Deborah's POV
The last time I spoke with Chad, I couldn't help noticing his silence about his fiancee, as if she had never existed in his life.
Yet, in his eyes, I could see a flash of guilt and pain he couldn't entirely conceal. It came suddenly and was hard to ignore.
I've always maintained the highest level of vigilance with the people of Ablach.
Every word they say, every expression they wear is rarely genuine—it's more like a carefully staged performance. These emotions, these gestures, they could all be illusions crafted for others to see.
Lugh is like this, and Chad is too. Their masks keep them safely hidden, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.
For me, though, the wisest strategy right now is to find a way to survive within these masks.
Earning Lugh's and Chad's favor—that's my most effective and immediate choice. Flattering them is both simple and effective, quickly securing a shield of safety.
In this household, I play the role of a "newcomer to the Sky Cities." Whenever I encounter their advanced technology, I feign surprise, expressing a mix of unease and faint curiosity. This awe, tempered with a hint of trepidation, is exactly what a young, inexperienced person might feel when facing the unknown, and I need them to believe it.
But even that isn't enough.
Appearing too obedient would only raise suspicion.
I know that anyone capable of finding Tirfothuinn—a place even the people of Sky Cities couldn't detect—and successfully leading the people of Murias to safety couldn't possibly be someone who blindly follows orders or cowers in fear.
So, while carefully appeasing them, I allow a few "quirks" to slip through.
This slight air of independence and touch of caution match Deborah's inherited bloodline traits and might even intrigue them.
But there's an undeniable risk here.
Lugh and Chad shouldn't know, at least not yet, that I was the one who lifted the werewolves' seals.
As long as I can keep this secret, I can continue playing the role of "Dara," sowing enough confusion to mislead them.
If they ever discovered the truth, things would get complicated—they'd doubt my real identity, suspecting I might possess the bloodline power of a priestess. By that time, the façade I've carefully maintained would be at the brink of collapse.
The cracks are many, and they are not fools.
Lugh and Chad have meticulous minds, patience as deep as the sea; if anything were to seem amiss, they would catch the slightest hint.
All I can do is delay the inevitable revelation for as long as possible.
If I can buy enough time for the safe migration of Tirfothuinn, uncover the truth behind the Lee family's massacre, then even if my disguise shatters, at least I will have accomplished something worthwhile.
And yet, I can't help but think of Matthew.
He is the White Wolf Alpha, shouldering a responsibility heavier than anyone else's.
Even with the werewolves' unmatched healing abilities, I can't shake the worry—has his injury fully healed? When he was struck, it was as if a part of me tore with him. Now, while I'm forced to remain here in the cold Sky Cities, he's left alone defending Tirfothuinn.
That longing grows stronger each time my eyes meet Chad's.
Chad's resemblance to Matthew is undeniable, and every time he looks at me, it feels like I'm seeing Matthew. Sometimes, it even feels like they should be one and the same.
And yet, behind that familiar face lies the enemy who destroyed my entire family, the ruthless killer.
It's a strange, almost absurd conflict within me. How can I let myself be swayed by a face that resembles my true ally?
And Chad, though he is my enemy, seems somehow less than willing in his actions. The longer I'm around him, the more I suspect he is under some unseen influence—likely Lugh's Domination—the force that bends his will, compelling him to commit these terrible deeds.
Still, knowing this doesn't bring me peace.
Faced with that familiar yet foreign face, my heart is torn between pain and struggle—hatred or forgiveness?
As I sat in the garden on the first floor, my gaze drifted across the neatly trimmed foliage, though my mind was lost in plans and careful calculations.
Lugh appeared suddenly beside me, sitting down with a quiet elegance.
His movements were graceful, naturally fluid.
I wore a pensive expression, carefully cultivating the image of a young person deep in thought—not too deliberate but not contrived, either.
To any onlookers, I would appear lost in thought, adjusting to my new surroundings, but in reality, my mind was constantly turning, analyzing each person, each detail around me.
After settling, Lugh placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling faintly. "Thinking of that werewolf boyfriend of yours?"
The question caught me off guard, and a chill raced through me.
He knew about Matthew's existence? If he knew so much, would this mean danger for Matthew? I quickly organized my thoughts, weighing the most appropriate reaction, making sure to mask any trace of alarm.
I stammered, "I… we…" feigning a flustered response, yet all the while, I gauged his reaction carefully, ensuring I left no hint of betrayal. I needed to make it seem as though there was no future for Matthew and me, keeping him safe.
"We've already broken up." My tone was calm, tinged with a hint of regret.
Lugh's smile softened, his tone casual as he replied, "They were never good enough for you. And that place isn't for you, either."
Hearing those words, my heart tightened, sensing an underlying meaning. I took a deep breath, deciding to probe his thoughts further, speaking carefully, "Father, could you leave Tirfothuinn alone? Could you spare the werewolves?… After all, I grew up in Murias…"
He listened, his smile deepening, his gaze stretching far, his tone deliberate as he asked, "Do you know when those werewolves were freed from their seals?"
Freed from their seals?
A chill ran through me. That's right—the people of Sky Cities were aware that the werewolves had been bound by a curse from the Blackwood family, a seal only a priestess could lift.
Outwardly, I feigned ignorance, wearing a confused expression. "Freed? But don't they only turn into werewolves during the full moon?"
Lugh raised an eyebrow, studying me with a curious gleam in his eye, a faint, almost invisible smirk playing at his lips. "Is that so? So, the condition to lift their seal is the full moon?"
There was something probing in his words, as though he had set an invisible trap.
Could he already suspect that I had lifted the werewolf seals?
Gently, I shifted the topic, asking, "What about Chad? Has he left?"
Though the question seemed casual, it was carefully calculated.
I needed to gauge Lugh's attitude toward Chad, at least to understand his outward stance toward this man. After all, I needed to know every detail about the Edwards family, even Ablach itself, especially those with unique positions at his side.
Lugh's brow lifted slightly, clearing his throat as he appeared to consider my question's purpose. "Do you have business with him?" he asked, his gaze probing as if searching for clues in my expression.
I knew that no matter how I truly felt about Chad, I had to project a subtle air of familiarity. By drawing Lugh's attention to Chad, I could momentarily obscure my real connection with Matthew, perhaps even create a delicate tension between them. I feigned hesitation, saying, "He… he seems dependable."
Lugh's gaze sharpened momentarily, followed by a look of quiet contemplation as he asked, "I've heard you've spoken with him a few times before. What did you talk about?"
Feigning indifference, I tried to sidestep his question. "I heard he has a fiancee?"
As soon as I finished speaking, I caught a flicker of something in Lugh's eyes—so faint, it was almost imperceptible. "Are you interested in his romantic life?" he asked, his tone mild, carrying a hint of probing curiosity.
My heart skipped, realizing that my reaction might have been a little too obvious. I quickly adjusted my expression, feigning a casual curiosity as I asked, "It's just… he never mentioned his fiancee. When were they planning to marry?"
Lugh's expression was indifferent, but there was a hint of disdain in his tone, as though he found my question trivial. "It doesn't matter whether he has a fiancee or not. You two are unsuitable," he replied, his voice as calm as though stating a fact.
I raised my eyebrows slightly, feigning surprise, and pressed him further. "What do you mean? Are you saying he doesn't have a fiancee? Was he lying to me?"
Lugh frowned, a shadow crossing his face before he replied flatly, "His fiancee is dead."
The words hit me like a shock, an eerie disorientation settling over me. Lugh spoke of "my death" without a hint of emotion, while I was forced to act as though I were an ignorant outsider. I pushed down the turmoil within me, responding with feigned indifference, "Dead? How did she die?"
Lugh seemed disinclined to elaborate, waving his hand dismissively, a cold smile tugging at his lips as he said, "Don't ask so many questions. You are now my precious daughter, the heir of the Edwards family. Those lowly 'pawns' will never be my son-in-law."