Kyran took all of them inside his Void World. He did this not because the two court members might have planted spells inside the room to eavesdrop but because others were waiting inside.
Still, he did not directly take them inside the tower in the Void World. He had to gauge how much he could trust Iulia first. Because of this, he took them to the path leading to the tower.
Iulia was alarmed but refrained from doing anything that might turn the situation in an unpleasant direction. Besides, she sensed no hostility from the people around her. She also did not find any residue of a transmission array or spell. The sudden change in the scenery did not mean they had taken her away from the palace, but it could be a shrouding spell or something similar that concealed their presence and likely conversation from the outside.
"Y-Young master," Abe started when he realized what Kyran had done. It was his first time witnessing the latter use his magic, and he was even subjected to it. Although Kyran only 'warped' them to a different location, if those court members waiting for Iulia outside the room noticed her disappearance, it could cause a huge misunderstanding that could lead to another war.
Abe was not the only one who thought this. Pheobe and Zeniff were also looking at Kyran worriedly.
"Don't worry," Kyran started before any of them could completely voice their doubts. "It may seem we have left, but technically, we are still inside the room."
"Is this a spell? No... I did not detect any residue of runes being made. An pre-made array?" Iulia asked, sounding unconcerned and even calm compared to Abe, Pheobe, and Zeniff. "A relic, perhaps?"
Kyran chuckled at Iulia's attempt at guessing what he did. She might not show it, but since they were inside his domain, he could sense the change in their emotions. Thus, he knew Iulia felt apprehensive because she did not sense any magic fluctuation in the surroundings when they changed location.
Just as she said, activating spells would leave behind residues of the runes they had used. As for a pre-made array, it would also cause fluctuations when the stored magic energy in it was released. Since she felt none of both, she assumed it was a relic. That was the only possibility she could think of that would not cause any fluctuations to appear. At least, a magic fluctuation that she could not sense given the level of her magic attainment.
Instead of answering Iulia's query, Kyran replied with one of his own.
"Empress Iulia, how much of the truth of the recent events have you truly uncovered?"
When Kyran asked his question, he started making his way to the tower.
Iulia was taken aback at his question. Not to mention when he started to walk. As far as she was concerned, if they were still inside the palace's room, then the scenery was only a projection. Even if there were vast meadows on each side of the road, they would end up bumping into the room's wall once they decided to go there.
Nevertheless, not only was Kyran not worried about bumping into a wall, even the three with him followed.
Sensing Iulia's doubts, Kyran stopped and looked at her, "I did say we are technically still in the room. But that key word there is 'technically.'"
Iulia's eyes narrowed at once. She had thought he was pointing at the technical aspect of the view and not the 'location' itself. Now, she understood why the Regis Clan had their young master be the envoy at today's meeting.
It seemed she would not have a concrete answer to the information gathered by her people.
"You asked me how much I truly know," Iulia began and followed them. "Would my unsurprised reaction to what you said just now be enough of an answer?"
Kyran smiled, "Was it the bounty that gave it away?"
The expressions of Abe, Pheobe, and Zeniff turned solemn at once from Kyran's words. They did not expect the latter to open the main topic right when they barely came to this place. Was he not worried the empress would do something that would alert the two ministers with her?
They were reminded of Kyran's Void magic just as they thought this. After that, they rejected their initial idea.
Iulia could try to contact her people, but since she was already inside Kyran's magic influence, it would be impossible for her to contact the outside. She might not even be allowed to utilize her magic.
Come to think of it. Their magic might be restricted too.
Iulia took a deep breath before replying to Kyran.
"It did come up while we were gathering information, but it was not 'what' gave it away."
"I see."
"You're not going to ask how we discovered it?"
"There is no point talking about it," Kyran replied with a shrug. "I only want to know how far this discussion could go."
"What would you have done if my knowledge is not good enough? When I have already witnessed something I should not have."
Iulia was obviously asking about how Kyran 'brought them' into this place. Frankly, she did not consider it was because of 'what they discovered' because they were right in the middle of the palace.
If Kyran ended up making a small mistake, his magic energy would have leaked, and the magic detector inside the palace would trigger, sending out alarms that it detected Dark Sage's magic signature.
"Nothing."
Iulia frowned at Kyran's answer. Others would have answered 'wiping her memories clean' or something similar. They might even declare killing her on the spot. For Kyran to answer 'nothing' showcased his confidence in keeping Iulia under wraps even after he let her go.
"Don't get me wrong," Kyran started after seeing Iulia's doubtful expression. "I did not ask you how much you truly know because I don't want you to know these things. Since I want this meeting to work out, I also have to tell the truth."
"What did you want to accomplish by asking for this meeting then?" Iulia asked. She only heard they had come to the palace but did not know why.
Actually, she was told it had something to do with clearing the rumors going around the empire. But because she knew things, although they did not have concrete evidence, she rejected the notion at once.
She did not expect that they had really come here because of that.
"Young master," Zeniff interjected before Kyran and Iulia could continue their discussion. "Are you really going to share everything?"
Kyran looked at him with a wry smile, "You make it sound like it is a bad idea."
Zeniff looked at Iulia.
"I will apologize in advance if my words may sound offending, your majesty."
"That is fine. Please, go on."
Zeniff nodded before turning his attention back to Kyran.
"Empress Iulia is part of the Royal Family. Although, as you said, she belongs to a different faction within the Royal Court, that does not guarantee we can trust what she tells us."
After saying his piece, he looked at Iulia once more and lowered his head in apology.
"Once again, please do not take offense of my words."
Iulia shook her head, "I understand why you said those things. And honestly, even if I am part of the Royal Family now, I came from a lowly noble family."
She paused and smiled slightly before adding, "In the past, our family did support the Regis Clan. Of course, that was way before the Regis Patriarch of that time decided to go on seclusion. Because most noble families knew how much we were in favor of the Regis Clan, the status of our family declined."
At that time, the Lumley Family was already gathering enough influence among the other noble families. Thus, they ended up replacing the Regis Clan— which was originally part of the Three Noble Families.
After a while, only the Courtenay Family remained from the original three when the Montgomeray Family replaced the Dinarie Family.
"I know how the nobility works at times, but we do not want to be affected by these things and continue doing what we have been doing in the past."
"That's good to know," Abe chimed in. He looked at Zeniff and smiled. "Since this is the case, let us give her the benefit of the doubt, just as our young master."
Zeniff scowled, "I do not doubt her per se. I am only pointing out facts."
"I understand," Iulia assured Abe and Zeniff.
"Going back on topic," Kyran said, steering the topic back on track. "As I said, I want this meeting to work out. And the reason is, I have to ensure my clan does not have to go through all that ordeal once more when the truth about me is revealed to the public."
As soon as they heard his intentions, the three turned grim.
"Young master...."
"That is...."
"Even if the truth is revealed, now that we are all together, there is nothing to worry about."
Abe, Zeniff, and Pheobe said, respectively.
"That's the thing," Kyran replied with a bitter smile. "I have to do what I can while I'm still here because I plan to leave soon."
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