Chapter 184: One of the Drow Sisters Is Lying?

Max continued walking through the castle hallways with his hands in his pockets and a faint frown on his face.

The huge smile he had been wearing until a few minutes ago was still there... but much weaker now.

His encounter with Thara had left an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

Too uncomfortable.

Because something didn’t add up.

Vesper had been in Thara’s room.

She had said she was going to confront her.

And according to Thara... she had never seen her.

"That makes no sense..." he muttered to himself.

He kept walking down the corridor while mentally replaying the entire conversation.

Thara’s reaction when he mentioned Vesper had seemed genuine.

Surprised.

Confused.

Even worried.

And that was strange.

Very strange.

Because until now, every time Max saw the drow, she always seemed completely in control.

Always cold. Always calm. Always wearing that arrogant expression like she was ten steps ahead of everyone else.

But not this time.

This time, she had genuinely looked caught off guard.

Max sighed.

"Great."

He ran a hand through his hair.

"So now the possible interdimensional summoner also has family issues."

He walked a few more meters until he finally reached one of the castle’s smaller lounges.

The door was half-open.

And from inside came a voice dramatically overacting.

"—But my heart will never survive being apart from you, Lady Mirabelle!"

Max slowly closed his eyes.

"Yeah."

He pushed the door open.

"I definitely found Dorian."

The elf was comfortably seated on a sofa near a window, holding an open novel while a glass of wine rested on the nearby table.

When he saw Max enter, he looked up.

"Oh."

He smiled.

"You arrived at the best part."

Max dropped onto the armchair across from him.

"Another romance novel?"

Dorian placed a hand over his chest, offended.

"It is not ’another romance novel.’"

He raised the book.

"It’s an emotional tragedy with elements of forbidden romance."

Max stared at him for a few seconds.

"...That is literally a romance novel."

"Your cultural standards are poor."

Max let out a small snort.

He needed this a little after talking to Thara.

Dorian finally closed the book.

"Well."

He rested an elbow on the armrest.

"What happened?"

Max sighed.

"I ran into Thara."

Dorian’s relaxed expression faded slightly.

"And?"

"And now I understand even less."

He quickly told him about the encounter in the hallway.

How they collided.

How they argued.

How he mentioned Vesper.

And especially the drow’s reaction.

Dorian listened silently the entire time.

When Max finished, the elf remained thoughtful for a few seconds.

"...That is strange."

"Right?"

Dorian slowly nodded.

"If Vesper was really waiting in her room..."

"Then they should’ve seen each other," Max finished.

The elf crossed his arms.

"Unless something happened."

Max felt a small chill run down his spine.

He didn’t like the sound of that.

Dorian noticed.

"...Although there’s also the possibility that Thara is simply lying."

"Yeah."

Max sighed.

"That’s the problem."

He looked up at the ceiling.

"I don’t know what to believe."

Dorian tapped his fingers against the closed book.

"And Seraphine?"

"I still haven’t talked to her."

"Then we should."

Max nodded.

"Yeah."

But he didn’t stand up immediately.

He remained seated there for a few more seconds.

Thinking.

Finally, he spoke again.

"You know what the worst part is?"

Dorian raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Max slowly exhaled.

"Part of me wants to believe her."

The elf looked at him silently.

"Because when she reacted after hearing about Vesper..."

Max lowered his voice slightly.

"It didn’t seem fake."

Dorian remained thoughtful.

"...You’re pretty good at reading people."

"Was that a compliment?"

"More or less."

Max let out a tired little laugh.

Then he became serious again.

"But that doesn’t change the fact that she’s probably connected to the rituals."

Dorian nodded.

"The forbidden seal."

"The summoned creatures."

"The experimental rituals."

"And the way she talks."

Max crossed his arms.

"Everything points to her."

Dorian sighed.

"Yeah."

Then he smiled faintly.

"Although honestly..."

He looked at Max with amusement.

"I think what bothers you the most is that she insulted your relationship with the princess."

Max opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then opened it again.

"...That too."

Dorian burst out laughing.

"I knew it."

Max slumped back against the sofa.

"It’s impossible not to argue with her."

"That’s called tension."

"That’s called wanting to strangle her."

"Very similar things."

Max threw one of the sofa cushions at him.

Dorian laughed while catching it.

"But seriously..." the elf said.

His tone became calmer.

"Be careful."

Max looked at him.

Dorian set the book down on the table.

"If she really is performing forbidden rituals..."

The smile slowly disappeared from his face.

"Then we have no idea how dangerous she might be."

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

Max knew he was right.

Because this had stopped being just an unpleasant teacher a long time ago.

There were summoned creatures. Forbidden rituals. Experimental magic. And possibly someone trying to alter something related to time and other worlds.

Too many things.

Max rested both elbows on his knees.

"I’m going to talk to Seraphine again."

Dorian nodded.

"And maybe we should check the room one more time."

Max slowly shook his head.

"Not yet."

He looked up.

"If Thara really hasn’t seen her sister yet..."

He felt a bad feeling settling in his chest.

"Then first I want to find Vesper."

Dorian frowned slightly.

"...You’re right."

The elf stood up from the sofa.

"Then let’s go."

Max stood up as well.

But before leaving the library, he stopped again.

Because something had just crossed his mind.

Something he hadn’t considered until now.

Vesper had said she was going to confront her sister.

And if Thara truly hadn’t returned to her room yet...

Then that only left two possibilities.

Either Vesper had never been there waiting.

Or someone else had entered that room after they left.

Max felt a chill run down his spine.

"...Dorian."

"Hm?"

"I think we have a problem."

The elf looked at him seriously.

"More problems?"

Max slowly swallowed.

"What if Vesper disappeared?"