly nodded. "Everyone knows him." His expression remained troubled. "Malvias Orion. A wealthy merchant. Influential. Ambitious. He practically built a trading empire from nothing."
I watched Malvias from across the room. At that exact moment, he laughed at something one of the nobles said. Completely relaxed. Completely confident.
My fingers tightened around my sword.
Morvain noticed.
"Easy, my puppy. Not now, Not here."
I ignored her. For a brief moment…I wanted to cross the ballroom. Draw my blade. And end this. and leave this place already.
But that would be reckless. Too many civilians. Too many opportunities for things to go wrong.
Then I noticed movement. My eyes narrowed. Malvias had started walking Toward us with Lady Cecilia. Of course. The moment he realized Princess was finally free, he made his move.
I immediately stepped closer.
"He's coming."
Both princess Lyria and the Duke looked at me.
I lowered my voice.
"Act naturally. We are not moving now ."
The Duke frowned.
"But—"
"There are too many people here." I kept my eyes fixed on Malvias. "If we attack now, innocent people could die."
Neither of them argued.
That was a lie. I don't really care if any of those hypocrites died, but this isn't the place to fight, as Morivine said.
I stepped backward. Positioning myself behind princess Lyria.
As Malvias Orion approached with that perfect smile on his face. The smile of a man who believed nobody knew what he truly was.
And for now…I intended to let him keep believing that.
I listened to their conversation quietly from behind.
Listening to Malvias speak felt like being trapped inside a lecture delivered by a man hopelessly in love with his own reflection.
Morvain floated beside me with her arms crossed. "Look at him," she said with amusement. "He's trying very hard to charm the princess."
I didn't answer.
Malvias continued speaking smoothly. Complimenting princess Lyria. Praising her intelligence. Her beauty. Her grace.
Then, unsurprisingly, he began talking about himself. How he had built everything from nothing. How difficult his life had been. How hard he had worked. How successful he had become.
I felt my soul slowly leaving my body.
"Agh…"
Morvain glanced at me.
"What?"
I rubbed my forehead. "I would rather fight an army of monsters than listen to this man talk about himself for another minute ."
Morvain burst into laughter.
I remained completely serious. I meant every word.
The demon wiped tears from her eyes.
"That's cruel."
"It's true." I looked toward Malvias. "He has been talking about himself for a half hour ."
Meanwhile Malvias continued speaking as if he were the most fascinating man in existence.
I honestly couldn't understand how princess was enduring it.
She nodded politely. Smiled occasionally. Answered when necessary. The perfect princess.
Meanwhile I was developing a headache simply from listening.
My gaze remained fixed on him. The thing that bothered me most wasn't his confidence. It was how calm he was. His heartbeat remained steady. His expressions controlled. His posture relaxed.
I frowned.
"I wonder."
Morvain glanced at me.
"Wonder what?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"What happens if he gets angry?"
The demon blinked.
"What?"
I continued watching him.
"What happens if someone provokes him?, What happens if things don't go his way?"
Morvain slowly raised an eyebrow. and Her smile widened slightly. "What are you planning now?"
I didn't answer. Because honestly? I wasn't entirely sure myself. I simply wanted to see beneath the mask.
The question was how hard I needed to push before it cracked.
At that moment, Malvias glanced toward me. His eyes lingered. Longer than necessary. He had noticed me far earlier than I thought.
He turned back toward princess Lyria. "Your bodyguard seems exceptionally devoted to her work."
Princess Lyria smiled politely. "She's simply taking her responsibilities seriously."
Malvias looked at me again. "Hmm." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I can see that."
Silence followed. Several seconds. Neither of us looked away.
Then he spoke again.
"Have we met before?"
There it was. A test. A simple question. But a test nonetheless.
I met his gaze without blinking.
"No."
For a moment his smile faltered. Only slightly. Then the smile returned.
"My mistake."
His eyes said otherwise. For a brief moment I almost wondered if he somehow recognized me. But that was impossible. We had never met. At least not directly.
they resumed walking. I followed several steps behind. The ballroom continued buzzing with music and conversation around us.
Then he suddenly stopped. Malvias turned toward her with a charming smile. "I would like to speak with you privately."
Of course he would.
The smile remained on his face. "It's difficult to have a meaningful conversation while your guard watches every step." Then he looked directly at me. "Would you mind giving us a little privacy?"
I spoke before princess Lyria could answer. "I am carrying out the duty entrusted to me by His Majesty." My voice remained flat and cold. "I will not leave the princess side . Even if you asked for it."
The ballroom noise suddenly felt distant. For a seconds neither of us spoke. We simply stared at one another.
Malvias' smile didn't disappear. But something changed. A tiny crack. A slight tightening around his eyes.
I continued staring. Waiting. Show me. Get angry. Lose control.
But nothing happened. The crack vanished. The smile returned. Perfect once more.
Princess Lyria turned toward me. "It's alright, Raven. You can wait near the balcony entrance."
I looked at her.
She continued smiling. "I won't be long." Then she added. I have a meeting with the High Priest later anyway."
But she was the princess. And I was her guard. If she gave an order…I obeyed.
I studied her face. Something passed through her eyes. A small signal. Almost invisible. I understood. She wanted to see if Malvias would reveal something while alone.
I lowered my head. "As you command, Princess." Then I stepped aside.
Malvias smiled and Together they walked toward the balcony.
The large glass doors opened. Moonlight spilled across the floor. A cool breeze drifted inside. Then the doors closed behind them.
Princess standing near the railing. Malvias speaking. Gesturing occasionally. Smiling.
I stood beside the large glass doors of the balcony, my hands resting on the sword handle as I watched them in silence.
Beyond the glass, the night sky stretched above Velmora like a sea of stars. The lanterns hanging around the balcony cast a warm golden glow over Princess Lyria and Malvias.
The smile never left his face. It was the same smile he had worn since the moment he approached her. Polite, charming and fake.
I couldn't hear their conversation from where I stood, but I didn't need to. His intentions were painfully obvious.
I let out a quiet sigh. "When is this long night going to end?"
Morivane chuckled inside my head. "I think very soon. And now seems like the perfect moment for you to go save your princess."
I glanced toward the balcony again. Malvias had taken another step closer.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. "Oh yeah, I'll intervene, but not now."
Morivane looked at me and said suspiciously , "What exactly are you trying to do?"
I shrugged and said, "Nothing, I'm just waiting for the right moment to intervene."
My eyes remained fixed on the balcony., waiting for the right moment , and I saw that whenever Malvias approached princess , the princess took a small step back.But The distance between them kept shrinking.
Morivane snorted, "Look at him , look how hard he's trying to charm her."
I remained silent.
"What a poor fool, he doesn't realize these charming smiles won't work on her, Especially when she's hopelessly in love with you."
I finally turned toward her. "No, she's not ، Her feelings towards me are just admiration, which will fade with time.."
Morivane stared at me.
"What?, Why are you looking at me like that?"
She sighed dramatically.
"My little puppy. You are unbelievably stupid To the point that you can't distinguish between love and admiration.
I frowned and looked away.
Morivane continued mercilessly.
"Or maybe you can. Maybe you know exactly what she feels. Maybe you're just hoping it will disappear if you ignore it long enough."
I watched princess instead. She was still smiling politely. Still enduring Malvias. Still trapped in a conversation she clearly wanted to leave.
I whispered quietly. "She'll forget… eventually."
Morivane looked at me before shaking her head. "My idiot little puppy."
I exhaled slowly.
"Will you please leave me alone?"
Then I looked back toward the balcony. A small smirk appeared on my face. " Now , This is a perfect moment to intervene and ruin his romantic moment."
Malvias had moved even closer. Close enough that I saw his hand begin to rise. As if he intended to hold Princess's hand.
I pushed open the balcony door with more force than necessary. The glass rattled loudly.
Both of them turned toward me.
I walked directly to princess's side. Without hesitation. "Forgive me for interrupting, Princess, but it's time for your meeting with the High Priest."
For half a second she looked confused.then Relief flashed through her eyes.
His smile twitched. "It seems," he said, "that you simply cannot stay away, can you?"
Morivane said . "Oh, he's annoyed."
"That's good, let's try to annoy him even more."
I looked directly at him. "My duties require me to remain close all the time."
Malvias said irritably, "The princess won't tell you this because she's polite. but I'll tell you instead. Staying close to her all the time you really annoying her."
I tilted my head slightly and said calmly, "just as it's annoying to watch your desperate and pathetic attempt to get close to the princess has become genuinely embarrassing to watch."
Malvias froze. His eyes widened. For the first time that evening, his perfect smile cracked.
Princess Lyria froze.
Complete silence. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Morivane laughed so hard I thought she might actually collapse.
Malvias stared at me and said angrily, "What did you just say?"
I met his gaze. Calm. Unmoving. "You heard me."
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw it. his mask shattered. His expression darkened. His jaw tightened. The pleasant merchant disappeared. Something uglier looked back at me.
he snapped. " How dare you speak to me like that? Who do you think you are?" His voice rose. "Do you have any idea who I am?."
My calmness only made him angrier.
He took a step towards me " I can destroy your life, I can destroy your career." His voice dripped with contempt. "You are nothing , nothing more than a guard."
I had been waiting for this. The real Malvias. Not the smiling merchant. Not the respected noble. But The arrogant man beneath the mask.
I answered in the same calm tone. "I am nothing but a guard personally authorized by the King to act with complete freedom towards anyone and everyone who crosses the line with a princess."
His eye twitched.
Then with a smirk,I said, "And Now…., if you've finished your private conversation….get out of here."
The silence afterward was glorious.
His entire body became rigid. His fists trembled. His teeth clenched so hard I thought they might break. For several seconds he simply stared at me. Hatred burned in his eyes.
Then he spoke through gritted teeth. "You Just wait." The threat came out low and venomous. "You will regret this."
I remained silent and stared at him with indifference, which made him even angrier, His face twisted. Then he turned sharply and stormed away. The doors slammed behind him.
I watched the closed doors. My smile faded. I sighed and said, "What a shame, I didn't think he would leave so easily. I thought he would get more agitated and start a fight."
Morivine said, "So the fight was what you were after."
I shrugged, " Not really, I just wanted to see him react."
Princess Lyria stared at me with wide eyes. "Raven… what… what did you just do?, why."
" he was annoying."
Princess Lyria blinked once. And suddenly—She burst into laughter. Genuine Bright laughter echoed across the quiet balcony beneath the moonlight.
"Oh, Raven…" She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "You're incredible."
"…Thank you."
She laughed again. "I don't think I'll ever forget the look on Malvias' face. It was priceless."
I simply nodded.
The smile slowly faded from her face, and I looked at her carefully.
"Are you alright?, He was making you uncomfortable." I lowered my gaze slightly. "I'm sorry I didn't interrupt sooner."
Her expression softened immediately. "There is no need to apologize." She smiled warmly. "And thank you. I'm alright now."
A brief silence settled between us before she looked toward the night sky.
"If you don't mind…" She glanced at the stars. "Could we stay here for a little longer?, This place is… peaceful."
I looked around the balcony. The cold breeze drifted through the marble pillars. Moonlight bathed the garden below in silver. Compared to the suffocating ballroom…It really was peaceful.
"I don't mind."
So we stayed. For several quiet minutes neither of us spoke.
princess Lyria leaned lightly against the balcony railing, enjoying the cool air after hours of smiling at strangers.
I remained behind her watching.
Morivane floated lazily beside me. " You know she won't bite if you get close to her." then she paused for a moment and said with a smirk, "….Perhaps she will."
I sighed and said, "Why don't you stay quiet and enjoy the view for once?"
Eventually the music inside began to fade. Guests started leaving one after another. Servants opened the great doors as nobles thanked the Duke and princess before departing.
The endless night had finally reached its end. When we returned to the ballroom, only a handful of people remained.
Princess Lyria stretched her shoulders with a tired sigh. " finally…"It's over." She smiled weakly. "I thought this night would never end."
The Duke smiled . "It certainly felt that way." Then he looked at Princess respectfully. "You handled yourself very well tonight."
"Thank you."
He gestured toward the hallway. "Now… let us return to my office."
A few minutes later we gathered inside the Duke's study. The heavy wooden doors closed. The Duke activated several layers of soundproofing magic.
Only then did the real conversation begin.
Princess Lyria recounted everything Malvias had told her.
Every expression. Every suspicious remark. The room grew heavier with every sentence.
Kalina folded her arms tightly.
"I still can't believe it." She shook her head. "Malvias?, Why would someone like him do something like this?, He already has wealth. Influence. Respect. What more could he possibly want?"
No one answered. Because none of us knew. Not yet.
Then—Knock. Knock.
The Duke gave permission.
The door opened. The two men I had restored from their monster forms stepped inside.. Both bowed respectfully.
The man looked around before speaking ,and he explained what happened to him and the other soldiers who disappeared, and who was behind everything that has happened so far, He spoke of the book he used, a cursed black book that carried evil energy.
"It was Malvias."
The silence afterward was deafening.
Kalina slowly sat down. Her face had turned pale. "So…" She whispered. "It really was him."
The Duke's fists clenched. The veins on his hands became visible.
Morivane finally spoke. She had been unusually quiet until now. "A book capable of turning humans into monsters…" She crossed her arms thoughtfully. "In my world there were countless forbidden grimoires."
"Books that controlled monsters. Books that controlled humans minds and hearts . Books capable of stealing souls." She frowned. "But… I've never heard of one that transforms humans into monsters."
She looked genuinely puzzled. "And books like that usually belong to witches." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "I didn't even know witches existed in this world."
I quietly answered, "Neither did I. "
Silence returned once again.
Then I looked toward Morivane.
"I need that book. Perhaps I will find something in it that will be useful to my plans.…"
Morivane nodded immediately. "Then don't waste time. The moment Malvias realizes his identity has been exposed… He'll run. And he'll take that book with him."
"Men like him will not run away, but will fight with everything they have."
Eventually Henry and the other hunter were dismissed.
As they left the office…I quietly followed Henry into the corridor.
He stopped when he heard my footsteps. "Lady Raven?"
I glanced down the hallway. Empty. Almost. I lowered my voice. "I need you to do something."
He straightened immediately.
"Anything."
I looked toward the far end of the corridor. "There is a maid hiding there."
His eyes widened slightly.
I continued speaking. "She'll approach you after I leave. She'll ask questions. I want you to answer every single one."
Henry frowned. "I thought we were supposed to keep everything secret."
"We were." I met his eyes. "But we no longer have that luxury. The others who were turned into monsters…They don't have time. If we move too slowly…They'll remain monsters forever."
Fear crossed Henry's face. His fists tightened. "What do you want me to tell her?"
"The truth. Tell her you know who is behind the disappearances. Tell her you told the Duke everything and tell her that the duke would arrest him tomorrow."
He hesitated.
"…That's all?"
"That's all."
His expression became determined. "I understand."
I nodded. "One more thing. When the maid approaches…You'll recognize her. Dark hair. Black eyes. And a beauty mark beneath her left eye."
Henry repeated the description quietly. Then nodded. "I'll do exactly as you said."
"Good."
I turned around and walked back toward the Duke's office.
Morivane floated beside me. A slow smile spread across her face.
"…You're using her."
"Yes."
"You noticed she was spying almost immediately, didn't you?"
"I did. From the very first day we came here, she was always secretly following the princess."
"And now she'll report everything to Malvias."
"Exactly."
Morivane laughed softly. "My little puppy…You're playing with fire, so be careful."
I reached the office door. My hand rested on the handle. "If Malvias hears that two of his monsters have returned to being human." I slowly opened the door. "…he'll panic."
Morivane's smile widened. "And panicked people make mistakes."
I stepped back inside. "That's exactly what I'm counting on."
By the time I returned to the Duke's office, everyone had already gathered around the large oak table once again.
The banquet atmosphere from earlier had vanished completely.
Maps of Velmora covered the table. Reports from scouts lay scattered between candles.
Duke Alistair rested both hands on the table. "So," he said quietly, "we move tomorrow."
Kalina nodded. "If we surround the estate before dawn, he won't have enough time to escape."
Kara crossed her arms.
"And if he resists?"
"We arrest him by force."
No one objected.
I remained leaning against the wall in silence, listening while my eyes wandered over every face in the room.
Morivane floated lazily beside me.
The discussion continued for an hour. Routes. Signals. Guard positions. Contingency plans. Eventually everything had been decided.
We would move at sunrise.
Princess Lyria quietly let out a small yawn before covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry," she said with an embarrassed smile. "I don't think I can stay awake much longer."
The Duke smiled warmly. "You've done enough for one day, Your Highness. You've earned your rest."
She gave a grateful nod before looking toward me.
"Raven?"
"I'll walk you back."
The palace corridors had become almost silent. Most of the servants had retired for the night. Only enchanted lamps hanging from the walls illuminated the marble hallway with a gentle golden glow.
Neither of us spoke for several minutes. It wasn't an awkward silence. After everything that had happened today…It was simply peaceful.
When we finally arrived outside her room, princess Lyria stopped with her hand resting behind her back. She turned toward me, wearing an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry I couldn't stay and help discuss tomorrow's plan." She looked genuinely disappointed. "I'm just… exhausted. I thought I could rest for a little while and then come back."
A small smile appeared on my face. "You don't need to apologize. You've spent the entire evening greeting nobles. You smiled for hours. You answered the same questions over and over. You've done enough for tonight.
She let out a relieved sigh.
"I suppose you're right."
I unlocked her door. "You should get some sleep. We'll finish everything tomorrow. and…" I looked directly into her eyes. "Lock the door from the inside. If you need anything…I'll be in my room."
Then, before I could leave …She stepped closer. Her expression softened. Her fingertips gently brushed against the back of my hand. The touch was incredibly light.
"Thank you…" She smiled. "For everything."
For a brief instant my instincts screamed at me to pull my hand away. but I forced myself to stay perfectly still. Then I smiled faintly. "Go inside. You just said you were tired."
She laughed.
"You really know how to ruin a moment."
I opened the door for her before gently nudging her forward.
"Hey!"
She turned around, pretending to glare at me. Then she laughed again.
"Raven."
"What?"
She smiled mischievously. "Where's my good night kiss?"
I raised one eyebrow.
"Good night, Princess."
That only made her laugh harder.
"You avoided the question."
"I ignored it."
"That's basically the same thing."
"No. it's not."
She shook her head dramatically.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
Still smiling, she stepped fully into her room.
I quietly closed the door behind her.
The moment it shut…
I heard her laughing from the other side. I couldn't help shaking my head. Ridiculous.
I had barely taken a few steps down the hallway when—
Click.
The door opened again.
I turned around.
Princess Lyria leaned only her head through the doorway, wearing the brightest grin I'd seen all evening.
" Good night....." She paused deliberately. "My love."
Before I could respond—
Click.
The door closed again.
…
I stood motionless for a second. Then I let out a long, quiet sigh and continued walking.
Morivane floated beside me wearing the widest smirk imaginable.
"Oh…Your princess is absolutely devious."
I ignored her.
She circled around me. "And especially after what she did last night."
I stopped walking. "…Last night?" I looked at her. "What happened last night?"
Morivane blinked innocently.
"Hm?"
"You mentioned last night. What did you mean?"
A mischievous grin spread across her face. "Oh. Nothing. It's a secret."
I stared at her. "If it's a secret…Then why bring it up in the first place?"
She shrugged dramatically. "Because I was bored. I'm trying to have some fun with my little puppy."
I sighed.
"Could you stop calling me puppy?"
"No." She smiled proudly. "I like it. So you'll have to get used to it."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I genuinely don't know how anyone tolerated you."
"Oh?" She grinned. "They usually didn't. I was everyone's favorite headache."
"I can believe that."
She gasped theatrically. "Was that sarcasm?"
"It was."
She placed a hand over her heart as though wounded. "My puppy is finally developing a personality."
"I always had one."
"It was just buried under several layers of emotional repression."
I kept walking.
"I'm beginning to regret bringing you with me. I had to put you in the Voidveil Barrier ."
"You'd miss me."
"I wouldn't."
"You absolutely would."
" I don't have the energy to argue with you; we have a very long night ahead of us."
She narrowed her eyes. "A long night? What do you mean?."
I looked out one of the palace windows. The moon hung unusually high above Velmora. The night felt…Too still. Too quiet.
" You will find out…. later."