Conspiracy in the Hallways.

Ramiro's brow furrowed, one eyebrow raised in skepticism. "The Ignis? Why would Father ask me to give it to you?"

Arturo exhaled heavily, the weight of the task clear in his posture. "He sent me to return it."

Ramiro's gaze sharpened, recalling his father's words: I do not wish for you to return the Ignis. I have passed it on to you... it is yours.

A fleeting coldness passed over Ramiro's face. He fixed Arturo with a calculating stare. "If necessary, I will return it myself."

Arturo's smile faltered, and he leaned back slightly, attempting to mask the tension creeping into his shoulders. "Well, if you insist," he said, his voice light, though frustration edged his eyes. "But Father made it clear—he expects it soon."

Ramiro's lips curled into a thin, humorless smile. "Father always has expectations." He stood, his tall figure casting a long shadow. "And I always disappoint him." His voice dropped to an icy detachment, and for a moment, the air seemed to grow colder.

Arturo held his gaze for a beat, his expression hardening. "You don't have to make this more difficult than it already is. If you return to the Magic Tower, it could strengthen your position... Father wants you there. You could regain everything."

Ramiro's eyes flickered, something dark and unreadable flashing through them. His gaze remained sharp and unwavering. "I've told you," he said slowly, "I do not wish to become the tower master."

Arturo's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening as he bit back the words seething in his mind. Liar... You should have returned the Ignis by now if you didn't want to be the tower master.

Ramiro stepped forward, his towering figure radiating palpable menace. His golden eyes seemed to pierce through Arturo's thin façade. "But tell me, brother," he said, his tone low and measured, "why are you so eager to retrieve the Ignis? Is it really Father's will—or your own?"

Arturo's composed mask faltered for a moment before he forced a chuckle, shrugging as if the answer were obvious. "Why else would I be here? I'm simply carrying out Father's orders."

Ramiro smirked, a sharp, dangerous curve of his lips. "Is that so? Because you've never struck me as someone who follows orders so... diligently." He turned away, hands clasped behind his back as he moved toward the window, gazing out at the sprawling estate below. "No, this feels more personal. What is it about the Ignis that you desire so desperately?"

Arturo stiffened, his fists tightening at his sides. "You're imagining things, brother. I have no interest in—"

"Enough," Ramiro cut him off sharply, his voice dropping to a growl. His eyes gleamed with dangerous intensity. "I have no patience for your games. If you want something, speak plainly."

Arturo's smile tightened, the corners of his mouth pulling taut as he steadied himself. "Fine," he said, his tone losing its feigned warmth. "If you won't return to the Magic Tower, then give me the Ignis. You don't need it. You've abandoned that part of yourself."

Ramiro's expression darkened, the room seeming to grow heavier. "And you think you're worthy of it?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you even understand what the Ignis is? What it represents?"

Arturo stepped forward, his grey eyes flashing with determination. "I know enough. More than you, apparently, if you're content to let it rot in your possession."

Ramiro chuckled, a low, mirthless sound that sent a chill through Arturo. "It seems you've forgotten, Marquis," he said, emphasizing the title with a mocking lilt, "that the Ignis was given to me by Father."

Arturo bristled at the words, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Even so... If you won't wield it, then—"

"Then what?" Ramiro interrupted, his voice cold and commanding. "You'll take it by force?" He tilted his head, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "You'd have to kill me first. Do you think you're capable of that, older brother?"

Arturo's breath hitched, and for a moment, his composure cracked. "You misunderstand me," he said carefully, though his hands betrayed him with a tremor. "I have no intention of fighting you, Duke."

"Good," Ramiro said, his tone final as he stepped closer, towering over Arturo. "Because you wouldn't survive it... Now leave."

Arturo's jaw tightened, his grey eyes narrowing as he met Ramiro's gaze. 'This isn't over,' he thought.

He stood, turned on his heel, and moved toward the door. Pausing, he glanced over his shoulder with a smile. "I was only joking, brother... But anyway, Father expects you to make a decision soon—become the tower master, or return the Ignis yourself," he said, almost mockingly. "Don't keep him waiting."

Ramiro watched him go, his expression unreadable. Once the door clicked shut, he exhaled slowly, his hand clenched into a fist, his golden eyes flickering with barely contained resolve.

"Who does he think he is?" he murmured to himself. 'If father wanted me to return it, he should have messaged me myself...I should go confirm then?'

Ramiro watched him go, his expression unreadable, a flicker of something dangerous behind his golden eyes. Once the door clicked shut, he exhaled slowly, his hand clenched into a fist. He wasn't sure if he was more irritated with Arturo, with his father, or with himself.

'Who does he think he is?' Ramiro's mind echoed. 'If Father wanted me to return it, he should have sent a direct message... or better yet, he should have kept me in the loop.'

With a grimace, he muttered, "I should go confirm it for myself. I don't trust Arturo."

---

Luzia, who was now crouching behind the marble pillar just outside the study, listened intently as the conversation between Ramiro and Arturo came to an abrupt end. She let out a soft breath, 'Seems the conversation is over… I should go.'

With that, she dashed off, her footsteps light and quick, hoping to avoid being spotted before Arturo emerged. She reached the end of the corridor just as the door creaked behind her, and without looking back, she made her way to her room.

As she entered, she closed the door behind her with a quiet click. Luzia quickly moved to the bed, 'Ignis... sounds important... What is its significance? The novel never mentioned it.'

Her fingers traced the edge of the bed, but her thoughts were interrupted as a new realization flashed through her mind. 'Then there's Ivan, who will steal the crystal...'

Her thoughts paused, and she blinked, staring blankly ahead as the vision suddenly came back to her with vivid clarity. 'A crystal-like object... hidden carefully in Ramiro's study...'

Luzia's breath caught in her throat as she suddenly connected the dots. 'That crystal-like thing... could be the Ignis...' Her heart skipped a beat as she sat down on the edge of the bed, her mind racing.

'So, does this mean Ivan is working for Arturo?' The possibility struck her like a bolt of lightning. If Ivan was stealing the crystal, it had to be for a reason—and if that reason was linked to Arturo, it meant her suspicions about him were more dangerous than she'd initially thought.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to make sense of the new pieces falling into place. The vision, the crystal, the overheard conversation... everything seemed connected now.

"If that is the case..." Luzia murmured to herself, pacing slowly as her thoughts came together like pieces of a puzzle. "With the way Arturo and Ramiro's conversation went, it is most likely that he would steal the Ignis next. So, he'll ask Ivan to do it... But when is the best time to do it?"

Her mind raced through various possibilities. The most obvious answer came to her almost instantly.

'Whenever Ramiro isn't home...' she thought, her eyes narrowing with sharp focus. 'That would be the perfect opportunity for Ivan to slip into the study undetected.' But the timing was crucial—she needed to figure out exactly when Ramiro would be absent.

Luzia hummed thoughtfully and tilted her head to the side, pondering the next steps of her plan. 'I know what to do...'

Her fingers drummed on the bed as a smirk curved on her lips. 'If Ivan was indeed tasked with the theft, she could use that to her advantage. It wasn't just about stopping the theft; it was about making sure it played out in her favor.' The idea began to take shape in her mind.

She knew how to manipulate the situation. 'All she needed was the right timing and the perfect opening.' Luzia's eyes sparkled with determination. 'I'll make sure I'm one step ahead of them.'

Night soon blanketed the estate. Luzia paced back and forth in her room, her small feet silent against the plush carpet as her mind whirled.

'Should I go see Ramiro? Maybe I can ask him about the Ignis directly. He's my father; surely, he'll tell me everything.'

Determined, she nodded to herself. "Yes, I should do that. He won't lie to his own daughter."

Without hesitation, she opened her bedroom door and stepped into the quiet hallway. The air was still, and the only sound was the faint creak of the wooden floorboards beneath her. She walked carefully, her small frame almost swallowed by the vastness of the corridor.

As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with someone. Startled, she looked up to see Elena standing before her, the maid's eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh, my lady," Elena whispered, her voice low and hurried.

Luzia tilted her head, scrutinizing the maid. "Elena? What are you doing out so late?"

Elena hesitated, glancing furtively toward the end of the hallway before forcing a smile. "I... I wanted to go to the garden."

Luzia frowned, her sharp gaze following Elena's line of sight. 'The garden? But that's in the opposite direction.'

'She's a terrible liar,' Luzia thought, narrowing her eyes. Her suspicion grew as she noted Elena's slightly disheveled appearance and the nervous way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her apron.

Before Luzia could press further, Elena dipped into a quick bow. "I'll be off then. Goodnight, my lady."

Without waiting for a response, Elena hurried away, her steps unusually fast. Luzia watched her retreating figure, her mind racing.

'That's uncharacteristic of her... She seemed like she was following someone. But who?'

For a moment, Luzia considered pursuing Elena, but her original plan tugged at her focus. Shaking her head, she muttered, "I'll deal with that later." With that, she turned and made her way toward Ramiro's room.