deal with sasa

Then came the day of the Royal Academy- Ardeval , Entrance Examination—

held at the grand city capital of Erethindor.

It was a highly anticipated event, with carriages from noble houses arriving one after another. Banners of every house fluttered outside the examination halls.

I reached earlier than needed—not out of nervousness, but because I had another goal in mind.

Since the exam center was in the capital, I took the opportunity to visit the Central Market of Erethindor. A place I remembered vividly from my past life—its aroma of fresh parchment, glistening mana stones, enchanted accessories, and the whispers of merchants selling secrets along with their goods.

But first, I walked into the exam hall with calm confidence.

The test was rigorous, but nothing I hadn't faced before—not when I'd lived two lives. I finished early, under the watchful eyes of mages and scholars, and walked out with a smile.

Now... to the market.

The Sablenet contacted me two nights after Dia's debutante ball.

It came in the form of a midnight owl, tapping at my window with a shimmering magic scroll tied to its leg. Its arrival was silent but unmistakable—a signature of the Sablenet's discretion.

The scroll bore only one sentence:

"Your request is ready. Meet at the market on exam day. —S."

Now, after finishing the exam and stepping into the bustling capital, I weaved through the vibrant main street before slipping into a quiet alleyway, where whispers replaced noise and the air was cooler, more secretive.

A hooded figure stood by a crumbling wall—unmoving, cloaked in ash-gray fabric that blurred with the shadows.

It was him.

"Sasa," I greeted, stepping closer.

He lowered his hood just slightly, the brown hair catching a hint of light.

"Do you personally deliver reports to every client?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled, a low, amused sound.

"Only the ones who pique my interest."

With that, he handed me a thin black envelope sealed with wax bearing the Sablenet crest.

The information I needed was finally in my hands.

"Now, my lady," he said, voice low and laced with curiosity, "will you tell me how you knew the passcode of Sablenet?"

He leaned in slightly, towering over me—not threatening, but undeniably intense.

I tilted my head, a half-smile curling on my lips.

"Do you believe in prophetic dreams?" I asked, calm.

His eyes widened—not in disbelief, but in alarmed recognition.

"Only the Saintess of the Holy Temple experiences such things," he said carefully.

"And even then, it's rare."

His gaze grew sharper. "The Codex of Veritas states that true prophetic visions are signs of the Heaven's Chosen… a messenger of the Divine."

He paused, scanning my expression.

"Are you telling the truth, my lady?"

I know it's a lie but I can't give any explanation to anyone.

I met his gaze without flinching.

"It's up to you, Guild Master Sasa, to believe me or not."

My voice was steady.

"But I didn't come here just to hand you riddles—I came to make a deal."

There was a flicker of interest in his eyes. I took a step closer, my expression resolute.

"So, would you prefer to discuss it somewhere... less public?"

His smirk returned, sharper this time.

"As the lady wishes."

He snapped his fingers once. In a blink, the quiet street around us dissolved into shadow—and we reappeared in a candle-lit chamber laced with spells and silence.

The Sablenet Headquarters.

Sasa gestured toward an ornate velvet chair by the dark oak table.

"Let me see what the young lady of Vellore has for me."

I took my seat with composed elegance. The room was richly furnished—lined with aged maps, weapons in quiet display, and enchanted tomes stacked neatly along the walls. A brass tray floated in, lowering itself between us. On it were delicate porcelain cups steaming with spiced black tea and a plate of honey-glazed almond cookies.

He poured the tea himself, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"We don't usually serve nobility," he said, "but I'm curious."

I picked up the cup, took a calm sip, then met his gaze.

"In exchange for your intelligence network, I will offer you something that can't be bought or stolen—my prophetic dreams."

He stilled.

"I will tell you what is going to happen—not guesses, not gossip, but truths. You give me the information I need, and I give you glimpses of the future."

The room seemed to lean in, the candlelight flickering as if reacting to my words.

His eyes crinkled with amusement, a rare warmth beneath the mask of calculation.

"So," he said, swirling his tea, "I suppose the Royal Academy of Aertheya will be welcoming a genius this year?"

I didn't answer—just smiled, lips curled with quiet confidence.

We sealed the deal, a silver-edged parchment glowing briefly under our fingertips. The contract shimmered, then vanished into the vault of Sablenet's magic.

Without another word, I left the headquarters and walked back through the quiet alley, the scent of market spices fading behind me.

As Lady Jia de Vellore disappeared into the dim folds of the alleyway, a quiet shift stirred the shadows.

From the corner, cloaked in darkness, a man emerged—his posture crisp, eyes sharp behind round spectacles. The butler of Sablenet, or rather, the royal family's silent shadow, bowed low.

"Your Highness," he murmured, "if the young lady truly speaks the truth... we may be holding the key to something far greater than we ever imagined."

The hooded man—Sasa—removed his cloak, revealing the silver insignia hidden at his collar's edge.

Crown Prince Caelum Ardyn of Aertheya, seventeen years old.

Known to the public as a ghost trader, to the underworld as Sasa, and to the palace as the future of the realm.

He stood tall and poised, with moonlight hair darker than silver yet brighter than ash—an ethereal grey that shimmered faintly with each movement. His eyes were a piercing hewell blue, the kind of rare gemstone shade that seemed almost unnatural—like frozen starlight. His features were sharp and graceful, a sculpture of nobility: high cheekbones, sculpted jaw, and a mouth that rarely smiled yet never lied.

But it was not beauty alone that made Caelum dangerous.

It was the brilliance in his mind—and the secrets in his heart.

He looked to where Jia had gone, a curious glint in his gaze.

"Let's see, Lady Vellore," he murmured under his breath. "Just how far your dreams can go."