Eric watched them with a strange, tightening anticipation.

He knew—he knew—that whatever Ocean had been hiding was not something small. The man’s secrets were too carefully guarded, too deeply rooted to be trivial. And yet, even as he braced himself for something earth-shattering, a part of him felt an odd sense of familiarity, as though his mind were circling a truth it already half-recognised.

What could possibly shock him more than the realisation that the man he had admired and respected since childhood—the one whose presence had always felt steady, unshakeable—was, in truth, the younger sister of his closest friend?

The same frail girl he had once looked at with gentle protectiveness.

The thought surfaced unbidden, leaving him unsettled.

Alys inhaled deeply.

Ocean stepped forward at the same time, positioning himself just slightly ahead of her—as if instinctively shielding her even now.

"Your Highness," he began.

Alys lifted her hand and touched her earstud.

"This," Ocean continued evenly, "is, as you might know, my uncle’s fiancée."

The mana shifted.

It didn’t explode. It gathered—a quiet, suffocating pressure that wrapped around Alys’s form like a living veil. Eric felt it immediately, the air growing heavy, charged.

The disguise unravelled.

The soft brown hair scattered away as though caught in an unseen current, revealing long strands of pale gold that cascaded down her back. Her eyes—once a muted green—darkened, flooded, and then transformed entirely, scarlet red swallowing every trace of softness.

Eric’s thoughts slammed to a halt.

His breath caught painfully in his chest.

Those eyes—

His mind went blank, scrambling for meaning, for reason, for anything that could make sense of the young woman now standing before him. She felt wrong in the way ancient things often did—not monstrous, not cruel, but undeniably powerful.

Ocean opened his mouth again. "Your Highness, this is—"

Alys placed her hand on his shoulder.

The gesture was light. Unmistakably final.

"Let me do it myself," she said.

Ocean paused, then inclined his head and stepped back.

Alys moved forward.

Her steps were measured, graceful, carrying the quiet authority of someone who had never needed to raise her voice to be obeyed. She stopped before Eric, her scarlet gaze steady, unwavering.

"It seems it’s finally time we meet properly," she said calmly. "My cousin."

The word struck deeper than expected.

"My name is Alys Scarlet Ferin Marismus," she continued. "Daughter of Prince Soros." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

She tilted her head slightly, watching his reaction with composed interest.

"You may have heard of him," she added. "And of me."

Eric’s heart nearly stuttered to a stop.

The Princess.

The royal Princess—daughter of Crown Prince Soros, the rightful heir who had been stolen from history—was standing right in front of him. His mind reeled, thoughts colliding so violently he thought he might actually feel them burst.

She was supposed to be dead.

That had been a certainty drilled into him since childhood. Prince Soros, his consort, and their daughter—gone, erased, mourned, and sealed away as a tragedy of the past.

And yet here she was.

Alive.

Healthy.

Real.

Eric swallowed hard, his throat tight as his vision swam. "You... that..."

The words fell apart before they could form. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself back into the discipline that had been carved into him over years of court life.

This was not the time to freeze.

He rose and bowed his head deeply.

"I–It’s an honour to meet you, Your Highness," he said, voice steady despite the storm in his chest.

He knew what her existence meant.

If she ever stepped into the light, openly and without disguise, there would be no contest. Neither Eric nor Carlos would stand a chance. The people still revered Prince Soros—his name spoken with a reverence that time had failed to dull. They would welcome his daughter without hesitation. And the nobles?

They would trip over themselves to kneel first.

Alys Scarlet Ferin Marismus on the throne would not be a debate.

It would be a correction.

"It’s fine," her voice said, calm and even. "Raise your head, Eric."

The use of his name—without title, without distance—startled him.

He lifted his head slowly.

Her scarlet eyes met his, steady and unreadable, and his heart pounded harder—not from fear, but from the weight of understanding settling into his bones.

Alys smiled warmly at him and understood the state of his mind before she said.

"Don’t be worried, I’m not here to take the crown."

Eric opened his mouth but then closed it back, "I don’t want to be a part of the royal politics that killed my parents, I just want to have my revenge on the killers and then live my life in peace with the man I love,"

She entwined her fingers with Silas and added, "and with my family."

She glanced at Ocean and Rune.

"I... But how are you alive? Did Master save you?" Eric asked and Alys smiled.

"Well, he did save me but... It was a few years ago that he found me."

Eric glanced at Ocean and then asked, "So... What is the plan?"

Ocean sighed and then glanced at Alys.

"You will have to come before the people," Ocean said and Alys was quiet for a while.

"Could there be any other way, Reina?" Rune asked.

Ocean shook his head, "I have tried a lot of other possibilities but this one is the best and well, we had to bring her out sooner or later after the Trials so, this is the best time. If she is around then this will throw the Golden Serpent off her game."

"But that would also mean her life will be in danger." Silas pointed out and Ocean smiled.

"You’re underestimating our Aunt and your fiance, Uncle. She didn’t have the kind of expertise and strength before but she still survived. She can blow things up now, so, Id rather you expect to see the Golden Serpent falling face first at every attempt she makes on my Aunt."

Alys patted Ocean’s shoulder, "Hey, I understand you’re praising me but I have told you before, don’t call me Aunt when you are in Ocean’s form."

She squeezed his shoulder and Ocean chuckled, "I’m sorry, My Lady."

Eric watched them silently unable to know what to do and Ocean noticed it.

"I’d rather you two spend some time together and get to know each other for our plan..." Ocean said, "and also as a family."

Alys and Eric stared at each other, Eric had suddenly got to know that he had an elder sister. He wondered if his mother knew about Alys being alive. Besides, he had no idea on how he should behave around her.

"Your Highness," Ocean spoke and Eric flinched.

"Yes?"

"I suggest you two have lunch together at Shadowcliff," he said pointing at Alys and Eric.

"Uncle, I and Brother will return to Aurelius mansion." Ocean said making Silas frown.

"Wait, he’s not allowed to leave Ryujin mansion." Silas pointed out looking at Eric and Ocean shrugged.

"I’m the rule maker, I can do what I want." Ocean said before he placed his hand into his vest and pulled out two tickets along with a little glinting emerald earstud.

"Have a little date you two. These are the tickets to Baron Oberon’s new play." He said handing the tickets to Alys and the emerald earstud to Eric.

"That’s a disguise device." Ocean spoke and Eric nodded looking at the earstud.

Alys stared at the tickets with a smile, "Oh, it’s been so long since I saw a play."

"I’ll go with Alys." Silas quickly said and Ocean and Alys looked at him.

"Clingy lover." Ocean muttered and Alys hummed.

"What did you just say?" Silas frowned.

"I’ll be fine, honey." Alys spoke making the tips of Silas’s ears go red.

"I agree with Ocean, I and Eric will have to talk a little and get to know each other so that we could help each other in future."

Silas opened his mouth to argue but Rune placed his hand on Silas’s shoulder.

"She said she’ll be fine, let’s go Uncle." Rune said and then looked at Ocean.

Ocean placed his hand over his earstud and in an instant his male form melted away revealing Reina’s form.

Eric watched in awe again for a long moment as it was still fascinating to see this, he still thought that it was easier to believe that Reina and Ocean were two different people.

He watched as the three teleported away and then heard Alys clearing her throat before he turned to face her.

She smiled, "Shall we go too?"

Eric’s back straightened up and he spoke respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness."

Alys chuckled, "I know it’ll take some time but, I’m not a Princess. Just call me Alys."

Eric blinked and Alys smiled almost mischievously watched Eric’s innocent expression before adding, "Or you could call me Elder Sister if you like."

Eric’s face turned bright red and Alys laughed before she took his arm.

"Let’s go, little brother. Put that device on. Your big sister is going to give you the best day of your life."

Eric couldn’t get a chance to say anything as he quickly put on his earstud and they were swallowed up by the blue light that teleportated them away.