Crystal Tharot—that was the name of the woman sitting before them. She was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Avernia.

Of course, her authority didn't come from being the original monarch; she had only taken the throne after the king's death five years ago.

According to historical records, Crystal was known as a strong, resolute, and brilliant leader.

The Kingdom of Avernia survived the relentless assaults of the mighty Kingdom of Aldoria solely because of her.

If not for her sharp mind in both strategy and diplomacy, Merlin doubted Avernia could have survived for so long.

After all, in terms of military might, Avernia was hopelessly outmatched.

Unfortunately, her end was a tragic one. After Avernia finally fell, Crystal was exiled to a distant land.

From that moment on, her name vanished from history.

If Merlin remembered correctly, in the novel, Abel had mentioned that Crystal was killed on her way to exile.

Her son, who would later become the first Duke of Tharot, had searched for her, but she was never found.

It remained an unsolved mystery even in the future.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Merlin looked at Crystal with a calm yet respectful gaze.

"So, why did Your Majesty want to meet us? Aren't we supposed to be criminals sentenced to death?" Merlin asked bluntly.

Crystal smiled faintly and rested her arms on the desk.

"Nothing special, really," she replied. "I was just curious about the two people the soldiers claimed were spies. And it turns out, you're just children—around nine to eleven years old, right?"

Merlin was surprised by her sharp perception. Most people assumed he was twelve or thirteen, mainly because he was a bit taller than other children his age.

Yet Crystal, sitting before him, saw through him at a glance. It was impressive.

"Your eyes are sharp, Your Majesty. Yes, my fiancée and I are only ten years old," he admitted honestly.

"Fiancée?" Crystal raised an eyebrow, glancing at Luna beside him with a curious expression. "Aren't you siblings? How can she be your fiancée?"

Merlin smiled awkwardly. "That was the identity I made up to avoid suspicion—especially from the soldiers. I didn't expect we'd end up getting caught anyway."

He chuckled softly and shook his head. Honestly, he still couldn't believe they had been captured.

He had thought everything was going smoothly, but this incident reminded him not to grow overconfident.

Sometimes, the worst outcomes came when least expected.

"I see." Crystal nodded thoughtfully.

Leaning back in her chair, she asked again, "So, are you two spies sent by the Kingdom of Aldoria?"

Her eyes glimmered faintly blue, though Merlin didn't notice—until he heard a whisper from his left.

"Those are the Eyes of Veritas—eyes that can see the truth and everything hidden from ordinary people. I didn't expect that woman to possess them."

Merlin was startled by the voice—it was Lyserra's.

"If I lie, would she notice?"

"Of course, you fool. You don't even know something that basic?"

Merlin: "..."

Her sharp words stabbed right into his chest.

Taking a quiet breath, Merlin steadied himself and met Crystal's blue eyes. "No, I'm not a spy, and neither is my fiancée. Do you believe me?"

His purple eyes stayed calm, showing not a hint of fear.

Crystal fell silent for a moment, studying him closely. Then, a faint smile curved her lips as she nodded.

"I believe you."

Luna, sitting beside Merlin, was taken aback. She didn't expect the queen to trust him so easily.

She glanced at Merlin, but the boy remained composed, as if he'd already anticipated that reaction.

'What's with him? Don't tell me he already knew what she'd say…'

The thought sent a chill down her spine. If that were true, just how terrifying was Merlin's real power?

"[Ding! The affection of the heroine Luna Tharot has increased by 3 points! Current affection: 85 points (30)]"

Merlin flinched slightly and glanced at her, noticing the admiration in her eyes.

'What's wrong with her?' he wondered silently.

"Why aren't you surprised, boy? Shouldn't you look at least a little shocked?"

Crystal's puzzled voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Isn't that simple? You're a ruler, Your Majesty—it's easy for you to tell the difference between truth and lies." Merlin leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "Besides, neither of us was a spy to begin with. So, well, why should I be afraid or surprised?"

Crystal couldn't help but be impressed by his confidence.

"You're quite something. This is the first time I've seen someone so self-assured," she said with a hint of admiration.

Even her two sons hadn't shown that kind of composure at his age.

Merlin simply smiled at her words. Being praised by a queen was… rather refreshing.

"By the way, can you tell me why you were labeled as spies?" Crystal asked.

She had already heard the report from her informants, but hearing it directly from Merlin was different.

"They suspected us of being spies just because I used gold coins from the Kingdom of Aldoria," Merlin replied calmly. "I don't blame them, considering how tense things are between the two kingdoms. Still, the arrest warrant made me afraid they'd execute us on the spot without any proper investigation. So, like it or not, we had to run and hide."

Fortunately, he and Luna had been captured only after arriving in the capital. Otherwise, their fate would've been far worse.

"Pfft! You're really clever, kid." Crystal chuckled softly. "But your decision was right. I can guarantee those soldiers would've finished you and your fiancée off. Don't blame them, though—the war is nearing its peak. Every small mistake can have serious consequences."

Merlin merely shrugged, as if it didn't bother him at all.

"Oh, right, I haven't asked your names yet," Crystal said. "Would you tell me?"

Her eyes studied the two children before her, and she quickly realized they were far from ordinary.

In Merlin, she saw an exceptionally bright golden light—though it was being suppressed by a crimson glow that dimmed its brilliance.

Meanwhile, the girl beside him also emitted a golden light, but it was much smaller compared to the boy's.

It was the first time Crystal had ever seen such a phenomenon. Normally, ordinary people emitted white light, while those with special talents radiated blue or red.

"My name is Merlin Clay," Merlin replied respectfully. Then, gesturing toward the girl beside him, he added, "And this is my fiancée, Luna Tharot."

The moment she heard that name, Crystal's expression froze.

"Tharot?" Her gaze fixed on Luna, confusion filling her eyes.

"Yes, Tharot," Merlin confirmed with a faint smile. "She is your descendant, Your Majesty—one born in the future."

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