“Haaahh…”
Kael sighed in relief as he returned to his room after meeting with the King and the Prince. Again, there were too many things in his head right now, but honestly, ever since he came to this place, there had always been something in his mind, he had gotten used to it.
‘A Royal Palace huh…’
Kael thought inwardly as he stared at the lavish room he was in.
‘The price of living in this place is high…’
He muttered. Soon, however, he shook his head, freeing his mind as he then stared at the Dreamveil Kitsune’s Egg he had brought back.
‘Are you two ready to get another sibling?’
He questioned excitedly.
‘Father, someone’s coming.’
Igni warned.
Kael paused and waited for whoever it was to appear.
Knock Knock
Then, he heard a knock.
He opened the door and his eyes fell on the person who stood in front of him.
It was his Almoner of Services.
“Althea?”
“Hero Kael, I bring lunch.”
Althea spoke with her usual expressionless look on her face.
Kael, however, frowned in confusion.
Usually, Althea would always just keep the food table outside his room, and whenever he was hungry, he would bring it in and eat.
Althea would never disturb him with such things and would only knock on his door if it was something important.
“Hero Kael?”
Althea tilted her head as she looked into the room. It was as if… she wanted to enter…?
Kael didn’t know what it was, but…
“Come in.”
Instead of taking the food table, he ordered her to come in.
“As you command.”
Althea nodded as she walked in with the food table. At the same time, she also closed the door behind her as her eyes then fell on the Dreamveil’s Egg.
“So is this going to be your Second Bond?”
She questioned.
Once again, Kael narrowed his eyes.
Small talk.
Althea usually didn’t initiate something like this. This was too out of character for her.
For now, however, he played along.
“Mhm, it is a Dreamveil Kitsune.”
“Ah, that’s a fine choice.”
Althea nodded.
“Mhm.”
“Are you going to Bond with it today?”
“I was planning to, yes.”
“I wish you luck.”
Althea smiled.
Kael smiled back. Then, the Almoner of Services looked into his eyes and,
“Please eat first before you do anything. Magic Beasts are sensitive. It won’t be good if they sense your empty stomach right after they are born. You should create a safe and happy environment for them.”
She said those words, however, her eyes looked like she meant something else.
“Alright…”
Kael nodded.
And suddenly,
‘Father…’
Igni called.
‘Hm?’
‘Someone’s watching us.’
‘What? Who is it?’
‘I do not know. I cannot sense them. They are hidden. I can only sense their gaze.’
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Althea coming here and acting strangely, then Igni sensing a gaze…
Something felt wrong.
Kael’s eyes fell on the food Althea had brought in before he looked back at her.
“Should I set it up?”
Althea suggested.
“Sure…”
Kael nodded.
His eyes narrowing even further.
It looked like she really wanted him to eat this.
‘Is it poison?’
Kael wondered in his head.
But then, he noticed something strange. While Althea was setting up the table, what seemed like a chit fell under his plate from her sleeve.
Even Althea herself hadn’t seemed to notice it. The woman just set up the table and stood up.
“Please eat.”
“Are you going to watch me eat?”
Kael questioned, then, a playful smile on his face and,
“You have started to like me, haven’t you?
It is alright. I do not blame you. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. We can handle this like mature adults.”
“While I do agree that, for some reason, Hero Kael is looking much more charming than he normally does, he is misinterpreting the situation.”
Althea replied in her usual emotionless voice.
“So unless Hero Kael wishes to do what mature adults do, I will take my leave.”
The Almoner of Services spoke, waiting for Kael’s decision.
Kael’s mouth twitched, once again finding himself in a difficult spot in front of this woman. In the end, he just closed his eyes and,
“Woman, stop throwing yourself at me. Have some self-respect.
Now leave.”
Yes, he got the last word. It was his victory.
Yes, that is how it works, he won.
No more questions.
“As you command, Hero Kael.”
Althea bowed her head as she walked out of the room.
The moment she left, Kael’s playful expression disappeared.
He stared at the food in front of him, then, his eyes fell on the chit under his plate.
‘Igni, is that person still watching?’
He questioned.
‘Yes.’
The Dragon nodded.
Kael sighed.
This seemed important, so he wanted to read it. He, however, had no way of doing that without alerting that observer.
Even Igni was silent.
In the end, he just stared at the food placed in front of him, and his eyes turned golden.
<Eye of the Ancients>
His ability now worked on every object, even food. Every time he stared at food, he got details of what it was and what it was made of.
Kael once added a spice to his food on his own, and his Eye detected that.
It was a perfect way to find out if the food was poisoned or not. And the instant Kael activated his eyes—
[Flame-Seared Steak]
[Description:]
[The Flame-Seared Steak is a hearty, savory dish beloved for its rich, smoky flavor and perfectly charred exterior. The steak is seared over an open flame, creating a crisp, caramelized crust while keeping the inside tender and juicy. It is served with a side of roasted vegetables and a drizzle of fiery glaze, making it a satisfying and flavorful meal.]
[Ingredients: Prime Cut of Beef, Flame Salt, Infernal Pepper, Garlic and Herbs, Blaze Oil, Charred Vegetables, Fiery Glaze]
…
‘No poison…’
Kael noted. Soon, however, his eyes fell on something else.
[Whisper Chit]
[Description:]
[The Whisper Chit is a small, 2 cm long token made out of fine white material that feels cool to the touch. When touched, the chit transfers a small, focused amount of information into a user’s mind. Once it is used, the artifact crumbles into fine ash, leaving no trace behind.]
[Properties:]
[Limited Information Transfer: The chit can only convey a concise amount of data, such as a short message, a single image, or a brief instruction. Complex knowledge, like spells or entire maps, cannot be transferred.]
[Instant Imprinting: The information is immediately and clearly imprinted into the user’s mind, ensuring perfect recall.]
[Single Use: The chit dissolves after use, making it a one-time tool for discreet communication or instruction.]
[Uses:]
[Covert Communication: Used by spies or messengers to deliver short, critical messages without leaving physical evidence.]
[Emergency Instructions: Carried by adventurers or soldiers to provide quick, vital information in life-or-death situations.]
[Limitations:]
[It is fragile and must be handled carefully before use, as it can be easily damaged or prematurely activated.]
…
‘A single-time-use Artifact…?’
Kael’s expression changed as he realized something.
‘It wasn’t a mistake.
She left it here on purpose.’
Kael sat down in front of the table and started eating the food Althea had set up. And while he ate, his hand discreetly touched the chit she had left, in an instant, the chit disappeared, and two sentences were imprinted in Kael’s mind.
<There will be eyes on you today. Be careful.>
<Lavinia: Gasta Slave Market, Crimson Bazaar District, Aurelian’s Respite, Southeastern Quadrant, under the Grand Council of Gold>
‘Huh…?’
Kael’s expression changed.