Three days passed after that.
Kibon and I ca and went from the production room constantly, at all hours of the day and night. We went in and out whenever we felt like it, running all sorts of experints while tearing through scroll paper.
“Let’s go, Kibon.”
Truthfully, there was nothing for Kibon to do there. But he insisted that I shouldn’t move around alone.
While we were conducting our so-called experints, the Scroll Departnt team leaders would occasionally drop in as well.
“Wow, are we in the Magic Tower or what?”
Victor, stopping by the production room during work, would toss out casual jokes like that.
“Is this how the Scroll Departnt’s going to be from now on? You’re pretty research-focused these days.”
He acted like the banquet at Saint Cairo never happened.
And since he was so relaxed and friendly, I didn’t mind. At least he wasn’t saying anything that crossed the line anymore. I also behaved as if nothing had happened.
“I’m trying to make a defensive scroll using Dragonblood. I figure it might be more effective? Last ti I thought I was going to die from making 166 all at once...”
“So how’s the research going?”
“Not great. Honestly, it keeps failing.”
I grinned as I answered.
Anastasia, too, would occasionally drop by with a cup of coffee and sneak a glance around. I often drank her coffee at the office, so it didn’t raise suspicion.
“Th-this... this is D-Dragonblood? R-really? His Highness gave it to you just because you asked?”
There was a full beaker in the production room, filled with blood preserved in a stabilizing solution.
I took a sip of coffee while working on a scroll with the blood, and nodded.
“Yeah. I guess he’s serious. I an, he gave his blood and everything. I’m starting to think I should open my heart to him a little too.”
“W-well...”
Anastasia muttered gravely.
“Blood... isn’t... well, it’s not like it costs money...”
And just like that, three days passed.
Of course, no matter what I did with the Dragonblood, the scrolls never activated. But I kept pretending to work hard.
Once the full three days had passed—
“Kibon.”
That afternoon, as we exited the production room, I spoke resolutely.
“Tell His Highness I want to et him tonight.”
The ti had co.
***
Dragonblood.
An irresistibly tempting lure for the Reformist Faction.
I filled an entire beaker with the bait and used it liberally under the pretense of conducting experints. Every ti I ca in, a significant amount of it disappeared.
To anyone watching, it must’ve looked like a waste day after day.
Especially since the experints kept failing.
I tried using Dragonblood in all sorts of scrolls, but nothing ever activated.
They must’ve been dying to get their hands on it.
Of course, it wasn’t Kiaros’s real blood.
It was stored blood from the dical and Public Health Departnt—intended for transfusions. I had asked Luka to procure it.
[Luka, I need sothing from you, as a staff mber in the dical Departnt.]
[This isn’t an official situation, so can we drop the formal speech? I’ll get to the point. You’re not my superior and you can’t—]
[It’s an order from His Highness the Crown Prince. A secret decree. Don’t tell your boss either.]
[Understood. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) What do you need?]
Luka imdiately lowered his voice and complied.
[Wow... I guess having a rival like you really paid off. Suddenly I’ve got a direct connection to the Crown Prince...]
I asked Luka for two things.
First: to obtain blood.
Second...
[Is there a way to detect if soone has ingested a trace amount of a mild toxin?]
[Nope.]
[But we need one.]
[There’s no thod. Not unless you co to right after drinking it.]
[Then go on standby. Take a vacation.]
[Why do you get to decide my—]
[Crown Prince’s orders.]
[...Understood. Can I list it as special leave?]
[Do you want to announce you’re on a secret mission? Say you’re visiting your parents out in the provinces. File it as regular leave. I’ll convert it to special leave afterward.]
If I were the mole in the Reformist Faction, desperate to get my hands on Dragonblood, what would I do?
Obviously, I’d swap it. Whether it was real blood or fake, the scrolls weren’t working anyway. I’d have no way to tell.
But I kept showing up day and night, making it hard for anyone to find the chance.
So they’d have to find a way to immobilize .
Poison wouldn’t work. That would trigger a full-scale investigation. If it were , I’d try sothing subtle—just enough to keep out of the way for one night. Like a stomach bug or a cold.
And the thod was simple.
I drink Anastasia’s coffee every day.
Anastasia always brewed coffee for .
That didn’t an I was convinced she was the culprit.
I used my own cup, which I always cleaned and left in the break room. If soone wanted to drug , all they had to do was coat the inside with a thin gel-like substance.
That’s why I only ever took a single sip.
I intentionally drank a sip of coffee whenever Anastasia or Victor was nearby, then discreetly poured the rest down the drain.
I always left the empty cup behind and said, “Thanks for the coffee, Anastasia,” like I’d finished it.
Then I’d call Luka and have him check .
[You’re perfectly fine. Though it looks like you’ve gained a bit of weight.]
Well, living at the palace ant three hearty als a day...
Kibon, who was always nearby, reacted to that.
[That’s good to hear.]
He’d strongly opposed this plan from the start, but I overrode him with sheer authority.
Still, every ti I took a sip, he looked like he was watching soone drink poison. He suffered alone, like he was dying inside.
But today—finally—
“Yikes... It’s a trace amount, but you’ve ingested a dizziness-inducing compound. Hmm, and there’s a mild sedative too. It’s not harmful to your body. Nothing too strong.”
Luka spoke with a serious expression.
It was obvious. The plan was to make dizzy enough to knock out for the night. At least they didn’t use anything actually dangerous.
“I’ll neutralize it right away, but I won’t be able to fully eliminate the sedative from your system. You might feel a bit sleepy.”
“Am I going to be too out of it to function?”
“It’s a tiny dose. You’ll be fine. It’s like pulling an all-nighter—just expect to yawn a lot.”
“That’s nothing.”
I’d pulled plenty of all-nighters before. A little drowsiness was nothing new.
In any case, the mole would be confident that I wouldn’t be coming to the production room tonight. That ant it was ti to move.
They’d act after 6 PM, once all the Scroll Departnt staff had gone ho. And now, I had to move with Kiaros.
***
I t Kiaros inside the Scroll Departnt office.
It was the only way to access the production room.
“We’re not doing a full stakeout side-by-side, right? It’d be better if we stayed apart.”
Kiaros declared gravely. I nodded.
“Yes.”
The darkened Scroll Departnt office was spacious. There was no need for us to stick together.
Besides, dozens of Ravens were already waiting outside. It wasn’t like we had to intervene directly from start to finish.
I just wanted Kiaros to see it for himself. And as for —
I want to see it with my own eyes. Who the traitor really is.
Knowing tonight would bring resolution cald my heart.
But the sedative still made yawn nonstop. Even if I was alert, the drowsiness was sothing else.
While I was lost in thought—
“Namia.”
A soft whisper reached my ears. It was Kiaros, quietly watching from the shadows.
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