Avner's face turned tomato-red.
"Look at our Avner… weren't you the same guy who strongly denied having any feelings for Nephthys not too long ago?"
"Shut up."
But Amabilis was far too invested to stop now.
***
"All right. Everyone knows their task. Make sure you execute it properly—this may be our only chance to finally catch this guy."
"Yes, Commander!"
The big day had finally arrived.
The ball.
The beginning of Operation: Catch the Serial Killer.
"Everyone, take your positions."
They scattered, each team moving into place.
"Wow… I can't believe this is actually happening."
Miyeon was now alone with Nephthys—Team C.
"The mission has only just started,"
Nephthys said calmly.
"Don't assume success. Operations like this are always unpredictable."
"I know. But for some reason… I feel like you'll succeed."
Nephthys paused her scanning and looked at him.
"You shouldn't trust me too much."
There was something that looked like guilt in her eyes.
"Whether I trust you or not is my choice,"
Miyeon replied, meeting her gaze.
"I'm not as good as you think I am…"
They held eye contact for a brief moment before Miyeon broke the silence.
"Let's keep working."
He stepped forward.
"…Let's keep working,"
Nephthys echoed, following him.
***
"So… how do I look?"
"Avner, you've asked ten times already—STOP IT!"
"HEY, DON'T FUCKING SCREAM INTO MY EARS!"
Avner and Amabilis sat in the carriage with their aunt and uncle. Avner hadn't stopped asking for the past fifteen minutes whether he looked good. Amabilis finally snapped and screamed at him—but their uncle did not appreciate that tone in such a confined space.
So he did the most logical thing.
He screamed back into his nephew's ear.
Smack.
"Ow! Why did you do that?!"
The uncle looked at his wife in shock.
"You dare talk back?"
she asked coldly.
"N-no… dear."
Like a frightened deer, the husband immediately looked down, unwilling to provoke her further.
Once she was done dealing with him, the Madam turned to Avner, her expression softening.
"You look wonderful, my dear."
"Really…?"
Avner still looked unsure.
"Yes, really. After all, you take after your aunt."
She reassured him—while subtly praising herself.
"Alright…"
Avner finally relaxed.
"Phew. I can't believe this guy,"
Amabilis muttered, watching his cousin blush.
"Tell me about it,"
the uncle agreed quietly—very quietly.
The husband and wife exchanged glances. The moment their eyes met, the husband immediately looked away again.
***
"Carrin, do you hear me?"
Miyeon blinked in confusion—no one was nearby.
"Yes, Commander."
Carrin's voice responded, though only Nephthys could hear it.
"Louis Borella. Adam Sol. Antonio Castella."
Names of aristocrats bearing the tattoo.
"Understood."
Carrin marked them on the invitation checklist.
"What was that just now?"
Miyeon asked.
"The only thing I heard was you talking to yourself."
"This is a skill taught only within the palace,"
Nephthys explained calmly.
"You must first master the element of wind. It allows you to redirect the sound of your voice—sending it precisely where you want it to go."
She kept the explanation simple.
"Wow… I've never even heard of that."
"That's because it's a classified technique. Not made public. Only the elite know it."
"Then why tell me?"
"Because I created it,"
Nephthys said matter-of-factly.
"I'm the one who taught it to the elite—and the one who decided it would never become public."
At that moment, Miyeon realized something.
No matter how powerful he believed her to be, she would always surpass his expectations.
The more he learned, the deeper his respect grew.
"I taught this skill only to my team,"
she continued.
"They're the only ones capable of using it."