******
Initially, Xylen and Lilith had been genuinely grateful to the guard who had helped them escape the tense situation they had encountered before dawn that morning.
They had completely believed they had overcome the challenge.
But now, standing on the village podium, surrounded by hostile guards and under Kaelrik's merciless gaze, that relief turned into bitter regret.
They had utterly let their guard down.
Finally, after a moment, Xylen shifted his gaze away from Lilith and locked onto Varek, the guard who had sold them out to Karlrik.
"So… how did you discover I was the one under the cloak?" he asked, his voice low and his eyes calm beyond word, appearing resigned.
Upon hearing him, Varek's lips curled into a smug, twisted grin. His chest puffed out, pride suddenly swelling in his stance.
Without any hint of respect toward his real lord, he chuckled, and then suddenly, he glanced at one of the towering figures standing in front of the guards.
