As soon as her conversation with Yohan ended, Serena went straight to Horentz. Now she sat facing him in his office.

Horentz addressed his daughter.

"Well? What about the Sacred Covenant?"

Serena placed a sheet of parchment on the table.

"I got his signature."

There was a bloody mark at the bottom of the parchment: Yohan's signature, written in his own blood.

Horentz's narrow eyes curved into crescents.

"Well done. That's my daughter. What did he ask in return for signing?"

Serena worked her lips for a moment, then spoke with a puzzled expression.

"Well... actually, the Watcher of the Abyss didn't want anything."

Puzzlement crept onto Horentz's face as well.

"He made no demands?"

Serena nodded.

"No, Father. He signed the Sacred Covenant without any conditions."

Having entered into a contract through the Sacred Covenant, Yohan could no longer disclose information about the Mind-Piercing Eye to a third party. Merely threatening to reveal it to the world would have put House Marcano at his mercy, yet he had closed off that possibility himself. He had casually discarded a political bargaining chip.

Horentz let out a thoughtful hum.

"I can't make sense of it, however I look at it. The Watcher of the Abyss may be young, but he was certainly no pushover."

Horentz did not see Yohan as an ordinary boy. He was an accomplished politician. He had used his knowledge of the Mind-Piercing Eye to pressure Horentz, and Horentz had certainly felt that pressure keenly. Yohan knew how to gain the upper hand over others. Someone like that would never carelessly throw away his leverage.

At least, that was how Horentz saw it.

After a moment's thought, Serena spoke.

"May I tell you what I think?"

She was young, but clever. Her opinions had always been a great help to Horentz. His face brightened.

"Speak freely."

Serena spoke calmly.

"Simply knowing about the Mind-Piercing Eye probably isn't much of a bargaining chip to the Watcher of the Abyss. Sir Yohan must have a better means of winning our family over or putting pressure on us. His confidence and composure are proof of that."

Horentz considered her words before speaking.

"As you say, his eyes were full of certainty. Confidence that he could secure a betrothal to you."

Serena nodded.

"I felt it too. Sir Yohan may actually already consider the Mind-Piercing Eye his own. In that case, he would be the one who mustn't let information about it become public."

Given the nature of the Mind-Piercing Eye, its effectiveness was bound to fall drastically the moment the world learned of it. If Yohan was certain he would marry Serena, he had no reason to diminish its potency. A spouse's power was, after all, his own strength.

Horentz gave a disbelieving chuckle.

"... If your guess is right, the Watcher of the Abyss is far more brazen than I thought."

"He's unusual in all sorts of ways. It's a little disappointing that I can't use the Mind-Piercing Eye on him."

A peculiar frustration welled in Serena's chest. She wanted to look into Yohan's true nature, but she dared not use the Mind-Piercing Eye. His stern warning held her back: the moment she looked into his mind, he would consider it an act of hostility.

Horentz said, "Let's simply watch how things unfold for now. At today's meal, do your best to fulfill his request. We ought to show some goodwill ourselves."

Serena rose from her seat.

"Understood. I'll be going now. I need to get ready to go out."

Horentz nodded, and Serena left the office.

Alone now, Horentz rummaged through the papers on the table. He picked up a sheet—a report he had received from a subordinate a short while earlier.

As he read through it, he abruptly crumpled the paper.

"... What a brazen little brat the Watcher of the Abyss is."

The report concerned Ilea. A commoner woman Yohan had brought with him on his journey to the capital had become Count Staviana's adopted daughter.

What did that mean?

Horentz readily guessed the answer. Yohan intended to become the Count's son-in-law. On top of that, he was sinking his claws into Lady Marcano as well. He meant to swallow up two women and two houses at once.

Horentz looked down at the report, his eyes narrowing in a lingering smile.

"You're too young to know it yet, but excessive greed invites disaster."

He had no intention of playing along with Yohan's plans.

Not yet, at least.

* * *

At the Miyatro mansion, the servants bustled about. A few muttered complaints.

"Honestly, why would the Baron want dinner at this hour?"

"Never mind the hour—couldn't he at least have told us in advance? I'm rushed off my feet, honestly."

Dinner preparations were in full swing while the sun was still high overhead. Hardly any time had passed since lunch. It was far too early for another meal. The servants could not understand Yohan at all.

They whispered among themselves.

"Could that butler Haman have messed up again?"

"Messed up how?"

"Well, it's odd, isn't it? Lady Marcano is joining us for this meal, and nothing's ready. Haman must have forgotten the Baron's instructions and only just passed them on to us."

Haman was remarkably inept. He made mistakes far too often. He must have forgotten about preparing the meal. Every servant listening nodded.

"Good grief, we're in for it now. Look at this meager spread. What will Lady Marcano think?"

Nobles placed tremendous importance on appearances. A guest invited to a shoddy meal could hardly help feeling insulted. She might even push back her chair and storm out. The moment she left, Yohan's reputation would plummet.

Someone let out a long sigh.

"We'll end up catching hell too, all because of that bungler."

They were becoming firmly convinced it was all Haman's fault. He was now their common enemy.

"Let's make the most of the time we have left. We have to make it presentable somehow."

There were fewer than ten minutes left before the meal. The servants prepared the food as quickly as they could.

* * *

An uncomfortable silence settled over the Miyatro mansion. The dining room was deathly quiet.

Rather than taking his seat, Haman stood before Yohan like a condemned man. He hung his head low.

"... I'm sorry, my lord. I forgot what time the meal was."

The table looked terribly bare. There was hardly any food on it, and its sheer size made the spread look even more paltry.

Yohan stared at Haman in disbelief.

"I'm rather baffled. Why on earth are you doing this to me?"

It was a sincere question. He could not fathom Haman's intentions.

Serena, seated right beside Yohan at the head of the table, spoke.

"Sir Yohan, was our family's hospitality this neglectful?"

She smiled playfully. The sight of the table had not offended her in the slightest. She had a rough understanding of Yohan's circumstances, and she had not come here merely for a meal.

Yohan looked embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I've been terribly discourteous to you, my lady. Please accept my sincerest apologies."

He bowed his head low.

Haman cried out, looking close to tears.

"N-no! It's entirely my fault! Please punish me! I'll gladly accept any punishment!"

Serena studied Haman intently.

"This is rather unusual. Sir Yohan, shall I begin now?"

She intended to use the Mind-Piercing Eye on Haman. Yohan nodded.

"Please do."

At once, a strange light entered Serena's golden pupils. Her expression settled into calm.

"There's something I'd like to ask you. Your name was Haman, wasn't it?"

Haman looked blankly at her.

"... Pardon?"

Serena immediately pressed a handkerchief to her nose. It was probably bleeding—a side effect of using the Mind-Piercing Eye.

She spoke again.

"I'll ask again. Haman, correct?"

Extreme tension flashed across Haman's face. He gulped.

"M-my lady. I'm truly sorry. The Baron is blameless."

He was not answering the question properly. Serena and Yohan scowled in unison. They were overcome with frustration.

Still wiping her nose, Serena said, "... This is the last time I'll ask, so you'd better answer properly. What is your name?"

Haman glanced back and forth between Yohan and Serena, gauging their reactions. Yohan silently tipped his chin at him.

He could not speak. Once the Mind-Piercing Eye was active, the inner thoughts of anyone who spoke within its range would flow into Serena. For the time being, Yohan would have to remain silent.

Haman's voice trembled.

"H-Haman, my lady."

At that moment, a curious smile spread across Serena's face.

"Good, Haman. I'll ask you just a few more things. That's all right, isn't it?"

Haman cast an uneasy glance at Yohan. Yohan still said nothing. He merely shrugged.

Haman spoke.

"O-of course, my lady. I'll answer you faithfully."

Serena nodded.

"Good. First question. Do you happen to know about the incident that took place in this mansion last night?"

Haman answered immediately.

"I-incident? Nothing of the sort happened. The Baron distinctly said he'd had a peaceful night."

Serena gave him a gentle smile.

"Hmm, I see. So that's what happened. How interesting. Let's move on to the next question."

She could hear every one of Haman's inner thoughts. Haman, for his part, was bewildered.

"My lady, what on earth are you—"

"Haman. No, Berdan. Second question. Where is the real Haman now?"

The moment she finished speaking, Haman froze where he stood. He forced a smile.

"Ha ha, my lady. The real Haman? Whatever do you mean?"

Serena spoke in a tranquil tone.

"Hmm, so you've kept him alive?"

"Pardon?"

"You can stop acting, Berdan. I've heard everything."

"... Ha ha."

The strange light vanished from Serena's pupils. She looked at Yohan.

"This is even more interesting than I expected."

Yohan had been unable to follow their conversation at all. He frowned slightly in frustration.

"Berdan? The real Haman? What is all this supposed to mean?"

Serena smiled as she gazed at Haman.

"The man before us isn't Haman. He's an entirely different person wearing the guise of 'Haman.' His name is Berdan. He seems to be quite well-known in the royal capital's underworld."

Haman's expression darkened. His smile faded, and his bumbling face hardened. He muttered in an unfamiliar voice.

"... Are you reading my mind?"

Serena smiled at him.

"Berdan the Schemer. Am I right?"

At that instant, Berdan moved. He pulled something from inside his clothes and threw it at his feet. Brilliant white smoke erupted, engulfing the dining room.

When the smoke cleared, Berdan was nowhere to be seen. Yohan frowned in apparent irritation.

"He's gone."

Serena spoke with perfect composure.

"Don't worry. I've already heard everything—his movements, his identity, even the real Haman's location. If you wish, we should be able to capture him right away."