Chapter 49

“…….”

Aneta barely managed to respond through her parted lips. As her pounding heart felt like it might jump out of her chest, Carlos hugged her tense body and gently patted her delicate back.

“Let’s go sit over there first.”

Once she had calmed down somewhat, Carlos supported Aneta and led her to the gazebo.

As he carefully withdrew the Glorious Sky from her slender wrists while she sat in the chair, his eyes continuously reflected his worry.

Unexpected manifestations of power were something he had also experienced when he first held the Glorious Sky in his hands, but the intensity this time was far beyond that.

It had far surpassed the limits Aneta had shown in the previous practice, so Carlos could not help but ask about it.

“Aneta.”

Aneta, who had been calming her startled heart with a drink of water, turned her head at Carlos’ call.

Carlos took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead, then spoke again.

“Can you tell me about what just happened?”

Aneta nodded without hesitation at the cautious question, as gentle as the touch reaching her. After all, she was only a little startled, so there was no reason not to talk about it.

“I’m not sure either, but the moment the clouds parted, I couldn’t control the Glory. I tried to do as you taught me, but my body and the power didn’t listen to me at all.”

It was as if she had been overwhelmed by an uncontrollable force.

Aneta narrowed her eyes as she recalled that sensation. Yes, overwhelmed. That was the only word that could clearly express the feeling she still vividly remembered.

“It seems that force broke the control of my powers and amplified them.”

***

The next day, Aneta had no time to uncover the cause of her minor outburst as she had to focus on another matter.

Instead of a problem she couldn’t solve, she had to fulfill the Emperor’s command right before her eyes.

As Aneta briefly cast an empty gaze on the table to organize her thoughts, the atmosphere around her was peculiar. The reason was the silent tension between Carlos and Serce, each in their seat.

Without Aneta, the focal point, there was not even formal conversation between them, just the usual wary glances.

The silence that had only been uncomfortable for the two of them was lifted not long after.

Aneta looked up, shifting her gaze between them, ready to speak of what she had been contemplating.

“Do you remember the separate order the Emperor gave me?”

“Yes.”

“He said to confirm if the power is still unaffected by control.”

As Serce and Carlos answered in turn, Aneta nodded.

“In the process, I intend to confirm that Erez Bauter’s abilities are not working, but I plan to convince him otherwise.”

“Convince him otherwise? You mean pretending that his abilities work?”

“That’s right.”

Aneta lifted the teacup, moistening her dry lips with the faint warmth of the tea, and continued speaking.

“Since I can see the barrier of control surrounding me, I just need to pretend my ability is not manifesting according to the situation.”

Carlos, who had previously heard about the barrier from Aneta, quietly agreed, judging that deceiving Erez wouldn’t be impossible.

Unlike him, Serce asked, “Why are you trying to hide it?”

“There’s no need for me to show all the cards I have. If I do, it’ll only provoke Erez Bauter.”

“Indeed, Erez Bauter does seem to harbor an unusually strong hostility towards you.”

Serce, thinking that no one present was unaware of this fact, openly discussed their relationship. He recalled Erez’s rant about abilities during the welcoming ceremony and frowned deeply.

“He acts as if you’ve taken everything from him.”

With an artist’s keen intuition, Serce accurately pinpointed Erez’s feelings toward Aneta and added that even an arch-enemy wouldn’t look at her with such animosity.

“Who knows, there might still be some unresolved debt between your families.”

With a playful tone, Aneta grasped what he was trying to say.

“Our family doesn’t do anything like that. Don’t imagine such outrageous things.”

“How did you know?”

“Well, it’s obvious. You couldn’t possibly think the Adenauers owed the Bauters money, could you?”

That would indeed be ridiculous. As Aneta cut off Serce’s joke sharply, Carlos, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, do you have a plan to lure Erez Bauter?”

They needed to lure him first to either confirm the abilities or instill a false conviction. Carlos asked the deeply thoughtful Aneta, who then leaned back into her chair lazily.

“I do.”

As she finally spoke, the two men hushed their very breaths, waiting quietly for her to continue.

“But to put that plan into action, Carlos, you’ll have to be the bait.”

“Bait?”

Aneta raised her eyebrows, looking questioningly at Carlos.

“Yes. The bait to bring Erez Bauter before us.”

***

The imperial garden is decorated with a different ambiance each season. In spring, it has a vibrant atmosphere with delicate flowers, while in summer, it exudes a refreshing vibe with blue and green hues. In autumn, the garden is adorned with blooms of red tones.

From Gloxinia to Salvia, and the Dahlias blooming closest.

As the last season to fully enjoy the freshness of flowers, the autumn garden was filled with colors resembling the emperor.

However, while the intense beauty of the sunset could be seen wherever one turned their head, it paled in comparison to the individuals before them.

Seeing them blend naturally into the garden scenery, it was hard to distinguish who were the flowers and who were the people.

“When is Erez Bauter going to show up?”

“He’s late.”

“He’ll be here soon. According to the palace entry records, he always comes around this time.”

It was obvious why Erez, who was neither an official nor a warrior, frequently visited the imperial palace.

‘He’s probably anxious, afraid that his ability might be exposed.’

Aneta clicked her tongue and scanned her surroundings.

The reason they had gathered in the open garden once again was to lure Erez Bauter.

Even though they had set aside the piles of documents on the desk to come out here, the one they were waiting for showed no signs of appearing.

If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after. The realization that they might have to repeat this unproductive waiting until Erez Bauter took the bait made Aneta sigh.

The fruit of their laborious wait finally appeared after some time.

“He’s finally here.”

Carlos was the first to spot the distant figure. Though only a faint pink blur fluttering in the wind was visible, Carlos, with his exceptional vision, recognized him.

“He hasn’t noticed us yet, but don’t turn your head.”

Aneta and Serce barely restrained their gazes from turning as Erez had appeared. Meanwhile, Erez had spotted them, and Aneta, covering her lips with a teacup, whispered.

“What are you doing, Carlos? Smile as if you’re enjoying this.”

“…So this is what you meant by ‘bait’?”

“Yes. One smile from you, and he’ll stop dead in his tracks and come over.”

Erez’s refusal to give up on Carlos was not only due to the wealth and prestige associated with his name but also, most importantly, his face.

“So it’s what you call the ‘beauty trap’, is it?”

Serce murmured, casting a pitying glance at Carlos.

It was easy to say since it wasn’t his task.

Though the look was not entirely welcome, Carlos humbly accepted the current situation.

If anyone else had made such a request of him, his icy glare and words would have torn through the person mercilessly. But the one asking was Aneta.

For Aneta, there was nothing Carlos wouldn’t do. Moreover, she had only asked him to smile, not to laugh at Erez Bauter, so he readily lifted the corners of his lips.

His gaze was fixed on Aneta’s eyes.

Without even having to force a fake smile, a natural one appeared on Carlos’ lips. Seeing Aneta simply made him smile.

His golden eyes met her deep blue ones with a charming twinkle. Aneta had to stifle a sigh.

‘I asked him to smile like he’s happy, not seduce someone.’

However, there was something gained from it. Erez, who had stopped in his tracks, now strode towards them upon seeing that sight.

‘It seems the trigger was not the beauty trap, but the jealousy.’

Erez’s face, twisted with displeasure, relaxed only when he drew close, but the hostility lingered just beneath the surface.

Aneta felt the remnants of her bottled emotions prickling her skin, but she did not show it. She simply acknowledged Erez’s presence as if just noticing him.

“Erez Bauter?”

“How have you been?”

Erez smiled as he stepped into their elevated space, like a small stage. Serce briefly furrowed his brow at the unrefined greeting, then asked nonchalantly,

“Do you have some business with us?”

Though it was they who had deliberately positioned themselves in such a noticeable spot, none of them revealed their true intent, waiting instead for Erez’s response.

“I was just passing by and saw you all looking so enjoyable, so I thought I’d sit for a bit before leaving. Is that alright?”

As Erez tilted his head, his curly hair swayed lightly. Was this the attitude of someone seeking permission from those of higher status?

For someone who was the head of a noble family, he fell far short of expectations.

As they all silently harbored the same thought, Erez’s face showed his expectation that they would naturally accept his request.

Just as Aneta feared he wouldn’t back down even if refused, Carlos spoke.

“I’m afraid that won’t do.”

His tone was firm as if reconsideration was out of the question, and it carried genuine emotion.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Erez blinked his large eyes, seemingly hurt. The green-tinted irises revealed and concealed themselves beneath the fluttering eyelashes.

The pitiful gaze swept across Aneta and Serce in turn, as if begging them to pull him in.

“No, it’s fine. We can’t turn away someone who came to join us.”

Aneta pretended not to notice Erez’s silent plea and invited him to sit.

Promptly, Carlos and Serce, following Aneta’s lead, agreed.

“If that’s what you wish.”

“I don’t mind either.”

As Aneta redirected Carlos’ response, Erez grudgingly took the vacant seat next to Carlos, gritting his teeth in jealousy.

With the seat beside Carlos filled, Aneta and Erez naturally faced each other.

A questioning gaze fell upon Aneta as if asking why she had helped him. But she felt no regret.

Now that the lure had succeeded, the only task that remained was to fulfill their purpose.