📖 Scene — Threads of Schemes in the Noble Palace
In one of the palaces of the high-ranking demi-human nobles…
Loki had already arrived, along with the ravens, inside the noble's office.
He sat quietly, listening.
For a long time…
The noble explained everything he knew about the legendary flower without hesitation, completely under Loki's control.
When he finished—
Loki finally understood the full picture.
The flower…
had not yet bloomed.
Instead, it would sprout in a forest near the imperial palace.
Since the news spread—
the king's guards had been relocated from their posts to surround the forest and prevent anyone suspicious from entering.
Loki looked at the noble and asked calmly: "Even you… cannot enter?"
The noble shook his head and said: "No, my lord, I can."
Then he added: "I married the sister of the Demi-Human King, so I have great influence within the kingdom and can enter."
But before Loki could smile—
The noble continued: "But there is no point now…"
He paused briefly, then said: "The flower has not yet sprouted. There are still several days left."
Silence fell for a moment…
But Loki's mind was already moving rapidly.
He looked at the noble, his eyes gleaming with cunning: "Go to the Demi-Human King."
Then he continued: "And convince him to withdraw the guards from the forest immediately."
He leaned slightly forward and added: "Tell him the news has already spread… and the dragons may arrive at any moment."
Then he smiled faintly: "And that hiding it like this would be foolish."
As soon as the noble heard this—
he immediately nodded: "Of course, my lord… it will be done."
He turned to leave.
But—
"Wait."
The noble stopped.
Loki looked at him calmly: "Do you have other treasures? Besides the flower?"
The noble thought for a moment: "Yes… there is a rare sword."
He continued: "We found it centuries ago in one of the kingdom's caves. It is from ancient times."
Then added: "It is kept in the royal vault… and only the king can enter it."
Loki fell silent for a moment.
Then he looked at one of the ravens in the room…
and returned his gaze to the noble.
"Can your wife enter the vault?"
The noble hesitated…
Then said: "My wife has always been the king's weakness."
He added: "If she insists… he might open it."
A mysterious smile appeared on Loki's face.
A smile full of deception.
He said coldly: "Then what are you waiting for?"
"Bring your wife."
He paused…
his eyes gleaming: "I will control her as well."
Then added lightly, yet dangerously: "And I will obtain the sword… along with the flower."
The noble immediately nodded: "Of course, my lord."
He rushed out of the room toward his wife's chamber, ignoring the servants' confused looks.
Inside the room…
Loki chuckled softly: "It's good I only controlled this noble's mind… not the entire palace."
He added coldly: "That would have been pointless."
He raised his gaze slightly: "The leader is enough… the rest are meaningless."
For a moment—
he considered erasing all life inside the palace.
But he stopped.
He thought again.
"If I do that…"
He narrowed his eyes: "She might get scared… and escape."
He exhaled slowly and abandoned the idea.
Then he stood waiting.
He looked around with visible irritation.
There wasn't a single chair large enough for him.
He was too tall for the room, nearly hitting the ceiling more than once.
He sighed: "Why do they build such small palaces?"
Then added: "Do they have no taste?"
He continued complaining under his breath…
Until—
he sensed someone entering.
A female voice spoke: "What surprise did you want to show me, my husband?"
But before she could finish—
Before she could even understand what she was seeing—
Loki moved.
Fast.
Cold.
He immediately invaded her mind.
He planted commands.
The mission.
Everything.
And in an instant—
She obeyed.
She bowed slightly and said: "Of course… I can do it, my lord."
Loki smiled.
A cold smile.
"Good…"
Then added: "There is no need for the rest of the palace's inhabitants."
He raised his hand—
But—
"Stop!"
His hand froze in the air.
He looked at her: "Why?"
Then said coldly: "No one will notice what I do… so what is the problem?"
She replied quickly: "Because my brother… is watching the palace."
She continued: "He is worried about me… so he placed hidden guards among the servants."
Loki paused.
Then looked at the noble with a mocking smile: "It seems the king does not trust you… leaving you to guard his sister alone."
He chuckled lightly.
Then sighed: "I am wasting time on nonsense…"
He refocused immediately.
Then said: "When you convince the king to remove the guards from the forest…"
He added: "I want you to know the exact location of the flower."
But—
Suddenly—
The wife said: "I already know… my lord."
Loki stopped.
Looked at her—genuinely surprised.
"What?"
She replied quickly: "I spoke with my brother about the flower… and its benefits."
Then continued: "I asked him to show it to me."
She added: "He said when it blooms, he will take me to a cave in the middle of the forest… near the capital."
Silence fell.
Then—
Loki laughed.
A light laugh… full of satisfaction.
"So… things are easier than I expected."
He waved his hand: "Go now… and do as I ordered."
He turned slowly…
His eyes glowing with deception.
The hunt… had truly begun.
(Author's Note):
Hello everyone! Thank you for your continuous support of this novel; your comments and interactions mean the world to me.
Stepping away from our story here for a moment, I wanted to share another project I've been working on with great passion. I have started publishing a webtoon (comic) on the Webtoon platform titled "Me and the Wolf."
It is a [Comedy / Fantasy] story about a miserable young man and a cunning wolf who is constantly getting him into trouble! If you enjoy my writing style and the way I build scenarios, I promise you're going to love this comic.
I would be so grateful if you could go check it out, subscribe to the series, and let me know what you think in the comments there!
🔍 Search on the Webtoon app for: [Me and the Wolf]