That night the wind was a little stronger, so the tree branches that Axelle hadn't had time to trim yet knocked noisily on her window. But this distraction didn't make Axelle stop reading the book she was reading.
[...Even so, it's common for a demon controller to have high purification talent as well. Such people are rare, but they do exist. They also often don't realize that they have high purification abilities because they already think they are just demon controllers.
[...As people like this grow mature, their purification abilities continue to develop. People like the average only know that they are a demon controller and have great holy power when they are old…]
Axelle underlined the sentences, then yawned a little. He checked his lighted candles and found that they were half gone.
"Prince Axelle, it's already late," said Julius.
Axelle smiled gently at his knight. "Thank you for reminding me, Sir Julius," he said. "How's it going all day?"
"Lady Marioline, who had a cold, is getting better," said Julius. "I was told that Her Ladyship lives near the convent."
"Tomorrow I will see Lady Marioline again before writing a reply to Duke Colton. He must be worried because his daughter hasn't given any news," said Axelle. He blew out the candles lighting his study table and left the living room of his small house.
Julius followed Axelle behind to light Axelle's steps. "Do I need to prepare a courier delivery tomorrow?"
"Yes, please. To the Duchy of Colton." Axelle was silent for a long time. "And Paiton."
"Sorry for my impudence, Your Highness. But… I think we are still keeping it a secret from Marquess Hadrian."
"We did keep it a secret from Marquess Hadrian, though. I just want to send a letter to Lady Rheannon," said Axelle. "Marquess Hadrian is a good person, he couldn't possibly open the letters for Lady Rheannon and Desmond."
They arrived at Axelle's room. Julius bids him goodnight and leaves.
Outside, the wind still sounded quite strong. It's been like this since yesterday. The atmosphere was so uncomfortable. This strong wind... seemed to be carrying a separate warning.
"I… want to meet The Messenger," Axelle muttered, unsure. He waited silently, but nothing happened. "I want The Messenger to show it form," he repeated, this time with determination.
And a plume of smoke formed in front of him. The smoke condensed and created a man in a dark robe. His face was hidden under the hood of his long robe, making Axelle horrified.
It worked, Axelle thought to himself. He learned from Marioline that someone with great purification abilities could summon demons even though they couldn't command them like a demon controller. Axelle had done it once in the Tower of Shadow back then, but he didn't expect he could do it again.
[You looked surprised when you managed to summon me, human child,] said the demon in a melodious voice. The Messenger is famous for his voice that can seduce anyone. [I believe you're pretty good at uncovering my existence. As a reward, I will answer one of your questions honestly.]
Axelle clenched his fists. The existence of this demon in his house already indicates that Axelle has been secretly watched by someone all this time. A contract binder with something to do with the Palace, perhaps. Or… maybe with the Beulah Sacred Temple?
"How far did you report to your contract binder?" Axelle asked worriedly.
[The messenger demons only do what the contract binder tells them to do. The order from the contract binder was 'report Axelle Rexton's activities'. I report on Axelle Rexton's activities, from waking up to sleeping every day.]
The answer that expands all possibilities. Axelle wasn't sure what kind of report this demon was conveying to his contract binder–how far had he reported it? All he knew was that demons were cunning creatures. It could be that this demon is just reporting that Axelle has spent all day reading and writing without telling the subject.
[You are a wise man, human child,] said the demon. [I'm sure you won't exterminate me or set a barrier around you.]
That's right, Axelle thought. "If I do, you will tell your master. You will definitely report this meeting as well."
Axelle heard the demon chuckle. [That's up to me,] he chuckled.
"I didn't know demon were allowed to disobey their contractual bindings."
[I bet you also don't know that demons can bind contracts to more than one human.]
"What?" Axelle was surprised to hear that.
[From the beginning, humans weren't allowed to believe in demons, right?]
"Then this conversation is a form of your manipulation of me?"
Again the demon chuckled. [Whatever you say, human child. What is clear, my other master did not wish for any misfortune to befall you. And, I am more loyal to them, even though they had died once.]
"What-?"
[Ah, I have to go. Until we meet again, sweet human child.]
Axelle was about to touch the demon, but he already disappeared in midair.
His first conversation with the devil went smoothly. It was so smooth, Axelle felt strange himself.
I better tell Rheannon, Axelle thought.
But what did the demon mean earlier? He was more loyal to his other master, who was likely already dead?
Who is the master that the demon was referring to?
***
"You're back already? How?"
King Rexton V sat in front of his fireplace with a glass of red wine in his hand. The demon he had contracted with walked quietly silently towards him.
[That human child you mean only reads and writes all day. It's really boring. Ah, I heard he's going to visit that woman he's close to,] reported the devil messenger.
"Women..." he muttered. The King sipped his wine. "You mean Marioline?"
[Yeah, the name sounds like it. Because the weather was bad over there, the human child got sick.]
"They're so sweet. But… it won't be good if they get married," said the King. "That's all you got?"
[From the Outcast Prince, that's all. From Beulah Temple, now that's different again.]
The King clenched his fists. He inwardly cursed High Priest Meical.
That damn priest. No one would have thought that a person whose purity and majesty was hailed by society was actually the dirtiest person, even more than the devil. His greed was more sinister than anything else around Rexton. Not even across the continent.
[The temple sent someone to Paiton,] told the devil. [I heard there's going to be an assassination plot.]
"I've already sent Alpha there. We'll see what will happen."