Navia gently pushed his lips away as if to say now was not the time, and then clumsily attempted to use magic to become invisible.
"Can you see me?"
As she asked, Creed precisely kissed Navia's lips, which were semi-transparent.
"Yeah, I can see you with my magic."
'Actually, it's because I cast the invisibility magic on her.'
There was no need to tell her the truth just yet.
"…You could have just said it."
"That's true. I didn't think of that."
Navia was momentarily lost for words at his cheeky reply.
Meanwhile, Creed used the same invisibility magic and clasped hands with her. It was to continue supplying magic.
"Ah, and Ares can detect my magic scent. I'll temporarily erase it."
He didn't want to admit it, but Ares was his kin and a magician after all.
Creed temporarily blocked the scent of his magic.
"Erasing the scent will last at most 30 minutes."
They had to return from the Emperor's side without being caught within that time.
'Anyway, it'll be over in 10 minutes if I just treat it with White Moon.'
"Noona."
Creed spread his arms. It was a sign he would carry her and move.
Navia willingly nestled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and Creed picked her up with a faintly satisfied smile.
Click.
The locked door opened on its own without him touching it.
Spatial magic was strictly forbidden in the Imperial Palace. Of course, it was all useless in front of Lark, but it definitely affected Creed.
Using spatial magic in a place with suppression magic could result in landing in an unexpected location.
'Besides, my magic is unstable, so it's tricky to use such delicate magic.'
Creed was dissatisfied, even as he was running up the stairs to the third floor with Navia safely in his arms.
'I'd rather just wipe everything out.'
Yet, his usually erratic magic was now perfectly stable, thanks to kissing Navia.
'Then if I kiss Navia every day, I can control even more advanced magic.'
'Hmm, this is a good method.'
It was all a scholarly curiosity born out of personal desire.
That's when Navia spoke up.
"Doesn't the atmosphere feel a bit strange?"
Creed was immersed in thoughts of advancing beyond kissing with her but barely stopped himself.
"…In what way?"
"It's too quiet for courtiers. Even in a crisis, it would be more chaotic."
True to her words, there were almost no courtiers going up and down the stairs.
If the Emperor had collapsed, the third floor should be bustling with doctors, their assistants, attendants, servants, ministers from each department, and more.
The sudden collapse of the Emperor and the current atmosphere of the Imperial Palace were both strange.
Everything he knew and had experienced did not align with this situation.
When Creed set Navia down upon reaching the third floor, a chilling and evil energy suddenly swept over them.
'What's that?'
Navia opened her eyes wide and looked around, but nothing seemed out of place.
She clutched Creed's hand tightly and asked.
"Did you just feel a really ominous energy?"
When Navia whispered, Creed made a puzzled face.
"Ominous energy? I didn't feel it, are you feeling unwell?"
He asked with concern, but Navia shook her head.
'What was that just now? I've never felt such an ominous energy before. And how could such energy emanate from the Imperial Palace?'
The sinister energy still lingered around them.
'This doesn't feel good.'
"Let's hurry."
They headed to the Emperor's bedroom.
* * *
Before the Emperor collapsed, the banquet hall was as noisy as ever without any ominous signs.
Vivian, after dancing with Ares, wanted to continue to solidify her position among the other nobles.
She was Agnes, the future Empress, and shouldn't have to prove herself in such a manner.
But Ares always made her feel miserable.
"No matter how loveless noble marriages are, isn't Prince Ares particularly cold? Even the Emperor and Empress, though their marriage is also political, get along well."
"It's because Empress Diana is a great beauty."
"Lady Vivian is pretty too, why is that? Of course, there's something lacking compared to Lady Sara."
"Maybe he already has a woman in his heart?"
"Your Highness!"
Ares had disappeared into the crowd as soon as the dance ended, without even escorting Vivian.
Vivian couldn't just stay alone in the banquet hall. Her pride was so hurt she thought she might die!
'No matter how great a royal you are, you can't ignore me like this!'
Ares entered a restricted area with controlled entry.
Vivian hurriedly followed him but was stopped by a knight.
"I'm sorry, but you cannot enter this place, Lady."
"Move aside."
"I can't. This place is off-limits to anyone but royalty...!"
Slap! Vivian, with fiercely cold eyes, fiercely slapped the knight who blocked her way.
"How dare you block my path? Move now. You do know that I am Ares' fiancée, don't you?"
The knight, with a flushed cheek, still stepped aside as he was facing a high noble too formidable to even speak to.
After all, Vivian was to be the prince's wife, and further obstruction might have escalated the situation.
Vivian passed by the knight and quickly looked around.
'Where is he? I didn't see that Navia woman at the banquet hall either...'
Could they be having a secret meeting? Vivian's green eyes filled with near-madness.
That's when she saw Ares' back.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Navia was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Vivian witnessed an unexpected, strange sight.
Creak, creak!
A sinister, ominous aura filled the foggy corridor, where eerie figures were moving grotesquely.
'What on earth is that?'
Her heart pounded uneasily.
Ares spread his arms towards the black figures filling the corridor.
"There can be no more perfect stage than today."
No one responded to his words.
Could they even be entities capable of responding?
Vivian had never seen something so terrifying in her life. It felt like thousands of ants were crawling in her head just by looking at it.
"Now, let's create paradise."
Swoosh! As Ares spoke, the strange black figures brushed past him and through the corridor.
Vivian, as if hit by a whirlwind, covered her face with her arms and fell backward.
"Ah!"
The corridor became empty and silent.
Only Ares remained, now looking down at her.
Vivian shivered as she met his gaze.
Then she suddenly felt something was off.
'Were His Highness's eyes always purple?'
Surely, he resembled his father, Emperor Ulich, with ash-grey hair and blue eyes.
But now, the eyes reflecting the dim light were unmistakably purple.
"Your Highness..."
Vivian called out to him, unable to bear the anxiety, hoping he was the same dignified and upright Ares she knew.
Ares tilted his head with one corner of his mouth lifted.
"How did you come to a restricted area?"
"I... I have something to say to Your Highness."
"Ahh."
Ares spoke as if he understood.
"You want to join in the petty task of overshadowing other nobles by my side?"
Vivian bit her lip hard.
"I like obedient women, Vivian."
He continued with a look of regret.
"I don't like women who are troublesome to me."
Vivian felt a surge of anger.
"What about Navia? Is she obedient?"
Ares smiled broadly.
"She is special."
"What's so special about her? Her looks? Her abilities? Her family? I'm not inferior in any of those!"
"You are too insignificant to be the wife of a god."
Vivian was taken aback at his words.
'Wife of a god...?'
Ares grabbed her neck and lifted her up.
"Choke! Cough...!"
"You're just a human, less than an insect."
His eyes were filled with boredom, as if dealing with her was too troublesome.
Vivian barely got out of his grasp and trembled all over.
"You're not the prince, are you...? His Highness would never do this!"
Ares burst into laughter as if he heard something amusing.
"Maybe you're not wrong. I am Ares Duffmann, both a prince and a god."
His eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"I am Niratoinira."
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