Jess leaned forward, her eyes filled with curiosity. "My lady... what did the Duke say?" Emilia glanced at her, a faint smile curving her lips. "Nothing much. He just asked the usual things like how am I doing, am I feeling well, am I uncomfortable here." Jess snorted, folding her arms. "Damn... that bastard is still rigid as ever." "Jess." Emilia’s gaze sharpened, a quiet warning in her tone. Jess lowered her head slightly and went silent. Lyria, who had been quietly watching from the side, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm but direct. "Your relationship with him... it didn’t seem that bad." "Huh?" Both Emilia and Jess turned to stare at her, surprise flashing across their faces. Lyria rarely spoke unless it was with Kael. Most of the time she simply listened and observed. This was the first time she had taken the initiative to comment on something personal. "What do you mean by that?" Emilia asked, her tone softer but her brows furrowed. Lyria’s gaze didn’t waver. "I’m still new here. But from what I’ve seen, the Grand Duke is a cold and prideful man who values honor above all. Yet despite that, he lowered his head before you. He’s trying to meet you halfway. If it had been anyone else in your place, they might have been punished harshly for crossing him." Her words left both Jess and Emilia thoughtful. They exchanged a glance, neither speaking for a moment. Emilia then started to think about Ruth and her early days.Sure enough Lyria words had made sense. In the Veydrin Mansion, Capital. Two men who shared a faint resemblance sat across from each other in silence. Kael leaned back in his chair, arms loosely crossed, as he explained everything that had happened in Cantilever. His voice was casual, but his eyes watched Ruth closely for any reaction. Ruth sat straight, his posture disciplined, his expression calm. But Kael could see it—the slight tightening of his jaw, the faint shadow in his gaze. He was furious beneath that cold surface. ’If I hadn’t killed James,’ Kael thought, ’this guy would have made his life a living hell.’ When Kael finished talking, Ruth remained quiet for a while. Then, in a low and even voice, he asked, "Why is it that every time you step outside, trouble follows you?" Kael’s head snapped up. "Excuse me?" His brows shot up in disbelief. "Am I wrong?" Ruth’s tone didn’t change. "Tell me a single time you went out and didn’t cause a mess." A vein pulsed on Kael’s forehead. He let out a sharp breath, leaning forward. "What can I say? I’m an expert at digging out the filth people try to hide. I’m competent, unlike you." Ruth’s gaze turned colder, his eyes like shards of ice. Kael felt the weight of it but only smirked, bending down slightly as if to dodge the pressure. "Let’s focus on something important," Kael said, waving a hand. "James told me you went around beating people for Mother." Ruth raised a brow. "So?" "So, what if people are planning to take revenge on you? James might not be the only one. I wouldn’t be surprised if several of them have already reached out to the evil groups for power." "And?" Ruth’s voice was flat. "And... Can you fight all of them at once?" Kael’s eyes narrowed, his tone sharper now. Ruth paused, silent for a few seconds. "They won’t act as boldly as you think. If anything, they’ll come after you first." Kael blinked. "...Seriously?" Ruth said nothing, but the lack of denial was enough. "I’ve already made myself a thorn in the side of three secret groups," Kael muttered, leaning back and running a hand through his hair. "Veydrin is not that weak," Ruth replied, his voice holding a quiet certainty. Kael’s lips twitched. "Yeah... I’ve seen your Black Guards. But they don’t exactly strike me as obedient." "They were trained to follow the Grand Duke alone. The Duchess is second in command. You can’t give them orders unless you become Grand Duke." Ruth’s stare was direct, leaving no room for argument. "I see... so that’s how it is." Kael tapped his chin, thinking. Ruth’s eyes studied him for a moment. "You’ve already reached S-rank." There was a faint note of surprise in his voice. Kael’s lips curled into a grin. Even with Devour, it should have taken him six months to a year. But with the power of divinity... Gods, he couldn’t believe his own luck. He could skip ranks entirely. With divinity, he could kill an SS-rank and even injure an SSS-rank. But the drawback was dangerous—once the divinity was used, it couldn’t be replenished. Not unless he reached true godhood, which required faith and worship from others. He chuckled to himself. "Once I’m done here, I’ve got a whole list of people to visit. My fiancée. Some mad dog. And of course... my sister." A wild, almost unhinged smile crept onto his face. The smile faded a little as a thought hit him. "Speaking of which... where is my sister?" Ruth didn’t answer immediately. His gaze stayed cold, but there was a faint flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Kael noticed, his smirk shifting into something sharper. The air between them felt tense again. Kael tapped his fingers on the armrest, his grin returning, though his eyes were far from relaxed. "You’re not hiding her from me.Afraid that I will create chaos...is that it, old man?" Ruth’s expression didn’t change. "She’s coming. That’s all you need to know." "I don’t keep tabs on her." Kael leaned forward, eyes narrowing, his tone playful but edged with steel. "You should know by now, old man... I don’t like half-answers." "Also,I don’t believe that you aren’t keeping tabs on us." Ruth didn’t move. His presence alone was enough to press down on the room like a weight. "And you should know by now, Kael... I don’t care what you like." For a long moment, the two simply stared at each other. Kael’s grin widened, a glint of mania in his gaze. Ruth’s eyes remained cold and unyielding, as if daring him to push further. Finally, Kael leaned back, his laughter echoing softly in the room. "Fine. I’ll find out for myself." Ruth didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His silence said enough. The place was far from the capital, quiet except for the sound of wind moving through the trees. Mariana walked ahead with steady steps, leading Adele along a narrow, overgrown path. They soon reached the mouth of an ancient labyrinth, its walls built from crude stone that looked worn and chipped by time. The air here felt heavier, carrying the scent of dust and damp earth. Adele slowed her pace and glanced around the strange, rugged structure. "Nany, are you sure this is the right place?" she asked, her voice carrying both doubt and curiosity. "Yes, my lady. Believe me," Mariana replied without hesitation. She continued walking into the shadowed tunnel, her lantern light bouncing across the walls. The narrow passage soon opened into a wider, empty chamber deep within the labyrinth. In the center of the space stood a robed figure, their face hidden beneath the hood. Mariana approached and stopped a few steps away. "Did you bring the potion?" she asked calmly. The figure gave a small nod. "Yes, I have it." They reached into their robe and handed over a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. Mariana took the vial carefully and turned toward Adele. "With this, you will reach the S rank," she said with a gentle smile. Adele’s eyes lit up at the words. She held the vial tightly in her hand and asked, "It won’t have any negative effect, right?" "It is a breakthrough potion. Nothing else," Mariana answered, her voice full of confidence. Adele already had the ability to break through, but her heart had been weighed down by too many thoughts. The image of the throne of Veydrin had taken root deep within her, and even Mariana could not understand why her fixation was so strong. Perhaps it was connected to her mother, though Adele had never said it aloud. Without another word, Adele pulled out the cork and drank the potion in one gulp. The moment the liquid slid down her throat, a sharp heat spread through her chest and surged into her limbs. Her breathing quickened as her entire body trembled. The power within her began to churn violently, breaking through invisible limits. Light flared around her, and a forceful wind rose from where she stood. The shockwaves tore across the chamber, scattering loose stones and sending dust swirling in every direction. The wind element’s power wrapped around her like a raging storm, its strength bending the air itself. Adele stood with her fists clenched, feeling the miraculous energy flooding her veins. Her gaze grew sharp as she whispered through clenched teeth, "Women without power are useless. Just like my mother... who, despite her high status, was reduced to nothing."