Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 392. Red Flag
Angel didn't even glance at the door. "That better be Cley."
It opened right on cue. Cley stepped in first with his usual half-smirk, followed closely by Darius, who was far less amused and way more formal. Both of them bowed out of habit.
"Your Majesty," they said nearly in unison.
Angel gave a quick nod without standing. "Have a seat."
The chairs across from his desk scraped softly against the stone floor as the two men settled in. The heavy air in the study didn't change much—sunlight still slanted through the tall windows, dust still floated lazily in the beams. But the tension definitely shifted. Slight. Subtle. Enough to set a mood.
Angel didn't waste time.
"You already know why I summoned you here," he said, his tone light, almost bored. Like they were discussing weather patterns and not a potential diplomatic disaster. But Darius wasn't fooled. Not for a second.
"You want to talk about the spy," Darius replied.
Angel didn't blink. "I want to talk about anything you've learned. About him. His behavior. His attitude. How he talks. What he doesn't say."
Darius met Angel's gaze with his usual steady calm, but inside, his gut twisted a little. That tone—too casual, too composed—was a red flag. This wasn't just a debrief. It was a test. Angel might not have said it out loud, but Darius had dealt with enough rulers to recognize when a question wasn't really a question. It was a mirror. Whatever he said now wouldn't just be measured for facts—it'd be measured for loyalty.
And worse, Angel was smart enough to catch hesitation even in silence.
Darius gave a slow nod. "He's disciplined. Calm. Too calm, honestly. Most spies, when caught, they either panic or go stiff. He didn't do either. He just accepted it. No resistance, no denial. Almost like he expected it."
Angel leaned back slightly in his chair. He didn't interrupt. He didn't even move much. Just stared, listening.
Cley, sitting off to the side, didn't say a word either, eyes flicking between the two.
"He confirmed he's from Harmonia," Darius continued, choosing his words with care. "And yes, he said he was sent by someone back home. He didn't resist interrogation. Gave me the basics—why he was here, what he observed, even explained the coded message."
Angel's voice cut in, low and direct. "You believe him?"
Darius hesitated. It was brief, but it happened.
"I believe he believes what he's saying," Darius said finally.
A slight twitch of Angel's brow. "That's not an answer."
Darius exhaled slowly. "I'm not going to claim he's innocent. Spying is still spying, and sneaking into your castle, especially during a high-profile event like the coronation, is bold—even dangerous. But he didn't act like someone here to sabotage anything. No poison. No assassination attempt. No subterfuge. He just watched, asked questions, and recorded what he saw."
Angel tapped his fingers lightly against the desk. He still hadn't looked away. "And the coded message?"
Darius shifted slightly in his seat. "I didn't read it myself. That was left to your men. But from what he told me, it was a detailed report. Castle atmosphere. Military formations. Civil behavior. Mostly observations. He mentioned how the queen was treated—said the rumors about her being imprisoned or suffering were completely false."
Angel hummed under his breath, barely audible.
Darius continued. "He didn't act like someone trying to provoke war. If anything… he came off more like a scout. Trying to understand something before decisions are made back home."
Angel's fingers paused. "And you think that's all it was?"
"I think it's what he was told it was," Darius said honestly. "He believes it. Or he's very, very good at pretending."
Angel's expression didn't shift much, but Cley could feel the sharpness behind his silence.
There was a long pause.
Then Angel spoke again, casually. Too casually.
"You left out something."
Darius looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"
Angel's eyes narrowed. Not hostile. Just… sharper. "He said he was sent by someone back home. You never mentioned a name. Is it really Prince Jake?"
Darius didn't answer immediately. He knew he was being tested now.
There was no avoiding it now.
Darius met his gaze and answered plainly. "Yes."
Cley shifted a little in his seat but said nothing.
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