The Author's POV

The words spoken by Prince Arian brought about complete and utter silence in the room. It was so quiet that one might have been able to hear a pin drop.

The focus of everyone's attention quickly shifted to him, and all he did was smile in response to it. He had long anticipated that his words would elicit such a reaction. And he was all for it.

"Is this some sort of joke to you?"

Prince Aton raised his voice and looked intently at Arian. It was common knowledge that Arian took pleasure in pulling such stunts.

It wouldn't come as a surprise to find out that he may have been pulling one of his typical pranks at the moment.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be the case this time. Rather than looking at them, Prince Arian looked behind him, where Velmout stood.

Although he was barely holding on, he was still conscious. This was enough for Prince Arian, who started speaking.

"...I found something rather interesting last night while I was trying to save him."

As the Duke extended his hand toward him, his body shot in his direction, only stopping when it was a few centimeters away from him.

Turning his head, Arian looked at the others with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"It almost slipped past me. Had it not been for my strength, I would've probably missed it, but..."

Suddenly, a dark glow materialized on the Prince's hand and encased Velmout like a cacoon. At the same time, the Duke's limbs shot up and straightened out in an unnatural manner.

"Khg. Uhk."

Velmout let out a series of groans that could only be described as wretched and agonized, but the Prince paid them no attention and continued with whatever it was he was doing.

The procedure was completed in a little under two minutes. When Prince Arian withdrew his hand, the Duke helplessly fell to the ground. Unconcerned, he extended his hand to the others, revealing a thin silver thread.

"What's this?"

"What in the world?"

Immediately, everyone's pupils shrank.

Seeing their reactions, Arian smiled in delight. He had been waiting for this moment ever since the start of the meeting.

The only reason he hadn't revealed it to them from the very beginning was because he wanted to see their reactions, and seeing exactly how they were reacting, he knew that it was all worth it.

"I'm sure all of you understand what this means, right?"

Bringing the thread forth, he casually threw it on the table before looking down at Duke Velmout. While he had lost consciousness, his core was still intact. He'd just need a couple of days to fully recover. His situation wasn't serious.

It was only through sheer good fortune that he was able to find it. He happened upon the thread completely by accident. It was during the time that he was tending to Velmout's wounds.

was so small and well-concealed that it might have escaped his notice

of a smile that had previously been on

an obvious giveaway

to tamper with his

unheard of. This thread that contained faint demonic fluctuations was the best evidence of

with

Arian, who turned to face the speaker. It was none other than Prince Valling, who appeared as composed as he'd

but he decided to let it

It's very likely that someone has tampered with his memories. Such power is extremely rare, but once the source is removed, one can easily

nod of the head, his focus shifted to Duke Ukhan and Priscilla. Before continuing, he interlaced his hands and drummed

probably isn't the only one

to face Priscilla. Even Prince Valling turned around to

contrast to before, their gazes were not menacing, and this was the reason why she was able to maintain some semblance of

other

"Don't move."

"Wait."

interjected. It belonged to none other than

She looked at Valling.

test. We can't have you

"Go ahead. "

as ever, he took his hand back and sat still in

so she immediately turned her

"Relax your mind."

entire body. The force penetrated deep into her body, and all of a sudden, her body straightened itself out as she slowly felt herself being lifted into the

"Hmh."

painful, but she was somewhat able to suppress her groan. It felt as though countless needles had punctured her body and traveled through her veins. It was extremely

before she felt the Princess let go of her. Immediately after she recovered,

that everyone's attention was concentrated on the

Prince Valling, who caught it, and then turned her attention

looks like your

tell from the way he was reacting to the unexpected information that he was taken aback in some way. It was clear that he had not planned for such an

"Hmmmm."

chair, musing to himself. Not until some time later did he look at Prince Devot. There was no trace of a smile in his eyes

gaze, Prince Devot turned around to look at Duke

"Let me."

Standing up, he walked toward the Duke and carried out a similar procedure. It didn't take long before a glow appeared all around the Duke's body, and shortly after that, his body began to fall

Prince Aton's face did not change as he withdrew his hand from Duke; however,

enough for

Devot and Duke Ukhan found themselves the center of everyone's attention all of a

were

this isn't

in the direction of Prince Devot as he

their gazes. With the hood covering his