Nil returned to the guild room and surveyed her surroundings. She could see that the space had been arranged perfectly, so she walked to the couch and settled herself upon it.
Sitting there, she began processing what had transpired between her and Aeren.
"Why, Aeren... why don't you... want to live with me... did I do something wrong?" she began murmuring to herself.
She started blaming herself, though she knew with certainty that Aeren no longer wished to live with her—nor did he want to see her again.
While Nil blamed herself and sobbed quietly, someone knocked at the door. Her attention immediately shifted toward the entrance, and she used her abilities to sense who stood beyond. Disappointment washed over her the next moment.
She had been hoping to see Aeren, but outside the door stood her aunt Seraphina.
"Come in, Aunt." Nil ceased sobbing and stopped all her tears using magic. She refused to let a single tear fall from her eyes, using her abilities to stabilize all emotions internally while showing nothing externally.
Seraphina entered with her characteristic elegance, observing Nil carefully. She twitched slightly upon seeing her, who appeared serious and cold.
Seraphina controlled her outward emotions and smiled. "How are you, Nil?" Her politeness and gentle smile were visible to Nil, though she didn't react to them.
"I'm doing well, Aunt. How are you?" Nil controlled her magic, infusing all her words with magical undertones.
Seraphina could hear her frigid voice and felt momentarily chilled by its tone alone. She couldn't determine whether Nil knew about her hidden activities. Though she doubted her young lady had discovered the truth, or she wouldn't have sent that letter.
However, Nil's cold voice frightened her—this wasn't like the person she had previously encountered. She continued studying Nil but couldn't find any trace of the innocent young lady she once served. Now she faced a cold, calculating Nil.
"Well, you know how Lord Aldric treats us—he never lets us rest, and if we do something wrong, he beats us without proper justification." Seraphina spoke awkwardly yet emotionally, maintaining perfect vocal control.
She continued studying Nil but saw no change in her emotional expression.
"Is that so? Sit here. We can speak with each other more properly." Nil ignored her comment and pointed to the couch across from her.
Seraphina nodded and sat opposite Nil. "Thank you. This place looks perfect for conversation, and this guild is sponsored by the Astoria house." She reminded her that this location was controlled by her uncle.
Nil continued staring at her without answering immediately. "Hmm, don't worry about it. I have a prince as a friend—he can handle minor matters like this." Nil explained while mentioning the royal family connection.
Seraphina smiled at her comment while continuing to observe her, finding Nil's behavior strange enough to frighten her slightly, though she concealed this reaction.
"Then this is perfect. Nothing will leave this room, correct?" Seraphina's smile remained on her face, but her inner emotions struggled to maintain composure. She could see Nil's silence instead of answers.
"Why did you call me here?" Seraphina broke the silence that was tormenting her and questioned directly, unable to maintain patience while her internal emotions bubbled.
Nil's cold eyes pierced through Seraphina's gaze, staring at her intently. She could see her aunt's slight fear, but continued watching with those glacial eyes. "Why did you kill my father?" Nil questioned in her cold tone, her magic carrying the sound waves directly to Seraphina's ears.
As she questioned Seraphina about her father, her aunt trembled momentarily. However, the trembling remained invisible externally while her smile persisted.
"What are you saying, little Nil?" Seraphina spoke awkwardly, still observing her. She could see that Nil hadn't wavered from her accusation.
Seraphina abandoned her act and turned as cold as Nil, sitting more comfortably in her position.
She sighed deeply.
"Oh, little Nil. What if I did kill them?" She began speaking casually to Nil while watching her fearlessly. "Still, she couldn't detect any reaction from Nil, unable to determine whether the young lady had planned something or not."
Though Seraphina had investigated everything before arriving here, she remained cautious about Nil despite knowing her to be innocent. She had come prepared with everything necessary to escape danger and eliminate threats.
As she spoke casually, barriers began emerging throughout the room, and two shadow girls materialized from her darkness.
Nil observed them with her usual expression, sensing the loss of all her magical abilities.
"Sealing magic barrier—you created something like this, Aunt." Nil murmured to herself, though Seraphina heard clearly. "You're quite brilliant, Aunt. You created something that people would worship you for." Nil's voice echoed through the room while she continued watching calmly without fear, as though she had anticipated all of this.
She also observed her but felt no fear emanating from Nil. She also had two special assassins personally trained by herself.
"Yes, of course. I know my worth—that's why you must become my stepping stone, my dear Nil."
More figures began emerging from shadows as she watched Nil, and assassins appeared from various shadows throughout the room.
Nil could see assassins positioned around the entire space, but she remained motionless, continuing to survey her surroundings while waiting for their move.
"If you surrender to me, I'll let you live. How about that?" Seraphina offered Nil a choice: follow or die.
Nil listened to her foolish proposition while continuing to stare at all the assassins behind her. She could see they possessed magical abilities, but Nil didn't need magic to begin with—she could directly use her spirits to eliminate them.
"Do you really think I will lose to all of you?" Nil questioned Seraphina in return, her eyes never leaving her. Seraphina sat across from her on the couch, her smile growing wider.
"Yes! I do." Seraphina laughed at her question and answered without hesitation. This shocked Nil slightly, but she could perceive Seraphina's confidence. However, Nil doubted that confidence rested in her assassins.
She could see that Seraphina was confident about something, but not the assassins behind her. What is she so confident about? I can see she doesn't trust those assassins. Does she have something more that I can't imagine? As she observed Seraphina, she pondered the source of her assurance.
The door opened again, and Aeren entered without knocking. He surveyed the scene with calm observation.
All attention turned toward Aeren, looking at him with confusion. No one irrationally attacked him or took any action against him.
Seraphina's gaze also shifted to Aeren, but she couldn't recognize him. She looked at him with bewilderment, though she didn't know his identity. Her cautious instincts suggested he was barely worth guarding against.
"I didn't know your aunt loved you this much, Nil." Aeren's voice echoed throughout the silent room as he assessed the situation.
Everyone froze at Aeren's words, unable to determine whether he was joking or genuinely felt no threat from them. All attention focused on Aeren, but no one moved toward him or took any action.
Aeren also simply observed their situation without doing anything when he heard a voice.
"Who might you be?" Seraphina's polite tone and quiet voice reached Aeren's ears, and his attention shifted from Nil to Seraphina and her beauty.
Aeren observed her briefly. "I'm nobody—just a minor prince of this empire whom everyone calls Aeren Vorthis. Though I rather enjoy my high status, I'll abandon this position one day." Aeren also introduced himself truthfully to everyone in the room. As they heard his name, all present immediately remembered everything about Aeren.
Upon learning his identity, everyone was shocked by his mere status, but Seraphina saw a new opportunity she had been seeking—one that made her smile with anticipation.