William jolted awake.
For a brief second, the echo of a gunshot still rang inside his skull.
Morning light filtered through the windows. Roosters crowed in the distance. The world was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
He turned his head.
Silver was slumped against the couch beside his bed, fast asleep. Her hair was disheveled. Dried blood stained her sleeve. Even in sleep, her brows were faintly furrowed. From time to time, her teeth ground softly.
William tried to sit up.
Pain exploded across his body.
His muscles spasmed violently, as if every fiber had been torn and stitched back together overnight. He suppressed a groan and forced himself upright.
That was when he smelled it.
Blood.
Thick.
Metallic.
Familiar.
His gaze shifted slowly.
The corpse lay several steps away.
Maid Grecia.
One clean wound through the heart.
No hesitation.
No struggle.
No wasted motion.
William's eyes moved back to Silver.
"She did it," he murmured quietly.
A precise strike. Directly through the cardiac line.
Efficient.
Cold.
He studied the angle of the wound, the depth, the positioning.
"Good."
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"And this was her first kill."
Yet she slept.
Not peacefully — but without collapse.
Interesting.
He turned his gaze back to the body.
"Grecia…"
He had known she was compromised.
After the first assassination attempt, he had chosen not to expose her.
A living traitor was more useful than a dead one.
He had allowed her to continue.
Watched.
Tracked.
Observed.
Through her hawk couriers, he confirmed five princes had received secret correspondence.
Five possible masterminds.
And now—
The asset was gone.
He frowned faintly.
"Were you trying to kill me last night?"
Or—
"Did you try to bargain and fail?"
He replayed the scene mentally.
No defensive wounds.
No chaos in the room.
The strike was clean.
Silver must have interrupted at the right moment.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Too clean.
Too convenient.
Grecia dead.
No interrogation.
No confession.
Either someone panicked…
Or someone silenced her.
He inhaled slowly.
"It wasn't a waste keeping you alive this past month."
Through Grecia's intercepted letters, he had narrowed it down.
Five princes.
Five directions.
Five motives.
And one true mastermind.
William closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them.
"Little Silver," he called calmly.
Silver jerked awake.
In one fluid motion, she rolled off the couch, dagger already in hand, body lowered into a defensive stance.
Sharp.
Fast.
No hesitation.
Good transition, he noted silently.
"Calm down," he said.
She blinked, then relaxed slightly, though her grip remained tight.
He gestured toward the corpse.
"Explain."
Her composure shattered instantly.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"It's my fault," she said hoarsely. "I should never have left you alone."
She retold everything.
The dark corridors.
The assassin.
Grecia's betrayal.
The blade at his throat.
"Even a maid dared to threaten your life," Silver said, voice trembling. "If I hadn't gone to the palace—"
William interrupted gently.
"You did the right thing."
She froze.
"You protected me. Clean strike. No hesitation. Good job."
Her tears fell harder.
He turned his gaze away.
This is not her fault.
It's mine.
He had pushed himself recklessly.
Let jealousy cloud discipline.
Let emotion override calculation.
I forgot where I am.
This is not Earth.
This is not a world that forgives weakness.
If I collapse again—
There may not be a Silver next time.
His expression hardened.
I must never relax.
Not even in sleep.
Silver wiped her tears abruptly.
"Oh— I almost forgot."
She reached into her inner robe and pulled out a green envelope sealed with the royal insignia.
"After you passed out, I went to the palace. I asked Father for the Spirit Talisman."
William's eyes sharpened.
"And?"
She shook her head.
"He refused. But… he gave this."
William took the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
And a wooden token carved with a single word:
BLOOD.
He unfolded the letter.
—
"…Using Princess Silver to obtain something from me…"
"…That is beneath you, Seventh…"
"…Do not attempt such antics again…"
"…However, I am aware of your condition…"
"…To maintain fairness…"
"…I will trade…"
"…Proceed to Daffodil Valley, Hornbill Kingdom…"
"…The Blood Awakening Temple will open the Fate Breaking Hall…"
"…This occurs only once in a decade…"
"…Present the token…"
"…Obtain the Horn of the Bulldroc…"
"…Bring it to me…"
"…In exchange, I will give you the Spirit Beast Contracting Talisman…"
"…You will need considerable luck…"
— Midas Drake
—
Silence filled the room.
Silver looked nervous.
"Is Father angry?"
William folded the letter slowly.
"No."
He stared at the word BLOOD carved into the token.
"He's testing me."
Whatever. I need the Beast Contract Talisman.
"Little Silver, pack your bags. We're leaving for the Hornbill Kingdom."
Silver was surprise but she nodded and quickly rushed out.