85 - Net
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The garden breeze passed gently through the rose hedges, carrying a faint floral scent that felt almost out of place against the weight of their conversation. It was too peaceful. Too normal—for a world that had just proven itself anything but.
Then, slowly, Sadia extended her hand. “Let’s make it official." She said.
Mariana blinked. “Official...?”
Sadia nodded, her expression turning serious. Not playful. Not teasing. “We gather information. Everything we can—about this world, about the deviations, about that ‘someone’… and we share it with each other.”
Mariana looked at her hand. Then back at her face. There was no hesitation there. No doubt. Just resolve.
“Okay.” Mariana said softly.
She reached out and took it. Their hands clasped—not delicately like noble ladies at a social function, but firmly. Like a pact.
“No secrets." Sadia added.
Mariana hesitated—just for a fraction of a second—before nodding. “… no secrets.”
Even if some truths were terrifying. Even if some answers might break them. They let go. And somehow, the air felt a little lighter.
Sadia exhaled and leaned back slightly, her earlier seriousness easing into something more practical. “Alright. First problem.” She held up a finger. “I snuck out.”
Mariana blinked. “… right.”
“And my father is going to notice.” Sadia added flatly.
“That sounds… bad.”
“It is.” Sadia confirmed. “But I can manage it.”
Mariana tilted her head. “How?”
“I’ll send a letter.” Sadia said. “Saying I’ll attend the Crown Prince’s 22nd birthday celebration in a few months.”
Mariana froze slightly. “That event…”
Sadia nodded. “Yeah. The big one.”
The original turning point. The moment where everything was supposed to begin.
Mariana’s expression darkened just a little. “… things won’t go the same way.”
“They already aren’t.” Sadia replied bluntly. “Might as well use it.”
“… fair.”
Sadia crossed her arms. “Besides, if I show up willingly, it gives me an excuse for disappearing now.”
Mariana hummed. “That’s actually smart.”
“I know.” Sadia smirked faintly.
Then Mariana sighed softly. “I’ll be busy too.”
Sadia glanced at her. “Saintess duties?”
“Yeah.” Mariana nodded. “Once it’s announced, I’ll have to study. Theology. Faith. Rituals.”
“And?” Sadia prompted.
“… pilgrimage.” Mariana added.
Sadia’s eyes lit up slightly. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Mariana echoed.
“That’s perfect.” Sadia said immediately.
Mariana blinked. “Perfect…?”
“You’ll be traveling across Clematis Empire, right?” Sadia leaned forward slightly. “Different regions. Different people. Different temples.”
Mariana paused. “… oh.”
“Exactly.” Sadia pointed at her. “That’s basically a free information-gathering route.”
Mariana’s lips slowly curved. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” Sadia grinned.
Mariana felt something settle inside her. A direction. A purpose beyond just surviving. “I’ll keep in contact,” Mariana said firmly. “Even if I have to teleport to wherever you are.”
Sadia blinked. “… teleport?”
Mariana paused.
Oh, ri-right.
“… I didn’t tell you that, did I?”
Sadia slowly shook her head.
Mariana scratched her cheek lightly. “… I’m the Sixth Archmage.”
Silence. Absolute silence.
Sadia stared at her. Once. Twice. “You’re what?”
“The Sixth Archmage.” Mariana repeated, a bit sheepish now. “Apparently.”
Sadia didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe. And then, flick.
“OW...!” Mariana clutched her forehead, eyes watering. “What was that for?!”
“That’s for not telling me something that IMPORTANT EARLIER...?!” Sadia snapped, pointing accusingly at her.
“I didn’t think it was relevant...!”
“NOT RELEVANT...?!” Sadia nearly choked. “You can teleport and you’re an Archmage and you just casually—?!”
Mariana winced. “… when you put it like that…”
“I AM putting it like that!”
Mariana rubbed her forehead, muttering. “… sorry…”
Sadia huffed, crossing her arms. “… unbelievable.” But after a moment, she sighed. “Still…” Her expression softened slightly. “That means you can protect yourself.”
Mariana nodded. “And you.”
Sadia blinked.
Mariana smiled faintly. “If anything goes wrong.”
Something flickered in Sadia’s eyes, warmth. “Thanks.” She muttered. Then, quickly, “But next time, you tell me EVERYTHING.”
“Ye-Yes, ma’am.”
When they returned to the tea party, it was as if nothing had happened.
Smiles returned. Postures refined. Conversations resumed. No one questioned their absence. No one noticed the shift. Or if they did, they chose not to.
—
By the time the gathering ended, the sun had begun its descent. The golden light of late afternoon stretched across the capital, painting everything in warm hues.
Mariana stepped out of the estate beside Sadia.
“So,” Sadia said, stretching slightly. “What now?”
Mariana thought for a moment. Then, “In manhwas,” she began, “the main characters usually look for an information guild.”
Sadia blinked. “You mean like underground networks?”
“Yeah.” Mariana nodded. “Hidden organizations. Spies. informants. That kind of thing.”
Sadia hummed. “That makes sense…” Then she frowned. “… but those aren’t exactly easy to find.”
“Obviously.” Mariana replied dryly.
“They’re supposed to be elusive.” Sadia added.
“Exactly.”
A pause. Then, “… we split up?” Sadia suggested.
Mariana considered it. Then nodded. “Yeah.” She said. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”
Sadia smiled faintly. “Alright.”
They parted shortly after.
The capital was alive, bustling. Loud. Full of movement and hidden currents. Mariana walked through it all with quiet awareness, observing. Listening. Searching.
But nothing obvious appeared. No secret signs. No hidden entrances. No suspicious figures offering information for a price. Just normalcy, which somehow made it more frustrating.
By the time the sky darkened, exhaustion had begun to settle in.
“Nothing…” Mariana muttered.
Elsewhere, Sadia had similar results. “Figures…” She sighed.
When they reunited briefly before heading back to their respective residences, the conclusion was clear.
“We’ll try again.” Sadia said.
Mariana nodded. “Yeah.”
This wasn’t something they’d solve in a day. Night fell.
—
Inside the imperial palace, specifically, within the study of Crown Prince Zafiel, the atmosphere was quiet. Controlled. Sharp. Zafiel sat behind his desk, documents spread neatly before him.
Renovation requests. Construction plans. Military logistics. And, a separate stack. Requests addressed to a specific blacksmith. His pen moved smoothly across the parchment.
Signature after signature. Approval after approval. Efficient. Precise. His expression remained calm. Unbothered. But his thoughts—
“How amusing…” He murmured softly.
The image of Mariana flickered through his mind. Walking away. Trying to put distance between them. Trying to escape.
His lips curved slightly. “My little cat…” The pen paused briefly. “… running from a net…” Carefully. Meticulously. “… already spread.”
His gaze lowered to the documents again, unreadable. But the faintest hint of amusement lingered in his eyes.
“You can run,” he continued softly. A quiet, almost gentle tone. “But it won’t change the ending.”
The candlelight flickered. Shadows danced along the walls.
And somewhere beneath that calm exterior, something far more dangerous waited patiently, watching Waiting. Certain.
“I’ll let you try.”
Because to him, that was part of the fun.