Secrets

Ian sucked in a breath as he left the Moon God's Palace, resting his chin in his hand while he pondered.

What should I eat today?

A shadowy figure trailed silently behind him, continuing to observe from the shadows.

Right at that moment—

Ian spun around and unleashed a sword strike toward the exact spot where the figure was hiding.

Clang—!

"······!"

Startled by the sudden attack, the figure quickly raised their sword to block. But Ian's assault was merciless and unrelenting.

Without a word, Ian put the new sword techniques he'd learned into practice.

Overwhelming an opponent with basic swordsmanship alone was nearly impossible. But when multiple styles were mixed and used together, the story changed completely.

Kaaang—!

He blended the principles of the Strong Sword with the Heavy Sword, pressuring his foe without mercy.

Ian's strength and weight couldn't display overwhelming power due to his small frame. That was where the Rebound Sword came in.

The force the world exerted upon him. He used gravity itself to make up for his lacking muscle strength.

His opponent unconsciously admired the display.

Hoo, and he isn't even using mana...

The technique was impressive, and the power behind it was far stronger than expected.

The opponent gradually began to deflect Ian's strikes, but the more their blades clashed, the stronger the rebound became.

It wasn't that Ian's power was actually increasing.

He's deliberately changing his stance and attack timing to prevent me from deflecting his force.

Instead of striking on the beat, he twisted the rhythm—sometimes half a beat late, sometimes half a beat early.

It sounded simple, but the courage and skill required to pull it off mid-battle highlighted just how much Ian had grown.

A talent for the sword that would one day leave even the Sword Demon in awe.

What the hell is this?

Even Ian looked surprised at what he'd just done.

He was currently lost in a rather strange sensation.

How should he describe it?

It might sound a little insane, but...

Why does this feel so fun?

It wasn't the thrill of overpowering his opponent. No, the very act of wielding the sword in this moment felt incredibly enjoyable.

Without realizing it, Ian was stepping into an entirely new realm of swordsmanship.

A level his first-round self had never reached due to psychological barriers.

As he built the foundation for that realm, Ian swung his blade with renewed vigor.

Shhhk—

Ian's strikes grew fiercer, to the point where they were beginning to leave shallow cuts on his opponent.

His skill wasn't just improving with time—it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exploding.

This wasn't simply about disrupting rhythm anymore.

He's adapting to my swordsmanship in real time...? What kind of monstrous talent is this?

An endless well of skill creating unparalleled learning ability.

Ian had begun to dismantle his opponent's swordsmanship itself.

Once he had some breathing room, he started guessing at the intruder's identity.

I didn't think they'd track me down this quickly. One of Lumiela's confidants?

While staying at the Moon God's Palace, Ian had often sensed someone lurking nearby.

The presence felt slightly different this time, but he was certain someone had been watching him, which was why he'd attacked. Yet now that he faced them directly, something about their appearance seemed... off.

Wait a second, this person is...

Only now could Ian get a proper look at the figure's full appearance.

A small frame similar to his own.

A slender body paired with a face that could only be described as delicately handsome. And finally, that luxurious platinum-blond hair and ornate formal attire.

"Huh...?"

A strange feeling washed over him. Ian stopped his attack mid-swing and immediately retreated.

"····Third Prince?"

At Ian's words, the Third Prince—Alex—tilted their head as if caught off guard.

"You know who I am?"

"······."

The two stared awkwardly at each other.

Alex von Lebeus.

The Empire's only prince and one of the candidates ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠destined to become the next emperor.

Yet within the imperial palace, he was known for his timid and frail personality—so much so that people often spoke of him behind his back.

Having already read the original story, Ian knew exactly who stood before him.

Alex's unique habit of hiding his strength and acting was already a massive secret. But there was something even more shocking than that.

Without thinking, Ian's gaze drifted to a certain part of Alex's body.

"····What are you looking at?"

Alex followed Ian's line of sight and unconsciously glanced down at their own chest.

Ian awkwardly turned his head away and cleared his throat.

"Ahem. Please forgive my rudeness. However, Your Highness Alex, could you tell me why you were following me?"

"Because it's fun...?"

The answer was strangely off-kilter.

When Alex tilted their head, their eyes seemed to shimmer with a faint, eerie light.

Looks like a lunatic, but at least they're not a regressor.

Finally, someone who matched the original story exactly.

Ian felt a slight sense of relief because he sensed none of the unexpected aura he usually felt from other regressors.

Alex looked at Ian with clear interest.

"You're not surprised even after realizing who I am...?"

Alex knew full well how terrible their reputation was within the palace.

An image so weak it was hard to believe they were royalty.

Yet this boy didn't show the slightest panic even after seeing Alex display real strength?

Interesting.

Expressions could be hidden, but physical reactions could not.

Using their keen observational skills, Alex scanned every inch of Ian's body but found nothing out of place.

Srrrng—

Ian sheathed his sword and answered Alex's question.

"Well, aren't all members of the imperial family hiding a few secrets?"

It was a perfectly natural answer. After all, the imperial family had quite a variety of hidden secrets.

Alex looked Ian up and down before asking another question.

"Hmm. That's true enough, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where is that mask I saw you wearing before?"

"····Pardon?"

The mask... don't tell me—

Ian unconsciously thought of the half-mask Lumiela had given him.

It was currently being kept safely inside the Moon God's Palace.

Alex clicked their tongue at Ian's reaction.

"It would've been more fun if you were wearing that half-mask. What a shame."

"Ah, well... if you want it, I can give it to Your Highness."

Ian had spoken without thinking, making a promise he couldn't keep.

I'll be leaving the palace today anyway. It shouldn't matter.

But Alex immediately held out their hand.

"Alright then. Give it to me."

"Huh...?"

Ian was caught completely off guard by the sudden demand.

What the hell?

He knew from the original story that Alex was a bit unhinged, but he hadn't expected them to be this blunt from their very first meeting.

Was this what happened when they dropped the hiding their strength act?

The current Alex was being almost excessively honest.

Is it because their identity's already been exposed?

Though he felt a little uneasy, Ian asked for some leeway.

"Um, the thing is, I left the mask back at the palace... Would it be alright if I gave it to you next time?"

The half-mask was currently in Lumiela's bedroom, so retrieving it right now was obviously impossible.

Alex pondered Ian's excuse for a moment before speaking with a meaningful tone.

"Hmmm. I'm not sure. Will we even meet again? If not, I suppose I could just take you instead."

"Excuse me?"

Take me? What does that even mean?

Ian froze, completely dumbfounded.

Seeing his reaction, the corners of Alex's mouth curled up in a mischievous grin.

"Why? Can't I?"

"...Why would someone like Your Highness Alex be interested in a worthless guard like me? Besides, I'm already serving Lady Lumiela, so that's impossible."

At Ian's words, Alex burst into laughter.

They laughed so hard tears formed in their eyes as they looked at Ian like they'd just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"Haha, what are you talking about? How could anyone who frequents the First Princess's bedroom possibly be worthless?"

Shit.

Ian instinctively realized that his relationship with Lumiela had been exposed.

They might not have guessed they were half-siblings, but it was clear Alex knew they were at least intimately close.

For a moment, the urge to draw his sword and subdue Alex surged through him.

But there were far too many variables.

We're in the imperial palace. Other soldiers could show up during a fight. And above all...

The biggest reason was Alex's own overwhelming martial prowess.

Alex hasn't used any of their real power yet.

Right now, Alex's body was in a disguised state. The moment that disguise was released, they would transform into a tall, muscular figure.

Even that alone would make them several times stronger than they were now...

And even if Ian fought with everything he had and somehow managed to defeat them—

That still wouldn't be the end.

Alex didn't have just one form.

Their true body was actually...

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Alex approached Ian without the slightest hesitation.

It was reckless behavior that completely disregarded their own safety.

Normally, they would never act this way. But for some strange reason, they felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward the boy in front of them and moved closer without thinking.

Ian felt a strong sense of rejection at Alex's approach and took a step back as he asked,

"...So what exactly do you want from me, Your Highness? Surely you don't mean to take my body, right?"

Ian's words walked a dangerous line between rudeness and mischief.

In simpler terms, he was basically asking if Alex had a taste for men.

Alex let out a dumbfounded chuckle at his words before revealing their true purpose.

"A story."

"Pardon?"

"Your entire life. All your secrets. I want you to tell them to me."

Watching the bewildered Ian, Alex's expression looked happier than ever.

Serena jumped in surprise as she asked Olivia,

"What? His Majesty the Emperor... you mean Caesar von Lebeus made a Geas too?"

"That's right. Father made a contract called a geas when he was very young. In exchange, he gained heaven-defying intellect."

Olivia spoke calmly, but Serena still couldn't quite understand.

"But... gaining nothing but 'intellect' in exchange for a geas seems a little... underwhelming, doesn't it? From what I heard from Sister Envy, making a geas is supposed to grant you enough power to face even gods and devils."

It seemed far too trivial a reward for such a binding contract.

"Well... In Father's generation, there were many outstanding siblings besides him. But in the end, it was Father who surpassed all the other members of the imperial family and became emperor."

Before becoming emperor.

Caesar, who had been scorned as a bastard within the palace, had risen to the throne using nothing but his own wisdom—without any faction backing him.

It was an absurd realm of political maneuvering and calculation.

That ability had granted him a transcendent intellect no longer worthy of being called human.

"Then what was the price?"

"Hm?"

"If he gained that kind of power, the price he had to pay must have been enormous, right?"

A geas wasn't simply a one-sided gift.

It was a contract—a transaction—that required bearing an equally massive risk.

Just what had the emperor offered in exchange for such intellect?

At Serena's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pure curiosity, Olivia's lips twitched.