Chapter 112
Serena Marcano (2)
The moment Serena saw Johan, she noticed something unusual.
—The Watcher of Narak possesses an ability that makes others favor him.
No one had realized it before, but Serena was different.
She was certain that Johan possessed some kind of enchantment ability.
Her conviction stemmed from the life she had led.
She had never felt affection for another person.
Serena had monopolized the love of countless people, yet her own heart was achingly empty.
There was no place within it for anyone else.
That was because she had learned the true nature of humanity at far too young an age.
Through the Mind-Piercing Eye, Serena could see people’s true thoughts.
Every human being possessed an ugly inner self.
Everyone in the world lived behind a mask.
Even archbishops and Saintesses harbored repulsive abysses within them.
The more radiant and magnificent they appeared on the outside, the more rotten they were within.
Several people’s true thoughts remained vividly engraved in Serena’s mind.
—A lowborn wench pretending to be refined.
—She’s too lowborn for marriage, but she’d make a suitable concubine.
—A merchant family was admitted to the Council? The world truly is coming to an end.
And so on.
Every one of them had smiled warmly in Serena’s presence.
They had never allowed her to see what lay beneath their masks.
Having grown up witnessing all that ugliness, Serena could feel no affection for humanity.
This time was different.
The moment she saw Johan, a strange fondness swept over her.
An inexplicable sense of trust, familiarity, connection, and even the faintest flutter of excitement welled up inside her.
Serena had never experienced anything like it in her life.
Feeling affection at first sight could not possibly be normal.
Some unknown force had to be influencing her.
Serena did not doubt that conclusion for a moment.
She stared directly into Johan’s eyes.
As she had expected, the longer their eyes remained locked, the more her fondness for him grew.
Johan was clearly enchanting people through his gaze.
In a world where a miracle such as the Mind-Piercing Eye existed, it would have been stranger if no ability capable of enchanting others existed.
That gaze was probably also the reason the fallen House Myatro had suddenly begun recovering.
Serena completed her deductions on her own.
She smiled and spoke.
“You are rather selfish. Would you mind withdrawing your gaze first?”
He had forbidden her from using the Mind-Piercing Eye, yet Johan himself continued using his power.
The Watcher of Narak was a coward.
At least, that was Serena’s assessment.
Johan spoke with a composed expression.
“My apologies. This is not a power I can control.”
Even though she had discovered his use of a power, Johan showed no embarrassment.
He was skilled at controlling his expression.
Despite his youth, he had something in common with the old monsters of the aristocracy.
That was how Serena evaluated him.
She displayed her usual gentle smile.
“...I see. Then it cannot be helped. I suppose I’ll have to verify it myself.”
A foreign sensation entered Serena’s eyes.
An unusual light radiated from her golden pupils.
The Mind-Piercing Eye appeared to be activating.
To be precise, Serena was only pretending to use it.
She intended to test Johan.
Serena needed to determine whether he truly knew about the Mind-Piercing Eye.
Johan’s expression twisted slightly.
He clicked his tongue and said,
“You intend to test me, but please do not cross the line. The moment you use the Mind-Piercing Eye on me, I will regard it as a hostile act.”
Johan knew perfectly well that Serena had not yet activated the Mind-Piercing Eye.
He truly possessed information about the ability.
The unusual light vanished from Serena’s pupils.
She spoke calmly.
“That is an exceptionally cowardly demand. What do you think, Sir Johan?”
Johan was still using his own power.
Yet he had forbidden the other person from using hers.
There could be no pettier man.
Johan considered it briefly before closing his eyes.
“I partially agree with you. Therefore, I shall keep my eyes closed.”
The moment his gaze disappeared, Serena’s growing fondness for him faded.
She let out an incredulous laugh.
“Do you intend to remain like that?”
Johan nodded.
“I have no choice. As I told you, my power is not something I can control.”
Johan still could not control the Great Saint’s Eye.
That was because he had never learned to wield divine power.
Serena stared thoughtfully at Johan.
After a moment, she sighed and said,
“This is actually more uncomfortable. Please just open your eyes.”
Johan’s eyelids immediately rose.
“Are you sure?”
Her fondness for him began to blossom again.
Serena deliberately adopted an indifferent expression.
“It’s tolerable. Besides, these feelings are false anyway.”
The effectiveness of a mental ability was halved merely by the target becoming aware of its influence.
Johan chuckled.
“You are a remarkably strong-willed person, my lady. It is impressive at your age. I mean that sincerely.”
Serena was around the same age as Shaperia.
She had not yet even undergone her coming-of-age ceremony.
She was roughly in her late teens, yet she displayed a maturity far beyond her years.
Serena slowly looked Johan up and down.
“It feels rather strange to receive such praise from someone so much younger than me.”
Johan was still merely a boy.
He had not even reached his growth spurt yet.
He calmly replied,
“Appearances are not everything.”
A questioning look appeared on Serena’s face.
“What do you mean?”
Johan shook his head.
“Nothing. More importantly, shall we sit down? I have unintentionally kept you standing this entire time.”
Johan personally pulled out a chair for Serena.
It was the most basic courtesy.
Serena accepted the gesture and sat down.
“I was beginning to wonder when you would invite me to sit.”
Her tone was playful.
Johan smiled gently and sat across from her.
“My apologies. I’m not accustomed to occasions like this. Please understand.”
This was the first time he had formally entertained a noble lady.
A mischievous look spread across Serena’s face.
She spoke teasingly.
“For someone so inexperienced, you were remarkably aggressive in your courtship. Father told me you asked to become engaged to me.”
Serena possessed a playful side.
It was probably one of her many charms.
She used lighthearted jokes to make the other person comfortable and guide the conversation forward.
Johan found her manner of speaking quite satisfactory as well.
Her joke contained a clear path leading to the heart of their discussion.
Thanks to her, Johan did not need to talk in circles.
He could proceed directly to the point.
He nodded.
“That is correct. I would like to take you as my wife someday.”
It was a calm marriage proposal.
No, it was painfully dry.
Serena had never received a proposal like it in her life.
Bewilderment and amusement appeared on her face.
“...How should I put this? That was a remarkably unusual confession.”
“If you would prefer a formal proposal, I can prepare one at any time.”
Serena laughed and waved her hands.
“No, no. I wasn’t asking you to arrange a separate ceremony.”
She did not particularly care for empty formalities.
Since she could see what lay beneath carefully constructed appearances, no form of pomp or ceremony could move Serena.
Whether it concerned a person or an action, Serena preferred sincerity.
Johan spoke.
“Practical benefits are certainly more important than trivial formalities. An engagement to me would bring considerable benefits to House Marcano.”
Although House Myatro had declined, it had once been one of the most prestigious houses on the continent.
With Johan’s emergence, some of its former glory had begun to return.
Nevertheless, its present influence remained insufficient.
It would be difficult to call Johan the perfect marriage prospect for House Marcano.
They needed more time to observe how far he would rise.
Serena smiled gently.
“Sir Johan, why don’t we take this a little more slowly? I think it is still too soon to discuss an engagement.”
Johan calmly replied,
“It seems I have unintentionally placed you under pressure. My apologies. You do not need to decide immediately. For the time being, simply remember my proposal.”
Serena smiled brightly.
“Very well. I’ll give you an answer after discussing it with Father. For today, shall we talk about your other business instead? Father told me that you proposed a transaction with our family.”
Johan said,
“I would like to borrow the Mind-Piercing Eye for a few hours. Have you been informed of my circumstances?”
“Yes, I heard the general details. You went through something serious. I’m glad you were unharmed.”
Horentz had already told her what Johan had experienced the previous night.
“I need to identify the culprit. Please help me. Naturally, I will compensate you.”
Allowing the Marcano Trading Company to establish a branch in Beldana was the fee for using the Mind-Piercing Eye.
From House Marcano’s perspective, it was an exceedingly profitable transaction.
Serena spoke.
“Very well. However, in addition to the compensation you have already promised, I have one more condition.”
Johan swallowed a troubled sigh.
‘I thought my existing offer was already quite generous. She’s rather greedy.’
He concealed his emotions and said,
“I’ll hear it. Please continue.”
The smile faded from Serena’s face.
She spoke with a calm expression.
“Swear a binding oath that, from this moment onward, you will never disclose anything concerning the Mind-Piercing Eye to anyone.”
Johan had never intended to tell anyone about the Mind-Piercing Eye in the first place.
He nodded.
“Very well. I promise that I will not share information about the Mind-Piercing Eye with anyone.”
Serena’s expression turned firm.
“A promise is not enough. I’m asking you to swear a binding oath.”
She removed a sheet of the finest parchment from inside her clothing.
The paper was densely covered in blue writing.
“...A binding oath. Do you intend to use a Sacred Covenant Scroll?”
A Sacred Covenant Scroll was a Grade Three holy relic.
The moment someone signed it, the terms written upon it had to be fulfilled.
Any signatory who failed to uphold the contract would lose their life.
Sacred Covenant Scrolls were rarely used for ordinary contracts.
That was because of their price and scarcity.
Serena said,
“That is correct. Please understand. From House Marcano’s perspective, this matter is important enough to stake our lives upon.”
Johan fully understood their position.
“Very well. Give it to me.”
He accepted the parchment.
He read through it quickly but meticulously.
There did not appear to be any hidden or malicious clauses.
Johan bit down hard on his index finger.
He smeared the blood that emerged across the bottom of the parchment.
Once the Sacred Covenant Scroll was taken to the Church’s central headquarters, the contract would be fully concluded.
Serena appeared somewhat flustered as she watched the process.
She had not expected Johan to agree so readily.
“Y-You certainly make decisions quickly.”
“There was no reason to drag it out.”
“...I see.”
“I should be going.”
Johan rose from his seat.
Serena looked up at him with a slightly dazed expression.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I shall see you again shortly. We will be having a somewhat early dinner. I’ll send someone to escort you at the appropriate time.”
Johan concluded their business and ended the meeting without engaging in idle conversation.
There was something remarkably straightforward about him.
That was certainly the impression Serena received.
She silently watched Johan’s retreating back before suddenly springing to her feet.
She had forgotten to see him out.
It was a rare mistake for her to make.