’And how do I accept this Talent?’
✦ [CONGRATULATIONS! NEW TALENT UNLOCKED: {GOD-EYE} TIER ???]
✦ [GOD-EYE: ACTIVATED! From now on, the Conductor will be able to see things that should not normally be seen.]
’See things I shouldn’t be able to see?... What does that mean?’
Lucian looked around him. Faintly, even through his blindfold, he could make out lines surrounding him—countless lines, forming what seemed to be the shape of a room.
He realized these were the actual contours of the space itself. He could see the outlines of the furniture traced in light.
"Young Master!" Rumelia shouted, shaking him by the shoulders.
Lucian could see her too—but not in any ordinary way. He could only make out a silhouette formed of lines, the outline of her body and clothing. But beyond that, he noticed something else: a thin blue line moving within her, pulsing like a current.
When he looked down at his own wrist, he found a similar line there as well, flowing just like Rumelia’s—moving like a stream of mana.
Lucian realized this was his new Talent at work: God-Eye, letting him perceive things he’d never been able to see before.
He asked Rumelia quickly. "Rumelia, is there anything strange in front of my face?"
"Something strange?" She checked his face carefully but found nothing.
"Nothing written there?" Lucian asked.
Rumelia tilted her head, glancing around the room, then shook it. "Young Master, did you drink something odd from that Saintess?" Her worry deepened.
"Ah, it’s nothing." Lucian realized he was the only one who could see the strange text.
Suddenly he remembered the warm droplets that had fallen on him from Lumina. Somehow, I don’t think that was really Holy Water, he murmured to himself.
His eyes drifted to his own hand—to the blue pendant his mother had given him.
DING!
✦ [NEW MAIN QUEST REVEALED — Title: Unveil the Dark Secret of the Villain Saintess! Penalty for Failure: Absolute Possession & Loss of Freedom.]
’Villain Saintess...? Does the system mean... Saintess Lumina?!’
✦ [REWARD: NEW BLESSING {PROMETHEUS}]
Lucian’s expression shifted to pure shock as he read the words before him.
Is this really happening? This would give me a Blessing—something that’s only supposed to happen during the Awakening Ceremony.
He could hardly believe it, but seeing the floating text before his very eyes changed everything about how he thought—including the smaller lines of text that had begun nagging at the back of his mind. He tucked the pendant into his pocket, but the text remained, still hovering in front of him.
"Penalty for Failure: Absolute Possession & Loss of Freedom"—if the penalty is something like that, doesn’t this just complicate my situation further? Maybe it’d be better to try and figure this out... but who is this "Villain Saintess"?
"Young Master!" Rumelia called out again. Lucian quickly snapped his attention back to her.
"Ah, sorry again... So, why did you come here?"
Rumelia pulled him toward the wardrobe, her expression serious as she began picking out his clothes.
"Young Master, put this on, quickly." Lucian looked puzzled as she handed him a neatly pressed formal outfit.
"What’s this for, Rumelia?" He took the garment from her hands—clearly formal wear, meant for something important.
"Young Master, we have important guests today," she said, sounding just as confused herself.
Lucian fell silent. It was unusual for anyone to visit their small mansion—except, perhaps, the Saintess, who was known for showing up unannounced.
"Guests? Did we have an appointment with someone?"
"No... this is sudden. And they’re important guests." Rumelia helped him into his shirt quickly.
"Alright, slow down, Rumelia—I can dress myself. So who are these guests?" Lucian adjusted the top of his outfit on his own.
"Your fiancée, Young Master. The Third Princess of the Bravenheart Empire." Rumelia’s voice came out a touch weaker than usual.
Lucian and Helia’s engagement had been arranged long before either of them was born. Everyone knew the Bravenheart Empire hadn’t simply bound House Sarnel through this engagement—it had also tied in the second family on Lucian’s mother’s side, Lysandra, a family said to carry a rare Blessing that let them glimpse the future.
Lucian had once been believed to be that family’s reawakening—until everyone learned he possessed no such power. He couldn’t even see.
"Princess Helia... maybe she wants to check on my condition." Lucian’s expression brightened at the thought of her visit.
"Young Master... I heard that a few days ago you signed over the creation rights of the Pocket Orb to Princess Helia. Didn’t you spend a whole year building that yourself? If you hand over the rights, everyone will believe she made it. I even heard she’s already been accepted into Orvis Academy because of it—shouldn’t that acceptance have been yours?"
"Helia got into Orvis Academy? Isn’t that wonderful? At the very least, her political standing will improve now that she’s been accepted."
Lucian and Helia’s relationship went beyond a mere marriage arrangement—it was a warm friendship he cherished deeply. Helia hadn’t been born to the empress, but to a low-ranking noble family, the product of an unplanned relationship with the emperor. Both cast aside by their respective main families, Lucian and Helia had formed a special bond over the years.
"And what about you, Young Master? If you had gotten into Orvis Academy yourself, couldn’t that have been your way back into the main family? And you wouldn’t have to worry about what Blessing you’ll receive tomorrow."
Rumelia looked visibly frustrated with him, always putting others first without a thought for himself.
"Rumelia... we’re going to be married. Sooner or later, what’s mine will become hers anyway. And besides—if I can help improve someone’s life, isn’t that a beautiful thing?"
"You always say such beautiful things, even though you yourself can’t see beauty at all. Isn’t that a bit naive of you, Young Master—" Rumelia stopped herself, realizing she’d said something she shouldn’t have.
Silence.
"Young Master... forgive me, I didn’t mean—"
"It’s alright, Rumelia. I know you’re my mother’s loyal servant. Ever since she passed, you’re the only one who’s looked after me all this time. I know you say these things because you want me to reclaim my place in the main family. Your concern for me is more than enough to make me happy, Rumelia." Lucian smiled at her.
Rumelia was the only servant who’d chosen to stay by his side—his mother had raised her since childhood, almost like her own daughter. But ever since his mother’s passing, Lucian had been completely cast out by the main family.
"Umm... alright, I think I look presentable now."
Rumelia straightened his hair and smoothed out his clothing, but she noticed something odd—the way his head moved, almost as if he already knew he looked neat, something that should have been difficult for him without being able to see it directly.
"Young Master... I don’t know why, but you seem a little strange today," she said.
"Really? Is it my outfit, or...?"
"Ah, no, it’s not your appearance. Have your senses gotten sharper, Young Master? You managed to straighten your clothes more neatly than you usually do."
Lucian considered his situation and his newfound power for a moment. He decided it would be best not to tell anyone about the God-Eye ability for now—he still didn’t know where it had come from, or whether it would prove to be a blessing or something else entirely. Only time would tell.
"Umm... haven’t we been here long enough, Rumelia? It wouldn’t be right to keep Princess Helia waiting any longer."
Lucian walked briskly toward the door. Rumelia followed behind, watching him move confidently on his own, without needing her guidance. Is it just me, or does Young Master’s walk look like... someone who can actually see? she wondered, trailing after him.
They came to a hallway before the drawing room, where two soldiers stood guard at the door. As Rumelia moved to open it, the two soldiers stopped her.
"Wait—only Master Lucian may enter this room."
Rumelia looked at them, confused.
"Hey—this is House Sarnel’s own residence. Since when do imperial soldiers get to decide who enters their own home, huh?" she said firmly.
"Our apologies. But we’ve received explicit permission from Patriarch Sarnel to enforce this."
Lucian froze in shock. The Patriarch never involved himself in Lucian’s affairs—yet here his name was again. Who exactly is inside that room? Lucian wondered.
But his sight couldn’t make out the condition of the room from outside the door. He’d have to go in to find out.
"It’s alright, Rumelia. Let me go in alone."
The soldier opened the door.
Lucian stepped forward. A guard just inside helped him find a seat, and Lucian could clearly make out the silhouette of the man guiding him.
His build was heavy, judging by the thickness of his outline, and the blue current running through his body was unusually large as well. But it was the rough grip of his hand and the sound of a heavy sword shifting behind him that told Lucian exactly who this was. "Thank you, Commander Gareth."
Gareth was one of the most important and respected commanders in the Bravenheart Empire, known as the Heavy Swordmaster for his mastery of the greatsword—remarkable, given that he wasn’t even from a Swordmaster family like House Sarnel.
"Master Lucian... I heard you were injured just a few days ago. Are you doing alright now?" Gareth helped him into his seat, though Lucian didn’t really need the assistance.
"Ah, I’m fine, really. I’m doing much better now. Thank you for your concern."
Lucian glanced around the room. Two other figures sat far apart in opposite corners—their positions oddly distant, as if deliberately avoiding him.
"Commander Gareth, did Princess Helia come here with you today?" Lucian asked, trying to confirm who exactly the two figures in the corner were.
"Ah, about that..." Gareth’s voice wavered.
"My apologies... it’s only me here today. The Princess is occupied elsewhere." Lucian rested a hand on his cheek, feigning confusion while carefully studying the outlines of the two figures in the corner.
Why is Commander Gareth lying to me? If I look closely at those silhouettes... one of them is holding a book, or is it a Grimoire...? Is she here? Lucian thought to himself.
Rumelia hadn’t lied when she said Princess Helia had arrived. And the fact that the Patriarch had authorized imperial soldiers to keep Rumelia from accompanying him—there had to be a connection to whatever was happening here.
Lucian’s expression turned serious as he faced Gareth. "Very well, Commander Gareth. If you truly came here alone, what exactly brings you to my door?"
He straightened his posture, turning fully toward Gareth, who noticed the sudden shift in the young man’s demeanor.
"Alright... I won’t waste your time, then." Gareth produced a letter and two boxes filled with gold, setting them down before Lucian.
"What is this, Commander Gareth?"
Lucian could see the two boxes of gold clearly, though he still had no idea what they were for—or what the letter contained. Then Gareth’s next words rang firmly into his heart:
"Please accept the annulment of your engagement to Princess Helia!"