[House Veyrath — Continuation — Hallway]
Kassur Nabu.
The maternal grandfather of Nayara Qadira, the original female lead.
In the original novel, he was the man who brought Nayara into the noble world and introduced her to Vaerun Veyrath. He was also the matchmaker who constantly pushed them together, supplying Nayara with every important detail about the notoriously elusive Azram.
But that wasn’t what made him dangerous.
Kassur Nabu was an exceptionally capable informant, a man who could uncover secrets buried beneath layers of imperial protection. He despised House Azrath with every fiber of his being and had spent years gathering information that could bring down the Malik.
He appeared only when he had something useful against the imperial family. And now, he was standing inside House Veyrath.
’If he’s here... then he must have found something against my bias—I mean, Malik.’
She stared at Kassur, her little brows drawing together.
’But how do I find out why he’s here? If I get even the smallest hint, I might figure out whether the original novel has started or not. Should I ask him a bunch of questions? Pretend to be an innocent, curious child?’
She considered the idea.
’No, wait. I am an innocent child...technically.’
While Seyra was busy plotting her interrogation, Kassur turned his attention towards her.
"So, you’re the rumored daughter of the Azram?"
Seyra froze; she blinked once.
"I’m his daughter," she replied, her little voice surprisingly firm. "What do you mean by ’rumored’?"
Kassur blinked, and for a brief moment, silence settled between them, then he chuckled softly.
"Oh... My apologies, Lady Seyra." He inclined his head politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Seyra stared back at him with an expression so cold that it seemed almost inherited from Vaerun.
’Rumored daughter? What a strange way to introduce yourself to someone.’
Kassur, apparently unbothered by the little girl’s icy stare, gently placed a hand on Enlil’s shoulder and brought him forward.
"Since you are already acquainted with my grandson, I thought he might make a suitable playmate for you. If you wish, I can arrange for him to visit every day—"
"THAT’S. NEVER. GOING. TO. HAPPEN."
A cold voice cut through the hallway, and everyone turned. Vaerun stood at the entrance, his silver eyes fixed on the small boy beside Kassur.
Poor Enlil, he had been trying very hard to stand bravely before the Azram. Unfortunately, his courage appeared to have abandoned him, his shoulders stiffened, his lips parted slightly, and his ocean-green eyes widened.
He looked less like a young nobleman and more like a frightened puppy who had accidentally wandered into a wolf’s territory. Vaerun crossed the remaining distance without sparing him another glance.
He reached Seyra, slid one arm beneath her and lifted her effortlessly into his embrace, only then did he look at Kassur.
"My daughter will never mingle with any men in this world."
. . .
. . .
Silence, an absolute silence.
Seyra stared at her father and then towards Enlil. The poor boy looked as though he was reconsidering every decision that had brought him to House Veyrath.
Vaerun’s expression remained perfectly serious as Seyra looked up at him.
’But...he is just five, and I am four. How is he a man, and how will I mingle with him? What exactly is he thinking?’
She pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to sigh. Kassur cleared his throat, his professional smile returning with admirable effort.
"Azram, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I merely intended to offer my grandson as a playmate for Lady Seyra."
"Then find him another playmate."
Vaerun’s reply was immediate.
Enlil lowered his head, and Seyra stared at her father in disbelief; she placed both little hands against Vaerun’s chest and looked up at him.
"But...I want to play with Enlil."
Vaerun went still, and for a moment, his eyes shifted towards the boy. Enlil looked up hopefully, then Vaerun looked back at Seyra.
"...Why?"
Seyra blinked and stared at him as though he had just asked her why the sky was blue. "Because he’s my friend."
Vaerun’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. Kassur lowered his gaze, concealing what might have been amusement. Seyra, however, was not finished.
"He’s nice, Papa, and he likes cakes."
That seemed to be the final piece of evidence she needed to present. Vaerun looked at her for a long moment, then he glanced at Enlil again; the boy straightened immediately, as if preparing for an imperial execution.
"...Occasionally," Vaerun finally said.
Seyra’s face lit up.
"Really?"
"Under supervision."
"Okay!"
She happily wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Papa!"
Vaerun adjusted her against his chest, his expression still stern. "Do not thank me yet. I have not agreed to daily visits."
Seyra smiled, and Kassur bowed slightly. "Your consideration is appreciated, Azram."
Vaerun gave him a cool glance.
"Do not mistake my daughter’s wishes for an invitation to become familiar with this household, Lord Nabu."
Kassur’s smile did not falter.
"Of course, Azram."
But Seyra, watching the exchange from Vaerun’s arms, narrowed her violet eyes.
Kassur Nabu wasn’t the sort of man who visited a powerful house without a reason. And he certainly wasn’t someone who would casually offer his grandson as a playmate without considering the advantages.
Her gaze lingered on him as she tucked her face against Vaerun’s shoulder, hiding her suspicious expression. For now, she would have to be patient; after all, she was only four, but if Kassur Nabu had brought information that could threaten Malik, she absolutely needed to know.
She simply couldn’t allow her favorite person to be defeated before she had finished watching his story unfold with her papa.
***
[House Veyrath — Private Study]
The door closed behind them, the noise of the reception hall faded, leaving only the quiet crackle of the oil lamp burning beside the bronze shelves.
Vaerun walked towards his desk and removed his gloves.
"Speak, you did not come here merely to introduce your grandson to my daughter."
Kassur Nabu smiled faintly, "Your suspicion is rather flattering, Azram."
"I have little patience for unnecessary visits."
"Then I shall not waste your time." Kassur sat calmly and started sipping the tea, which was served earlier.
"It concerns the illegal Aether Core experiments."
Vaerun’s expression hardened.
"I discovered that the children were not the only things being moved through those channels. Several shipments of refined Aether crystals and core-stabilizing reagents were transported under false merchant registrations."
"Where were they sent?"
"An abandoned research facility beyond the eastern capital district. It was officially closed twelve years ago."
Vaerun furrowed as he asked, "Any records?"
Kassur unrolled some prescriptions. Inside were fragments of transaction records, shipment dates, and several unfamiliar seals.
"These materials are used in advanced core research," he said. "More specifically, in experiments designed to force an Aether Core beyond its natural limits."
Vaerun’s eyes lifted.
"The Aether Ascension Rite."
Kassur nodded.
"I believe the orphanage was only one part of a much larger operation. The funds passed through three merchant houses, then a private foundation, before reaching the research facility. The foundation itself has no registered owner. However, its initial capital came from an account connected to the Imperial Treasury."
Silence settled over the study.
"Connected?" Vaerun repeated.
"Not directly; the account was established through an intermediary several years ago. Its authorization bears the mark of an imperial office."
"Which office?"
"The Office of the Imperial Household."
Vaerun’s gaze became colder.
"That is not proof of Malik’s involvement."
"No. It is not."
Kassur did not attempt to hide the uncertainty.
"I have found no direct order bearing his signature. No personal seal authorizing the experiments. But the financial trail leads close enough to the imperial household that I cannot dismiss it."
Vaerun placed the scroll down.
"Who else knows?"
"Only those I trust to keep their mouths shut."
"Trust is a poor substitute for security, Lord Nabu."
A faint smile touched Kassur’s lips. "Which is why I brought the information to you."
Vaerun studied him for a moment.
"What do you intend to do with it?"
Kassur’s expression lost its mildness.
"The Malik’s birthday ceremony is approaching. Every major noble house will gather at the palace. I intend to make certain these records reach the right people before the celebration ends."
"You intend to accuse Malik in front of the imperial court?"
"I intend to raise a question that he cannot easily dismiss."
"An accusation without conclusive evidence could destroy the investigation before it begins."
"Then help me find the missing evidence."
Vaerun’s eyes narrowed.
"You are asking me to investigate the imperial household."
"I am asking you to determine whether someone is using Malik’s authority...or whether the authority itself is being abused."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Vaerun looked down at the records once more.
The illegal experiments, the trafficked children, and the strange Aether signatures found at the auction. If these transactions were connected, then the orphanage scandal was merely a fragment of something far more extensive, and the possibility that imperial resources had been used to support it made the matter considerably worse.
"Leave the original records with me," Vaerun finally said. "I will have them examined independently."
Kassur nodded.
"And the birthday ceremony?"
"Nothing will be presented until I know what these records actually prove."
Kassur accepted the answer, though his expression suggested he had hoped for more. Vaerun rolled the parchment and secured it with a bronze clasp.
Kassur rose.
"Then I shall await your findings, Azram."
He bowed and left. Vaerun remained beside his desk, his gaze fixed on the sealed scroll.
The imperial household, the Aether Ascension Rite and a trail of money that seemed deliberately designed to disappear before reaching its destination. Why everything is becoming complicated?
There was no proof against Malik Zayrakh but someone had used the authority of the Imperial Household to finance forbidden research involving human Aether Cores and that alone was enough to make the matter dangerous.
Vaerun would investigate, and he would uncover the truth, regardless of whose name stood behind it.
But there was another question. Would Vaerun follow Kassur Nabu’s lead, just as he had in the original novel?
Would he walk the same path that eventually brought him closer to Nayara Qadira...and further into the imperial conflict?
Or...Would something change this time?
After all, the original story had never accounted for a little girl named Seyra Veyrath and perhaps that single difference was enough to rewrite everything.