Who is the spy?

[PoV Emma]

I walked briskly down the palace corridor, my breath heavy, cold sweat trickling down my temple. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hall, mingling with the hurried steps of other maids going about their work.

My heart was still pounding erratically, haunted by Lady Fenrys' words that lingered in my mind. At first, they were difficult to grasp, but I understood perfectly what she was trying to say.

"There is someone from Asgard near you."

Such a simple sentence, yet it struck my mind like a violent storm. A spy. Nearby. Did she mean one of the other maids? Or... someone I knew well? The thought made my head ache.

I even started acting overly cautious whenever I passed by other maids in the hall.

"Why is it always me..."

I wiped the corner of my eye, forcing my legs to move faster through the long palace corridors, which now felt more ominous than ever. My fingertips trembled as I tried to calm myself.

No, there was no way I was the target of a spy. I was just an ordinary maid. I knew nothing about the kingdom's great secrets, let alone about the palace guests like Lady Fenrys or Lord Yatagarasu.

And yet, why did I feel like all eyes were suddenly on me?

When I finally reached my room, my hand trembled slightly, but I forced myself to push the door open and step inside.

It was a small chamber meant to house four maids. Two sets of bunk beds occupied opposite corners, separated by a modest table with a small lantern in the center, serving as a nightlight.

In another corner stood a four-door wardrobe, each section holding our personal belongings. Next to it, several neatly hung clothes swayed slightly from the draft slipping through the window.

Anneke, my roommate, was sitting at the edge of her bed, legs folded casually. Her long emerald-green hair cascaded down her back, gleaming under the sunlight filtering through the window.

At the sound of the door creaking open, she turned, her expression puzzled before breaking into that familiar wide grin.

"Emma," she greeted, tilting her head as she always did. "You look like you just got chased by a starving troll."

"Emma, what happened? You look like you just got chased by a starving troll," she teased, her eyes narrowing mischievously as she studied me.

I stared at her, trying to gauge whether she was joking or if she actually sensed my distress.

"Not a troll," I muttered, collapsing onto my bed.

Anneke chuckled. "Of course not a troll. If a troll ever did chase you, I'm sure you'd be the one winning. You're a bear, Emma. One punch from you, and that troll would run straight back to its cave."

I couldn't help but crack a small smile at her joke.

That was just like Anneke. She always had a way of making things feel lighter. But this time, even her humor couldn't fully dispel the unease gnawing at me.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice soft, understanding.

"Nothing," I replied quietly, trying to sound nonchalant despite the slight tremor in my voice. "I'm just... tired."

She let out a small laugh, the sound light yet oddly piercing. "Tired, huh? That's a classic excuse. But you know, Emma, I know you better than that. You must've heard something disturbing again, didn't you?"

She smirked and stood up, stepping toward me with such smooth, soundless movements—like a serpent gliding through the grass.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" she asked, her tone gentle but laced with curiosity. Her green eyes gleamed as they fixed on me, as if trying to read my mind.

I quickly shook my head and turned away from her gaze. "Nothing, really. I just need to rest."

Anneke sighed, then gracefully walked back to her bed. "Alright, alright. But you know I'm here if you change your mind, right?"

I only nodded, then shut the door and moved toward my bed. But before I could sit, Anneke spoke again while running a brush through her hair.

"You're not working today, Emma?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond.

"Today... I think I need to take a sick leave."

"Ah, I see."

I finally sat at the edge of my bed, watching Anneke as she absentmindedly brushed her hair with her beloved wooden comb.

"What about you, Anneke? You're not working today either?" I asked, trying to ease the tension.

"The head servant asked me to help out later tonight. So for now, I'm free," she answered flatly.

I took a deep breath, trying to loosen the tightness in my chest.

My gaze returned to Anneke. She was now standing leisurely near her bed, her long emerald-green hair flowing down her back, sleek and shimmering.

For a split second, I caught sight of the soft sheen of small, delicate scales on her arms and neck. They often became visible whenever she wore short-sleeved or collarless clothes—a trait that marked her as a Jotun in the form of a serpent.

I gave a faint smile, but my restless thoughts quickly wiped it away, replacing it with a grim look of suspicion.

Could Anneke be the spy?

Lady Fenrys had said someone from Asgard was near me. Didn't that mean the likeliest suspect was someone in this very room?

Anneke's sharp gaze met mine. Then, with eerily graceful steps, she moved closer, her motion so smooth it was almost soundless. Her slender, cold fingers touched my forehead, making me flinch.

"Eh, Anneke, what are you—"

Anneke simply smiled.

"Well, you do look sick," she said, her usual teasing tone returning. "Rejoice, Emma, because I'm actually willing to tell the head servant for you."

I let out a small chuckle, feeling slightly relieved by her cheerful demeanor.

"Thank you, Anneke," I murmured, though my voice was still weak.

Anneke grinned, revealing her perfect white teeth. "Anything for you," she replied, her green eyes glinting as she studied me for a moment before turning to leave the room.

Once the door shut behind her, I remained frozen in place. Silence filled our small chamber, but my mind refused to quiet down.

Anneke wasn't the spy—I was sure of that. She was the one I shared my stories, my laughter, and my worries with.

But if it wasn't her, then who?

Who was Lady Fenrys talking about?

"I hate this."

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at me.

If someone from Asgard was truly among us, then I had to find them before it was too late.

I was just an ordinary maid, but somehow, I knew my presence in this mess was anything but coincidence.

******

[PoV Fenrir] 

I stepped out of the room, taking a long breath as I stretched my stiff body. The breeze that passed by felt refreshing, though it didn't fully clear the fog of unease lingering in my mind. 

I walked casually through the grand halls of the palace, my tail swaying behind the purple gown I wore. My nose flared as I sniffed the scent of the palace air. My steps led me to the palace garden, a place that always offered peace. 

A cold breeze gently blew, swaying the blooming flowers in the garden. But that tranquility quickly faded when I saw him. 

There, Yata stood near the flower garden. His arms were spread wide, enjoying the slow breeze. His deep black hair shimmered in the sunlight, and a slight smile was frozen on his face. 

Seeing him made my heart feel a little lighter. A small smile tugged at my lips, even though I knew it would soon fade. 

When our eyes met, he waved cheerfully, signaling for me to come closer. "Fenrys, come here." 

I let out a short breath, brushing aside all unnecessary thoughts before stepping toward him. 

"I thought you were enjoying your long nap," he joked as I got closer, his voice warm. 

"Long naps are for dragons, not wolves," I replied lightly, beginning to take his teasing more casually. A small smile curved my lips. "Were you waiting for me here?" 

"Of course," he answered, his tone more serious than usual. His bright expression slowly faded, replaced by a more somber one. "There's something I need to discuss with you and Loki." 

I looked at him sharply. There was something in his tone that made a bad feeling settle in my chest. I furrowed my brows. 

Don't tell me he also sensed the possibility of Asgardians being here? He's smarter than I am—he should've started noticing by now. 

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked, my voice deepening. My expression shifted to match the seriousness of the moment. 

"From the look on your face, it seems we're thinking the same thing, aren't we?" 

I bit my lower lip, trying to calm the racing of my heart. Is this about spies? Or has he discovered something else? I had no idea. 

"Maybe..." I murmured, turning my face away. 

Yata suddenly smiled faintly, the tightness in his face softening. "Alright, let's assume we're on the same page," he said with confidence. "Then let's go see Master Loki and discuss everything." 

"O-okay." 

Moments later, without warning, Yata grabbed my hand. The touch was warm, so sudden it left me frozen. My cheeks felt hot, and my face flushed in an instant. 

"Fenrir, are you alright? Your face is a little red," he asked softly, looking at me with a gaze full of concern. 

"No, it's nothing," I stammered, quickly nodding as I touched his hand in return. "I'm fine." 

He smiled a small smile but didn't say anything else. Instead, he simply moved forward, pulling my hand and leading the way. 

I followed him in silence, allowing him to lead as he held my hand. For some reason, my heart was racing uncontrollably. This wasn't the kind of heartbeat that came with battle—this was something else, something warmer and more comforting. 

I closed my eyes, letting the beating of my heart and the warmth spreading through my body consume me. For the first time, I truly wished the world would stop, just for a moment, so I could enjoy this small moment with Yatagarasu.