"Why am I so horrible at rock-paper-scissors?" Rio muttered, floating toward Sara's office. He reached the black door, pushed it open halfway, and floated inside. "Where is that diary?" Rio whispered, looking around the room.
"Was Rio really the right person for this job?" Seer asked in a worried voice, her hands clasped together.
"No, we just sent him there because he's expendable," Nova said with a shrug.
"If Sara catches me in her office, she would kill me. Maybe she wouldn't kill Rio," Nova added thoughtfully.
"Well, let's just wait and see," Riku said, leaning back with a nonchalant expression.
Rio soon returned to Helios's office. "Did you find the diary, Rio?" Helios asked, standing up from his chair with an expectant look.
"I found this book," Rio said, holding up a volume that had 'Don't open this book, brother' written on the cover, adorned with glowing runes.
"That's a new diary; I've never seen it before," Nova said, leaning in with an interested voice.
"Why don't we open it? Maybe there's something important in it," Rio suggested, handing the diary to Ray.
Ray held up the diary, inspecting the cover closely. "It seems like she used two types of runes," Ray noted. "Runes that help in sealing things unless opened by putting the runes in a specific position, and runes that stop you from breaking the first runes with your abilities or rune magic. The runes can absorb spiral energy from your abilities and can also absorb weaker runes. It will take me a few hours to break the rune seal."
"Why don't we use a stronger rune to break them?" Helios asked, looking at Ray.
"We don't have a powerful enough rune to do that," Ray replied, shaking his head.
"Give me the diary," Helios commanded, reaching out his hand. Ray handed it over.
Suddenly, Helios's crown appeared on his head. "Human, let me have my beauty sleep for once," Circlet grumbled in Helios's mind, but Helios ignored him and focused on the book.
"Open," Helios said firmly. The diary started glowing with a vibrant red light; the runes vanished, and the book popped open on its own.
Everyone gathered around Helios's desk. "Let's see what's in there," Seer said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity under her black veil.
"It's not like you know anything about love anyway," Riku remarked, glancing at Seer.
"Shut up! You're the idiot that doesn't know anything about love," Seer snapped at Riku in a frustrated tone.
"Can you two stop shouting? Why don't you go on a date to see who knows more about love?" Ray suggested, trying to peer over their shoulders at the diary.
"Going on a date with a boring person like her would be embarrassing," Riku said in a mocking tone.
"What a nice thing to say to your fiancée," Seer replied, looking directly at Riku.
The room went silent as everyone looked at Seer and Riku with surprised faces. "What do you mean by fiancée?" Rio asked, his jaw dropping.
"What did we miss?" Nova added, blinking in confusion.
"We were always engaged," Seer said simply.
"I thought you were part of the Royal Family," Helios noted, sounding puzzled.
"I am part of that family," Seer confirmed.
"Then how did you marry that guy?" Ray asked, gesturing toward Riku.
"I never told you guys I'm a Duke, did I?" Riku said with a smirk.
"You're a Duke? Then what are you doing here, and why ask me for a salary?" Helios asked, sounding exasperated.
"What? You wanted me to work for free?" Riku countered.
"Fine, forget about this drama and focus on the diary," Nova said, pointing at the pages. "Oh look, it even landed on a page about you, Leader." Nova began reading out loud. "'We got a new leader today. He's pretty and he's a new Seeker. I don't know if he can even use his summon.'"
"Oh, she called you pretty! That's nice," Ray teased.
They moved on to the next page. "'His summon is really amazing. He manifested his artefact on the first try; it took me a few months. But he has a very strong creature in his body,'" Nova read from Sara's diary.
"Now, an interesting part," Riku said, flipping to the next page.
"'I never noticed this, but the leader isn't always cold. He's nice sometimes,'" Nova read.
"It seems like you have a few things to fix, Leader," Seer said with a small smile.
"Keep reading, Nova," Helios ordered.
"'We wanted to make new uniforms today and the leader was acting a bit weird. His face always turned red when I was near him. I noticed new things about him, like he has two small beauty marks under his left eye,'" Nova read, then looked closely at Helios's left eye. "She noticed that? I didn't even notice that!" Nova said, laughing.
"Just read the diary, Nova. No need for comments," Riku interjected.
"Can't you guys just read on your own?" Nova asked, sounding frustrated.
"I'm too lazy," Rio admitted, floating horizontally.
"Don't feel like reading today," Riku added.
"My veil covers my eyes," Seer pointed out.
"I'm just tired," Ray sighed.
Nova sighed and continued. "'Everyone has been saying weird things lately, even the organization members. They think the leader has a crush on me. That can't be true, right?'" Nova's voice took on an interested tone. "Finally, something interesting! 'I know I'm beautiful, but I'm wondering... does he really like me?'"
Nova turned the page. "'I went on a mission with the Leader. Ray and Riku were saying weird things when the Leader's face was turning red.' I feel like my sister can't read the room or emotions. I have failed as a brother," Nova said dramatically, wiping a fake tear.
"'I dreamed about the leader. I might be going crazy. It started ever since we finished the mission. I don't know why, but he always looks more—how can I put this—attractive. That's what I think. Maybe it's just one of those random things that happen when you are too stressed,'" Nova read, barely holding back his laughter.
"No normal person can not even know their own emotions," Seer said in a surprised voice.
"Good luck, Leader. You will need it," Riku said, patting Helios's shoulder.
Suddenly, a blue spiral energy slash cut through Helios's office door, the blade of energy stopping right in front of his desk.