Estelle felt that the Emperor has doubts on her and is still investigating about her.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to lead a group of talented people related to music! I really! really! wanted to do the things that I love! So, please allow me!"
She shouted at the top of her lungs that made Nicolaus speechless.
"Seeing how... passionate you are, then, I will allow it but I have one condition"
He immediately replied because he saw an opportunity to use the lady in front of her for his goals.
"What is it? I can do anything, Your Majesty! Just say it!"
She excitedly replied without knowing the consequences.
"Be my right eye and my right ear"
He said with no emotions that made Estelle paused for awhile.
"He informed you about me..."
She said and Nicolaus let her read the letter of Emperor Henry. The letter contains all the events that happened to her and why she ended up being powerless and being partly blind and deaf except for the fact that her soul came from another world.
"Is it pity?", she asked.
"Pity?", Nicolaus smirked.
"Never have I ever felt pity to anyone", he replied.
"Then, why are you helping me?", she asked.
"Why? Because you are my mentor's niece and I owe this life to your Uncle", he said.
Estelle started to think that her Uncle and Nicolaus are in a relationship.
"I see...", she replied and have an awkward smile.
"So? Will you take it?", Nicolaus asked.
"I also owe him my escape in that hellish place, so that condition of yours is just a piece of cake for me", she confidently replied.
"Good", he said.
"We will perform the ritual tomorrow evening and once you regain your sight and hearing, I will be able to see and hear everything that involves with you"
He started to directly explain so that Estelle can easily adapt on the upcoming events as he himself is running out of time.
"Okay...", she replied.
"Twice a month, I will give you tasks in socializing with certain nobles and you must meet me first before socializing with them, understand?"
"Alright!", she passionately exclaimed.
"In exchange, I will give you more than enough budget to operate your business"
He said and Estelle brightly smiled.
"Roger!"
She excitedly reacted as she saluted and happily giggled when she saw rhe shocked expression of Nicolaus.
"What a strange girl", Nicolaus thought.
The next evening, Nicolaus personally escorted Estelle to the Altar of Rahu which is just inside the palace. Rahu is the goddess of eclipse that the Eastern Empire is worshipping.
The Altar is a spacious room made of black onyx marble. At the center of it is a twin falls that can be heard once you enter the room. The falls is not loud rather it is pleasing with the ears. It can even calm any person who enter the altar.
"Wow~ This place is even bigger than the Altar of Althea in her Temple"
Estelle commented as she walked side by side with Nicolaus while moving her head left, right, above, and below, like an innocent child.
When they reached the twin falls, there are two coffins made of glass at the center.
"Enter the coffin"
Nicolaus said and Estelle nodded as they both entered the coffins.
When they entered it, the coffins automatically closed. Estelle was quite worried because it is a coffin which signifies death.
"Hey"
Nicolaus spoke and Estelle looked at him in another coffin.
"If you feel uncomfortable, tell me immediately", he said.
"Hm"
She shortly replied as she do not want to waste talking and reserving the air in her lungs just in case she felt symptoms of suffocation.
Nicolaus stared at her nervous face for seconds until she finally relaxed her facial expression.
A few minutes passed and the black hooded people encircled them. They were about twenty people and their faces were hidden. They started their enchantment and Estelle felt like her eyes became heavy until she lost her consciousness.
When she opened her eyes, she is under the water and is now out of oxygen. She immediately swam up, hoping that she could reach the surface of the water. When she saw the light, she swam faster but she felt cramps in her left leg. Fortunately, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her up. She coughed the excess water that she drank and looked at the person who saved her life.
"Are you okay?"
Nicolaus asked while gently tapping her back.
"T-Thank you... for saving me..."
She replied while catching her breath.
"You did well", he said and slightly smiled.
"Yeah..."
She replied but her eyes widened when her right eye can now see and her right ear can now hear.
"My sight... I can see again! I can also clearly hear at my right ear!"
She exclaimed while crying out of happiness.
"Yeah, that's why I said you really did well"
He said and slightly ruffled Estelle's soft silver hair and this made her smile even more.
This is the first time that Nicolaus is taking care of a lady because his mother died after giving birth to him and he does not have any girl sibling. He is also busy fighting for the throne since he was a kid and he is still busy managing the empire for 5 years after he was crowned as the Emperor of the Eastern Empire at the age of 20 after overthrowing and killing his half-brother.
"You look like blood-related to me now"
He commented while staring at her.
"Look at the mirror when you go back to your room"
He added when she gave him a confused look.
Estelle did what Nicolaus told to her and to her surprise, her right eye, which is supposed to be dark emerald is now a shining ruby red. She went out and immediately look for Nicolaus. Again, she was lost in the palace.
"I am really not good at directions"
She said to herself outloud and sighed.
"Seems like your lost, Miss"
A familiar voice said near her ears that made her startled.
She distanced herself as soon as she heard it because it is the malicious guard that she forgot to get back with. His head was bandaged and he looks crazier.
"You smell even nicer today, Miss"
He said while staring at her with malicious intent.
"How dare you look at the face of a noblewoman? You crazy man"
She said while fiercely looking at him but the guard just mockingly laughed at her.
"Then! Let this crazy man have a taste of you!"
He said like a crazy man and attacked her by ripping her dress exposing her naked upper body to the crazy man. She fell into the ground and she immediately covered her body using her arms. She trembles in fear but she can feel an immense power inside her so she used it.
"Disappear"
She said as she focused on her target. The guard was strongly struck by a red thunder and was burnt to death.
"So... this is a portion of the power of Nicolaus... it is only a portion and yet..."
She thought and realized how powerful is Nicolaus is.
"But..."
Estelle got traumatized as she have never experienced such situation. In her thoughts, she replayed many times the terrifying incident without her realizing that she is just staring blankly in the space.
"Estelle!"
Nicolaus called her name and run towards her looking worried at her state. He removed his robe and placed it to her to cover her upper body. She is not responding and just blankly staring at the burnt guard.
"Call the Head Priest this instant"
He calmly ordered one his knights. The knight immediately do what he was ordered to do because his face looks so grim.
"Estelle, can you hear me?"
He asked it gently but he received no response.
"You defended yourself well enough"
Nicolaus said and ruffled her hair. This action of him made Estelle's presence of mind came back.
"--fraid... that is so afraid! He-- He almost..."
She stumbled in her words and after that she cried it out loud.
Nicolaus do not know what to do and just remembered that one of his male knights gently hugged a crying lady to calm her down. He mimic what he saw and gently tap her back.
"It's okay now. I am here. From now on, none of this terrifying situation will befall upon you ever again. This I promise"
He gently said and Estelle somehow calmed down. He may be calm but he cannot control his facial expression. His piercing bloody red eyes signifies how furious he is. He stared at the burnt body and he silently made it into dust that was gusted by the air.