Reborn As Noble

Both sheathed their weapons, the tension in the room slowly dissipating.

Vane glanced at Celine, his expression calm but serious.

”Then why didn’t you come here and ask me directly?”

Celine raised an eyebrow, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips.

”You are a strategist, Sir Vane. You should know better than to reveal your plans openly, especially when you’re surrounded by enemies.”

Vane exhaled, snapping his fingers to release the magical lock on the door. He slowly took a seat, reaching for the map on his desk, but paused, glancing up at Celine as she walked toward his table.

”So... you’re really not one of Julius’s women?” he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Celine’s eyes sharpened behind her fan, her voice cold and firm.

”I am not a whore like the other women who spread their legs for him. I would never let a man like that touch me. I have no interest in dirtying myself with someone like him, who is nothing but filth and arrogance.”

Vane narrowed his eyes at her, studying her face for any hint of deception.

”This is the first time I’ve seen a woman other than Fayna who isn’t charmed by that bastard Julius. But... I still don’t believe you.”

Celine met his gaze without flinching, her voice steady. ”You don’t need to believe me. What you need to know is that I am not your enemy. Your plans do not concern me, and in fact, our goals may even align, they might even benefit me.”

Vane leaned back, rubbing his chin as he continued to narrow his eyes at her. ”And how am I to know that you won’t expose my plans? If you know anything about them, it could put everything at risk.”

Celine tilted her head, a faint, knowing smile behind her fan.

”A strategist like you should know better than to reveal so much in front of a potential ally. However, I will say this: you need to be more careful. Your hatred for Julius is written all over your face when you speak of him. If you show that to the wrong person, your plans will crumble before they even begin.”

”Hmph. You don’t need to worry about that.” Vane narrowed his eyes, spreading the leather map across the table before leaning back in his chair. He gestured for her to sit, then steepled his hands together, his gaze fixed on her.

”Every one of those heroes knows how much I hate Julius. In fact, the other team leaders hate me as much as I hate them. They suck up to Julius because they see him as the strongest, and they despise me because I refuse to bow to him.”

”Hmm... if you say so,” Celine smirked, her eyes shifting from Vane to the map before returning to him. ”Now, show me the safe way to reach Armand.”

Vane studied her for a moment before leaning forward, his voice low. ”Why do you insist on going to Armand? What is your purpose there?”

Celine replied casually, her tone unwavering. ”That is not your concern. My mission has nothing to do with the heroes or their invasion, and it will not interfere with your plans. You do not need to know the King’s intentions.”

”Very well.” Vane’s eyes hardened. ”But let me warn you, Princess. Even if you are royalty of Divinity, if you expose me or my plans, I will hunt you down without hesitation. I will kill you and anyone else who threatens my mission.”

Celine met his gaze without flinching, a cold smile playing on her lips.

”If that day ever comes, I will offer you my neck myself. But until then, you have nothing to fear from me.”

Vane glanced at the door, about to activate a silencing skill, but before he could, Celine raised her hand and cast her own, a faint shimmer enveloping the room.

”Now,” she said, gesturing toward the map, ”if you would be so kind as to show me the road, the passages, and everything you know about reaching Armand.”

Vane narrowed his eyes before pointing at the map.

”The road from Amazarak to Armand through the Halfling Nation, then to the Dwarven Nation, and finally to the Beastkin Nation is useless. The Beastkin border will refuse entry, and the Halfling Nation is currently in a civil war. As for the route through the Dwarven Nation to the Human Nation and then to Armand, reports indicate that the northern Armand border is closed. No one can pass through it.”

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at her. ”Can I really trust you?”

Celine rolled her eyes, her annoyance clear. ”I’ve already told you. Just tell me the route and stop asking that tiresome question.”

Vane shook his head before pointing to another path on the map.

”There is one way. From Amazarak to the Elven border. This is the only viable route. However, you will need to find a guide in the Elven Nation. Someone known as ’Beggar Jee.’ He knows the roads and can get you through safely.”

Celine nodded, studying the route. ”Was this the same road Jaigar and Gorak took with their party?”

”Yes,” Vane confirmed. ”That’s the information that idiot Gorak got from the silver armor guy. He almost ruined it with his arrogance and reckless behavior.”

Celine traced her finger along the map, her voice thoughtful. ”So... do you think Jaigar and Gorak, along with their parties, have already reached Armand and started gathering intelligence?”

Vane shook his head, rolling up the map and leaning back in his chair. ”No. I doubt they succeeded. You know how they are, Your Highness.” He let out a dry chuckle. ”The two of them can’t stand each other. I’d bet they failed before they even reached Armand.”

Celine raised an eyebrow behind her fan. ”Was it because they were discovered?”

Vane shook his head. ”No. It’s more likely they ended up fighting each other and failed before they even began.”

Celine let out a soft, mocking laugh. ”My, my~ It seems you’re not particularly worried about them... or the invasion plan.”

”That’s none of your concern,” Vane replied coldly. ”Diving too deep into matters that don’t concern you will only get you into trouble, Your Highness.”

”Oh~ Scary~” Celine mocked, gracefully standing up and covering her lips with her fan.

”I don’t care about your intentions or your plans, Sir Vane. But if you truly want your plan to succeed...” She paused, a mysterious smile curling behind her fan.

”You should consider slowing down the progress in this base. Find a way to extend the timeline, cause a problem that cannot be avoided. That will give you the time you need.”

( End Of Chapter )