Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: The Magician

Chapter 248 – The Magician

"Praise the Queen."

Cassius couldn’t help but praise his goddess in silent emotion.

He had simply chosen to look into this affair for his friend Klaus’s sake, and had unexpectedly found an easier way to make contact with the Twins.

’Doing good deeds really is the way. I should just accept my Angel title at this point.’ He joked, knowing full well he’d do everything he could to change the name.

However, this unexpected new information completely changed Cassius’s original plan concerning the Twins.

If they had a slave, and that slave was clearly involved in the matter of Klaus’s attack yesterday, then he could leverage the situation more effectively.

Taking all of that into account, he turned his focus back to Nafissatou, who stood dead silent, waiting for him.

"Think it through with me, Nafissatou, will you?" He said with a smile, "You found a shredded piece of clothing from a woman in the second year. A woman you say is a commoner who lives in that dump. In simpler terms, she’s in dire need of EP."

"Yes." Nafissatou nodded.

"Now, when I saw Klaus, his pants were down." He continued, "I doubt you’d have dared to do that, right?"

"I found him that way. I did nothing but take his phone to call you."

"I don’t doubt your word. Don’t worry." Cassius leaned forward, planting his elbows on the table, chin resting on his interlaced fingers, "That could only mean the woman did it. If we factor in her clothes, and the subtle poison that clouded Klaus’s mind alongside the wound at the back of his head, we can draw a conclusion. Don’t you think?"

Nafissatou swallowed, her voice a whisper, "We can."

"Tell me, then."

"...I think Klaus Handoff was framed." She said, finding no other possibility once she’d weighed all the information, "framed for rape."

"The most plausible answer we have for now." Cassius nodded, "And then I wonder, how did a commoner dare something like that? The answer is obvious: she couldn’t have dared on her own, so someone ordered her to. And given her poor living conditions, there aren’t many possibilities for what she was offered to do it."

"EP." The Magician confirmed, "That’s very likely."

"Who hates Klaus enough, and has the nerve, to do something like this?"

Nafissatou had only one name.

"Love de Bayard." She said, and Cassius smiled.

"Again, the most plausible answer we have for now." He murmured, closing his eyes briefly.

Cassius would have liked to confirm it himself by asking Love — gently, even respectfully. But Klaus had told him he’d deal with it himself.

’If it really is her...and yet today I saw the two of them together. That’s strange. And why hasn’t she posted them yet? Isn’t she blackmailing Klaus?’

His friend hadn’t looked blackmailed at all.

’Interesting. What’s going on between those two?’

That question brought his quest back to mind. The system had said outright that they were more interested in the affair between the One Loved by Spirit and the One Chosen by the Path.

The first was obviously Klaus. So should he assume the second was Love?

’Oh...interesting, indeed. But I’ll trust Klaus. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone as petty as him.’

Yet why did it feel like Love could match his pettiness?

Cassius chuckled under his breath, deciding to set the matter of Klaus and Love aside. His business was with the woman used as a pawn.

’Change of plan.’

"Can you do me a favor, Nafissatou?" He asked.

’As if I could refuse you.’ She complained inwardly before nodding, "What favor?"

"Bring this woman to me. Tonight, late. I’ll give you the location later."

"...in what way?"

"You’re stronger than some commoner, aren’t you?" He turned his head, sparing her a smiling glance, "So if she dares refuse, knock her out. It doesn’t matter what state she’s in when I meet her. I just need her conscious enough to talk."

"Understood." She said, grasping what he expected of her. Still, Nafissatou didn’t leave right away.

She stayed there, silent, waiting for a conversation that had robbed her of sleep for some time now.

She wanted to ease her mind and heart, and she wasn’t going anywhere today until she had a clear answer about what he wanted from her.

"I know what you’re worried about." Cassius said, guessing easily, "Rest assured, I’d be a fool to give up my leverage over you. So that little piece of information is safe with me."

"What...what do you want from me?"

Cassius stood from his seat, turned, and walked toward Nafissatou.

"You know what I want from you." He whispered, stopping a couple of inches from her, "All I want is for you to obey me. Do that, and I won’t make your life difficult in any way. I might even help you with your reckless plan to kill your stepmother."

Nafissatou shuddered, her eyes flying wide in shock. Just when she thought Cassius couldn’t possibly know any more about her, he casually voiced her innermost goal.

Something she’d told no one.

’How? How is that possible? Is he like the Kurppe family? Can he see the world’s secrets in his dreams? Some other way?’

It was maddening.

But the answer was simpler, yet completely beyond Nafissatou’s ability to grasp.

Nafissatou was simply the classic enemy princess who fell in love with the chosen one and decided to betray her kingdom for love.

In the Game, she’d confessed her goal to Emrys, who had promised to help her.

"Do we have a deal?" Cassius spoke again, smiling softly, "I’m the Palatine, Nafissatou. And I’m a Desdemona. Being on my side works in your favor."

"...what about my task?"

"The one about getting close to Emrys and...hm, what was it again?" Cassius tilted his head, "Certainly not to kill him, they’re not foolish enough to try that."

"To tell him about the Ichor information he wants. And the only way to get that information is to meet the Dreamer."

"The Dreamer?"

"The First Seat of the Kingdom." Nafissatou said, her voice low. "A member of the Kurppe Origin Family."

"Ichor, huh." He murmured, remembering the deplorable state of Emrys’s mother.

A mother who hated her own son more than anything.

He was sure Theophane didn’t hold Emrys dear in her heart. But she still cared about her own sister, however faint that feeling might be.

Which made his next move all the more effective in striking both of them at once: dealing with Évangile, Emrys’s mother.

’Easier said than done. She’s heavily protected, or rather guarded, by the Stormblessed.’

But Cassius knew he had to make it happen. And before her son could heal her.

"Thanks for the information." Cassius said, "Is this your way of accepting?"

"You’ve left me no other choice."

"Perfect." He replied, and took out one Subordinate Token he’d obtained as a reward.

"Don’t move." He warned, before pressing his own blood onto the token and having Nafissatou do the same.

She did it after some hesitation, and the token dissolved into molten light, entering both Cassius and Nafissatou.

Each of them began to feel the difference, with the Magician vividly sensing her new inability to betray Cassius.

The consequences of that action played out vividly in her mind.

’Queen of Dreams! What have I done?!’

"Then it’s all settled." Cassius smiled, "Continue your task of getting close to Emrys. Be more proactive, but don’t tell him about the Ichor. And one last thing, I’ll need everything you have on Head Teacher Elijah, the one responsible for the House of Missions."

He paused, then added slowly.

"He’s the traitor who helped bring you here, after all."

Nafissatou closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then nodded, "I...will."

"Then off you go. Let’s meet again tonight for the task."

Nodding, the Magician used her illusion spell again and vanished from his sight, though he could still sense her.

Finally, Cassius let out a slow sigh, releasing a plume of steam. He closed his eyes for a moment — just a moment — to run through everything, then opened them again.

And there, as if she’d been standing there from the very beginning, was Helene Mars.

Cassius checked the time and saw he still had about a minute or so left. His talk with Nafissatou had gone straight to the point.

"I have friends waiting, so I can’t give you much time. Still," he smiled, "I’m happy to see you again, Helene."

"I’m more than happy, Lord Seraph." Helene said, bowing her head. She only dared do so because she was using her power to conceal them both. "I’ll come to you whenever you have time to spare me, Lord Seraph."

"I’ll let you know. It shouldn’t be long." He nodded, then cracked his neck, "Have you done what I asked?"

"Yes." She nodded, "I went to see your maid, Océane, and used my power on the healer responsible for guarding her."

"And?"

"Your suspicion was right. Theophane has been seen there."

Cassius smiled.

Last night, after his Aunt Seraphim confirmed Helene as the new teacher, he’d immediately texted her to check on Océane and see whether Theophane had visited her.

It was predictable.

Theophane was weak against him directly.

The only way she could hurt him was by attacking those closest to him. And Océane was the most vulnerable target at the moment.

"Do you want me to do something about it?"

"No. Do nothing." He shook his head, "Let her do what she wants. Instead, I want you to talk to Sarah and tell her I need her to reach Imbued rank as soon as possible."

’I need the Memory Alteration Skill she’ll gain from it. The sooner, the better.’ He added inwardly.

"I will." Helene replied, "Anything else, Lord Seraph?"

Cassius checked the time again and saw it was time to go. He lifted his head and looked at Helene, smiling gently at her.

"It’s good to see you again, Helene. Forgive me in advance, but I’ll need your support a great deal within this academy."

The High Priestess’s eyes went blank with pure, unfettered devotion. Her body leaned forward, bowing deeply before him.

"I am yours to command, Lord Seraph."

Cassius smiled, embarrassed by such a display of devotion, and turned to walk away.

"No need for that, Helene. Your words are more than enough."

He waved goodbye to her.

"Oh, and yes. Congratulations on becoming a Teacher. You’re more than you were before. A small step, but a step nonetheless."

He chuckled.

"I’m happy for you."

—End of Chapter 248—