Chapter 132 - Serin

Ilea had used some sort of magic on Serena. Despite the many eyes watching, she had paid them no heed. It was remarkably reckless.

Watching Ilea from the stairs, Yohan stifled a groan.

'I'll have to warn her about that later.'

Normally, Ilea knew how to conduct herself, but things were a little different now. She was being quite emotional. That was how it looked to Yohan, at least.

He stared after Ilea as she left the mansion, then spoke.

"My apologies, Lady Marcano. That was terribly rude."

Serena looked up at Yohan on the stairs, bewilderment showing on her face. She could not forget the strange sensation she had just experienced.

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Who on earth was that lady...?"

She meant Ilea. Yohan cut her short.

"Lady Staviana. I'll introduce you properly another time."

Serena had no desire to become acquainted with Ilea. The chill still lingered. Composing herself, she said,

"Of course. I look forward to it."

She was only being polite. Yohan nodded and led her to the drawing room.

* * *

Serena and Yohan sat across a table from one another. Yohan spoke first.

"I owe you a great deal for your help the other day. Things suddenly became so busy that I never had the chance to thank you properly. I hope you'll forgive me."

Thanks to Serena, Yohan had uncovered the false Haman's identity. That had led to his entanglement with the king, and ultimately to considerable gains. In effect, he owed everything he had gained to Serena. He was sincerely grateful.

Serena smiled gently.

"We made a bargain, and you paid the Marcano family fairly, Watcher of the Abyss. No further thanks are necessary."

In exchange for the use of the Mind-Piercing Eye, Yohan had promised to secure a place for the Marcano Trading Company in Veldana. That promise had now been fulfilled. The company had opened a branch in Veldana, in the Staviana demesne. Its profits would probably be astronomical. House Marcano could soar higher still.

Yohan said,

"That's a relief to hear."

Serena's expression settled into gentle composure.

"I'm relieved our first transaction went smoothly as well. The Marcano family now has another trustworthy business associate."

Serena had called Yohan a business associate. It was hardly a fitting term for someone she was discussing marriage with.

Yohan spoke evenly.

"I'm sure we can be excellent partners."

Serena gave him an affable smile.

"I agree. You're a capable, thoughtful man, Sir Yohan."

Her manner of speaking had a way of softening people's hearts. Having heard others' innermost thoughts since birth, Serena knew how to charm them. She was probably far more adept at it than an ordinary Demon.

Yohan asked playfully,

"And as a prospective husband?"

Serena's eyes curved gently.

"You certainly pass. In fact, you may be too good for me."

Yohan was pleased. It seemed he would obtain the Mind-Piercing Eye without any trouble.

"Not at all. The honor is mine, to have someone as beautiful as you for my wife."

No sooner had he finished than the smile vanished from Serena's face. Her expression suddenly subdued, she said,

"I have far too many shortcomings. I'm not worthy of a place beside you."

Yohan shook his head.

"Even modesty can be harmful in excess. No one is better suited to be a sovereign duke's consort than you."

Serena would already have heard all of Yohan's plans from Horentz. There was no harm in using the title of sovereign duke's consort.

Serena spoke calmly.

"No. I don't believe I can bear the responsibilities of that position. Therefore, the Marcano family respectfully declines your proposal."

She bowed her head. Yohan was thoroughly taken aback.

'She's actually refusing?'

House Miyatro was currently the most desirable marriage prospect available. House Marcano had no reason to reject his proposal.

Looking puzzled, Yohan asked,

"... May I ask why?"

Serena hesitated briefly before answering.

"As I just said, it's because of my shortcomings."

Anyone could see that was merely an excuse. There had to be another reason. Yohan considered it for a moment. By any reasonable measure, this situation made no sense.

'Have I overlooked something?'

As he racked his brains, a sudden realization struck him.

'Don't tell me...!'

Yohan stared at Serena. After a brief pause, he spoke.

"Could this be because of your older sister?"

The moment he mentioned her older sister, Serena's expression froze. She could not hide her agitation.

"M-my older sister...?"

"Serin von Marcano. Your twin."

Serena's pupils dilated. Her entire body trembled.

"S-Sir Yohan, what on earth are you saying...?"

"There's no need to hide her from me. I already know she exists."

Serena swallowed hard. Almost no one in the world knew about her older sister, Serin. Her father, her mother, and Serena herself. Those three were all. No, there were only two now. Serena's mother had died.

There was no way the information could have leaked. Even the Watcher of the Abyss had no means of learning about Serin. Yet reality said otherwise. He had unmistakably spoken her name.

Serena was utterly bewildered. In truth, what she felt was closer to shock. She pressed her lips shut. She needed time to think.

Yohan waited for her without a word. Time ticked by.

Serena's expression began to settle. Her body stopped trembling. She seemed to have recovered some of her composure.

Slowly, she spoke.

"Sir Yohan, I have one question. Please answer me. I beg you."

"Ask anything you like."

Serena steadied herself with a deep breath.

"How do you know about my older sister, Serin?"

She had decided to acknowledge her sister's existence. With Yohan having mentioned even Serin's name, denial was pointless.

"I'm sorry, but I can't answer that. Please understand."

Serena's brow twitched.

"I must have an answer from you."

Yohan stifled a groan.

"It's impossible. I'm bound by an unwritten law."

"An unwritten law? You don't mean..."

Yohan nodded.

"Yes. An interdiction."

He had learned about Serin through the original novel. He could not say that aloud. He would lose consciousness, just as he had before.

Serena's gaze wavered. Conflict clouded her jewel-like eyes.

"I truly don't know what to do."

She wanted to use the Mind-Piercing Eye immediately, but she did not act on the impulse. Yohan's warning held her back. He had declared that the moment she used the Mind-Piercing Eye on him, he would regard the entire Marcano family as his enemies.

Serena could not ignore that warning. If the Watcher of the Abyss became their enemy, House Marcano would undoubtedly suffer greatly. At worst, they might truly fall to ruin. Backed by the royal family and the Count, the Watcher had that much power.

While Serena wrestled with her dilemma, Yohan spoke.

"Don't stake your family's fate on a trivial matter. I tend to keep my word."

It was a calmly delivered threat. Serena could not use the Mind-Piercing Eye. The frustration was enough to drive her mad.

She raised her voice slightly.

"This is not trivial to me."

"That was a poor choice of words. I apologize."

Serena stared at him, almost glaring, then said,

"... I can't bear to remain here right now. I need some time to collect my thoughts."

Yohan understood her feelings to some extent. Her mind must have been so tangled that she felt her head might burst.

He spoke in a tranquil tone.

"Let's meet again tomorrow, then. I'll see you out."

Serena rose before he could.

"There's no need. I'll contact you again."

With that, she left the drawing room. Left alone, Yohan sank into thought for a while.

* * *

Serena had an older twin sister. Serin von Marcano. She was someone who did not exist in the world. More precisely, she was isolated in a separate space.

Serin lived trapped inside a huge full-length mirror. Her days were spent moving through the world within mirrors and watching reality from afar.

Today, she appeared in the full-length mirror in Serena's room. The sisters looked at one another.

They were twins, but they looked different. Serena was a grown young lady, while Serin was a girl of around ten. Time did not pass within the mirrors. Serin could not age. She would spend her entire life just as she had been when she was first trapped.

Because of her, Serena suffered no ill effects from using the Mind-Piercing Eye. A magical connection made Serin bear the entire cost in her stead. Yet Serin, too, remained unharmed by those effects. Within the mirrors, she could neither age nor be injured.

She was always cheerful. Today was different.

From inside the mirror, Serin shouted at Serena.

"I told you not to see him!"

Serena shouted back.

"Then tell me why! Do you have any idea what I heard today?!"

Serin refused to back down.

"How would I know?! You have to tell me!"

"Sir Yohan knew you existed!"

Silence fell at once. Serin began to hiccup. Fear filled her eyes.

"J-just as I thought. He knows everything. A terrifying man. No, a vicious monster. Serena, you have to run. As far from him as you can, somewhere he'll never find you."

Serin was trembling violently. Serena was beside herself with frustration.

"But why?! Please, just let me know what's going on! Why is everyone keeping things from me?!"

Serin's gaze shook. Memories she had wanted to forget came flooding back.

A few months earlier, a new mirror had appeared in Serin's world. It was different from the others. A pitch-black spectral aura clung to its pane, which was as clear as a lake. Unable to contain her curiosity, Serin had entered that mirror.

That day, she had seen a hideous being. She had met eyes as red as blood. The mirror's owner was none other than a Demon.

And the mirror itself was a Book of Doom. It was the original of the Book of Doom's thirteenth chapter: the Book of Chaos and Deception.

Serin could not forget what she had seen that day. Before her very eyes, the Demon had suddenly turned into a human boy. Afterward, the mirror had vanished as well.

At sunset, the mirror invariably reappeared in Serin's world, but never once since then had she touched that mirror steeped in spectral aura. Until she heard the name Yohan Miyatro again, she had deliberately erased that day from her memory.

Then the name Yohan had come from her younger sister Serena's lips. Serin had been terribly afraid. Serena and Yohan must never meet. She could not stand by and watch her sister marry that monster.

Serin squeezed her eyes shut and shouted,

"He's a Demon! No, he changes between human and Demon—"

She never finished. Serena's pupils widened dramatically.

"S-Serin!"

A pitch-black demonic hand appeared from beyond the mirror and clamped over Serin's mouth. Horrified, she struggled. It was useless.

The hideous, enormous hand snatched up her delicate body and vanished somewhere with her. Serena crumpled to the floor. Then she screamed.