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Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 379. Coded Message
🕑 Added 2025-03-06 16:57:48 +0000 UTCThird Arc (Fallen Heart) - 379. Coded Message
Angel let out a soft hum, stepping forward and taking the parchment. He unfolded it with deliberate slowness, his eyes scanning the contents. His smirk deepened. A coded message. Of course.
The man stayed silent, his jaw tight.
Angel tilted his head slightly, turning the parchment over in his fingers. “Interesting. I wonder what message was so important that you had to smuggle it in like this.” He let his gaze flick back to the man. “Care to translate?”
The man clenched his jaw, remaining silent.
Angel sighed, shaking his head. “No? Shame.” He handed the parchment to one of his soldiers. “Make sure this gets decoded.”
The soldier nodded and stepped away, disappearing through the door.
Angel turned back to Darius. “Since he says he’s from Harmonia, I suppose I’ll leave this to you.” His tone was casual, but his eyes told a different story. “I’ll send my magic messenger to the king. Does that sound good? You can confirm his identity yourself.”
Darius studied Angel for a long moment before nodding. “That’s reasonable.”
Angel smirked. “I thought so.”
Darius exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Fine. I’ll take responsibility for him. Just tell me if you need more soldiers or guards in case things escalate.”
Angel chuckled. “If things escalate, you’ll know.”
Darius shot him a pointed look but didn’t argue.
The Black Devil soldiers moved to escort the man out, keeping a firm grip on his arms as they led him toward the door. He didn’t resist, but Angel could see the gears turning in his head, the calculations he was making.
Angel let him go without another word, watching as Darius followed them out. The door shut behind them with a quiet click, leaving Angel alone in the dimly lit chamber.
The silence stretched, pressing against him. But his mind wasn’t still.
The conversation lingered in his thoughts, long after the man had been taken away, long after Darius had gone to confirm his identity. Too many unknowns. Too many loose threads. He didn’t like it.
Prince Jake was watching him.
Which meant it was time to start watching back.
Angel exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He needed more information before making his next move. And he knew exactly where to start.
With a flick of his wrist, he called forth a raven in the air—a magic messenger.
“Deliver a message to the king of Harmonia,” Angel murmured. “Inform him that I have detained someone claiming to be under his noble’s orders and request clarification.”
The raven pulsed once before flew out of the room, into the sky, already on its way.
Angel leaned back against the table, his fingers drumming idly against the wood. He had set things into motion. Now, all he had to do was wait. And in the meantime…
He had some watching to do of his own.
Angel let out a quiet breath, rolling his shoulders as he left the chamber. He had done what needed to be done. His magic messenger was already on its way to Harmonia’s king, and Darius had taken responsibility for confirming the spy’s identity. There was nothing more to gain from staying in the shadows and brooding over it.
No, now was the time to return to the party—to act as if nothing had happened.
He stepped back into the grand hall. The warm golden glow of chandeliers washed over him. Laughter and conversation filled the air, nobles chatting, drinking, and dancing as if the night were nothing more than a joyous occasion.
Angel slipped back into his role effortlessly, his posture relaxed, his expression calm. He moved through the crowd with ease, exchanging nods and polite smiles as he passed. No one would suspect that just moments ago, he had been dealing with a potential political threat.
His gaze scanned the room until it landed on Rose.
She stood near one of the grand pillars, speaking with a noblewoman, a faint smile on her lips. She carried herself as she always did—graceful, poised, but with an edge of sharpness in her eyes that most people didn’t notice. But Angel did. She wasn’t just exchanging pleasantries; she was watching, analyzing, keeping track of everything around her.
