SWNOVELXO Chapter 525: Secrets 'Unveiled'
The Queen watched silently as Alex brushed himself off, his movements unhurried, his composure steady despite the events that had just unfolded. For a moment, her flower-like irises gleamed with a faint glow as she observed him.
Though she was starting to like this cautious boy, she couldn't ignore the harsh truth—he was still an enemy to her children. Yet, there was something about him, something she couldn't quite put into words, that made the thought of harming him unbearable.
'Let's see if I'm wrong about you, child,' she thought.
With an almost imperceptible shift in her posture, the Queen leaned forward, bringing her face dangerously close to Alex's. Their eyes met, and in an instant, her irises began to glow brighter, the four petals within spinning slowly, hypnotically.
Alex's pupils dilated, and the sharp focus in his gaze began to waver. He stiffened, his grip on his shortsword loosening until the blade hung limply by his side.
The Queen smiled softly, her glowing eyes locking onto his as she nodded in satisfaction. She cast a fleeting glance at the sky above, a subtle yet calculated move.
'Let them believe I don't know,' she thought, her serene expression masking her awareness of the unseen observer.
Turning her attention back to Alex, she allowed her lips to curl into a gentle smile. "Now," she began, her voice soothing and melodic, "tell me who you are, and how did you come to be in our world?"
Under the Queen's hypnosis, Alex's voice came out monotone, devoid of its usual life. "I am Kael, one of the Hunter Trainees under the Black Star Lord. My fellow trainees and I were sent here to this world for our final exam. We were tasked to gather resources and collect marks. We came to your world using our Black Star Lord's portals."
The words tumbled out like a mechanical recitation, and as soon as he finished, he fell silent, his body unnaturally still.
The Queen nodded. This much was within her expectations. But she wasn't satisfied—not yet.
After all, the more knowledge one had, the greater the advantage they held. And she wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.
Her gaze remained steady as she spoke again. "What are your intentions, and who is this Black Star Lord? Tell me everything you know."
Alex nodded robotically, his voice droning as he answered.
In short, its meaning were like this:
"We were sent for an exam. The Black Star Lord is our king and savior. He saved everyone and trained hunters. That is all I know."
The Queen frowned slightly, a sigh threatening to escape her lips. 'So, even he doesn't know much about this Black Star Lord. Disappointing—'
Before she could finish the thought, Alex spoke again, cutting through her momentary disappointment.
"Do you want me to tell other things as the real me?"
The Queen's eyes widened, her thoughts halting. "What did you say?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
Alex repeated, his tone unchanged. "Do you want me to tell other things as the real me?"
The Queen straightened, her flower-like irises narrowing in curiosity. 'The real him? What does he mean by that...?'
After a moment's hesitation, she nodded slowly. "Tell me everything… as the real you."
To ensure no prying eyes or ears could intervene, she extended her senses outward, reinforcing the protective barrier around her domain. Only when she was satisfied did she motion for Alex to continue.
"As you wish." Alex's voice, though still monotone, took on a strange clarity. "My real name is Adrian, and we were kidnapped by the hunters sent by the Black Star Lord. They either sealed our memories completely or gave us false ones after taking us. Fortunately, I managed to resist the brainwashing by chance and retained my true memories. I pretended to be one of the brainwashed and later joined an organization called the Avengers. Through them, I learned the truth about the Black Star Lord and his world."
The Queen's ears perked up. She hadn't anticipated this. 'This child… resisted brainwashing and pretended to be one of them?' Her mind raced with the implications, but she kept her expression calm.
She wanted to know more now. And not just small info, detailed ones.
And this boy seems to know more than she thought he would.
"Go on," she urged.
Adrian continued without hesitation, revealing the truth about the Avengers' mission to oppose the Black Star Lord, the sinister nature of the marks they were tasked to collect, and the true purpose behind their presence in her world.
The Queen's expression remained unreadable as Adrian detailed the kidnapping of young elves under the guise of resource collection. She listened carefully as he spoke about the rebellion the Avengers were planning—the Rebellion of Freedom—and how the Black Star Lord's ultimate target was none other than her.
When Adrian fell silent, the Queen tilted her head, a faint smile gracing her lips. "You must be incredibly valuable to this Avengers organization," she murmured, her voice thoughtful. "For them to entrust you with this much information…"
She looked at him, the corners of her lips curling up gently. "Very well. Since you are fighting against the wannabe who calls himself the Black Star Lord, I will consider you an ally and spare you. And... as a reward for providing me with such valuable information… I will protect you."
Continue your journey with empire
"Now, let's return you back."
With a flick of her fingers, the glow in Adrian's eyes began to fade, clarity returning to his gaze.
As he blinked rapidly, his expression shifted to one of confusion and shock. "Y-You… y-you, what did…?" he stammered, stepping back as if frightened.
The Queen smiled playfully, smacking her lips with mock innocence. "Oh, I forgot to tell you to forget what happened. My mistake."
Adrian's eyes widened further, and he took a few more steps back, his movements resembling those of a scared rabbit.
But deep inside, Adrian was anything but frightened. 'My foot, your mistake. I know you did it intentionally. And... I wasn't hypnotized at all, you arrogant queen,' he thought mockingly, satisfied with the success of his act.