On the Sunia Sea, not far from the entrance to the ruins of the God Wars, a vast black-sailed ship moved through the water — nearly a hundred metres long, sails fully raised, flanked by rows of broadside cannon. The space around it seemed to warp and distort as it passed.
Any seasoned sailor would recognise it immediately: this enormous vessel was the flagship of Nast, King of the Five Seas — the Black Emperor.
Near the ship's cabin stood a mottled stone throne, two or three metres tall. Seated on it was a man draped in a black robe trimmed with silver, a spired crown on his head, his dark eyes flowing with a dim crimson light.
Without warning, a curtain of climbing green pea vines materialised out of thin air, spreading rapidly in all directions. From the tangle of vines, a tall figure stepped forward: Bernadette, who had come as soon as she received the letter.
"It's not easy to arrange a meeting with you, Lord Nast."
Bernadette crossed her legs and settled into a swing formed from the vines, facing him across a distance of three or four metres.
"My apologies. I have been spending most of my time traversing the Spirit World of late."
Nast — who had always referred to himself by the title of "Comte de Blanche Érable" despite the Intisian Empire's long fall — maintained a significant respect for the former Crown Princess. "Your Highness. I take it you've come about the puzzle box?"
Puzzle box?
Oh, right — when the compass passed through Nast's hands to reach her, it had still been sealed as a puzzle box. As he'd said, he had never opened it, so he wouldn't know what was inside.
"In a manner of speaking." Bernadette nodded. "Lord Nast—"
"I would ask that you address me as Comte de Blanche Érable."
"Comte de Blanche Érable — is there anything more you'd like to tell me about the puzzle box, or what it contained?"
Nast's eyes glimmered. "When it was handed to your subordinate, I said everything there was to say at the time. It was entrusted to my father by His Majesty the Emperor, and my father passed it to me in turn."
"I recall that you specifically stipulated it must never fall into the hands of Solomon, Evernight, or Blood descendants. And yet..." Bernadette met his gaze. "You yourself are a Solomon descendant, are you not?"
"That discrepancy puzzled me as well. I asked my father about it. His answer was that His Majesty had made specific arrangements concerning the two of us — father and son — that allowed us to safely hold the object without incident."
He continued: "But those arrangements seem to have had a time limit. About half a year ago, I began to feel something distinctly unsettling emanating from the box."
Bernadette arched an eyebrow. "And so you passed it to me?"
"Correct. You have no connection to Solomon, Evernight, or the Blood lineages. And as His Majesty's most beloved eldest daughter, returning it to you was the most natural choice."
"If it fell into Solomon, Evernight, or Blood hands — what would happen?"
"His Majesty never said."
"Is there anything else?"
Nast gave no further answer.
Bernadette held his gaze for a moment, recognising that the compass had yielded all it was going to from this source. She shifted to a different question. "In your father's time, or your own — did His Majesty the Emperor ever entrust you with any secret undertaking?"
"No." Nast's voice carried a trace of dry self-deprecation. "At His Majesty's level of standing in his final years, what secret undertaking could possibly require the participation of my father or me?"
"Did you know that His Majesty attempted to switch to a non-neighbouring pathway in the end?"
"Yes."
His eyes lit with sudden fervour. "In my view, no one was ever better suited to become the Black Emperor. Not even my Solomon ancestor."
"..."
Bernadette was quiet for a moment. "I... knew nothing of this at the time."
Nast was visibly startled. "Impossible!"
"I happened to be away from Intis during that period. I missed nearly the last few years of his life."
"...Is that so." His voice fell. "What a shame."
"You've spent all these years searching for the Ghost Empire. Is it truly only for the ship and its treasure, and the glory of Solomon reborn?"
Nast said mildly: "You think I'm carrying out some order from His Majesty?"
"Forgive me — no, it isn't that."
"I see." Bernadette inclined her head. "One more question. His Majesty's Black Throne. Is there anything more you'd care to tell me about it? I had Jadleya ask after the Black Throne, and instead of information, she brought back the puzzle box."
"Was that purely an opportunity for you to return the box? Or do the two things have some connection?"
"I'm not certain."
A trace of hesitation entered his voice. "I mentioned earlier — I sensed something unsettling from the box about half a year ago. The last time I felt something similar was the very last occasion I was received aboard the Black Throne to meet with His Majesty in person."
He paused. "But it was so long ago. I can't be sure."
Though Nast said he wasn't certain, Bernadette took his words as a quiet confirmation. Coincidences this neat didn't happen. So the compass did point toward the Black Throne?
And what was that unsettling presence that Nast had sensed? What was Roselle trying to do with all these arrangements?
Then Nast spoke unprompted: "Your Highness. Do you have the Card of Blasphemy His Majesty left for you?"
"Why?"
"I'd like to propose a trade." He hesitated. "Give me the Black Emperor Card. In exchange, I will handle one thing for you."
Before Bernadette could respond, Vincent said: "Agree."
"The Black Emperor Card isn't in my possession."
Vincent chuckled to himself. A blank promissory note. We can try to use it to facilitate some cooperative arrangement between Nast and someone else — and let that transaction add weight to the Scale.
"The Card I hold is not the Black Emperor Card. But I do have a rough lead on where it might be. If I can obtain it, I can complete this trade with you."
Nast showed no particular disappointment. He nodded. "Very well."
"As for the favour you mentioned — I'll need the Card first. But in the meantime, there's a small thing I'd ask of you."
"What?"
"I hope that in your search for the Ghost Empire, you'll bring Jadleya along. Whether for her personal enrichment or for her future acting method, she needs to accumulate a great deal of esoteric knowledge — and if the Ghost Empire is genuinely found, it would undoubtedly be of enormous benefit to her." A pause. "You know her current connection to the Moses Ascetic Order. That could even provide you some assistance in this search, in its own way. Think of it less as a favour, more as a mutual partnership."
Nast considered it briefly, then gave a small nod. "Acceptable."
"Then in two days, I'll bring her here to meet you."
"No objection."
He asked, without preamble, after a stretch of quiet: "Your Highness."
"Do you still believe His Majesty is alive?"
"Of course."
Bernadette said, without a moment's hesitation: "I believe the day I see him again... is not far off."
Backlund, Jorwood District. The new lodgings rented by Fors and Hugh.
Fors chewed the end of her pen, brow furrowed, labouring over her manuscript. She had been writing since she got up, and she swore — hand on her heart — she hadn't slacked off for a single moment today.
It wasn't a sudden attack of diligence. It was simply that her editor had warned her: one more delayed instalment and the novel would be axed.
Fortunately, Hugh's recent "adventures" had given her some inspiration. She had promptly opened a new storyline based on Hugh, and given the new chapter the title: The Unseen Shadow.
Shadow — because "Hugh" represented the side of the prosperous city that no one saw. The shadow of order.
Unseen — because Hugh remained deeply hidden. And also because... well, she genuinely couldn't see.
To be continued…
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