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Taly was right about the offering made to Vyxas, the God of Gluttony. However, when he remembered the assassination attempt mentioned in his past life, Nikolai never connected because it failed.

However, his vision was different from what happened in his past life. Thus, the timeline has changed, ever so subtly, yet led to drastically different events from the previous one.

\'How did I end up in this mess?\' Nikolai wondered, but he wasn\'t complaining. \'Opportunity lies within the chaos,\' he grinned as he wrote down the last bit of his report.

It included everything he got from Vyxas in a format that allowed the princess to make use of it. Of course, her peace mission was of no concern for him, but it was a part of his duties.

The Fate Vision consumed ten points of his, but Nikolai didn\'t find it a waste. On the contrary, it was probably the best investment he made because he might be able to sneak into Celestia using the knowledge he obtained.

The only reason he was even considering such a reckless plan was that he had two of Val\'s fragments, which should aid him in stealing the source of his powers.

\'To steal from Celestia,\' Nikolai signed the report with his alias name as goosebumps spread over his skin. \'One mistake and I will die.\'

Nikolai lived his whole life following the whims of others or avoiding their impulses. Even after getting a second chance at life, all he did was prevent Julian or follow Valkyrie\'s schemes.

\'I learned about the reason why my life was miserable at the academy, but I didn\'t even consider going against Valkyrie or the others. Even now, I am just running away from Lilith, Master Edward, and everyone who wishes me harm.\'

Nikolai sealed the report in the envelope before standing up to leave his room. The servants began to bow to him as he walked through the mansion until he reached Maria\'s study.

"Come in," her answer came after the first knock, and Nikolai walked in to find that Master Edward was also present. The blood monster gave a wide grin when he saw him.

"My missing toy is back," he said without a hint of shame, and Saint Maria panicked. However, the master allowed her no chance to scold him. "What were you doing in the adventurer\'s union?"

There was a gleam of interest in his eyes as if he knew Nikolai\'s every movement in the city. Nikolai was once again reminded of the red tattoo on his arm, but knowing his location must be the limits of it.

Since Master Edward asked what he did there, it must mean that he couldn\'t hear what Nikolai talked about with Taly. However, Nikolai had no reason to hide anything because hidden stuff made this man more interested.

"I hired an archeologist adventure to help me with this report," Nikolai offered the envelope to Saint Maria, who accepted it while glaring at her uncle.

"Thank you for the hard work, Lyle," she turned toward him with a smile. "Please forgive my uncle for his unbefitting words. But, unfortunately, he has a habit of upsetting around with people he likes."

\'And killing those he doesn\'t like,\' Nikolai thought to himself but didn\'t say it. Saint Maria sat at her desk to read the report as Master Edward made several gestures to grab his attention.

"My niece is the kindest employee you can find," he said with a smile. "How about you betray her just to teach her a lesson?"

His words were in a whisper, but they were audible enough for the princess to hear them. However, she simply ignored him and focused on his report.

Nikolai chose to stay quiet as well. The last thing he needed was for the strategist to find a new interest in him. Nikolai\'s greatest mistake was answering when he should have kept his mouth shut in the previous timeline.

"No great, cynical wisdom spilling out of your mouth today?" Master Edward looked disappointed by his lack of reaction, and he chose to stand up and leave. "You are in no state for me to introduce you to my friend," he said before leaving the study.

Nikolai has unknowingly dodged a bullet. The friend that Master Edward was talking about should be Lilith, and meeting her would be the same as a death sentence.

"This report is amazing..." the princess placed the papers down, staring at Nikolai with shock. "I\'ve seen great advisors who make sloppy reports, but yours is flawless, concise, and informative."

"Your praise is more than I can handle, your highness," Nikolai said with a slight bow. The last time he made a mistake in a report or presented a messy one, Lilith cut away one of his fingers before regenerating it. 

"I am not trying to praise," she sighed before placing the papers back into the envelope and keeping it with her. "You did great, and it is only the first day. I only planned to use your travels and wit to bring the two nations together, but it seems you are a perfect fit for a retainer."

"It fills me with pride to be seen as such by your highness," Nikolai said. Then, in an obvious hesitant gesture, Nikolai opened his mouth and closed it.

"Is there something you wish to say?" Saint Maria could never ignore a follower of hers. Nikolai smiled helplessly before asking his question.

"Master Edward wants to introduce me to a friend, it seems. However, I\'m afraid that I would come out as lacking. As much as I know of his character, I don\'t want to disappoint him. Can your highness tell me about this friend of his?"

This was Nikolai\'s current goal, to learn of the relationship between these two people. His brows furrowed so slightly in worry, his lips turning thin in front of the princess.

"Pft," she gave a small laugh, and it surprised Nikolai. "We are similar, after all," there was relief in her voice as she invited Nikolai to sit. "I understand how difficult my uncle can be. Furthermore, I appreciate your services greatly, so I will help you. First, however, don\'t tell him about this."

"You have my word for that, your highness," Nikolai said with a sincere smile as he placed his hand on his heart. Saint Maria paused and shook her head.

"You said that you don\'t have any friends," she began. "I am the same. We are almost the same age, so you can call me by my name when we are alone."

There was a tint of blush on her face, but Nikolai knew she wasn\'t flirting with him. Saint Maria was a sheltered princess before Valkyrie\'s house led the coup against her. In short, she was lonely and in need of friends.

\'You would expect a person of her status would have forsaken such fantasies of friendship and whatsoever,\' Nikolai paused before he smiled gently at the princess.

"I am honored, Miss Maria," of course, it was too soon to call her by her first name only, but it was already intimate enough. The princess\'s face brightened at his word, and she seemed more eager to help him appease her uncle.

Nikolai had no issue playing along with this friendship game as long as it was helpful to him. Saint Maria could be a good person even after all the hardships she went through, but it was hard for Nikolai to have friends anymore.

"Then, what do you want to know?" she said while leaning forward, whispering in a matter that suggested that they had a secret.

***

Nikolai debated whether faking a friendship with the princess for his gains made him a bad person, but such things rarely ended with an answer.

The princess was a lonely person, surrounded by politicians and nobles who coveted her status or wealth. This environment made it impossible to forge friendships because everyone was a threat.

However, Nikolai was a retainer that they picked up on this city\'s outskirts. His initial unwillingness to work for them made him more trustworthy, so the princess found him a good target for her teenage fantasies of friends and secrets.

Nikolai didn\'t blame her, but it was not his fault for using her because he needed to be on her good books. For him, it didn\'t seem to matter whether he felt anything toward her, as long as she lived the illusion that she had a friend to confide.

At the very least, Nikolai would never tell others. However, he would make use of this knowledge himself. The only issue is that Lilith seems to be more connected to the royal family than he had imagined.

Nikolai had to carefully tread lest he gets picked up by that demigod and turn into one of her freaks. That was a fate that he couldn\'t suffer again, nor should anyone.

As he went back toward his room for the night, Nikolai started to think of ways to sneak into Celestia by using Lilith\'s ambitions against her.