Swish—
Cold water streamed down from the shower, washing over Vanitas’s bare skin.
Despite everything he knew about Vanitas Astrea’s childhood, there wasn’t a single scar on his body.
Modern medicine in this world still left him taken aback when he thought of his old life. Truly, healing magic was innovative. Without the advances of magic medicine, his entire body would likely be covered in scars from head to toe.
His thoughts shifted to Franz. Or more particularly, the look he’d given him tonight.
“….”
The look of uncertainty, as if he had lost Franz’s trust.
On the surface, Franz had acted as casually as ever. But Vanitas could sense a gradual distance. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. And in time, he knew it would only grow wider.
“Tsk.”
Maybe he was overthinking it?
No. He wasn’t.
He knew Franz Barielle Aetherion too well. Not just from real experience, but from the version of him that existed in the game. Franz was more cunning than he appeared/
Far more dangerous than even Irene, who at least wore her emotions on her sleeve when her temper exploded.
So….
“Did he know?”
About Karina?
Was she actually one of Franz’s guests that night?
He must have known.
Or maybe he didn’t?
Whatever the case, if Karina had truly been there, then had she found out? That her stepfather’s death had been nothing more than collateral damage in Vanitas Astrea’s plans?
That his desperate effort to save Julia Barielle from cancer had only hastened her death?
That Vanitas Astrea was the reason both of them had died prematurely?
Had Karina spoken to Franz?
Were they now plotting against him?
Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump!
His heart began racing faster than his thoughts
* * *
For the time being, secret meetings with Irene were a strict no-go. Contacting her was still possible, but discreet in-person meetings had become too risky. That meant there was only one safe way to see her now.
Moriarty.
Vanitas would need to disguise himself in that persona once again. It wasn’t anything new.
Still, as the car rumbled along the quiet road, Vanitas glanced to the side.
“Astrid’s still not speaking to me,” Irene said, her chin resting on her hand as she stared out the window.
“Why?” he asked.
“Do you really not know?” she muttered. “Or are you playing dumb?”
“….”
Of course, Vanitas had a good idea. While he wasn’t the most emotionally intuitive person when it came to relationships, he was exceptional at reading subtle signs like body language.
But even with that, he didn’t want to assume anything too quickly.
In truth, the whole situation still didn’t make complete sense.
“She’s a fanatic,” Irene said, still gazing out the window.
“Huh?”
A fanatic?
That hadn’t even crossed his mind. But now that she said it… thinking back, it did seem plausible. The realization that he’d nearly jumped to the wrong conclusion felt rather embarrassing to admit.
“You brainwashed her,” Irene added flatly.
Vanitas turned to her with a dry look. “That’s a hell of an accusation.”
“She implicitly told me she wanted to marry you.”
“….”
“Pfft~! Look at your face!”
Dealing with Irene often felt like trying to reason with a child. Or rather, a womanchild.
How troublesome.
Vanitas sighed and leaned back slightly. “Was there a point to that?”
“Mm. Not really,” Irene said, a smug grin tugging at the corner of her lips. “I just wanted to see your reaction.”
He just crossed his arms, but Irene wasn’t done
“Tell me,” she said, this time more seriously. “What do you think of Astrid?”
“….”
Vanitas didn’t answer right away. He stared ahead in silence as the car glided smoothly down the road.
What did he think of Astrid?
He thought of her stubbornness. Her idealism. Her bizarre campaign that accidentally turned her into a campus idol. He thought of the way she blushed when flustered, how she always tried to act dignified but ended up tripping over her words.
Her temperament, similar to that of Irene, but was at least manageable to some extent.
He also thought of the way she looked at him, like she believed in him more than he believed in himself.
“I think…” he began slowly, “she’s too good for her own good.”
Irene arched a brow. “That’s vague.”
“She’s bright. Too bright, even. And people like her either get used by others, or burn out trying to save them.”
Irene’s expression sobered. For a moment, she didn’t respond.
“You sound like you care,” she said at last.
“She’s my student.”
Irene nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, and leaned back into her seat. After a moment of silence, the topic shifted.
“Regarding your modifications to the communication crystal, how’s that going?” she asked.
“Good question.”
Now that was a topic worth discussing.
There was a major gap in this world’s otherwise advanced magical technology. While magic had allowed civilization to evolve at an astronomical pace, one fundamental concept seemed to have been left behind, as if no one had even thought to question it.
Phones.
The concept of phones was nonexistent, making distant communication rather frustrating.
More specifically, while communication crystals did exist, allowing people to speak with one another from almost anywhere as long as mana was available, they were limited to simple voice transmission.
“It’s in its testing phase,” Vanitas said, adjusting his cuff. “There’s already a prototype. My people are still evaluating which channels we should release it through.”
Irene tilted her head. “What’s the capital looking like? Haven’t you received any investments?”
“Not yet,” he replied. “There are investors showing interest, but some are skeptical about whether the modification is even necessary. And then there’s the issue of intellectual property rights. Technically, the original communication crystal design belongs to someone else. I need to negotiate with the inventor before I can legally accept external funding.”
“But the fact that you already have a working prototype…” Irene glanced sideways at him. “Sounds like you’re confident you’ll get the rights.”
“There are many ways..”
“Like threatening them?”
“Like partnership.”
Irene snorted, unconvinced. “Sure. That’s definitely your first go-to.”
Vanitas didn’t bother denying it. He simply gave her a sidelong glance and smirked.
“I’m not in the business of burning bridges that haven’t been built yet.”
“Hah!” Irene scoffed. “That’s a fancy way of saying you’re keeping the dagger hidden until the contract’s signed.”
Vanitas leaned back in his seat, his gaze drifting to the passing scenery outside the car window.
“Let’s just say I prefer leverage over violence. The days of the Astrea name being regarded as hunting dogs are long over.”
“Yet you work just like your father.”
“….”
Vanitas turned his eyes toward her.
“My father… how much do you know about him?” he asked.
“Vanir Astrea? Not much,” Irene replied. “Times were peaceful when he became the family head, so there wasn’t much need for a hunting dog beyond political assassinations. Why? Is the council oppressing you?”
“No,” Vanitas said. “It’s fairly known in the council that I never had the chance to be involved in that line of work.”
“….Seriously?”
He gave her a look. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Irene bit her lip, as if struggling to find the right words. The thought of Vanitas being innocent in that kind of work was hard to believe.
If she remembered correctly, this was the same man who used her to destroy the Esmeralda Duke Family and completely restructure the Ainsley Marquess Family
This guy was worse than his father.
In the end, she simply sighed. “You’re referring to before your adoption, right? Well, Vanir Astrea… from what I’ve heard, he was a bright student. Actually, he was friends with my father during their university days.”
“Wasn’t everyone friends with the Emperor?”
“Not like that,” Irene said. “I mean friends, friends. They had a whole social circle. My mother was part of it too.”
“Is that so…?”
That was news to him. So Vanir, Decadien, and Julia had all been close in their youth?
“Yes, and… uhm, I think there was a bit of a falling out. At least, that’s what it seemed like.”
“Why?”
“They just grew distant, I guess? And eventually, my father married my mother.”
“…?”
Now that he thought about it, Vanitas’s biological father had been obsessed with Julia Barielle. That much had been clear from what the younger Vanitas had told him.
And if that man had been part of the same social circle…
“Have you ever heard of the name Cesare Windson?”
“Cesare Windson…” Irene rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “The surname’s familiar. I’ll have to look into it.”
“He’s my biological father.”
“Ah.” Irene’s brows lifted in surprise. “Okay… and?”
“He was in love with your mother.”
“…!”
Bombshell after bombshell. Irene blinked his eyes, visibly struggling to process the conversation at all.
“You’re joking,” she finally said.
“I wish I was.”
“…Wait, are you telling me this just now? What am I supposed to do with this information?!”
“We’re here, Lady Irene.”
Before Vanitas could answer, a voice came from the driver’s seat and the car rolled to a stop. Both of them turned to look at the building ahead.
Vanitas adjusted the silver monocle perched over his emerald-green eye, then pushed the door open. Irene shifted aside as Vanitas stepped out and turned back to offer her a hand.
“Shall we, Princess?” he said.
Irene took his hand, but before stepping out, gave him a look.
“Don’t lose.”
They had arrived at the underground League of Spirits Tournament venue.
* * *
Irene was a frequent visitor in this establishment. As she made her entrance, she exchanged greetings with the big names in attendance, who had representatives participating in the tournament, all hoping to win and earn big.
She soon took her seat among them in the upper stands.
“I see you’ve got a new chicken this time, Princess,” said the man seated beside her. “Or is it the same guy as before? Hard to tell.”
“He’s new. Quite skilled.”
“You say that every year.”
“I’m confident this time.”
“Haha! The boss will be quite thrilled. He’s been looking forward to building a stronger connection with you.”
“Then he should just sign a partnership deal with me already.…”
“You know it’s not that simple, Princess.”
It was true. Perhaps because of her status, even her presence here was already a risk to the mafia running the underground tournament. While they were well aware that Aetherion’s second princess operated in the gray areas of society, they still considered it risky.
That’s why they wanted a sign of real commitment before solidifying any kind of partnership.
Because they didn’t fear her.
Because Irene Barielle Aetherion’s words held no real weight in the noble political sphere.
But Irene knew better than anyone. These men only intended to milk her for what she was worth. She was certain they were cheating her. Every year, she’d participated and lost.
In total, she’d gambled away over 13,000,000 Rend. There was definitely foul play at work.
But could they cheat under the watch of a man whose value exceeded anything her stigmata or title could offer?
“….”
For some reason, she felt like she could entrust Vanitas with anything. He was capable. He operated in the same grey zone. And more importantly, he was a man who stopped at nothing to further his ambitions.
“Oh…?” the man beside her muttered.
Below them, the previous game had just ended, and the next participants were making their entrance. An announcement rang out across the coliseum, calling the attention of the spectators.
——The next contestant, representing Princess Irene Barielle Aetherion. Player, please state your name.
Under the bright lights, a man stepped forward. Emerald eyes gleamed beneath the arena’s glow with a silver monocle perched neatly over one eye.
——James Moriarty.
* * *
The game had officially begun.
League of Spirits was, at its core, a fundamental card game.
It appeared complex at first glance, but once players grasped the basics, it was fairly easy to follow.
The real difficulty lay in the strategy, the counterplays, energy management, and the luck of drawing high-tier cards.
But for Vanitas, it was simple.
Because of his stigmata.
“Ah, fuck,” muttered the man sitting across from him.
Vanitas had already won.
Then came the next game. And the next. One after another, each opponent fell against their opponents. When it was finally Vanitas’s turn again, the audience above began to stir.
Was this the first time Irene had ever advanced this far? It certainly seemed like it. Even Irene herself looked visibly taken aback.
Just how bad were her previous players?
Truthfully, the matches weren’t easy. Everyone Vanitas had played against so far had shown remarkable skill. They were definitely professionals.
Each one of them, without a doubt, would qualify for the hidden quest tied to League of Spirits that required a minimum skill of Platinum.
So even with the aid of the monocle, Vanitas didn’t let his guard down for a second.
He drew a powerful card and held onto it strategically. It was a trump card—one capable of sweeping the board clean in a single turn—and he used it at just the right moment.
“Shit….” his opponent muttered, slumping in defeat.
And Vanitas won again.
Then another.
And another.
Each match ended in his favor, and somehow, none of it looked forced. His movements were fluid, his decision-making flawless. To the spectators, it appeared effortless—as if he were simply built to win.
Until eventually… he entered the qualifiers.
“You’ve actually got someone decent this time.”
“Right?” He’s good, isn’t he? Do you think I’ll win this time?”
Irene’s tone was light, but her eyes were sparkling. There was something childlike in her expression that replaced her usual allure.
“Hah. Congratulations on making it past the qualifiers, Princess,” the man beside her said, chuckling. “But the game’s only just begun.”
“Of course, of course.”
With the end of the qualifiers, the tournament was set to continue next week. Irene and Vanitas made their way back to the car.
“Wow! Wow! Wow~!”
Irene smacked Vanitas repeatedly on the back, giggling with joy.
“You were amazing! Seriously, that last card combo? How did you even think of that?!” she exclaimed.
Vanitas let out a small sigh, more amused than annoyed, and adjusted his coat. “You’re going to wear out my spine if you keep hitting it like that.”
“Oh, shut up,” Irene grinned, still beaming. “I knew it. I knew I picked right this year.”
“I’m flattered,” Vanitas replied dryly, though the corners of his mouth tugged upward. “But more than that, I’m surprised. Practically no one’s recognized me.”
“It’s understandable,” Irene said with a shrug. “They wouldn’t care about some small-time herbalist working in the underworld. What did they call you again? Poop Moriarty?”
“Professor Moriarty.”
“Right, right. Anyway, after seeing all those games, I kind of want to play too. Why don’t we play at your home? Right now!”
“Right now…?” Vanitas checked his pocket watch. Technically, there was time to spare.
“Ah, never mind,” Irene said, as if realizing something.
“I didn’t want to either.”
“No, not because of that.” Irene sighed. “If Astrid hears about me visiting your home, she’ll glare daggers at me again. Ugh, what do I do? My own sister hates me!”
The car rolled forward smoothly. For a brief moment, Vanitas felt a strange prickle on the back of his neck, as if someone was watching them.
He narrowed his eyes, but after a few seconds, he shook it off and exhaled.
The tournament had been more mentally taxing than he anticipated. But seeing Irene this happy, just over a few card game victories, said enough about how far their relationship had come.
And the higher it rose….
The harder it would fall.
“….”
….Because if it came down to survival, there was a very real chance he’d have to stab Irene in the back.
* * *
“Apologies, Lord Franz. We’ve lost sight of the car.”
Inside the Imperial Palace, Franz stood by the window with a sharp gaze. One of his trusted agents, specifically assigned to keep tabs on Irene, was currently in the middle of his report.
“It’s fine,” Franz said after a beat. “It only confirms Irene’s up to something shady. But that’s not what’s important right now. Was Vanitas Astrea with her?”
“No, my Lord. There was no sign of the Marquess entering her vehicle.”
“She could’ve picked him up later after you lost track. Did you check his alibi?”
“Yes. He appears to be at home, preparing for the Imperial Professor test.”
“Is that so….”
Still, Franz was suspicious.
They had hidden their connection once. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe they wouldn’t do it again. Their excuses at the wedding banquet hadn’t been convincing, no matter how well-played they were. Were they planning something against him?
If that turned out to be true, if Vanitas had been deceiving him….
Thud!
A knife slammed into the center of the dartboard behind him. Franz lowered his hand.
“I do hope that isn’t the case,” he muttered.
Because he actually did consider Vanitas Astrea was a good friend.
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