Shion Lan was inside the Veins Domain, training in the technique (Path of the Stellar River). He had discovered several flaws in his technique because he had based his training style on Shi Yun Lan's methods, forgetting that after creating the (Art of Annihilation), Shi Yun Lan's ways had become entirely different. He relied on copying movements without understanding the essence of the technique, turning it into a hollow form without foundation. Unlike the (Stellar Summet Art), one had to comprehend everything and push that understanding to its highest limit.
Shion said,
"I need to perform it in the real world now...!"
Then he felt something passing through his body and touching his soul. At first, he thought it was Shi Yun Lan, but the current flowing through him was gentle and warm in a way that did not match him at all. So Shion decided to wake up and see who this person was.
He opened his eyes to find Solan Neumann as Sol Hart sitting beside him, using her magic. She was so focused on what she was doing that she did not notice Shion waking up.
At that moment, Shion remembered Shi Yun Lan's words:
"Sol Hart and Solan Neumann are the same person. They are not two separate identities."
Shion thought,
'So... the one before me is Solan Neumann? But how? They even have different faces and completely different physiques.'
Then Solan placed another pulse of energy onto Shion's chest, and he felt something familiar.
'This feeling... I only ever felt it in the Spirit World with Solan.'
He remembered that moment when he had been close to Solan there, when his emotions had reached their peak. His face immediately turned red from the memory, so he quickly closed his eyes again until Solan finished her work.
Then she leaned close to his head and kissed his forehead.
"I'll say it clearly... I love you, Shion Lan!"
After saying that, she hurriedly left the room to meet his mother.
At that moment, Shion opened his eyes in complete disbelief at what he had just heard, his heartbeat accelerating wildly. Yet all he could do was smile warmly.
"This dumb girl...."
He could not sleep that night, but he was satisfied.
The next morning, the maid Marie came to take care of Shion, only to be shocked to see him awake and staring out the window. He turned toward her and said,
"Good morning, Marie."
Mary quickly bowed.
"Congratulations on recovering, young master!"
Shion nodded and said,
"Don't tell anyone for now."
"Huh?"
Marie did not understand what he meant, but he continued:
"I want you to investigate Sol Hart and Solan Neumann."
"And why, young lord?"
Shion replied,
"I have some suspicions. You may notice them once you begin investigating, but…"
His gaze sharpened.
"I do not want this matter reaching His Majesty."
Marie realised that Shion knew about her reports so she asked,
"Then what should I report to His Majesty?"
Shion answered,
"Tell him I'm in good health, but pretending to still be sick. Also tell him I'm suspicious of certain things, and that you decided on your own to investigate the matter. Since Sol was the last person beside me, you began with her. Understood?"
Mary nodded.
"Then... should I not tell milady?"
Shion shook his head.
"If you tell her anything, she might inform Sol without realizing it. I need to learn something without her noticing."
Mary finally understood.
Then Shion suddenly remembered something important.
"How are things with the Night Family?"
Marie replied,
"His Majesty is currently investigating the family head, Halm Night. Since the two are friends, things are relatively calm, but it seems the family's reputation will suffer a major blow."
Shion said,
"This could affect Her Highness the Second Princess too, couldn't it?"
"Yes, young master," Marie answered.
Then she continued,
"The authority of the Night Family will be reduced because of this incident, and they will lose many of their privileges. Public opinion toward them has worsened considerably as well."
Shion thought for a moment before saying,
"I want you to write a letter to both His Majesty and the head of the Night Family."
Marie was surprised by the request, but Shion did not give her time to object.
"Bring paper and write down what I dictate."
Shion recalled that scene between Shi Yun Lan and Roto Night, along with everything concerning the forbidden spell.
When Mary returned, she asked,
"Under what authority are we sending this letter?"
Shion answered calmly,
"As the Head of the Lan Family."
He then dictated everything he had heard during the conversation between Roto and Shi Yun Lan, recalling even the smallest details, without mentioning Shi Yun Lan. Finally, he added,
"I witnessed all of this when the spirit of Roto Night, the great ancestor of the Night Family who helped build the kingdom, dispersed."
Marie then left the room while pretending she had merely finished taking care of Shion.
Meanwhile, Shion returned to the Veins Domain to continue studying.
As for Solan, she was inside her academy room, grumbling,
"Why haven't they announced our results yet?! Not only did we succeed in capturing the supposed kidnapper, but we also uncovered the real culprit and defeated him!"
Polter, while preparing tea for her, said,
"It seems the matter is related to the Night Family. Investigations have already begun."
Solan took the tea while thinking.
"But wasn't Roto the one responsible from beginning to end? Even Violet and Master Asin Night opposed him rather than helping him!"
Polter replied,
"My young lady, there are many people willing to sacrifice even their own family members to ensure the success of their plans. So what about someone who has been dead for a very long time?"
Solan frowned.
"But isn't Violet in a terrible situation because of this? Even the Second Princess gave her a cold look despite being her friend."
Polter answered,
"Naturally, everyone will suspect the family's intentions. After all, they lead the Shadow Forces and possess the kingdom's deadliest agents. When one of their own causes a disaster on such a large scale for such a long time, everyone demands an explanation. Still... I'm surprised milady herself didn't look at her coldly."
Solan shook her head.
"I didn't look at her at all. Shion was the one who gave her a warm look. He was the one comforting her. I'm certain he'd find a solution for them if he were awake!"
Polter said carefully,
"But milady, with all respect to your future husband—"
"W-What?!"
Solan's face immediately turned red.
Polter quickly continued,
"My apologies. You sounded so comfortable talking about him that I assumed it was fine."
Solan replied firmly,
"Continue what you were saying."
Yet despite her serious tone, the blush on her face remained, making her look rather adorable.
Polter said,
"I believe Young Lord Lan will need more than confidence to save the Night Family. I mean, you speak of him and the Night Family as if they can solve anything."
Solan pouted.
"I'm saying Shion would do something amazing if he were awake!"
Only a few minutes later, several spirits approached her.
"Young Lord Shion Lan has awakened!"
Solan's heart trembled with joy, but the spirits continued,
"He only woke up briefly before falling asleep again. When we examined him afterward, it was as though he had never awakened at all."
Solan sighed in disappointment.
"Looks like my visits will continue... though I don't mind. Still, I want Shion to wake up soon!"
Polter replied teasingly,
"So you can confess your love to him directly, milady."
The instant he finished speaking, he found himself thrown into the Spirit World, while Solan buried her burning red face into a pillow.
Meanwhile, in the common district, several figures moved quietly without drawing attention. They gathered information while chatting with passersby, buying groceries, or visiting the healing mage Lindy.
Lindy welcomed a woman who asked her:
"But don't you have a daughter, ma'am? This house is too large for one woman alone."
Lindy replied sadly,
"I had one once, but she died long ago before even reaching her first birthday. Imagine the irony... a healing mage unable to save her own daughter."
The woman apologized.
"I didn't mean to reopen painful wounds... I'm sorry, Mistress Hart."
Lindy shook her head.
"It's fine. Besides, I don't live alone in this large house. My niece still lives with me…"
The two continued talking, and the woman managed to obtain a piece of information before bidding Lindy farewell.
After leaving, the woman thought,
'I don't know why the leader assigned such a mission, but I completed it anyway.'
Eventually, all the investigation teams gathered before Marie.
"So, how did things go?"
One of them answered,
"As for Solan Neumann, she is undoubtedly dead. According to records, this happened during the royal family's extermination of the Neumann Family."
The others added their findings one after another.
"Solan Neumann lived until the age of fifteen, then died."
"Sol Hart was born, but her parents died, so Lindy took care of her."
"Lindy was practically a mother to Sol Hart. She even breastfed and raised her."
The reports continued until Marie developed a headache and decided to leave the rest for Shion.
When she returned to the mansion, Shion's mother asked,
"Marie! Where were you?!"
Marie immediately replied,
"There was an emergency, milady, and His Majesty had to be informed, but I couldn't find you at the time."
Shion's mother thought to herself,
'If it were anyone else, they would've been severely reprimanded... but Marie is a maid appointed by the royal palace itself. Besides, Shion told me to stop overthinking the Ranus Family's methods of handling matters, so...'
In the end, she forgave Marie.
"Very well then. Don't forget to continue taking care of Shion."
"Of course, milady. And I apologize again for leaving without permission."
After apologizing, Marie headed to Shion's room and said after closing the door,
"Young Lord!"
Shion opened his eyes.
"Did you do as I ordered?"
Marie nodded.
"I sent the letters to His Majesty and the Night Family Head. However, since both are currently involved in the investigation, the letters may be delayed. Also... we are merely a third-rate noble family, young lord."
Shion did not seem particularly concerned.
"Fine. Tell me what you discovered regarding Solan and Sol."
Marie brought the reports and said,
"There are many strange things, but on the surface everything appears legal."
Shion asked,
"How so?"
Marie explained,
"According to official records, Solan is dead, and there is even a grave for her. However, there are no spirits near that grave despite Solan supposedly being a Pure Spirit. Historical records state that spirits should remain near the grave of the Pure Spirit until she emerges, but we found no traces of waiting spirits at all. The reason may be the Blood Spirit from that time, yet even the Blood Spirit itself should have remained waiting rather than attacking."
She continued,
"As for Sol, everyone gave the same story: she came from a village where she lived with her parents. But nobody knows who those parents actually were. Even when Lindy mentioned their names, we discovered records showing those people appeared from nowhere and had no traceable origins."
Marie finished her report, but Shion suddenly focused on one detail.
"Did this woman say Lindy breastfed Sol when she was young?"
"Yes, young lord!"
Shion remembered the previously the recorded world and how Lindy had spent nearly all her time inside the Neumann Family Mansion until Solan reached the age of two.
A smile appeared on his face.
"When will Sol come again?"
"Today, young lord."
Shion smiled faintly.
"Excellent."