His actions baffled everyone in the room- except one. The closest person to her, the icy blue haired lady was as nonchalant as ever.

But he soon removed his hands from his face and took them behind his back, hiding the blood covered fingers from the crowd.

A smile reappeared on his face, which was not any different from before.

“Pardon my rudeness.” The charm in his voice hiked. “It’s just that your beauty was too much for eyes to handle.”

“Tsk.” The mother daughter duo sitting at the lowest stage clicked their tongues in chorus.

Nuha, sitting just above them, giggled- while the Everqueen sitting at the top watched everything in amusement. The males, however, scowled at the devilishly handsome young man.

“Young man.” The High King called, not caring about etiquettes. Adrian turned towards the man sitting at the middle level level.

“Yes, your Majesty?”

“Meet Irene. She is my daughter- Vert’s elder sister.”

Evelyn gasped. She turned to her mother with a questioning look in her eyes.

Aretha only nodded in return.

“But how? She looks not much older than me.” Evelyn whispered.

“Your Aunt Irene is an ‘Inborn’-“

Just the word was enough to make Queen Evelyn gasp again, interrupting her mother. “An Inborn?” She asked, attempting to confirm what she just heard.

“Yes, an ‘Inborn’.” The Queen mother confirmed.

“But, don’t they appear every few centuries or so?”

*Tap. Tap.*

The High King tapped on his armrest, silencing the chattering Evelyn. He gave the young Queen one last glance before looking back to the youth standing ahead.

“She is an-“

“Inborn.” Adrian answered.

The High King raised his brows by a bit. “Yes, she is.”

“No wonder you locked her up in a cold room for more than forty years.” Adrian began to circle around Irene Greatwoods. “Your attribute- it must be ice, and circles you were ‘blessed’ with are quite profound.” He scanned her whole body, from top to bottom as he returned back to his previous spot.

She stayed still at her spot with the same old expression.

“After all, you can ‘freeze’ your ageing, emotions…” He looked right into her purple eyes yet again. “And soul.”

Her eyes glinted.

“And you.” She began to speak. Her voice was cold and indifferent. “You are quite good at ‘reading’ people, aren’t you?”

His abyssal eyes glinted. But the smile on his face remained. “But you are quite… ‘difficult’ to see through.”

“I take that as an honour.” She said.

Adrian turned back to the High King. “She should be your first child who ‘died’ on the day of her birth, right?”

“Hah.” The old man sighed. “You met her for a few seconds and you already know about her as much as we do.”

“I thank you for revealing a secret this significant.”

The Everking said, “You have proved your worth to us.” He then looked to his granddaughter.

“Child.” He spoke with love. “The youth beside you might not have the innate magical talent you have. But when it comes to schemes and intellect, sometimes he even terrifies me.” He gave Adrian a glance. “And your magic power now should be more than enough to hold your own against even against the toughest of foes.

“You two shall set forth for the Empire, and do what it takes for us to snatch a victory a year and a half later. Protect him. Of course, your own safety comes foremost.”

“As you wish.” Irene, the Inborn circler, bowed.

Adrian also nodded in return.

“And you.” The High King finally looked at Adrian. “You should already be aware by now how vital she is for ‘your’ victory. Keep her close by you whenever you cook up any schemes. And just because she is an Inborn, don’t expect her to win every fight and send her in harm’s way.”

“You can rest assured. I am someone who despises violence myself.” Adrian replied.

“…”

The High King opened his mouth, suddenly remembering something. “And don’t you dare to teach her something weird. Nuha had already educated her.”

Adrian glanced at the High Queen, into her brown eyes. She nodded.

“What are you even saying? How can I even think of doing that?” He assured.

“You can leave now.” The Everking waved his hand.

Adrian scanned through everyone present before leaving the room.

The blond haired Everking looked at his granddaughter. “What do you think?”

“His soul.” She spoke. “It’s peculiar. It’s too strong.” She answered. Her voice was cold as always.

“Odd indeed.” The Everqueen spoke. “My Clairvoyant spell also sensed the peculiarity. It’s too dense… and eerie.”

“Maybe he is a sort of Inborn as well, but it is a matter of the soul- not the core. After all, the mastery of soul has always been a mystery in the progress of Magic. And as for the eeriness, it most probably has something to do with his attribute.”

“Maybe.” The Everqueen declared.

The Everking rubbed his clear chin. “I wonder what the brat will do behind enemy lines.”

The next day, preparations were complete.

Inside a corner and abandoned room in the Royal Palace of Nemphis.

Both Adrian and Irene were wearing hooded robes. The hoods were taken off- for now.

“Are you ready?” The High King, who was wearing a royal robe asked.

“Yes.” Both of them answered in chorus.

The blond bearded old man removed a white cloth from the found and opened a hatch. But contrary to expectations, what remained underneath the wooden hatch was a web of roots.

He brought forth his other hand. A green magic circle suddenly appeared out of nowhere before the old man’s palm.

*Slither*

The roots began to move away, one by one, clearing a path. It was completely dark inside.

The green eyed High King took out a lamp and began to step down the hole. Both Adrian and Irene followed without any hesitations.

“We use this tunnel only during cover operations.” The High King’s voice echoed through the passage. “Soon, we will reach the other end. You two are on your own then.”

That ‘soon’ came after half an hour. They finally got out of the underground tunnel.