Chapter 1087: Box of Surprises [part 1]
Rehema Nora examined the creature in her hand with withering disgust.
"What is this?"
Nebulous Lord’s eyes sharpened, flaring with a cold, dangerous light—one that made her frown and nearly raise her other hand.
But Annette’s voice thundered across the hall.
"STOP!"
Nebulous froze mid-motion, whatever he was about to do dying in an instant.
Still gripping the monster, Rehema Nora turned her head toward Annette.
"You control this thing?"
Annette lowered her head in reverence, her voice dropping to pure submission.
"It is not so, Your Highness. I was placed in command of it."
Rehema Nora studied her for a few heartbeats, then released her grip on Nebulous Lord. She kept her gaze fixed on Annette, indifferent as the monster slithered backward.
Annette tried to avoid her stare, eyes downcast more than half the time.
"Your Highness..."
Rehema Nora turned toward Nahir, who had just spoken.
"Right, you were asking what I’m doing here."
She lowered the scarf covering her mouth, revealing smooth, sharp, pale lips.
"I came here for my brother."
Nahir and Gourdon tilted their heads, confused.
At that moment, Ayu and Myu burst in, shouting Annette’s name.
"Annette!!"
She whirled toward the door. They were accompanied by two strangers in matching uniforms—one female, one male.
Annette’s face lit up as both girls rushed into her arms. The three embraced fiercely for a full minute.
Their reunion cast a soothing spell over the tense room. She smiled as she pulled away.
Immediately, Ayu spoke, her voice practically singing.
"Annette! Annette! You won’t believe this! Northern is a Prince of Reimgard!"
Annette froze, her eyes going blank.
Myu glanced at her and muttered, "Yup, that’s exactly how it hit me."
Annette slowly turned, staring at the first daughter of the Emperor of Reimgard. This wasn’t a dream or some elaborate deception. This was the real princess of Reimgard.
And she had just said she was looking for her brother.
Zeek, who had been observing from the sidelines, casually leaned toward Ilitis.
"Who is Northern again?"
Ilitis adjusted his monocle.
"That would be my master."
Zeek’s jaw dropped.
"The Sage?!"
He spun toward Ilitis and lowered his voice after nearly shouting.
"You knew about this too?!"
Ilitis chuckled softly and shook his head.
"I wouldn’t have guessed in a thousand worlds. I’m as shocked as anyone."
Zeek’s eyes widened as he turned back to Rehema Nora and Annette, who commanded everyone’s attention. He muttered under his breath, "Even the great Ilitis had no clue he was a prince."
Annette remained frozen, staring at the princess with stunned eyes.
Princess Rehema Nora, tired of being gawked at, furrowed her brows slightly.
"Is anyone willing to tell me something?"
Annette snapped out of her shock, bowing as she stumbled over her words.
"I—I apologize, Your Highness! I had no idea you were his sister! Currently, he’s not here!"
The princess frowned, stepping closer.
"Not here? Then where is he?"
Annette lifted her eyes for just a glimpse of the princess’s expression, but felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
"Ease up, Lady Annette, is it?"
She raised her head.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Rehema Nora smiled.
"That’s all right. Myu and Ayu told me some things that happened to him..."
She paused, her voice nearly trembling. Then she clenched her fist and lowered her face for a brief moment.
"No child should endure all of that at such a young age. I feel so sorry, and so irresponsible. Please, Annette, I need to find him. Will you help me?"
Annette fell silent, wrestling with conflicting emotions. The princess’s genuine passion and concern for her brother’s suffering was touching, truly valid—but when she thought about the recipient, she nearly wanted to laugh.
He had savored every drop of it.
It felt almost absurd to pity him. Or maybe it was simply because of how she knew him—the things she’d witnessed him do.
"Annette?"
"Ah! Yes, Your Highness! I’ll absolutely help you. But the thing is... right now, I don’t think there’s much you’ll be able to do."
Rehema Nora frowned.
"And why is that?"
Annette sighed.
"How should I explain this—the long version or the short version?"
The Princess looked at her warily.
"Let’s try the short version first..."
Annette took a breath.
"So, we discovered a Tyrant wants to unleash his master—an Origin—from prison. With the Origin released, it could spell destruction for our continent. Northern and a party of Paragons have gone to Stelia to stop both the Tyrant and the Origin. We’re here trying to give the rest of the continent a wake-up call since all communication is blocked."
Princess Rehema Nora froze for a moment, her expression going blank.
"Annette. Did I hear you say... Tyrant? Origin?"
Annette swallowed before responding.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Rehema studied Annette while glancing at Nahir.
"What rank is my brother again?"
Annette gulped, the intensity in the princess’s eyes making her mouth go dry.
"He is a Sage... Your Highness."
She pointed at Annette.
"What rank are you?"
"I am a Sage, Your Highness."
She blinked, silent for a full minute.
"How old is he again?"
Annette considered this—they’d been trapped in the dark continent for almost two years.
"He’s probably almost seventeen."
Princess Rehema Nora’s eyes widened.
"What? Seventeen? A Sage? Are you serious right now, Annette?"
She turned to Nahir.
"Are her words true?"
Nahir nodded gravely, his voice rough.
"I’m not familiar with him personally, but indeed, he is young and a Sage."
Then a stunned grin crept across her face. She muttered to herself.
"What? A Sage at seventeen? None of my useless brothers and sisters managed to become Sages before twenty. In fact, some are twenty-five and still Sages!"
She paused for a moment and exhaled, dismissing her shock as if it had never happened.
Then she looked at Nahir and Gourdon.
"Last time we met, Nahir, you were an Ascendant. If there are Ascendants and much... older Sages in this place, why is it that a young Sage is defending the entire continent?"
Nahir shrugged.
"Because he’s much stronger than all of us?"
Her eyes widened again.
"What?"