All he had paid was part of a finger?
That differed from what Elliot had learned.
Old Butler Conrad had specifically given him detailed information on the Seven Holy Bloodlines.
The section on the Helms Family had placed particular emphasis on prophecy.
Their prophecies came at an enormous cost, yet were prone to error, making them of little practical use.
That "enormous cost" applied to the entire family; no matter how he looked at it, the first joint of a single finger hardly qualified.
Besides, even if the price was a finger, neither he nor the Fourth Prince had asked for a prophecy. Tobias had done it of his own accord.
Why was that?
Was he putting on a mystical act? Trying to increase his influence and authority?
Elliot frowned. He was beginning to feel that these nobles all seemed somewhat abnormal.
Thinking back, after Tobias had finished speaking, almost all the other families' heirs had mocked him or even fanned the flames.
That was actually rather unusual.
It was commonplace for nobles to dislike one another. Never mind mockery-even cursing someone a few times in private was perfectly normal.
But that was in private. Why bring it out into the open?
The intensive socializing of late had already familiarized Elliot with the nobles' false courtesies.
They had honeyed tongues and treacherous hearts, and plenty of nasty things to say behind others' backs, but in public there was only praise. Conflict was rare.
So... why?
Elliot felt a little dizzy.
He rubbed his temple, then suddenly grew tense and sniffed.
Strange. He could still smell that cloying sweetness, but he seemed to have grown accustomed to it. After a while, he even found it rather pleasant.
He felt as though he were floating.
Beyond that, the dim hall, the diffusely