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Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 374. Spy I
🕑 Added 2025-02-21 13:55:00 +0000 UTCThird Arc (Fallen Heart) - 374. Spy I
He didn’t need to see the faint shift in posture, the tensed muscles beneath the fine fabric of his attire, to know that this man was aware of his presence.
Still, Angel played the game.
"Enjoying the view?" he asked smoothly, coming to a stop a few steps away. He didn’t lean against the railing, didn’t lower his guard, but he kept his expression light. Curious, but not concerned.
The man finally turned his head slightly, his face partially illuminated by the moonlight. A well-groomed beard, sharp features, dark eyes that flickered with something unreadable. He was older than Angel had initially thought, but not by much. Early forties, perhaps.
“Euphorion has always been a sight to behold,” the man said evenly, his voice deep but calm. “Especially at night.”
Angel tilted his head slightly. "Then it's not your first time here."
The man’s lips twitched in the smallest hint of amusement. "No. Though it has been a long time since my last visit."
Angel let the silence stretch between them for a moment, watching, waiting. "Strange, then, that I don’t recall your name."
The man exhaled through his nose, his fingers tapping idly against the stone railing. "That depends, Your Majesty. Do you remember the names of all your guests?"
Angel smirked, but his eyes stayed cold. "I do when they watch me like they have something to say."
That got a reaction. The man turned fully to face him now, his expression giving away nothing, but the weight of his gaze was heavier. Assessing.
"Perhaps I simply admire powerful rulers," the man said, voice smooth, practiced. "Euphorion has flourished under your reign. There is much to observe."
Angel hummed, letting his fingers drum against the side of his hip. A vague answer. A diplomatic one. But the way he said it—too carefully, too measured—it confirmed what Angel already suspected.
This man wasn’t just here to admire the kingdom.
"You haven’t had a drink all evening," Angel remarked casually, as if the thought had just come to him. "Most men in this crowd drink to loosen their tongues. You? You’ve been watching. Calculating. That’s not the habit of a guest simply here for the celebration."
The man chuckled, the sound low, but there was no warmth in it. "Perhaps I prefer a clear mind when surrounded by kings and their soldiers."
Angel's smirk remained, but his patience thinned.
"If you have something to say," he said, his voice dipping lower, colder, "say it. Otherwise, I suggest you return inside and play the role of a guest before I start wondering if you’re playing a different one."
The man studied him for a long moment before exhaling, as if coming to a decision. "No need for threats, Your Majesty. I simply came to see if the rumors about you were true."
Angel raised a brow. "And?"
The man’s lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "They don’t do you justice."
Angel didn’t react, but his mind sharpened. A test. This was all a test. This man was feeling him out, seeing how far he could push, how much information he could gather. But for who?
The Black Devil soldier that had intercepted the man earlier remained in the shadows, silent but alert, waiting for Angel’s signal.
Angel’s fingers twitched slightly—a wordless command.
Move.
The soldier stepped forward, quiet but deliberate. The man tensed, his hand subtly shifting toward his coat, but Angel caught it.
"Careful," Angel said, his voice deceptively calm. "You wouldn't want to give me the wrong impression."
The man stilled, but Angel saw the brief flicker of calculation in his eyes. He was debating something—whether to speak, whether to run.
But there was nowhere to run.
Angel sighed, as if he were already bored. "You watched me all night, stepped out here alone, and thought no one would follow? Either you're arrogant, or you wanted this conversation." He took a step closer, his voice dropping. "Which is it?"
The man met his gaze evenly, but the facade of casual arrogance had cracked. He knew he had no control here.
Finally, he spoke. "I came to confirm something for my employer."
Angel's smirk faded entirely. "And who would that be?"
The man hesitated.
A mistake.
