Chapter 113: Disguises, Fear, and the Art of Making Things Worse
Chapter 113: Disguises, Fear, and the Art of Making Things Worse
Elyn’s POV
Zorathys gave me a half-lidded look.
It was the kind that said he already knew the answer but was still going to ask anyway, either out of courtesy or because he wanted to watch me react. His expression was calm—too calm—and that alone made me suspicious.
"And would you," he asked evenly, "have an issue with me if I said the snake—"
"I’m not a snake," Azerion told him, his speech perfectly normal again.
Zorathys gave him a look, one that made Azerion hold onto my hands tightly like he was scared.
"I’ll have you know, I hate being interrupted, and you are only alive right now because you are with the queen," Zorathys told him calmly.
"Zorathys," I called out. "Don’t threaten the child."
"It’s less of a threat and more of a fact. I don’t tolerate being interrupted, especially not by a snake disguising as a child," he told me.
Azerion spoke softly. "I’m not a snake."
His voice was barely above a whisper, so quiet that if I hadn’t been standing right next to him, I wouldn’t have heard him at all.
Zorathys yawned all of a sudden.
"Since he wants me to call him a Syrenthis..." Zorathys said, then turned to me. "Would you accept it if I said the Syrenthis cannot come with us?"
I tilted my head, studying him for a moment, then shrugged.
"Hmmm," I said, stalling even though I already knew the answer.
Azerion was a Syrenthis, and in the event that anything happened that was remotely dangerous, I could use his help.
"You can try and see if I’d accept it or not," I told Zorathys.
His lips twitched a bit, as if he was holding back a smile from blooming on that handsome face of his.
The room was quiet, and then Zorathys sighed, long and deep, like a man—sorry, demon—already exhausted by a future argument he hadn’t even finished losing yet. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, stretching his shoulders once before fixing me with a flat look.
"Since the Syrenthis has already tricked you into ensuring his participation in this mission," he said calmly, "there is nothing more I can do except accept it. For the sake of my sanity."
That was... surprisingly mature of him. And he didn’t even sound irritated or annoyed by the suggestion, not even a little bit. I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for when he’d drop the other shoe he was holding, but there was nothing.
He just yawned loudly like he was being disturbed from his sleep... as usual.
Seeing as that was settled, I turned toward Azerion, who had been standing very still, like he feared breathing too loudly might get him banished to another dimension.
For someone who always told Zorathys to go away, it was kind of funny seeing that he was also afraid of Zorathys.
"You’re going with us," I told him. "But you need to understand something first."
His eyes lit up immediately.
"This is an undercover mission," I continued. "That means you stay with me and Zorathys at all times. You go where we go, sit where we sit, and you don’t move about—not even if there is a delicious snack with a sweet aroma calling your name. No taking of any snacks, cakes, tarts, or anything else unless I give them to you. Is that clear?"
Zorathys made a sound. "The Syrenthis has no self-control when it comes to anything sweet."
Azerion shook his head. "I have self-control. I can do what you told me. I understand," he said to me.
I nodded while Zorathys rolled his eyes.
"If that is settled," he said, already turning toward the door, "then we should leave."
I blinked. "Leave? I’m not even done with my disguise."
He paused and looked back at me like I had just said something deeply confusing.
"We can go as we are."
I stared at him. "How is that even a disguise?"
He looked genuinely bored now. "Me going as myself is the best disguise."
"That’s not a disguise," I shot back. "That’s a public announcement. Everyone will be terrified."
"Exactly."
I frowned. "That will make things worse."
"Fear," Zorathys said calmly, "is often the most efficient way to get things done."
I was getting déjà vu from Naviel’s words when he told me the last time they had done something like this, Zorathys had gone as himself. And here I thought he wouldn’t do the same thing with me. I thought wrong.
"Sometimes," I said, countering his words, "it’s the worst way. Fear causes panic. Panic causes mistakes."
He folded his arms. "Mistakes are necessary in everyday life."
"Maybe in everyday life," I snapped, "but not for something like this. We’re going to scout. If you go as yourself, everyone will shut down. The culprits will hide, and we’ll learn nothing."
He raised an eyebrow.
"But if we go disguised as demons who just want to buy something," I continued, pacing now, "they’ll relax. They’ll think they’re safe. That gives them room to slip up and room for us to move about."
Zorathys stared at me for a long moment.
Then he sighed—loudly. The kind of sigh that suggested even entertaining the idea of disguises was an offense to his very existence.
"And what," he asked, "would you suggest we go as?"
I stopped pacing and looked at him flatly. "We’re going to the Beast Territory. So we go as demons from there."
It was obvious.
I paused, then added, "Also, why are you even asking me? It’s your kingdom. You know them best."
His expression darkened slightly. "Being king does not mean I know everyone."
That... was fair.
After a moment, he nodded once. "Very well. I understand."
Then he snapped his fingers.
The sound echoed sharply through the room—and immediately after, a loud, piercing scream tore through the air.
I spun around just in time to see Vaelory collapse like a fallen tree, hitting the floor with a sickening thud.
She fainted... again. That’s something I haven’t seen in a while. And here I thought the fainting spells were over.
Rin moved instantly, crouching beside her and poking her cheek with one finger.
"...It’ll be a miracle if she survives that fall," Rin said thoughtfully.
I stared, still trying to process what had just happened. "Why did Vaelory fall?"
Rin tilted her head and looked up at me with those black, depthless eyes of hers.
"I’m fairly certain," she said calmly, "it’s because of you, my lady."