As soon as the words left my mouth, I could tell from the look in their eyes - they thought I was crazy. But I needed them to believe me.

So what was the one thing I could say that would convince them entirely?

Elena glanced at Victoria. "Princess, did his mana circulation go awry? Are there any other worrying symptoms?"

"What I said was all I found." She looked down. "Maybe I hit him too hard.."

"No. Your punches hurt, but that's not the issue." I cleared my throat. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I only have memories from the last two hours before I was knocked out by Sera."

"Victoria. I've no clue of your past visits to my home. In fact, I barely even know anything about this place myself. I.. I didn't even know who you were until an hour ago."

I clenched my fist. "I don't know about mana, or concepts, or nobility. All I know is that I did something terrible."

Hook.

"Terrible?" Elena asked softly.

"Yes. It's fuzzy, but the memories I do have are of a despicable act. I saw me, or some twisted version of me, act out a malicious plot towards someone that I know. That I care for."

My eyes sharpened. "I was telling the truth, Victoria. I never meant for it to go that far, I would never harm my sis-"

"Shut your mouth." Her shoulders quivered. "Any more of this nonsense and I'll make sure you sleep for another three days."

I grinned internally. Line.

"Young Master, I have to agree." Elena's voice was cold. "If you're not willing to help us, then just let us know."

This was the crucial part now. If I messed up here, I wouldn't be able to reverse it. The goddess' empty smile flickered through my mind. Watch me struggle.

"Please hear me out. I don't know what came over me, but I can't take back what's been done. All I can do.." I bowed my head. "Is apologize."

There was silence now. From everything I knew - all that I had heard and seen from the people I had met - I could infer that Alexander Luncan was not the type to apologize for his wrongs. Instead, he'd double down, mutter under his breath about the inferiority of commoners, and refer to his half-sister as a subhuman.

The muscle-butler had thought that I refused to call Sera by her name. Victoria had thought that I wanted to imprison my blood-sister. Elena had thought that she'd have to kneel to the man who'd threatened to murder her.

So, what if I reversed those expectations?

In order to do so, I needed one more nail in the coffin.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

So, I thought of my original sister. Her eyes glittering as she asked for my opinion on her latest piece of clothing. Annoying sibling fights that we'd get so angry over, and then completely forget the topic of. Watching anime late into the night. Crying at scenes. Smiling together.

I looked up and took in their expressions, and they reflected the turmoil inside of me. Indecision and regret, sadness and anger.

I took a deep breath. Make honest feelings do dishonest work.

"I don't know why I did what I did, but I didn't mean for Sera to be imprisoned. She's my sister." My eyes met theirs. "I love her."

Their faces had only one emotion now. Shock. The words they had never expected to come out of Alexander's mouth, and yet I had just said them.

And sinker.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was alone in the room now, and I laid on the bed like I was making a snow-angel.

Victoria and Elena had grilled me afterwards, like it was some pseudo-interrogation where there was no good cop. However, my ploy had worked - they had let their guard down against me. A wriggle of guilt squirmed inside for the lie I had told, but the timer floating in front of me reminded me that it was necessary.

[22:29:34]

I'll apologize to them later.

Disregarding my feelings, I had struck a gold mine of information in the two of them.

I recalled what Victoria had said

…

"All living beings have mana, and humans are able to utilize this energy through inborn mana circuits. These circuits are dormant at birth, but with proper help from a trained practitioner." Her aura burst out from her hand. "One can awaken them."

"You can't use magic before you open them?"

"No. There's a reason the tale of William Elsher is so popular. The story of the foolish prince who tried to forcefully awaken his circuits by himself, and promptly collapsed."

"What happened to him?"

Victoria flicked her fingers outward. "Pop! His organs melted like butter."

I remembered the burning sensation I felt. "Then my circuits being strained.."

"Yes, I didn't realize when I said it, but you quite literally handled your mana like a child. In a way, it was your second 'awakening'."

She grinned. "Don't worry though. Fortunately, I was there as the trained practitioner to help steer you to safety. I thought it was strange. You were having so much trouble even though I was holding back."

I rubbed my shoulders, and a sharp pain still shot through my spine.

Holding back. Huh.

She must've seen the look on my face, because Victoria smiled further. "Considering the context, you didn't do so bad. On most occasions, people can barely use mana the way you did when they first awaken. Usually they skip the fighting, and go straight for the fainting."

"I heard on your first time, a brilliant light shined out from you." Her smile turned into a scowl. "Little prick that you were, you strutted around bragging like some ponce at that year's Royal Ball."

I ignored her. "You, how was your awakening?"

She jumped off the bed with her hands on her hips. "I don't remember much, but Father tells me each element manifested in the awakening chamber. 'A true Elsher,' he named me."

…

She had said more, but they had to leave soon after. The muscle-butler, Sir Alfred, would get suspicious otherwise - in my father's absence, he was the overseer of the house.

I glanced around at the ruined state of my room. Elena had assured me that Alfred was too busy with Sera's situation to come in here again, so I wouldn't have to explain anything.

I fiddled with the newfound ring on my finger. Three alternating rods of silver and gold ran parallel in a circle, all connecting to a tiny translucent orb at the top. Victoria had told me to contact her through this. I just had to infuse my mana.

So, I had accomplished two of my goals. I had made contact with Victoria, and I had a way to communicate with her despite my limitations of being confined to my room. Now, I just needed one more thing.

I needed to speak to Sera.

"Inventory," I whispered.

A window with numerous slots popped up in front of me. Victoria had interrupted me before, but now I could finally use it.

"Consume IMMEDIATE clue."

Information coursed into my brain, words gravitating towards each other to form clear sentences.

I opened my eyes in surprise.