Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

She wasn't like the mischievous little Duchess Altheria either as none of any playful charm lingered around her.

Instead, she exuded a chilling calm and dark charisma and that was something Ethan was intimately familiar with as he was the same.

There was no doubt in his mind that she was a being with high affinity and talent in the element of darkness.

He didn't need her to release her aura, nor did he have to make physical contact.

His natural talent, his refined perception, and his instincts had already told him everything he needed to know.

And to his side, the dark elf also stiffened with the barest hint of surprise, though she quickly concealed that expression.

But Ethan caught that brief reaction.

It didn't go unnoticed and it only solidified his growing belief that this elf, Aurae, held origins far more complex than she let on.

Then, just as suddenly, the dark-haired woman turned her gaze across the chamber and seemed to be slowly scanning every shadowed corner until her eyes swept over the open window where Ethan and Aurae remained pressed close beneath the cloak.

Her gaze lingered only for an instant but it was just slightly longer than before.

But Ethan's sharp senses caught the brief delay as that subtle flicker of lag was not something an ordinary person would ever have noticed.

It was barely there but to him, it was undeniable.

He frowned ever so slightly and a single thought raced in his head.

Did she sense something?

While he mulled over this, a different thought ran through his mind concurrently and that was about his confidence that the veiled woman's momentary pause had been far too brief for the dark elf beside him to notice.

Yet when he turned to look at Aurae, he was taken aback to see that same alertness reflected in her eyes.

She turned towards him and their gazes met in silence.

And in that instant, an unspoken understanding passed between them.

Without any words, they both knew that she had noticed it too.

Just then, the veiled woman gracefully extended her hand, and the three cloaked figures seemed to visibly regain their composure as they obediently handed her the scroll.

With a slow and deliberate motion, she unfurled it, and as if by chance or perhaps intention, she tilted the parchment ever so slightly.

The result was that both Ethan and Aurae who were hidden just beside the window, managed to glimpse the image clearly.

Neither of them showed any outward reaction as it was obvious that they had anticipated something like this.

Depicted on the scroll was a vivid, lifelike image of Ethan, smiling calmly at the Adventurer Guild's pub in the day.

He wore his characteristic dark attire while beside him stood a veiled blonde-haired woman with vivid blood-red eyes.

Notably absent in the scroll was the figure of the scarred Velcy, which made Ethan deduce that whoever had provided the information must have subconsciously overlooked her.

He gave a subtle nod to himself as he was pleased about this. That detail had worked in his favor.

Ethan had never been one to seek glory or recognition—for himself or for his companions.

Even in his past life, he was accustomed to operating in the shadows and was used to steering clear of the spotlight.

And so, he had neither desire nor any interest in any sort of public acclaim.

The woman's eyes widened slightly upon seeing the image though she quickly masked her surprise.

In all her years, she had encountered many nobles, valiant knights, and handsome princes.

Yet this young man was so young yet truly refined as he didn't carry any of the ostentatious display like the other men of noble background she knew.

His simple yet elegant choice of clothes and the expression caught vividly in his eyes already explained a lot about his personality and worldview to her.

However, the most remarkable part was that this was the same individual who had supposedly confronted and even bested that formidable dark knight.

Still, her sharp instincts kept her grounded.

While she concealed her inner intrigue, she couldn't shake the strange sensation tugging at the edge of her awareness.

There was something… off.

A nagging disquiet in her senses told her there was another presence in the room—one she hadn't accounted for.

Her intuition zeroed in on the window. That was where the feeling intensified.

And the fact that she couldn't detect the intruder's exact position and existence, despite her own strength and skills only made her all the more cautious.

She chose her next actions and words with care as she knew that a wrong move could reveal too much.

Raising her head slightly, she looked toward the three cloaked men and asked with deliberate clarity,

"Have you any idea where this man and the woman are currently hiding in the city?

I know the castle guards and the bounty hunters are scouring the streets for them.

But I want to know—have you three discovered anything different?"

The trio exchanged alarmed glances and were clearly unsettled.

They trembled anew under her scrutiny, and after a few moments of tense silence, the figure in the center stepped forward and replied with a noticeable stammer in his voice.

"N-No, m-my lady, this man was simply too elusive.

Neither he nor the veiled blonde woman accompanying him have been located,"

The woman's dark eyes narrowed and her lips curled in visible displeasure.

Her cold voice followed shortly after.

"First of all, stop that incessant stuttering in my presence. I am not some cruel monster who slices subordinates apart over minor errors or missteps."

Her voice remained composed yet a faint sharpness ran beneath the surface.

"Behave like professionals. Or else, I will deal with you myself or cast you out of my service."

The three people began trembling again and the middle one dropped to his knees with a thud.

He clasped his hands in front of her as though in prayer and broke into tearful pleading.