At last, Origi closed his eyes in his lover's arms onstage. The chorus rose, and the drama gradually came to an end.
The curtain call began. The actors of The Butterfly's Shocking Transformation took the stage one after another, receiving the audience's applause and cheers.
But at that moment, Tales looked down from above and noticed a familiar face: Carquerey, the Alert Officer responsible for his security—or surveillance. Over the past few days, whenever Tales left the palace gates, Carquerey had remained at the Prince's side without leaving him for even a moment.
At that very moment, in the dim theater, Carquerey was hiding behind a curtain and speaking with another well-dressed audience member. The latter gesticulated wildly, while Carquerey occasionally glanced back cautiously, as if afraid of being discovered.
Tales frowned. He stood and leaned against the railing, pretending to get a better look at the actors' curtain call, while actually calling upon Sin of the Hell River to listen to Carquerey's movements.
"I don't understand. What was so urgent that you had to talk about it now, and here?" The Alert Officer Carquerey's voice held a trace of displeasure.
"I'd rather talk somewhere else!"
The audience member had his back to Tales, but his voice sounded very familiar to the boy. "But look at you, Alert Officer Carquerey. You've risen through the ranks and become a different man. When would you have time to share a drink with an old friend? I could only come here to find you, couldn't I?"
"We stopped associating with each other ages ago! And I don't have money to lend you for gambling." Carquerey's tone was cold and dismissive. "I'm on duty. Whatever it is, wait until I get off—no, until my shift ends, and then we'll talk."
The Alert Officer turned