Chapter 78: The Substance
Right now, Eren couldn’t quite decide whether he was the luckiest man in the realm or the most doomed. On one hand, he was having a date in a private dining suite with his stunning fiancée, casually having lunch with the absolute idol he used to worship behind his computer screen in his past life. On the other hand, said idol was currently staring at him with a lethal glare that suggested she might vaporize him where he sat.
"I suggest you explain," Seraphina commanded with imperial authority. "And ensure every single word you utter is chosen with extreme precision."
Aria let out an amused chuckle, covering her mouth dignifyingly. "Now, now, Seraphina... don’t go scaring my poor fiancé to death before our food even arrives."
But Eren had zero intention of letting himself be intimidated by her icy personality. He had his own agenda to run, and securing this terrifying silver-haired princess’s future was only on his checklist.
Instead of shrinking back, Eren simply leaned forward with unwavering calm. "Before I elaborate on my sources, Your Highness... what exactly did your investigation uncover when you checked Her Majesty’s daily brew?"
Seraphina reached out and delicately picked up a glass of red wine, swirling the dark liquid in slow, hypnotic circles as her eyes narrowed.
"My personal alchemist found nothing," she stated coldly. "It contains no trace of known toxins, curses, or magical residue. However... when I personally sampled the blend, my senses informed me it was not normal. There is a colorless, tasteless compound meticulously dissolved within it. So tell me, Eren... do you have a hand in this covert operation?"
Eren comically raised both hands in a mock gesture, surrendering himself. "Heaven promise! I assure you, Your Highness, I harbor zero desire to harm the Empress and invite the wrath of the Imperial Army onto my house."
"Then what on earth is it, Eren?" Aria chimed in, in genuine concern.
"It is not a standard poison, as Your Highness correctly deduced," Eren revealed, his voice turning serious. "It is something far worse. A slow-acting, insidious chemical agent designed to orchestrate a public execution that no physician in the empire would ever question."
Aria froze mid-sip, her eyes widening. Across the table, Seraphina’s jaw visibly tightened, her grip on her wine glass hardening just enough to make the glass stress under the pressure as Eren continued:
"In black markets, it is known simply as The Substance."
Aria shook her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "The Substance? I have never once encountered a compound by that name."
Even Seraphina, whose intelligence network spanned the entire empire, slowly inclined her head in agreement. "I, too, am unfamiliar with such a designation."
Eren nodded slowly, resting his elbows on the table. "That is because it is currently operating under the radar. But trust me, in due time, it will become the single most infamous plague in human history."
He lightly tapped the side of his temple with an index finger. "When initially ingested, The Substance acts as a miracle cure. It eliminates physical pain, instantly vanishes mental stress, dissolves fatigue, and most dangerously—it temporarily suppresses even curses."
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed, her tone skeptical. "That sounds less like a black-market toxin and more like quality Holy Water."
"Indeed. But what if that Holy Water was brewed directly by the Devil? That is precisely how the trap works. It hooks the target with immediate, miraculous relief. Slowly, silently, the consumer becomes intensely addicted. Soon, side effects set in—they lose their mind, their memories, and their sanity. And in the final stage? The body mutates, transforming the victim into a literal, brainless monster."
With that revelation, the room seemed to freeze instantly. A suffocating silence descended upon the suite, so silent that the steady tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the corner echoed.
Seraphina’s pristine, regal composure shattered in a fraction of a second. Instinctive fear for her mother in her voice. "If its ultimate effect is mutation... why feed Her Majesty microscopic doses over an extended period? What could their ultimate motive possibly be?"
Eren’s expression remained grim. "Because in the near future, once its true nature is exposed, The Substance will be classified as the highest form of treason and strictly banned across the entire kingdom. Even if a small trace is found in a person’s system will trigger an immediate, mandatory public execution. No exceptions for wealth, noble lineage... or royal blo—."
CRACK!
Before the last word could even fully leave Eren’s lips, the temperature inside the private dining suite dropped past zero in a second. Frost burst across the walls, encrusting the crystal chandeliers and freezing the wine inside their glasses.
From the center of the wooden table, a jagged, razor-sharp shard of ice erupted, halting a mere inch away from Eren’s left pupil, threatening to drive straight into his skull at the slightest twitch.
"Seraphina, stop this!" Aria shouted, getting up to stop her friend.
The silver-haired princess didn’t even look at Aria. Her eyes glowed with a terrifying, apocalyptic frost that could freeze an entire army where they stood.
"Answer me, Eren Volsver," Seraphina demanded. "How could a disgraced, third-rate guy possibly possess intimate knowledge of a high-tier imperial conspiracy that has not even transpired yet? And more importantly... what is your true game here?"
Eren simply stared into her eyes. Despite the terrifying frost radiating off her, he could read the desperately hidden tremor beneath her eyes.
He knew every beat of this plot. He knew the tragic trajectory her character was scripted to take. But if he wanted to break the chains binding her future, he couldn’t afford to sweet-talk his way through her.
"Tell me, Your Highness..." Eren began smoothly, his tone as calm and unbothered as if they were today’s gold price. "How does a famously cold Princess end up panicking to the point of threatening the life of Duke Volsver’s only son in broad daylight?"
"Because beneath that flawless facade," Eren continued, leaning back slightly without taking his eyes off her, "the singular emotion driving your entire existence is a desire to protect your mother. Am I wrong?"
Aria snapped her head toward him, her jaw slightly agape at his reckless audacity. Across the table, Seraphina clenched her fist.
"You see, Your Highness... we are not so different. I too have people in this world I am determined to protect at any cost. You can view me however you like. Like a guy who can see the future, or an omniscient being dropped in from another world who happens to know far too much. But I am not here to play political games with you. My objective is survival and protection. And if ensuring the safety of those I care about happens to align with saving your mother and throne... I will gladly render my assistance.
I have zero desire to stand as your enemy, Seraphina. I am asking you to trust me. Because I promise you... I will hand back everything that was stolen from you before you were even born."