This dress feels kind of nice. The hair clip, too. And I do like shiny things. … Downstairs, in the study, Lucien had been staring silently at Edric for a good thirty minutes. "Are you certain your sudden power surge has something to do with your bond with Emma?" Edric gave a steady nod. "After my last breakthrough, I stopped absorbing beast cores. My power stayed at Rank 10. But since bonding with Emma, my mental power has stabilized, and my ability has grown much stronger." If this continued, he might even reach Rank 11 within a year. Lucien knew Emma's true identity as a human. That was why Edric dared to speak so openly. Even if he hadn't said it, Lucien would have found out as soon as he bonded with her. Lucien frowned, deep in thought. "I've heard that human blood can temporarily boost a male ability user's power, but not that a simple bond could strengthen one permanently." At present, only three people in the household know Emma's true identity—Lucien, Edric, and Silas. Corvin was still in the dark, and so was Marcus. It wasn't that Edric distrusted Corvin, but Corvin was too gullible and easily deceived. Marcus, on the other hand, was a mystery—lazy, indifferent on the surface, but sharp beneath it all. Lucien wasn't worried about Corvin spilling anything. The boy might be naïve, but he knew what not to say. Marcus, though—that was another story. After a pause, Lucien spoke. "Call Silas here later. I'll handle Corvin myself. As for Marcus—let Silas take care of him." Silas always knows how to handle delicate matters. … At that moment, Silas was by the artificial lake, keeping Emma company while she fed the fish. Emma had just woken up and wanted some fresh air. She planned to ask Corvin along, but he had returned to Ravaryn on business. As she scattered fish food across the water, she frowned. "Silas, have you noticed there are fewer fish lately?" Before, the fish would swarm to the surface. Now, barely a third showed up. Silas followed her gaze toward the lake. "You're right. There really are fewer." Emma put down the container and watched the tiny fish dart about. "Do you think some creature sneaked in and ate the others?" It wasn't impossible—ocean beasts existed, and freshwater ones weren't unheard of either. "I'll have someone check," Silas replied, signaling a few guards from the patrol team. The therians arrived quickly, following his command to inspect and dredge the lake. Silas stood beside Emma, watching quietly as they worked. … After half an hour, the guards returned.Their captain approached, holding up a small, dark fish. "Mr. Hamblin, we found no trace of a beast or anything strange," the captain reported. "Just this little dark one—part of its tail seems bitten off." The fish was thin and ugly, likely spared because it wasn't worth eating. Silas examined it briefly, then gestured for it to be returned to the water. He told the guard captain to put it back in the lake. Emma frowned. "So nothing unusual? Then, where did all the missing fish go?" They couldn't have eaten each other, right? "Maybe something is sneaking in to steal the fish?" Silas looked at the lake's calm surface. "I'll have them buy more fish this afternoon. We'll keep an eye on things for a few days." If it isn't something from the lake, then it has to be an intruder from outside. "I'll have guards hide nearby. If something is stealing the fish, we'll catch it." Emma nodded. If the thief wants more fish, it will surely return.But staring at the lake made her think of the small pink fish Aria had gifted her. She hadn't checked on it since returning from A3. … In the indoor tank, the little pink fish Corvin had moved two days ago was now swimming among the others. When Emma approached, she immediately noticed one familiar fish—small, pink, and blowing bubbles lazily in the corner. She recognized it at once. Out of all of them, this was the only one that liked to blow bubbles when bored. Emma sprinkled some food into the tank. The other fish darted forward eagerly, but the little pink one stayed where it was, uninterested, still making tiny chains of bubbles that floated gently to the surface.