Chapter 131: Vyxas Ritual (1/2)

The clothes he found on the chair were ones he never thought he would wear. After Nikolai stared silently at the clothes which made his stomach turn, he shifted his eyes toward the forearm, which had a hidden tracking mark.

'My darkness is the bane of elements,' Nikolai thought to himself as possible ways out filled his mind. 'However, I can't seem to erase the mark. I'm not sure if Edward Ver Rosia could tell if I removed the mark, too.'

Nikolai lamented how cruel his fate could be: to be the retainer of Saint Maria himself, the one person known as the Beloved Saint of Celestia. However, Nikolai knew that the fate of the royal family was intertwined with hardships and sufferings, so he didn't want to get mixed up with them.

Her powers have yet to be awakened, which explains why Nikolai didn't turn to dust next to her. However, there will be a day when that happens, and the loathsome powers of Celestia will flow through her veins.

They were in a mansion specially arranged for the envoy of the royal family, and they were here regarding a new peace treaty. The princess was one of the strongest advocates for a truce between the two kingdoms to avoid the incoming war.

Even though Nikolai was being forced into the world of nobility and rulers by Edward, Nikolai could also tell that this allowed him to see things better.

When he was with Unit 34, he knew that they expected an attack on their border. However, they were so sure about it that it made Nikolai a bit suspicious.

If the Rosia Kingdom planned on launching an attack, they wouldn't do it while their princess was in the Bestial Kingdom as an envoy. So, the only explanation is that they would wait for the princess to return, or the attack would happen to retrieve the princess.

Nikolai pondered the matter, and he realized that the second reason sounded more realistic. After all, they wouldn't send an envoy of peace just to attack afterward.

However, if the Bestial Kingdom somehow knew of Maria's potential or how much Celestia loves her, they were sure to label her as a threat. There was one way to handle threats: to eliminate them.

'The princess's life is in danger,' Nikolai realized without feeling any sense of urgency. That's because he knew that the princess was going to survive. However, there was an anomaly now. It was Nikolai's existence in this place.

As the fabric slid over his back and arms, Nikolai started buttoning the white shirt. Whether his existence would result in the princess's death or not is not something he could decide.

'Maybe this is a blessing in disguise,' Nikolai thought as he remembered the rise of the undead that would follow the battle. He can get another fragment before that time comes, leaving only four pieces out of the seven.

This was the best way to ensure that he got an advantage over the other contenders, who would undoubtedly be stronger than he was. Maybe he could exploit this to gain another fragment, and it brought a smile to Nikolai's face.

After he finished wearing his clothes, he disappeared from his spot and changed his headband into another color that suited the black suit he wore. Then, he left his stealth and wore black gloves.

”I look like a butler,” Nikolai looked in the mirror at his all-black clothes, except for the white shirt, making a stark contrast with his crimson irises. The headband looked out of place, but it wasn't anything unusual, and they worked well to hide his horns and ears.

A knock came on the door, and when Nikolai opened it, a servant was bowing to him. ”Her highness is summoning you, sir,” the maid said and kept her head low.

”Can you guide me?” Nikolai asked, and the maidservant nodded before leading the way through the maze-like hallways of the mansion.

They reached a study where Saint Maria was quietly reading a letter, her blue eyes arching slightly to reveal a worried expression. When Nikolai entered the room, Princess Maria shifted her attention to him.

”Welcome, Lyle,” the princess called him by the fake name he gave them. It was a name of no insignificance, just common enough to deter them from doing a background check on him.

”You wanted to see me, my lady?” Nikolai saluted and bowed as he asked. When he lifted his head, he found the princess looking at him weirdly.

”You fell into your role faster than a snake can change its skin,” the princess said with a hint of awe and jealousy. ”If I can only do the same,” she sighed.