Lakeside Town, Hesa's study.
Hesa was not sleepy either.
Notes on his blood moon research lay open before him, filled with conjectures and records of failures, but the central problem remained unsolved-how could he create a "blood moon" of his own?
He rubbed the space between his brows and pushed the notes aside.
The blood moon could not be rushed. For now, he had other troubles.
Marika and his big brother... every time he thought back on them, his heart sank.
Whenever Marika mentioned Messmer and Melina, her words always carried an inexpressible evasiveness and guilt, while his big brother Godfrey... his act of playing dumb, as though everything were perfectly natural, only made Hesa feel that something was wrong.
They must know more about these two children, especially the origins and significance of the "serpent" inside Messmer.
During those few days in Leyndell, Marika had used the official documents to exchange a few brief words with him.
Probably no one would have imagined that Marika would hold a secret conversation with Hesa between the lines of her official annotations.
Had his big brother's seemingly spur-of-the-moment decision to have him handle the paperwork in that lion's place been made at Marika's secret instruction?
He had known it. As the dynasty's leaders, they were nowhere near as simple as they appeared.
Taking the two Mels away had been Marika's request and his own way of "going along with things," but it could also have been an unspoken understanding and a transaction.
Hesa sighed.
As for Messmer, he did have clear plans.
The boy was simple-hearted, with an innate sensitivity and obedience to rules. He was practically born to be a judicial officer.
Hesa already intended to expose him to more complicated cases.
"There's no reason that fellow Rykard can hold trials