TOOCM 69

Chapter 69

Michael shrugged.

“I planned to do as you did at the banquet.”

“What?”

“You already knew, didn’t you? That His Majesty can discern truth from lies.”

“!”

“I know it too. So you don’t need to worry about me revealing your secret to the Emperor. I’m good at slipping through.”

“How can you slip through? Knowing I hid my power already makes you a target.”

Reina’s confused expression prompted a softened smile from Michael.

“With my divine beast’s power, of course.”

“What?”

“Would showing you be quicker?”

As he smiled, a book materialized in the air.

Opening it, he said, “If I record it here, even the Emperor can’t extract it from my mind.”

Reina recalled the Emperor’s past comment about Michael’s divine beast.

“As expected of a From, your divine beast’s power is dull. Perfect for espionage, though.”

The Emperor had said Michael’s ability was merely collecting information he would never forget.

But how did that relate to deceiving the Emperor?

As she eyed him suspiciously, a sudden realization hit her.

Perhaps, like her, he had hidden his true power from the Emperor.

Unlike her past self, foolishly exposing everything and allowing herself to be exploited, he had protected himself.

How did Michael die in my past life?

The Emperor had mentioned his death casually, but now she wondered if there was more to it.

Was he killed because his power was discovered?

That would explain it.

“Is that book your divine beast?”

“Yes. I never forget information I’ve heard.”

Nodding lightly, Michael pricked his finger with a pen, drawing blood.

“!”

His expression turned serious as he began writing.

Reina watched silently.

After a moment, he set the pen down.

“That’s only part of my power. The true ability works through equivalent exchange. I’ve just sworn, with my blood, not to reveal your secret.”

He showed her the page.

Written across it was a vow that he would never tell the Emperor about her hidden power.

“This blood oath ensures absolute confidentiality. So you don’t need to fear I’ll betray you to His Majesty.”

His words rang true.

Reina knew divine beasts did not lend their power freely.

But one question lingered.

He had implied that he had hidden his true power from the Emperor—a potential weakness. Why reveal it to her?

Warily, she asked, “Is it okay to tell me about your power?”

“I know about yours, don’t I? We’ve only shared parts of our abilities.”

So his book wasn’t the full extent of his power either.

“I want to maintain a good relationship with you, Reina.”

His inscrutable smile left her guarded.

Seeing her hesitation, he tore out a page and offered it to her.

“If you don’t trust me, trust my divine beast. It provides reliable information for the right price.”

“What?”

“Write a question on it that can be answered with yes or no. The beast will respond. You get three chances. More than that would burden me.”

“Will you see what I write?”

“If you prefer, I won’t look.”

With a graceful smile, he handed her a new pen.

Reluctantly, Reina stared at the blank page.

Using Ritsi’s power, she sensed an energy similar to that of her own divine beast.

This could be a rare opportunity.

Carefully, she wrote her first question.

[Is Michael From Mernie loyal to the Emperor?]

The question glowed before vanishing.

Alarmed, Reina asked, “It disappeared?”

“It wasn’t a yes-or-no question. Try again, but be more specific.”

So his loyalty couldn’t be reduced to a simple answer.

She revised her question.

[Is Michael From Mernie trying to deceive me?]

This time, words appeared beneath it.

[No.]

Relieved, Reina realized he wasn’t lying to her.

Thinking she had no more questions, she started to set the pen down.

“You have one left,” Michael said.

“I’m done.”

“It doesn’t have to be about me. Ask something you’ve always wondered about… like your brother’s fate.”

Reina froze.

When she glared at him, he merely shrugged.

“If you’re not curious, we can end here.”

“Do you know something about my brother?”

“If I did, I would have bargained with you. Besides, I have no authority to speak on imperial matters.”

He smiled, pointing to the ring on his pinky.

“But the book can answer.”

It was practically an invitation.

Realizing the ring silenced him, Reina grew cautious.

I should have saved all three questions for my brother.

She felt tricked by his wordplay.

With mixed emotions, she carefully wrote her final question.

[Does the Emperor hold Jeffery Eve Mernie?]

Ever since learning that the Empire was involved in Jeffery’s disappearance, she had wondered if he, like her in her past life, was being exploited somewhere.

After a tense moment, the book answered.

[Yes.]

“Hah.”

The expected answer drew a hollow laugh from Reina.

The Emperor was vile.

He had ruined not only her life, but her brother’s as well.

Her eyes glinted colder than ever.

To remain so composed in such an emotional moment was striking.

Michael thought her gaze resembled that of a true ruler.

Her delicate frame suddenly seemed to exude an extraordinary presence.

As a royal recognized by a divine beast, she might one day challenge the Emperor.

“Did you get the answers you wanted?”

“Thanks to you.”

“Can I have the paper back?”

Reina glanced at it.

The page was now blank, all her questions having disappeared.

As she reached to hand it over, Ritsi suddenly swooped in, burned the page, and swallowed the ashes.

“Ritsi?”

“Chirp, chirp!”

The little beast acted innocent.

Michael muttered, “Clever little thing. I was going to sneak a peek.”

So much for not looking.

Reina’s betrayed expression prompted him to raise his hands in surrender, though he didn’t look remorseful at all.