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Chapter 26
The Shadow of Blackthrone
The faint scent of crushed lavender and rare herbs filled the laboratory chamber.
Glass bottles, shimmering oils, dried petals, and glowing powders covered the long oak table like the aftermath of a magical storm. Prince Alex stood at the center of the chaos, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly messy, looking far more like a mad alchemist than the heir to the Aurelius Empire.
He carefully stirred a glowing violet liquid inside a crystal vial.
The liquid pulsed with faint mana.
"Hmm…"
Alex leaned closer and sniffed the vapor rising from it.
A second later his face twisted.
"Absolutely not."
He immediately poured the liquid into a waste basin.
The mixture hissed violently as smoke rose from the container.
Alex grabbed his notebook and wrote quickly.
Formula #14 — Severe skin irritation. Reduce mana infusion by 40%.
He leaned back and stretched his arms.
For the past few days he had been experimenting nonstop.
Silver Bloom Beauty House had exploded in popularity among noble ladies. The creams and serums he designed were unlike anything the empire had ever seen.
Some nobles called them miracles.
Others called them dangerous.
Alex smiled faintly.
Beauty was one of the most underestimated weapons in politics.
A sword could conquer a battlefield.
But vanity?
Vanity could conquer the people who controlled the battlefield.
He picked up another vial containing a pale golden serum.
"One last test."
He placed a drop on the back of his hand.
Warmth spread slowly across his skin.
Within seconds, the skin looked smoother.
Younger.
Alex nodded with satisfaction.
"Anti-aging serum. Version two… success."
Just as he began writing the formula—
Knock. Knock.
Alex's expression turned neutral.
"Enter."
A servant stepped inside and bowed.
"Your Highness, Miss Selena requests an urgent audience."
Alex frowned slightly.
Selena rarely came to the palace unexpectedly.
And never this early.
Something had gone wrong.
"Bring her to the reception room."
The servant bowed again and left.
Alex washed his hands slowly.
If Selena came personally… the problem must be serious.
---
When Alex entered the reception room a few minutes later, he immediately noticed the atmosphere.
Selena looked terrible.
Her normally elegant hair was messy.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
She looked like someone who hadn't slept for two nights.
The moment she saw Alex she rushed forward.
"Your Highness!"
Alex raised a hand gently.
"Calm down."
"Take a breath first."
Selena inhaled slowly before speaking.
"Two days ago… Lady Blackthrone visited Silver Bloom."
Alex's eyes sharpened.
"Lady Blackthrone herself?"
Selena nodded nervously.
"Yes."
"She arrived with several guards. The moment she stepped into the shop, everyone went silent."
Selena paused before continuing.
"You know the reputation of the Blackthrone family."
Alex nodded slightly.
One of the oldest noble families.
Feared.
Powerful.
And rumored to practice strange… forbidden things.
Selena continued.
"She demanded to see our most expensive products."
"So I showed her everything."
"She bought several items."
Alex tapped his finger on the table.
"And?"
Selena swallowed.
"When she was leaving… she looked at me and smiled."
"But it wasn't a normal smile."
"It was cold."
"Like she already knew something terrible would happen."
Selena repeated the words carefully.
> "Be careful, little merchant."
"Selling false hope can be dangerous."
"Especially when witches pretend to be healers."
The room went quiet.
Alex leaned back slowly.
"Then the rumors started."
Selena nodded.
"In noble circles people are saying Silver Bloom is witchcraft."
"They say our beauty potions are fake."
"They say our products will destroy their faces."
She clenched her fists.
"In only two days we've lost almost all customers."
"If this continues… Silver Bloom will close within a week."
She looked at Alex desperately.
"I believe Lady Blackthrone is behind this."
Alex stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside the palace, the capital bustled with life.
But noble politics always moved beneath the surface.
Invisible.
Deadly.
Alex smiled slightly.
"Well then."
"We should go meet her."
Selena's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
"You can't!"
"The Blackthrones are extremely dangerous!"
"They destroy anyone who opposes them!"
Alex ignored her panic.
Instead he spoke calmly in his mind.
System. Purchase Appearance Change Potion.
A blue screen appeared.
Appearance Change Potion — 200 SC
Purchase?
Yes.
A small black vial appeared in Alex's hand.
He drank it immediately.
His hair darkened.
His facial structure shifted slightly.
Within seconds the royal aura around him disappeared.
Now he looked like a mysterious young merchant.
Alex glanced at Selena.
"Relax."
"I'm not going as a prince."
---
The carriage moved slowly through the noble district.
Huge mansions surrounded the road.
Iron gates.
Private guards.
Stone statues.
Eventually the carriage stopped.
Before them stood the Blackthrone Mansion.
The building looked less like a noble residence…
…and more like a fortress of shadows.
The walls were made of dark stone.
Black vines crawled across the building.
The air felt unnaturally cold.
Selena whispered.
"This place always feels… wrong."
Alex stepped forward.
Two guards immediately crossed their spears.
"Halt!"
"State your business!"
Alex spoke calmly.
"Tell your mistress the owner of Silver Bloom Beauty House has arrived."
Then he added quietly—
"And I came to cure her."
The guards froze.
Inside Alex's mind—
SC Earned +200
Interesting.
Within minutes the entire mansion erupted into chaos.
Servants rushed through hallways.
Whispers spread.
"Someone came to cure Lady Blackthrone!"
---
Alex waited inside a dark reception chamber.
Heavy black curtains blocked sunlight.
Portraits of ancient Blackthrone ancestors watched from the walls.
Their eyes seemed almost alive.
Then—
CREEEAAAK
The door slowly opened.
Lady Blackthrone entered.
Tall.
Elegant.
Terrifying.
Her black dress flowed like living darkness.
Her pale skin contrasted sharply with her crimson eyes.
She stared down at Alex.
"So."
"You are the foolish merchant selling fake hope in my empire."
Selena trembled beside him.
But Alex smiled calmly.
"Fake hope?"
He leaned back.
"No."
"I sell miracles."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You dare mock me?"
Alex shrugged.
"Not at all."
Then he said quietly—
"I know about your illness."
Lady Blackthrone froze.
"And I know why no healer in the empire can cure it."
Her voice dropped dangerously.
"…Explain."
Alex pointed toward the floor.
"To start with…"
"That thing behind you."
Lady Blackthrone frowned.
"My shadow?"
Alex smiled slowly.
"That's not your shadow."
The candles flickered violently.
And the shadow behind Lady Blackthrone…
Moved.
On its own.
Selena gasped.
Lady Blackthrone slowly turned around.
The shadow stretched across the wall like a living creature.
Alex whispered calmly—
"That isn't an illness."
"It's a curse."
And then—
The shadow on the wall suddenly opened its eyes.
---