Episode 2 — The Fisherman From Lake Noctis

...----------------...

The snowfall over Roseria grew heavier as midnight approached.

Wind clawed violently against the towering walls of De Rosa Palace while nobles continued whispering beneath glittering chandeliers, desperate for distraction from the growing humiliation surrounding the missing Silverfin.

Yet no music could fully erase the tension poisoning the ballroom.

Because everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the fisherman who had supposedly survived Lake Noctis.

A place no ordinary man escaped alive.

Near the frost-crystal windows, Prince Aurelian Vaelith De Ravaryn lazily swirled the dark wine within his glass while observing the ballroom with unreadable green eyes.

Beautiful nobles.

False smiles.

Hidden fear.

Political masks.

How boring.

Velmoria’s crown prince had attended countless royal gatherings across empires, yet Roseria’s court remained uniquely exhausting.

Too elegant.

Too careful.

Too silent.

And at the center of it all—

stood Rodderic Van Loren De Rosa.

Cold.

Untouchable.

Perfect.

Aurelian’s gaze lingered upon the Roserian crown prince for a moment too long before he calmly looked away again.

The grand ballroom doors suddenly opened.

Every conversation died instantly.

Guards entered first.

Then—

a lone figure stepped inside.

The fisherman.

Gasps spread quietly through the ballroom.

He looked barely alive.

His dark clothes were soaked with freezing water, stained by blood and mud from the cursed lake. Wet strands of black hair clung to his forehead while exhaustion weighed heavily beneath his eyes.

Yet despite his miserable appearance…

he held something carefully within his trembling hands.

Wrapped in dark cloth.

The Silverfin.

Even beneath layers of fabric, its silver glow shimmered faintly through the ballroom.

Several nobles instinctively stepped backward.

As though frightened by it.

The fisherman slowly lowered himself onto one knee before the throne platform.

“Your Highness,” he said hoarsely.

Rodderic descended the marble steps slowly.

Every noble watched silently.

Even Aurelian’s attention sharpened slightly.

“How did you survive Lake Noctis?” Rodderic asked calmly.

The fisherman hesitated.

For the first time, unease flickered across his face.

“The lake…” he whispered quietly, “did not wish to let me leave.”

Several nobles visibly paled.

Rodderic’s silver eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

The fisherman swallowed hard.

“I heard voices beneath the water.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

“They sounded human at first,” he continued shakily. “But when the fog grew thicker… the voices began calling my name.”

A few servants quickly made signs of protection against evil spirits.

Meanwhile, Aurelian merely watched quietly.

Interested.

“The waters moved strangely,” the fisherman continued. “Something followed my boat beneath the ice.”

The ballroom grew colder.

“I caught the Silverfin near the center of the lake… but when I tried returning—”

His voice suddenly stopped.

Fear flashed briefly within his eyes.

“As if something was watching?” Aurelian interrupted softly.

The fisherman immediately looked toward him.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Then his face lost all color.

“You…” he whispered.

Several nobles exchanged confused glances.

Aurelian tilted his head slightly.

“Have we met?”

The fisherman quickly lowered his gaze again.

“No, Your Highness.”

Too quickly.

Rodderic noticed immediately.

And judging by the faint shift in Aurelian’s expression—

so did he.

Interesting.

“Your name,” Rodderic said.

“…Zephyr.”

The crown prince extended his hand toward the wrapped cloth.

Zephyr carefully uncovered the fish.

A collective gasp echoed throughout the ballroom.

The Silverfin was breathtaking.

Its scales shimmered like liquid silver beneath the chandeliers while faint blue light pulsed softly along its body. The creature almost appeared magical rather than real.

For a moment—

even Rodderic seemed impressed.

“The banquet may proceed after all,” a noble murmured in relief.

But before the atmosphere could settle—

a scream suddenly shattered the ballroom.

Everyone turned instantly.

One of the palace servants collapsed onto the marble floor near the musicians.

Dead.

Panic erupted immediately.

“What happened?!”

“She was fine moments ago!”

Blood slowly trickled from the servant girl’s mouth.

Black veins spread unnaturally across her pale skin.

The musicians stopped playing at once.

Nobles stumbled backward in fear.

“Poison,” someone whispered horrified.

Rodderic’s expression darkened instantly.

“Seal the ballroom.”

Guards immediately rushed toward the exits.

Nobody protested.

Nobody dared.

Meanwhile—

Aurelian calmly approached the dead servant and crouched beside her body.

The entire ballroom watched silently.

The Velmorian prince gently lifted the girl’s wrist before studying the black veins spreading beneath her skin.

Then—

his eyes sharpened slightly.

“How fascinating.”

Rodderic descended the steps immediately.

“What is it?”

Aurelian looked upward slowly.

“This is not ordinary poison.”

The ballroom fell silent again.

Aurelian’s green eyes flickered toward the Silverfin still resting within Zephyr’s hands.

Then—

toward Rodderic.

“It’s magic.”

Whispers exploded instantly.

Forbidden magic.

The one thing feared across every empire.

Because magic capable of killing silently without spells belonged to only one thing—

ancient blood rituals.

Rodderic’s voice turned dangerously cold.

“Explain.”

Aurelian stood slowly.

“The poison attacks the blood directly,” he said calmly. “Look carefully.”

The black veins beneath the servant’s skin were moving.

Alive.

Several nobles nearly vomited.

“She was infected before entering this ballroom,” Aurelian continued. “Meaning someone inside the palace brought this here intentionally.”

Fear spread instantly across the court.

An assassin.

Inside De Rosa Palace.

Rodderic’s silver eyes swept across the terrified nobles.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody breathed comfortably.

Then—

suddenly—

Aurelian’s gaze shifted toward Zephyr again.

The fisherman froze.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because for a brief moment—

Aurelian looked almost suspicious of him.

But before anyone could question further—

another voice interrupted.

“Rodderic!”

The tension broke instantly as a young woman hurried through the ballroom doors.

Lady Evelisse Valecrest.

Soft golden curls framed her delicate face while pale blue silk flowed elegantly around her figure. Though beautiful enough to capture attention instantly, there was something gentle and fragile about her appearance tonight.

Readers of the court adored Evelisse.

So did the nobles.

And most importantly—

she was the stepdaughter of the emperor’s future bride.

The moment she reached Rodderic, relief flooded her expression.

“You’re unharmed…”

Without hesitation, Rodderic gently touched her shoulder.

“I’m fine.”

The interaction was brief.

Natural.

Comforting.

Yet several nobles immediately exchanged knowing smiles.