The rain had finally stopped, but Genevieve De Manfort's mind remained restless.
She sat alone inside her private chamber, leaning back against a luxurious chair carved from dark ebony wood. A crystal lamp illuminated the room with a soft golden glow, yet her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling as she replayed the events from the tavern over and over again.
Verl Ouzen.
That strange young man had managed to escape from her grasp.
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became.
Genevieve crossed her legs and narrowed her eyes.
"That cube..."
The image of the mysterious blue crystal cube appeared in her mind once again.
A magical item.
No.
Something even rarer.
In this world, magical gadgets were not common treasures that could be bought from ordinary merchants. Most blacksmiths, engineers, and craftsmen were incapable of creating such objects.
Only ancient civilizations, forgotten kingdoms, powerful sages, legendary mages, and certain mysterious races possessed the knowledge required to create them.
That was why magical gadgets were worth fortunes.
Genevieve slowly tapped her fingers against the armrest.
"His movements were inexperienced."
She remembered every detail.
Verl's stance.
His reactions.
His hesitation.
His lack of battle experience.
None of it matched someone who should possess an artifact of that level.
"He doesn't look like a traveler."
"He doesn't look like someone who has explored ancient ruins."
"He doesn't look like someone who has spent years hunting treasures."
Yet he possessed something extraordinary.
Genevieve frowned.
There was another possibility.
Undying Exes.
A legendary category of magical relics.
They were so rare that most people spent their entire lives without seeing one.
Undying Exes could usually be found only in three places.
The ancient Sage Kingdom.
The ancient Mage Kingdom.
Or hidden inside forgotten palaces and treasure vaults that had survived for over a century.
Even wealthy nobles struggled to obtain them.
Genevieve herself had only seen two throughout her entire life.
Yet there was something even stranger.
Using an Undying Exes was easy.
Activating one was not.
Most required complicated rituals.
Others needed magical energy.
Some took over thirty minutes to awaken.
Yet Verl had activated his cube instantly.
No chanting.
No preparation.
No delay.
The chains appeared the moment he opened it.
Genevieve slowly stood up.
Her curiosity was growing stronger.
"I need to find him."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Whether he stole it, found it, or inherited it, I want to know where that artifact came from."
Suddenly—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Genevieve glanced toward the door.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Several figures entered.
The moment Genevieve saw them, her expression darkened.
A tall woman stepped into the room, followed by multiple bodyguards.
Maneda De Manfort.
Her mother.
An invisible pressure filled the chamber.
Genevieve immediately sensed it.
Not magical pressure.
Not killing intent.
Something else.
Authority.
The authority of a woman who had ruled one of the most influential families for decades.
Genevieve smiled faintly.
It was not a warm smile.
It was a mocking one.
"So, Mother."
She sat back down.
"To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Business?"
"Politics?"
"Or perhaps you've finally come to ask about your beloved child?"
Maneda's expression remained cold.
"I didn't come here to discuss business."
Her voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"I came because of Aris."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Genevieve's smile widened.
Maneda continued.
"Where is he?"
Silence.
"I want to see him."
Another pause.
Then Maneda's eyes became colder.
"I want to punish him personally."
Genevieve stared at her mother for several seconds.
Then she laughed.
A quiet laugh.
A bitter laugh.
"You know, Mother..."
She slowly rose from her chair.
"I'm actually surprised."
Maneda remained silent.
Genevieve continued.
"For years, I convinced myself that somewhere deep inside you, you still cared."
"Maybe you simply didn't know how to show affection."
"Maybe you loved your children in your own way."
She shook her head.
"I was wrong."
Her voice became colder.
"You never saw us as children."
"You saw us as investments."
"You saw Aris as a tool."
"You saw me as a tool."
"You saw everyone as tools."
The bodyguards shifted uncomfortably.
No one dared interrupt.
Genevieve took another step forward.
"You never cared about what we wanted."
"You only cared about what we could do for the family."
Maneda's face remained expressionless.
Genevieve clenched her fists.
"And Father."
For the first time, genuine emotion appeared in her voice.
"Poor Father."
The room became silent.
"He wanted to leave."
"He wanted freedom."
"He wanted to take me away from all of this."
Her eyes trembled slightly.
"But he was captured."
The next words came out like poison.
"And you killed him."
The bodyguards lowered their heads.
No one wanted to be present for this conversation.
Genevieve laughed bitterly.
"That's why I hate you."
"That's why I will always hate you."
Maneda finally spoke.
"Are you finished?"
Genevieve stared at her.
Then continued.
"I didn't capture Aris for you."
"I captured him because he attacked someone important to me."
Maneda raised an eyebrow.
Genevieve smiled.
"My father's husband."
The room fell silent.
"Funny, isn't it?"
She laughed.
"My mother and my father's husband are technically the same person."
"But to me, they're completely different."
Her eyes became sharp.
"My mother is a monster who killed my father."
A pause.
"My father's husband is someone who treated me kindly."
For the first time, irritation appeared on Maneda's face.
"Enough."
Her voice echoed through the room.
"Be quiet."
Genevieve didn't stop smiling.
"I came here for one reason."
Maneda took a step forward.
"Tell me where Aris is."
Genevieve looked directly into her eyes.
Then laughed.
A loud laugh.
"What makes you think I take orders from you?"
The room became deadly quiet.
"I'm not a child anymore."
"I'm not someone you can command."
She pointed toward the door.
"This is my territory."
"My house."
"My rules."
"So leave."
The bodyguards instinctively tensed.
Yet none of them moved.
None of them spoke.
Because they were afraid.
Everyone in the De Manfort family knew the truth.
Genevieve was dangerous.
She was unpredictable.
And she hated interference.
The incident with Verl in the tavern was proof enough.
A complete stranger had interfered in her business, and she had ordered his execution without hesitation.
Even her mother's guards understood that stepping into this argument would be foolish.
Maneda stared at her daughter for a long moment.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Very well."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"You refuse to tell me."
She turned around.
"But don't think I won't find him."
Without another word, she walked toward the exit.
The bodyguards quickly followed behind her.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Genevieve stood motionless.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
For a few seconds, she looked exhausted.
Then her eyes shifted toward the window.
Toward the distant city.
Toward the place where Verl Ouzen had escaped.
Her gaze became sharp once more.
"Aris can wait."
She crossed her arms.
"But first..."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I want to know your secret, Verl Ouzen."
"The next time we meet..."
Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"...you won't escape so easily."