Chapter 97: The Mastermind’s Trap
Eiren’s POV
His heart pounded hard in his chest as he paced back and forth around his room.
A few hours ago, his personal servant, Fenin, along with several other concubines’ servants, had been dragged away by the royal guards.
Eiren knew something had gone horribly wrong, and a cold fear gripped him. If Fenin talked, it meant Eiren would be exposed—and that meant an immediate death sentence.
How did this happen?
Fenin had assured him that no one had suspected a thing when he placed the curse beneath Seraphel’s bed. So why was that human still breathing? He was supposed to die within two days, but sudden news had reached the concubine hall that Azriel was alive and fully well.
Was it all thanks to the other princes? Had the Sins found out about the betrayal and gone out of their way to save Seraphel?
Eiren bitterly wished that the same care would be shown to him. He wished someone would go to such lengths for his sake.
Caelum had clearly stated that the curse was incurable, yet Seraphel was alive and walking around while Eiren’s servant sat in chains.
"Why are you pacing around and talking to yourself?"
Kaevian’s soft voice sounded as he stepped right through the solid wall of the room.
Eiren glared at him sharply. "You really should stop appearing like that. It is starting to get very annoying, Kaevian."
"This was the only way I could get to you faster," Kaevian responded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I am sure you know by now that our servants have been taken by the guards. We could be next, especially if Fenin breaks."
"That would never happen. Fenin would never..." Eiren paused, quickly scanning the room as if worried they were not the only ones listening.
Kaevian pointed around the room. "This entire space is sealed with blocking wards. Not a single sound can escape these walls," he assured him smoothly.
Eiren took a deep breath before continuing. "Like I said, my servant would never reveal my secrets."
"He might normally," Kaevian countered, "but I heard that one of the princes is joining the investigation personally."
Eiren turned sharply to meet Kaevian’s eyes. "Which prince?"
"Prince Lumiel. The Prince of Wrath."
Eiren’s eyes widened in sheer shock. "We are all doomed."
Kaevian nodded in agreement. "I have never met him before, but I heard his torture methods are insane. However, as if I already predicted something like this would happen, the day Fenin went to place the curse under Seraphel’s bed, I placed a false memory in his mind and erased his real ones."
"What...?" Eiren gave him a confused look.
Kaevian was skilled, but memory manipulation was not a normal ability. How on earth was he able to alter Fenin’s mind?
"What did you do?" Eiren demanded, clenching his fists tightly at his sides. Deep down, he already knew what kind of people practiced such abilities.
They were dark magic wielders. Humans who craved ultimate power and tried to act like deities used dark magic—a twisted, darker version of every power possessed by a god.
"You brought a dark magic wielder into the palace of Asmodeus?!" Eiren hissed. "You could have gotten yourself caught and killed!"
Kaevian burst into a sudden laugh, shaking his head and tutting. "Oh, you fool! Why would I risk my neck hiring an outsider when it was so much easier to do it myself?" He walked slowly toward Eiren and whispered into his ear. "I practice dark magic."
Eiren’s eyes widened as he gasped, pointing a shaking finger toward Kaevian. "You... you practice the dark arts?"
Kaevian nodded proudly. "Yes. I have been practicing for a very long time, and you should be thankful I have such powers. How else would I be able to erase those memories from the head of your beloved servant?"
Eiren let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He had never seen Kaevian as someone so cunning. He always thought he had the upper hand among the concubines, but Kaevian had far more power than him, always planned steps ahead, and was always informed about everything.
"If Prince Lumiel searches through your servant’s memories, you won’t be found out," Kaevian stated softly.
"Then who will?" Eiren asked.
Kaevian grinned wickedly, looking toward the door.
Eiren’s eyes followed his gaze until they landed on the heavy wooden door. Seconds later, it swung open, and Lioren stepped inside. He looked completely disheveled, frantically looking around as if searching for someone.
"Right on time, Lioren," Kaevian muttered smoothly.
"We are doomed!" Lioren panicked, his voice shaking violently. "I just saw that low-life omega heading toward the Hall of Justice with Prince Azriel, and I saw the Prince of Wrath with them too! He looks so terrifying, and he is going to find out the truth! Once Eiren’s name is called out, our names will follow, and we are going to die!" He groaned, grabbing a handful of his hair in desperation.
Lioren whirled toward Eiren. "Didn’t you say the curse was supposed to destroy that human? How is he still alive and walking around?! You promised he would die!"
"He was supposed to die!" Eiren responded, pacing around the room again. "He is alive for a reason! The princes must have found out about the curse and discovered a way to break it! That is why he is still alive!"
"That human just won’t die, will he?" Lioren said through gritted teeth, clenching his fists tight. "What do we do now? It’s over for us! The princes are going to kill us all!"
Kaevian cleared his throat, drawing both of their attention. "Why worry when I already have this under control?" He chuckled lightly. "I have made sure that if Fenin confesses, someone else will take the fall."
"You keep mentioning someone else, but you haven’t told me who that is! Who are you planning to frame for us?" Eiren asked, his heart pounding fast as he waited for Kaevian’s words.
Kaevian’s wicked grin widened. "I told you in our last meeting that some sacrifices would have to be made. Now, the time has come, and I made this choice to save us all."