After that, Ard took Mirea back inside the palace to find the servant who had escorted her and taken charge of the letter. They immediately questioned the head butler and the palace staff, with Mirea providing a description of the person's features. As the head butler went to search for the servant in question, Ard turned to Mirea.

"Mind telling me what exactly was in that letter?" Ard asked.

"Um... I just told him about us, my current status, and where we are now. That was it," Mirea answered.

"Hmm... it is a common thing to send a letter to a friend. But clearly, whoever took it now knows that Eva is with us," Ard replied.

"But if that is the case... wouldn't that make one of us look suspicious? I did not mention our group in the letter. I only talked about myself and us," Mirea pointed out.

"I know, but I cannot bring myself to suspect one of our own. For now, let us just wait. Besides someone in our group, the palace staff could also know because Eva dropped her disguise at the palace, right?" Ard replied.

"Yeah, you are right. It would have been pointless anyway, since Prince Abel guessed who she was the moment we hit the border," Mirea said.

"Wait... what did you just say? My brother could tell it was Eva despite the disguise?" Ard asked.

"Yeah. Why? He is pretty amazing, right?" Mirea asked.

Ard's mind began to race. He replayed his conversation with Abel from before the Ateras envoy had arrived. Abel had mentioned that Julius was killed and that Baalbel was the killer. He went over every word Abel had said to him until, finally, he realized something.

"Mirea, come with me," Ard said, his voice dropping to a serious tone.

"Ok, where to?" Mirea asked.

"To see Abel," Ard answered.

Ard grabbed Mirea's hand and led her to the palace library, where Abel was. "Blam!" Ard threw the door open. He marched inside and saw Abel sitting at a long table, casually reading a book. "Blam!" Ard slammed his hands onto the table in front of Abel, making him jump and look up.

"What is it? Why do you have that look on your face?" Abel asked.

"Can I ask you something, brother?" Ard asked, his voice calm even though his face was a mask of rage.

"Ask away, but why are you acting like this?" Abel asked.

"Then tell me: what was the name of the pet dog we had as kids—the one we kept secret from Mom and Dad?" Ard asked.

"Huh... what are you talking about?" Abel replied.

"The dog, brother. The one we got from the city and hid in the palace without our parents knowing. Only you and I knew about it... what was its name?" Ard pressed.

"Sorry... I don't remember," Abel replied, turning back to his book.

Without a second thought, Ard lunged forward, grabbing Abel's shirt and yanking him so close their faces almost touched. Mirea let out a small cry of fear.

"Um... Ard," Mirea stammered, trying to pull him away.

"Drop the act, Baalbel. Where is my brother?" Ard demanded.

Mirea froze. She slowly turned to look at Abel, who made no effort to free himself from Ard's grip.

"W... what are you talking about, Ard?" Abel stuttered.

"Stop playing games. That dog's name was Cody. Only the two of us knew that. Now drop the disguise and tell me where my brother is," Ard snapped, summoning Exgrandal from his dimensional storage in a flash of light.

Seeing the legendary blade, "Abel" looked Ard in the eye. Then, a smile crept across his face, and he placed a hand over Ard's fist.

"You really are impressive, Your Majesty. Forgive me; I didn't wear this face to deceive you. Can you let go? I'll take you to where your brother is," Baalbel said.

Ard released Baalbel's shirt, and the imposter—still in Abel's form—thudded back into his chair. Baalbel loosened his collar and stood up.

"Follow me," Baalbel said.

"You better not try anything funny," Ard warned, resting the flat of Exgrandal's blade on Baalbel's shoulder.

"Understood. Please, trust me, Your Majesty. I mean no harm," Baalbel said.

"Just show me where he is," Ard snapped.

The imposter led them out of the library and down the long palace corridors. Mirea stayed close to Ard's side, leaning in to whisper.

"How did you know it wasn't him?" she asked.

"You mentioned that my brother Abel guessed who Eva was despite her disguise. That's impossible. Back at the academy, he only recognized me in disguise because he knew my hair was naturally black. He didn't have a clue about Eva. Besides, he said something that didn't add up," Ard explained.

"What was that?"

"He said Julius was killed by Baalbel and they were attacked by angels. I know exactly what an angel attack is like. No one wins—you either run or you die. It's impossible for anyone to have survived that, especially my brother," Ard said.

"So... who actually killed Julius?" Mirea asked.

"He might still be alive. we don't know the truth yet. But the part about the angels attacking to free Edmund? That might be true," Ard replied.

"I see," Mirea murmured.

"And there's one more thing... he mentioned I would build a kingdom and knew about the plans we discussed at Claudia's village. There is no way my brother could have known that, unless he wasn't my brother and had been backing me from the start," Ard added.

"Hmm... that's true. Even Claudia's father didn't know the details of our plan," Mirea noted.

"We'll just wait for his explanation later," Ard replied.

"You're right, Ard. We'll hear everything from him," Mirea said, keeping her eyes on Baalbel.

They arrived at a door Ard recognized as Abel's bedroom. Once they were inside, Baalbel locked the door and shifted back into his true form. Ard immediately pointed Exgrandal at his face, and Baalbel raised his hands in surrender.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to trick you. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you saw through my disguise," Baalbel said.

"Yeah, because only a demon could see through Eva's disguise. You're the one who led us all here, aren't you? And you're the one who told my father and Alexis about Eva," Ard said.

"Exactly. But as I said, I meant no harm. Follow me, I'll show you," Baalbel replied.

Baalbel walked to Abel's wardrobe and swung the doors wide. He pressed a hidden panel on the inner wall. With a heavy "Greeeek," the wardrobe slid aside, revealing a spiral staircase leading deep into the palace basement—the secret headquarters of the Crows.

They descended the stairs into a torch-lit training room and stopped at a heavy door. When they stepped inside, Ard's eyes widened. Two beds sat in the room. Abel and Julius were lying there, covered in bandages and looking deathly still.

"Huh... Lord Azroth... oh... I mean... Prince Ard?" a woman asked.

Ard turned to see a large arachne woman, Xeria, holding a basin and a cloth. She had been washing the unconscious Abel. Mirea gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Ard lowered Exgrandal and put it away.

"Xeria and I will explain everything. But first, please understand—I took his place so Prince Abel wouldn't be missed. I'm just a stand-in until he heals. He's hurt, but it's not fatal. He just hasn't woken up yet," Baalbel explained.

Ard stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed to check on his brother. He tried to cast a healing spell, but as soon as his hands touched Abel, his mana was violently repelled. Ard looked up at Baalbel and Xeria, his face hardening as they both shrunk back in fear.

"What is really going on here?" Ard demanded.

"He's... he's been cursed, Ard. That's why your healing magic is bouncing off," Mirea said, her face pale as she examined Abel.

"What? A curse?" Ard asked.

"It's true, Your Majesty. Your brother was cursed by the Goddess Ophelia when she sent her forces to liberate Edmund," Baalbel answered.

"And the pig?" Ard asked, pointing at Julius.

"The same, Your Majesty," Xeria replied.

Ard turned back to his brother's stiff, silent form and gently stroked his head. Then, he looked at Baalbel and Xeria with eyes full of cold fury.

"Tell me everything," Ard said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Very well. Let's go to the next room so we don't disturb them," Baalbel suggested.

"Xeria and I will stay here. I'm going to try and find a way to break the curse," Mirea said.

"I'll help you," Xeria added.

"Alright. Please, Mirea, Xeria—thank you," Ard replied.

"Don't thank me yet. I'm going to do everything in my power to save my brother-in-law," Mirea said.

"Of course, Your Majesty. It is only right that I help you and your family," Xeria added, bowing respectfully.

Ard and Baalbel walked into the next room to speak privately. Ard clenched his fists and took a deep breath, trying to stay calm as they walked, his mind still stuck on the image of his brother lying broken on that bed.

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