《The Young Lady Who Broke Her Engagement Is Only Obsessed With The Ending》 CH 1 Translated by Tam Edited by Tam 1. I Broke My Engagement With Him Today The results in front of her eyes were horrific. [You didn¡¯t make it all the way to the ending] Serdel smiled in vain as he watched him enter the ceremony hand in hand with the heroine in a pure white gown. [Ending failed and will be reset ¡ùYou will not be able to return to reality until you complete the ending.] Staring resentfully at the status window, which has spread out as if blocking the path between them. With a flash, the world she was standing in vanished. At the same time, it flashed back to countless scenes, like a fall down a hill. They were all a part of what she had gone through here. Sadness, gloom, frustration, and anger washed over the body. After being run over several times. The soul was sucked into a scene that hovered just above the abyss. Her mind had gone blank. How long has it been like this? The sensation, which had been forced to halt, began to reorganize, and the surrounding energy was only vaguely felt. At the same time, the heat in her nose smelled like tea. Serdel had a feeling she¡¯d returned to her first possessed state. ¡®It¡¯s a teahouse,¡¯ Count Hershe Maient, her fianc¨¦e and traitor, will be sitting in front of her. And then he¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s break up, Young Lady.¡± On that day, he must be spitting out the words of breaking up the engagement. She can¡¯t hear it well, but she can easily predict it because she has seen it before. Her eyes filled with tears. Regardless of the will, it was a random phenomenon. Damn it. At a time like this! Her eyes welled up with tears as she thought about how unhappy she was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She could imagine him staring at her. ¡®Those who have come to drink tea may be listening.¡¯ There must be a serious vibe between him and her. The more Count Maient grows, the more aware he will be of having a sinful day. He was that kind of man. A man who pretends to be polite while using cruel words when necessary. He¡¯s such a jerk who only cares about how she appears in the eyes of others. The Hershe Maient was the name of the character. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She couldn¡¯t even raise her lips due to the dull sensation, so she just cried. ¡®I¡¯m so annoyed!¡¯ Her stomach felt like it was going to burst. When are all of this jerk¡¯s senses going to return! Is it a punishment for failing in the end? The combined speed of soul and body was significantly faster. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. I¡¯ll send the letter to the House of Young Lady as soon as possible.¡± With that, he carefully rose from his seat and bowed his head deeply. W-wait! 10.9.8.7¡­¡­ ¡°Then I¡¯ll proceed because I have work to do.¡± ¡­.3, 2, 1. Light up! Her fingers wriggled as the curtain of vision, which had only been sprinkled, lifted. She believes she has regained her senses. Serdel purposefully pushed the chair back. ¡°Why do you simply say anything you want and leave out the most important part? You must return the Elbash forest development rights you obtained in exchange for your marriage.¡± Yes, that is the game¡¯s first main story and the most important starting point. ¡®I can¡¯t have you involved.¡¯ She will not make the same rash decision she did back then. Serdel put her handkerchief on her cheek and wiped away her tears first. Because the cosmetics here are all of the low quality, the eyes are most likely ruined. She didn¡¯t want to seem foolish, Damn it. ¡°You¡¯re going to cut your hands on our family¡¯s business if you¡¯ve mentioned the annulment of the engagement. I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s supposed to go on like this, do you?¡± ¡°Young Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Even if they are not the Count, there are many people who wish to help grow the Elbash Forest. You abandoned me, and I hope you¡¯re not up to something dirty. Why don¡¯t you properly prepare the proper documents and submit them along with the letter of cancellation of engagement? Then, I¡¯ll get going as well.¡± To him, who was bewildered as if he had not expected such a knife-like reaction, Serdel snorted and came out without any regrets. Crazy bast*rd. She is feeling better on the inside. ******* She was trapped in the game three years ago. She had just finished a hectic assignment when she was told to end her relationship with her boyfriend. She was embarrassed. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t forget we were getting married, did you? Is it April Fool¡¯s Day today? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have someone I love.¡± ¡°¡ªWhat?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been seeing each other for so long, aren¡¯t we a little tired of each other? Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to live with loyalty if we married in that state?¡± ¡°¡­The one you love? Loyalty?¡± She was stunned because she was so dumbfounded. ¡°Let¡¯s simply break up cleanly before the wedding invitation comes out.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but catch her boyfriend as he was leaving the cafe. Shame? Pride? She didn¡¯t have time to deal with it. She simply couldn¡¯t let this guy leave like this. In truth, she isn¡¯t much better than he is. It was more frightening to be abandoned than to die. She wants to start a family as soon as possible in order to relieve her terrible loneliness. ¡°Are you upset with me? Did I make a mistake? Huh? So, why do you become so sensitive when planning a wedding? Is that the case?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in marrying you, and what about being sensitive? Let¡¯s not be mean.¡± Those were his final words. She has no idea what spirit she brought home with her. She made a few mistakes that the company did not, and she was constantly scolded by her boss. In the end, she went on vacation and stayed at home for a while. She watched movies, dramas, and entertainment shows, but they only made her feel worse. She then began playing a game called ¡°The Female Lead¡¯s Men.¡± It was a reverse harem love simulation game in which the female protagonist, Alexa, ended up switching between the four male protagonists. It¡¯s difficult to fall in love with just one person, but there are four of them! For the first time, the virtual world she was experiencing was enticing enough to keep her awake. She became engrossed in the male protagonists, who used them as escapes from reality. Possession is the result. She became the fiancee of the main characters, Hershe Meiant, and became the Count¡¯s second daughter, Serdel Robbesta. And she clung to him for a long time before breaking up with him again. She didn¡¯t want to be left behind in this world after her ex-boyfriend. She was terrified of being abandoned as a result of the trauma of her childhood. Her self-esteem was low. There was also longing in her body for Count Meiant, and her lingering feelings grew stronger in him. ¡®What¡¯s more, I¡¯m not sure if Alexa was with him.¡¯ She moved on to another male character in the middle, so she circled him. She, too, was reliant on him at the time. No, she acted in such a way that she couldn¡¯t help but believe she was relying on him. She had no idea that a single delusion would send her to hell. She was completely swayed by his soft smile. She should¡¯ve acted weakly like a heroine. She couldn¡¯t complete the ending because he gave all his heart to one person. ¡®I want to go back¡ª¡¯ To her own personal reality. ¡®I¡¯m sick and tired of dating,¡¯ There has been far too much emotion consumed. She was now afraid to love. But only for as long as she¡¯s stuck here, if she doesn¡¯t want to be reset again, she must connect with one of the male characters faster than Alexa. ¡®I won¡¯t fail anymore. I¡¯ll definitely go back.¡¯ Except for Count Maient, who is a dumpster, she is going after the rest of them. ¡®How should I approach it?¡¯ Serdel reached out in regret after a long period of thought. It was too painful to walk to the house in these shoes with no path. Her toes felt like they were going to break off as soon as she realized this. And the sloppy dresses were an annoyance as well. ¡®Why did this woman send the family carriage back in the past!¡¯ She reached for the carriage that was coming this way, grumbling inwardly. The white roof appeared to be a two-seater luxury carriage primarily used by aristocrats at first glance. It was a mode of transportation similar to a taxi here. Serdel opened the door before the horseman could get off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but could you please hold my hand?¡± She didn¡¯t even look to see who was already on board. She was completely insane. It was easy to climb at once as she tightly clasped the hem of the dress with one hand, and her hand came close. ¡°Thank you very much. I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± Ugh! She sat down and adjusted her dress after taking the hand and getting into the carriage. She didn¡¯t forget to remove her shoes. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡®It¡¯s as if I¡¯m alive!¡¯ Only then will she be able to take a look around the carriage. ¡®It¡¯s a fancy carriage, but it¡¯s too fancy on the inside.¡¯ The sensation is a little¡ª. ¡°Where should I take you to?¡± Then, all of a sudden, she heard a sweet voice. Serdel¡¯s eyes turned opposite. A man with shining hair, dark eyes, and a terrifyingly beautiful appearance was smiling slightly at her. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Count¡¯s Young Lady Serdel Robbesta.¡± CH 2 Translated by Tam Edited by ¡®I¡¯m embarrassed¡ª¡¯ She was unable to raise her head. ¡®I should have double-checked that it was the right carriage! I¡¯m not a moron.¡¯ She should¡¯ve waited until the horseman approached. How dare she open the door so quickly! It was by no means an act that would be seen as a noble girl. ¡®I¡¯m stupid enough to make this mistake.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ve said it a few times, but I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Serdel¡¯s apology was made with her hands clasped together. Over the newspaper he was reading, he still had a straight smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve told you a few times, but that¡¯s all right, Young Lady. Rather, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a beautiful soul for a moment.¡± He said it casually. ¡°I really appreciate you saying that.¡± Serdel finally smiled as she straightened her back. ¡°I¡¯ll be comfortable on the way back home.¡± ¡°Please do so.¡± He returned to the newspaper. Serdel then cast a glance at him. ¡®I mean, it¡¯s amazing. I just reached out his hand to the carriage.¡¯ She had no idea such an unintentional encounter was going to happen. This nonsense happens as a surprise event from time to time, possibly because it is in the game. ¡®From the start, I think this second part is good. In any case, it appears to be scary.¡¯ She¡¯s never seen him so close before. Dark brows and long eyelashes that slightly cover the lower eyes. The concentrating eyes beneath it were so appealing that she almost dropped it. ¡®How did the first part sound like?¡¯ She didn¡¯t even leave the teahouse that quickly back then. ¡®I was crying and holding Count Hershe¡¯s legs.¡¯ He was the first to leave, and she spent some time crying as she walked around the streets. She can¡¯t believe it even now. She was abandoned by her fianc¨¦e unexpectedly and was confused because she didn¡¯t know what to do. Her feet were already covered in blood by the time she arrived late at night. When she burst into tears again, her father, who witnessed it, scolded her severely. A strange world that she only knew through games. And she had no choice but to live in this strange world. ¡®I¡¯ve been lying in bed for a few days.¡¯ Even in the midst of her confusion, she felt it was a waste to let go of the family business, so she went to apologize in front of his family, holding a letter of broken engagement. Please don¡¯t abandon me. She begged and begged again. ¡®When I think about it again, there was no other person who was as ugly as him.¡¯ She should not ruin herself to the point where she had no pride, no matter how afraid she was of being abandoned. What have you gained by doing so now? ¡®There isn¡¯t anything.¡¯ Her mouth tastes bitter. There¡¯s another guy in front of her besides that jerk. ¡®I made a stupid mistake.¡¯ Damon Spendar. One of the Male Protagonists and the Marquis¡¯ heir. A person with a caring personality who smiles well for everyone. Beautiful appearance, with a high neck collar and a thick neck that is partially hidden by a cravat but peeks out, and despite his appearances, the body covered by clothes must be quite solid. She could tell just by looking at the wrist tendon between the sleeves. ¡®You¡¯ll be quite tall if you stand up.¡¯ As a result, he was popular in society. His beauty was dangerous enough to make the Marquis noisy the next day when many of the Young Lady of the system saw him at the banquet hall. ¡®The only problem is that he¡¯s an iron man.¡¯ Being kind to everyone meant being fair to everyone, and it also meant that he didn¡¯t pay any more attention to them. ¡®Alexa was also quite anxious.¡¯ He was the only character she couldn¡¯t stand. Even when she was playing the game, she couldn¡¯t finish the ending with him. She had no idea that he had someone in mind while completing the ending of Count Maient and the female lead until she entered the game. In some ways, he¡¯s an untouchable character. ¡®That¡¯s why I like it better.¡¯ That high nose. ¡°Sir Damon.¡± ¡°Go ahead, Young Lady.¡± ¡°Are you not interested in Elbash Forest¡¯s development rights?¡± ¡°There was, indeed. Furthermore, I still have it. Isn¡¯t it already agreed that Count Maient, Young Lady¡¯s fianc¨¦e, will take part?¡± ¡°He did, indeed. But I decided to end my relationship with him today.¡± He folded the newspaper and fixed his gaze on Serdel. The eyes that were looking at the intention were soft, but they also gave off a cool vibe. At the same time, the carriage stopped. ¡°It appears that I have arrived. Thank you very much for today. I arrived here in comfort thanks to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved you were comfortable.¡± The horseman opened the door just in time. Damon, who was the first to get off, reached his hand to her. As she came down, she sprained her leg while holding his hand. This damn shoes! She would have been seriously injured if Damon hadn¡¯t grabbed her stumbling body. ¡°Thank you.¡± Looking at Serdel greeting gracefully as if nothing had happened, Damon kissed her on the back of her hand briefly rather than asking if she was okay. ¡°I apologize for the short meeting, but I will return today. If you agree, please give me a call on a day that is comfortable for Young Lady. I¡¯d like to see you again.¡± Naturally, she was given the opportunity to schedule the next appointment. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone the day after tomorrow. I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Serdel turned around and entered the Count¡¯s mansion. Damon¡¯s carriage was also getting further and further away. But they¡¯ll be getting closer soon. She¡¯ll make it happen. ****** ¡°Lady! Did you have a good date?¡± Serdel removed her shoes first as Siri approached. ¡°Oh my goodness! So I told you not to wear them until you¡¯re comfortable with them! The blisters are all over it. Wasn¡¯t it painful?¡± Siri, who noticed her feet, was on the move. Serdel sighed deeply, resting her head on her shoulder, feeling upset and had no idea what to do. She feels as if she¡¯s calming down. ¡°L-lady?¡± Siri, the maid, was the only person in this desolate family with whom she felt at ease. After all, she was the one she saw the day before. ¡®Because that is the mature Siri of the future, as well as the fresh Siri of the past right now.¡¯ Anyway, it¡¯s nice to meet you! It¡¯s great to see you again! ¡°Lady, you were in a good mood when you left. But why are you so weak? Did something happen?¡± ¡°What happened? A lot, a lot. There were so many.¡± Count Hershe and the female lead are paired together, and she¡¯s like a chicken chasing a dog¡ªno, she¡¯s like a princess in the sea who has lost her voice and turned into a bubble of water. ¡®And now I¡¯m back in time.¡¯ She sighed, of course, because she couldn¡¯t say it as it was. ¡°My engagement was broken.¡± ¡°¡­Y-yess?¡± A thunderous scream burst from Siri¡¯s mouth. Serdel, with her face on her shoulder, frowned as her ears rang. ¡°L-lady!! W-what are you saying? You said you broke up!¡± Her face began to turn blue at once, shivering with the pale day. ¡°You said your engagement was broken!¡± ¡°Calm down, Siri. Take it easy.¡± ¡°Uh, uh, how can I calm down? Are you all right, Lady? Oh, my God! Oh, my God! The more she said the word ¡®breaking up,¡¯ the worse she felt. Siri¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as a result of the pressure of words. ¡®I¡¯m the one who ended it¡­¡¯ The master appears to comfort the maid all of a sudden.¡±Don¡¯t cry. I, too, did not want to marry him. I¡¯ve made the decision to neatly break our engagement.¡± ¡°H-how are you doing? Are you really okay?¡± ¡°What else isn¡¯t okay? We could break up if it doesn¡¯t fit.¡± ¡°However¡ª You really like Count Hershe¡ª I know you didn¡¯t want it, I know it was a lie¡ª¡± Siri lowered her head as she spoke. She began babbling after muttering to herself for a while. ¡°I¡¯m really fine.¡± So don¡¯t cry. ¡®If you¡¯re sad like that, I will sympathize with the foolish me of the past.¡¯ She was dozens of times more miserable than she is now. Serdel might as well resent it, but he didn¡¯t want to be pitied. CH 3 Count Cartal Robbesta, who had returned to the family following the Imperial conference, was greeted by Serdel. ¡°Are you back, Father?¡± The footsteps that had been going by indifferently had come to a halt. He turned his head to look at her smile. ¡°¡­Where¡­ Are you not feeling well?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± That¡¯s right. Serdel smiled as she clicked her tongue inside. Since the death of her mother, the Countess, 10 years ago, there has been no conversation in her family. In this mansion, Serdel, whom she possessed, was very eccentric. With a blunt father and no particular talents between an older sister and an older brother, she was nothing more than an ugly duckling. As a result, it was natural that even the most casual and ordinary greetings were unfamiliar to each other. ¡®There was nothing to see face to face.¡¯ ¡°Whoa, I¡¯m tired.¡± Just then, someone came in. The eldest son of the family, Redan Robbesta, Serdel¡¯s brother, loosened the cravat and unbuttoned the shirt that was tied around his neck. ¡°You¡¯re back, Brother.¡± Serdel smiled softly once again. ¡°¡­.Are you sick anywhere?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Again, it is. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? Why don¡¯t we do it in the dining room together instead of separately today? I¡¯ve already prepared everything, so just change your clothes and come.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Two people remained silent. ¡°I have something to say after dinner.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re not putting poison in the food, are you? Or did you make it yourself? Has she been in and out of the kitchen since she was a kid? I don¡¯t think your abilities have improved as much as when you have your nails done.¡± It¡¯s embarrassing for her to do something she¡¯s never done before. With a serious expression, Redan muttered. ¡°Please change your clothes and come out.¡± Cartal went inside first. Redan followed behind him, murmuring quietly. ¡°¡­What are you going to say, even make you cook a meal? By the way, did she really make it? She didn¡¯t cook soup out of sand, did she?¡± Serdel couldn¡¯t help but smile when she saw him like that. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat and have a stomach ache¡­¡± ****** ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little sad that Lady Addis isn¡¯t here, but it¡¯s great to see everyone eating together after a long time. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Despite the butler¡¯s and maid¡¯s efforts, no words were said between the three of them. The only sound in the quiet was the clatter of plates. By the time the maids in the back had their complexion turned blue by this suffocating atmosphere. Serdel put the fork and knife down. Now that they¡¯ve eaten a little, it¡¯s time for her to do her business. ¡°I broke my engagement with Count Maient.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Pugh-!¡± Redan, who was on the point of pulling out the wine, hastily covered his lips with a napkin. Cartal¡¯s gaze was drawn to her only then. His brow began to drop. ¡°I thought he was asking for a date, but he told me to break up.¡± ¡°What are you.. so calm about it?¡± Redan asked, tossing down the napkin that had been used to wipe his mouth. ¡°So what if I am?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Should I cry and scream instead?¡± If so, will he accept it? ¡®It¡¯s not even funny.¡¯ Except for her maid Siri, no one took care of her struggles in the past. Not a single word was said. Rather, he spits out only harsh words with his pitiful gaze. To her who was hurt. Far from being considerate, he brutally stabbed her heart with a knife. It was only natural that they didn¡¯t get along. But she had no intention of arguing with them now. She didn¡¯t want to be tired now, revealing her emotions in the face of a specific goal. ¡®As long as I¡¯m not expecting it.¡¯ Just another member of this body¡¯s family. They were just as good to her as everyone else. It is good enough to take only what she needs and ignore the rest. Serdel, who had taken her gaze away from Redan, spoke to Cartal with the same bluntness. ¡°He¡¯ll most likely drop by tomorrow early afternoon with a letter of cancellation. I requested that you sort out the development rights related to the Elbash forest¡ª¡± ¡°Did you have the right to speak in relation to the family business?¡± The mouth, which had been tightly shut even when the breakup was announced, was only opened when the conversation turned to business. Even the face became fierce. ¡°I haven¡¯t, but I¡¯d like to request it because I¡¯m directly involved.¡± ¡°How and in what capacity?¡± ¡°As Count Cartal Robbesta¡¯s daughter.¡± Serdel said without avoid the glare. ¡°I¡¯m a member of the family. I believe I have the right to speak.¡± ¡°Because?¡± ¡°After all, marriage is a family business. Is there any reason to keep the already fractured business from marriage?¡± ¡°Then?¡± He nodded, as if he wanted her to continue. ¡°I don¡¯t believe Count Maient has a strong enough reason to accept that much. There¡¯s no reason why Count Robbesta should be taken away from a disrespectful man.¡± Cartal remained silent. She is the youngest daughter, and she has never argued like this before. What a daring look she has. ¡°Many people are still fighting for the right to develop the Elbash Forest. There are many families with the skills and abilities to assist us as much as Count Maient.¡± Serdel¡¯s tone had changed before he realized it. If there had previously been a soft tone of persuasion, there was now a firm tone of determination. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He was deep in thought. Elbash Forest is a large forest located west of Count Robbesta that was previously classified as a dangerous area due to monster territory. Except for professional hunters registered on the estate, he also forbidden them from entering. A few months ago. An incident occurred when the monster cubs, who had not yet left the realm, entered the hunters¡¯ territory. Because they were afraid that the cubs that followed them would attack the village, the hunters who were trying to escape were forced to become baits. They went into monster territory to send them back. It was an inducement in and of itself. They had no choice but to pass through the monster¡¯s territory. Then they discovered a Mana stone mine. As soon as they made the Elbash forest known, it became a hot potato. Cartal made the decision to drive the monsters away and seize control of the forest. It was absurd to think that the Mana stone mine had not been developed because of the monster area, so he had no choice but to make a risky choice. After all, even if they are found in the territory, Mana stone mines are not completely owned by the lord. Some rights had to be given to the Emperor, the country¡¯s owner. Instead, as part of his owner¡¯s responsibilities, the Emperor assisted in the development of the mine. There was no reason to retreat. In the end, he successfully drew Imperial support. Furthermore, in order to fill in the gaps, they set out to find someone to work with on the development of Elbash Forest. Many people approached, but it was Count Maient who was chosen in the end. Serdel¡¯s fianc¨¦e and his estate were close with Count Robbesta. It was the most important factor in receiving assistance. On the contrary, if it wasn¡¯t for those two reasons, there was no reason to stick to Serdel¡¯s words. ¡°Is there anyone in particular you have in mind? I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but we¡¯ve already had numerous discussions with Count Maient.¡± ¡°But this is just a discussion, and no exploration or development has yet begun. How fortunate is this? It would have been more difficult if the engagement had ended in the middle of the day.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°Please give me some time. I¡¯ll recommend the right person, not the self-centered individual who easily betrays trust.¡± It was the first time he¡¯d seen Serdel look so confident. Even though the breakup was significant, he couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from the way she acted confidently rather than heartbroken. ¡°¡ªWhen Count Maient arrives, I will accept the letter called off engagement and reclaim the right to develop Elbash Forest.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, Father.¡± ¡°¡ªThere is no need to bow down as a result of this type of incident. Take a rest.¡± Cartal, who was the first to rise from his seat, left the dining room. He was followed by the butler and the maid. Redan spoke to Serdel, who was holding a glass of wine, with an inward sigh. ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No, you said the engagement had ended. How did you manage to be so carefree?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been saying the same thing for a long time. What am I supposed to show you, brother?¡± ¡°¡ªThat¡¯s.¡± Redan¡¯s mouth was closed as he prepared to say something. Serdel stood up with a glass of wine in her hand, leaving him unsatisfied. ¡°I¡¯m tired, so I¡¯ll go and rest first. Brother, take a rest.¡± ¡°H-huh?¡± He tried to reach out to her, but Redan, who raised his hand, scratched his head. CH 4 The sun shone brightly. When was the last time she ate a light breakfast? Her maid Siri knocked on her door as she was reading a book. ¡°Count Maient has arrived, Lady.¡± When she spoke, she had a really dark expression on her face. Serdel stood up, closed the book aloud, and raised her finger. ¡°I¡¯m just asking, you¡¯re not trying to attack him with the fork in your apron pocket, are you?¡± She was startled. ¡°Uh, uh, how did you know there was a fork in there?¡± Siri is the child who came from the slum before to the possession of ¡®Serdel.¡¯ Perhaps she was loyal enough to slit his throat without hesitation for her master because she had been saved by her. She knows since she used to hide her fork in the same way. Despite the fact that she couldn¡¯t stab him. Knowing how her actions would affect Serdel, she instead grabbed Count Maient¡¯s trouser leg, keeping her fork behind her and crying. She clicked her tongue as she remembered that moment. ¡°Ck. What¡¯s the deal with that fork? This fork will not work. If you¡¯re going to do something, be sure you have the right weapon.¡± ¡°Are you okay with that, L-Lady?¡± Her eyes grew red once again. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She shrugged and left the bedroom. As she was walking down the staircase, she ran into a young woman with her dark brown hair nicely pulled back. She lifted her cold eyes ferociously. Addis Robbesta is the eldest and first daughter. She was her own¡ªno, she was the body¡¯s older sister. She was the Count¡¯s heir, as well as the Imperial Knights¡¯ vice-captain. She was also famous as a genius Knight. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you after such a long time.¡± ¡°¡­Is Father in the office?¡± ¡®She¡¯s a tough person.¡¯ ¡°No, Father is in the living room. Count Maient has brought a letter of broken engagement.¡± ¡°What the hell is that¡­¡± Even before hearing the answer, the living room door was opened wide. Inside the room, they can see Cartal, Redan, and Count Maient. The eyes of the three gathered. ¡°Young Lady Serdel..¡± Count Maient rose to his feet and gave her a fake smile. ¡®Anyone who sees it will believe he is sorry.¡¯ ¡°See you again today. Count Maient. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve prepared well for the breakup you wanted?¡± Serdel said with a sarcastic smile, ¡°I hope there are no problems with the documents.¡± He seemed to have an intuition that things weren¡¯t going to go the way he wanted them to. His face grew darker. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask for a broken engagement first?¡± Cartal asked casually as he sipped the tea brought by the maid. Even the same Count has different years of age and experience. Furthermore, the atmosphere was tense because he didn¡¯t even glance at him. For Count Maient, it¡¯s very nerve-racking. ¡®You want to cancel your engagement, but you also want to maintain your business.¡¯ This selfish b*stard. ¡°May I ask the reason?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± He found it difficult to open his mouth. ¡®It¡¯s difficult to say you have someone you love in a place like this.¡¯ Hm. Serdel snorted and picked up the teacup. ¡°Serdel mentioned yesterday. You betrayed the trust. Is that, after all, a woman¡¯s problem? ¡± ¡°¡­..¡± In an instant, Addis and Redan¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m correct because you don¡¯t deny it. Just give me the papers you¡¯ve prepared.¡± Cartal¡¯s face is also stiff. He carefully pushed out the paper bag after a moment¡¯s hesitation in the cold atmosphere. ¡°This is the letter of broken engagement.¡± ¡°Other than that?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Serdel told you to organize the Elbash forest¡¯s development rights and bring them back.¡± ¡°¡­¡­a broken engagement is a broken engagement, and a business is still a business.¡± ¡°Do you mean we should treat it as a separate issue and proceed separately?¡± Only then did Cartal¡¯s eyes turn to Count Maient. Taang! ¡°You¡¯re really shameless.¡± It seemed to be hard to listen to anymore. Addis, who hit the table with her palm, tried to kill Count Maient. ¡°Most marriages between nobles are political marriages. So it is written off as part of the business itself. You¡¯ve already cracked your business, and you can¡¯t let go of Elbash Forest Development?¡± The more she spoke, the more exhilarated she became, the more her lips rose. ¡°You must have taken Count Robbesta pretty easily, huh? Or funny. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going to humiliate her and take care of them separately. Do you think this makes sense?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Or do you consider Serdel as a person who could be treated so rudely?¡± Addis¡¯ voice was getting lower. As a result, Count Maient¡¯s face became darker. ¡°There is a limit to being polite, Count. Don¡¯t be a fool and get rid of the Elbash forest development rights.¡± Her words emitted a vicious energy. Redan, who had been watching the situation silently, took a step forward. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap it up here. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to let it go because I still have a lot of feelings about development rights. I¡¯m sick of dragging my feet with only one¡ª¡± The butler took the paper and fountain pen from his arms and placed them on the table in response to Redan¡¯s hand gesture. He cast a glance at Count Maient. ¡°I will voluntarily give up the right to develop the Elbash forest beginning with the broken engagement; please mention it. Please also include a statement stating that you will not discuss it with anyone outside of the Count¡¯s residence and that you will organize all documents and send them to the Count¡¯s residence within a few days.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Would you like me to write you a memorandum, Count?¡± ¡°We should only use it when it is necessary. You shouldn¡¯t be offended because one Count has now insulted our entire Count family.¡± Redan¡¯s mouth corners raised. Redan¡¯s mouth was unstoppable once he started being sarcastic. ¡°You¡¯re not aware that a one-sided annulment of marriage can result in alimony claims, are you? However, going there makes things too complicated, so you should stop here. Please follow me quietly when this side is patient, and please be considerate.¡± Count Maient clenched his teeth. ¡°Write it down.¡± Cartal, too, tucked it away rather than discouraging Redan. Addis also put pressure on him. The butler, maid, and maids from behind all looked at the paper and fountain pen. Count Maient¡¯s gaze was drawn to Serdel, who was sipping tea leisurely in the midst of all of this. ¡°Young Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, what are you doing when you¡¯re not writing?¡± Serdel smiled. Like a poisonous rose, the smile was creepy. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°I know who you have feelings for. You don¡¯t want to humiliate her for no reason, do you?¡± The careless words became a trigger. They used to think it was a woman¡¯s problem, but when no one else heard the truth, the atmosphere in the living room became tense, as if it was about to explode. In embarrassment, Serdel struck the paper in front of him with the back of her hand. ¡°Hurry up and write. Didn¡¯t I tell you yesterday? Don¡¯t be so pathetic.¡± Count Maient¡¯s eyes shook violently. Eventually he picked up the fountain pen. ***** Count Maient had been gone for ten minutes, but no one had gone up. How long has it been? Clang! Redan smacked the table with his rolled fist. ¡°You! Did you figure out who the Count had in mind?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°What if he didn¡¯t request that you break up first? You knew that, but you tried to put up with it and get married? Don¡¯t you have any pride?¡± Serdel didn¡¯t bother to answer his fierce question. ¡°Ha! Is that why you were so direct yesterday? This idiotic thing! The Count¡¯s entire humiliation!¡± ¡°How come you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± With a stiff face, Addis cut off Redan¡¯s words and asked. ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s settled here, but what if we start developing the forest and the breakup story comes up?¡± ¡®And Count Maient would have been more shameless than he is now.¡¯ It must have been difficult for this person to change the partner who had already put their hands and feet together in this way. ¡°In your marriage, you are not alone. You should have said everything if you were aware that it was directly related to the family.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time, but you¡¯re still the same.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Even though I seem calm, I¡¯m the one who broke my engagement today.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Her lips were pursed, but Addis kept her mouth shut as she gazed at Serdel, who was not smiling. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you, as a family member, ask if I¡¯m okay with that instead of criticizing me?¡± The excitement that had filled the corners of Redan¡¯s eyes soon faded. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s done well, isn¡¯t it? I hope we don¡¯t offend anyone by assuming something that didn¡¯t happen. On a day like today.¡± It¡¯s pathetic. ¡°I¡¯ll get up first.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Are you okay?¡± Serdel lowered her head in response to Adis¡¯ bluntness. ¡°No, I¡¯m not okay.¡± She was about to say it¡¯s fine, but she became grumpy. Only then did Serdel once again forcefully speak to Addis, who raised her head, with a blank face. ¡°I¡¯m not okay.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not okay.¡± The brows of a beautiful and strong sister who captivated both men and women were distorted. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Serdel, who had lost her gaze, left the room, as if she didn¡¯t want to hear anything else. CH 5 Was it because of that relief that Count Maient¡¯s work had gone after she had been pulled back and forth in the past? The tension was released as soon as she entered the bedroom, and when she opened her eyes again¡­ ¡°Lady¡­¡± Siri was crying. She¡¯s not sure if she¡¯s really awake, but her vision is blurry. And, judging by her voice, it had to have been because her face was covered with tears and a runny nose. ¡°¡­¡± Her mind was blank. There seemed to be something flashed in the space between. What is it? The text in the square window¡­ It couldn¡¯t be the status window, can it? It has never appeared before, except when she first possessed it and when it announced the failure of the ending. Ugh. What it says there. ¡®I can¡¯t really see the letters.¡¯ It was then that she became aware of the strangeness and struggled to come to her senses. It¡¯s hazy now, but it¡¯s gone. The status window was also moved away at the same time. Just for a little while. Her vision became clear as light began to shine in her eyes. ¡°¡­..!¡± Serdel only blinked blankly while breathing heavily. When she turned her head, she saw Siri standing nearby, followed by Cartal, Addis, and Redan. Even so, Siri, why are those three people here¡ª? ¡°L-Lady¡ª!¡± ¡°What, are you awake?¡± Redan pushed Siri aside and pushed his face toward her. ¡°Huh? Are you awake?¡± His eyes were bright red. His skin was swollen, and his beard had grown slightly. What exactly is going on? She had never seen him so disorganized before, so she stared at him for a long time without realizing it. ¡°Hey! Are you awake!¡± She awoke and blinked her eyes open. She¡¯s not sure why he keeps asking the same question, but she¡¯s getting annoyed. ¡°L-lady! Ugh, for a week¡ª! You haven¡¯t been up in a week!¡± Siri quickly explained the situation after noticing the change in her expression. The brow was tensely contorted. ¡°Lady¡­ couldn¡¯t wake up, so I assumed something big was about to happen, ugh¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡± There¡¯s no way. ¡®In the past, I was definitely sick for a day or two, but not a week.¡¯ Furthermore, there was no such thing as the status window flashing or disappearing in front of her eyes at the time, as there is now. ¡®Is it a result of resetting?¡¯ Indeed. In her possessed state, she even went back to the past of the same person¡ª. There is no way there will be no issue. She stood up after biting her lower lip. It¡¯s a shame she didn¡¯t see the status window because she thought it was a penalty. She can¡¯t do anything about it. Let¡¯s take what she has already missed seriously. She realized from previous experience that worrying will not solve anything. The reality in front of her comes first. She had to hurry because she had already wasted a week because she had to move so quickly. ¡®I need to get in touch with Damon first.¡¯ She¡¯s certain he¡¯s looking for her. Redan suddenly grabbed her shoulder as she was about to get out of bed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°You just woke up!¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°¡­.What?¡± ¡°I just woke up, so what do you want me to do?¡± He seemed to be at a loss for words in the face of that stare. Redan clenched his teeth. Was this Serdel¡¯s personality? What exactly is this sense of distance and wall that he has been experiencing for some time? They had never been friendly, but he didn¡¯t expect to hear such a thing even in this situation, so the back of his head tingled. He felt like he¡¯d been punched. ¡°The doctor was here. The doctor said that you are unstable as a result of the shock.¡± Addis stepped forward as Redan was choosing his words. ¡°You should get some rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯d gotten enough rest if I slept well for a week.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Will you all leave now if you don¡¯t have anything to say?¡± Addis, who was speechless, also shut her mouth. She pondered whether she should tell her younger sister. She, like Redan, was looking for something to say. ¡°¡­.Please take a break.¡± Cartal was the first to leave, as if it didn¡¯t matter as long as she was awake. Serdel called out to the remaining Redan and Addis. What? Are you not going? ¡°¡­..¡± Siri was the only one left after two people left without saying anything else. ¡°Uh-huh! Lady! Are you alright? I had a feeling something was wrong with Lady, and¡ª¡± Serdel patted Siri¡¯s back, who was sobbing like a child. ¡°Are you all okay now? Huhu¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine. Can you calm down and call the butler?¡± ¡°Huhu¡ª Butler? Yes, I understand..¡± Whoa. Serdel, who was finally alone, stretched out. It felt strangely revived despite the fact that she had been lying in bed for a long time. She sat at her desk and pulled out a piece of paper and a fountain pen. ¡®First, write down your apology.¡¯ Brush brush. The butler had arrived by the time she had finished writing the letter. ¡°Deliver this letter to Sir Damon, Marquis of Spendar, and wait for a response.¡± ¡°All right, Lady.¡± She buried herself in her back when she was alone once more. Then, all of a sudden, she turned her head and noticed the scenery outside the terrace. The weather was very nice. ¡°Side effects¡ª¡± Hm. ******* ¡°If you¡¯re a family member, shouldn¡¯t you ask if you¡¯re okay with it rather than being reprimanded?¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡°I¡¯m not okay!¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not okay!¡± Whoosh! ¡°Tsk!¡± It¡¯s a sword used to calm a troubled mind, and the attitude was thrown off by the constant thought. Addis, who had come to a halt, cast a quick glance at the edge of the sword. ¡°Will you all leave now if you don¡¯t have anything to say?¡± Her younger sister¡¯s uninterested gaze continued to confuse her. Her tone was icy, and she had never witnessed anything like it before. ¡®You didn¡¯t even look at me back then.¡¯ Of course, she rarely looked Serdel in the eyes. Her lips are tense. The age difference is also the reason, but it has been difficult for Serdel to approach her. She had no time to look into the situation as she was appointed as the successor when she had just lost her mother. As a result, she was always pushing her. She was especially irritated when she showed signs of lack of confidence or gave up easily. If she lacks talent, she must make an effort, but Serdel continues to turn around. It irritated her. She must protect her own rights because she was born as a noble. It was pitiful that she couldn¡¯t do it. However, Serdel has changed. Whatever had happened in the meantime, she didn¡¯t avoid her eyes, which she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, and proudly said what she needed to say. ¡®And she¡¯s been completely out of her mind for a week.¡¯ It¡¯s not something that has changed. She simply pretended to be aware of her surroundings. ¡®When are you going to be able to spit it out so calmly?¡¯ When she saw her sleeping like a dead person, she thought her heart was pounding inside. Even the sound of her breathing was deafeningly quiet. Without realizing it, she checked to see if she was breathing. After a long time, she was finally able to look closely at her younger sister¡¯s face. She was still as lovely as a doll when she was younger. When she looked at it, she began to notice what she didn¡¯t know one by one. It was embarrassing. Why isn¡¯t there a growing up process going on in her head? She had a lot of memories with Redan, whom she saw a lot, but all she did was scold her about Serdel. It was only then that she realized how apathetic she was. ¡®It¡¯s my fault; I drove her to the cliff¡¯s edge.¡¯ So she must have pretended to be strong in order to avoid sounding like a weak child. Even she was aware of who her fianc¨¦ had in mind. The inside of her heart had to be rotting before the engagement ended. Instead, she said to her, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± and ¡°If you were thinking about the family, you should have told me sooner.¡± ¡®It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t say anything, but that she couldn¡¯t say anything!¡¯ Because it¡¯s difficult for her. Because she isn¡¯t at ease. It couldn¡¯t have been said easily. She didn¡¯t even come into the house properly because she was so busy. How could she say that when they¡¯ve never even met? Her nails dug into her flesh as she clenched her fist. ¡®Hershe Maient!¡¯ Her eyes sank before she knew it. She put the sword back into its sheath, left the family alone, and ran to Count Maient. Even though it wasn¡¯t close, her movement was as fast as the wild wind. The gate swung open just in time, and a carriage appeared. Addis stood in his way. CH 6 The terrified coachman looked at her in vain, trying to calm his bewildered howling horse. Her speed as she approached, her long hair fluttering, was terrifying, like a reaper. So much so that he¡¯s choked. Tuk-tuk! She opened the carriage door as she walked past the coachman. ¡°Dame Addis¡­ How can you not contact me¡ª?¡± She was disgusted when she saw Count Maient with surprised eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re going to send the Elbash Forest Development Rights documents in a few days, but why are you late?¡± Because Serdel couldn¡¯t wake up, everyone was distracted. So, even though she knew Count Maient was insane, she didn¡¯t think of rushing things. Her sister, on the other hand, has woken up. She didn¡¯t want to leave any connection between this filthy fellow and her sister. She didn¡¯t want the child to be concerned about it any longer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m a little busy right now, so¡ª¡± Srrrng! Addis drew her sword slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t test my patience. I hope you haven¡¯t forgotten that the promise document for that day is in this hand, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Count Maient¡¯s face hardened quickly. ¡°Are you now threatening me?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m threatening you. When I put it nicely, show me your gentlemanly behavior. Don¡¯t be as pitiful as my sister said.¡± ¡°¡­.First, I¡¯m very busy right now¡ª¡± Tak! Addis threw the gloves on the carriage floor. At the same time, she drew the sword completely out and thrust it against Count Maient¡¯s neck. ¡°What a rude thing to say¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m Addis Robbesta, Vice-Captain of the Golden Hawk Knights, and I¡¯d like to challenge Count Hershe Maient to a duel.¡± ¡°¡­..!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be rude anymore, is it?¡± Addis raised a corner of his mouth. As long as she has applied for a duel, this is no longer considered rudeness. Especially in light of the current situation, in which Count Maient is acting cowardly and failing to keep his word. Ugh. Count Maient clenched his teeth. When it came to sword skills, she was no pushover. If they come into contact with each other, one of them will undoubtedly be severely injured. He will eventually kneel in front of the Golden Hawk Genius Knight. Furthermore, the number of people who stopped and watched was growing. ¡°I need you to calm down for now¡ª¡± ¡°I can¡¯t calm down. My sister fell down. I had to spend a few days with the child, who was so pale that I wondered if she was breathing well. Do I look like I¡¯m going to calm down?¡± As a knight, she has saved countless people. However, she was unable to protect her younger sister. She has saved countless helpless people who had been waiting for so long to be saved! She, on the other hand, slashed her younger sister¡¯s weak side mercilessly. Serdel¡¯s weakness, which resembles her caring and beautiful mother the most, has been embarrassing since her mother¡¯s brutal death. Like a fool. She only needs to protect herself. So that no one is treated carelessly even when they are out of sight. She simply needs to be stronger than she is now. ¡°Make sure you complete your work properly.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°My sword is not merciful. Right now, I could blow up a pair of arms. Count.¡± At the last threat, Count Maient was forced to raise his hands. ******* Knock knock. Serdel opened her closed eyes when she heard a knock. It was the Butler. ¡°Sir Damon says he will see you tomorrow afternoon, as written in the letter.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady. Please take a rest.¡± Someone came in as soon as the butler left. It was Addis. What could it possibly be? I was just looking away when she held out some papers. ¡°These are issues regarding forest development rights that have been resolved.¡± Ah, Count Maiennt sent it to them. She expected herself to be as pitiful as she had been in the past by sharing this side of her mind. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?¡¯ She took the documents and examined them. Documents related to the forest that had previously been shared were mixed up, as if they had been hurriedly packed. ¡°There is nothing left between you and that jerk¡ª Count Maient.¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Serdel responded dryly, not even looking away from the documents. The boring kite finally came to an end neatly. ¡®The second part goes off without a problem, as expected.¡¯ Will she be able to complete this quickly and return to her original lives? ¡°¡­Take this and eat it.¡± She held out something else as she forced herself to swallow what was about to hum. When she opened the box, there was chocolate in it. ¡°I heard it¡¯s popular these days.¡± ¡°¡­.Ah, thank you.¡± ¡°Yes, take a rest¡ª¡± She¡¯s not sure what kind of wind she was in when she bought this, but the chocolate she tasted was bitter and sweet in between. To the point where the bitterness left in her mouth is pushed away. And the taste was quite strong. ¡°That¡¯s a big deal.¡± It was such a big deal. 2. What can I do for you, Young Lady? She arrived in front of a restaurant where she was supposed to meet Damon Spendar, one of the male protagonists and Marquis¡¯ heir. Surprisingly, he was waiting for her at the entrance. When the carriage stopped, she could still feel the manner in the hand that came up as if he had waited. ¡°Long time no see, Young Lady?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go in first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived, too.¡± Is it because he has a gentle smile but is frighteningly attractive? He exuded an unknown charisma to her. Serdel smiled as well, as if she had drawn it. ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?¡± ¡°The atmosphere seems to have changed again since the last time. I heard you were very ill. Are you all right now?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine, as you can see.¡± ¡°I was concerned but I¡¯m relieved. Young Lady.¡± He resumed the escort at the end of the words. He let it go after receiving advice from the staff and entering the private room. The staff who came in with good timing when they looked at each other and sat face to face. ¡°Have you been to this restaurant quite often, Young Lady?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t my first time here, but I don¡¯t come here very often.¡± ¡°Is it okay if I place an order for you? I have a food suggestion.¡± ¡°All right.¡± It was only then that he arrived earlier than she expected and cared about this and that. ¡®It¡¯s no surprise the wine came out as soon as I sat down.¡¯ The fact that he did not order the main course in advance was most likely due to the possibility that she would refuse his food recommendations. It was new to her because it was her first time receiving such a lead. And then she realized how bad the guys she¡¯d met so far had been. ¡®Everything was focused on themselves.¡¯ It was always her who was considerate. ¡®Aren¡¯t you different in front of the women you care about?¡¯ She returned her gaze to Damon, as if for nothing. It was nice to see him order skillfully. ¡®I can see why so many Young Lady are crazy about him.¡¯ But, no matter how considerate and well-mannered you are, he¡¯s just making stuff up. Why is he unbeatable? She will taste the bitter taste of the past if she falls for that appearance and loses her mind. In the first place, there were only few expectations that she would end up with him. Nonetheless, it was fortunate that she had the opportunity to meet him and develop a relationship with him. Because his personality, which is not easily swayed by anyone, is ideal for laying a solid foundation from the start. She had previously been dragged into the hands of her boyfriend, Count Maient¡ª. ¡®This time, I¡¯ll use the knowledge and memory I have to make things better for myself.¡¯ I needed strength to accomplish this. Or perhaps personal connections. CH 7 ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard about my broken engagement.¡± ¡°The Young Lady told me in the carriage not long ago.¡± ¡°At the time, I said I was going to end my engagement, but I didn¡¯t say I was already doing so.¡± Despite the fact that he had set the plate first, he did not comfort or pretend to understand the known rumors. In front of caring manners, there stood a calm wall. ¡®First, I¡¯m going to have to shake this wall.¡¯ ¡°We ended the relationship and reclaimed the Elbash forest rights.¡± Looking at him, he slowly tilted his glass of wine. ¡°In addition, I have the authority to recommend the position that Count Maient held.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± He reached out and shook the wine glass repeatedly. A shallow vortex was created by the wine contained within. How long has it been? ¡°Young Lady.¡± His voice and mood have changed. At the same time, the hand movement that was turning the glass stopped. ¡°If you want anything from me, please let me know.¡± His gray hair gleamed in the light. The eyes, which contained the laziness on the pure white face, also had an unusual color. The movement of tilting the glass while keeping one¡¯s eyes fixed was even sensual. She also drank wine while staring into his eyes. ¡®He bit the bait.¡¯ The tide has now completely turned in its favor. Damon was the Marquis¡¯ heir, but he had two other brothers. The age difference isn¡¯t significant, and even if it is, the younger siblings¡¯ abilities aren¡¯t bad, so it¡¯ll be quite threatening. Furthermore, his mother died young, and his younger siblings were present at the current Marquis¡¯ seat. A good opportunity was required to defeat them and leave a lasting impression on the Marquis and vassals. He meant to give it to him. ¡°What should I want from you, Sir?¡± ¡°Anything. I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± ¡°All right, I liked that answer very much.¡± The meal came in just in time. ¡°Let¡¯s first taste how delicious the food you recommended is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good idea, Young Lady.¡± He and she both smiled at the same time, their true feelings hidden from each other. ****** Overall, the meal was very satisfying. The food was of high quality, and it tasted good. ¡°Did you enjoy the meal?¡± ¡°It was absolutely delicious. Thanks to you, I had a great time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Serdel handed out the documents to continue the conversation after exchanging a few more perfunctory words. ¡°It is about the development of the Elbash Forest. Please read it and return it to me in a few days if there is anything missing or you wish to add. I¡¯ll look into it and get back to you as soon as I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Is that all you want to know about my thoughts on the forest? Okay. However, I don¡¯t believe you need to give it up in a few days. There is plenty of room.¡± After quickly scattering the papers, he pulled out a fountain pen. ¡°Who took care of this?¡± ¡°Count Maient. I brought the documents he had returned to me.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He immediately began to fix it with a short groan. That document had a stain on it. ¡°Because of their special characteristics, Elbash forests should never be developed in the same way as other forests. We don¡¯t know how long it will take to repel the monster, no matter how long it is planned to be driven out¡ª¡± Damon got it exactly right. ¡°Above all, the population of the monsters has not been accurately determined. If there are more wrong provocations than expected, the nearby village may be harmed. Whatever the importance of development, powerless civilians should not be sacrificed in the process. For the sake of your future reputation.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t the only thing to mention.¡± She indicated a piece of paper with her finger. ¡°The Imperial time for borrowing power is finite.¡± Damon¡¯s eyes shifted once more when he saw Serdel. ¡°The populations of monsters are only populations, and in addition to the news that mines have been discovered, the exact size of forests and the estimated amount of mining. There¡¯s still so much that this side doesn¡¯t understand.¡± She knows because she has lived in the past. Since the mine was discovered months ago, little has been revealed. ¡°For an Imperial family that despises losing money, the chances are that it will try to back out at some point.¡± ¡°I fully agree. The mine was discovered by Count Robbesta, but for the Imperial family, it is just one of many rights.¡± ¡°Even if they step out, they will naturally acquire some rights after this development is completed, so if they begin to enter the bystander mode, they will eventually do that.¡± This is where things will go wrong. ¡®In fact, the imperial family took their feet in the middle of the past.¡¯ When the development was completed and mining began in earnest, some rights were acquired. There was no reason for the landowner to refuse to visit mine. ¡®Even if I didn¡¯t get any help, I had the right to give, at least in the meantime.¡¯ Cartal, who can¡¯t even show off, had to be upset in some way. ¡®The damage done by monster subjugation is already absolutely huge, but the Imperial family has acted vulgarly without even giving the situation a chance, so tear it up!¡¯ As soon as he obtained the Manastone Mine, the financial loss was quickly filled and overflowed, but the real issue was the people. It takes a long time to train a good knight. In some ways, they were real land assets, more valuable than money. So he even hired a large number of mercenaries to save them, but it didn¡¯t work in front of the crowd of monsters. Many mercenaries, knights, and soldiers were eventually sacrificed. The land, which had no one to protect it, had been reduced to delicious prey, and every day was at stake. ¡®Count Maient, the madman was terrible at the time.¡¯ His estate was near the Count¡¯s. He was greedy at the time, wanting to enter the sunny business by absorbing the shady businesses that had been absorbed as if he had taken them forcibly from Count Deriens. Elbash Forest Mine¡¯s Mana Stone was extremely pure. Other mines¡¯ mana is incomparable. He has the audacity to ask for the right to trade minerals first, smelling money. The title of a genius knight as his successor was meaningless at the time. Cartal, who was cornered in many ways, had no choice but to accept the deal because Count Maient had even put his hands on the imperial family first. ¡®This time, I¡¯m not taking it away!¡¯ Even more for him. ¡°Your eyes have changed once more, Young Lady.¡± Damon looked at her, his gaze averted from the papers, and smiled indefinitely. ¡°It¡¯s interesting.¡± He raised his glass of wine once more. ¡°Now then, I would like to hear Young Lady¡¯s evaluation of me. Should I prepare it as a separate document and bring it to you tomorrow?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary.¡± He discovered all of the gaps in that document at once and knew exactly what should come first. There was no reason to expect to see any more liver in the yard with greater certainty. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to my father.¡± ¡°Yes, then I¡¯ll wait for the Count.¡± ¡°Then shall we get up?¡± ¡°Young Lady.¡± ¡°¡­.?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t said what you want yet, Young Lady.¡± He came up with his glass down after he had emptied the remaining wine. The seriousness with which he examined the documents abruptly faded, and the sluggish color of politeness appeared all over his face. ¡°What do you want? Please feel free to tell me.¡± ¡°Now we¡¯ve barely held hands. We.¡± ¡°¡­..?¡± ¡°You will lose your appetite if you drink unaged wine. Let¡¯s say what I want at the time when it tastes the best.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a clever way of putting it. It¡¯s a wine that hasn¡¯t been aged¡ª That¡¯s exactly where my brothers are threatening me.¡± All she wants is for him to get it before it¡¯s too late, even though he¡¯s clearly taken over the Marquis. ¡®I don¡¯t have to overuse my opportunities to swing people.¡¯ ¡°Yes, I¡¯m understand. Please let me know when you think I¡¯ll be the most mature.¡± He raised Serdel¡¯s hand. Then, after kissing the back of her hand, he naturally escorted her with her hand on his arm. ¡°I had a lot of fun today.¡± ¡°I enjoyed it, too. See you next time.¡± One last look at her in the carriage, he closed the door. CH 8 ***** Serdel was about to leave when she remembered what had happened the day before and stopped by a dessert shop in the middle to buy cakes and tea. Just as she arrived at the house, Siri ran out as if she had seen a carriage coming in from the window. ¡°Lady!¡± It looks cute like a small animal, but it was quite powerful when she came rushing in and out. ¡°Lady! Did you enjoy your work?¡± ¡°Yes, I enjoyed it. Here.¡± ¡°Huh? It¡¯s Monranche¡¯s cake! Wow! Oh, that¡¯s right! Lady, the master came in early today. And Master Redan and Dame Addis too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The master is going to have dinner together, so he ordered the chef to prepare dinner.¡± ¡°It must be a special day.¡± ¡°The chef, butler, and maid are all on fire right now. Everyone is excited because it has been a long time since the four of you have eaten together.¡± ¡®I had something to say to Father.¡¯ That¡¯s great. ¡°Yours is the strawberry shortcake. And¡ªsince there¡¯s still time for dinner, bring the blueberry topping to my sister and the orange topping to my father and brother, along with tea.¡± Siri¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°¡­Tell my sister that I ate the chocolate well.¡± Was it something she didn¡¯t usually do? Her chest felt a little itchy. No, it tickles her a lot now that she thinks about it. ¡®Why did you give me a chocolate¡ª¡¯ Despite the fact that she enjoyed it. Siri¡¯s eyes pierced for a while, so she walked quickly because she felt burdened. ¡°Hohoho.¡± Siri laughed as she followed her. ¡°I¡¯ll also mention that the Young Lady was very shy.¡± ¡°Who is shy!¡± Serdel quickly entered the bedroom after yelling back. ****** ¡°¡­¡­¡± Addis, who was in the study room, stared blankly at Siri, who had knocked on the door with a tea tray. ¡°¡­I never asked you to bring a snack?¡± ¡°Lady Serdel bought a cake from Monranche. Knowing that Dame dislikes sweets, she told me to bring a blueberry cake and tea.¡± ¡°¡­.Serdel take care of it?¡± There was no syrup sprinkled on top of the blueberries. It belonged to a relatively less sweet cake in Monranche, who loves syrup. ¡°And she wanted me to tell you how delicious the chocolate was.¡± ¡°¡ªAh, I see. I see she liked the chocolate¡ª¡± Addis¡¯ mumbling cheeks reddened. Warm smiles were also formed around the mouth, which had previously been rigid and hardened. Maybe she doesn¡¯t even realize she¡¯s smiling. ¡°Tell her I¡¯ll enjoy it. And¡ª¡± The atmosphere of her softened. ¡°¡ªI¡¯ll see you at dinner.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll tell her right away!¡± At Addis¡¯s words, which she swallowed while muttering, Siri smiled and took it lightly. As Siri left with a bowing greeting to Addis, who was left alone. ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing short of sweet.¡± It was the cake that she would not even consider putting in her mouth, no matter how much the youngest Princess suggested. She never looked at the colorful desserts created by the Imperial patissier. But the cake Serdel had bought for her drew a lot of attention. She bit into it with a fork. Her face, which would normally have been frowning, was relaxed. One mouthful turned into two mouthfuls, two mouthfuls turned into three mouthfuls, and before she knew it, the plate had reached the bottom. It was now filling the mouth. Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. Even a sip of moderately cold tea refreshed her. ¡®Was cake supposed to be this delicious?¡¯ No. Maybe the cake she bought for her is special. ¡®Come to think of it, that child once gave a cookie that she made with mother.¡¯ What exactly did she do? The texture was rough, but the sweetness was so sickly sweet that she threw it away after only one bite. ¡®It was the worst. I am as a human being.¡¯ She didn¡¯t realize how valuable her life was at the time. She had no idea her mother would be like that, and she had no idea it would ruin the family relationship. She was crushed by the title of genius, so she couldn¡¯t breathe, and she became the heir. The royal family contacted her after a long gasp from the weight of her next position. She had to kill the emotions that had already died in a place where brutality was everywhere. It was never a place where she could live honorably as a knight by following the rules of chivalry. She¡¯s only just gotten used to it, and she thinks she¡¯s pretty stable now. ¡®Serdel didn¡¯t open her eyes.¡¯ Her life seemed to be falling apart because of her. For a brief moment, she pondered whether this was the peace she desired. It¡¯s too late to realize how valuable it was until it¡¯s gone. She got to know her mother to the point of pain after her mother died. She was terrified of having to go through that awful experience again. This unstable family relationship would have collapsed on the spot if Serdel hadn¡¯t woken up. She¡¯s already insane, but Redan will most likely gone crazy as well. Every night, he sneaked into Serdel¡¯s room and cried aloud. Then, on the fifth day, he said he¡¯d take care of Count Maient while sweating profusely to the guy who had left. At the time, what was reflected in his eyes was a sudden madness. He almost lost his nerve in the face of that deep emotion, no matter how much anger he had suppressed so far. Just like Raden. She didn¡¯t have the courage to confront her sister, so she turned away. Then she went numb and didn¡¯t realize she was being hurt. She swears she¡¯s never hated Serdel. She simply wishes to be strong. ¡®Everyone has different abilities. I tried to put that child to too high of standards.¡¯ She¡¯s not going to do it anymore. If she is frail, she will admit and accept the child exactly as she is. She made the promise while clenching her fist. Addis looking at the empty plate. ¡°¡ªThank you. I ate well? Well, I ate well. Thank you, Serdel. Thank you, Serdel?¡± She wanted to tell her how much she enjoyed it, but it wasn¡¯t as simple as she had thought. When she expresses gratitude, how does she usually do it? For Redan, it was expressed as ¡®I got it¡¯ for a short period of time. She slammed her fist against her chest. Unknowingly, she shook her head while trying to lower her fist. Her sister might die if she acted like she was doing it to the knights with her clunky fists because she had been holding the sword for a long time. She cleared her throat once more and tried to say, ¡°I.guess.it¡¯s.because.it¡¯s.the.cake.you.picked.for.me. It.was.better.and.tastier.than.the.dessert.that.the.Princess.wanted.me.to.try.¡± ¡°¡ªPf.¡± Startled. Before she knew it, Siri burst into laughter at the sight at the door. ¡°Kh¡ªPft.¡± Addis mouth opened in bewilderment. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡ª pft! didn¡¯t mean to see you like this¡ª I thought you¡¯d be done with it, so I came here to get the plates. I knocked the door¡ª¡± She got higher as she spoke more. Siri finally closed her mouth and turned her face away. Her little body shook. The skin on Addis¡¯s neck and up to his ears turned bright red. ¡°P-pft. I-I¡¯m sorry. I will go¡ª¡± She wasn¡¯t even able to reach out. Siri¡¯s sudden departure shocked her eyes, leaving her alone. If there was a mouse hole, she really wanted to hide. She leaned under the desk, whirling from place to place. It was the most humiliating experience she¡¯d ever had. ¡°Argggh!¡± CH 9 ****** ¡°Hey, are you all right?¡± Redan asked her as soon as she walked into the dining room. ¡°How does your body feel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°Oh, I enjoyed the cake and tea. You said you bought it at Monranche? There should be almost nothing left in the afternoon, did you buy it well?¡± ¡°Do you like cakes there? You know it well?¡± ¡°The Young Lady often gives them as gifts.¡± ¡®Oh, yeah. I see.¡¯ Well, it¡¯s because of the spotlight on the male characters, but Redan was just as good as them. ¡°But it¡¯s my first time eating orange toppings. It was very delicious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Just as she was standing in her seat, Cartal and Addis came in. ¡°¡­Thank you for the cake you sent me. It was delicious.¡± Startled. Addis, who was following Cartal, flinched when he said it was delicious with an indifferent face and tone. She had no idea such words would come from Cartal¡¯s mouth. She swallowed nothing but saliva, surprised. She seemed to be in a strange state of shock after losing an initiative. ¡°Sister, did you get the cake as well? But you probably wouldn¡¯t eat it because you don¡¯t like sweets. Hey, is Sister also getting orange topping?¡± ¡°Blueberry. It¡¯s the least sweet in Monranche. She bought it because she thought it was the least sweet of the desserts available at a nearby dessert shop¡ª¡± ¡°Sister would not have been able to eat it. I haven¡¯t even tried blueberries yet¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you just give them to me all at once?¡± Addis glared at Redan again as if she was about to kill him when he said it was a pity. Then, when Serdel¡¯s gaze met hers, she stiffened. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°She really enjoyed the cake!¡± It was then. Siri, who was standing in the back, yelled. The butler and maid¡¯s eyes grew fierce. Despite the harsh look on their face, Siri did not give in and spoke for Addis. ¡°I saw her eat. She said it was really good!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a big deal. My sister ate all the cake.¡± ¡°No matter how delicious it was, she even licked the fork¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Siri¡¯s mouth closed in the middle, perhaps because she thought she went out too much. After a short silence. The butler and maid were busy preparing the food. And so the silent dinner began. The maids became increasingly rigid in this terrible silence, the butler began to sweat profusely to see if the food didn¡¯t fit in their mouths, and the chef, who came out late to check the reaction, was afraid to make eye contact. He quickly went back to the kitchen. ¡°Delicious. ¡° ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Ah, it was delicious.¡± ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡± Each of them spit out a word after a well-prepared meal. This was the overall review of the meal. The butler took out a handkerchief and wiped his tears away. The maid wipes her eyes with her sleeve as well. It didn¡¯t take long for the tableware to be removed and tea to be served. By the time the tea has moderately cooled. ¡°Today, I met Sir Damon Spendar.¡± She began to speak. The three of them focused their attention on Serdel. ¡°I told you before. I¡¯ll introduce you to the right person for Elbash forest development.¡± ¡°Serdel.¡± ¡°Father, you¡¯re not going to tell me not to do this right now, are you? As I mentioned earlier, I am also a member of the Count. I believe I have every right to enter the family business.¡± She must first strike him. ¡°Siri.¡± Siri, responding to her call, held out a paper envelope in front of Cartal, which she had been hiding with her hands behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s a document that we obtained from Count Maient. We¡¯ve exchanged a lot of information in the past, so even if you don¡¯t look at it, you¡¯ll be aware of all the details.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Most of the documents I saw were messed up. Father, what did you think?¡± Cartal remained silent. The furrowing of his brows also indicated that he was dissatisfied with something. ¡°The nature of Elbash¡¯s forest, the anticipation of possible damage to nearby villages, the Count¡¯s current situation, and the development of the town were not even remotely considerate of the father¡¯s position to accept responsibility for all of this.¡± ¡°Think about it for business¡ª it¡¯s emotional.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not emotional; it¡¯s realistic. Do you think the construction will be completed soon, Father? It¡¯s not over just because you brought in the Imperial family¡¯s power. The Imperial family¡¯s patience will most likely be tested before we have a firm grasp on the forest.¡± Other mines can be developed as soon as they are discovered, but they are not Elbash forests. There were so many moving parts to take care of. Knights belonging to the lands were also treasured, much less Imperial knights, who were the Emperor¡¯s property. How long will the Emperor allow the property to die in front of the monster? It is not a matter of national significance. According to the Emperor¡¯s standards, it¡¯s only a matter of one Lord¡¯s land. It doesn¡¯t matter if he doesn¡¯t do it, and how serious can the fact that if he does, the knights might be hurt be? ¡®Perhaps the Imperial family¡¯s withdrawal from the past is due to the planned work from the start, rather than a lack of patience.¡¯ Count Robbesta is a member of the Imperialists. It would have been difficult to reject the issues of a Count who followed the Imperial family from the start. The Emperor didn¡¯t even think about the eyes of the aristocracy. ¡®Did you carefully play out all the situations in the end?¡® Ha¡ª! She almost burst out laughing in vain. This is how politics works. Conspiracies arose when mutual interests were at stake, even when they were on the same side. She clicked her tongue and turned to look at Cartal and Addis. The faces of the two lost in thought were also dark. She did not believe in the Imperial promise from the start, despite the fact that she did not think as deeply as she knew the past. ¡®I¡¯m glad I did.¡¯ Cartal returned his gaze to the papers. His gaze moved over the parts that had been added with a fountain pen. ¡°When I showed it to Sir Damon without saying anything, he wrote in detail that there was something that needed to be fixed immediately.¡± ¡°¡­Butler, bring my things from the office.¡± The butler, who was ordered, handed out the documents that came in a while later. ¡°It was supposed to be a document for Count Maient¡ª read it. She went through it quickly. It was almost like the parts Damon arranged. ¡°Among other things, Count Maient was so eager to see immediate results that he ignored the Elbash Forest¡¯s characteristics entirely. As a result, I struggled a lot with this section. This isn¡¯t too bad. No, it¡¯s better. Did you know the Marquis once owned a mine?¡± It¡¯s the first time she¡¯s heard it. It was a story she had never heard before in the game or in her life. ¡°Although it was closed decades ago due to mining volume limitations. That would be useful in any case because it would be an experience.¡± Cerdel nodded her head. ¡°You can tie this up with marriage if you want.¡± Clank! Addis, who had been quietly listening up until this point, slammed into the table. The butler¡¯s and maid¡¯s shoulders shook in surprise. ¡°No! She hasn¡¯t even fully recovered from the trauma of the failed engagement. And it¡¯s Sir Damon of all people! There¡¯s nothing wrong with him, but she¡¯s the one who gets twisted even if she stays still due to his stunning appearance.¡± ¡°Did I ask you? Serdel has the right to respond.¡± ¡°Father, I am the heir to the family. I have the authority to speak about Serdel¡¯s marriage. But not Sir Damon! A man with a good character is worth his salt. I¡¯ll never give him my sister!¡± Addis¡¯ eyes were completely on fire. On the neck, there were also blood vessels. ¡°Didn¡¯t Hershe end up living up to his character? I was able to resist my desire to bury him in the ground. If you marry Sir Damon and the same thing happens again¡ªI¡¯m not sure what will happen!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you calm down?¡± Redan gritted his teeth and clicked his tongue when she grinded this far. ¡°But I don¡¯t like Sir Damon either. I¡¯m not sure what he¡¯s thinking with a smile on his face, but he¡¯s always nice to the girls. I don¡¯t think he has a specific woman in mind, but it makes me even angrier.¡± As if the conversation had become unpleasant, Redan¡¯s expression grew colder. ¡°Hey, just in case, you don¡¯t like him right?¡± Serdel was the target of the arrow now. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the dining room, including the butler and maid. Siri, in particular, had a fork in her hand. She was about to stab Damon in the neck. CH 10 ¡°¡­Don¡¯t get me wrong: I recommended Sir Damon because of his abilities, not because of a change of heart.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like him, do you?¡± Why are you suddenly being so persistent? The middle of the brow drew together. ¡°I don¡¯t dislike him.¡± ¡°Then what the hell is the point? You¡¯re saying you like him!¡± ¡°I just think it¡¯s a good partner to run the family business together.¡± She had been responding to him because she didn¡¯t want him to be too loud, but she was speechless. ¡®I thought you might have misunderstood.¡¯ Nonetheless, since when has he been interested in her? He also seems to be losing his mind. Even the Cartal, who had caused the situation to be this way, seemed relieved. ¡°For now, I understand what you think. I¡¯ll have to try putting on the Marquis of Spendar soon.¡± Cartal, who packed the papers, got up first. Serdel also tried to go out, but Redan stopped her. ¡°Never with that jerk again.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s best to avoid meeting that jerk!¡± And Addis also said, sympathize with her. ¡®Did they use drugs to make the cake I bought in Monranche?¡¯ She¡¯s tired. ¡°Will you let me go? I need to rest.¡± ¡°¡ªYeah. But, once again, he¡¯s too handsome to do it.¡± ¡°You must live up to your character if you have one. Please keep this in mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Serdel clicked her tongue inside as she stared at the two of them, their eyes flashing like hyenas. How strange, really. ******* The following day, Cartal sent out a man to the Marquis of Spendar to set up an appointment. After two days. He visited the family in person. ¡°Young Lady, it¡¯s been a few days.¡± He took Serdel¡¯s hand in his and kissed her hand as naturally as a flowing wave. Siri, who was standing behind her, was in incredible pain. Perhaps another fork is hidden in the apron pocket. Her muttering that she had to hit with the big fork was a little concerning. Other than that, ¡°Nice to see you here.¡± The halo was no joke, with a bright smile and even sunlight pouring down on his head. At some point, the butler¡¯s and maid¡¯s vision became hazy as well. They don¡¯t have forks or aprons on their arms, do they? ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again. I¡¯ll take you to see my father.¡± There were too many eyes to properly respond. She was cautious for some reason, believing that if she said anything, the servants would misinterpret everything. Whether he realizes it or not. ¡°Today the Young Lady is not the same as she was a few days ago. Did you know it was cold at first glance¡ª?¡± ¡°¡­..?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I can¡¯t take my eyes off you.¡± Did he eat the entire block of butter? Serdel turned around casually because it wasn¡¯t worth answering. The butler and maid, including Siri, clenched their fists and said, ¡®Well done,¡¯ as the flame from their eyes faded due to the lukewarm response. ¡°It¡¯s interesting.¡± Damon¡¯s eyes brightened with a smile. ¡°What a great place.¡± Serdel escorted Damon to Cartal¡¯s private office rather than the drawing room. Damon greeted him as he stood up from his desk. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Count.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Cartal took turns looking at Serdel and Damon as he received greetings. Serdel looked particularly innocent today, dressed in a yellow dress with half-tied hair. Damon, on the other hand, was dressed in a dark brown robe with a sword-like neatness. They looked great standing next to each other. Cartal¡¯s eyes, which had become complicated for no reason, calmed down. ¡°Please take a seat.¡± He sat in the top seat after moving to the tea table. Scared of Damon and Serdel sitting side by side, he hands over the papers out of the blue. ¡°Read it.¡± Damon¡¯s smile vanished as well. He nodded his head as he read the sheets one by one with his eyes. Serdel squinted as he looked at him. Several additional contents were added to the existing document. ¡°Hand it over to the Marquis.¡± Damon¡¯s hand came to a halt while turning over the papers. He smiled right away. ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± ¡°As you know, the scale of the work is huge. We don¡¯t know how big it will get. You may want to be recognized by your family for your work alone, but we need someone in charge who can accept responsibility for the loss of our partner once due to a series of unfortunate events.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. Count.¡± ¡°This is Serdel¡¯s recommendation, and I understand Sir¡¯s situation. I¡¯ll tell Marquis not to involve your brothers in this for nothing.¡± Things could have gotten out of hand if Damon¡¯s half-brothers had intervened. Although he is being generous in terms of what he can do while in need, it was a clear sign that he was in it. That means he must be cautious not to involve his brothers in this. Don¡¯t let the dirty succession fight interfere with business. It was some sort of a drawing line. ¡°Thank you very much for your support. I look forward to working with you.¡± Damon was unconcerned, despite the fact that he understood what he was saying. On the contrary, despite knowing the Marquis¡¯s situation, he expressed his gratitude for his support. By doing so, he was able to quickly place Count Robbesta on his back. Even small words and actions could have multiple meanings depending on the context. What was unfolding in front of him was a small political board, and Damon was neither pushed nor arrogant. It was a good way to move the situation around without completely stopping it. ¡°You may now depart.¡± The conversation has come to an end. Serdel quietly left the place with Damon, who bowed slightly with a smile that remained until the end. ¡°I¡¯m very nervous, and I¡¯m glad the Count thought well of me.¡± Serdel swallowed a smile as she walked down the corridor. ¡®Which part of you look nervous?¡¯ ¡°But even so, you seemed quite relaxed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just pretending.¡± Serdel¡¯s ear was softly whispered in by the man who built a wall with the papers in his hand. Then she felt a ferocious energy behind her. It must have come from Siri, the butler, or the maid. Serdel took a step back to relieve herself of the pressure. Kk, Damon smiled. She almost put it in there because it looked like a painting. The wind blew in through the open window just in time. Damon, who had suddenly turned his eyes, opened his mouth to the peaceful atmosphere outside. ¡°As expected, I believe I was lucky that Young Lady took the wrong carriage that day.¡± ¡®I was lucky as well.¡¯ It¡¯s hard to believe she got in his carriage at that time. On second thought, she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°I believe I¡¯ll be very lucky in the future.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± Serdel smiled. ¡°I believe I¡¯ll be very lucky.¡± It¡¯s a really good start this time. With a voice that seemed to melt away and the expression on her face without her knowing, Damon let go of the space. The pouring sunlight scattered around Serdel. Thin fingers that gather fluttering hair on one shoulder. Light seemed to flow out of each of her movements. It was a strange thing. Although she has a strikingly pretty appearance, she was not normally aware of it. There were so many beautiful people in this place. By comparison, Serdel was a bit modest. But at this moment. As he jokingly told her as he entered the Count¡¯s mansion, he couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from it. For a brief moment, the tight wall vanished, and the naturalness revealed was as beautiful as anything else. An exclamation that he couldn¡¯t exhale rolled out of his mouth. ******* After Damon went back. Serdel returned to Cartal¡¯s office with the documents she had prepared. ¡°Father, I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°I want to be part of the Elbash Forest expedition in two months.¡± CH 11 His hand, which had just signed the documents, came to a halt. Cartal¡¯s eyes quickly cooled as he raised his head. ¡°Are you sure you know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± The voice was also filled with anger. ¡°Yes, I know. I¡¯m aware that it¡¯s also dangerous.¡± ¡°That you might lose your life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She gave a firm response. Cartal sighed in response to Serdel¡¯s serious eyes, then pressed his fingers against the crumpled brow. For a brief moment, everything she had shown him over the previous few days felt like a lie. ¡°Father¡ª¡± ¡°Serdel. What kind of ability do you have? It may sound cold-hearted, but you do not have a genius for swordsmanship like Addis, nor have you been trained since childhood like Redan. What kind of power do you have? Are you saying that you want to go out? Have you never thought that you might get in the way!¡± The windmill¡¯s rough momentum took control of the office. The air became intense quickly. But she also has a hard heart. She tingled and itched all over her body, but she didn¡¯t give up. ¡°I¡¯m not going into this with a light heart, Father. I¡¯m not upset over my broken engagement to Count Maient.¡± She calmly stated that she was not acting recklessly due to mood swings. ¡°We came to this conclusion after much consideration. Please look into this.¡± It was exactly the reaction she had predicted. As he mentioned, she lacks the ability to protect herself in comparison to Addis and Redan. She had no idea that going on an expedition would be a bad idea for him. Nevertheless, there is nothing she can do about it. For the future, she must go. Furthermore, this behavior of her own would save the Count from a crisis in the future. So she got a few days to convince him. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He paused, nervously handing over the documents he had received. Tuk, tuk, tuk. He knocked on the desk with his fingers for a long time before returning to the front page. It¡¯s been a dozen minutes already. ¡°Where in the world did you get this information?¡± ¡°In fact, I was interested in the Elbash forest long before the Mana stone mine was discovered. The environment is indescribably good if monsters live in territories for a long time, but I feel like it¡¯s a waste that they¡¯re being taken away.¡± In fact, the forest was brimming with resources. Even when everything was crushed and ruined by subjugation, it mysteriously came back to life after a while. It¡¯s as if there¡¯s a regeneration spell all over the place. The lake was never dry or polluted, and the fruit of the tree was everywhere, no matter how hard they were picked.Aside from the Mana Stone Mine, there were hidden secrets in the forest full of such mysteries. That¡¯s why she wanted to go there herself, even if putting herself in danger. Opportunity. The distribution of Radun. (t/n: I have no idea what Radun is.) ¡®Originally, it was a special power that the 2nd Prince who participated in the exploration as representatives of the imperial family possessed, but¡ª¡¯ She was going to get her hands on it this time. In the original work, the second Prince used his power to defeat numerous political opponents and become the emperor he desired. So it¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t understand the significance of the opportunity in the forest in his life, but he was also desperate. ¡®It¡¯s the power of the Elbash forest.¡¯ Count Robbesta had the primary right to all resources in the forest. Some of the Imperial family¡¯s rights are limited to mines. Anything else, no matter how greedy the Emperor, will happen to all lords if they are overly desired. In fact, even when the Emperor conspired with Count Maient and struck him on the back of the head, he did not first touch the right to trade minerals. Without permission from this side, the second Prince obtained such a thing. ¡®Therefore, there¡¯s no need to be concerned.¡¯ He didn¡¯t take his thing away; he simply took his own thing in his rightful place. Furthermore, he did not hesitate to defy the Emperor¡¯s order. He never used any of the power he gained from Elbash¡¯s forest to benefit the forest. He must have been able to fly only through the Emperor¡¯s eyes, so he is not aware of his position, which required him to obey his orders. Understanding with his head and accepting with his heart are not the same thing. ¡®If he had stayed¡ª¡¯ They wouldn¡¯t have to make such a huge sacrifice. And it couldn¡¯t have been set up by Count Maient. Serdel clenched her fist. ¡®Damn. Because of Count Maient¡¯s nature, no matter how neatly I cut it, he would not have given up on the forest just yet.¡¯ He was the one who was greedy and wanted it all regardless.He was most likely only looking for a gap and opportunity in this area to acquire rights by participating in the development of the Forest. ¡®I¡¯ll never be humiliated in the same way again. I¡¯m not going to be swayed by anyone.¡¯ To do so, she must use her power to minimize her families¡¯ sacrifices. The Count will not be shaken, and her life will be secure until the very end. Cartal was staring at her when she lifted her lowered eyes. His eyes were fierce, as if he was trying to see through the intention. ¡°You¡¯re interested because you don¡¯t want to waste the resources? With only that, how did you find out about this? How? Because little is known about Elbash Forest, would the Information Guild have dealt with it as well?¡± ¡°There are estate-related documents in the library that I compiled a long time ago. Of course, the amount of information was limited, as you are aware, but I was able to draw a number of conclusions.¡± ¡°Did you do something that even the estate officials couldn¡¯t do?¡± Ha! Unbelievable, Cartal burst out laughing as he looked at the papers again. There isn¡¯t much content there. Because it will almost certainly look ridiculous. She simply put in a few lines of information that would be appealing. Nonetheless, it would be surprising in many ways. As Cartal stated, she discovered something that no one else was able to bring. ¡°Hm¡­¡± His mouth opened with a low groan. Even if she had done so, she was not easily allowed to participate. ¡°I understand your concerns. I¡¯m going to join the expedition, and I don¡¯t know if just going out is enough of a hassle. Still, Father.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never put myself in a position where I endanger anyone. Trust me this time, just as you did when I ended my engagement to Count Maient.¡± ¡°That¡¯s funny. There is no such thing as a ¡®never¡¯ situation. You¡¯re not going to make it as bad as you already are? How can you be certain of that? Will the others just stand there and watch if you¡¯re in danger?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°They¡¯ll do everything they can to save you. Instead, you¡¯ll be hurt or killed. Nobody knows what will happen outside the world, especially where such dangers lurk!¡± Serdel hesitated for a moment. The words that will be spewed from now on may all be in vain. Nonetheless, she can¡¯t step down in such a half-hearted manner. Cartal will not even listen to opinions in the future if it is not confirmed now. Her eyes changed. ¡°Although it may seem so absurd, I am confident that I will not be in danger. And there¡¯s something to be gained by doing so.¡± ¡°¡­What will you gain?¡± Cartal frowned with one brow furrowed. ¡°Yes. The special ability I will gain there will protect me.¡± Her somewhat subdued tone belied a strange aura of charisma. ¡°¡­..¡± Cartal¡¯s hand, which had been staring at Serdel uncomfortably for a while, began to shake. His face began to turn blue as well. ¡°Something to get¡ª something special¡ª¡± His eyes drooped as he repeated what she had said. Like a candle in front of the wind. His eyes, which shook violently and lost focus, resembled those of a man in fear. It was the first time she¡¯d seen Cartal in this state. Serdel was about to extend his hand. ¡°¡­After all, did you start the foresight dream in the end¡ª in the end, in the end, ha¡ª¡± His whispered words rang louder than thunder in my ears. Startled. ¡®Foresight dream? Did he just say it was a foresight dream?¡¯ She didn¡¯t hear it wrong. ¡®What, did Serdel have that ability?¡¯ She¡¯d never heard of it before. It was information she had never seen before in a game or in her life. ¡°Exploration¡­ permission. When you come here, it must be for a reason¡­¡± His voice was so weak that he couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d been standing there for so long. The complexion faded in just a few minutes. As if they were tired of something. She bowed her head quickly after regaining her composure. ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± ¡°¡­no, there¡¯s no need to bow down. Aren¡¯t you also a member of the family, as you mentioned?¡± The same words came back to her in her head as when she first put the broken engagement in her mouth. However, he no longer looked her in the eyes. Instead, he¡¯s still clutching his trembling hands. As if he¡¯s attempting to conceal his agitation. ¡°Now leave.¡± The congratulatory order fell. CH 12 ¡®Foresight dream.¡¯ Serdel returned to her bedroom, lost in thought as she pondered Cartal¡¯s murmuring. ¡®I¡¯m sure there was no information in the game that Serdel was capable of such a thing.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t there, was it¡ª? First, there was little information available about the character ¡°Serdel Robbesta.¡± The ex-fianc¨¦e of one of the male protagonists, Count Hershe Maient. Except for a brief appearance as the younger sister of genius knight Addis, she appeared in only a few episodes of the game. ¡®No, there isn¡¯t much to see.¡¯ She hasn¡¯t been seen since she broke off her engagement to Count Maient in the teahouse. In fact, she had the lowest grade of all the extras. It isn¡¯t until she is possessed that she learns more about herself from the memories she has left in her body. Even that was a little shaky. ¡®Empty in between the memories.¡¯ She didn¡¯t seem to mind at the time. She was so emotional at the time that it was difficult for her to get through each day. ¡®It¡¯s not like my memory has disappeared.¡¯ Characters who have been possessed recall their past memories. She didn¡¯t see the point in going so far. ¡®It wasn¡¯t difficult to live knowing only what I remembered.¡¯ Furthermore, she was concerned that her memories would be mixed in with her incomplete memories. She became nervous, especially when she assimilated herself to the emotions left in her body. She went so far as to say that she was only a ¡®guest¡¯ who had somehow entered her body. Her relationship with her family was also tense, so she didn¡¯t want to look deeper further into or focus on the character ¡°Serdel.¡± While being obsessed with Count Maient, ironically. But now that she¡¯s been stuck in the game for three years, she¡¯s resetting. ¡®I need to figure out what I¡¯m missing out on and stop avoiding it. Especially when it comes to the power of this body.¡¯ Sigh. Let¡¯s start with the memory loss. For the first time, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the body rather than herself, suppressing a variety of emotions. ¡®Going back down, down, down, down, all the way down the memories of ¡®Serdel¡¯.¡¯ She discovered a hole even in places she didn¡¯t expect to find one. Furthermore, the memories from the middle of winter when she was five to the middle of summer when she was six were completely blank. ¡®What is this? What the hell happened back then?¡¯ 5 to 6 years old¡ª. For the first time in a long time, she remembered the original setting for Cartal and Addis. In the case of the Countess¡¯ housekeeper and the Deputy Chief of the Imperial Knights, there was more information than in the case of Serdel, who was not present. It¡¯s because there aren¡¯t many. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Even if she was familiar with it, it was new to her because she was reaching it with a specific purpose. If it had been before, she would have cluelessly missed it several times. The Countess had an accident when Serdel was about six years old, it was discovered in the end. ¡°¡­Accidental death.¡± What kind of accident did she have? There was no information available. Her brow gradually hardened. She has never given much thought to the Countess¡¯s absence. The character has already died, and no one has mentioned her in Count. The door to the bedroom she used was always tightly shut, and she had no idea what the date was. It was because she had never seen anyone do anything about it. That¡¯s why she was puzzled by the information she had just learned. ¡°The death of the Countess, partial memory loss, and foresight dreams.¡± Let¡¯s put these three together, and a picture was drawn at once. ¡®Perhaps the dream prior to the accident was a foresight dream.¡¯ Serdel, who was young at the time, would have been surprised to know this. ¡®They would have misinterpreted it as a child¡¯s whine.¡¯ ¡°After that, when the real accident happened and she lost her memory as a result of the shock¡ª¡± Thoughts spilled out of her mouth unknowingly. She wrote it with a tip in her mouth, as if she had drunk an argument. The conflicted emotions subsided. She shook her head a few times to get rid of it. She swept her face with a deep sigh. This is not the time to be emotional. She swallowed her random thoughts with saliva. ¡®The ability of foresight dreams¡ª¡¯ It must have been lost in the aftermath¡ª. Regrettably, the ability to read the future was a valuable weapon. She is aware of the original story, but she is no longer the Serdel of the past, and her actions and the initial situation have already changed. It was natural that the future would change. ¡®If only I had the ability¡ª¡¯ She must have felt more secure. Still, there will be no stopping the action for the time being. Cartal won¡¯t be able to ignore what she says, even if she makes some ridiculous suggestions. Finally, as permission to join the exploration. ¡°¡­..¡± The uneasy feeling lingered in her mind. Fatigue poured in as she lay in bed, staring at the canopy to force herself to shake it off, thinking about how much had happened today. A wave of air hit her as her mind began to feel heavier and heavier. ¡°¡­..¡± Her breath, which had been shaking unsteadily, soon became silent. . . [Realized the ability to be forced to close] [Prediction is open] 3. 2. 1. . . The flames appeared to be raging. That¡¯s how the fluttering red hair appeared. The eyes were ferocious, and the expression was piercing. A tall body with muscles all over it. In the midst of the awe-inspiring natural beauty, there was a sense of arrogance. He was more masculine, with thicker lines than Damon, who was more curl. She was familiar with him. If she didn¡¯t know, she couldn¡¯t have known. ¡®2nd Prince Palden Asladen.¡¯ In the game, he was the second most popular male character after the Duke, and in the past, despite receiving a performance in the forest, he turned away from the Count and resented him for a while. At first, such a person was running towards her. With the sword drawn. His dazed mind was set up with anger. What is this? Why, why are you coming? No, why is the momentum so frightening? What the hell is going on here? ¡°Get out of here!¡± ¡®Get out?¡¯ She rolled her eyes and looked around, taken aback by his sudden shout. Her head didn¡¯t move in any way. She seemed to be trapped in something. Furthermore, while his look was readily evident, the rest were not. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ ¡°Get out of here, Serdel Robbesta! Come to your senses!¡± Her heart beat at the sound of his shout, which burst forcefully again. How is she going to get out if she can¡¯t move? She was angry with embarrassment and fear, but she couldn¡¯t even speak since her mouth was stiff. ¡°Get out of here!¡± His drawn sword fluttered. The brilliant blue Aura was beautiful. Only then did the world around her begin to come into focus. The smooth floor¡¯s green fog was creeping up her body. ¡°Young Lady! Damn it, you¡¯re throwing away the way you¡¯re usually arrogant enough and you¡¯re whining something out of place! Back to your senses! Because it doesn¡¯t suit you! His blue energy rushed towards the green fog that had just risen to his chest, accompanied by unexpected words. The green fog then told him not to bother him, and he vomited his energy. Clank! His energy and green fog collided in the air. Clank! In the moment, everything around her vibrated. The earth¡¯s echo, which was carried down from the point of its toes to the body, shook the insides. Ugh! Under the intense strain, a groan escaped from between her teeth. Her heart has been suffocated. The stronger he moved it, the stronger the green fog moved. ¡°Young Lady!¡± The 2nd prince¡¯s voice calling to her was filled with concern and urgency. ¡°Ugh! Hang in there. Don¡¯t be scared! I¡¯ll save you in a minute!¡± The blue energy was again surrounded by brilliant light over his sword. Just as it was about to swing¡ª. Blink. She opened her eyes. ¡®Huh¡ª¡¯ After blinking a few times, she quickly rolled her eyes to look around. It was her bedroom. ¡°¡­Hah¡ª!¡± As if she was holding her breath in spite of herself, she managed to calm down and lift herself up. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡ª¡± What did she see? ¡®Is it a dream¡ª?¡¯ It seemed much too realistic for a dream. On the other side, the mind was numb. She keeps smacking her cheek to wake her up. Siri came in. ¡°What are you doing, Lady? Why are you slapping yourself? Kkak! Please stop it! Your face is turning red. You¡¯d better slap me in the face!¡± Siri, who rushed, closed her eyes tightly and pushed her face in. CH 13 Translated by Tam Edited by Tam The image of someone ready to be beaten had been completely drained. The actions were excessive. ¡°¡­It¡¯s all right now, that¡¯s enough.¡± Serdel pushed her out of bed and opened the terrace door wide. The warm sun poured in slowly, helped by the cool wind. The dream¡¯s contents spread out in her mind as the dazed energy faded. ¡°¡­..¡± It was a fuss. It was quite a fuss. Usually, this is enough to dismiss it as a crazy dream. Didn¡¯t she just hear the term ¡°foresight dream¡± from Cartal yesterday? Furthermore, it¡¯s normal for her to wake up from a normal dream with only the afterimage and blurry, but this wasn¡¯t the case. ¡®The content is becoming more clear.¡¯ As if it¡¯s imprinted on her mind. ¡®A huge collaboration¡ª¡¯ The green fog that surrounded her, as well as the powerful power that it had transmitted. When they took the special ability they wanted, it was unmistakably a phenomenon in the Elbash forests. ¡®But how come the 2nd Prince appears?¡¯ Her fist was clenched unknowingly. Why did he try to save her once more? What exactly is it? Why? Because the situation was not shown from the start, it was difficult to infer it accurately. ¡®The future me would never have worked with the 2nd Prince.¡¯ Obviously, he¡¯s moved on his own. ¡®The atmosphere tells me that I was the first to arrive at this location.¡¯ According to the actions of the 2nd Prince, if they had gone together in the first place, they would not have been caught in the green fog. Cerdel¡¯s eyes shook. ¡®Did the original work¡¯s power eventually lead him there?¡¯ It was natural for him to take it in the original, but it was unfair. At the same time, she was irritated. ¡®Damn it. So, who got Radun¡¯s distribution?¡¯ Even when he looked at him, the green fog would not let him go. Instead, he attacked him as if he didn¡¯t want to be disturb. One issue arose in the last scene she witnessed. He used the sword¡¯s aura to attack the green fog once more. A sabotage that continues while power is being absorbed. ¡®What if he realized who he was supposed to be in, and spit me out?¡¯ (t/n : This part talks about the power and the original owner of the power.) Her mind has been racing with possible hypotheses. ¡®How come I woke up?¡¯ She should have seen the end result! Her blood is starting to boil with anger. Let¡¯s just keep her eyes and ears open, Knock Knock Knock! With an urgent knock, the door swung open. ¡°Serdel!¡± It was Addis. And Redan quickly followed. She was already so confused that he shouted first. ¡°Hey! What the hell are you thinking?¡± ¡°¡ªWhat is going on with Sister and Brother? What¡¯s all the fuss about this morning?¡± In his ears, the tone of her voice became ferocious. For a brief moment, Redan¡¯s eyes were shaken by her cold response. ¡°Hey, hey! What exactly are you so calm about? Huh? You will explore! Is that what you mean? Does that make sense!¡± ¡°It¡¯s noisy, so can you lower your voice? And Father has already allowed me right?¡± When Serdel responded with an expressionless expression on her face, Redan nervously scratched his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t Father getting old? I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s allowing her to join the expedition. Where the hell is he sending this weak child?¡± There was worry in the rough annoyance, but it was only annoying for the time being. ¡°Serdel¡± Addis, who was approaching her, opened her mouth cautiously. ¡°The Elbash forest is a dangerous place. Of course, you¡¯re aware, but it¡¯s more dangerous than you realize. I don¡¯t know what will happen there.¡± ¡°Do you think Father would have granted me permission right away?¡± ¡°¡ªWhat?¡± ¡°Do you think Father wouldn¡¯t stop me like you both did?¡± Serdel¡¯s lips move slightly when he sees Addis, who is unable to respond right away. She needed to say something else, but her throat was choking. Her mind became uneasy as well. If she responds half-heartedly, the two people who have changed their behavior these days will try to stop her actions more forcefully. ¡°He stopped me. But he eventually let me go.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Have you heard the reason yet?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ve done a lot of research on the Elbash forest¡ª¡± ¡°I had a dream.¡± As long as they don¡¯t have memory issues like her, the two are likely to be aware of foresight dreams. She wonders why they don¡¯t remember the Countess¡¯s death anniversary. Cartal, who has always been cold, was shaken, and the word ¡°foresight dream¡± may have remained a scar for the two. ¡®Because their mother died as a result of them turning a blind eye to their younger sister¡¯s words.¡¯ Her heart was breaking, but she couldn¡¯t pick up the words that had already been spit out. It was a mountain that had to be climbed once in order to be free of restrictions on future actions. ¡°¡ªDid you have a dream?¡± As expected. The puzzled Addis did exactly what she said. ¡°Yes, I had a dream.¡± Serdel clasped her hands once more to emphasize. Her fist is clenched. ¡°¡ªDream.¡± The corners of Addis¡¯ lips trembled. Her eyes shook as well, and she became paler to the point of complexion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What was your dream again? So you had a dream, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Startled. ¡°¡ªHow can it be?¡± Redan¡¯s face darkened in an instant, having frowned while looking at Addis and her alternately. His eyes glistened. Was it to hide it, or was it difficult to make eye contact with her? He stroked his hair and turned his head to the side. ¡°Dream¡ª¡± Addis was more agitated than Cartal, who had chosen silence. ¡°¡ªDream.¡± Hiiik! Addis suddenly reached out and grabbed Serdel¡¯s arms. ¡°You! Are you okay!¡± Her eyes were red. She seemed angry and anxious about something, but somehow she was about to cry if touched. This Addis was new to me. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m okay.¡± She was fine, and nothing had happened. She is uneasy, but her feelings are gradually cooling down. She has no recollection of the incident. ¡®It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve been through it myself.¡¯ She simply does not like this type of situation or how much time has passed in this way. ¡°¡­Do you have to go there?¡± Addis¡¯ mouth is open. The locked voice sounded heavy and gloomy. ¡°¡­There¡¯s something to be gained.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°And there¡¯s something to protect.¡± ¡°¡­Something to protect. Okay, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m going to take part in the exploration anyway, so I¡¯ll let it go. But don¡¯t get too far away from me.¡± She couldn¡¯t, so she stopped speaking. She felt as if she couldn¡¯t push it any further here for some reason. ¡°What, you¡¯re going to let her? What¡¯s the matter with you, Sister?¡± Redan, who had only been biting his lips with his head turned up until that point, let out a loud scream. ¡°Is this making sense? No, you didn¡¯t come to talk to me? Are you allowing her to do this all of a sudden? Noona, are you insane?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Sister! Damn it!¡± After pouring it for a long time towards Addis, he also appeared to have made a decision in the end. ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming! Damn it!¡± Redan was the first to leave, his tongue clicked. ¡°I¡¯ll leave. Eat well.¡± ¡°Yes..¡± They greeted each other awkwardly. Addis finally breathed out when she finally went out. Hoo¡ª. It was as if a storm had swept through. Tiredness washed over her. She was sweeping the neck with a cramped feeling, but this time she felt a bloody energy behind her. ¡°¡­Lady, where do you want to go just now?¡± Siri¡¯s expression, smiling at her, was fierce. ¡°I¡¯m coming, too.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Because the Young Lady is so gentle that even the wind blows it away, I must protect you! So I¡¯ll join you.¡± ¡°¡­All right, but don¡¯t take out the fork.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking! I¡¯ll be there as well. I¡¯ll give my life to keep you safe! I can¡¯t, so I¡¯ll have to start training hard right away.¡± Serdel pressed her temple. CH 14 Addis, who was walking down the corridor, came to a halt. Ha, with a deep sigh, she leaned against the wall and swept her face roughly with her hands. She couldn¡¯t stop Serdel from joining the expedition in the end. Rather than stopping it, she had no choice but to allow it. How angry she was at the report she heard from the butler this morning! It¡¯s been a long time since she was so angry with Cartal. If she didn¡¯t want to see Serdel first, she would probably have stormed into Cartal¡¯s office. ¡°¡­a precognitive dream.¡± She remembered it clearly. In the middle of summer, when the sun is shining brightly. The day young Serdel awoke barefoot and refused to let go of her mother¡¯s dress, who was trying to get on the carriage early in the morning. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t go! Ugh, don¡¯t go. Don¡¯t go. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± She was getting ready to leave to celebrate her grandfather¡¯s birthday. Because it was long-distance, the busy Cartal was unable to join her. Instead, he loaded a carriage full of precious gifts. Addis and Redan tried to follow along at first, but couldn¡¯t because of their mother, who insisted that they shouldn¡¯t neglect family lessons. And Serdel, who was too young to butter a long journey, was completely excluded. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Mother! No way! No way! It¡¯s dangerous. The carriage is about to flip! And then there are the bad people¡ª uhh hng.¡± They thought it was just a child who didn¡¯t want to be separated from her mother. Because Serdel especially liked and followed her mother. If she couldn¡¯t see her for a second, she would search all over the house. ¡°Hng, don¡¯t go. Dream, I saw you in my dream. Bad, bad people¡ª.¡± Cartal, whose smile was not awkward at that time, hugged Serdel. ¡°Mother!¡± ¡°Serdel, you have to stop. Sister will play with you, okay? You like to play swordsmanship. Sister bought a wooden sword for Serdel.¡± Desperately struggling, she even forcibly removed Serdel¡¯s small hand, which was trying not to let go of the hem of her mother¡¯s dress. ¡°Uwaaaaaaa!¡± ¡°Serdel, don¡¯t cry too much. Huh? I¡¯ll also buy and send gifts that Cerdel likes. All right?¡± That was the last word. As Serdel mentioned, the carriage in which the mother rode struck down shortly after a box of gifts arrived. She was later abducted and murdered. When a corpse arrives in front of the family, the decomposition has advanced so far that the search has been delayed, and even her face is unrecognizable. Cartal and Redan were stunned. She screamed madly. She felt as if she was going to die from suffocation from her endless anger and guilt. Cartal became the target of her helpless anger. She should not have let her mother go, as Serdel said! But it¡¯s not Cartal¡¯s fault. She was the one who forcibly removed Serdel¡¯s hand, which refused to let go of the hem of her mother¡¯s dress at the time. Cartal¡¯s expression changed after that day. Redan wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as he used to be, only half-heartedly doing what he was told with a deep sense of loss. The brother who had lost his passion was like melted candle wax. ¡°Household? A powerful genius should take over. Wouldn¡¯t it be the same as if I got it as well as my father? I hate myself for not being able to protect a precious person.¡± ¡°Redan!¡± ¡°If I lose someone else¡ª I¡¯ll kill everything I see. I¡¯m going to die, too.¡± The glistening eyes between the anger were unusual. That was the first time the brother felt scared. ¡°If you have a strong will like your sister, you will be able to lead well. Even without me. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Redan simply handed over the position of succession to her with a twisted word. In the end, it was up to him to handle everything. Either he accepted or denied his mother¡¯s death. Serdel became dazed but did not cry after a while. She walked around the family, unable to recall a single word. Because of a memory problem, they called a famous person and took her to the temple, but it was useless. It doesn¡¯t affect her daily life either. Perhaps it would be better for a child to live her life the way she did, and everyone gave it to her so carelessly at the time. Cartal, Redan, and herself. She began to turn a blind eye and refused to listen to the child. What a nasty thing to do. What cruel abuse it was. Everyone knows now, but she was so shocked that she had lost her family that she was only concerned with finding the criminal at the time. The family relationship, which had begun to squeak, had gotten out of hand. If she had known she would not be able to track down a criminal for such a long time¡ª. ¡®I should have realized it sooner, but I couldn¡¯t.¡¯ She¡¯s just being spiteful because she doesn¡¯t want to see her being weak. It¡¯s nothing short of the worst. ¡°Hoooo¡­¡± She felt as if she were being suffocated. She was terrified. ¡®Did the long-lost memory return? Serdel wouldn¡¯t have seen mother¡¯s body because the maid was blocking it at the time, but just remembering the atmosphere of that time would be a nightmare.¡¯ Serdel¡¯s expression about the dream was completely insensitive. As a result, she couldn¡¯t know anymore. A kid who struggled with herself as a child has matured into an adult who understands how to hide her emotions. And she¡¯s not sure if she¡¯s keeping her memories hidden from herself. Or did she simply begin to dream? Serdel¡¯s mouth could be filled with hatred if she asks this question, stating, ¡°My mother died because of my sister.¡± She was out of breath. Her hands trembled as well. She felt guilty and wanted to run away from Serdel once more. ¡°Hooo¡­ Hoo¡­¡± Her complexion became paler. ¡°Are you okay, Dame Addis? Are you sick?¡± Siri rushed after seeing this just in time. ¡°Should I call a doctor? ¡°I-I¡¯m fine¡ª¡± ¡®Come to your senses, Addis Robbesta!¡¯ Don¡¯t do something you¡¯ll come to regret. ¡®She said she needed to protect something.¡¯ Serdel¡¯s dreams may have included knights and warriors who were continuously sacrificed in the woods. Elbash Forest is extremely dangerous. They have to consider losing someone to some extent. Even if it¡¯s their own life on the line. But that must have been a terrible and heartbreaking scene for a weak-hearted sister. That¡¯s why, despite her lack of energy, she went out of her way to help them with her knowledge. She has lately changed because she saw the future in advance through her dream. Being calm in the face of a broken engagement. Ugh. ¡®I have to protect that child!¡¯ Don¡¯t let a single hair get damaged. ¡®I believe the golden hawk knights¡¯ discipline has gotten a little slack.¡¯ She believes she will have to roll hard before she can begin exploration. Addis¡¯ eyes glistened. It was the start of brutal Sparta. She never experienced another precognitive dream, which was unfortunate. As a result, she couldn¡¯t tell who took Radun¡¯s distribution, and she was becoming hotter by the day. ¡®Isn¡¯t there something I can do about it? I¡¯ve seen the future, and I can¡¯t take it away from the 2nd Prince.¡¯ Especially for him, who is about to be sent to the forest on the Emperor¡¯s orders. Regardless of how much the original¡¯s power works on him. ¡®I¡¯m going to twist it.¡¯ To do so, she needs to keep him away from the expedition. ¡®It makes no sense to set a trap¡ª¡¯ She needed to go first to prepare, but it was too much for her. Rather, she may die while trying to set up a trap. Furthermore, it is the Elbash Forest. There was no guarantee that the trap would be correctly placed, and she had no idea what unexpected events could happen. While trying to tie the 2nd Prince¡¯s feet, she might have endangered not only herself but possibly everyone else. No one should have been injured, no matter how important it is to gain strength. Even so, it was unnecessary to ask for help from Cartal, Addis, or Redan. ¡®I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll help.¡¯ However, they will not allow her to absorb power since it is dangerous. These days, Addis and Redan, in particular, are beginning to look at her openly. They could take the power¡ª and that might not be such a bad thing either. ¡®The question is whether the two of them can safely accept Radun.¡¯ That made her a little worried. She couldn¡¯t allow them to put their lives in danger. ¡®I¡¯ve got a reset, so whatever it takes.¡¯ Furthermore, Addis¡¯ situation was not that simple. Because she is involved as the heir to the family and the Imperial Knight¡¯s vice-captain. She had to take priority over the second prince¡¯s commands. Leaving her at a crucial moment and doing what she requested may have resulted in much more trouble. ¡®I can¡¯t use the family knights.¡¯ It was too much. ¡®I have to find a way. Something that can be resolved without causing harm to the family¡ª¡¯ Sshk. Siri gave her thumb out of nowhere after Serdel had been lost in thought for a long time. ¡°Lady, bite my nails if you¡¯re going to bite your nails.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Or you can have this.¡± She now held a plate in her other hand. As she opened her mouth blankly, she sliced the cake into pieces. It¡¯s delicious. Her injured hands caught her attention after she¡¯d been eating it like a baby bird for a while. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, this? I¡¯m not hurt. These days, I¡¯m training hard.¡± ¡°¡ªTraining?¡± Is she actually dancing with a pair of forks? CH 15 Her brows were strangely distorted, unknowingly. ¡°I¡¯m currently undergoing sword training. I told you! I¡¯ll accompany you to the Elbash Forest. To do so, I need to be a little stronger!¡± Her expression was so intense that the goal was on fire. ¡®How strong can you be with training from now on!¡¯ So Siri doesn¡¯t get hurt. It was complicated just thinking about where to begin and how to say it. Whether she realizes it or not. Siri chatters excitedly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t bother the Knights, so I asked Terra, the servant, and he gladly listened.¡± Oh, if it was him, it had to be good. ¡®Perhaps he liked Siri?¡¯ Maybe he thought it was an opportunity to stick around. ¡°Did he do a good job teaching you?¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m only telling Lady; I don¡¯t think Terra will be appointed as a knight easily.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°As I was learning, I noticed that his abilities were quite poor.¡± It can¡¯t be a harsh evaluation. ¡°I can¡¯t entrust the Lady¡¯s escort to such a person.¡± ¡°¡­¡­how much have you learned in the last few days to judge him so harshly?¡± ¡°In half a day, I learned the basic posture?¡± ¡°¡­.?¡± Serdel¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise at the unexpected response. Siri put the rest of the cake in between. ¡°Are you curious? Do you want me to show you something?¡± Siri grabbed her arm and pulled her out as she nodded blankly. Just when she followed her out to the backyard, Terra was there first. ¡°See you, Lady!¡± With a cheerful greeting full of spirits, his gaze fixed at Siri. Seeing that even his ears were red, she remembered Siri¡¯s cold evaluation of him just before and felt a little pitiful. ¡°Lady. Watch from here!¡± Siri, who was holding a wooden sword, began to reveal an imperial swordsmanship position after having spread out the chair too much under the shade. ¡°¡­!¡± Siri¡¯s movements were sharp and accurate beyond imagination, which surprised her because she was expecting a ridiculous dance. ¡®There¡¯s no way!¡¯ Siri has a talent for swordsmanship! ¡°Terra. Do you want to fight me?¡± Siri made an immediate suggestion after finishing the basic posture without affecting her breathing. Siri immediately straightened her position as he nodded awkwardly with a smile. ¡°No, wait..¡± What does she mean, when she¡¯s just taken off the basic posture and is so fearless? It¡¯s too early, no matter how good you are! Siri shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± even before Serdel, who was afraid about her getting hurt, even stopped. She moves with a ferocious shout. Ha!! Clank! Siri¡¯s wooden sword was drawn from Terra¡¯s right shoulder to her chest, a furious spirit spreading. Clank! He was able to dodge her first move, but the power of the wooden sword appeared to be quite strong based on Terra¡¯s eyes trembling violently. ¡°Ugh!¡± Terra drew her wooden sword, his teeth clenched. Siri¡¯s wooden sword, which quickly approached a short distance, cut through the air and stretched out coolly after a few steps back and before he regained his posture. Clank! ¡°¡­..¡± Her wooden sword came to a complete stop around Terra¡¯s neck. Before he could do anything, the game had already been won. It was a well-placed shot. Terra¡¯s complexion had turned pale. His face dropped weakly. ¡®Poor Terra.¡¯ Serdel looked at Siri again, silently mourning his hurt feelings. ¡®It¡¯s really, uh, frightening.¡¯ How can she have such a talent for swordsmanship when she doesn¡¯t even appear in the game? When she saw it with her own eyes, she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡®Does it make sense that she had learned the basic posture for a few days?¡¯ So, how much longer can she grow if she¡¯s properly trained? She got a thrill just thinking about it. When Addis arrived, she decided to show Siri¡¯s skills to her. ¡®It will be easier for me as Siri grows stronger.¡¯ Cartal or Addis is the first name for many people in the family. Siri put herself first. She was a perfect person of her own. She can think only of herself, do anything for herself, and even sacrifice her life, regardless of her family. ¡®You are my ideal person with great power¡­ Ah!¡¯ She was elated by a character who suddenly came to mind as soon as she thought this far. Only then did she feel as if some of the problems she had been agonizing over had been resolved. ¡°Siri! What¡¯s the date today?¡± ¡°Yes? The 21st.¡± ¡°Terra, you go and¡ª¡± Her mind became busy. She has someone she wants to keep close to her at the moment. She should hold ¡°he¡± in her hand as a way of stopping the 2nd Prince. ****** Serdel looked around, holding the pamphlet in her hand. It was crowded just by looking ahead, looking back, and even looking on both sides. It¡¯s almost a bit tired of the spirit, with commoners, nobles, and nothing to do with the huge crowd from the entrance. There was no order, despite the fact that it was separate based on its status. Rather, many aristocrats took pleasure in the chaos. ¡°Ugh, my lady! Come this way!¡± Siri blocked people from hitting Serdel around. Following Siri, Terra also escorted Serdel. Thanks to the two, Serdel safely entered the hallway where only VIP reservations could attend. As she walked for a long time and climbed the stairs, she immediately got a special class. It wasn¡¯t a private room, but it wasn¡¯t too bad because there were moderate-height partitions on both sides. She sat in a chair, sighing, and opened the pamphlet she had been holding the day before. Portraits of various characters were painted, with information such as height, weight, weapons used, and historical records included. How long have you been fighting as a gladiator? What is the winning rate? What did you do before and so on. ¡°It¡¯s my first time on the gladiatorial field, and it¡¯s amazing in many ways.¡± Terra, who was reading Siri¡¯s mumbling, replied quickly. ¡°I-it¡¯ll be fun to watch.¡± Terra recently became wary after being defeated in a match against her. She could tell there was little surprise because he hadn¡¯t even made eye contact with Siri. Despite this, he blushed and gazed at her the entire time they were together to see if his heart had left. But she doesn¡¯t think Siri is interested in the opposite sex. How badly are you going to be hurt? Tsk tsk. Serdel returned her attention to the pamphlet portraits. How many pages did she go through? ¡®Here it is.¡¯ She was finally able to find the man who had remained hazy in the back of her mind. Edward Blaine is his real name. He was the second son of Count Blaine, who lived in the southwestern part of the kingdom of Yareden, but he was a fugitive who had lost everything as a result of a war on the territory caused by his father falling over to his close friend. Upon defeat, his parents and heir brother were killed by the other lord. His one and only sister was taken away by someone before he could rescue her and sold as a slave to the Empire. He was the only one who was not caught, hiding his identity under the alias of Blaine and searching for his sister. He came out as a sword fighter on a gladiator because he needed money. He used to be a mercenary, but when he received a request for information about his younger sister, he threw it away, and his credibility worsened. Of course, no one wanted to hire him because he lacked credit. There is nowhere for him to work, and he needs to make money, so he was driven all the way to what is known as a human gathering center. It shouldn¡¯t be looked down on. For the next 10 days. He won¡¯t lose a single time. ¡®As in the original and in the past.¡¯ CH 16 Even so, this was not the case. He actually possessed far greater power. The Duke of Beltus, who had heard rumors of his winning consecutive games, happened to see his battle and coveted the hidden power. He offered him the position of subordinate. ¡®He refused.¡¯ He didn¡¯t even bother with the idea of giving him a proper identity. It¡¯s because he witnessed his father being betrayed by a close friend, and he was deeply distrustful of other people¡¯s kindness. He found his sister after a long struggle after leaving the gladiatorial field without regret, but it was too late. He wandered aimlessly for a while before joining the Elbash Forest Monster expedition as a private mercenary out of desperation. It crumbled, leaving only a great performance. It was a quick exit. ¡®But I left an illustration of the original book on the extra.¡¯ In some ways, he was more impactful than the Serdel she possessed. It was quite impressive to see his eyes glistening with madness due to his loss of willpower in life, while holding a bloody sword. ¡°Terra.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady.¡± ¡°Remember the person in this portrait.¡± Terra narrowed his eyes. ¡°After the match, go straight to the waiting room and bring him to me.¡± ¡°¡ªAh. Yes. I understand Lady.¡± She doesn¡¯t intend to spend 10 days watching this. She didn¡¯t want to expose his abilities to too many people. ¡®He died young in the original and in the past, but not this time.¡¯ He was not the type to die in vain unless it was his sister¡¯s death. ¡®Damn the original¡ª yeah, let¡¯s twist it around.¡¯ She crossed her legs and smirked. [Ladies and gentlemen! You¡¯ve been waiting for a long time. Now, let¡¯s start the match!] WHOAAAAAAAAAA! At the same time as the host shouted, thunderous shouts rang out from the magical loudspeaker. The gates of the iron slaying were soon opened, and two gladiators entered the battlefield. The man on the right had a clunky haircut, and the man on the other side was relatively thin. Two people turned to face the audience and bowed their heads. It was referred to as ¡°fan service.¡± At the same time, the money bet, the gladiatorial field¡¯s flower, began. Of course, Serdel also participated. ¡°20 gold for skinny people.¡± ¡°Lady, I don¡¯t think he can use his strength if he¡¯s that skinny. Look at the other person¡¯s muscles. Is that a human muscle? Orc muscles. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll win.¡± Where did he die in the meantime? Excited by the heat, Terra snorted and discouraged Serdel¡¯s choice. ¡°Siri, what do you think?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s the case. We¡¯ll have to wait and see what happens, won¡¯t we? But that skinny guy appears to be quite strong. On the other hand, that muscular guy appears to be a little slow?¡± ¡°Right? That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. I was thinking exactly the same thing!¡± Terra even applauded, as if he had quickly changed his mind and convinced her otherwise. When Serdel handed the approaching money player the 20 gold, Siri took out 5 silver, which was cheap money, from her arms. Terra, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and took a deep breath after taking out 1 gold. ¡°He¡¯s just, uh, putting on muscle, right? Haha. He can¡¯t possibly win, can he? So, Lady, I¡¯ll bet on the same person you are!¡± His hand was shaking so much when he offered the money. He even sweated a lot on his forehead. ¡°Ah! Here we go, here we go!¡± He clenched his fists tightly. Siri is also intensely focused. The thin man easily avoided the big man¡¯s sword when he drew it and swung it. Whoosh! The dagger, which was about 15 centimeters long and held in both hands, then flew into the air. The thin man¡¯s movements were quick for a moment. The skinny man dashed to the big man¡¯s backbone and jumped on his knees, turning half a turn in the air and wrapping his opponent¡¯s neck around his legs. ¡°Ugh!¡± He stabbed the forearms of the large man who stretched out his hands to loosen his legs without hesitation, using the blade of the sword that had fallen into his grasp at the right time. ¡°Ackkkkk!¡± A piercing scream rang out across the gladiatorial arena. ¡°Ack!! Stop right there! Stop! Stop!¡± Even if it wasn¡¯t a real blade stabbing, it would be terribly painful. With a quick surrender by a big man, the victory fell into the hands of a skinny man. Whoaaaaaaaaaa! The audience erupted in applause. ¡°Kyaaaaa! We won! We won!¡± ¡°Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I won! Ah, I was counting on him to win from the start! I was counting on you!¡± Siri and Terra jumped as well. The double dividend made both of their faces light up. Serdel, on the other hand, was calm despite the fact that she already knew the outcome of the match. Two gladiators left the stage amid cheers and jeers from the audience. Soon after, others came up to the stage. Serdel had 40 golds, Siri had 10 silvers, and Terra had 4 more golds hidden beneath shoe insoles, putting a total of 6 golds on the line. In just 20 minutes. Serdel¡¯s choice won the match after a more intense battle than the first. ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± ¡°Whoaaaa!¡± The third match began, and this time the money was raised. ¡°Lady is my God from now on!¡± Terra¡¯s scream was loud. In the fourth and fifth rounds. Serdel never lost it and continued to pay. The same could be said for the two people who followed her on the bet. ¡°Lady, I think I¡¯ll get rich soon. When I get rich, I¡¯ll make a wedding dress for Lady!¡± Tera mumbled ¡®dress¡¯ and burst out laughing as Siri innocently cried as she looked at the money in her hand. Serdel shook her head. She said that gambling was only for a short period of time and that she was concerned that they would lose everything in the future. ¡°Listen, you win money because you have me with a good sense, and if I¡¯m not there, you¡¯ll only lose it. I won¡¯t be here any longer than today, so don¡¯t waste your time. Don¡¯t even think about coming here without telling me.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we come tomorrow as well? I really want to get a dress for Lady.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to buy it for me.¡± Siri drooped her shoulders. Terra, on the other hand, appeared to be distracted solely by his imagination. Serdel snatched Terra¡¯s ear and drew it toward her. ¡°Ack!¡± ¡°If you step in here after today, I won¡¯t let you see Siri.¡± Terra turned pale as she whispered quietly so she wouldn¡¯t have to listen. ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on you, so keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Y-yes! I understand!¡± Only then did she let go of his ear, which she had grasped. She immediately takes a moment to stare at him. [Now, this is the last match of the day!] The long-awaited figure made his way onto the battlefield. The atmosphere had calmed down at this point. It was difficult to describe due to his light walk and slender figure. Silver dyed with magical items flashed slightly in the wind to conceal his identity. The tanned skin wasn¡¯t white, nor was it very dark. The dark brows and calm brown eyes are so dim that depth is impossible to discern. She felt as if she were looking through a dark tunnel. As he looked indifferently at the audience, the women¡¯s faces flushed. The clicking sound rang out loudly, as if it had been quiet. Men, on the other hand, booed and booed. ¡®Edward Blaine.¡¯ Serdel clicked her tongue in the face of his appearance, which appeared far more dangerous than when she encountered it in a game. It wasn¡¯t like Damon, the beauty dealer. Damon, on the other hand, spit out the same color tone when calculated. It¡¯s clear that he has no idea what he looks like. The look on his face that lost vitality did not look like a living breathing person. The brilliance at the border. It even gave off a creepy vibe in some ways. Maybe that¡¯s why? A strange magical power touched human instincts. Both fatal and beautiful. The line was not thin, so it looked like a wild beast in the field. ¡®How is this an extra look?¡¯ Addis and Redan will be so loud when she take him to the family. The goal was already burning. ¡°Lady. Sir Addis and Young Master Redan did that.¡± She was pressing down on her temple, and suddenly Siri, who suddenly hardened her face, muttered. ¡°People with a character pay for their character.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± She doesn¡¯t know why she¡¯s interested in that person, but Terra nodded eagerly next to Siri, who gave the eyes that he didn¡¯t want him to get close to her. CH 17 Translated by Tam Edited by ¡°Does that look like him?¡± ¡°¡­.?¡± Of course, he¡¯s more like a human being, and what he just said sounded more like a mockery of Count Maient, who had just come to mind. Siri¡¯s gaze was drawn to Terra. When he took the money out of his shoes, he had a pocket of money in one hand and a smelly shoe sole in the other. Ssk, covering her nose with her hands, Siri turned away. ¡°¡­it¡¯s a saying.¡± ****** Edward Blaine. His armed condition, which goes by the alias Blaine, was quite impressive. A long sword hung from the hand, a bow and arrow on the back, and a thick leather belt tied around the waist, with daggers and middle swords hanging from various bags. He looked more like a warrior than a gladiator, dressed in worn-out leather armor, black leather pants, and leather shoes. His opponent was a middle-aged man with a long scar on the left side of his face. There were also numerous wounds on the body. The two men stood there staring at each other. Following a brief moment, a middle-aged man jumped in first. Tak! He slammed the ground and reached for Blaine¡¯s hand, stretching out his big hand. She could tell he was serious about grabbing his neck and shoving him. The man¡¯s body, which had been caught in one swoop, was bent back just before his hand touched Blaine¡¯s neck. ¡°¡­..¡± It was instant. ¡°GAAAAAAAAAAAH!¡± It wasn¡¯t broken, but a man¡¯s open mouth screamed in pain as his muscles were being pulled hard. His wide eyes were filled with blood, and veins bulge out of his thick arms. As time passed, it grew darker and darker. Blaine pushed him away after putting pressure on him for a while, provoking boos from the audience. It must be to provide a scene of its own that does not immediately suppress it. The man who had been pushed forward in a hunched position twisted his upper body. His eyes were glistening with flesh. ¡°I didn¡¯t like this bastard from the first time I saw him in the waiting room!¡± The man regains his posture and kaak! once the distance is separated. He spit on the ground. It was a vulgar gesture to show that he wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°Damn. What is the percentage of my win rate here!¡± The man who determined that he was not a right opponent drew the middle sword he was wearing around his waist and held it in both hands. But he couldn¡¯t get to it right away. It was because he was overwhelmed by Blaine¡¯s atmosphere. A cold sweat ran down the man¡¯s forehead. Woooo¡­ Woooooooo. The audience eventually booed. ¡°Hey, you little bastard! I¡¯ve bet a lot of money on you; what are you doing in front of a newbie?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with! It¡¯s well worth the money! Rough swear words poured out everywhere. Woooooooo! The man grated his teeth under constant pressure, revealing his yellow teeth. With a short sound, he rushed to Blaine and lowered his posture, aiming for Blaine¡¯s waist. Slash¡ª! However, the man¡¯s attack did not reach Blaine. Just once. Just like the moment, the man¡¯s body hardened in a short period of time. It was a mess because he had blood in his mouth and a slight cut in his nose. It was a wound that was suffered without even a hint of the sword being drawn out. Once again, silence fell. He wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, but the atmosphere darkened. ¡°Just one more hit, and that¡¯ll be your final attack.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The man bit his lower lip. He returned his weapons to his hands and pulled out a huge ax that he was wearing behind his back. He was about to blow it away at the time. Kwang! Unlike Blaine, who moved first, he grabbed his face with a large hand and pushed him back. ¡°U-ugh¡ª!¡± The man let out a short groan before collapsing. The hall is now deafeningly silent. ¡°¡­..¡± [T-the newcomer who joined for the first time today defeated the system¡¯s longest active gladiator and won!] The host, who had come to his senses, shouted through a magical loudspeaker. Whoaaaaaa! Only then did the audience react. Despite the loud applause, he did not raise his hand. The show is going to be exactly like this, and then he left. Its indifference turned out to be an opportunity for the strong, increasing the audience¡¯s enthusiasm. In the heat of excitement. ¡°Terra.¡± Serdel sent a signal. Blaine, she can¡¯t let him go like that. Terra, who had just collected the dividend, quickly turned away. ¡°¡ªUh.¡± But he stopped instead of going. When she turned around to see what was going on, she was surprised to see an unexpected figure standing right behind her. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Young Lady Serdel Robbesta.¡± Palden Asladen, the second Prince who had pushed her to this point, was smiling. Because it had not been trimmed, the burning red hair was messy. Tall, with a thick neck and broad shoulders. The muscular body has been suffocating because it does seem to be facing a huge wall. And there¡¯s a thick line, fierce eyes. The sharp impression she didn¡¯t expect to see here made her heart drop. ¡°¡­I see the second Prince.¡± He stopped Serdel, who was about to greet him. ¡°In a place like this, there¡¯s no need to be so hard. It¡¯s causing me to lose interest. You¡¯re here to have a good time, aren¡¯t you?¡± She looked around and saw that there was no more room. The nobles, who are quick-witted, appear to have avoided the prince the moment they saw him. ¡®Damn it¡ª¡¯ My throat has dried up. ¡°From the back, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve ever lost it. I was a little surprised. You made a fortune, didn¡¯t you?¡± Is it petty or playful? He spoke softly, raising the corner of his mouth and holding a rather large-looking money bag in his hand. ¡°I also made some money. I didn¡¯t expect Young Lady to have such a good eye for people,¡± he said several times as he tossed the money bag. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Once again, I¡¯m surprised.¡± When he got closer, she trembled. The thick energy he emits makes her dizzy. The pressure was also no joke. ¡°I was just lucky.¡± Serdel, who had managed to open her mouth, smiled awkwardly. Why the hell did he come here? Just for the sake of entertainment? It has to be. He shouldn¡¯t have come here with the same intentions as she did. Especially if he¡¯s after him¡ª. ¡°Oh, that last silver hair was incredible. Strangers may have thought it was simple, but the sense of movement itself was extraordinary. He was born in an environment that influenced his surroundings.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°What do you think, Young Lady?¡± Her throat is tense. It wouldn¡¯t happen, but she was desperate because she thought she was going to lose him. ¡°It was¡ª it was cool.¡± ¡°It was cool? You seemed to enjoy the character. But is that all? I thought there¡¯d be more impressions if it was Young Lady, but isn¡¯t it too simple?¡± Her grip was drenched in sweat. There was no time to turn it off in this situation. She avoided answering by kicking at Terra¡¯s feet, who was still bowing his head, while also creating a gap. ¡°Terra, what are you doing? Without going.¡± ¡°A-ah, yes. Lady.¡± He snuck out of the seat while looking around. Fortunately, Palden didn¡¯t even look at him. He was only interested in Serdel. ¡°Did you enjoy it? Isn¡¯t it true that Young Lady despises going to the gladiatorial arena because it¡¯s so barbaric and messy?¡± It is, indeed. Who wouldn¡¯t want to show up in a dress to such a sweaty and rough place? ¡®It¡¯s so crowded from the entrance where only aristocrats enter and exit.¡¯ ¡°As expected, is it because you¡¯re Dame Addis Robbesta¡¯s sister?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ll be a part of this expedition. I have a lot of questions for Young Lady. If you have time, how about a cup of tea?¡± ¡°Please accept my apologies, Your Highness. I¡¯m not your servant or a close friend. I hope you don¡¯t lose your manners in front of me, the Young Lady of a noble family.¡± His actions and words were so arrogant that he gave the impression of a scoundrel. Regardless of whether he is one of the male protagonists, he is a target to seduce. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to cringe. Because she knows from past experience how much a person¡¯s charm can be diminished. Furthermore, the priority was not to lose Blaine and Radun at this time. CH 18 anslated by Tam ¡°And I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to leave.¡± ¡°Well.¡± ¡°It was a pleasure to see you here for a short moment. Then.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about you being busy. I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t hold you. We¡¯ll see each other soon anyway.¡± His tone of voice lowered slightly. The atmosphere shifted as the tone changed, even if it was the same informal speech. Palden moved to the side. Serdel passed him with as casual a look as possible. The back of her head stung a lot. ¡®Let¡¯s not look back. Let¡¯s not look back.¡¯ If their eyes met again, she felt like she¡¯d be caught. Serdel¡¯s steps became quicker. As she walked away, Palden lifted his chin and stared through the back of her. ¡°Is that how she looks? Or has something changed? What a unique and interesting move following the breakup with Count Maient.¡± He thought he had heard something wrong when he learned of her participation in the expedition through his aides not long ago. It was completely ridiculous. What is Count Robbesta thinking in allowing her to participate when she isn¡¯t a great swordsman like Addis or has been trained from a young age like Redan? He was irritated because he couldn¡¯t figure out what the point was. He¡¯d heard she approached Damon first, brought in the Marquis of Spendar, and provided numerous ideas about Elbash Forest, but he couldn¡¯t believe it. Except for the title of brilliant Knight¡¯s younger sister or Count Maient¡¯s fiancee¡ª. To be honest, she was nothing special. She broke the marriage even after that, so she became a person full of rumors. He couldn¡¯t possibly expect her to assist in any way. So, sooner or later, he should meet and speak with Count Robbesta or Addis individually, and try to stop Serdel¡¯s interest. That is, until he saw her enter the gladiatorial arena alone, with only one servant and maid. For a brief moment, curiosity sparked. He had to do something, yet he turned around and followed her without hesitation. Because it was a VIP seat, the only thing he could see was the back of the seat. It was enough to sense the mood. He focused on her like that, sitting as slanted as he could. ¡®It was unique.¡¯ She was the only one in the gladiator who remained still when the entire audience enjoyed the fight passionately. When she put money on it, she was really relaxed. Even when she paid for the bet, she was different from the servant and maid who were making a fuss. She acted as though she knew what was going to happen next. She was very calm. ¡®Maybe she has a good feeling. Or a good eye.¡¯ Maybe both. ¡®The distribution was good.¡¯ The bigger the game, the more people will be forced to abandon their instincts in such a hot environment. The thrill of touching a fortune. Only the strange idea that one¡¯s eyes aren¡¯t deceiving one. On the other hand, they are terrified of what will happen if they lose. Nobody knows, but there¡¯s a fear that the high winning rate tower they¡¯ve created will come crashing down with just one wrong bet. ¡®You usually get more cautious and concerned about earning money as time passes.¡¯ It was rare to see a type of person who remained calm until the end without a moment of hesitation, such as Serdel, without a gambler¡¯s temperament. That alone could tell she was quite bold. That piqued his interest even more. It was only a few months ago. Wasn¡¯t she the one that debuted with a really unsteady figure? It was so different from the time when she looked dark as if she was about to die at the moment when she was supposed to shine beautifully. She seems to be a completely different person. ¡®I¡¯m sure the broken engagement triggered it.¡¯ ¡°Anyway, she didn¡¯t end up on the expedition for no reason.¡± His displeasure turned to curiosity, and he shifted his sight to Serdel¡¯s seat. She called the servant in a quiet voice as soon as the battle was finished. ¡®After that, she didn¡¯t even answer my questions, and even made a gap to send the servant away first.¡¯ It must have been some order given in advance. Perhaps that order is another reason for coming here today. ¡°Find out what the Young Lady¡¯s servant went to do. Oh, and the silver hair that came out at the end. Learn more about him. He¡¯s the only one who¡¯s not bad at the arena.¡± Regardless of his status, if he believed he was worth it, he would accept it right away. Because such figures are not permitted to enter the palace, they are managed in private. Palden turned around after seeing the aide who had received the order move away. ****** ¡®It¡¯s not too late, is it?¡¯ She observed two people in a fight when she entered the gladiator waiting room with the help of a staff member she met along the way. ¡°Lady, you¡¯re here.¡± Terra¡¯s expression, on the other hand, which had fully vanished when talking with Siri, remained a little longer. Sweat ran down from his forehead, indicating that he was exceedingly nervous. ¡°Look¡ª¡± A bewildered fight between the two. Serdel kept her eye on him, afraid that Blenn would assume something bad would happen. After beckoning such an employee out, Serdel also blinked at Terra and Siri. ¡°You two stay out, too.¡± ¡°Lady!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°Get out. It¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± The fierce eyes of Serdel stiffened their expressions. Siri trembled all over her body, just thinking about what might happen to Serdel. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be worried. He would realize I¡¯m a noble if he had his eyes fixed correctly. In the area, where a penny isn¡¯t enough, he won¡¯t be able to act freely.¡± Startled. This time, Blenn¡¯s shoulders shook. Siri and Terra eventually left, leaving him alone in the waiting room. ¡°¡ªWhat exactly is it?¡± The low-pitched voice was tense and alert. Her body shivered as she felt the chill from the dark eyes. Serdel, on the other hand, smiled instead of shivering or feeling threatened. She threw her money from her pocket towards him at the same time. In the freezing cold, he caught it from the air and focused his gaze on the large sum of money. ¡°I was so lucky today that I won quite a lot of money.¡± ¡®He¡¯s a man who doesn¡¯t work with a straightforward method.¡¯ ¡®Be my man¡¯, she wants to get straight to the point. Rather than that, it was a priority to suppress the vigilant mind that was standing there and draw interest from it first. ¡°So I¡¯ll give it to you. Money, you need it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why do you think I need money?¡± ¡°Oh, well, you don¡¯t need it then?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a lot more money in here than the money you¡¯re getting from fighting here, right? I won¡¯t be making any money for a while.¡± Ugh, while grinding his teeth, Blenn could not easily let go of the heaviness of the money pocket. ¡°You¡¯re not just giving it away. You will tell me what you want, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯ll just give you the money.¡± ¡°¡ªWhat?¡± ¡°Shall we trade something else instead?¡± ¡°What are you¡ª¡± ¡°Your sister. I can find it for you.¡± His eyes widened when he suddenly jumped in. ¡°Don¡¯t pull the sword out.¡± Her voice, which had sunk low, had an incredible dignity. His entire body paused. Serdel held several magical scrolls in her fingers, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to get hurt.¡± Artifact is a deadly detection magic with explosive magic inside, which she lately ordered Terra to get this and that. Protection magic and ice magic were built in and as soon as he comes at it, it will be activated naturally without tearing it up. ¡°You, what are you¡ª¡± ¡°Who am I? I¡¯m Serdel Robbesta. The daughter of Count Robbesta. I have a power that no one but my family knows about. Would you believe me if I told you that that power guided me to you?¡± ¡°What¡ª¡± ¡°It may sound futile, but how else would I have come to you? How do I know you¡¯re looking for your sister? So you¡¯d better believe it. That ability can help us figure out where your sister is.¡± His eyes began to shake. ¡°There¡¯s nothing hard to think about. It¡¯s just a deal. If you¡¯re interested, hold my hand.¡± CH 19 ¡°¡ªWhat should I do?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t explain in detail right now, but I hope you can help me with the power you have. If you do, I¡¯ll find your sister within 20 days. If I can¡¯t find her within the promised period, this transaction will be null and void.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°As a reward for saving your precious time, I¡¯ll give you twice as much money as you have now. What do you think, I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s a lose-lose situation for you? ¡° ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Instead, I have a condition: first, don¡¯t be curious about my abilities, and second, don¡¯t mention it carelessly.¡± If he could think, he would have realized what type of ability she was talking to. Nonetheless, the reason she put such a condition was to earn more trust by throwing something that could be considered her own weakness. ¡°¡ªAre you, Are you sure you can find my sister?¡± ¡°I promise. I can give you a new identity if you want. If you want to leave with your younger sister, you can leave. As long as you take care of my business clearly.¡± ¡°Until now¡ª there were many people who wanted me.¡± ¡®I¡¯m sure it is.¡¯ ¡°There were noble women who grabbed my hand and said they¡¯d do anything for me.¡± He came a step closer. ¡°However, no one has ever made a proposal like the Lady. My sister is my only blood relative. I must find her. I don¡¯t need money. Please find her unconditionally. Otherwise¡ª I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ll do with my eyes fixed on the Lady who touched me.¡± Serdel smiled widely at him, who reacted with caution to the threat. ¡°So, should I give you time to think about it?¡± ¡°¡ªNo.¡± He bowed his head with an answer. ¡°I¡¯ll take the Lady¡¯s suggestion, and if you can find my younger sister, I¡¯ll do anything.¡± ¡°Okay, great. So, shall we start by writing a contract as a token of our trust in each other?¡± She wrote down what she just said in the magic contract she had prepared. After hesitating for a while, he signed his autograph only after reconfirming that there was nothing disadvantageous to him. ¡°I will be in your care.¡± ¡°Please¡ª take good care of me. And my name is Blenn.¡± She already knew that. ¡°Yes, follow me, Blenn.¡± ****** Before going back to the family, they stopped by the clothing store. ¡°Will you choose, or will I choose?¡± ¡°What are you¡ª¡± ¡°Your clothes. I can¡¯t take you like that.¡± He looked at his conditions. ¡°You¡¯re not going to say, ¡®I¡¯m comfortable with this,¡¯ are you?¡± ¡°¡­.it¡¯s not comfortable.¡± Well. Until a few years ago, he was also the Young Master of a noble family. He has no choice but to adapt and live in the situation he finds himself in. ¡°Then pick one.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± He stepped up and couldn¡¯t pick his clothes. ¡°¡­Okay¡ª Please choose by yourself.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t mean to say no, but won¡¯t you go first?¡¯ It seemed like it was crashing against the wall. He didn¡¯t even try to hide it.It¡¯s as if he doesn¡¯t need a reason to fight this opponent. At first glance, it seems to have been ignored, yet it wasn¡¯t. On the contrary, the level of vigilance was lower than it had been before the contract was written. ¡®Cute.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t bad. ¡®I would have been more wary of him on my side if his behavior had suddenly changed.¡¯ ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pick for you.¡± Serdel, with her fingers stretched out, chose a spot. ¡°From there,¡± she said as her long-drawn finger came to a halt near one side. ¡°Until you get there.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to buy them all, so I¡¯d like them wrapped up in the carriage.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lady! Please wait for a moment, I¡¯ll get it ready quickly!¡± The staff moved busily with joy. Siri and Terra looked at Serdel with flustered eyes. The same goes for Blenn. Serdel shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about men¡¯s clothes.¡± And she wanted to try it. Like this. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Oh, should I buy some shoes?¡± ¡°Shoes¡ª¡± ¡°Shoes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll choose¡ª¡± Blenn came quickly with a pair of leather boots, afraid that Serdel would shout from there to there again. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Okay, then. Shall we go?¡± The luggage compartment was suddenly full of his clothes. ¡°Thank you so much, Lady!¡± Serdel got on the carriage first after receiving polite greetings from the staff. Blenn, who had hesitated, followed her and Terra muttered as Siri was about to get on. ¡°Is that the value of a person who says that if a person is good¡ª then I envy him, the value of the person.¡± Siri looked at him pitifully. As if not noticing it, Terra¡¯s shoulders gradually dropped down. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m envious¡­ the person¡¯s value.¡± All the good-looking b*stards get it all out in the trash. Siri turned away from him after the final murmur. ****** She went to report to Cartal, the house¡¯s owner, as outsiders were brought in. But he only looks at Blenn for a while. He didn¡¯t ask for anything. A question like where are you from and what you¡¯ve been doing so far? He¡¯s not curious, instead¡ª. ¡°Serdel, I¡¯m sure you have a good reason for doing something you don¡¯t do.¡± He appears to believe it¡¯s because of precognitive dreams. ¡°You just don¡¯t have to do it.¡± ¡°To me, it will never harm the family.¡± Cartal gave him permission to stay in the family with a nod. It surprised her because she had not expected it to be so easy to accept. Addis and Redan are the only ones left. How loud would they be together? ¡°¡­..¡± After two days, Addis arrived at the Count and stared at Blenn the same way Cartal did. Her mouth opened after a few moments of staring at him. ¡°Is it the silver hair that used to be active in that gladiator? You picked it up well.¡± How does she know that? No way¡ª. ¡°His Highness Palden said he saw you there. He didn¡¯t forget that you took the silver hair that you had been watching with interest.¡± Her spine went cold. ¡°We¡¯ll have to compete to understand what¡¯s going on, but I believe you have a lot more talent than I¡¯ve heard, and do you think it would help with the Elbash forest?¡± Serdel nodded, capturing the spirit of being distracted for a brief moment. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve seen it as well¡ª so you must have followed your own plan. I¡¯m not against keeping him close, but¡ª¡± Whoosh. Addis, who pulled out a sword, brought it to Blenn¡¯s neck. ¡°You¡¯d better keep in mind that if you do any harm to this child and our family, you could be decapitated.¡± ¡°¡ªThere will be no harm.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about it in the future.¡± Addis carried the sword and the arsenic with him. The doctor, who accepted it but was not overly concerned, spread it out. It was only natural for her to be a knight and the family¡¯s heir. It was enough for Serdel to thank her for crossing the line. ¡°And one more.¡± As she reached Blenn¡¯s nose, she growled slowly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to ruin your handsome face, never smile in front of my sister.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± She¡¯s canceling to say thank you. ¡°Don¡¯t even blink. You¡¯d better not give off a weird vibe.¡± Blenn remained silent. He didn¡¯t even make any expressions on his face. If he had reacted, it would have been better. She felt even more ashamed of herself just by looking at Addis on the dull day. Serdel dragged Siri forward so she wouldn¡¯t say any more strange things. ¡°I know you¡¯re tired, but I¡¯d like to ask you a favor.¡± ¡°Favor? Like what?¡± Addis¡¯ eyes sparkled. It was the first time she heard her sister say the word ¡°favor.¡± Her earlobes became a little redder, as if fluttering. ¡°Look at this kid. She started practicing swordsmanship a few days ago to follow me to the Elbash Forest, and I think her talent is extraordinary.¡± ¡°Training? To whom? I didn¡¯t hear that from the knights.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª! I couldn¡¯t bother the Knights, so I learned from Terra, who was a little close.¡± Siri patted her finger in nervousness. ¡°Terra? That Terra? That mouth-watering bastard? What did you learn from him?¡± ¡°The basic swordsmanship of the Empire.¡± ¡°She learnt it in half a day, and she had a fight with him, which she won in just two tries. Of course, I know Terra¡¯s skills are not that great, but even if we put that aside, Siri¡¯s movements weren¡¯t great.¡± Suddenly, a different look appeared in Addis¡¯s eyes. CH 20 ¡°Follow me.¡± She took the lead and Siri followed quickly. ¡°Blenn, you go and rest. If you need to go out, you can go out.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Despite the fact that she had given him freedom, he quietly followed Serdel. It was already expected behavior. He was always near Serdel from early morning to late evening, except when he was sleeping. She had no idea why. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely find your sister.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± There was no answer from him. Serdel didn¡¯t say it for an answer either, so she just walked silently. ****** When Addis arrived at the training center, she was greeted by the knights and pushed them back. Then she picked up a wooden sword and threw it at Siri. Taaak! Siri, who easily snatched it, took a straight posture. The sequence of movements was fairly smooth. The eyes of the knights who had accidentally stepped back during the training changed rapidly. ¡°Your form isn¡¯t that bad. Come on. I¡¯ll deal with you.¡± Immediately there was a confrontation. Siri rushed in, flapping her maid clothes. Unbelievably, her movements were more agile than when she faced Terra. Whoosh! The wooden sword that stretched out relentlessly was loaded with sharpness and heaviness at the same time. ¡°¡ªShe has good senses.¡± Blenn muttered. ¡°That maid. I can¡¯t believe it hasn¡¯t been long since she has learned a sword.¡± Even though she just made one move, he immediately noticed Siri¡¯s skill. ¡°The length and weight of the sword make it tough to use at first. It takes control of the sword to use it that way.¡± Addis seemed to be feeling the same way, but her face had already changed as she looked at Siri. Addis, who had not attacked for a while and was only receiving Siri¡¯s attacks, was about to lose her attack power due to lack of experience. Whoosh! At a moderately high speed, Siri attacked in a line that wouldn¡¯t hurt her. Startled. Siri turned to avoid Addis¡¯ wooden sword, which was aimed at her. She didn¡¯t seem to dare to stop, so she continued to take a step backwards. Due to a lack of experience, the limitations of attack and reaction have been revealed. Siri sensed it as well, and with her eyes fixed on Addis¡¯ sword, she soon began to move as she showed. It was a terrible speed of learning. A smile fell on Addis¡¯s lips before she knew it. Whether she was excited by Siri¡¯s talent to learn what she was showing, Addis pushed her until she was exhausted. For as long as 10 minutes. ¡®I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d last this long.¡¯ Sweat poured down from Siri¡¯s forehead. Her breathing became more and more difficult, her legs began to tremble, and her hands seemed to lose strength. She almost missed the wooden sword several times. ¡®You¡¯ve reached your limit.¡¯ At this point, Addis has stopped moving. She was just wondering what it was. Her smile disappeared from her face. Whoo! As a result, the air¡¯s nature suddenly changed. ¡®Whoops!¡¯ Her eyes narrowed in pain every time she took a breath, as if needles were piercing her nose. She tried to cover her nose with her palm, but it didn¡¯t work. Her mind felt dizzy as she reached suffocation towards the end. Blenn stayed close to Serdel at the time. His calm energy reached out to her, softly restraining all of her strength. ¡®Ah¡ª! It¡¯s easier to breathe.¡¯ When she looked up, she met his indifferent eyes. It was the first to catch her eyes. Serdel, who became awkward for no reason, also turned her eyes. As she looked around, some knights looked dark. On that side, she could see that there was a much stronger force. She was worried about Siri. She couldn¡¯t handle it because she had just recently began to develop her talent, which even full-time knights are unable to handle. Her body was stumbling furiously, and her eyes were on the edge of rolling over. The fist was filled with power. Her heart was aching. She wanted to shout that if she had shown that much, she could stop. ¡°Siri¡ª!¡± At that moment, hiik! Addis looked Serdel in the eyes as she turned her head. The force that had been directed towards Siri from the front had shifted and was now aimed at her. Siri moved her body almost automatically at the same time Serdel flinched. She ran like an arrow and stood in front of her, despite not having the strength to lift a finger. ¡°¡ªUgh. L-lady¡ª!¡± Rather than being scared and pressed in the face of powerful energy, Siri tried to fight back in some way. Only to keep her safe. She was even displaying a strong dislike for Addis. It was an amazing act of loyalty. ¡°I like it.¡± She thought it was some kind of test. With a pleased smile, Addis gathered her energy. ¡°Ugh!¡± Siri, who was able to stand with the use of a wooden sword as a cane, was continually spitting saliva. ¡°L-lady¡­¡± Even though it must be so hard, Siri checked her safety first. Her eyes were filled with fear that she might lose her master. ¡°Lady..¡± Even if she didn¡¯t know, Addis couldn¡¯t hurt her sister. She didn¡¯t just rely on facts that she knew weren¡¯t true. She concentrated solely on the current issue and moved swiftly to protect her. Nobles have no idea when or where they will be betrayed, thus any knight protecting their master should have done so. Knights had to be more wary of their masters, ask more questions, and learn more facts. It¡¯s an uncomfortable fact at times. Nonetheless, they trusted their master and did not have to block their path. That was the owner¡¯s loyalty, and it was the most difficult to maintain. ¡°A hundred points of knight is talent and heart.¡± As usual, Addis¡¯s mouth was full of praise. Serdel removed a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Siri¡¯s forehead. It was a very touching experience.It¡¯s simply that when she was younger, she looked after her. Siri never forgot that touch. She was willing to do anything for her own sake. She¡¯s well aware of that feeling, and even use it to some extent. When she saw her like this, she felt sorry for her. Because she¡¯s not her real owner. Not the same Serdel who saved her. ¡°Vice captain.¡± Addis, who suddenly approached her, called a middle-aged man standing to one side. In the imperial family, she was the vice captain of the Knights, but in the family, she was the successor and the captain at the same time. When Addis left the Count, the vice captain led the knights instead. ¡°Yes. Dame Addis.¡± ¡°That kid, bring her in as a student and teach her well.¡± His eyes glistened with greed. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be greedy, but are you giving up on it?¡± ¡°I want to make it myself, but I can¡¯t afford it these days. The mental state of the lower ones in the imperial family was so lax. I¡¯m training hard.¡± Startled. The vice-captain¡¯s shoulders shivered. The same was true of other knights that followed. ¡°Ha ha ha ha¡ª Thanks to you, it is good that I have a useful disciple. I will teach her well.¡± The vice-captain bowed his head. ¡°You, greet your teacher with respect.¡± Siri, who forced herself to rise from her unrecoverable body at Addis¡¯s words, politely surrendered. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± The vice-captain grabbed Siri¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I look forward to it too.¡± By this time, she was no longer a maid, but a disciple of the vice captain. She¡¯ll start with the seeds. As long as she improves her skills and becomes recognized as a knight, she will also receive a single win title, so she will be riding a direct carriage of rank. She was sorry, but on the other hand, it was heart-fluttering. ¡®I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s changed.¡¯ A lot has already changed, and a lot has been changing. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± Siri was also moved to tears. ¡°I¡¯ll be strong and protect you.¡± ¡°¡ªThank you. And congratulations.¡± Sooner or later, Serdel hugged her, thinking that she should get Siri a sword that would look good on her. Blenn gave a strange expression to the gentle smile on Serdel¡¯s lips. In an instant, a face came to mind. She began to look overlapped with her sweet sister, who had always been sincere to her subordinates. He clenched his fist. CH 21 Serdel¡¯s servants¡¯ eyes have changed significantly since Siri became a disciple of the vice-captain. Siri is cool as well, carrying the sword in her heart to protect her master, but Serdel is the one who believes she has talent and has shown it to Addis. As a result, Siri became a direct disciple of the vice-captain. Everything has changed in her life. This came as a new shock to the servants. Serdel didn¡¯t stop there; she also provided Siri with a sword and support. In order to properly care for her, she checked ahead of time to see if the Knights were missing anything and filled in the gaps. She went into the kitchen because she was also worried about her diet. She examines the food in the warehouse and instructs the chef and butler to serve high-quality meals to not only the knights, but everyone. She also began to pay attention to the mansion¡¯s overall management. Naturally, the servants were kept busy as a result of her orders. It was a once-in-a-lifetime sight. The mansion, which had previously been lifeless, was now overflowing with full energy as a result of this. While watching this silently, Cartal called Serdel into his office. His face was stiffer than usual. ¡®Is it too bad¡ª?¡¯ She felt bad for no reason. She was anxious about Siri, who would be staying with the knights, so taking care of a little bit from behind became a big deal. She noticed inefficient problems she hadn¡¯t seen before as soon as she touched on one subject, the mansion work. She couldn¡¯t help but step forward. ¡°Originally¡ª it¡¯s the hostess¡¯s job. What you¡¯re doing. Since I don¡¯t have a wife, Addis, or Redan, who has an obligation to assist the successor, should have stepped forward.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± She knew it. Was it bothering him? Not knowing what to say, Serdel chose to remain silent for a while. ¡°However, before becoming an heir, Addis served as a knight in the Imperial family, so she spends more time outside than inside the family¡ª despite her pride in her subordinates, she is unlikely to be the next owner I can rely on. She¡¯s never worked on a big project before¡ª¡± He hesitated unknowingly. The head, which was about to be lowered deeply, also said. ¡°Redan, he¡¯s not taking care of the family at all because he¡¯s only out there. He was also busy with matters concerning the estate, so he left the task about house to Monem, the butlers and vice-butlers.¡± Monem has been the Count¡¯s House head maid for the longest time. She had been the head maid till 10 years ago, but as she grew older, she naturally passed over the position to the current maid and retired from the front line. No, she thought so. ¡®I didn¡¯t know you were doing the most important thing behind me.¡¯ Serdel was a caring person from an early age, but Serdel was uncomfortable with her for some reason. As a result, they¡¯ve only met a few times in the past, and it¡¯s the same now. ¡®I haven¡¯t heard that name in a long time. I¡¯m feeling strange for no reason.¡¯ Monem was strict and scary in front of work, but fair in everything, according to the memories that remain. Above all, she was the one who treated Serdel more precious than anyone else. Cartal, Addis, Redan. Monem was the only one who hugged her after everyone else had left her alone. Why would you do something like that? ¡®I¡¯m curious, but this isn¡¯t the point.¡¯ This is not the time to pay attention to Monem. She kept listening to Cartal. ¡°They don¡¯t say it, but it has to be a big burden for them. The balance of the mansion that has been maintained will be broken the moment one loses their impartiality. They¡¯d need a master to balance and take responsibility on top of them.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°So when you stepped up, they waited. They depend and follow as if you were¡ª Especially, they remember how intelligent you were when you were young.¡± Serdel now has her head straight. In the air, Cartal¡¯s and her eyes met. ¡°Take it.¡± In front of Serdel, he pushed a bunch of books from a drawer. The list of Count¡¯s servants was at the top, and the account book was at the bottom, as she looked at it. Monthly salaries paid to knights, soldiers, and servants, as well as fixed costs for maintaining the Count and taxes received from the estate, were all recorded in the accounts. ¡°You will be in charge of them. I¡¯ll leave the mansion¡¯s work to you.¡± Serdel¡¯s mouth opened blankly. She couldn¡¯t believe it even though she heard it clearly. ¡°Serdel Robbesta. Do your best in your role as a member of the Count family. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do well.¡± She took turns looking at the list, books, and Cartal. It wasn¡¯t a dream. Now he was acknowledging her and sharing the family¡¯s responsibilities. Her mouth widens. ¡°Can you handle it?¡± Serdel shook her head boldly in response to his question. No way! The more power she has inside the family, the more she can achieve something without relying on precognitive dreams. It was like an opportunity. ¡°I can handle it¡ª You trusted me, so I¡¯ll do my best without making a mistake. Keep an eye on me!¡± She bravely responded and took the list and book in her arms. Until then, Serdel¡¯s bold eyes made Cartal smile openly. ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel was mesmerized once more because it was the first time she had seen him like this. Cartal¡¯s smile was very awkward, maybe because he was always stiff, but for some reason¡ª. It felt like a rush of emotions. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll keep an eye on you.¡± She was touched by the warmth she felt in his voice. She needed to respond, but she couldn¡¯t say anything. She eventually replaced what she had to say with a nod of her head. Cartal, who was left alone after Serdel left, escaped from his desk and went out to the terrace. The lukewarm wind seemed to reflect his current emotions. Complicated. Knock, knock. Then a knock came from behind him. The door opened soon after, and an old maid entered. ¡°I thought you might need warm tea, so I came here. Would you like to have a cup of tea with me, Master?¡± ¡°You¡¯re always in good timing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been serving you since you were a baby, but I¡¯m not a faithful maid if I don¡¯t get the perfect timing to come.¡± ¡°Monem.¡± ¡°Yes. Master. Please tell me.¡± ¡°¡ªKeep an eye on Serdel.¡± Between the wrinkles, a small smile was hidden. She raised her head to look at Cartal. Because he¡¯s still turned his back, she can¡¯t see his expression, but the atmosphere tells that he¡¯s in pain. It was the feeling of someone who had been watching for quite some time. ¡°Memories¡ª I¡¯ll look to see if she¡¯s recovered her memories from that day.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes, facial expressions, and actions only helped to reawaken her foresight. He couldn¡¯t be sure, but she didn¡¯t seem to have returned to her memory yet. He had no idea she was keeping her return memories hidden from him. ¡°What should I do if that¡¯s the case¡ª?¡± This ugly father who did such a cruel act would be resentful, no matter how much it was for her. No, she might already be blaming it. ¡°Ha, haha.¡± He mumbled weakly, bowed his head, and smiled flatly. The hand that held onto the railing gave him strength. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much because I¡¯ll be there for you. Master.¡± It must be uncomfortable with the Lady. Since then¡ª. It must not be in memory, but it is Serdel who started to push her away. Although she kept her distance in case her memory came back. Cartal did not know this. Because she didn¡¯t report it. If she had informed Serdel¡¯s ideal at that time. He is deeply guilty of having already done one thing, and his mind may have collapsed under pressure to do something he can¡¯t do again. So she couldn¡¯t help it. She has no choice but to take the guilt instead. ¡®All my sins will go away when I die.¡¯ So, may Cartal and Serdel, Addis and Redan no longer be hurt. And they might be able to escape the nightmare. She prayed quietly, as she had done since the Countess returned as a terrible corpse. CH 22 After returning to her bedroom, Serdel worked on the list and books. How long has it been? Knock knock, and an old maid came in. ¡°Lady.¡± It was Monem. Pushing the trolley, she approached and laid down freshly baked apple pie and black tea on the tea table. The sweet scent made her hungry. ¡°I thought of something you liked, so I baked it for the first time in a while. Please try it.¡± The apple pie she took a bite with a fork was very sweet and delicious. The tea brewed at the right temperature was also much softer, more savory and fragrant than Siri¡¯s. As the sweetness in her mouth was cleared, she could feel the lingering feelings deeply. She¡¯s swallowing resilience inside, ¡°By Master¡¯s command, I will be there to help you for the time being.¡± ¡°¡ªI¡¯ll be in your care.¡± Softly curved eyes, a kind face. Her eyes, which seemed to be quite scary with no expression on their faces, were now full of warmth and did not look cold at all. Nevertheless, it was strangely reluctant. Somehow, she didn¡¯t feel like it. As if the emotions in the body had risen¡ª. She felt uncomfortable. ¡®I wonder why? She looks so nice.¡¯ Uncomfortable anxiety felt like scratching her stomach. Serdel was afraid to put down the fork, so she pulled the string. Her maid, who was waiting in her hallway, came in and she left with an empty plate and a teacup. ¡°Lady, I have a report for you.¡± As she nodded in the sense of telling her, Monem¡¯s expression became heavy. ¡°The maid Rudella is getting married in two months. In this regard, I think you should set the amount of the dowry.¡± Serdel smiled at her, who was a little worried, even though she had spoken. ¡°It¡¯s something to celebrate.¡± Her broken engagement was a thing of the past. She didn¡¯t want to create an awkward atmosphere with such things. Serdel, who picked up the list and the books, found a record of Rudella. ¡®She started working at the age of 11 and worked here for 15 years, so she had been working for quite a while.¡¯ Unless they were kicked out for doing something big or quit first, they were all members of the mansion. Therefore, people usually do not turn a blind eye to the congratulatory events of their servants. Not all aristocrats care about that, but in the case of Count Robbesta, he was more willing to take care of it. Serdel first figured out how much dowry the married maids had received. ¡°The person who will become her husband has been working at the top of Robbins, located in the center of 4th Avenue, for ten years, and he is very sincere. They plan to get married and live nearby. How about entrusting her with repairs or something like that?¡± Hmm. ¡°If you look at the books, each maid will get paid differently for her dowry. The reason is¡ª¡± ¡°According to the number of years of service, or the type of work, we would have given more severance pay to those who wished to retire. It would have reflected the price.¡± ¡°¡ªYes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°By the way, it seems money is urgent.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I mean, Rudella. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s going to be a distant marriage. If it¡¯s not even that, but giving up the job of a maid in a noble family isn¡¯t an easy choice, is it?¡± It was like a dream job for ordinary people. The higher the salary and the greater the power of the aristocratic family, the higher their nose became. Getting married is not a job worth quitting. ¡°It¡¯s easy to get out, but to give up a place that¡¯s hard to get back in doesn¡¯t mean you have a lot of money to spend in a hurry?¡± ¡°¡ªmaybe there¡¯s a separate reason for getting her retirement pay. It certainly is. Let¡¯s find out more about her situation just in case.¡± Serdel nodded and signed the document Monem handed out after writing down the amount to be given as a dowry and severance pay. The amount was exactly what Monem was thinking. Her eyes got bigger as if she was a little surprised. It was Serdel¡¯s first time reading the account books. For Serdel, who would find it difficult to make a decision, she had even thought about how to inform her in advance. But without having to do that, Serdel quickly finished the calculation. It felt like seeing the former Countess. ¡°Well¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªAh. Yes.¡± The woman, who had been immersed in thoughts, came to her senses at the paperwork that was pushed right in front of her. ¡°You can go now.¡± ¡°Yes, then¡ª if you need anything, please call me comfortably.¡± After she left, Serdel, who was left alone, sighed loudly and turned to the list and the books again. ****** Ugh. As she was concentrating, it suddenly became night. While rubbing her shoulders and shaking her head, the butler came in with a knock. ¡°Lady. This is an invitation from the family, and the owner has entrusted the classification to you. He asked you to select only the places he must go.¡± The volume of invitations was no joke. The Count was still a hot topic because of the Elbash forest. In addition, Serdel was getting more attention because she broke up her engagement and even changed her partner for forest development. She quickly confirmed who it was from, and pushed it to the butler. ¡°Give it all up. And don¡¯t take invitations for the time being.¡± ¡°Pardon? But would that be okay¡ª?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even conducted a formal exploration yet. Attending a meeting like this for a job that hasn¡¯t even produced any tangible results is only going to get a lot of talk.¡± There were a few people who were jealous. Even the families who had been close to each other were uncomfortable with Cartal¡¯s refusal for them to participate in the development of forests. There was no need to be swept away by the invitation sent out in the hopes of being able to put even a spoon at the table. On the contrary, it was highly likely that it would only create a justification for a quarrel. ¡®Moreover, empty cans are noisy.¡¯ (t/n : empty cans are noisy meaning that the least intelligent people are always the loudest.) It was only for a moment that it became funny when it started to look like an empty can to the people who wanted to get rid of it when they couldn¡¯t do it together. ¡°What¡¯s the situation like in the estate? Are the territories agitated?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m afraid so.¡± ¡°Even the vassals guarding the castle must be pretty nervous.¡± The butler nodded. ¡°So shouldn¡¯t we be more careful?¡± At times like this, the speed at which rumors are conveyed is bound to increase. Because it was far away from his owner, they were able to react even more to a single noise. Everyone was scared at the most important moment and was in trouble if they didn¡¯t move properly. ¡°There must have been a lot of invitations going to the Marquis Spendar. Just in case, send someone to check it. If anyone makes fun of it, report it immediately.¡± As much as Cartal had warned, Damon would take care of his mansion, but his half-brothers would be bothered. Moreover, it was not yet a formal conversation with Marquis Spendar. She wanted to prevent unexpected problems in advance. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± The butler with an invitation card opened the door. In between, Blenn was seen leaning shoulder to shoulder against the hallway wall and looking this way. Their eyes met at that moment. With a hardened look. In his cool eyes, she was criticized and blamed for not looking for his sister. Tak. The door is closed. At the same time, his emotions that had been transmitted to her were also blocked. ¡°¡­..¡± He looked at her like that. He didn¡¯t knock, he didn¡¯t come in. Maybe he¡¯ll stand in the hallway for a while and go back to the bedroom she gave him. As usual. ¡°Please wait. Wait until I can get to save her. Your sister.¡± ******* When did she fall asleep? Her arms were raised by the bright sun seeping into the window and covered her eyes first. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± When she raised her upper body, she groaned. ¡°My waist¡ª¡± Serdel, who clung up from her chair, stretched with her eyes still closed. Ugh. Is it because she slept uncomfortably? She felt more tired. She was moving around for a long time when a maid came in. ¡°Lady, I¡¯ll wipe your face.¡± When the wet towel touched her skin, her eyes opened little by little. When she came to her senses, she took a shower, changed her clothes, and finished her hair and sat back at her desk. At that moment. ¡°Lady. I¡¯ve prepared breakfast in the dining room. The Master is waiting for you too.¡± She left the bedroom at the report of the butler, which was not forewarned. Blenn was standing in the same posture as last night. Serdel passed him casually. No, she was trying to get past him. If only he hadn¡¯t blocked the way. CH 23 When he came to a halt, Serdel turned her head. ¡°How come you aren¡¯t doing anything?¡± He gave her a cold look when he made eye contact with her. The low-pitched voice had a chill to it. ¡°Are you playing with me? That is not something you should do. Lady.¡± The butler, who was walking in front of Blenn, was puzzled by his statements and hardened his expression. Serdel raised her hand to tell him not to come forward. ¡°I understand your desperation, but I hope you don¡¯t get the wrong idea. Before the promised deadline, we still have a long way to go. Please don¡¯t rush me.¡± Blenn¡¯s shoulders trembled at the cold words, despite his smiling face. Before he could speak, Serdel moved. ¡°¡­..¡± He wanted to stop her once more, but he couldn¡¯t because to the eyes he¡¯d just seen. That was a clear warning. Don¡¯t climb recklessly. He clenched his fist. He turned his eyes to her back. He hated the fact that she never turned around in the middle of this long corridor. Leaving him alone. Blenn¡¯s eyes, which had nowhere to go, sank darkly. ¡®What do you mean, playing with it?¡¯ She thought he¡¯d do it again and again since he was desperate to find his sister. But that was something she hadn¡¯t expected to hear. She wasn¡¯t surprised, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter. Serdel took a look around the dining room as she entered with a sigh. There was no one but Cartal at the table. Addis and Redan are busy outside. ¡®Well, since when did they come home often?¡¯ Lately, they¡¯ve seen each other face to face. In the past, they only avoided each other because they were uncomfortable with each other. ¡°Good morning, Father.¡± She was the first to greet him. Cartal did nothing except nod his head. She sat in a chair that her butler had taken out, embarrassed for no reason. Soup and bread with finely mashed veggies appeared as soon as the glass was filled with water. Without chewing, it went smoothly. The tingling sensation on the tip of the tongue became appealing as well. ¡°I was told that you remove all the invitations.¡± Cartal suddenly inquired as he bit into the jam-filled bread. Because she had food in her mouth, she responded by nodding. ¡°Are there any other families who might be able to help?¡± ¡°¡ªHmm. It¡¯s not like it wasn¡¯t there, but I thought it wasn¡¯t necessary. Would you like to get more help?¡± ¡°Well.¡± ¡°With the Marquis of Spendar already chosen, attracting other families would do more harm than good. At least that¡¯s my judgment. People¡¯s greed is endless, so there might be a difficult fight in the future because of each other¡¯s understanding.¡± ¡°Yeah, I see.¡± He raised the glass and asked a question as he tried to drink water. ¡°From what you say, I guess the things in the forest are greater than I and everyone would have expected.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°To discuss until later means that we will be able to conquer the forest safely. Thanks to that, my anxiety has gone down a bit.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡®Is this elicitation, or what?¡¯ He didn¡¯t want to ask her what she saw in her precognitive dream or if she hasn¡¯t dreamed since, so he avoided asking her the question. She was aware of the situation, but she felt bad for no reason. ¡®It all started this morning¡ª Ha.¡¯ ¡°When it comes to invitations, I¡¯ll trust and abide by your judgment.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The pleasant taste has vanished. Serdel¡¯s face was expressionless. Cartal cast a careful glance at her, who was mumbling away. His spoon-holding hand had been pushed to remain calm in the face of rising agitation. ¡°This afternoon, Marquis Spendar is coming, so you should attend.¡± The timing is amazing. It was last night that she ordered the butler to look into it. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± At the end of that, Cartal said nothing more. Serdel also quietly focused on eating. ****** It was already early afternoon when I finished an uncomfortable meal and drank a cup of tea. Serdel rushed out after receiving word from her butler that Marquis Spendar¡¯s carriage had arrived. Damon approached Serdel with a bright smile as he stepped from the carriage just in time. Around him, the flowered background appeared to flutter. It¡¯s not even like a silly cartoon. What kind of cheesy expression is this? ¡°Even after a few days, it feels like we haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time. It¡¯s nice to see you again. Young Lady.¡± Serdel¡¯s hand was naturally raised, and he gently kissed her. His expression and actions were natural, as expected. The butler¡¯s, vice butler¡¯s, and maid¡¯s shoulders flinched. But, unlike before, he did not light the candle. They just dropped their hands like crazy. ¡°He¡¯s not going to seduce our Lady right?¡± ¡°No, probably not. It must not be. Dame Addis said that. If a character is too good, he will pay for it. Look at that dazzling beauty today. I feel like I¡¯m going blind already. My heart fluttered for a moment.¡± ¡°Oh my! If you don¡¯t want to be trained by the Dame, be alert. Butler.¡± ¡°¡ªAre you cursing me, Maid? If you have any complaints, just say it comfortably. Don¡¯t make my spine shudder for nothing.¡± What are you whispering about? It was so quiet that she couldn¡¯t even hear it. She lowered her eyes and stopped looking, clicking her tongue inside. The maid¡¯s apron¡¯s convex pockets. ¡®¡ªIt doesn¡¯t have a fork in it, does it?¡¯ No way. It¡¯s not another fork disease right? ¡°You¡¯re still having fun. I think the atmosphere of servants thinking about Young Lady is very pleasant.¡± ¡°¡ªYou think everything is fun.¡± He shrugged his shoulders. His deep voice had a lovely tone to it. It was also lovely to hear the nice laugh. He felt nervous, as evidenced by a strange echo. Probably because of a middle-aged man who just got off the carriage. Serdel, who pulled her hand out of Damon, approached him and greeted him first. ¡°It is an honor to meet Marquis Spendar. My name is Serdel Robbesta.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I saw you at the debutante. Young Lady.¡± Serdel swallowed a bitter smile. She was Serdel before she was possessed. She doesn¡¯t know why, but according to the memory left in her body, she wasn¡¯t in very good condition at the time. As a result, the moment that should have shone brightly has vanished, leaving no good image behind. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a lot brighter. I was very worried.¡± He looks so young. With a smile on his face, he gave off a much more attractive feeling than Damon¡¯s. ¡®There are many women who are boiling inside.¡¯ She guessed it wasn¡¯t a false rumor. ¡®It¡¯s my first time seeing you this close.¡¯ It was a dangerous beauty in many ways. ¡°I heard from Damon. Young Lady chose our family.¡± Serdel grabbed the hand he reached out first. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation from now on.¡± ¡°I look forward to it and thank you.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything, instead thanking her and holding her hand; he didn¡¯t spout such clich¨¦d and ceremonial words. She was confident enough to pay attention to her facial expression and tone so she didn¡¯t come across as arrogant. Then, the Marquis¡¯ eyes lit up. ¡°I will guide you to my father.¡± Serdel, who turned around with the butler, took the two men to Cartal¡¯s office. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°It¡¯s especially nice to see you today. It¡¯s an honor to be able to give a hand to Count Robbesta¡¯s estate business.¡± ¡°I am rather honored to be able to share with Marquis Spendar¡¯s mine development knowledge.¡± ¡°Haha. It was a worthless mine. The amount of mining was also very low, and it was very disappointing that it turned into an ordinary cave soon after. I don¡¯t know if my shallow and short knowledge can be of much help to the Count¡¯s business.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°Thank you for saying that. I¡¯ll do my best to help you, as everyone is in this big game.¡± In a friendly atmosphere, the two shook hands. It feels very¡ª. ¡°Damon, you¡¯ve got to go.¡± It¡ª wasn¡¯t good. The air in the Office suddenly became chilly. Damon¡¯s fingertips trembled once. He was still smiling to avoid losing his composure, but that made it even more breathtaking. ¡°Sir Damon will also sit together.¡± Marquis Spendar¡¯s gaze on Damon returned to Cartal. ¡°We¡¯ve already shared a lot of opinions about the forest. I would be in trouble if he wasn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°Count, I have not only Damon, but my other children who are more capable in this way¡ª¡± ¡°I chose the Marquis as my partner after seeing Damon. Please don¡¯t drag the family¡¯s internal problems into my business.¡± The corners of Marquis Spendar¡¯s eyes hardened with a smile at the warning that he wouldn¡¯t let them sit and watch him if he ever wanted to involve his two sons other than Damon. CH 24 Count Cartal is a lower-status aristocrat than him, although he is still a high-status aristocrat. In the face of complexly entwined power, he was never pushed back. Furthermore, the business¡¯s main subject was over here. Even if he was a Marquis, it was difficult to dismiss his motives. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to waste your time standing like this, then sit down.¡± Cartal quickly cut off the Marquis Spendar¡¯s silence before it led to a deeper war of nerves. Damon bowed slightly to say thank you. Marquis Spendar sat calmly for a minute, glancing at him and Cartal alternately. Tea and snacks were served promptly by the maid. The desolate air has become a little more bearable. Damon didn¡¯t let this opportunity pass him by. ¡°I prepared this separately, could you read it first?¡± Even though he knew the act would get on the nerves of Marquis Spendar. In the face of an important task, he was not overwhelmed by his father¡¯s spirit. ¡°Serdel.¡± Cartal first scattered the documents and handed them over. ¡®Whoo.¡¯ The document contained various information on abandoned mines found in Marquis. How did they happen to find it? What was the forest¡¯s topography like when it was discovered? When they first started developing, what scale did they start with? The amount of money invested, the amount of workers, and etc. The issue was completely different because it was not an unknown forest where monsters swarm like the Elbash Forest, but it was information that could not be known. Instead of stopping there, Damon might as well approach the mines he¡¯ll find in the Elbash Forest. He even organized and attached it. There were signs of hard work along with his worries. ¡°Butler.¡± At Cartal¡¯s call, the butler gave the documents from his desk to Marquis Spendar. He took a glance, and handed it over to Damon. ¡°¡­..¡± Damon¡¯s eyes widened. Marquis Spendar opened his mouth as he saw it. ¡°On the outside, it looks like any other cave, but if you can feel Mana, you¡¯ll detect it right away just by getting close.¡± He gradually described the Mana Stone Mine¡¯s level and how it was mined. Cartal and Serdel were paying close attention. Damon is also focused, having opened his eyes on the papers. ¡°Hoo¡ª¡± After the long explanation, Marquis Spendar naturally raised his legs and picked up the teacup. ¡°I will support 50 knights, 1,000 soldiers, and a number of miners who have experience in mine development. In addition, I will hire an additional A-class mercenary group working in the Marquis Territory to participate. About 200 additional people will be added.¡± Taking a sip of tea, he frowned. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all cold.¡± The maid brought the pre-heated tea in a new teacup. ¡°In addition, I will add 5,000 gold as a grant for them.¡± It meant that he would cover the costs of employment or compensation for the people for whom he was applying. In other words, the person on his side was simply discussing what he was doing. ¡°Instead, we have a very good martial art on our estates. The blacksmith¡¯s skill is excellent.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try to match all the weapons we need for the battle there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to talk about this.¡± The soil in the Elbash Forest was not just a soil. It was like a war. Because of that, weapons and food were the most important things to prepare. So they decided to secure food from here earlier. The weapons were supposed to be prepared by Count Maient, but since their relationship was broken, the Marquis of Spendar was in charge. He might not have brought it up without realizing it. After all, it was all an excuse. ¡®The negotiations will begin now.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯d like to check some of the Mana stones. I only saw them from afar when it was reported to His Majesty, but I didn¡¯t take a closer look.¡± ¡°Butler, bring it.¡± Two mana stones were placed on the table from a safe near the desk. It just seems like a fist-sized black rock. The soft light that surrounded it had a deep freshness to it. He gently gripped the mana stone while swallowing dry saliva. In the swirl of quite strong magical powers inside, Marquis Spendar¡¯s mouth gradually opened. His eyes glistened with greed. Before it gets deeper. ¡°We¡¯ll give you 10% a month after mine development.¡± Quite frankly, Cartal blew the luck of the negotiation. ¡°¡ªOh my, Count. I haven¡¯t even finished it yet, but you¡¯re in a hurry. Hmm.¡± He rolled the mana stone from hand to hand, side to side, and then placed it on the table slowly. The desire that had been present for some time now vanished totally. ¡°I think we should talk about the compensation plan after we figure out the full condition of the mine. The mana is distributed evenly inside the mine, so it is possible to produce this level of uniform mana stone. Otherwise, the difference in quality of Mana Stone would be quite large even in the same mine¡ª¡± If that¡¯s the case. Cartal shed a smirk at the nuance that he would demand more according to the effort and cost he put in because he couldn¡¯t lose money. Then the eyebrows of the Marquis Spendar rose. ¡®You have to make sure you draw a line here.¡¯ The negotiation between the nobility is the difference between entering and leaving the bathroom. They were more likely to change their comments to satisfy their greed if they observed something that exceeded their expectations in the future. ¡°10%. I don¡¯t think I can promise more than that. Instead.¡± Cartal¡¯s stiff face subsided. ¡°If the loss is greater than the benefits compared to the work put in by the Marquis, we will compensate you for the cost of the damage separately. You know it because you have seen it yourself. Even if it is a lower quality manastone, it is more pure than anything found in any mine. I know it will be high. 10% is never a small offer.¡± There¡¯s nothing to lose, so don¡¯t talk nonsense. He doesn¡¯t intend to play along with his greed. With a resolute doctor, Cartal opened a magic contract. Cartal was a bear compared to the Marquis of Spendar, who was half fox. He didn¡¯t even make or accept any ridiculous jokes. It¡¯s either do it or don¡¯t do it. In Cartal¡¯s negotiations, there was no room for debate. ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s not easy.¡± With a groan, Marquis Spendar went into thought for a moment. He had no choice because he was completely interrupted from the atmosphere. Damon¡¯s face, knowing it, had no time to relax. Cartal waited here without another blow. How long has it been in the midst of breathtaking tension? ¡°I¡¯ll sign it.¡± It was Marquis Spendar who lowered his tail first. When Cartal signed the contract he signed, the ink dried up and the runners that rose permeated their wrists. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± Negotiations ended with a handshake. The atmosphere that had been rough with him was also relieved. The two left the Office first, followed by Damon and Serdel. ¡°I was really nervous this time.¡± He whispered in Serdel¡¯s ear. ¡°I thought so.¡± ¡°Was it too obvious?¡± Serdel shrugged his shoulder. ¡°It seems like a lot has happened.¡± With a sigh that seemed to have been shown on purpose, the bird seemed to have found time to relax. ¡°Are your half-brothers okay?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve signed a magic contract, I¡¯m sure my father can¡¯t help it.¡± He shrugged his shoulders this time, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± That¡¯s for a while. He asked cautiously after a brief pause to consider what he was about to say. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay, Young Lady?¡± ¡°Do you mean taking part in the expedition? It¡¯s all right.¡± Damon frowned as if he didn¡¯t like the calm answer. ¡°It¡¯s going to be very dangerous. You could get hurt.¡± Stopped to walking, he turned around. Cartal and Marquis Spendar have already gone down the stairs, but only two people are left in the hallway. ¡°You could die.¡± She could feel the complex emotions in the eyes looking straight at him. He raised his hand and slightly swept Serdel¡¯s hair. ¡°Somewhere there may be an indelible scar for the rest of your life. I¡¯m worried about that.¡± Another hand of his, which had been stretched out, raised Serdel¡¯s hand and turned it over. He pressed the white, smooth palm with his thumb. ¡°This delicate hand that has never even been caught by a sword¡ª¡± What can you do? In such a place. It felt like she could hear his back words that he couldn¡¯t spit. She¡¯s going to say that he doesn¡¯t have to worry either, swallowing her bitterness. She was suddenly met with a cold stare. She knew where he had been when she moved her gaze to the opposite side of the hallway. Blenn stood obliquely against the wall, staring at her and Damon. CH 25 ¡°Blenn¡ª¡± ¡°Who is he? He doesn¡¯t look like a knight from the family¡ª¡± Damon¡¯s voice grew lower. Serdel slipped out the hand he had caught instead of responding. ¡°¡­.¡± Damon alternated between her and his empty hand. It was regrettable that the small, soft heat was secured from the appearance of strangers. At the same time, he was uncomfortable since he thought his time with her had been interrupted. Damon moved as well, just in time for Serdel to start moving. Blenn was stuck even then. It was as if time had slowed down on its own, without even blinking. Serdel went past Blenn like that. Without even giving a glance. Rather, Damon and Blenn¡¯s eyes clashed in the air. It was Blenn who turned his attention first. ¡°Sir Damon.¡± Serdel, who left the mansion, called him. Damon, who was in a strangely irritating mood, came to his senses only then. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. Rather, we.¡± Serdel reached out his hand. ¡°Now that we¡¯re really together, let¡¯s do well.¡± The slight warmth that returned to his hands made him feel strange. At the same time, he was restless and excited. It was a strange sensation. And that ends the short handshake. He bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand, unintentionally pulling her fingertips as she was about to move away. The displeasure earlier disappeared as if it had been washed away. Was he really that simple? He knew it was ridiculous, but he wanted this moment to go as long as possible. He¡¯ll be in trouble if he doesn¡¯t take his lips off like this. In a carriage with the door wide open, Marquis Spendar waiting. ¡°Young Lady will not change her mind, no matter what I say. Then yes, let¡¯s give it our all.¡± As he corrected his posture, he smiled openly. ¡°Even from today, I have to release the body that has been hardened. Then, see you next time.¡± Leaving the deep regret behind, Damon climbed into the carriage. ¡°It¡¯s going to be busier from now on.¡± Cartal, who came to the side, murmured as he saw the Marquis¡¯ carriage moving away. ¡°In the meantime, build up your stamina. You¡¯ll have to travel a long distance¡ª the journey there will be long.¡± With a brief sigh, he turned his back and went inside first. There was still a worry that could not be fully expressed in the bitter face. She raised her head because her mouth was dry for nothing. Then, she met Blenn, who was looking down at her from the window in the hallway on the 4th floor. It won¡¯t be in his space. ¡®Even so, Blenn.¡¯ Please wait. Don¡¯t rush me. Avoiding his eyes, Serdel went inside. ****** Serdel raised her head, having finished organizing the documents Damon had brought as well as the mining development information she had received from Marquis Spendar. She looked out the window early in the morning. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she pulled the string. ¡°Bring Terra here.¡± Ten minutes later, Terra, who rushed in, greeted her. ¡°Y-you called me¡ª¡± From him, who let out his breath, the field radiated a lot of heat. His clothes, leather armor, and both hands were dirty, and a wooden sword dangled from the leather belt tied around his waist. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his hair glued to it like drooping antennae. ¡°No way, are you training?¡± ¡°Ah, y-yes. He. Hehehe¡ª¡± His awkward smile on the back of his head was very different from the other day. At that time, it was as light as a floating dust, but now it felt as heavy as a feather. Hmmm, groaning, Serdel stared at him. ¡°The sun will rise in the west tomorrow.¡± He slowly raised his eyes, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable with the eyes. There was silence between the two. ¡°That¡ª Lady. Are you really going to Elbash Forest?¡± It was Terra who broke the silence first. ¡°Why are you asking again what you asked before?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, haha¡ª¡± His smile grew weaker. His shoulders were also dropped. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t ask you to come with me.¡± ¡°¡ªNo, what kind of sad thing are you saying? Siri has been training so hard since early in the morning, saying she will follow you. Look at my arm. I think I broke my bone because I was beaten so much during the battle.¡± He puffed out his lips and groaned. ¡°Besides, what kind of servant can stand still when the owner he serves is leaving. Since then, I¡¯m a loyal servants. Even if I die, I will protect the Young Lady and die. So, do not leave me alone.¡± Clap clap clap. Cerdel clapped with a sour face. ¡°So how¡¯s the training coming along?¡± ¡°¡ªI feel like I¡¯m only getting stronger and stronger.¡± ¡°Phew, that¡¯s a great achievement.¡± ¡°¡ªI don¡¯t know if this is an achievement, but if you still call it an achievement¡ª it would be insignificant compared to Siri. Yes, that¡¯s right. I¡¯m a man who doesn¡¯t even have a single leg.¡± Without saying much, his eyes were burning as he dug himself into the ground. Tsk, that seemed pitiful, so Serdel held out an advanced potion from the drawer. ¡°Drink this first.¡± His complexion brightened. Holding a potion, he put it in his arms. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to give it to Siri.¡± Terra¡¯s nose turned red. ¡°There¡¯s always a husband next to a great wife who is always willing to help. We¡¯ll have to assist out more from now on if we want to create an ideal family.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡ªWhy do you look at me like that, Lady? I just wanted to get some¡ªscores. There are so many competitors that it¡¯s fierce.¡± Terra¡¯s eyes, which had been pretending to be relaxed, were sad again. ¡°Lady, please tell me a little bit about me. No, I¡¯m not a very ugly person, am I? This is a good height for me, plus I¡¯ve saved some money. Isn¡¯t it true that even if I¡¯m not number one, I¡¯m still the groom in the top ten?¡± Serdel¡¯s gaze turned to the antennae attached to his forehead. She had nothing to say. ¡°¡­..¡± Terra¡¯s shoulders drooped again. Sigh, that made her laugh. She doesn¡¯t know anything else, but Terra was a good-natured kid. Surprisingly, it was also heavy. There was no pretense in action. It was different from others who hid behind their backs. He was abandoned by his parents when he was a child, and raised in a back alley. In addition, he became a servants using his sharpness as a weapon, so he could do his best. ¡®He¡¯s quick-witted, he¡¯s responsive.¡¯ Depending on the situation, the gentle side is strong and there are times when it looks mean. ¡®Surprisingly, the reputation in the mansion isn¡¯t that bad.¡¯ Addis also called him as an unreliable person, but he didn¡¯t seem to care. It was counter-evidence that he had acted well just by making that much of an impression on her. He could do a lot of work. He was the one she needed the most right now. ¡®Because being drooping doesn¡¯t help.¡¯ There was only one bottle left in the drawer when she opened it. It was also of a lower class. It¡¯ll take a long time for the wound to heal, but it¡¯ll help him recover from his fatigue. ¡°Drink a bottle of this right now.¡± This time, Terra just took it in his arms once more. She believes he¡¯ll give it to Siri once again. She was ready to say that she had applied for a lot of things. ¡®You can¡¯t even kill if you don¡¯t know how to save your energy.¡¯ ¡°But, Lady, why did you call me? Is there anything you¡¯d like me to do?¡± ¡°You ask so quickly.¡± Frustrated by the short bruise, he gently rubbed his nose with his hand. ¡°Listen carefully to what I¡¯m saying from now on. You could be in danger if you make a mistake. Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡ªYes.¡± Looking at him, who became serious due to tension, Serdel lowered her voice as low as possible. ¡°Leave the mansion right now¡ª¡± ****** Knock knock. ¡°Lady, this is Terra.¡± Two days after giving the order, he immediately began reporting. ¡°You¡¯re so good. I was born too, so I¡¯ve been living in the dark when I was young, but honestly, I didn¡¯t know that there was such a place in the system. When I heard it, I thought it wouldn¡¯t be possible, but when I went there, it was quite big.¡± Terra¡¯s face was dark. The back alley is also the back alley. He doesn¡¯t know who the owner is, but it was a place that belonged to the shadow of the shadows. It was different from the garbage alleys he enjoyed just to fill his hungry stomach when he was young. ¡°I got this as you told me to, but you¡¯re not going to go yourself, are¡ª you?¡± He hesitated and held out a half-mask engraved with a complex pattern, a so-called entrance pass. CH 26 ¡°That¡ª Lady. I¡¯m a little nervous. I won¡¯t ask you how you know that such a place exists, but are you really going? I¡¯m not voicing what you¡¯re trying to do¡ª but it looks dangerous¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone I must find. No, would it be better to have someone to save?¡± ¡°So if you¡¯d rather tell me what it¡¯s like¡ª¡± ¡°Terra, I have to go there myself. It won¡¯t be open to you who aren¡¯t nobles. Even if you¡¯re lucky to get in, it¡¯s too much for your guts.¡± If she makes a mistake with just one hesitation, then things get more complicated. ¡°Anyway, well done.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°You know you¡¯re not supposed to tell Siri, right?¡± Covering his face with his hands, he murmured in a gloomy voice. ¡°¡ªI¡¯ll die if I¡¯m caught. Siri might hate me. No, I¡¯m very sure I¡¯ll get beaten to death before then. I¡¯m afraid, Lady. I think Siri with the real sword will come out in the dream. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to face Dame Addis. It¡¯s a nightmare as of now.¡± ¡°Stop. Get out of here.¡± After he was forced to let go of his constantly worried eyes. Serdel sank deeper into the chair, her gaze fixed on the half mask she held in her hand. Who is Blenn¡¯s sister, exactly? How was she kidnapped from his country? How did it end up flowing into this Empire? She doesn¡¯t know about the process since it wasn¡¯t even discussed in the game. ¡®However, if I look at the pieces of information that came out in the middle and the various contents connected from it, I can find out quite a lot.¡¯ Beneath the bright and colorful side of the island. There¡¯s a dirty place that no ordinary person can imagine, and his sister is very likely to be captured there. If it wasn¡¯t, Blenn should have discovered it through the intelligence service right away. The information guild was a large organization, thus information that they couldn¡¯t touch or access was incredibly rare. To put it another way, there¡¯s a good chance his younger sister is in that exceptionally rare situation. ¡®The Imperial family ¡®and¡¯ that would be the only areas untouchable to the information guild.¡¯ The Imperial family is an Imperial family. It¡¯s hidden deep in the dark. It was like a sanctuary that should not be touched or lifted to the surface since the nobles¡¯ dirty bare faces were openly exposed. Because if they approach in the wrong direction, they risk being hit by a counterattack. They had to save themselves in order to save the guild. ¡®In the original story, Blenn found the place where his sister was buried, in a way, because she was dead.¡¯ If the guild¡¯s informant, who accidentally saw the corpse being treated secretly, did not speak after a long time of deliberation. He wouldn¡¯t even have been able to recover his sister¡¯s body. ¡®Isn¡¯t the burial place managed by Count Sollette?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t enough that he had engaged in prohibited interracial trading, and he was a man who would become famous in a matter of months by imprisoning all kinds of slaves in the mansion¡¯s basement. It was also due to the revelation of the eldest son, with whom he had a difficult relationship. ¡®Of course, his son was conscious of the eyes of certain nobles, but he didn¡¯t say ¡®there¡¯ openly.¡¯ When she finally put it all together. ¡®Blenn¡¯s sister is most likely one of the slaves who will be auctioned off soon.¡¯ As a result, it¡¯s very likely that Count Sollette bought it. ¡®I hope everything is fine with her.¡¯ While it was flowing in there, she had no idea what would happen. And she had no idea it could have already been a disaster. ¡®If finding his younger sister is a better option for Blenn than turning black or ruining his image,¡¯ If he doesn¡¯t move according to her own will. The plan is going to fail. Please, Serdel closed her eyes hoping it wouldn¡¯t happen. ****** ¡°There¡¯s only a few days left.¡± Serdel, who was looking at the newspaper in the private office decorated by the butler and maid, looked up at Cartal¡¯s order. ¡°Are you really looking for my sister?¡± The sun shining through the window and the soft blue curtains dancing softly. Gorgeous but not overly beautiful chandelier. As he returned his eyes to her at the end of swiping over the antique furniture, his voice filled the day. The bull¡¯s suspicion and anger could be seen behind his anxious eyes. ¡°Please answer. Are you looking for my sister properly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for her, so please wait.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. Until now, looking at Lady¡¯s bedroom and everyone who came in and out, no one had the power to find my sister.¡± He doesn¡¯t mind saying things that would make her sad when someone hears them. Mumbling inwardly, Serdel raised her eyes. ¡°Do you want one of the family¡¯s knights to accompany you? Do you have any idea how your younger sister, whom you haven¡¯t been able to find in a long time, is doing right now? I¡¯m looking for someone connected to the Count, and if there¡¯s a rumor, I¡¯ll check it out quickly.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± As he was ready to add something else, Blenn¡¯s lips closed. It¡¯s been a while since he¡¯s been here, so he¡¯s naturally aware of the situation here. He must have felt the numerous gazes surrounding the Count¡¯s house. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything to say, just leave now.¡± Serdel opened the newspaper wide again and turned to it. No, she was going to turn it in. ¡°Then¡ª please share at least some information.¡± ¡°What do you trust?¡± His eyes were clouded with embarrassment, as he did not think that he would receive such a response in such a short time. ¡°What should I trust in you and share information with you? You don¡¯t trust me.¡± ¡°¡ªLady, Please¡ª Please. She¡¯s the only family I have left. We must find it.¡± Blenn bent down deeply. ¡°Please, I need your help.¡± ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°Lady¡ª¡± Serdel had to swallow a sigh due to the desperation in his voice. Blenn has spent a long time looking for his younger sister and has been defeated dozens or hundreds of times. The fear of his sister¡¯s death, as well as the despair of not being able to find her even if she was still alive, would have built up over time. Then he¡¯ll have a new hope of meeting his younger sister, and he¡¯ll get increasingly impatient and anxious as time passes. It was only logical to talk with caution. It¡¯s not even the time yet. She knew he¡¯d run towards it as soon as he heard it. Not only had the plan failed, but he and his sister were also in danger. ¡°Blenn, I guess you¡¯re forgetting, but we have a magic contract that we made that day.¡± The risk of non-compliance. The magical contract was useful, but it was also dangerous. Even if the contractor did not set it up separately, there was a possibility of contract non-fulfillment. The majority of them have to do with the body, and in higher contracts, life is essentially debt. So it was more reliable. The aristocracy¡¯ negotiations did not leave out the magical contract. ¡®The magic contract written by me and Blenn is a sub but.¡¯ Risk is a risk. She would never have taken it if she didn¡¯t have the confidence to find his sister. It was pointed out and recognized. ¡°¡­.¡± Blenn¡¯s face was blank with his head up. Blood vessels sprang out of the rolled fist. The tips of his ears were red, too. It was a small change that was not seen in the original, where all emotions were almost dead. ¡°I know how many people have hurt you and betrayed you. You gave your life to find your brother, I know. The hardship to believe in me and the need to believe in me must have constantly collided within you.¡± There was a stir in his eyes. ¡°I know, but Blenn, trust me and wait. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Like you, I need you, too.¡± The power and the price of the deal. Serdel smiled as gently as she could. The curtains flew up, forming shallow shadows, which had been swaying in the wind just in time. She was different from how she usually handled her face when wearing a mask, reflecting through the shaded shadows. He felt warm coming from her in some way. Since the family was destroyed. While the tranquility he felt for the first time was unfamiliar, he felt relieved for a moment. His mind, which was going crazy with anxiety, also calmed down. At the same time, the wind circling the room escaped. The weak curtains also slowly subsided. The shadows disappeared, and she was reflected under the chandelier again, but she was the same as usual. The calm heart was quiet. There was no more agitation. The shaking of his eyes also disappeared. ¡°I¡¯ll leave, and I¡ª trust you.¡± Lady. He turned away. He didn¡¯t think he should keep facing Serdel like this. CH 27 Since that day, he hasn¡¯t sent his anxious eyes. Blenn remained close to her. Serdel, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care. ¡°I don¡¯t like that valuable person out there.¡± Instead, Terra and the servants were the only ones who had a nerve. No matter how Serdel brought it out of necessity, Cartal and Addis allowed it. Blenn was a complete outsider to them. Naturally, the longer he stayed, the more uncomfortable he was in an ambiguous position. Terra, in particular, swore loudly like a cat. ¡°Looking at his eyes or his actions, that guy is not loyal to the Lady! It¡¯s not normal to watch and look through the door of your office half the day. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing like you¡¯re in debt.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so mean. It turns out it¡¯s quite¡ª¡± She was about to say that he was a pitiful person. ¡®Who¡¯s sympathetic to who?¡¯ A subject that has been stuck in the game for several years and can¡¯t get out of it. A bitter smile came out. ¡°Ugh, Lady, please don¡¯t smile so casually! Siri doesn¡¯t say anything, but she¡¯s anxious. She can¡¯t seem to get enough sleep or train these days! How quickly she gains strength and declares that she will be by Lady¡¯s side once more. She¡¯s already broken her palm three times because she¡¯s trying so hard¡ª!¡± Taak! ¡°Is Siri hurt? Did she get the treatment?¡± She unknowingly kicked the desk. Surprised by the momentum, Terra froze. He rolled his eyes. ¡°¡ªYes. Well¡ª it¡¯s not the point of you need to worry.¡± He didn¡¯t feel comfortable answering. She worried if she had been seriously injured, if she had received immediate treatment, and if she was now okay. Is it necessary for her to go to Siri right now? She was dying to go out. Doing harsh training in the first place and hoping she wouldn¡¯t get wounded was a contradiction in itself. What¡¯s more, Siri was moving for herself. Instead of stopping it herself, she encouraged it even more. Even if she made a fuss every time something like this happened, it wasn¡¯t good for Siri. Rather, it will only make her position difficult. ¡°That¡¯s, don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m watching carefully from the side.¡± ¡°¡ªYeah. Have you prepared?¡± ¡°Ah, yes!¡± As Serdel changed the subject, Terra quickly took a piece of paper and a magic pouch out of his arms. She checked the paper first. It was a slave list held there, and it cost a lot of extra money to put it in his hands because he was reluctant to leak prior information. ¡®It¡¯s a business after all. Nobles are bound to have red rice that they can¡¯t easily get their hands on.¡¯ She also opened the magic pocket. There were plenty of magical scrolls and potions inside. As if anxious, Terra glanced over and over again. ¡°Well, Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re things you won¡¯t use.¡± She didn¡¯t mean to make a scene either. If only she could bring the child home safely. ¡°¡ªHa, Haha. Everything will be fine, right¡ª?¡± There won¡¯t be, and there shouldn¡¯t be. It¡¯s just a place she¡¯s never been to, so she keeps it just in case. ¡°Prepare the rest without a hitch. Stop and leave.¡± ¡°¡ªYes.¡± He turned away, hesitantly, without saying anything else. Serdel, who was alone when the door shut, quietly closed the entry to the magic pocket. ****** He said that he would trust Serdel, but as time passed, Blenn¡¯s face worsened noticeably. Perhaps this is his final chance to find his sister. Extreme nervousness had tightened his heart. He¡¯s dying of suffocation. It was as if it had run into a runaway, twilight night in the end. He opened Serdel¡¯s office door with a short knock. ¡°There is only one day left. If it¡¯s my job, my promise to you and the Lady will be over. You haven¡¯t forgotten, have you?¡± He threw out his fierce and bloody anger, and he suddenly felt strange and scattered around. The chandelier¡¯s lights, which had always been bright, were turned off, and the terrace doors, which should have been closed, were now wide open. The curtain fluttered loudly in the cold wind. Among them stood Serdel. She wore an ivory-colored shirt with a dark brown belt at the waist instead of the usual dress. She stood out in her black leather leggings and knee-high leather boots. She was dressed in clothing that only highlighted her activity, with a long coat on her arm and a wide-brimmed hat in her hand. ¡°Even so, I was going to call you. You¡¯re here, Blenn.¡± He instinctively felt it. ¡°¡ªMy sister, did you find it?¡± Blenn, who approached quickly, grabbed Serdel. ¡°Please answer me, Lady. My sister, did you find it¡ª?¡± He trembled with every word he spit out. ¡°Lady¡ª!¡± With distorted eyes. His eyes glowed with a variety of emotions. In his voice calling out to her as if squeezing it, the pain was conveyed just by listening to it over and over with earnestness. ¡°Please¡ª Tell me you found my sister.¡± With his head down, he leaned his forehead on Serdel¡¯s slender shoulder. ¡°¡ªPlease.¡± His hot breathing, beginning to get rough, permeated into the shirt. ¡°Blenn, listen to me from now on.¡± Serdel pushed it like it was with her gentle touch on his solid chest. Even if Serdel didn¡¯t give much strength, he went back in line with her will. In the moonlight, Blenn¡¯s face seemed pale when he was one step away. And strangely decadent. All the more so because of the atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯m going to save your sister. No, I¡¯m going to buy it to be exact.¡± Blenn¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Caught by the slave market¡ª no, it can¡¯t be. I¡¯ve known the owners of the slave market on the island for a long time. I haven¡¯t heard of anyone who looks like my sister came in. I even went to check it out at dawn yesterday¡ª! ¡° ¡°¡ªThat¡¯s not the ordinary slave market I¡¯m going to, Blenn. There¡¯s one place in the system that ordinary people can¡¯t even imagine. Even the aristocrats hide deep in the dark enough not to know about it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a place where only powerful people of the same tendencies gather to vent dirty desires, so it¡¯s quite¡ª.¡± Blenn grabbed Serdel¡¯s arm again before she was finished. At the moment, she almost groaned at the grip. ¡°T-take me. Lady, please take me. It¡¯s a dangerous place. That¡¯s where my sister is!¡± ¡°Blenn!¡± The days of the urgent voice grew bigger and bigger and bigger. If left as it is, his cries will spread out to the outside of the Office. Serdel, who managed to reach out, shut his mouth. ¡°Shh- Be quiet.¡± He was about to draw a sword right away, as he began to get excited. As a result, it felt like the hairs all over her body were standing up in the ghastly momentum that filled the office. ¡®It¡¯s hard to control him if he¡¯s pushed back here. Let¡¯s get it together.¡¯ ¡°If you don¡¯t calm down, I can¡¯t take you.¡± The enlarged pupil returned to its original state at that one word. ¡°You have to be calm when you see your sister. That way, we can get it out safely. If you don¡¯t have the confidence to act cool there, you stay here.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± His breathing, which had been ringing in the palm of his hand, also gradually subsided. Whoo. Whoo. He opened the distance without awkwardness as she forced him to calm down. The palm that left his breath was hot. Her arm, which had been caught twice, was raised with a tingling sensation, which made him feel strange. He repeatedly clenched and opened his fist several times, barely shaking off the unfamiliar sensation. ¡°It¡¯s a very dangerous place. If you can¡¯t beat your temper and run rampant¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay calm.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°I will never, ever do anything that will harm you and the Count.¡± She just looked straight and didn¡¯t even say a word, so he just boiled one knee. ¡°I swear with my life, Lady. I won¡¯t come forward without an order. I¡¯ll never move recklessly and make it difficult in my position. So¡ª please take me with you. Please.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to take an oath to rush into the situation.¡± ¡°I will keep it. I will definitely keep it. Please believe me, Lady.¡± ¡®It¡¯s not enough yet.¡¯ After saying this, there was a high possibility that he would lose his reason when he saw his younger sister. Especially when his sister is in a bad condition. She didn¡¯t know how she would come out. ¡®But I can¡¯t leave him behind.¡¯ In order not to attract the family, she was planning to move secretly behind Cartal and Addis, so the only person she could take comfortably was Terra. If something unexpected happens there. It would have been hard for her to handle it alone. Even if there¡¯s a magic artifact. Besides, there was no way that Blenn could not follow after learning the situation to some extent. So that he doesn¡¯t act recklessly. She had to listen to an answer that came from the heart, not just an oath. CH 28 This time, she got closer first. Serdel, who reached out, raised his chin. ¡°I think you¡¯re misunderstanding, Blenn. I¡¯m worried that your sister and you will be in danger rather than my position and family.¡± It was a soft voice and slow tone. She brought the atmosphere so that she didn¡¯t look too calculating. Blenn¡¯s eyes, which were covered with deep anxiety, fluttered. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll miss the opportunity to save your sister because of your wrong judgment. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get caught up. That¡¯s the scariest thing, and I¡¯m afraid.¡± She moved her hand and swept his cheek. ¡°Blenn. I will save your sister for sure. Trust me. Hm? I told you not too long ago. I need you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Help me.¡± Perhaps it was hard to keep looking at her, but he lowered his eyes. How long has it been? ¡°¡ªI trust you. I will trust Lady and follow your will, Lady.¡± Fortunately, he curled his tail first. The sullen look like before was gone, and a serious attitude was revealed. ¡°Yeah. So will you take me outside now?¡± He stood up and held her. Serdel¡¯s slender arms wrapped around Blenn¡¯s neck. At that moment, his neck and shoulder muscles became stiff. The long eyelashes were also a little shaky. ¡°Hurry up.¡± Blenn, who moved his body before he could even put the name in his mouth, easily jumped over the terrace and the family wall. It was a fast movement even with one person in his arms. ¡°Where should I go? Tell me the directions.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you drop me off first?¡± Serdel, who got out of his arms, took the lead. Blenn followed closely behind. How long did it take? Terra, who was waiting at the entrance of the alley, came out. ¡°Why are you so late, Lady! This way.¡± Behind him stood a white-roofed luxury carriage that had been prepared in advance. ¡°Come on up.¡± Terra, who is in the horseman seat, said to Serdel and Blenn. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go!¡± ****** After 30 minutes As she entered the 8th street of Amelga, the largest entertainment district in the system, the sweet smell of fruit and the smell of alcohol leaked through the gap between the carriage doors. This was because bars from all over the place sprayed alcohol at the entrance to attract customers. There are bars that receive alcohol from breweries, but they are often made by themselves for the characteristics of the store, so they promote it in this way. ¡®I don¡¯t think this smell and that smell will blend in and can promote it very well.¡¯ Nevertheless, the noses of the drinkers seemed to be different, fluttering their nostrils and finding the place they wanted. ¡°Whoo¡ª whoo¡ª¡± The carriage stopped when she was looking at it because it was a little interesting. ¡°Lady.¡± Terra approached and opened the door. Blenn, who got down first, reached out to Serdel before came forward. Terra¡¯s eyes instantly became fierce and then subsided when she came out. The smell of alcohol poked her nose. Putting on her coat first, she pressed down on a gentleman¡¯s hat, and then tapped her chin. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes. Lady.¡± Covering her nose and mouth with her long sleeves, she followed Terra and entered a narrow alleyway in a remote place. Soon there was a dead end. Knock, knock, knock knock. Terra lightly tapped the wall to the sound of a playful knock, and then passed without any hesitation. Tera lightly tapped the wall to the sound of a playful knock, and then passed without any hesitation. Serdel also naturally went inside, followed by Blen quietly. It was a wide passage. And a dead end wall that blocks them again. Serdel took out the half mask and put it on. ¡°Cover your face with this.¡± She also handed the veil she had prepared beforehand to Blenn. Even if it was black, it would have been difficult if his sister recognized him and made a fuss. ¡°Terra.¡± Terra, who had been swallowing his saliva, reached out to the wall. Hiik¡ª! They no need to knock this time, hands wearing white gloves popped out from both walls that they were waiting for. ¡°Tell us the purpose of your visit.¡± ¡°I brought my master because I heard there was something interesting to see. I came to make a reservation a few days ago. Do you not remember me?¡± Terra replied in a nervous voice on purpose. ¡°Can you please confirm your identity?¡± This time, Serdel stepped forward, clicked her tongue annoyingly. ¡°You¡¯re going to check our ID card even though we¡¯re wearing it on the face? You¡¯re not just picky, you¡¯re even rude!¡± ¡°Please forgive my disrespect. This is to check exactly if the person who made the reservation is correct.¡± Even in front of the noble, she couldn¡¯t feel even a single emotion in the calm voice. When she took out her ID card and handed it over, the white gloves disappeared for a while and popped out of the wall again. ¡°I have made a big mistake with an important person. We ask for your generosity and welcome your first visit.¡± At the same time as the plaque was returned, the wall was distorted, and soon a steel door appeared. Beyond that was darkness. She couldn¡¯t see anything. Kiiik. The door opened automatically. When they walked inside for about five minutes, the light began to spread and another world unfolded. A long and spacious hallway. A large cage on one side of the wall. Inside, from humans to other races that are banned from the system. Slaves of various genders and ages were imprisoned. Some people were relatively fine. There were some who were quite rebellious but became a prodigy. With a gloomy energy from them wearing rags! A bloody smell and a thick shadow of death have come. It felt like her heart was stuffed up. It was hard to breathe. ¡°Things like trash.¡± The nobles who entered earlier pointed their fingers at them. Her stomach churned at the ridicule and relentless ridicule. Wearing the same mask as her. ¡®I¡¯m disgusted¡ª¡¯ At the same time, thinking of pretending to be noble outside, her hands were naturally tense. She didn¡¯t feel very good even though she expected some of these scenes. However, this was not revealed. If she is shaken, Terra will be anxious, and Blenn will¡ª. ¡®I can¡¯t see well because of the veil.¡¯ When she looked down, his tightly rolled fists were full of blood. That alone showed how much emotion he was holding back. When she opened her eyes once, she turned her attention away from the cage. No matter how sad it is, it was not the time to be in a daze of sympathy. A rabbit mask man wearing white gloves stood in front of the door after walking for a long time. ¡°Welcome. As it¡¯s the first show in two months, we¡¯ve prepared a lot, so I hope you have a good time here.¡± Opening the door, he bowed down. It was so polite that she almost mistook this place for a luxury restaurant. As she went inside swallowing a smile, there was a wide space similar to a gladiatorial field. ¡°This way.¡± Each seat was reserved. Temporary walls of a suitable height were installed on both sides of each other so that they did not look into each other¡¯s eyes. Terra and Blenn stood behind Serdel when she sat down. Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo. ¡°I¡¯m nervous even after making a reservation. It¡¯s my first time coming into a place like this¡ª what is the show? What kind of show did they prepare? I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be normal¡ª¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± On the other hand, nobles covering their faces came in one by one and began to settle down. Soon after, all the seats were full. The warmth of covering the space seemed to make her sweat. [Sorry for making you wait so long. In the meantime, the supply and demand was not smooth, so we could not provide a proper sight. So today! The ¡®Phantom Monster Battle¡¯, requested by many people, will start soon, so please focus on the stage!] An announcement flowed out of the air. CH 29 Translated by Tam Edited by ¡°Phantom Monster Battle? What exactly is it?¡± Terra, who was bending his back and looking around with his eyes, inquired quietly. ¡°Are phantom monsters monsters created by magic? They fight each other. Just like players fighting each other in a gladiator.¡± ¡°Ah¡ªI see, huh? But isn¡¯t it illegal to trade or handle living monsters under imperial law? No matter how fake it is, monsters are monsters.¡± ¡°So this place belongs to the darkest part of the dark places, right?¡± ¡®I see¡¯, Terra, who nodded, turned to the stage where the light was not turned on. ¡°Is it the same as a real monster? I¡¯m curious.¡± He looked around once. It was quiet with no one making any noise, but somehow there was a strangely hot feeling. ¡°Did they like it because it¡¯s illegal¡ª¡± Paah! The lights on the stage were turned on and the show unfolded. ***** There were a lot of twisted people among the aristocrats who had to deal with the pressure of surviving in a system that felt like a war every day. They needed a new stimulus as much as they needed to get rid of the stress, and this was the place to get it. The quiet heat was broken in an instant as the phantom goblins appeared. The nobles quickly touched the screen similar to the status window that appeared in front of them. After choosing a goblin to invest in, they paid the money and bought the ability to get used to it. Some people invested in intellectual strength, while others focused on muscle strength or defense. [5 minutes are left before the battle begins] The hands of the nobles became busier. In line with that, the condition of the skinny phantom goblin changed rapidly. There were some guys who grew taller and bigger than an adult male, and there were some guys whose body balance was strange because only muscles had grown. She didn¡¯t know what they did, but she saw the guy with only his head or soles of his feet getting bigger. ¡°Pfft!¡± Terra held back his laughter from behind. In addition, the costumes worn by the phantom goblins were also different, so they were full of characteristics. From a guy wearing leather armor, a guy wearing only a robe, a guy wearing full plate armour, and a guy wearing a funny nobleman¡¯s clothes. ¡®They¡¯re spending a lot of money.¡¯ Of course, she was spending money like water too. To save Blenn¡¯s sister. [10, 9, 8¡ª 2, 1, 0!] Pii¡ª. [The investment time is over!] At the same time, the light on the screen that they had been working hard on until just before was turned off. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve invested a little more!¡± Sighs mixed with regret came out here and there. As if the opportunity was up to here, the light on the screen did not come back in. The crowded phantom Goblin on the stage also disappeared with only three left to duel first. [The battle begins!] WHOAAAAAAAAAA! A thunderous shout came out, and the money bet began. Even if it was not Goblin who they invested in, the nobles enjoyed this moment by betting money on someone who looked strong. There were also people who couldn¡¯t hold back their excitement and stepped up and waved their hands. ¡°Ah! You can¡¯t move there like that! That¡¯s it! Whew.¡± ¡°Ah! You can¡¯t move there like that!¡± Me! Me! Whew.¡± It was unbelievably noisy like a marketplace where only nobles gathered. Serdel glanced at Blenn. She couldn¡¯t see the detailed expression because of the veil, but his jaw was full of strength. Now this situation would be quite uncomfortable. Standing in a place where he thought his younger sister would be there, seeing only random scenes unfolding would make him feel confused but also somewhat anxious. As if her prediction was correct, he bent down and put his mouth close to Serdel¡¯s ear. ¡°Wait.¡± As soon as Blenn was about to say something, Serdel spit it out first. ¡°I told you so. It¡¯s different from ordinary slaves. So wait.¡± ¡°¡ªI understand.¡± At the same time he looked at her and straightened his posture. Finally, the phantom Goblin she invested in appeared. She spent her money generously to raise his ability, and the weapons to him were also very diverse. Long sword, dagger, bow and arrow, and magic scroll. ¡®But has it been properly invested in intelligence?¡¯ Serdel, who narrowed her eyes, looked through him. It was the same with the guys who came out earlier, but this guy, too, could not see a single light in his squinted eyes, as if he was caught in a ban and had his mind engulfed. Considering that she was worried about one thing, his movements were overwhelmingly excellent. He avoided the opponent¡¯s attack one step faster and predicted the attack that would follow in advance. ¡°Wow, it looks amazing?¡± Terra also burst out in admiration. ¡°Maybe because of his maximum ability, his movements are natural, not like a monster, just like a human.¡± Haaak! At the end of that, he even cut down two of them at once with a long sword. Since they were nothing more than illusions, the two disappeared with a white smoke. ¡®It¡¯s a good thing I spent money.¡¯ ¡°Damn it!¡± The nobles who invested in the dead burst into anger. But even for a while, they were once again deprived of their gaze in the ongoing battle. ***** As a result, the one that Serdel invested in won the final victory. [It¡¯s the Monster who won the first round! Please give him a round of applause!] The aristocrats who bet money on him even blew a whistle that they would never have done outside. The nobles in this space were free-spirited, and at the same time, they were unruly and vulgar. How long has it been? As soon as the goblin was recovered, half of the invested money was returned to her as a reward. It was also able to obtain the right to acquire slave priority, a ¡°winning privilege.¡± Now she can save Blenn¡¯s sister with this. Seeing a piece of paper coming from the screen, she was caught in a strange feeling for a moment. ¡°Damn it! How much did I invest!¡± A man who stood up after kicking a chair gave off a runny nose and grinded his teeth. She couldn¡¯t recognize her face because of the half-mask, but she instinctively noticed. That he was Count Sollete. ¡°Who is it! Come out! The one who has the right to win, come out!¡± He uses a lot of bad things. ¡°Give it to me! Then I¡¯ll give you twice the amount you invested in this monster. Damn it! There was a slave I wanted!¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes got cold. The slave he wants is probably Blenn¡¯s younger sister. Like himself, he seems to have obtained a list of slaves in advance. ¡°Come out!¡± Unable to beat her, he even kicked the floor. [Before this excitement subsides, the second round will begin!] The nobles cheered at the notification from the air. Whooaaaaa! No one was interested in Count Sollete¡¯s actions. In a place like this, this doesn¡¯t happen once or twice, so they¡¯re already used to it. His anger was buried under the shouts of everyone. When a number of phantom Goblins appeared on the stage, the nobles¡¯ nerves were all focused on buying their abilities. Count Sollete turned his gaze away and invested the money. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± On the other hand, Serdel, who had no more business to do, finally got up and moved quietly. ****** He approached the mouse mask that was guarding the entrance and showed him the right to acquire it. ¡°I will guide you to a place where there are useful slaves.¡± She followed him and walked down the hallway. Then, around the middle, when he opened the door, a staircase that led directly down appeared. The mouse mask that took the lead mumbled down. ¡®What are you counting? Why?¡¯ She wondered, but she had no choice but to follow. How much did it go down? ¡°¡ª97.¡± He turned his body sideways. Then a road was created where there was nothing. ¡®It¡¯s hidden with illusion magic.¡¯ Between the moderately wide corridors, both sides were made of steel bars, and the inside was overflowing with people. The atmosphere was different from the ones they saw near the entrance. It can be seen that it is a place where only those with relatively good characters, that is, those who can trade at a certain price, are gathered. CH 30 Translated by Tam Edited by Genie Blenn¡¯s head had been moving busily since entering. He gently pulled on the hem of Serdel¡¯s sleeve. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed that his younger sister might not be there. ¡°Is this all of them?¡± Serdel asked their guide. ¡°No, if you go down, there¡¯s more.¡± They walked to the stairs that appeared at the end of the hallway and went straight down. The atmosphere grew creepier but they had to press on, after all they hadn¡¯t found Blenn¡¯s sister yet. When they saw what was being kept downstairs Blenn¡¯s steps came to a halt. As he grabbed Serdel¡¯s sleeve, his hands trembled. Tears fell from the tip of his chin. Serdel covered Blenn¡¯s front and threw her gaze through the cage, afraid that their mouse-masked guide would see him crying and think it strange. A young woman was sitting blankly. Her body seemed so small. Her brown hair wasn¡¯t well-groomed. Her fair skin was pale and dry, but she was still very beautiful, resembling Blenn. The woman must have sensed the presence on this side of the room but she never turned her head. As if she was ignoring her own situation. ¡°I like that kid.¡± Serdel handed over the acquisition right she was holding. ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± The guide rubbed his hands as the creepily smiling mouse face seemed to smile wider. ***** Later, Serdel was guided to the management room by another masked man. She signed a contract for the rights of the slave with a man who looked like a mean-looking middleman. As soon as she paid, she took custody of Blenn¡¯s sister. Serdel held his arm tightly to prevent Blenn from reacting too obviously in public. ¡°She¡¯s your new master. Say hello.¡± Blenn¡¯s sister was pushed roughly by the staff. She was small and shabby even up close, the neglect and abuse obvious. The bruises stained her skin that was exposed through the worn-out rags she wore as clothing. Serdel became emotional just thinking about how much must have happened. Her eyes grew very blurry, and she seemed to lose her mind at that moment. In the end, she forced out words that didn¡¯t even want to come out. ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s¡ªdirty.¡± Serdel took off the coat she was wearing, clicking her tongue in faux annoyance she handed her coat to Terra pretending to be uninterested. ¡°¡ªAh. Yes.¡± Quick-witted, He quickly received it and folded it in his arms. ¡°Name?¡± Serdel asked in an annoyed tone. ¡°¡ªI-it¡¯s Laura.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to leave while my humor seems to be intact.¡± Serdel made motions to leave, trying to pretend that dealing with a slave had tired her out. Looking at Laura who was still looking down, Serdel turned around. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. There are many more fun things prepared. It¡¯s your first time enjoying it, so don¡¯t you mind if you stay a little longer?¡± The staff said, smiling like a snake when Serdel¡¯s steps paused. ¡°It¡¯s a show that takes a lot of time, money, and manpower to prepare, so I wonder when the next time you¡¯ll enjoy it will be if it¡¯s not today¡ª¡± He continued, emboldened by her pause. ¡°You talk so much that it¡¯s loud.¡± Beyond the mask, the employee who saw Serdel¡¯s displeased glare bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me for being rude.¡± ¡°I am leaving now.¡± Serdel said forcefully, daring anyone to try to stop her again. ¡°Yes. Thank you. Please come again next time.¡± Terra quietly placed the coat onto Laura and grabbed her hand following Serdel out as he bit back the words he wanted to spit at the grinning mouse mask. How long did it take to leave the management office and walk down the dark hallway? ¡°Terra. This child seems to have difficulty moving, so hold her.¡± ¡°Ah, yes!¡± ¡°N-no, I-I¡¯m fine¡ª¡± Laura took a step back, possibly because she was afraid. She quickly removed the coat she was wearing. Then she trembled violently when she saw her dirty hands. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, t-the precious Lady¡¯s clothes become dirty¡ª it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m sorry. P-please don¡¯t hit me. I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Serdel approached Laura cautiously, as she looked like she was about to kneel and beg at any moment, and gently embraced her. Hiik! Laura was only able to let out a startled scream. Serdel gently stroked her back, which was shaking violently. ¡°Shh¡ª It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, so calm down. It¡¯s all over.¡± A gentle, warm touch soothed her body, and she was able to calm down a little. Serdel hugged her even tighter because it wasn¡¯t enough. It was clear that she was afraid of people but yearned for warmth. She loosened her embrace a little, trying not to hurt the child. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to hurt you. I¡¯m here to help you, so don¡¯t be scared.¡± Serdel whispered soothingly to Laura to try and help her relax. After putting the coat back over the small, still shivering, body she wiped Laura¡¯s face with a handkerchief from her pocket. Maybe it was a little dirty, but she tried to put the handkerchief back in her pocket but Laura held it tight and wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°I, I, I will wash it and give it to you. L, Lady, it¡¯s dirty because of me¡ª¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With a smile, she motioned for Blenn to come over. When he did she grabbed his hand and overlapped it on the back of Laura¡¯s hand. ¡°Hiik¡ª!¡± Flustered, Laura tried to pull her hand away, but Blenn held on tightly. ¡°¡ªLaura.¡± Startled by the familiar voice Laura looked up at him in surprise. Blenn¡¯s voice, which struggled to clearly say his younger sister¡¯s name, was also full of tears. Laura¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°H-huh¡ª¡± Tears flowed down. Before Laura¡¯s mouth opened wide to cry loudly, Serdel raised her hand and blocked it. ¡°Sshhhh. We have to go out safely now, so be quiet.¡± She had no idea what would happen in a place with such shady energy. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t want it known that she went in and out of a place like this, so she wouldn¡¯t want to make a big scene. Because she knows better than anyone that aristocrats blinded by greed can oftentimes act beyond imagination. Moreover, a voice full of anger from Count Sollete still lingered in her mind uncomfortably as if she could still hear him bellowing from somewhere. There was nothing bad about being careful. Laura nodded her head and her eyes fell to Blenn. Because of the veil, she couldn¡¯t see his face well, so her gaze persistently stuck to his face. Blenn hugged Laura lightly. When the group was just about to resume their exit they heard something coming from in front of them. Jiik, jiiik, jiiiik. From the other side of a well-hidden door, a man in a black fox mask was walking with a large heavy sack in his hand. He mumbled, looked at Serdel, and bowed his head. Her gaze was naturally drawn downward to the sack that would occasionally bang against the wall. Whoosh! Inside the bag a bloody deep ¨C red that came out soaking the outside, she got goosebumps. At one point, the inside of the bag was visible through a rip, and she confirmed the contents were as gruesome as she feared. Limbs from people seemingly many people were entangled together. A scream rushed through her throat into her mouth as she processed the sight in front of her. Serdel¡¯s head instinctively turned back in the direction of the door the man came out from. Scene after scene played out in her head for some reason. Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Blenn, who saw her unusual expression, stuck close to her side. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good.¡± ¡°Lady, are you okay?¡± Terra also asked anxiously. However, instead of responding to the question, Serdel took a few staggered steps forwards. As she turned the corner, a large cage on the wall near the entrance caught her attention once more. Unlike when it was full, there were several empty spots. It was obvious where they were taken. And by now. What might have happened¡ª. Jiiik, jiik, jiiiiik¡ª. She thinks she knows, she lowered her head while silently whispering. As if the light had dimmed, her view became darker and someone¡¯s afterimage began to appear in front of her. What is this strange phenomenon? Why is it continuing? ¡®Was that a foreshadowing dream? I¡¯m not sleeping, so it¡¯s most likely not. So, is it just simple foresight? ¡® Can her abilities be activated without her having to be asleep? But something didn¡¯t feel quite right. It could be compared to a cross-section of foresight. It was more like seeing ¡®the present, but beyond, to see another possibility¡¯ than the future. ¡®The black horse mask¡ª.¡¯ She faintly saw a huge man dragging a bag that was several times the size of what the man with the black fox mask had just carried with one hand. It was most likely filled with the corpses of slaves, whose heads were sacrificed for the smooth setting of the phantom goblins in the ¡°Show¡±. Mumbling. As the man counted numbers, he walked slowly with his head looking down at the ground. The hallway appeared at the end. After walking for a long time, he suddenly entered somewhere. And¡ª. ¡°Lady!¡± Startled Serdel stopped With one hand, Blenn grasped Serdel¡¯s thin arm. In the end, her consciousness that was about to cross over to the other side was abruptly pulled back into the present. CH 31 ¡°Uh, uh. What is this, who do you dare hold on to! Unhand her!¡± Wrinkling his nostrils, Terra tried to push Blenn away, but he didn¡¯t budge. ¡°¡­.¡± The awkward Terra snorted his nose. ¡°¡ªLet go of this.¡± Blenn released his grip after Serdel¡¯s order. Ha¡ª With a low sigh, she raised her head and looked at the surroundings. ¡°We better hurry¡ª¡± She took it to step by step. The speed got faster and faster. ¡®My goal is achieved.¡¯ She won¡¯t witness anything worse as long as she leaves this place. Whether it¡¯s foreknowledge or a glimpse into the other possibilities. Just because it came into her mind, there was no need for her to be dragged into it more than necessary. That¡¯s how she pushed past it in her heart, ¡°¡ªI want to live¡ª¡± The desperation she heard in someone¡¯s plea stopped her. With a blank expression on their face, Serdel looked at where the slaves were gathered. It was unclear who cried out, but thanks to the shout, the sleepy and unaware people slowly woke up again. She swept her dry face with one hand while holding the bag around her waist with the other. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ She didn¡¯t prepare to do this¡ª. She bit her lips and closed her eyes tightly. The reason should be worth it since they say she shouldn¡¯t touch this place lightheartedly. She¡¯s already seen too much to turn a blind eye to it. The same thing happened just before. ¡°Terra.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady.¡± ¡°Hold Laura instead of Blenn. And go to the carriage first.¡± ¡°Lady!¡± Terra¡¯s forehead wrinkled in worry. ¡°You go first. It¡¯s an order.¡± Serdel¡¯s atmosphere shifted dramatically as well. Terra¡¯s teeth were clenched in frustration. He gradually loosened his fist after dropping his head pathetically. ¡°Blenn. You help me. That¡¯s possible, right?¡± His hands and arms that were holding Laura became tense. It will be difficult to be separated from the weak pitiful sister he has just met. Serdel took her time and waited for him to make a decision. Slowly, time went by. ¡°¡­.B-brother.¡± Laura, who peeked and raised her eyes, grabbed Blenn¡¯s hem, who was in agonizing indecision underneath his deep silence. ¡°H-help them. L-Lady, t-that poor man also needs help. H-help. B-brother is strong.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Blenn¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡°T-the Lady saved me. P-please be my strength. I, I, I¡¯m begging you.¡± He hugged Laura more tightly, for a while. Kissing her forehead, he hurriedly passed Laura to Terra, who was still looking at the floor. Terra, who was holding her in a frozen embrace, was embarrassed and did not know what to do. ¡°Why did you give me your sister¡ª!¡± ¡°Terra.¡± Serdel grabbed his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry and go out first. It won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°¡ªDon¡¯t get hurt at all. Siri is going to kill me. I¡¯m really going to die¡ª¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯m sorry, Terra.¡± Complex emotions flashed through his eyes. Terra bit his lips and turned around. Seeing him moving away, Serdel took off the half-mask. ¡°Give me the veil, and you wear this.¡± He just covered his face with a half mask. A bitter smile came out of his appearance, no different from other nobles in that filthy space. The cool eyes and the half mask go so well together. Apart from that, her mind quickly organized the things she had seen before. ¡°¡ªIf you go all the way to the end, you will find a staircase going down to the basement. When you go down about 128 steps, a hallway will appear. Ignore it and go down 10 more steps. Then the real road will appear, not an illusion. You have to be careful, because you don¡¯t know what kind of danger will come if you get caught in the illusion.¡± Blenn nodded. ¡°And go straight ahead and enter the room on the far right, the arsenal.¡± It is a place connected by magic to the stage where the ¡®show¡¯ is in full swing, and most of the weapons and supplies purchased by the nobles were moved from there and delivered to the phantom goblins. ¡®I don¡¯t know who¡¯s the owner, but each space is extraordinary.¡¯ And the way it¡¯s operated. Shaking off any discomfort, she pulled out a magic pouch from her bag. Just in case, she took three separate mid-upper scrolls with both bombing and ice blade magic and gave them to him. Then, she reached out and pulled him closer by the hand. Once they were close enough that their breaths hit each other¡¯s skin she, ignoring his eyes staring at her intently, put her lips close to his ear and whispered. ¡°Explode all the devices planted on the wall and burn the weapons, too.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°And if you look to the left of the room, there will be a drawer. If you open the third compartment, you will find the door to the magic equipment room, and the crystal ball in it is¡ª¡± Serdel, who gathered her eyebrows, looked back at the scenes she had seen mentally to confirm her instructions were correct. ¡°¡ªTake care of everything except the sphere of the yellow light.¡± That sphere was a camouflage device that surrounded the outside of the building to completely hide and protect what is inside from anything outside. ¡®Other than that, the rest of the crystal balls are probably related to the magic phenomena scattered all over the space.¡¯ For example, a protective wall was set up to protect the nobles so that the aftermath of the battle does not reach the auditorium of the space where the ¡°show¡± is taking place for a long time. Like the phantom goblins, who were completely reliant on the nobles¡¯ gold bought settings. Furthermore, thanks to the removal of any obstacles, the explosions and fires that will begin in the arsenal will continue to spread throughout the building. ¡®It will burn inside the building.¡¯ There will be no damage to the street as the flames are blocked by the magic barrier outside. Rather, the flames that couldn¡¯t escape will burn even more severely inside. None of the managers will even dare to stop the flames inside, they¡¯d be so busy saving themselves. ¡®Rather, if nobles get hurt, things will become a bigger deal, so I¡¯ll prioritize evacuating them.¡¯ If they hide well in a crowded situation, it will not be easy to find out who did this. ¡®Of course, Blenn has to move well.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for making you do this. It¡¯s a pity that slaves who are practically exhausted and starved have no other options, so give them one gold each and show them a safe way out of the building.¡± ¡°It¡¯s funny to hear this now, but wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous if you get caught?¡± His mouth, which had been listening to explanations the whole time, finally questioned. ¡°It¡¯s going to be dangerous. But I believe you will do a good job.¡± Blenn, who was looking down at Serdel, exhaled a low breath at her response. He bowed his head. ¡°First of all, I apologize for the hesitation I had earlier. I¡¯ll follow your will as I promised, but when I saw my sister, it wasn¡¯t easy to separate from her.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°¡ªDon¡¯t try to understand too much, or you¡¯ll lose money. You know what? It¡¯s good for someone like Lady to be stabbed in the back. They will pretend to be weak on the outside since the Lady is too soft-hearted.¡± ¡°Are you worrying about me?¡± ¡°¡ªI¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± Ignoring her words and raising her hand instead, he lightly kissed it. ¡°Hide in a safe place. I¡¯ll come to you as soon as I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Do you know where I will be?¡± She asked, taking back her hand. ¡°Anywhere you will be.¡± Suddenly, he buried his nose on Serdel¡¯s neck. Startled, without even having time to step back, he grabbed her waist. ¡°I remembered Lady¡¯s energy, so I can find you right away in here.¡± With a seemingly indifferent look, he straightened his posture and was about to take a step. ¡°Lady.¡± ¡°Uhm?¡± ¡°Do you¡ªreally trust me?¡± He asked a little bit without confidence. He seemed to need confidence in something. Here, it would be better to answer strongly and build a trusting relationship with him. ¡°I trust you.¡± His eyes shook. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since we met, and even though it started with a deal¡­Blenn, I believe in you.¡± ¡°Thank¡ªyou.¡± His eyes shook slightly with his mouth clenched. Turning his back, he soon disappeared like the wind. CH 32 Left alone in the dark and gloomy hallway, Serdel wore the veil she was holding in her hand. He told her to hide in a safe place, but she couldn¡¯t move ahead of time because she didn¡¯t understand the structure yet. It would be safer to remain here and blend in with the nobles who will soon pour out than to wander around. ¡®They won¡¯t be able to open for a while due to what happened today.¡¯ Slowly, she scanned the ceiling, walls, and floors thoroughly. It will take a considerable amount of time to restore this space, which is almost entirely magical. ¡®I wish this cruel place would just disappear in the morning, but it won¡¯t be that easy.¡¯ Even if it disappears, there will only be another place with similar structure and similar shady dealings. In any era or at any level, it was tough to root out such a shady business. At the very least, there will be no inhumane behavior happening during the recovery period, so that alone should be considered fortunate. ¡®It hurts my stomach, but there is nothing more I can do.¡¯ She knew that, but when she thought of the dead slaves in the bag, she was not comfortable. With her fists rolled up, she counted the numbers inwardly, shaking off her heavy thoughts. Blenn will be back soon after finishing the job. It was then. Boom¡ª! The floor shook with a huge explosion from the basement. The heat from the blast could be felt even where she was. Noticing that she could see that Blenn had taken care of things properly. Piit! Piit! Pit! Something loudly broke several times on the wall in a sequence. Inside, the transformation and distortion magic had been installed, and the wide hallway had suddenly become narrow. The high ceiling was the same. Whoaaaaaaaaa! A loud scream could also be heard from the location where she was watching the ¡®show.¡¯ Serdel smiled and touched the old wall that lost its splendor. At that moment, Ping- the corners of her eyes went blank, and certain scenes began to unfold in her mind forcibly. It wasn¡¯t the same as the previous phenomenon, but she felt a familiar sensation throughout her entire body. It wasn¡¯t a side of foresight, it was foresight. The future was seen, not the ¡®present¡¯ of one side. Upon recognizing it, Serdel instinctively focused. A space that looks stuffy because it¡¯s dark and full of things. ¡°Sniff, sniff.¡± A small child was alone in the corner. There was a long tail on the child¡¯s buttocks seen through the rags they wore, and considering that the child¡¯s ears were pointed out on the child¡¯s head, the child seemed to be a beast. The sight of the child crouching in the corner and shivering broke her heart. ¡°Sniff, sniff.¡± Someone came up to the child, who couldn¡¯t even make a loud noise, and timidly expressed his sorrow. The hands trembled as if they were burned, and the breathing was very rough. ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± The child showed his teeth when the hand tried to reach his back. ¡°Ssh, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡ªA familiar voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Gasp! The sense of reality, which had been dulled for a while, almost dazzled her sensitive nerves as color returned to her blurry vision. The premonition was short, but even in that small time, the surroundings had filled with smoke. The suffocating stink made it hard to breathe. The hallway shook so loudly as if there had been an earthquake, and she almost fell over. ¡°Ugh!¡± She paused for a moment after standing back up precariously. ¡®It was definitely my voice.¡¯ Perhaps, the main character of the vision and the hand shown in it was herself. Serdel raised her head. There was going to be hell soon. She knew she shouldn¡¯t jump in recklessly, but she was worried about the child she saw in her foresight. If she turns a blind eye to it, the child would definitely die. ¡®You saved everything else, but you¡¯re giving up on one weak child?¡¯ She can¡¯t do that. She couldn¡¯t do that. ¡®I don¡¯t think I saw that suddenly for no reason.¡¯ Perhaps it was a message to rescue the child. At that moment, Serdel¡¯s eyes changed. She took each step carefully. Just in time, people poured out. She kept walking as close to the wall as possible. Each time the aristocrats rushed out in panic and collided with her shoulders, her body was pushed back more and more. Then, the hat she was wearing was struck by a nobleman¡¯s elbow and fell. In the aftermath, the veil was removed. She tried to pick it up quickly, but it was not easy to even bend over. ¡®Darn it!¡¯ In the end, she had no choice but to keep her head down and not be pushed away by them. ¡°Open the door!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the gatekeeper!¡± The voices full of anger and confusion were full of fear. The more people that gathered, the deeper they felt the desperation of the situation. Arsenic came out as they began infighting with an appearance that was no different from what she had expected. ¡®It serves you right.¡¯ Serdel, who had been clicking her tongue inwardly, ran in the opposite direction of the crowd as soon as there was a little more space. Stop. A man who had just passed her stopped. Turning his head, he covered his face with his arm and saw a small back walking to the opposite side of the entrance. ¡°¡ªYoung Lady.¡± He didn¡¯t see it wrong. There¡¯s no way he couldn¡¯t recognize his ex fianc¨¦e. Why is she in a place like this? No way, is she here to watch the ¡®show¡¯? Did she have a hobby like this? He¡¯s here because he has something to find out. ¡®She likes this kind of thing?¡¯ ¡°Ha¡ª!¡± For a moment, even though he laughed in vain, he stared in the direction she had moved away. ¡°I hope you know that there¡¯s a fire, right?¡± Didn¡¯t she see the phantom goblins fighting amongst themselves that suddenly started attacking everything in sight? ¡®It would be dangerous if you went that way.¡¯ ¡°¡­..¡± For a moment, he remembered Addis, who swung her sword at him and gave off a fierce look. He still can¡¯t forget the humiliation at that time. ¡°Tsk!¡± He doesn¡¯t care if she gets hurt or not. So what if he knew? Turning his head, Count Maient approached the entrance again. ***** When she reached the middle of the hallway. A stairway to the top appeared. As soon as she was about to go up to the place where it would have been covered with magic and looked like a wall, Krrrrr¡ª. A terrifying cry came from behind her. Dozens of phantom Goblins were focusing their eyes on her as she turned around swallowing despite her dry mouth. Perhaps because the shield was lifted, they looked more violent than when they were on the stage. Glancing behind them she gritted her teeth. One, two, three. The number of Goblin¡¯s gradually increased around them. She took out the scrolls she had kept in her bag. She had three scrolls in her hand, three chances to attack. Whoo. Although she was trembling all over, she couldn¡¯t be intimidated in front of the situation she was in. Serdel expelled a low breath, aiming for the right timing, and tore the scroll one by one. Boom boom boom! With a loud roar, lumps of gas poured out like bombs through the paper the size of a palm. A sharp blade of ice was created at the same time, Hwiiik! Swinging in a wide arc it cut through a few Goblins at a time. Syaak! Once the sleek wave of gas stirred the space loudly, the illusion in front of her disappeared. Instead, she felt heat closing in on her so she ran up the stairs without looking back. Fortunately, there were no monsters chasing her. Without a moment of relief, she breathed in at the sight of the thick wooden door blocking her eyes. Clank, clank! ¡®Is it locked? It¡¯s not opening.¡¯ She stopped thinking about tearing up more scrolls. Even if it was a lower-class spell, it had some kind of magic. Didn¡¯t she get rid of a lot of Goblin at once just now? There was a high possibility that it would not only destroy the wooden door, but also sweep through the inside. With her teeth clenched, she pushed the door with her shoulders as hard as possible. However, no matter how old the door was, her power was not enough. ¡®Darn it.¡¯ It was pathetic. In the end, she kicked it with all her might with her feet. Boom, boom, boom! There was a whining pain from the tip of the toe, but she didn¡¯t stop. Boom! Fortunately, the door opened after that. When she turned her head and looked down the stairs, the flames were already following her, perhaps because she took too much time with the door. She hurried up and went inside and closed the door first. ¡°Cough!¡± It was getting more and more uncomfortable to breathe in as the smoke that seeped through the cracks in the door filled the room. Covering her nose and mouth with her sleeves, she quickly looked inside. CH 33 The interior was dark, and matched her vision in how chaotic it was. She gave her eyes strength and somehow adapted her vision to the stinging smoke. As she pushed through the stacked wooden boxes and went all the way to the very corner, something covered with a black cloth appeared. Whoosh. As she walked through the room and removed the cloth, a small cage appeared as expected. ¡°Sniff, sniff.¡± Inside, a child of the Beast tribe was curled up and crying. Brown ears were drooping through golden hair that shone brightly enough to light the falling darkness. Sniff, sniff. The child looked up at her with a sniffle and a tearful look in their eyes. Small lips sticking out, big eyes filled with tears. The traces of abuse left on his small back, seen through the rags, were far more serious than she had seen with her foresight. If she knew this would happen, she would have kept at least one potion. Sadness and anger arose together. She wanted to reach out and hug him, but the gaps between the iron bars were so narrow that she couldn¡¯t. In addition, it had a strong lock on it, so it was difficult to take the child out immediately. ¡®What should I do with this first!¡¯ Likewise, using a scroll was inadvisable because the child may be injured. Serdel, who was looking around, grabbed a piece of lumber nearby. Startled. The startled child wiggled his arms and legs and backed away. ¡°Kyaaaaang!¡± It would have seemed like a threat to him, but all he, who was weak and pathetic, could do was cry. ¡°U, ung.¡± Serdel slammed the high wooden beam towards the lock. Kaang! Continuously. Kang! Kaang! ¡°Uhh.¡± Nonetheless, it did not only not budge, but the rough parts of the neck brutally pierced the soft flesh of her palm and slid in. Her hands were swollen and bleeding. She, on the other hand, clenched her teeth and swung it again. *Crack* The lumber broke, too short and weak to be used. ¡°¡­.¡± She almost laughed in vain because she felt dejected. After going through this, she hurriedly looked around again. Her heart was anxious. As she hurried through the boxes, fortunately, she was able to find an iron club. She swung it with all her remaining strength with the feeling that this is really the last time. Kaaaang! The lock finally fell off with a strong sound that made her ears ring. ¡°Ugh.¡± She had no time to wipe off the sweat hanging from the tip of her chin. While she was concentrating, flames that had swallowed the hallway also swallowed the entrance and then quickly surrounded the space. Since there were so many boxes that could be used as kindling in the room, the fire spread faster and became even hotter. ¡°Ha, haha.¡± This situation, trapped in flames, was somewhat absurd. ¡°How stupid¡ª Haa.¡± She took a deep breath and brushed her messy hair back. First of all, she decided to rescue the child first and decisively grabbed the cage. ¡®Kk!¡¯ It was as if the skin attached to the iron bars was burning as soon as it was touched by the hot metal. Opening a single door was not easy. She held back her groans, pulled, and managed to open the door. She carefully put her hand in between the gap. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± The child showed his sharp teeth toward her. ¡°Shh¡ª It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll help you.¡± She shuddered to see the terrified child slamming her hand with sharp claws and looking down at her wound. There was no time to spare, but Serdel smiled and gently stroked the child¡¯s face with the back of her hand until the child calmed down. ¡°¡ªAren¡¯t you going to hit me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to hit you.¡± The child, who was hesitant, put his small hand on the back of Serdel¡¯s hand. The trembling from his body transmitted to her. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t hit me?¡± ¡°Yeah. I won¡¯t hit you. So come out here. It¡¯s okay.¡± When the child came out cautiously, Serdel untied the cummerbund from her waistband to cover his head and face for protection. She was actually dizzy due to lack of oxygen, but she gathered herself and stood with her eyes wide open. All that is left now is to break through the raging flames and join Blenn. She swallowed her saliva and lowered her head. In that state, she was about to run out with the child in her arms, and someone who jumped through the flames suddenly put a jacket soaked in water over her head. She wondered if it was Blenn, but¡ª. ¡°Count, why are you here¡ª¡± It was Count Maient. The appearance of an unexpected person that she had never thought she would meet at a place like this made her speechless. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this long story outside.¡± Tsk! At first glance, he seemed annoyed or angry. ¡°No, wait¡ª¡± ¡°Cover your face properly.¡± Without hearing her bewildering words, he quickly grabbed her body and ran without hesitation. But not through the hallway. Among the fierce flames, staff members who had been hit by someone¡¯s knife were burning with animal masks. None of the bodies were aristocrats. Everyone seemed to have evacuated on time. The inside of the place was empty except for some dead staff. ¡®Blenn did a great job.¡¯ She was relieved only then. The moment when a part of her heart that was filled with nervousness was about to calm down, Whoosh! Something sharp flew in. Count Maient quickly turned around and avoided something thrown at him. He grinded his teeth, staring at the other side, which was hard to see because of the fire. ¡°Young Lady. It seems like the situation is a little too dangerous. I¡¯ll drop you off, so follow me closely.¡± She wanted to say: ¡°There¡¯s no need to¡ª¡±, but before she could say anything, he first pulled her and the child in her arms to a safer room. Then Count Maient pulled out the sword from his waist and grabbed her shoulder. Startled, she just looked at him weirdly ¡°¡ªYoung Lady your hand¡ª¡± His gaze turned downward. Thinking she would shake him off, saying it was gross, he grabbed her wrist instead of letting her shake him off. It was almost as if he was being considerate of her hurt hand. Did he want a thank you for saving her, but on the other hand, it was pitiful. Since when did he start caring about her? ¡°Can you stand it?¡± The next words came out in vain following the question. ¡°Hold it in a little bit. I¡¯ll treat you as soon as we get out.¡± Without looking into her cold face, he hardened his eyes and carefully moved to the side. Serdel, who was still holding the child, also naturally followed him. ¡°You¡¯re a man who should say your last prayers¡ª. Tsk.¡± The Count said to his opponent as he added strength to the hand that was holding his sword. The opponent¡¯s shadow also slowly moved in the direction the Count had moved and looked this way, and eventually disappeared like smoke. Startled. When the shadow reappeared, it was just after Serdel had already been trapped in its arms. ¡°Young Lady!¡± Surprised, Count Maient threw his sword but failed to connect with his opponent. Rather, the opponent lightly threw his head back as if laughing at the Count and escaped with his hostage. ¡°Young Lady¡ª!¡± ***** Serdel, however, felt no surprise. The sudden embrace was later than expected and not shocking, and as soon as he broke through the fire and came out, the man slammed the wall of the building and jumped. He didn¡¯t even use magic. How can he get so high in the sky with just a leap? ¡®That¡¯s amazing.¡¯ The exclamation came out naturally. Is it because of the night air or the atmosphere? The moonlight was exceptionally brilliant, too. A total release of tension. Knowing that the one holding her was Blenn and no one else, she wasn¡¯t worried. Rather, she was relieved that they were safe with each other. Taak. A short while later while standing on the tallest blue roof among the nearby buildings, he lowered his head to her ear. ¡°Are you okay, Lady?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± After looking at the moonlight for a while, she looked away. He really matched well with this chilly night. Although it was dyed by magic earlier, his cold silver hair does not melt well into the darkness, and even the bare face was somewhat pale¡ª. ¡°Sorry for being late. It took a little longer because I thought it would be cleaner to take care of the staff for the future.¡± His eyes were distorted as he scanned Serdel with the report. ¡°What happened to your hand¡ª!¡± ¡°Blenn. How about the half mask I gave you?¡± His bare face somehow bothered her. ¡°¡ªI burned it. It was a mask used in a dangerous place and if you bring it to your house¡ª I¡¯m sorry for doing something without a word, Lady. I couldn¡¯t just leave and look at the traces of the place that made my sister like that.¡± ¡°Nothing special happened?¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to worry. Your hand comes first rather than that. How did you get hurt so much? I don¡¯t have any potions left¡ª¡± The pain in her hand that had been forgotten came back to her at his point. The back of the hand was better, but her palm was so messed up that it was grotesque to look at. ¡°Does it hurt¡ª¡± Just in time, the cool wind blew through the wound. Goosebumps ran down her spine. Unknowingly, her body flinched. ¡°I-it¡¯s hurt?¡± The child, who had been quiet in her arms, clasped his short hands and poked his head out between the commodes. Tears welled up in the large, jewel-like eyes. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°This beast child¡ª¡± Then his gaze turned to the child. CH 34 When he saw the child in Serdel¡¯s arms, his eyes became cold. ¡°Mom, does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your mom.¡± She said quickly, glancing at Blenn¡¯s stern expression. ¡°Nuna, does it hurt a lot? Hngg.¡± (t/n: ?? (Nuna) means sister. But I will use sister in the next dialogue) Tears flowed down from the child¡¯s eyes. Blenn reached out for a moment and grabbed the child¡¯s back. ¡°Hueeee¡ª Kyaaaa!¡± When he tried to pull him from Serdel, the crying child screamed violently and swung his sharpened claws relentlessly. The back of Blenn¡¯s hand was totally scarred as a result of the speed. ¡°¡ªHhueee!¡± Then he burst into tears as if he had suddenly become sad. ¡°Where did you find this child? After the shield was lifted, I looked all over the place. If I didn¡¯t find him with the others, it seems that he was locked up alone. Usually, slave traders sell expensive or slaves for other purposes. I know what they¡¯re like.¡± Blenn¡¯s forehead stiffened as he scowled deeper. ¡°Furthermore, it is not like a normal slave trader. I have no idea why this child was imprisoned. It¡¯s possible that the slave list has already been circulated against nobles who only want beast tribe slaves. Lady, you should not take him.¡± ¡°Hueeeeng.¡± ¡°If they happen to find out that this child is in the Count¡¯s mansion, you may be suspected of being involved in this matter.¡± ¡°H-huee¡ª¡± Perhaps because of anxiety that it might be abandoned, the child began to look severely scared and clung onto Serdel. Even his nails that had been out being put away as he held onto her. ¡°I¡ªwill listen carefully.¡± The face full of tears and runny nose was very pitiful. ¡°Even though he¡¯s a child, he¡¯s a beast. As long as he grows quickly¡ª¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll just eat a little bit of food. I¡¯ll only eat as much as my pinky nail. You don¡¯t even have to give it to me, I¡¯ll pick out grass and eat it.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time, Lady. Shouldn¡¯t you hurry back to your family and heal your hands?¡± Cough. Hiccup. ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s scary to be alone¡ª I¡¯ll be good. I¡¯ll listen to your words well¡ª don¡¯t throw me away, sister¡ª¡± Blenn sighed in vain at the words ¡°be well-behaved.¡± His hands were now soaked with blood. The wound itself seemed swollen as if it had been poisoned. ¡°I can transform well, too.¡± He wriggled in her arms, eventually transforming into a baby wolf with soft black fur. She thought his fur would be the same color as his hair because it was golden, but this wolf form was all black. The color of his eyes changed as well. [I can transform into other races well, too] Whoosh, this time it turned into a pink fox with a red belly. [I¡¯ve never been transformed inside. I felt like I would be dragged to a more terrifying place if my abilities were discovered¡ª I didn¡¯t transform even after being beaten.] The child¡¯s voice flowed into her mind. It was a characteristic of imprinting. The child nodded again and shifted to a human form. Unlike before, he had neither ears nor tails. Even this time, he had blue hair and a dot around his eyes. The child gently poked the mole with his hand and even performed the tricks of moving it to his nose. It was easy to hide his identity, so he showed that he would not be found out by anyone. ¡®You are a species that transforms freely.¡¯ ¡°Are you a Tawl Wolf?¡± (I¡¯m not sure is this right but the Korean is ?? ??, if you have any suggestion feel free to comment xD) Blenn¡¯s eyes grew bigger at Serdel¡¯s question. He looked at the child again. The child nodded widely in Serdel¡¯s arms, ignoring Blenn¡¯s gaze. ¡®I was going to take him in when I decided to save him.¡¯ Unlike other slaves who would have gone out together and lived well under Blenn¡¯s direction, this child would have to go through everything alone the moment she let go of his hand. No matter how fast the beast tribe people matured, they did not become adults in a few days. Moreover, beast people sold for a high price. With him being a child, anyone could easily catch him, so there was a high possibility that he would get in trouble. Even if it was a normal beast they would be awful like that but if they knew it was a Tawl Wolf they¡¯d be vicious. ¡®I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d be this lucky.¡¯ The Tawl Wolfs was also considered a symbol of the forest. They are very weak when they are young, but when they become adults, they become so strong that most races couldn¡¯t even stand next to them. Especially in the forest. Therefore, they were also called the rulers of the forest. ¡®It¡¯s a species that¡¯s hard to see in places like this. Did he get caught by hunters after entering the wrong territory?¡¯ Or maybe he was in this situation after being pushed out of the group because they had a strong tendency to be exclusive even between their own kind. As she thought of the hardships that the child must have suffered in the past, strength came into her arms. ¡°Lady.¡± ¡°Blenn. I¡¯m responsible for all decisions and consequences, so move quietly.¡± ¡°¡ªI understand.¡± His mouth gradually closed. He hasn¡¯t watched her for a long time, but Serdel doesn¡¯t listen to anyone when she comes out so decisively. It was Blenn, who had already figured that out. He could no longer say anything, and he jumped sharply between buildings as if he were leaving his body to the wind. Thanks to this, it didn¡¯t take long to arrive at the alley where the carriage was parked. Tak! Suddenly, when a person fell from the sky, Terra, who was looking around in surprise, pulled out a sword. ¡°Terra, calm down.¡± ¡°Lady!¡± He sheathed his sword at the sound of her voice. ¡°How about Laura?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the carriage. She has been restless for a while, but I guess she has relaxed a bit, and now she¡¯s asleep. Why are you so late¡ª¡± Stop. Terra¡¯s gaze, which was pouring out words, headed to the child in Serdel¡¯s arms and her bloody hands surrounding the child. ¡°¡­.¡± His eyes were distorted in an instant. ¡°Terra, I think it¡¯s better to start leaving without saying anything.¡± Ugh. Biting his lips, he searched his arms and hurriedly pulled out a bottle of potion. It was a low-level potion she had given him the other day, and it seemed that he didn¡¯t give it to Siri as he went to a dangerous place, but kept it aside. One lower level could fill the fallen physical strength, but it was too little magic to treat a wound like this. Even though he may have known that, Terra hurriedly poured it onto Serdel¡¯s hands, just in case. ¡°¡­.¡± Naturally, there was no effect. ¡°P-please excuse me.¡± Leaning down, he opened Serdel¡¯s waist bag and looked inside. Terra¡¯s face, which confirmed that there was nothing, gradually became angry. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you leave a full bottle of potion left, Lady¡ª!¡± He groaned and vented his upset heart. It was a strange appearance she had never seen before. The usual feather-like lightness was nowhere to be found. Whoosh! Turning his head, he glared at Blenn as if he were going to kill him with his expression alone. ¡°What did you do? What did you do while my Lady was getting hurt? She took a risk and saved your sister¡ª!¡± But he couldn¡¯t throw out any more angry words. Not because he was scared by Blenn, but because he didn¡¯t help Serdel either. Terra¡¯s face gradually became distorted with self-blame. ¡°¡­.¡± As she was about to call Terra. He turned around first and took a seat on the coach seat. ¡°Hurry up and get in, Lady. We have to hurry to heal the wound.¡± Then he didn¡¯t see Serdel anymore. He felt quite angry about the whole situation. ¡°Lady.¡± Breaking the desolate atmosphere, Blenn opened the door of the carriage. Laura was asleep on the chair, as Terra said. ¡°¡ªHuh?¡± Her cheeks were reddish and plump. For some reason, her dry lips, which had been blue as well as her frizzy tangled hair, were shiny and smooth. Even the damaged toenails on her bare feet were also clean, and the sound of breathing was also stable and soft. If it weren¡¯t for her outfit, she wouldn¡¯t look like someone who was just rescued from such a place. He blanked for a while. Blenn got into the carriage first, lifted the coat that Laura had been covered with, and carefully checked her back through the torn rags. There were no wounds or deep scars or even bruises. Serdel¡¯s head turned to the coachman seat again. ¡°Terra¡ª¡± Not only did he carry Laura all the way here, but he also gave her the two bottles of potions that he had been saving for an emergency. For a brief time, she imagined how Terra would have felt after suppressing his anger while glaring at Blenn. Although Terra didn¡¯t like Blenn, he must have believed that Blenn would come back with Serdel safely and used the emergency potion on Laura. How desperate he must have been to see her condition on her return and knowing he didn¡¯t have the other potions anymore¡ª. Her heart felt heavy when she thought of him, who must have blamed himself for having used the precious and advanced potion on someone other than his master¡ª. ¡°¡ªLady.¡± Blenn, who had put Laura in his arms and arranged the seat, reached out his hand. She had her eyes fixed on the back of Terra¡¯s head, so she couldn¡¯t see his hand, and instead grabbed the door and climbed up. ¡®Ugh¡ª.¡¯ The shriveled, blistered skin on her palm screamed in return. The terrible sensation spread across her entire body, numbing the nape of her neck. Terra slowly began to drive the carriage as she closed the door, suppressing her groans. Serdel leaned her head back, unable to deal with her throbbing palms. ¡°¡ªMake sure to say thank you to Terra for treating your sister. Blenn.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± CH 35 Whoo. Serdel shut her mouth tightly as her breathing became rough. She was only outside for a few hours, but it felt like years had passed. She wanted to go back to her house and rest. Srrk, she was about to close her eyes. ¡°¡ªThank you, Lady. I¡¯ve received great grace that I can¡¯t even pay back with my life.¡± He bowed his head deeply. ¡°Thank you very much. If it wasn¡¯t for Lady, I probably wouldn¡¯t have found my sister. And what would happen to my sister¡ª¡± ¡®I couldn¡¯t promise either.¡¯ Laura too, Blenn too. As of this moment, she was finally able to deviate from the life of the original novel. After abuse and neglect, Laura, who was buried in an unmarked grave, was never found. After searching for traces of his younger sister, Blenn lost hope and finally went to Elbash Forest, where he joined as a mercenary trying to throw away his life. But now there will be no throwing one¡¯s life away. The same may be said about the beast child, who fell asleep soundly in her arms, possibly tired. She has no idea what type of life the child experienced because he never appeared in the original. He must have suffered much if he had been locked in such a place. The lives of numerous people who escaped the slave market have also changed. This alone is quite a twist in the original work. All that¡¯s left in front of her right now is to get the power she wants with the help of Blenn. There is still a long way to go after that, but if she keeps walking like this, she will get closer to the end someday. ¡°By the way.¡± Stealthily reading the air, Blenn carefully asked. ¡°¡ªYou looked quite close to the man earlier¡ª do you know him?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but raise her head and look at him. ¡®Ha¡ª¡¯ How could she have completely forgotten about him? It¡¯s no one but Count Maient. It was ridiculous and she laughed. ¡°¡ªWho is it that you laugh just by thinking about?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my former fiancee.¡± ¡°Former fiancee¡ªThen now¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been broken up, but there¡¯s nothing now. We just met by chance. But why in such a place, tsk.¡± Thanks to this, she received help in the flames, but she was only grateful for an instant. There were too many things that she had endured in the past to continue to have any feelings for him. Why on earth was he there? ¡®Did he like something like that?¡¯ No way. Although he has a vicious side, he was a fairly noble person. He was never the type of person who invested time in such a place. He was someone who considered even bullying a waste of time. It was highly likely that he approached the place with some ulterior purpose like her, not just to enjoy it. ¡®What could that be?¡¯ If it was to find someone among the slaves, he would have found them when there was a riot. ¡°Not doing so means that the slave market itself, or the aristocrats who enjoy visiting there, was his purpose.¡± Who would he be interested in at this time¡ª. ¡®Count Solette?¡¯ Her eyes shone sharply. At that time, the carriage stopped and the door opened quickly as if it had sprung open the moment they arrived. ¡°Lady, please excuse me.¡± Terra, who stretched out his hand, grabbed Serdel¡¯s waist and lowered her before Blenn could even step out. ¡°Excuse me, Lady.¡± When Blenn, who was holding Laura, got off next, Terra, who was hesitant, got back to the coachman¡¯s seat. ¡°I¡¯ll finish hiding the traces of the carriage quickly¡ª because it¡¯s urgent. You can go in and treat Lady first.¡± He spoke firmly with an inappropriately harsh face, but as she looked at him to see if his actions were presumptuous, a smile came out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Terra. And you did a good job.¡± It was a compliment for treating Laura first. Don¡¯t feel guilty because your judgment and decision are not wrong. His closed lips were distorted. ¡°Go and come back.¡± As Serdel nodded, he looked at Blenn for the last time and moved away with the carriage. Silence fell between them. The cool early morning air penetrated through the skin and hit the bones. Whoosh, she got goosebumps around her neck. The two walked slowly, holding Blenn¡¯s sleeping younger sister and the beast child respectively. ¡®It¡¯s cold.¡¯ As she moved her body, her condition got worse and worse. The fever seemed to rise, and she felt so stiff. ¡®It¡¯s so cold. I¡¯m dizzy.¡¯ The aftermath of breathing a lot of bitter smoke was severe nausea. ¡°¡ªAre you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, so please tie your sister¡¯s coat collar properly. Don¡¯t try to put it on me clumsily.¡± Serdel eased his hesitation. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry for being so careless. I should have been helpful, but I didn¡¯t¡ª.¡± It was only natural because this child he had barely met, even though he had received favor from her, was more precious. Besides, didn¡¯t he save her from such a place? ¡°You were helpful enough. Stop being sorry.¡± Despite the sudden order, he did not panic and followed her words well. ¡®I actually did the wrong thing.¡¯ Although she was concerned that there might be an ambush while she was rescuing Laura, she did not pursue a variety in the items she had thought about preparing. If she had a larger amount of higher-level potions. Or if only she didn¡¯t focus on being aggressive and purchased various lower-level scrolls. There would have been no difficulty saving the child, no injury to herself, and no being trapped in flames and helped by Count Maient. ¡®Today¡¯s me was the worst in many ways.¡¯ The excuse that it was unavoidable in the face of unexpected circumstances does not work. Even more so in front of what she did even though she knew that the moment she twisted even one foot, a huge blade would come down on her neck. Unless her ability of foresight simply shows the future like today. In order not to repeat the same mistake again and be ready for the numerous cross-sections of foresight that might unfold in her mind, she had to be more thorough with preparation. ¡°Lady, wait¡­I don¡¯t think I can¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± After walking in thought for a while, Blenn grabbed her and put the coat he had removed from Laura around her shoulders. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been selfish even though I received a lot of grace, I¡¯m sorry for the hesitation. My sister was treated with a potion and is in my arms, so her body temperature won¡¯t drop any further.¡± He added before she could even say it was okay. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good. I¡¯m worried that you¡¯ll faint soon¡ª¡± Hiiing! ¡°Young Lady!¡± For a moment, she thought a thunderbolt had struck next to her. Astonished, she looked ahead to see Count Maient, hastily jumping off a horse. Huck, huck. Running with ragged breathing that would not calm down, he suddenly grabbed Serdel by both shoulders. He used great force. ¡°Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere!¡± His hastily asked questions were ridiculous. His blackened face and clothes were obviously dirty, and the tip of the hair was burnt, so the smell of burning and sweat was mixed and the odor wafted from him. In addition to that, his complexion was so tired and pale even his bright eyes couldn¡¯t make up for it. ¡°¡ªAre you worried about me?¡± It was the first time seeing Count Maient so messy. ¡°Young Lady was kidnapped by a mysterious man in front of me! How can I not worry about this?¡ª Maybe I¡¯m wrong¡ª I think I should let the count know about this¡ª.¡± There was no lie in the trembling voice. However, through his eyes that slowly began to sink when he saw her uninjured body, she could intuit that he had finished his own calculations while ¡®racing¡¯ to this place. His intention is to inform Count Cartal that she has been kidnapped, help her father, and then gain the authority to enter the Elbash Forest again. Unfortunately, she could see everything. So even more. He would be disappointed that she was unharmed. His eyes, rolling around, glancing sneakily, seemed to show his busy mind that was trying to revise his plan. She almost burst into laughter. ¡®Yeah. He was this kind of guy.¡¯ A bad guy who turns another person¡¯s crisis into his own opportunity. The questions he asked were all out of concern for himself. ¡®This bastard.¡¯ ¡°Get out of her way.¡± She was going to say, ¡°I¡¯m okay, so get out of here,¡± but Blenn, who read her unpleasant expression, intervened. Only then did Count Maient¡¯s gaze move slowly as if he had only just noticed Blenn was there. ¡°Take those hands away.¡± Blenn glared at Count Maient, and would have drawn his sword at any moment if he had not been holding his sister. CH 36 ¡°Is he an escort?¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t recognize that Blenn was the man who took her. ¡®Because the fire was so strong.¡¯ Instead, Count Maient¡¯s eyes turned to Laura, who was in Blenn¡¯s arms. His eyes narrowed. He didn¡¯t remember seeing her there, but she must have been a slave from her appearance. Did she pick her up in the meantime? He¡¯s too nosy. She pushed his hand away. Mumbling to himself, he asked slyly. ¡°Since when have you been going to such a place? Have you ever liked such a thing?¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s what the Count really liked, right?¡± Serdel¡¯s voice became cold. ¡°I didn¡¯t go there today to enjoy those ugly scenes! There¡¯s something I needed to find out¡ª¡± As he continued to speak, she bit her lips. She didn¡¯t want to face Count Maient again, who was looking for something else to say trying to explain himself further. ¡°Thank you so much for saving me earlier. If it wasn¡¯t for the Count, I¡¯d probably be hurt more than I am now. You¡¯ve seen that I¡¯m safe, so please stop and go now.¡± ¡°Young Lady¡ª.¡± ¡°Please go.¡± ¡°¡ªOkay. Instead.¡± After releasing his hand on Serdel¡¯s shoulder, he pulled out a higher potion. ¡°I want to keep the promise I made earlier.¡± As soon as she left, she remembered him saying that he would treat her. ¡°I don¡¯t need¡ª¡± He suddenly pulled her hand and poured the potion onto the wound after opening the bottle, all without giving her a chance to refuse. Her teeth grinded at his rough attitude that had no consideration for her. She couldn¡¯t rebel much because she was afraid of dropping the beast child. Her hand, which was ugly with blood and pus, quickly regenerated. Her chills, headaches, and dizziness also subsided. After a while, her hands and stamina returned to their original state without leaving a trace of her earlier exhaustion, but she was not at ease. Because of who was treating her. ¡°I should get going.¡± Count Maient got on his horse again and turned around with a polite farewell. ¡°Giddy up!¡± As quickly as he came, he left. ¡°¡ªAre you okay?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m not okay.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes became dark. Blenn, who was looking at her still, muttered at the end. ¡°Things get worse if you accidentally kill a noble, so should we disguise it as a horse accident and get rid of him?¡± She almost doubted her ears for unexpected words. ¡°You saved me and my sister. If you give me an order, I¡¯ll do anything.¡± Blenn¡¯s eyes were dangerously shiny. She could see that he was serious, not joking at all. ¡°It¡¯s very tempting, but I don¡¯t want to make a big deal right before important family business. I¡¯m more tired than angry, so I hope we can go home and rest soon. Lay Laura down in my bedroom and come out.¡± ¡°¡ªYes, please wait a moment.¡± After flying away and disappearing, Blenn reappeared a few minutes later and carried her into the Count¡¯s House. Serdel, who turned on the light in the dark bedroom, pulled the rope. The maid, who came in after hearing the sound, looked at Serdel¡¯s outfit, Blenn standing close, and Laura lying on the bed, and then blinked blankly. ¡°Call Monem quietly.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. I understand, Lady.¡± Serdel put the beast child down on the sofa first. She took off her coat, hung it on a chair, and carefully sprayed the child with a high-level potion taken out of the drawer. His back, which had been bent from severe abuse, was softened and the wound healed. Purrr. The unstable shaking breath also calmed down. The distorted expression also changed comfortably, and the tip of the child¡¯s mouth went up. Knock, knock. Monem came at the right time. She did not panic when she saw the situation in front of her. ¡°Give me an order, Lady.¡± Instead, she bowed her head and waited for her mouth to open. Serdel pointed to Laura with her hands. ¡°Give the child a guest room, and prepare meals as soon as she wakes up. I¡¯d like you to help with the bath too.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Blenn. Take your sister to the place Monem guides you.¡± He holds Laura again. ¡°¡ªThank you so much for today. I¡¯ll give you a formal greeting again in the morning.¡± The three left, and the door was closed. Taak. As if to indicate that the long night¡¯s schedule was over, silence wrapped her up alone. ***** Blenn opened his eyes as usual and raised his head. As if it was already bright, the sunlight pouring through the large window was warm. He was only sitting on a chair for a little while, but that short break was very nice. Thanks to this, the exhausted body, feeling, and even mind were clear. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I felt this.¡± The nerves that always stood there for him were released, and the hard corners of his eyes and lips also softened. Whoosh, he turned his eyes. Her sister was sleeping on the bed. She was no longer in rags, as the old maid named Monem had changed her into white pajamas. The younger sister, who looked clean with no scars, seemed very peaceful. Sweet enough to create the illusion of going back in time to before when they lost everything. ¡°I thought it was a sight I would never see again¡ª¡± It was all thanks to Serdel. As he thought about it, he stroked Laura¡¯s small hand. What if he coudln¡¯t find his sister after following Serdel all the way to the slavery market? Then what would he have done? All sorts of thoughts came to mind. On the other hand, the aspects of the place they arrived at was so different from the slavery market he had been searching for. The desire to not see her here and the feeling of wanting to see each other crossed. Frankly, he was afraid when he walked through a magical maze-like situation. Then he got emotional when he saw Laura through the bars. His eyes, which were always full of confidence, were shaken severely by anxiety, so he couldn¡¯t even look straight ahead. Just as his feelings gradually dried up, his younger sister also completely lost her former appearance. Perhaps he was terribly heartbroken by the obvious fact. He wanted to save her right away. In an instant, his mind became so simple that he forgot Serdel¡¯s position and his promises to her. If Serdel hadn¡¯t covered him with her body, he¡¯d be caught crying by the mouse masked guide. And he would have probably lost his rationality too. ¡®She was determined.¡¯ Where did such determination come from with such a small body? Even though she was quietly angry, she was very calm. Is that all? After helping him save his sister safely, she even saved another while in the middle of all of that chaos. He had a gut feeling from the first time he met her that she was different from an ordinary Young Lady. Even though she was doing something that might put her and her family in danger, he didn¡¯t feel even the slightest bit of fear from her. The strength of her determination was dazzling. Even when asked if she really believed in him, Serdel didn¡¯t hesitate to answer. ¡°I trust you. Blenn, I believe in you.¡± It was the first time since the death of his parents and older brother that he had heard such a confident answer from anyone. He was wandering on the street for a long time. It¡¯s so pathetic that he couldn¡¯t find his sister, even he lost faith in himself. How can she say that? Her eyes, voice, expression, and atmosphere were engraved in his mind. He almost shed tears at the sight of her unwavering gaze. For her to be like that¡ª perhaps she told a lie that she shouldn¡¯t have told. As soon as his fist was about to gain strength, ¡°B.. Brother?¡± Perhaps she opened her eyes before he knew it, but Laura was staring blankly at him. ¡°Are you awake! How¡¯s your body? No pain anywhere?¡± ¡°Ack¡ª! I, is it not a dream? T, this is really brother? Ha, Haha¡ª I, I was scared that everyone would disappear like a mirage when I opened my eyes¡ª.¡± She, who raised her body, stroked Blenn¡¯s face as if she were trying to confirm it was reality. Through the warmth of his cheek she felt her feelings surge. ¡°I, I can¡¯t believe it¡ª¡± Her gaze turned this time to the silver hair dyed with magic. ¡°T, the original hair color was prettier but¡ª¡± The not-so-soft silver hair slipped through between her thin fingers. She touched it and stroked it for a while. ¡°¡ªI, I can¡¯t believe it¡ª B, brother too¡ª I, I thought it was wrong then. I, I thought I was the only survivor, and it was so painful and so lonely.¡± Blenn lowered his head. He had to say something, but his mouth didn¡¯t open well. When he saw his sister stuttering in the slave market, he thought she was just surprised by the sudden situation¡ª. But since when¡ª. He clenched his teeth so as not to cry out from the pain. CH 37 ¡°I, is my brother also in pain and lonely? D, did you tried to find me? H, haven¡¯t you forgotten me?¡± A vein popped over the back of the hand. ¡°I, I¡¯ve always missed you. I, I never forgot you, even in my dreams¡ª!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been¡ª looking for you for a long time. I¡¯ve never forgotten you for a moment.¡± Regret filled his suppressed voice, which he barely squeezed. The expression on his face, which had raised his head with courage, collapsed in an instant. This time, he reached out and wiped the tears from his sister¡¯s eyes. Last night, there was no time to even share their feelings with each other. The somewhat dazed mind has vanished, and they are now properly facing each other. The chest has become tightened due to a variety of emotions. Laura closed her lips once and opened it again, letting out a grudge. ¡°B, but why are you finding me so late? I, I thought I was going to die. I, I was so lonely¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t realize it wasn¡¯t a true grudge, but rather a complaint mixed with loneliness. Blenn hugged his younger sister. ¡°Heuk¡ª I, I missed you. I, I missed you so much. I , I missed you so much. My brother didn¡¯t die back then. I¡¯m really glad that you¡¯re safe¡ª Heuk.¡± ¡°¡ªThank you for surviving.¡± For holding out without dying. Tears eventually flowed from Blenn¡¯s eyes. He¡¯s not strangely alone, unlike when he endured hoping to find his family somewhere. His sister was standing in front of him, and when he realized he wasn¡¯t truly alone, his heart, which had been empty like a dry well, began to fill up. Blenn continued to rub her back until Laura calmed down. After that, he explained the situation. On the other hand, Laura didn¡¯t even talk deeply. Even though he had vomited up what he had done and the humiliation he had through, it is obvious that both the speaker and the listener suffer from each other. It was comforting only to know that Blenn missed her every day and found her. Knock, knock. After a long conversation, they were looking at each other once again, and then the maids came in. ¡°I thought that you¡¯re awake, so I¡¯ve prepared a meal.¡± Blenn hurriedly turned around to take a look. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside, so if you need anything, please let me know.¡± A table was set up, and the maids gently stepped away so that the two of them didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable. ¡°¡­.¡± Looking at Blenn, who covered half of his face with his hand, Laura grabbed his collar. ¡°B, brother. T, The food looks so delicious. I, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Laura smiled brightly, trying to break the subdued atmosphere. ¡°B, brother. E, eat quickly before it cools down. I, It¡¯s been a long time since we ate while looking at our faces.¡± Laura, who got out of bed, grabbed Blenn and dragged him. As soon as she sat down, she looked around and picked up her spoon carefully. ¡°I, it¡¯s good! I, it¡¯s really good!¡± With a gentle shudder, she forcibly put the spoon in Blenn¡¯s hand. At some point, the speed increased greatly. She went more than what she used to do to calm her cries, and she fell in love with the food. At one time, there was no etiquette that had been learned in the body as the Young Lady of the noble family. She grabbed the bowl and drank the soup, and finally she started to tear the meat with her hands. ¡°B, brother. Y, you have to eat quickly. If you don¡¯t eat it when you can, you might lose it¡ª¡± She stopped. Her movement, which had been pushing her cheeks into fullness, stopped. With her head up, she looked at her dirty hands and the current situation. Laura¡¯s eyes were soon stained with pain. What does this mean? In front of her brother, she show something he shouldn¡¯t see. She has lost even the most modest appearance to protect because she has lived a life of abuse to the point where receiving a proper slice of bread is sometimes a luxury. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry¡ª¡± With embarrassment and shame, she was about to burst into tears again. Blenn moved his spoon away, wiping her oily lips with his hand. Then he also picked up the plate and drank the soup. He picked up the bread and meat with his hands and ate them with excitement. Usually, he didn¡¯t feel the taste no matter what he ate. But it was different now. The soup was soft, the bread was savory, and the meat was juicy, so the tongue was pleasant. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Very much.¡± Because he had his younger sister, his appetite seemed to have been revived. ¡°¡­.¡± Blenn¡¯s smile was like a painting, and Laura¡¯s mouth, which had stopped, moved slowly. Although they are two people who have completely moved away from the life of the nobility. Although it has lost its value. That doesn¡¯t mean that this moment is disappointing or not precious. Whatever they look like, whatever they do. For Blenn, Laura was the only family he had to protect, even at the risk of his life. He put the food on her empty plate. ¡°Eat a lot.¡± ¡°¡ªT, thank you, b, brother¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The answer to the indifferent voice was short, but it was not unusual, so the anxiety subsided. Her mind gradually became comfortable. The speed of eating also naturally decreased, and when she had more time, she could see the surroundings. A sparkling chandelier. A soft carpet that wraps around your toes. Fancy beds and furniture. Even a large window full of warm sunlight. There was nothing that wasn¡¯t beautiful. It was peaceful outside, so all the dirty days are now a thing of the past. She doesn¡¯t have to be afraid anymore. It seemed to tell her carefully. Ah, this is a safe place. Her eyes sparkle like a child. One person¡¯s touch quickly changed her life, which was a mess. ¡°¡ªB, brother. I, I want to say something to Lady. I, I want to say thank you for saving me. I, I want to say it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He wanted to say it himself. Thank you for saving his sister and himself in hell that seemed to be impossible to escape forever. ¡°A, and I want to repay the favor. There¡¯s nothing I can do, so it won¡¯t be of much use¡ª but if you allow it, I definitely want to repay the favor.¡± Blenn nodded. ¡°Uh¡ª Well, but if you don¡¯t need it¡ª.¡± Laura¡¯s shoulders, which were fiddling with his fingers, lost strength. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s a good person, so she¡¯ll accept your heart.¡± ¡°R, really? H, hehehe¡ª¡± Laura¡¯s cheeks turned red. ¡°Y, you know, Brother. M, maybe God was wise when the anxious Lady hugged me there. T, that¡¯s what I thought for a moment. It was very warm. T, to the point where I don¡¯t want to fall.¡± Of course, being a slave is dirty. Rather than scolding her, she asked for her name, and she was the first person to take off her clothes she was wearing for her. She was also the only one who wiped her face with a clean towel. Her hand was very soft, and she could feel the unwavering calmness in her strong eyes looking at her. ¡°I, I¡¯m so glad that my brother met the Lady.¡± Blenn must have received her warmth too. An awkward line was drawn on Laura¡¯s lips. The muscles of the face, which had been stiff because there was nothing to show, trembled. She raised her hand and touched it to see if it was strange, but she was worried because she couldn¡¯t figure it out. And for a moment. In Blenn¡¯s beautiful smile that imitates herself, she stopped losing her mind. At the same time, she was relieved. Because he was smiling properly. Because her brother doesn¡¯t lose his smile. She was happy. Lick, lick, lick. (??, ??, ??) ¡®It tickles¡ª¡¯ Her eyes opened automatically due to the wetness that touched her cheek. ¡®Uh, when did I fall asleep.¡¯ When she lifted her heavy head while pressing down her eyes, the baby beast turned into a pink fox and stared at her. [I didn¡¯t mean to wake you up¡ª but I¡¯m so happy hehehe.] ¡°Looking at you smiling brightly, it looks like it¡¯s worth living for now. It¡¯s a relief.¡± She patted the boy¡¯s head with one hand. The fur was soft and glossy even though he couldn¡¯t wash at all because he was trapped. It didn¡¯t smell either. Serdel¡¯s touch turned his cheeks red because he was happy. It¡¯s not even a cat. Softly. It was cute to wag her tail leisurely. CH 38 ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Her question stopped the moving tail. [I don¡¯t have a name¡ª We often die shortly after birth, therefore we can get our names from our parents after three months. But when I was three months old, my mother and father were being hunted, so everyone simply called me No. 5.] ¡°Hunted?¡± [My father was a warrior of the clan, but he died at the hands of the challengers. Because a warrior is in a position that only the strongest beasts can climb, there are frequent fights.] His eyes became gloomy. [The village chief said that if you are weak, you will fall behind. If you are not strong, you can¡¯t survive in the group. So he grabbed my neck and told me to look straight ahead. I didn¡¯t want to see it because I was scared¡ª] As expected. As she might have guessed, after being pushed out of the group, it seemed that he was trapped in such a place. Serdel wiped away the tears around his eyes. He¡¯s still a kid. It was sad to see him like this. ¡°Do you want me to give you a name?¡± He raised his head immediately. [My name! I want a name, too!] ¡®What will be okay? I¡¯m also worried about my naming sense.¡¯ However, she couldn¡¯t continue to call him a beast child. Most of all, she didn¡¯t want to pretend that she didn¡¯t know, even after hearing his pain. Uhm. After thinking for a while, his eyes gradually twinkled as expected. ¡°Dell. How about Dell?¡± In the end, she took off the last character of her name and pasted it. This was the best for her poor sense theory. [Dell, Dell¡ª] She felt a little guilty at his look of curiosity, like he was asking about what it meant. ¡°Because my name is Serdel you know¡ª¡± [Wow! Then, did I get my sister¡¯s name?] She was worried that he might be disappointed, but he was rather happy. His tail also kept moving like it had a motor on it. It was then. {You have a chance to become the owner by distributing part of your name to the Tawl Wolf baby beast} {Will you make an imprint on your souls?} {¡ú To make an imprint, press the baby Beast¡¯s forehead and call his name.} Serdel¡¯s mouth slightly opened. It was also the first time encountering this type of status window. When she woke up after losing consciousness for a week before, she saw something similar to this status window. ¡®It disappeared so quickly that I couldn¡¯t check the contents.¡¯ Despite being stuck in the game. Perhaps because she possessed a low leveled extra character, there has never been a system prompt like this before. But if she looked at the status window again there it was, ¡®As expected, is it different because it¡¯s the second round?¡¯ No. She doesn¡¯t feel she should think that way anymore. ¡®It¡¯s not that I¡¯m lucky enough to have this happen.¡¯ Looking at it closely, she did nothing in the past. Except for being dragged around by Count Maient, she didn¡¯t even think about making new connections or twisting her original path. ¡®There was nothing special enough to bring up the status window¡ª.¡¯ So it¡¯s only natural that she had no buffs. Her tongue was cold for a little moment. ¡®There¡¯s no time to space out.¡¯ The status window could have disappeared unexpectedly like last time. In a hurry, she gently swept the child¡¯s forehead with her thumb and pressed down. ¡°Dell. From now on, your name is Dell.¡± At the same time, the energy emanating from the status window flowed between Dell and herself. {Share your name with the young beast of the Tawl Wolf tribe. The two souls are imprinted on each other and the minds are connected.} As the content of the status window changed, Dell¡¯s past memories and emotional state flowed into her mind. The child¡¯s life was more heartbreaking than what she heard from him earlier. [I¡¯m glad Sister found me. I¡¯m really glad that Sister is a good person. Hehe.] Her mouth was dry. The boy hugged Serdel¡¯s neck with his short furred arms. [Dell won¡¯t be lonely anymore. Sister feels the same way, right? Ehe. I feel like I¡¯ve gotten really close to Sister.] She gently rubbed the little boy¡¯s back. Dell, who had buried his head in the nape of her neck for a while, lifted his body even more into Serdel¡¯s lap. [Uh-huh, please wait two years. When I¡¯m 3 years old, I¡¯ll be much bigger than I am now, right? Then I will keep you safe. Sister¡ª um, so that you don¡¯t get sick!] I will protect you even now! With his nose raised high and his chest sticking out, his bold aspiration was more cute than cool. [Trust me!] ¡°Yeah. Thank you.¡± [Hehehehe.] Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. As soon as the laughter was about to grow, his expression became sullen as a loud sound came from his stomach. ¡°¡ªDell is hungry¡ª¡± The boy who squatted around and looked up at Serdel with a pitiful expression on his vulpine face. [I haven¡¯t had a sip of water for a few days¡ª I¡¯m very hungry¡ª.] Dell hesitated and licked the back of Serdel¡¯s hand with his rough tongue. [Please give me food, Sister] As soon as she pulled the rope, a maid who was waiting came in. ¡°Yes, lady. Shall I prepare some water for you to wash?¡± ¡°Rather than that, I¡¯d rather you bring this child¡¯s food first.¡± ¡°Uh, um. Is dog food enough?¡± [Fool. I¡¯m not a puppy. I like meat more¡ª.] The maid glanced at Dell, who was whining. In the form of an animal, other people could not understand the language of the beast unless the owner or the subject permitted it. So, to her ears, the sound of Dell¡¯s words will just be heard as an animal¡¯s cry. ¡°Ah¡ª you must not like that. I¡¯ll prepare meat.¡± Nevertheless, the quick-witted maid noticed Dell¡¯s dissatisfaction at once. Dell gently wagged his tail as a sign of thanks. ¡°Oh my, so cute! Lady, can I touch him just once?¡± At Serdel¡¯s lack of reaction either way the maid stretched out her hand, swallowing saliva. Just as she was about to touch the boy¡¯s head, swish! Dell avoided it. ¡°Aah!¡± [Hng!] The boy with his butt raised proudly jumped into Serdel¡¯s arms. He then poked her hand with his nose and lifted it above his head. In Serdel¡¯s still palm, the guy shook his head vigorously. As if to show that the only person who can touch him is his owner. ¡°I guess he knows the Lady saved him! He follows you very well. Oh! Look at me, I should prepare it right away. Lady, are you going to eat too?¡± ¡°Hmm. Prepare it together.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± [Give me a lot of meat. A lot.] ¡°Get plenty ready.¡± ****** Chop, chop, chop, chop. ¡°Wow¡ª he eats a lot. He¡¯s as small as a baby, but it¡¯s like a bear jumping out of a mountain is eating.¡± The maid burst into exclamations as she watched Dell eat the food in a hectic way. Serdel even put her own food in front of Dell. Somehow, she felt more sorry for him because he¡¯s eating so well. ¡°¡ªOh my God. That¡¯s enough meat for ten people¡ª what¡¯s in that little tummy?¡± Suddenly, the maid bowed to the side and looked at Dell¡¯s belly. ¡°Lady, I think we should stop feeding him now. I¡¯m worried that his stomach might pop out so much that it might explode.¡± Awng, awng! Dell¡¯s inhalation speed has become faster. ¡°There¡¯s not much left anyway, so let it go.¡± The digestibility of the beast¡¯s tribe was not comparable to that of ordinary beasts. It will probably be digested before he even gets an upset stomach. Serdel sat down at the desk, wiping her mouth lightly with a napkin. Looking out the window, the sun was shining bright enough to be blinding. She pulled out a piece of paper and a bottle of high level ink from a drawer, gathered her thoughts, and picked up a quill. Khkk! In the meantime, after he had finished eating Dell, who couldn¡¯t control his stomach which had had too much, was laying flat on his back. ¡°Oh, are you okay? Your stomach got bigger like a mountain. I don¡¯t think you need to eat for a few days.¡± Smiling, the maid stretched out her finger. Taak! Dell hit it right away. Of course, he didn¡¯t put his nails out or use much strength in fear of being scolded by Serdel. Chuckling at his weak rebellion, the maid took a small apple out of her apron. ¡°You ate like that, but you have no energy. Where did everything you ate go¡ª Oh, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t make fun of you. Eat this.¡± While Dell quietly chewed an apple, she piled up the many empty plates on the trolley. ¡°Lady, I¡¯ll get going now.¡± ¡°Can you call Terra on your way back?¡± ¡°Yes, I will, Lady.¡± About 10 minutes have passed since then. As she was putting the finished letter in an envelope and sealing it with sealing wax, Terra rushed in. CH 39 ¡°I heard you called¡ª!¡± His gaze hurriedly looked at Serdel¡¯s hand. Her clean and uninjured hands eased the hardened expression on his face. She could tell by looking into his two wide eyes that he was finally breathing easy. ¡°I took care of the carriage well. When I came back to the mansion, it was too late and I thought you¡¯d want to rest or¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Terra.¡± Serdel gave him a letter and a bottle of potion. ¡°Would you mind doing some additional work for me? Take this to Count Maient¡¯s mansion and give it to him.¡± ¡°¡ªHuh? W, why this is¡ª¡± ¡°I got help for something against my will. I wanted to get rid of this debt quickly.¡± Terra¡¯s forehead hardened. Not knowing the detailed circumstances, he couldn¡¯t understand what Serdel was saying. But this was the first real task she had given him even if she didn¡¯t tell him all the details. He had no choice but to be uneasy because it was a problem involving Count Maient and no one else. ¡°¡ªDo I have to get an answer?¡±¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to.¡± When she gets an answer, she has to give another answer. She didn¡¯t want to create a troublesome situation with that man. ¡°Anyway, if that person says something useless, you don¡¯t need to listen, this is the end of our correspondence, just say there¡¯s nothing left between us and¡ª¡± Serdel opened a drawer and pulled out three more bottles of potions. ¡°This is your gift.¡± Terra¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°Thank you, Lady. I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± He felt flustered like last time but didn¡¯t say he was going to give it to Siri unconditionally. Instead, he just quietly put it in his waist bag. ¡°I will go now.¡± ¡°Terra.¡± He turned around and stopped. ¡°I want to say it once again, it was a good decision to treat Laura in that situation.¡± ¡°But Lady, you were hurt.¡± Before Serdel could say anything, he continued. ¡°Until today, I had never imagined myself as a servant to the Count. However, it was a lot of fun and pleasure to work with Lady through Siri. I was relieved that I seemed to have changed into a person you can use.¡± ¡°Terra.¡± ¡°It was terrifying not being able to look ahead even an inch when I saw the Lady¡¯s wounds. If it was your life that was at risk, not your hands¡ª¡± His voice was full of fear. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± In the silence where Terra went out and fell, somehow she felt neglected. His serious demeanor, which was usually always smiling and throwing stupid jokes, seemed to show his wounded heart openly. Her mind felt complicated. At the same time, Addis and Redan came to mind. In front of the carefully constructed plan she had created to gain the power of Radun in Elbash Forest, there were two people who could be seriously hurt, just like Terra. She wondered why. ****** ¡°I guess that¡¯s what the Count really liked, right?¡± Taak! Count Maient, who was looking at the documents, nervously put down his fountain pen and swept his hair roughly. ¡°Thank you so much for saving me earlier. If it wasn¡¯t for the Count, I would probably have been hurt more than I am now. You saw that I was safe, so please leave now.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± After they had parted like that somehow what she said didn¡¯t leave his mind. It was annoying to miss out on a chance to step in on the development of the Elbash Forest, but rather than that, he was more upset by her cold eyes toward him. ¡°Who do you think saved you from the flames!¡± Bang! Isn¡¯t he, after all, her lifesaver? But that facial expression and attitude! ¡°Since the last time¡ª!¡± Tsk! Although he was the first to speak of breaking up, Serdel had changed as if she had become a different person since that day. Her image, which used to always be unstable and anxious due to her obvious lack of self-esteem, came to him from out of nowhere and boldly demanded his attention. Even in front of uncomfortable company she does not feel discouraged and can change the atmosphere as she wishes. As a result, all of his original plans to use the broken marriage as a weapon and swing the situation as he desired were ruined. ¡®If it went as expected, she should¡¯ve hung on to me to the point where it was ugly.¡¯ If so, the Count¡¯s honor would have been tarnished. All issues, including the cause of the breakup, would have been focused on her. He was going to use that to continue his business. ¡®Nothing¡¯s going well.¡¯ Bit his lips, he nervously swept his face. No matter how much he thinks about the past. Instead, he recalled Serdel at the slave market. ¡®How did she know of a place that I wouldn¡¯t have even known of if I hadn¡¯t followed Count Sollette?¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t think she went because she liked it.¡± No matter how different she has become, she¡¯s not a person with a bad enough personality to enjoy such things. There must be another reason. But what could it be? Hmm. With a stuffy sigh, he pondered leisurely while tapping his fingers on his desk. ¡°Master. Count Robbesta has sent someone.¡± ¡°Bring him here now.¡± Moments later, a young man in leather armor stood in front of him. His face had a look a bit too fierce to be called a knight, and the air that he spewed out was also unorganized, so he seemed to be a servant. It was ridiculous that she had sent a servant who was not even a knight to deliver a message to him. ¡°Greetings to Count Maient.¡± ¡°Ha¡ª¡± ¡°The Lady said thank you and told me to give this to you.¡± Even though the count burst into astonished and mildly offended laughter, Terra calmly took the potion out of his arms and held it out. ¡°Is this all?¡± Terra gave him the letter only then. ¡°Did you know that the letters and potions you brought were not exchanged for no reason?¡± The count asked, trying to bait Terra into assuming he and Serdel still had a vague relationship. When Terra found an answer to the question that was satisfying, he raised his head and opened his mouth first. ¡°You know. That means you were there with the Young Lady. But why don¡¯t I remember you?¡± Count Maient¡¯s eyes became quite sharp as his gaze settled on Terra. ¡°Ah, did she take you as a horseman? Because it wasn¡¯t close by of course, she required someone to drive the carriage. But then what happened shouldn¡¯t have happened unless¡ª Oh, because you went outside with the slave she picked up first?¡± Mumbling to himself, the count began to tap the desk with his fingers again. His mouth suddenly twisted. He wasn¡¯t the only one who wasn¡¯t to be seen. Now that he thinks about it, the escort he encountered near the Count¡¯s mansion was not there at that time either. After sending out the slave, the servant and the escort first, why did she remain there alone? Everyone runs away in surprise from a sudden situation. ¡®Only the Young Lady jumped into a deadly situation.¡¯ When he saw her returning to the place where everyone had fled, he wondered if she was unaware of the commotion, but there was no way she could not have felt the chaotic atmosphere. Moreover, there was no hesitation in her steps. As if her purpose was there. ¡°The Lady.¡± At the same time as his thoughts subsided, a voice filled with heavy power flowed from Terra. ¡°She said there¡¯s nothing left between her and the Count. So she asked me to tell you that she doesn¡¯t want to get involved with you anymore.¡± Terra, who deliberately added words that Serdel had not brought up, bowed his head. ¡°Then I should get going.¡± Terra, who turned his body to leave even before permission was granted, left the office. Taak. Count Maient¡¯s forehead narrowed as the door closed and he was left alone. ¡°Master and servant, all of them are arrogant!¡± He was irritated that a long-running thought had been cut short by an interruption. While pressing his temple, he took the letter he left on the desk. He opened it and looked at the contents first. What will it say¡ª? [I didn¡¯t want it, but I appreciate your help anyway.] From the beginning, his forehead was frowned. ¡°Your manners used to be rolled in soup. Ha.¡± (t/n : I¡¯m not sure what this means ;; e/n: maybe it means watered down like adding water to a salty soup haha) [Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve never run into the Count. And that the Count has never seen me either. There¡¯s nothing good about going to such a low-quality place, right?] ¡°What is this¡ª!¡± The style of writing was frivolous as if she were addressing a fly, and there was even a strange subtle threat that scratched his nerves. His eyes read quickly. [Anyway, if you¡¯re thinking about using this position and getting into forest development, you should give up. You can¡¯t be caught following Count Sollette, can you? Wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous if he knew that you¡¯re also trying to exploit him to take over Count Deriens¡¯ business? I hope you don¡¯t continue to irritate me. Otherwise, you¡¯ll find out just how much I know about the Count. My consideration ends here.] CH 40 Crush! After crumpling the letter mercilessly, Crack, crack, crack! He slammed his fists onto the desk one after the other. His face was flushed with anger, and his head felt like it was going to explode. ¡®How does she know?¡¯ The work was being done secretly with only three trusted vassals in order to swallow up the existing shadow business. It¡¯s such a dangerous job, so he makes sure that there¡¯s no chance for betrayal. They even acted as each other¡¯s watchers. There must be no traitor, but where the hell did it leak out from? ¡®Or maybe she followed him.¡¯ But since when? Crack, crack. ¡®What should I do? What to do¡ª¡¯ Just in case, he re-opened the crumpled letter. However, no other content was written. ¡°Damn it, Serdel Robbesta¡ª!¡± Once his fiancee, she is now his complete enemy. When he thought she was a naive woman, he was mistaken. ¡°Clever¡ª!¡± It was then. A red stick appeared in front of him as he clenched his hands. Was it an illusion from the heat and stress? He shook his head once, but it didn¡¯t go away. He thought that it would be best to calm down first. He pressed firmly around his eyes as he sat in the chair. Then how long has it been? Unable to bear the feeling of silence, he opened his eyes again, pulled the stick, and looked straight ahead. ¡°¡­.¡± The red stick, which should have disappeared, was still floating there. ¡°Did you call for me, Master?¡± He had forgotten his original purpose of asking for a cup of tea. His mouth opened blankly. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°¡ªDo you see something here, right here?¡± he said pointing at the string. The butler followed his finger. All he could see was air. Looking at the butler who didn¡¯t answer but looked around, Count Meiant closed his eyes several times and opened his eyes. Still, a red stick came into view. In addition, the size of the stick was smaller than before. Badump! As if responding to it, his heart began to beat like crazy, and anxiety struck him. It was fear. A kind of feeling he has never felt before. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master? You don¡¯t look very good.¡± He couldn¡¯t hear what the butler said. Cold sweat flowed down his forehead. For some reason, he felt like his airway was being cut off. The rolled fists trembled, and swallowed despite his dry mouth. ¡°I¡ª need to rest, so go out.¡± ¡°Yes, then¡ª¡± ¡°No, wait.¡± He can¡¯t afford to rest. He looked away from the red stick and said, ¡°Go and call Tom Jellens.¡± First of all, he had to find where the leak in information was. ****** ¡®He probably read the letter by now, right?¡¯ It must be quite embarrassing. On the other hand, he will be angry. ¡®As time goes by, he¡¯ll feel anxious.¡¯ Rather than acting carelessly like before he¡¯ll be cautious and quiet now. ¡®Where did the leak come from, and was any more information leaked to anyone other than me? He¡¯ll be kept busy for a while just looking for it.¡¯ ¡®The moment you get caught by Count Derriens, it¡¯ll be over.¡¯ He was quite a successful person in the dark business. He was even called the ¡°King of the Dark World¡± at one point. Illegal arenas, gambling houses, pubs, etc. Count Derriens¡¯ shady businesses were overflowing with people who enjoyed debauchery. That¡¯s why, even if his reputation fell to the bottom, instead of trying to repent he would become more enthusiastic. His behavior became even more boldly rotten with the development of new drugs. Serdel recalled Count Sollette, who was shouting at her to give up on buying slaves in the slave market. He usually pretends to be a good person and externally despised Count Derriens. But his inner thoughts were completely different. He sold a medicinal herb called Hilless, grown only in his estate, to Count Derriens in large quantities to secure funds. Hilless was a medicinal herb that made people have powerful hallucinations even in small quantities. Of course, the mind returns with time but addiction was possible even though it did not totally destroy the mind. ¡®It¡¯s not totally safe either.¡¯ The side effects of the drug were generally mild until a sudden severe, usually fatal, illness when enough of the drug had built up in the addicted person¡¯s system. This was no problem for the wealthy since aristocrats could drive out the drug each time with expensive potions, but commoners who didn¡¯t have such funds probably handled it quietly before addiction took over and the final onset of symptoms ended their life. Few people knew this outcome. If only the eldest son of Count Sollette had not conspired to cause an accident in the original story so he could rise to his fathers position. ¡®Perhaps¡­I didn¡¯t know either.¡¯ In the end, Count Maient went to the slave house and followed Count Sollette in order to investigate the close relationship between him and Count Derriens and secure potential blackmail and weaknesses. ¡®What should I do? If everything goes as planned, the shadow business will fall into the hands of Count Maient within a few months.¡¯ Based on that, in the past, Count Robbesta had been pressured to extort the right to trade in minerals. ¡®For once, I don¡¯t need to concentrate on forest development¡ª.¡¯ Count Maient will surely covet the trading rights and the route through the forest. In addition, as soon as the threat became less severe as outrage died down, there was a high probability that he would get into the slavery trade. They had to catch up before being attacked themselves. ¡®I have to stop him from swallowing Count Derriens¡¯ business.¡¯ However, she could not help Count Derriens, who was no different from him. ¡®There is only one answer¡ªis my biggest issue is that I don¡¯t have any allies?¡¯ She gasped lightly at her own realization. Knock knock. ¡°Lady, this is Monem.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Despite all the stress, she was thirsty and was glad to see her maid carrying in tea. ¡°The weather is nice, so I prepared a tea that suits it.¡± With a smile, the maid put down black tea and dessert in front of Serdel. She definitely had good sense. ¡°How about Blenn and Laura? Are they eating well? What are they doing right now?¡± ¡°After breakfast, they fell asleep again.¡± ¡°Both of them?¡± ¡°Yes, both of them. As soon as they put down their spoons, they fell asleep. Blenn sat in a chair and fell asleep with his arms folded, and he somehow put the sword he always wore the whole time on the floor.¡± Because of Blenn¡¯s personality, she thought he¡¯d come to find her right away. While she was surprised that he didn¡¯t, she thought it was fortunate since it meant that he had gained enough stability to have allowed his weapon to leave his arms and go into a deep sleep. ¡°Make sure they eat well when they wake up.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. And Lady. I have something to report.¡± Serdel¡¯s movement of raising the teacup to her lips stopped. ¡°I found out more information about the maid Rudella.¡± She continued saying that she knew a maid who wanted to retire at the same time as she got married. Serdel, who ordered a background investigation on anyone wanting to leave suddenly, listened carefully. ¡°As the Lady said, I think she wanted to retire in order to collect a large sum of money. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t need money because she was in debt or involved in some odd situation. Do you remember when she said her husband worked at the Robbins Mercenary?¡± ¡°I remember.¡± ¡°It turns out that there was a competition for a promotion. Her husband was a person with a good reputation for being sincere, but he was pushed out of the competition for management.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°It seems he¡¯s working hard to hold on, but the atmosphere among his competitors isn¡¯t improving, therefore it¡¯s been reported that he¡¯s talked with the owner and decided to eventually quit.¡± The upper part of the staff worked in a very systematic way. Above the regular staff, there were floor managers who were in charge of each floor, above them were general managers who looked after them all, and there were a few non-managers who received reports and above everyone an owner who had the right to approve or disapprove all decisions. Perhaps the position where they were competing for this time was the general manager role. ¡®If you lose in the power game for a high position, the loser has nowhere to go.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s a pity that his competitor was the brother of the leader. It probably wasn¡¯t fair.¡± ¡°In the first place, it was a game he had no option but to lose. That¡¯s why he was considering settling with the highest severance compensation.¡± Serdel said, sipping more tea. ¡°It seems to be better.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± Serdel sighed as she put her tea down and looked out the window. This was the system. Despite the fact that both of them worked in jobs that paid well for common people, they couldn¡¯t find a suitable place. CH 41 ¡°I don¡¯t know if they will leave the estate. But it will be more difficult for two people who have been in one place for a long time to settle in another place.¡± It requires more initial cash, and if they are in a hurry, they may simply forget about the money and leave. Furthermore, Rudella has been working as a maid in the County for quite some time. People will approach her in order to obtain information in some way. ¡®She¡¯s going to sign an agreement and leave, so she¡¯ll keep her mouth shut at first.¡¯ However, if the situation was difficult, it was impossible to guarantee her silence. This was not a matter of loyalty, but a matter of survival. ¡®How much does the maid know about anything important?¡¯ The inner layout of the mansion, where documents are collected, or who does what and when. Just by exposing things unknown to the outside, it was dangerous now that she was about to start a big business. She has been thinking about it for a while. ¡°Then, shall we put the resignation of Rudella on hold for a while?¡± ¡°Just proceed with it.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± How long has it been since she left? ¡®Maybe this is an opportunity for me to surround myself with the allies I clearly lack.¡¯ Furthermore, it may be the perfect time to build a foundation outside. Serdel, who had cleared her complicated head, looked at her maid still waiting on her and asked. ¡°What about Monem? Is she outside?¡± ¡°No. She has gone to the Master. Is there anything I need to do quietly, Lady?¡± As if she had been aware of the strange air current between Monem and Serdel, the maid immediately lowered her voice. ¡°Do you know where Rudella is?¡± ¡°Rudella? Well¡ª. She¡¯s probably in the indoor garden at this hour.¡± ¡®Probably?¡¯ Serdel immediately left the bedroom led by the maid. ¡°What does she do in the indoor garden? Is that where she usually works?¡± ¡°Oh, Ru is good at raising plants and works as a kitchen assistant for about an hour or two in the morning, and works in the annexes, warehouses, and indoor gardens in the afternoon.¡± ¡®Hoo.¡¯ ¡°Strangely, even the dying flowers come back to life with just the touch of Ru¡¯s hand. Besides, she has great senses and makes pretty good ornaments. Sometimes she works in the tailor¡¯s office on the days when the Knights have a lot of repairs.¡± Since a maid¡¯s work is quite subdivided, they usually only work within a set area, but Rudella seemed to be called here and there since she had good talent. ¡°This headband that I¡¯m wearing was also given to me by Ru. When she gets scraps of cloth, she always makes something and gives it to the maids around her.¡± ¡°She must have a good personality.¡± ¡°She likes to take care of people, she¡¯s loyal, and she¡¯s a good friend that I rely on.¡± The maid¡¯s face was full of pride for her colleague. ¡°But it¡¯s too bad that she¡¯s quitting.¡± ¡°Do you know why she really wants to quit? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s because of marriage.¡± ¡°She said she wanted to take a break and do other things. I¡¯m not sure what she¡¯s going to do. But, since she¡¯s good with her hands, wouldn¡¯t she work in a workshop or a flower shop?¡± ¡®It seems that she knows how to build a reputation and is very careful.¡¯ ¡°Ah, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± ¡°If there is no Ru inside, please tell me, and I will go to the annex.¡± Serdel, who entered the indoor garden, closed the door tightly to block noise from the outside. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here, too.¡± She muttered without realizing it. Raising her head, she took a quick look at the indoor garden. A glass ceiling in the shape of a dome that almost reaches the sky. The sun, moon, and winged baby angels are depicted in stained glass. The leaves were tinted by the colorful lights scattered beneath it. It was just as mysterious and beautiful as it was in the past around this time. The scent of wet grass and fragrant flowers increased her longing for nothing. It seemed like she was standing in the middle of a field of grass when she arrived here, so it was great. ¡®I used to come here very often when I just took possession of Serdel.¡¯ Siri often took her here, saying that it would make her feel more comfortable since she couldn¡¯t get out of her bedroom for a while. Perhaps it was because of Siri¡¯s caring words that she felt stable only when she got here. However, it had to be because her caretaker had changed or the atmosphere of the garden had changed at some point because at some point it was really uncomfortable and she didn¡¯t like it¡ª. ¡®She was the one who made this place warm.¡¯ Serdel smiled and took one slow step at a time. The coolness that came from the plants was refreshing. Whoosh¡ª. A tall maid in the distance was watering the tree in the middle of the garden. In the sunshine that penetrated the glass ceiling, her curly blue hair glistened like the sea. Her face was freckled and her skin was white. While the corner of her eyes were quite droopy, her eyes felt quite strong. ¡°Oh my! Lady?¡± She immediately closed the magic hose, as if she had just noticed Serdel while she was turning to water the tree next to her. The cold stream of water was cut off, and in its place, a glittering rainbow arose. ¡°I should have noticed sooner, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Serdel had a bland reaction to the girl who rushed and bowed so deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Too much politeness will make the other person uncomfortable. I¡¯m not a guest.¡± The maid straightened her posture. Her quick and precise reaction caught Serdel¡¯s eye. ¡®She understands what I¡¯m saying .¡¯ If it were someone else, they would have bowed their heads again, saying they were sorry. It wasn¡¯t because they looked down on or overlooked Serdel¡¯s words, but because of their habit as a maid. Not being influenced by long-term familiarity meant she had good flexibility. ¡°I heard you¡¯re getting married. Congratulations.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª thank you, Lady. Did you stop by while taking a walk? If you don¡¯t mind, would you like a cup of tea?¡± Perhaps it was burdensome to receive congratulations from someone who had just broken up, Rudella reached out and pointed to a seat. The way she changed the topic was really natural, like flowing water. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Even so, Serdel was thirsty because she couldn¡¯t drink that much tea earlier. While she went to the tea table, the blue haired maid skillfully boiled water and brewed tea. Her movement was clean and uncluttered. Her fingertips that were concentrating on it were definitely skilled. Gently, Serdel looked up and down taking in all of Rudella. The patterns on her sleeves and apron ribbons were amazing. It wasn¡¯t a flashy pattern, but it was clean and stylish. ¡®You have good taste.¡¯ ¡°Lady, please drink it.¡± Her nose was overwhelmed with flavorful scents the moment she raised the teacup Rudella had given her. The first flavor was soft, the last taste was somewhat bitter, and the texture was unique. The lingering refreshing feeling made her smile. ¡°Is it all right?¡± Rudella asked, nervously awaiting the lady¡¯s opinion. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it seem that your talent is quite good?¡± It was as good as Monem. ¡°Thank you, Lady. I¡¯m so happy.¡± Her ears turned red, perhaps embarrassed by the compliment. ¡°Don¡¯t stand like that, you should come sit down too.¡± ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t stop by just for a while.¡± Serdel¡¯s tone cooled and became slightly more serious. The smile slowly disappeared from her face. With a nervous expression on her face at Serdel¡¯s changed tone, Rudella carefully sat across from Serdel, and as expected, she was also tall. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pour tea for yourself as well?¡± ¡°I drank some earlier¡ª so it¡¯s okay.¡± Her lips, which had dried up, trembled slightly. Yeah, with a low-key response, Serdel cleared her throat lightly a couple times. ¡°Before coming here, I approved your retirement process.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± ¡°I heard your husband worked for a group of mercenaries for a long time.¡± ¡°¡ªYes.¡± ¡°If you quit your maid¡¯s job, are you planning to do business with him?¡± Rudella¡¯s eyes shifted back and forth in anxiety and confusion. She never expected to be asked this question. Serdel continued to question her, who was perplexed. ¡°Where are you going to start?¡± ¡°¡ªWe¡¯re going to look for a place.¡± ¡°Shop? Stall?¡± ¡°First of all, I¡¯m looking for a place to shop. But, um¡ª.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t afford the place you want because it¡¯s too expensive. But you don¡¯t like it when you consider how much money you¡¯d have to spend for a smaller or worse place. It¡¯s not going to be easy. You may be offended by how direct my statements are¡­¡± ¡°No, Lady. That¡¯s not true at all.¡± As she waved her hand, Serdel pointed out the harsh reality she already knew. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much money the two of you have saved, but it¡¯s going to be difficult. It¡¯s not the end of expenses just getting a shop.¡± ¡°¡ªAh.¡± Signboards had to be attached, interiors had to be paid attention to, and items to be sold had to be selected and purchased beforehand. In addition, it was better to secure a monthly rent for several months in advance to avoid being kicked out because of the whims of their landlord. Since there is no lease protection law here, they would be over as soon as they couldn¡¯t pay the rent. ¡°I hope the business will go well as soon as it opens, but there are already many large and small stores in this place.¡± ¡°¡ªThat¡¯s right.¡± It will take quite a long time to settle down. In the meantime, it would be fortunate if they can maintain their lifestyles. But it was highly likely to fail. No matter how long he had worked for the mercenaries was a different matter. CH 42 ¡°Moreover, I hear that the one who will be your husband¡ª¡± ¡°His name is Edwan.¡± ¡°Yes. They said that Edwan was pushed out of the competition and had to quit working for the mercenaries. It was said that the relationship was so bad that he could no longer work with the other person in the same space.¡± Rudella¡¯s complexion turned dark. ¡°Even if he left on good terms, it wouldn¡¯t be enough, but since he came out like that, will he be able to make it?¡± They had no idea what kind of sabotage would take place. Being a human being was definitely dirty, so even if he had won, the losing opponent would have colluded with the mercenary guild owner to twist the results. Even if the scale is small. ¡°¡ªI think that is something we must bear. And Edwan said that he had learned about someone who can help for the money he lacked while working at the mercenary, so if he explains the situation and requests for help¡ª¡± ¡°So you make a dangerous choice without fear.¡± Since it is a place where people live, of course, there was a loan agency in this world, and it was popular. This was also a part of the shadow business, and the interest was huge. The property will be taken away from them after paying interest on a loan for an unspecified period of time; in another case, they risked working unpaid till death. This would be the so-called legal slavery. ¡®The funny thing is, the more vicious people are, the more they pay their taxes.¡¯ Because they were completely divided, there were no institutions or people to save anybody who became stuck in their territory, no matter how bitterly they complained about unfairness. Only the victim dies. ¡°He¡¯s a nice person who owns a few buildings¡ª¡± In order to get them to borrow money, there were people who had been close friends for a long time, or even approached them under the guise of successful commoners and wealthy merchants. ¡°Where do you see good people in front of money? I saw you well, but you¡¯re surprisingly naive.¡± Tsk, she was about to reach out for the teacup again with a clicked tongue, but suddenly Rudella jumped up. ¡°The aftertaste of cold tea is not good, so I will make a new one.¡± ¡°Oh, will you do that for me?¡± Bringing a new teacup, she immediately boiled the water. Somehow, the process of adding tea leaves and brewing them heavily was more sincere than before. She could see that she was taking time to organize her thoughts. And why did Serdel come here today? What does this excessive interference mean? All Rudella could do was think hard to figure out Serdel¡¯s intentions. And when she sat down again, her eyes were quite different. ¡°I guess you must be ready to listen.¡± Serdel straightened her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll help you set up the mercenary guild that you two want, so be the sub-leader there instead.¡± ¡°¡ªWhat?¡± Rudella was greatly surprised by the straightforward proposal. ¡°Did you know that the expedition to Elbash Forest will start soon?¡± She nodded her head. ¡°As soon as the exploration is over, we will start subjugation, and we will get minerals through development. We need someone to take care of the deal.¡± In the past, Cartal wanted to delegate the sales rights to the largest and oldest mercenary group in the County. It wasn¡¯t a bad choice, except for them being bought away by Count Maient. ¡°Lady. I¡¯m an ordinary person who has worked as a maid since I was a child. Even if a mercenary guild is given to me, all I can do is clean up and organize things.¡± She refused at first. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can play such a big role properly. That would be too much for Edwan, who has worked in management for a long time as well. We won¡¯t be of any help to what you¡¯re trying to do.¡± ¡°How did you come up with the idea of setting up the mercenary with that in mind?¡± ¡°The guild we¡¯re trying to set up is not very large. To the point where it can¡¯t be called a guild¡ªand I, I¡ª.¡± ¡°You know. Big or small, if you¡¯ve made up your mind, wouldn¡¯t it be better to play in the big leagues? The amount of experience you have is the same as others. Of course, it would be better if you had done it before. But just because you did something well once doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re good at everything all the time.¡± ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°On the contrary, just because you don¡¯t have experience doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t do it. Surprisingly, you never know if a big role will suit your aptitude until you try. Don¡¯t get scared and step back before you even step in.¡± Serdel put her hand on the back of Rudella¡¯s hand, which was clasped tightly in her lap. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to underestimate yourself. There is no way that you, who has endured for more than a decade in a noble family without much gossip, cannot afford that much. What if I trust you and you don¡¯t trust yourself?¡± ¡°¡ªWhat if it doesn¡¯t work out?¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯ll always be standing behind you. There¡¯s no way you can¡¯t do it. Even if it doesn¡¯t work, you can start over. Because I have money and power.¡± Instead, I lack people. Rudella didn¡¯t readily answer. ¡°If you want to find someone else, you can. But I want you to do it for me.¡± In order to help him with his work, they must be somewhat aware of the internal circumstances of the Count. She wasn¡¯t just trying to persuade her to do business. ¡°You kept shaking every time I said it. That means you¡¯re anxious about your future, too. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Is it really okay to proceed like this? She had stopped working as a maid. She would have been impatient and anxious because she couldn¡¯t say for sure what would happen if they went bankrupt. ¡°I will bear the burden that the two of you have to bear, so I hope you will trust me and follow me.¡± Rudella lowered her head. Serdel didn¡¯t say anymore and waited to give her some time to think. By the time the tea in her teacup hits the bottom. Meanwhile Rudella was still in her chair thinking as she rubbed her knees. Her blue eyes looking at Serdel were slowly warming up with passion. Somehow it felt good. She was strongly convinced that she could do better than she expected. ¡°First of all, thank you for the opportunity. Do you have time for dinner tonight, Lady?¡± Serdel nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring Edwan here. Please see for yourself and make a decision.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that, so let¡¯s stop and get up now.¡± Serdel reached out to her. After hesitating for a while, Rudella gently grabbed her hand and raised herself. ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care.¡± ¡°Not yet, Lady. Me and Edwan may fall short of the standards you set.¡± Rudella¡¯s expression softened slightly. ***** And so the night came. Edwan, who entered the indoor garden with Rudella ¡ª was two heads smaller than her. The short, seashore blonde hair seems to have been trimmed and touched. It was an accurate 5 to 5 part that was not biased to either side, and his face was round. His dark brown eyes stiffened slightly with tension. He even wore glasses because his eyesight was bad, what is it? ¡®You look like a nerd.¡¯ Besides, it was quite a while. ¡®I think I know why he was behind in the competition.¡¯ Rather than winning because the one who won is the brother of the leader, Edwan lacked the visuals of the role. She thought he might have been pushed out because of his appearance that didn¡¯t suit the position. Serdel, who raised her eyes, took turns looking at the two people standing side by side. It was like a sister and a brother, not lovers. ¡°Lady, this is Edwan.¡± The cheeks of Rudella who introduced him were red. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet, Ack¡ª!¡± Edwan stepped forward and bit his tongue to say hello. A short silence fell. Tears formed in his eyes as if he was hurt. Serdel pretended not to see, and Rudella smiled awkwardly and looked around. Edwan only bowed his head. She was concerned about the blood that peeped out through his lips. ¡®How hard did you bite it?¡¯ ¡°Ugh, I apologize.¡± It wasn¡¯t until he calmed down a little that he opened his mouth. ¡°I was a little nervous. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± The low-pitch voice, which sank low, was quite good to hear. ¡°Yes, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°First of all, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity. What should I do from now on, Master?¡± (T/n : he actually call her ???? like mercenary owner, but I will just put it as master.) Unlike Rudella, he had made up his mind and came in with a determined look. CH 43 ¡°Is my position manager?¡± ¡°If you want. Originally, I was going to offer you a captain position.¡± She shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already propose to Nunim the position of the captain? I¡¯m opposed to having two captains at the mercenary in order to increase responsibility.¡± (t/n: Nunim should refer to an older sister or a woman who is older than him. So I will continue to put it as Nunim. (Not always a biological sister.) ) Edwan¡¯s forehead frowned. ¡°Robbins had two captains until last year. As a result, managing the men was quite difficult. I had no choice but to follow one person, but as he was driven back behind a strange frame with a plot, everyone who had followed him began to fall back too. As a result, the mercenaries abandoned the fight.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Besides, unlike that case, Nunim and I are going to get married soon. If a married couple sits side by side in the captain¡¯s position, their power is too strong and it is rather dangerous.¡± Despite the position he would get, he was quite cold-hearted. ¡°If employees are greedy in vain and start lining up for someone who isn¡¯t the guild owner, the business will be ruined. Mercenary Robbins¡¯ is holding up well now, but there will probably be a crisis in the next few years. I hope that the Master will not go through such a situation.¡± He was also selfless. ¡°As a merchant, we must give good items that our customers require at a reasonable price. Beyond that, you simply see your customers as money.¡± His own thoughts were well established, and the arguments he made were quite strong. ¡°Of course, because we¡¯re dealing with mercenaries, we should earn a profit, but if our eyes are blinded when it comes to money, we¡¯ll lose our future. I¡¯ve seen quite a few mercenaries fail as a result of this. It¡¯s also in the hands of the staff. As a manager, I want to be satisfied since having too much authority can only lead to conflict.¡± So, as a mercenary guild owner, he wants her to properly focus on the work and take care of the employees. In a determined tone, a smile came out of the nuance. He was quite brave. ¡®There¡¯s strength, too.¡¯ Serdel looked closely at his face again. It was a cute impression no matter how many times she watched it. However, after seeing his serious eyes and unwavering charisma, he no longer looked nerdy. Earlier, it felt even more pathetic that she misunderstood that he might have been pushed out of the competition because of his non-merchant like appearance. ¡®I made a big mistake trying to judge my opponent by their appearance.¡¯ In front of her now, he was more like a merchant than anyone else. That¡¯s why it was even more strange. Because he almost got everything to work. ¡°I¡¯m curious about something. Did you really try to borrow money from the person who said he had a few buildings?¡± ¡°Uh¡ª¡± He glanced at Rudella. She smiled awkwardly and apologized slightly. ¡°You wanted to borrow money, didn¡¯t you? Because we¡¯re human too?¡± Edwan¡¯s answer was ambiguous. The tone also changed before she knew it. ¡°But, I don¡¯t think I told you I was going to borrow it?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well. Because I can¡¯t figure out who it is. The customer is a so-called big hand who came in once a month to buy a lot of goods, and every time he came in, he pointed me out as the person in charge. So we got a little closer.¡± Serdel rolled her eyes to tell them to continue. ¡°But since two months ago, he asked me if I had any thoughts of working with him. So as a joke, I asked if he would at least set up the guild, and he said he could set it up if he wanted.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°I thought for a moment that my life would be ruined if I got caught by a pervert, so I kept my distance for a while. As you can see, I look a little cute. Even if I do my hair like this.¡± Serdel closed her mouth. She couldn¡¯t refute it. ¡°I¡¯ve seen all kinds of people in my life. There were a lot of people who tried to take advantage of me because I looked much younger than my actual age.¡± He shook his head as if he was sick and tired. ¡°I kept rejecting him, and he told me to tell him if I needed money.¡± Tsk. He shrugged. ¡°I was a little shaken when I heard that when I was about to be kicked out of the mercenary. Of course, I refused, but I didn¡¯t know Nunim would say this. But.¡± Edwan drooled for a moment. ¡°One time, he made an attractive offer that was hard to ignore. He can pick up foreign goods in a variety of ways, and sell them together. As you know, it is a system where nothing is missing, but imports are precious, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes. Trade routes are the first thing that gets blocked when relations go bad.¡± ¡°Moreover, every time I go to another country, the procedure is complicated, and the cost of entering is so high that I won¡¯t even dare to import it unless it¡¯s through the mercenary.¡± But if only he could bring a variety of things¡ª. ¡°What does he look like? What kind of person is he?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of person he is. But he is probably not a scammer.¡± Serdel crossed her arms. ¡°If it were a scammer in the first place, he would just do the work and wouldn¡¯t have spent the money. He¡¯s wary of the accusations.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Most of the large amounts of goods he bought every month were daily necessities. He never picked it up using a carriage at the guild, and he always drags a cart. And it didn¡¯t feel like he was only stopping by to use the mercenary.¡± ¡°Is he in charge of or managing a large number of lives? He¡¯s not a slave trader?¡± ¡°¡ªSlave dealers don¡¯t buy necessities. Instead, they buy only the cheapest animal feed in bulk.¡± Serdel closed her mouth. ¡°Sometimes, they bought a lot of toys or snacks that children would like. Based on that, I think he is sponsoring a fairly large orphanage. It¡¯s just my guess.¡± He took out his notes and pencils from his bag. ¡°If so, he must be a person of certain status.¡± Most of the patrons of the orphanage were aristocrats, who often used it as an image business. ¡°I¡¯m going to draw his face now¡±. Ssk ssk. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re good at drawing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m originally good at drawing.¡± He has a lot of talent, and it¡¯s a moment when she bursts into exclamations. ¡®Hmm? I¡¯ve seen this face before.¡¯ ¡°He had blonde hair, and his eyes were golden. He was quite tall, and his muscles could be seen beyond his clothes. It wouldn¡¯t be a joke if I was intimidated just by getting close to someone that big, but I didn¡¯t feel that way at all.¡± ¡°What¡¯s about his outfit?¡± ¡°He wore it comfortably as if he didn¡¯t care much about it, but shoes and belts were high-quality products.¡± And the tear spot under the left eye¡ª. He tried to cover the tear point with his finger. Startled. ¡°He is blonde?¡± ¡°Yeah. It was so flashy that it was dazzling.¡± Swallowing her saliva, Serdel tried to replace the color in her brain with an image of a blonde instead. He doesn¡¯t want to get caught. Big body. ¡®You can change your hair color and presence with magic items.¡¯ When she considered that, exactly one person came to mind. ¡®Ha¡ªThis man!¡¯ ¡°Should I meet him again just in case?¡± ¡°No. You don¡¯t have to meet him. Don¡¯t meet him. Never.¡± Folding the portrait in half, Serdel raised her head. A black night sky could be seen through the glass ceiling. ¡®The power of Radun, as well as the fact that he looked at Blenn in the gladiator arena.¡¯ Even Edwan this time. How come the pieces he and she are trying to gain overlap so much? On the other hand, she felt relieved. ¡®He has a very good eye for talent.¡¯ That person is the 2nd Prince Falden Asladen, who was trying to get people to come out by disguising himself. She is more at ease now that she knows Edwan is a trustworthy person. Cunning. ¡®It¡¯s a character whose face was never seen in the original.¡¯ There is one person who is loyal and good among Falden¡¯s subordinates. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s Edwan.¡¯ ¡°Edwan.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°I think it would be better to set the mercenary as a place where commoners and nobles can come and go comfortably.¡± ¡°However, I have a place in mind, and I will go back and look at it again and report back.¡± ¡°If you think it¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to report to me and you can take the lead in signing the contract. Take care of the signs and the interior, and I¡¯ll leave the purchase of goods and the hiring of staff to you.¡± Serdel took out a pocket full of money from the magic bag she had brought. ¡°Instead, make sure to report to me what you can¡¯t handle and get permission. Other than that, I will trust you and Rudella.¡± ¡°Uh, shouldn¡¯t the identity of the Mercenary guild owner be known?¡± ¡°For now. Well, as if there were no eternal secrets, it would eventually be revealed. I don¡¯t intend to talk first.¡± ¡°Yeah, then I¡¯ll be as careful as I can go. And please bring the magic contract.¡± She tried to take a look, but she didn¡¯t know that Edwan would speak up first. ¡°I and Nunim believe in the Mercenary owner¡ªno, we believe in Lady. But you shouldn¡¯t trust us unconditionally. Please always be on your guard.¡± She was grateful for that. ¡°Of course, please. I¡¯ll make sure to keep it up.¡± She agreed simply so that they don¡¯t feel uneasy. ¡°Is this a deal?¡± Pretending not to win the more decisive one, she pulled out three magic contracts. Edwan signed right away without hesitation. Serdel and his gaze simultaneously turned to Rudella. She breathed a low breath as if nervous, and signed coolly. CH 44 ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°We look forward to working with you.¡± Edwan and Rudella bowed their heads. ¡°Edwan. Do you have any friends in the back alleys? It would be great if he is not a member of any guild and is good at spying.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s because I don¡¯t always meet people in public places when I do business.¡± ¡°So, can you select the tight-lipped ones and observe Count Maient? I need to know who enters and leaves the mansion, what the Count and his vassals do, etc.¡± Edwan and Rudella¡¯s faces darkened at the same time. ¡°Lady. What do you think of him¡ª By any chance, have you ever been harmed by him¡ª?¡± Serdel waved her hand at Rudella, who asked carefully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s more likely to happen in the future, so I¡¯m just trying to prepare in advance.¡± ¡°What do you mean? What is that¡ª¡± ¡°He still hasn¡¯t given up in Elbash Forest. He won¡¯t go out right away, but it¡¯s highly likely that he¡¯ll be aiming for the right to trade in minerals in the future.¡± ¡°Who will¡ª!¡± ¡°Nunim.¡± Rudella¡¯s expression changed in an instant, and the angry words that were ready to burst forward with force were stopped. The surrounding area became quiet. She didn¡¯t know Rudella had such a hot temperament. Rudella¡¯s eyes began to tremble severely as she became flustered. ¡°Edwan.¡± ¡°Yes, please tell me.¡± To break the frozen atmosphere, Serdel looked away. ¡°Please pay close attention to Count Sollette¡¯s movement. Count Maient is following him.¡± ¡°Please tell us what information you know first. Knowing the situation makes it know what to look into. We can respond flexibly even if something unexpected happens.¡± That was true. ¡°Count Maient is using Count Sollette to get behind Count Derriens and take over his shadow business.¡± Edwan¡¯s expression became serious. ¡°Isn¡¯t Count Sollette and Count Derriens connected through business? Isn¡¯t Count Sollette someone who almost always looked down on Count Derriens. Ha.¡± It was ridiculous, he let out a laugh. ¡°Then Count Maient thinks Count Derriens¡¯ weakness lies in Count Sollette. And¡ª¡± He looked straight at her. ¡°So Lady thinks that Count Maient will win this fight. Why don¡¯t you tell Count Derriens about this in secret? You will be driven away if you disrupt a dog fight.¡± ¡°No, I have no intention of helping Count Derriens in any way.¡± At Serdel¡¯s determined tone, his eyes widened a little for a moment. ¡°Well. When it comes to cruel stuff, he¡¯s a strong opponent. Yes, I understand. For now, I¡¯ll try to keep an eye on him in an inconspicuous way and gather information.¡± ¡°And Rudella.¡± Serdel looked at Rudella again. Rudella nodded her head awkwardly as she calmed down a bit. ¡°Yes, Lady. Please tell me.¡± ¡°Sooner or later, the news will spread that you¡¯re leaving the Count because of your marriage.¡± The owner of the Robbins¡¯ mercenary knows Edwan¡¯s marriage partner is her. As there are quite a few nobles who have merchants as their informants, there are probably nobles who follow him as well. They would have leaked it secretly. ¡°Some people will approach you before you quit, and there will be others who observe first and then approach you as soon as you quit.¡± There was tension on her face. Rudella suddenly clasped her hands together and swallowed a dry saliva. ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll be aiming for when the County is empty.¡± After she, Addis, and Redan go on an expedition, the Count is left with only Cartal. Even though the head of the family was clearly there, rude and thoughtless people were more likely to regard it as an empty house. ¡°Please take care of it moderately. Instead, find out who the people receiving information from them are.¡± Rudella nodded her head. Serdel gave them two small communication tools one by one. Today was the day she chose to say hello to them without hesitation. It will be difficult to do so in the future. The Count¡¯s prestige was too high for the soon-to-be husband of the resigning maid to freely come and go. ¡®Rudella will also be gradually pushed out of the main job.¡¯ It won¡¯t be easy to meet her. This will be much easier to communicate by than to meet each other when necessary. ¡°If you have anything to report, call me right away.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s getting late, shall we wrap this up?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go, Lady.¡± ¡°Okay. Rudella, see him off.¡± ¡°No, Lady. It¡¯s too dark outside. I¡¯m worried about you being alone, so I¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s my house, what are you worried about? It¡¯s okay, so hurry up and go with him.¡± After sending the two out first, Serdel, who was left alone, opened the door after looking around the indoor garden for a while. An unexpected cold wind hit her and her body trembled for a moment. ¡°It suddenly got cold.¡± She should have brought a shawl. Her steps got faster and faster. She moved hard with her arms wrapped around her body, but stopped when she saw something under the moonlight. Looking at the night sky, he looked like a well-made statue. Softly. The silver hair fluttering in the wind was very beautiful. Unknowingly, she lost in admiration. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it. Perhaps because of his unique atmosphere, he went so well with this cold darkness. ¡°Lady.¡± He turned his head and looked straight at her. Not long ago, his eyes, which had been sinking into firm despair, were now full of enthusiasm for life. It¡¯s so warm. Every part of her body touched by his gaze seemed to be on fire. The face, where worries disappeared, was brighter than before. It was the first time she¡¯d ever seen a version of Blenn that was full of life. It was unfamiliar somehow. ¡°You must have rested well.¡± ¡°Thanks to you.¡± Slowly approaching, he put the shawl he was holding around Serdel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I saw the Lady leaving, but you dressed lightly in this cold¡ª¡± ¡°Did you wait for me here?¡± Instead of answering, he knelt down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the late greeting, Lady. Seeing my younger sister after a long time has relieved me of tension, so I couldn¡¯t show good manners towards my savior.¡± ¡°How is Laura?¡± ¡°My younger sister fell asleep again after dinner. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been hard for her. She must have been very tired.¡± Her smile filled with care and was so kind, Blenn was moved for no reason. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. I thought I would never see my younger sister and her smile again.¡± He reached out carefully. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to my Lady.¡± Holding onto her fingertips, he leaned his forehead gently. The shallow warmth delivered to the back of her hand seemed to warm her body for some reason. ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much.¡± Unlike when he asked her to find his sister, Blenn did not express his feelings after every word. Nevertheless. She could feel his heart so well. The words ¡®thank you¡¯ have been passed on without fading. Blenn, who had been leaning his forehead on the back of her hand for a long time, raised his head. Whoops, he released her hand, patted the nape of his neck, and then, pop! Something released. It was a necklace with a shield-shaped pendant. ¡°Will you take it?¡± ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°As the heirloom of my family, the covenant of oath is a magical artifact. Other than being binding, it will also protect the Lady from danger while you wear it.¡± ¡°So why¡ª¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t paid my end of the contract, but I¡¯d like to close the deal I made through the magic contract and pledge full loyalty instead.¡± She remembered that she heard from Monem about Blenn putting down his weapon and falling asleep peacefully for the first time. ¡®I thought I could win his heart, but.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know that even the only traces of the family he had would be offered as a token. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Please accept it. My Lady saved me and my sister. The grace I received from you is too great to return with just one promise. I want to be dedicated to you for the rest of my life.¡± He bowed his head deeply. ¡°Please. Please put me by your side, Lady.¡± ¡®Please don¡¯t say no¡¯, Serdel let out a low snort at his earnestness. Even if he didn¡¯t ask her like this, she didn¡¯t mean to push him away. However, he acted like someone who couldn¡¯t stay by her side if she didn¡¯t accept it. After all, isn¡¯t this like a memento of his parents and, even more, his ancestors? Her mind was heavy, but she couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. CH 45 When she picked up the pendant, the long chain dragged along with it. Engraved on the shield were spears and swords with hawks in between. The hawk¡¯s eyes were embedded with a very small red jewel, which radiated auspicious energy. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary thing. ¡°Can you really give me this precious thing?¡± ¡°I think I would be more than happy if Lady accepted it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Blenn.¡± When the necklace was hung around her neck, the long chain naturally shortened to fit her. The size of the pendant has also been reduced. As he noticed the object safely around her neck, he raised his head and opened his mouth with a solemn expression. ¡°I will begin the ceremony of the oath.¡± Uhm? ¡°I, Edward Blenn of Count Blaine. I dedicate my loyalty, life, and body to my lifelong savior, so I swear that I will keep your back as your sword and stay with you until the day my life is over as your shield.¡± The moment the oath flowed from his mouth, even if it was from a family that had already been ruined. She felt a glimpse of the power and authority that his family would have had. At the same time, wind wrapped itself in the light from the gleam of the hawk¡¯s red eyes. Kaaak. In her mind, there was a great expanse of sky. A mystical creature with big eyes screams as it passed in between them. The world she witnessed in the eyes of a mystical creature was not the same as it is now. Her heart was pounding as if she was facing a civilization from a very ancient past. [An ancient relic ¡°Red Hawk¡¯s Eyes and Shield¡± was obtained. ¨C You can see the other person¡¯s sincerity once a day through the eyes of a red hawk. ¨C You can protect your body by using the power of the shield you obtained.] [Your luck will increase with the relics you got by chance] Along with the relic, a status window popped up. She couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. She was about to open her lips without realizing it. ¡°Lady?¡± When she heard Blenn¡¯s call, her eyes were drawn to him. Behind him, a shadow flowed out as if his soul was escaping. In a form that looked exactly like Blenn, it bowed its head deeply toward her and kissed the tops of her foot. As if it were making up for what Blenn had not shown. She couldn¡¯t feel the touch. Instead, a huge mass of emotion climbed up her body and pressed against her chest. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for staying by my side. Thank you, Thank you so much. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable somewhere?¡± According to the look on his face as he anxiously asked questions, he seemed to be unaware of the series of events that were taking place around him. ¡®Or maybe it¡¯s just me that the system shows this to.¡¯ The shadow, who was expressing gratitude, got up and immediately returned to Blenn¡¯s back and slowly soaked in. As if looking for his place. At the same time, the heavy feelings that weighed on her chest disappeared. As it was the first time, she was freed from the more intense pressure, and a deep sense of weakness came. ¡°What are you doing?¡± It was then. A cold sword was placed on Blenn¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯m asking what you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Brother¡ª¡± It was Redan. After not seeing him for a long time, he looked shabby. As if he had swept through a dusty place in a hurry, his hair and clothes were messy. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time. What are you two doing at this late hour?¡± Did something bad happen outside? His face was full of anger and displeasure. Depending on the answer, he seemed like he would cut Blenn¡¯s head off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Brother.¡± Serdel stepped forward, but Redan didn¡¯t move. ¡°I was vowing my loyalty.¡± Eventually, Blenn¡¯s mouth opened. Ha¡ª Redan sighed and gave a cold command. ¡°Get away from my sister right now.¡± Blenn, who hesitated, followed his order. Only then did Redan, who sheathed his sword, come closer and hit him! ¡°Ugh!¡± Redan embraced Serdel¡¯s staggering body and put her on his shoulder like a package. ¡°Kyaa! Brother!¡± She didn¡¯t know he would do something like this, so Serdel, startled, shouted back, but he didn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Did you say you¡¯re Blenn? If you don¡¯t want to die, you¡¯d better get your head on right.¡± Leaving a cold warning, he turned around. Blenn looked at Redan who was moving away with Serdel still complaining. Standing there as if he was frozen. For a long time, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it. ***** ¡°Y, Young Master? Lady!¡± A maid passing through the hallway was bewildered when she saw Redan and Serden on his shoulders like a beast that was caught on a hunt. ¡°Open the door.¡± Anticipating Redan¡¯s short order, she quickly opened the door. ¡°I should get going now.¡± After entering, he dropped her off. Serdel was dizzy because her head was upside down for so long. Rather than standing on the floor properly, she found herself stumbling, but Serdel, who was full of irritation, still accurately hit Redan¡¯s hand roughly. ¡°Brother! What the hell are you doing¡ª¡± Serdel, who was trying to act angry, was speechless the moment she made eye contact with Redan. The intense anger also subsided like a deflated balloon. Seeing him under the bright light, she was speechless. His feverish face was severely red, and his bloodshot eyes stared blankly. Just looking at the amount of cold sweat he was sweating was unbearable. She wondered how he brought himself here. Her gaze turned downward. She quickly looked at him to see if he was injured. Only his clothes were dirty, and fortunately, there were no signs of blood stains or any tears. Unknowingly, a sigh of relief came out. Serdel, who turned around silently, opened a drawer on the desk and took out the potion. ¡°Drink this at least.¡± He, who didn¡¯t even budge, looked like a hardened stone. She opened the lid because he couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°Hey.¡± A voice calling out to her escaped through Redan¡¯s dry lips. ¡°¡ªAre you resentful of me¡ª¡± What kind of nonsense is this? ¡°Hurry up and drink this and leave.¡± He doesn¡¯t smell like alcohol. He didn¡¯t hurt his head, did he? She¡¯s trying to give potion but Redan doesn¡¯t accept it. It¡¯s like he doesn¡¯t even have the strength to do that. His body, which had stumbled several times, leaned forward. ¡°Brother!¡± Surprised, Serdel quickly approached and helped him. Before he could fall any further, she dragged him and laid him on the bed. ¡°Whoo.¡± She grabbed Redan¡¯s cheeks with one hand and opened his lips. A potion bottle was relentlessly inserted between them. Normally, he would have avoided it and asked what she was doing, but now he was quietly drinking the potion. ¡®It¡¯ll be okay now, right?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t okay. The fever on his face had subsided, but the cold sweat was still there. She was scared of his completely different appearance from when he threatened Blenn. When she was about to call the maid, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. Her body leaned back and fell next to him in a blink. ¡°Ugh, brother¡ª!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hurt or sick¡ª Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine after resting for a while. Don¡¯t call people for no reason. It¡¯s annoying to be noisy.¡± Every word of it left him out of energy. ¡°¡ªWhat happened outside? Why do you look like this?¡± As a result of his earlier commands, Redan closed his eyes completely. She could see that he didn¡¯t want to talk because he kept his mouth shut. A face that looks very tired. Unstable shaking breath. Somehow, it felt like he was holding back his anger. Did he get hurt somewhere? She has never seen Redan like this before. Wasn¡¯t he the one who always poured out cold words? ¡®So I hated it¡ª¡¯ In the second round, their relationship has become strangely ambiguous. She didn¡¯t know that it was because of the awkwardly narrowed distance. ¡°¡ªIf you think you¡¯re getting a hold of yourself, will you leave the room?¡± Redan still didn¡¯t answer. It¡¯s annoying to talk and be ignored, so she thought of going to another room and sleeping. But somehow, she thought she shouldn¡¯t leave him alone. Eventually, she looked at the ceiling and clicked her tongue. ¡®He will sleep all night.¡¯ As she shook her head, his grip on her arm weakened. Soon, as if he had fallen asleep, his breathing sound became quiet. Serdel, shrugged, covered his body with a blanket. She was happy to have Blenn¡¯s loyalty and to have unexpectedly gained an ancient relic. But the end of the day was completely ruined by Redan. CH 46 ¡°U, ugh¡ª¡± Her eyes opened wide to the sound of groaning. ¡®When did I fall asleep?¡¯ She pulled herself up from the sofa, rubbing her dazed eyes, and approached the bed. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± Redan was tossing and turning in his sleep, groaning in pain. His face and top were drenched in sweat. Confused, Serdel reached out and touched his forehead. It was cold. ¡®Should I give him another bottle of potion?¡¯ If he was sick with a simple illness in the first place, he should have been better after he drank the potion. It was more likely a mental issue rather than a physical one. So pouring another bottle down his throat won¡¯t make him feel any better. What the hell happened outside¡ª. Serdel began to feel afraid and turned to call for the butler. ¡°¡­Mother¡­¡± Startled. ¡°¡­It¡¯s dangerous¡­ Don¡¯t go¡­ Please don¡¯t go¡­ Mother¡­¡± Redan¡¯s hand floundered in the air. His fingertips were desperate to grab onto something, his face distorting as he suffered from his deep trauma. ¡°Please¡­ Please¡­¡± HIs pleading voice grew louder and louder. In response, a shallow vibration occurred in the pendant, and a status window appeared. [The Red Hawk Eyes resonate with the intensity of the emotion.] A red shadow escaped from Redan¡¯s body. It had the same form as Redan and after wandering around distraught for a while, it squatted on the floor helplessly with a face full of disappointment and tears. The figure stared up at the ceiling blankly like he was possessed. Haaaa, with a stuffy sigh, the shadow began to sweep its face dry of tears. Then he began to tear his own hair out. The two eyes that flew wildly upwards glistened with madness that had been hidden deeply for so long. It was so bloody that even though he paid no attention to her, or threatened her in the slightest, her whole body trembled. She was able to instinctively feel it. He is in a very dangerous state. I couldn¡¯t find it again this time. How can we not find a single clue for such a long time? Am I lacking in some way!?!? Why, why¡ª! I can¡¯t find anything! Emotions filled with deep agony flowed into her with such an intensity that it felt like it was pressing her chest tightly. As the amount of self-hatred and guilt that the shadow vomited increased, her breathing became rougher. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ The hairs all over her body stood up. Her nerves also became sensitive. The mass of emotions that had been pushed against her for a while disappeared along with the tightness in her chest and the shadows, as if time had run out. Her uncomfortable breathing returned to normal. Only then did she look again at the bed. Redan¡¯s hands that had stirred in the air were now calm, but instead, he was openly crying now. He shed tears endlessly through his closed eyes. It was a shocking scene for Serdel. She can¡¯t believe Redan is crying. Then she turned her back because she felt like she saw something she shouldn¡¯t have seen. Should I go out? Should I leave? Thinking about it, she eventually sat on the sofa. ¡®Because I don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll have another seizure.¡¯ It was uncomfortable, but it seemed that being with him would somehow be reassuring for him¡­probably. ¡°Haa.¡± Her complicated mind became more messed up as she considered what to do. He cried looking for his mother. His bitter feelings she learned through his shadow. Now she knows what it all means. ¡®It wasn¡¯t just an accident.¡± She doesn¡¯t remember it herself but, when the Countess died, Redan was also young. If he had seen the body of his mother who¡¯s body had been returned to the family, he would have been greatly traumatized. ¡®Is that why?¡¯ He abandoned the position of the heir and left the family. ¡®He was looking for clues about the Countess¡¯s death.¡¯ It¡¯s been a long time since he¡¯s been looking. It seemed like he wouldn¡¯t stop until his spine was severed, his heart was broken, and his will burned to ashes. For the first time, she felt sorry for him, he has spent all this time searching for answers and never finding them. Perhaps this time again, while chasing phantoms, he ran into another dead end and reached this point. It was Redan¡¯s nature. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t have done anything extreme so far.¡¯ Nevertheless, not finding a clue is not because of his lack of ability. It could been seen that the skills of those who killed the Countess and cleaned up the mess were simply that good. ¡®Those people were not hired through normal means.¡¯ They will be raised separately for that purpose in the first place. ¡®It costs quite a bit of money to train and raise one knight.¡¯ Training an assassin was even more demanding. ¡®The culprit is someone with tons of power, plenty of money, and deep feelings against Count Robbesta.¡¯ Or maybe it was someone who was offended by the Countess directly and not Robbesta as a whole. Serdel got up and sat down at the desk. She took out some paper and held a fountain pen, once again calmly organizing her thoughts. First of all, she wrote down people who might hate the Count. Then, the people who were associated with the Countess¡ª. ¡®There¡¯s no way I could know about all of them.¡¯ Serdel relaxed her body into the backrest and turned the chair to see out the window. The sun, that had just begun to peak out, was slowly lightening the dark sky. ****** It was three hours after dawn that Redan came to his senses. He got up from the bed and quietly admonished himself for acting like a fool and then he hardened his eyes. Serdel just quietly watched this from the couch where she was waiting for him to wake up. The awkward and tense atmosphere of the room was broken for a while as the breakfast ordered by Serdel came in with good timing. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡± ¡°Ah, well¡ª¡± Scratching the back of his head, he sat opposite her. ¡°¡ªHey, where did you sleep?¡± ¡°On the sofa. Thanks to my brother, I had a great experience. I¡¯m dying of a sore body. Why is my dress so tight today? Is my back aching right now because I slept the wrong way?¡± Ekhem. Unconsciously, Redan groaned and coughed dryly in embarrassment. ¡°¡ªI¡¯ve been tired lately, so I was a little out of my mind yesterday. Why didn¡¯t you wake me up and send me out?¡± ¡°The person who ignored me even though I asked him to leave the room is so shameless.¡± ¡°Are you being sarcastic?¡± ¡°Is your food good?¡± For a while, the two focused only on eating quietly. ¡°¡ªHey.¡± ¡°What?¡± Redan¡¯s forehead crumpled from Serdel¡¯s blunt response. ¡°That¡¯s how you answer?¡± ¡°Is that the only way brother can call me? If someone hears it, they¡¯ll think my name is ¡®Hey¡¯. Am I ¡®Hey¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡ª!¡± Redan, who was trying to refute her, lowered his eyes first. Instead, he looked around for a while, then opened his mouth carefully. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª Did I sleep talk or do something weird¡ª?¡± It seems that he had a seizure like this in his sleep whenever he returned home without finding any traces of the culprits who killed the Countess. Serdel thought for a moment about what to say. If she pretends not to know, he would probably feel more comfortable right away, but he will still have to carry the burden alone. She had too much work to do. She couldn¡¯t afford to look into the Countess¡¯s death right now. ¡®There are not enough people to handle it.¡¯ It was better to leave it to Redan. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± Nevertheless, she heard only a little bit. She¡¯ll give him the list she made earlier, hopefully he¡¯ll focus on those people. She may have to ask who the Countess was acquainted with during her lifetime, but even then he might not doubt them. For some reason, the moment she said this, it seemed that Redan could not believe it. Seeing him standing in front of the border of darkness and shaking so anxiously, she thought she would regret it if she didn¡¯t protect him. She didn¡¯t want him to succumb to his inner madness, like the shadow she had seen through the eyes of the Red Hawk. ¡°You just snored while sleeping. It was so loud that I almost died of annoyance.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª Really?¡± ¡°I saw you grind your teeth. Do you have bad sleeping habits?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m tired¡ª¡± Feeling embarrassed, he continued the meal he had stopped. ¡°Oh, but what the hell was that last night? What did you do with that jerk?¡± ¡°Blenn.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®that jerk¡¯, it¡¯s Blenn.¡± Redan¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°What kind of relationship is this! I-it can¡¯t be like what I¡¯m thinking¡ª!¡± ¡°It used to be an employment relationship, but now it¡¯s a master-servant relationship because he swore his loyalty to me. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but it¡¯s not like a romantic relationship, so please don¡¯t misunderstand me. It¡¯s uncomfortable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not true, is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± She answered firmly. ¡°By the way. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s for a short time, but it¡¯s dangerous to accept someone whose origin is unknown¡ª¡± ¡°Now, why are you asking such a thing? It doesn¡¯t matter where he¡¯s come from. It¡¯s because he has good abilities. He¡¯s also a talent that the the 2nd Prince coveted¡ª¡± ¡°Did you meet the 2nd Prince? When and where? How? Why?¡± Wiping her lips with a napkin, Serdel pointed to the door. ¡°If you¡¯re done eating, please leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not done yet!¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s okay to stop eating? It seems like all the food that¡¯s been prepared has run out, so get up.¡± Redan, who turned his head to the side, pointed his fingers at the trolley full of food. ¡°Did you sleep with your eyes open? Can¡¯t you see anymore?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for brother.¡± He was trying to refute more, but he lowered his eyes at something heavy on the back of his hand. Before he knew it, Dell, who came up to the table, was staring at him with a look full of dissatisfaction. With one hand, Dell gently grasped Redan¡¯s wrist. CH 47 ¡°What is this rat-sized guy? Where did you pick him up?¡± Dell¡¯s snout trembled. ¡°This is the baby I¡¯m raising.¡± ¡°So, this food is all for this rat-sized guy? He eats it all?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough? You¡¯ve finished eating, brother, so please put away the dishes.¡± The maid, who sneaked up to the table quietly, smiled awkwardly and took the dishes away. ¡°Hey, then let¡¯s have a cup of tea¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not free, brother. Please go out.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay. I¡¯m going, I¡¯m going.¡± Redan stood up grumbling and went out, looking at Serdel¡¯s face one last time. ***** Gororong, Gorong, Gororong. (I don¡¯t know how to put this as sfx since they just put it as ???? xD) Dell rolled around, basking in the sunlight coming through the window, perhaps feeling good because he was full. Looking at it, her heart seemed to relax a little. Strangely enough, Dell was providing her some mental relaxation. As she drank tea, she unfolded the paper from earlier in the morning. She failed to give it to Redan and eventually became her own. Once she became conscious of a problem she hadn¡¯t thought deeply about before, she felt very displeased. Especially when she thought that the culprit who killed the Countess would still be watching this place, she was even terrified. ¡®After all, the enemy isn¡¯t just Count Maient.¡¯ It was like a mountain behind a mountain. [Nuna, do you have any trouble?] She wondered when Dell came in front of her as he tilted his head cutely. [Tell Dell. Dell will listen.] His eyes lit up, telling her to believe only in him. It¡¯s not particularly reliable but Serdel told him because she didn¡¯t want to disappoint Dell¡¯s cute intentions. ¡°I need information about some people, but I don¡¯t have enough manpower to collect them.¡± The guild could not be used, no matter how much they emphasized the confidentiality clause that was attached to the contract, she was too anxious to believe in them completely. ¡®I can¡¯t even leave it to Edwan.¡¯ There was so much work that she didn¡¯t know that it would cause problems with existing tasks. [Hng. must it be a human?] ¡®Huh?¡¯ [You can call animals. Since Dell is a beast, most animals can be treated as subordinates!] ¡°¡ªWhoa. Dell, are you a genius?¡± [And because Dell is also a member of the forest, I¡¯m close to nature. uh, um. It may not be perfect in places like this, but I can read some of the memories stored by plants!] It was a way she hadn¡¯t thought of. She saw his memories while assimilating with him, but why didn¡¯t she remember this right away? ¡®Ah, I¡¯ve never seen him use this ability.¡¯ In fact, it must have been difficult to use it because he was so young when he was in the forest. And it was not something that could be used in slavery market. ¡°But can animals understand what people say?¡± [Cats and dogs can understand. Bird too. Even the little bugs accept everything they hear often enough. However, they don¡¯t understand because their brains are smaller than boogers. I went to the bathroom. I¡¯m climbing a tree. They can only remember simple things like this] ¡®Hoo.¡¯ She thought bugs would be useful. Animals can only be used if they are nearby, but insects are often found around everywhere. In addition, most of noble houses have gardens. [Please wait.] Fyuuuuu. When Dell made a sound, some sparrows came in through the open window. [Whose information do you need?] Serdel quickly told them the location of the mansion and their target¡¯s appearance in as much detail as possible. Then Dell released his energy and ordered the birds in Beast language. Chirp, chirp, chirp, the sparrow somehow answered and then went out. [I put my energy on them. Now they will go there and give orders to other birds and bugs.] There wasn¡¯t even a need to further delegate? Dell¡¯s ability was truly amazing! ¡°Good job, Dell.¡± She was touched. Having one well-behaved beast was better than having even 100 people. [Aren¡¯t I cool? In the garden, the maid said that capable men are always cool. Don¡¯t I have a cool ability?] The cheeks of the boy who twisted his body in shyness were red. [A man who works is always cool, and he makes his servants work.] ¡°Cool. You¡¯re very cool.¡± Serdel told him what he wanted to hear. Hehe. He smiled happily and laid down in the sunlight again. The chubby belly was cute. Growl¡ª. [Nuna, I want to eat candy!] Candy was taken out of the bin placed in the desk drawer and put into his mouth. The boy¡¯s eyes were sparkling. [Please just give me one more.] ¡°You can¡¯t because your teeth will be rotten.¡± [Dell is a beast, so my teeth won¡¯t rot.] It was funny to see his eyes shining brightly, so she finally gave in and gave him one more after much consideration. Knock, knock knock, knock. She lifted her head at the unsteady sound of a knock. ¡°L, Lady¡ªT, this is Laura¡ª¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The door timidly opened and Laura put her head in and looked around. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re not coming in?¡± Behind Laura, who didn¡¯t know what to do when she saw her, the maid was watching her with a more anxious expression. The maid, who had been agonizing for a while, even pushed her back. ¡°Come closer. Laura.¡± When the quick-witted maid closed the door, Laura was even more flustered. ¡°I, it¡¯s not good i, idea to i, interrupt your work¡ª¡± She stuttered more severely than when Serdel had first seen her, perhaps because she was very nervous. Her face was pale, too. ¡°Are you scared of me?¡±¡± ¡°N, no!¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t be too scared and come here. Did you enjoy your breakfast?¡± ¡°Y, yes!¡± Shaking her cute head, she wiggled her fingers. Then she carefully held out her handkerchief. ¡°T, thank you for that day. I, I wash it cleanly.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± When Serdel smiled, Laura¡¯s face, which had been staring blankly, began to turn red. Her voice, which had been shaken somewhat anxiously, also calmed down. ¡°I, I should have come to greet you earlier. I, I¡¯m sorry for the delay.¡± ¡°How about your body? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I, it¡¯s thanks to you. B, because of Lady, m, my pain is all better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I worried a lot.¡± At those words, Laura lifted her head. ¡°W, were you worried about me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Laura¡¯s cheeks turned red. Not only that, but she also had tears. ¡°T, thank you so much. T, thank you so much Lady. T, thank you for saving me. T, thank you for reaching out to my brother. T, thank you so much.¡± Her back gradually bent down. As politely as possible. However, it stopped exactly at a level where the opponent would not feel burdened. It was unexpected. To be honest, Serdle thought she was going to get down on her knees and shed tears first. Serdel¡¯s gaze turned downward. Laura¡¯s two legs were shaking. Serdel could tell that Laura had been thinking about whether it would have been better to kneel down, she could tell by Laura¡¯s slight hesitation and she realized how courageous this action was. ¡®You judged that I wouldn¡¯t like someone servile.¡¯ Smiling, Serdel took out the documents she had prepared in advance from a drawer. ¡°Laura, please look at this.¡± Her head was raised. ¡°It¡¯s your slave document.¡± Laura¡¯s eyes lit up with deep fear. She¡¯d been fine with potions, but for some reason she shivered and even stepped back. Did it become a habit after bowing for too long? ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry Lady. I, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Frightened, Laura clasped her hands and tried to bend her knees. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so don¡¯t apologize to me, and look straight at me. To get rid of these documents¡ª¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry. L, Lady, I, I¡¯m sorry. P, please forgive me. I, I did everything wrong.¡± ¡°Laura. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m not trying to do anything bad to you.¡± Words didn¡¯t seem to calm her down, so Serdel grabbed the fountain pen right away. She found the blank line in the center of the document. ¡®The contract is terminated. Serdel Robbesta.¡¯ After writing and signing her name, she tore the slave scroll and set it on fire. ¡°Hiiik!¡± Laura closed her eyes tightly. A black stream of smoke rose as the various gold chains that had been engraved like shackles in the document were released. ¡°Laura, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay, look at this.¡± Laura quietly opened her eyes at the sound of Serdel¡¯s warm voice. Just in time to watch the black energy flow out of her body. The flames continued to consume the scroll as the smoke spewing from it combined with the black energy coming from Laura, the two ominous energies became one and were drawn back into the paper eventually leaving nothing behind. Laura¡¯s eyes got bigger. She seemed confused by the fact that it had disappeared without leaving a single trace of ash or even the smell of smoke. ¡°Now you¡¯re not a slave. You can live the life you want.¡± CH 48 Tears flowed down from Laura¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡ªHik, hiik.¡± Numerous emotional sobs leaked from between the distorted lips. She couldn¡¯t say anything and just cried. ¡°¡ªUh, hiik.¡± Knock, knock. ¡°Lady, this is Blenn. Can I come in?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± He opened the door in a hurry, looking at her and Laura, who were crying endlessly with her face covered with both hands. ¡°B, brother¡ª Hiik.¡± ¡°Laura. You¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, Lady¡ª she destroyed the s, slave documents¡ª Hiik.¡± Her pronunciation suddenly improved. It¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t stutter at all, but the tightly pressed voice has become a tone brighter and much easier to understand. ¡®No way, isn¡¯t that one of the prohibitions on the slave documents?¡¯ If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s a mild habit for now, just a little stuttering, but it will gradually get better as time goes on. ¡°M, my legs are not hurting too¡ª¡± Ah. She was limping earlier, so it wasn¡¯t a habit. It seems that the slave document was putting her under pressure in order to tame her, who was once a noblewoman. Serdel tasted bitterness in her mouth. Laura cried like a child in Blenn¡¯s arms. Tears also flowed from Blenn¡¯s eyes. Serdel waited until the two calmed down. When she turned her attention to the sound of a sniffling nose she heard from somewhere, Dell was also squeezing tears out of his big eyes and had a runny nose. [Nuna¡ª] He suddenly came to her. Serdel, who suddenly needed to soothe even Dell, let out a low sigh and patted him on the back. Thirty minutes later, Blenn and Laura, who had managed to calm down, looked at themselves with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Blenn apologized first. ¡°What¡¯s there to be sorry about?¡± It was very beautiful to watch the handsome man cry. The two red eyes that had stopped crying were also quite attractive. ¡®If the maids saw it, they would have gone crazy.¡¯ ¡°L, Lady. T, thank you so much.¡± Laura, who stepped forward, bowed her head over and over again. And then she hesitated for a moment, ¡°I, if you want to accept it, I want to repay you for the favor by staying at Lady¡¯s side¡ª. Will it be okay?¡± How can siblings be so alike? Serdel looked at Blenn. As if the conversation had already ended, he only calmed down at Laura¡¯s words. She tried to say if they¡¯re doing this because they¡¯re grateful, they don¡¯t have to. But she thought it would hurt the decision they made. Serdel pulled the rope. ¡°Did you call me?¡± Until before, there was only a maid in the hallway. ¡®Did you come and wait in the meantime?¡¯ Monem came in. ¡°She¡¯s going to work from today. I¡¯d like Monem to educate her.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. Follow me.¡± Despite the sudden order, Monem was not surprised. When the stern-faced woman turned her back first, Laura followed after her with determined eyes. ¡°Thank you for accepting my sister, Lady.¡± ¡°Thank you for vowing loyalty. I feel reassured because of you.¡± ¡°But¡ª Is it okay?¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°If they find out that Laura¡ª is a child bought from a slave market¡ª.¡± It was something Serdel had already thought of when she brought Laura into the Count¡¯s House. Even if all the slave market employees were killed, there would be a number of nobles who saw Laura because of the slave list they obtained in advance, like Count Solette. ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ll dye her hair first.¡± ¡°No. You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± Rather, if she disguised herself vaguely, she might only face strange suspicions when she was found out later. ¡°I¡¯ll gain power by then, so don¡¯t worry.¡± It is not known publicly that the slave market was burned, and in fact, there weren¡¯t even many rumors about it . The only one they really needed to be wary of was Count Maient, who saw both Dell and Laura up close, and knew Serdel was at the slave market. She forced herself to swallow her anxiety. However, Blenn¡¯s eyes darkened as if there was no choice. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Lady.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing you should be sorry about. I¡¯ve said this over and over again, but you did your best. So stop being sorry and be happy now.¡± She smiled, but Blenn couldn¡¯t smile. He gently avoided Serdel¡¯s gaze. Not noticing this, she stretched a bit and got up from her seat. ¡°Would you like to go out in the hallway for a moment?¡± Serdel, who brought in a maid, took off her dress and changed it into a shirt and pants. She also tied her hair. Serdel pointed with her chin to Blenn, who was waiting. ¡°There¡¯s a place I want to go. Follow me.¡± ***** The place where Serdel took Blenn was the military training ground. The knights who were training stopped moving when they saw her. Some knights smile broadly saying they are glad to see her or greeted her first. Since Siri became a disciple of the vice captain, Serdel also paid more attention to them, and it was thanks to this fact that they became quite close. ¡°Lady, it¡¯s nice to see you.¡± Everyone welcomed the two¡¯s entry with a loud welcome. Siri¡¯s face is also bright. It¡¯s been a while since Serdel saw her, and she looked quite skilful even among the well trained knights. Perhaps due to the hard training, she lost a lot of baby fat, but her body looked healthier thanks to her muscles. ¡°That maid, I think she put a lot of effort into her training. Her body shape has completely changed to one that can hold a sword compared to before.¡± Blenn muttered lowly when he saw Siri. ¡°Mana is also building up well in her body. I don¡¯t think you need to worry.¡± He also added. Even though she didn¡¯t ask, Blenn calmed down her mind that had been worrying about Siri with a few words. There was more consideration in his actions compared to before when he was more indifferent. On the other hand, Siri hardened her forehead when she saw Blenn standing next to Serdel. As if she didn¡¯t like it a lot. It was the same with other knights. ¡°What brought you here today, Lady?¡± The vice-captain approached her. ¡°I think I need to build up some stamina before going on an expedition. But I can¡¯t just go for a walk in the garden.¡± Hearing Serdel¡¯s words, the vice-captain nodded with a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. You know, the Master was very worried. But¡ª¡± Glancing, his gaze turned to Blenn, who stood next to her. ¡°Why did you bring this guy?¡± His eyes also gradually changed. ¡°It was only when I was testing Siri that it was allowed and also because Sir Addis didn¡¯t stop it, but originally the training ground is like a sanctuary where only the Count¡¯s people can enter.¡± The vice captain explained pointedly. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know. Therefore, Blenn stood outside on his own even when he followed her in and out of the training ground. ¡°Please get him out.¡± With a stern face, the vice-captain refused Blenn. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside, Lady.¡± Blenn also didn¡¯t want to make the knights uncomfortable, so he took a step back. ¡°Stop, Blenn.¡± Her lowered voice stopped Blenn in a second. ¡°Vice-captain Hasid. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. But he¡¯s my man, and he¡¯ll soon become the Count¡¯s people. Even if that¡¯s not the case, don¡¯t you know that he¡¯ll go on an expedition with me? Shouldn¡¯t he slowly warm-up? To keep me safe.¡± ¡°Lady. Speaking of which, there are many knights here that want to protect you.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t just protect me. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± On this day, including the vice-captain, more than half of the knights remain in this place. It¡¯s because they have to protect Cartal and the mansion. Instead, there were knights in the territory, so they were going to take them to the forest. Whether it¡¯s a knight in the mansion or a knight in the territory. They had clear priorities. The head of the family and his successor were the beings that had to be protected at all costs. However, Addis was strong, so the first person the knights had to protect was Redan. Because if something happens to Addis Redan has to be the successor. In a moment of crisis, she had no choice but to be pushed aside. The vice captain¡¯s mouth was closed. ¡°Oh, I hope you don¡¯t feel bad about it. Don¡¯t think about it sadly.¡± She attempted to comfort them. ¡°I¡¯m not offended, but I¡¯m a little upset that I can¡¯t refute it. But Lady. For us, you¡¯re also a precious master that must be protected too. Just know that our heart for you is never shallow.¡± Saying that he glanced up and down Blenn for a moment. As if he was checking to see if Blenn was qualified to protect her as if he could see Blenn¡¯s skills. In response, Blenn showed a little of the energy that he had been capturing until now. CH 49 At that moment, the vice captain¡¯s eyes became sharp. There was even some tension on his face. ¡°You have great skills at a young age.¡± It¡¯s to the extent that calling it great is an understatement. It¡¯s because he¡¯s hiding his power, in reality he¡¯s probably not only stronger than the vice-captain but maybe even stronger than Addis. When Blenn collected his energy, the vice-captain smacked his lips. As a person who especially likes talented people, he is reluctant and regretful because he doesn¡¯t know where Blenn came from. ¡°I can¡¯t give you much space because the knights have to train.¡± ¡°I have no intention of disturbing you. I¡¯m just going to warm up my body. Can I do it over there?¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± The vice captain¡¯s permission had officially been granted. Serdel went with Blenn to a secluded corner. The curious eyes of the knights followed them, but the training that had been stopped at the command from the vice-captain resumed. Only Siri looked at her and Blenn with an anxious look. ¡°From now on, I¡¯m going to do basic physical training for about two hours a day. So, try to attract their interest and attention while doing individual training.¡± ¡°Are you talking about being close to each other?¡± ¡°Yeah. That would be good for you, too. You have to keep staying here, but you¡¯ll feel lonely when you¡¯re isolated.¡± She originally intended to keep him close, but she changed her mind because of the anxiety that Redan¡¯s presence gave her. As soon as possible she hoped that Blenn could naturally mend the gap between them and join forces. ¡°I understand.¡± A smile satisfied with Blenn¡¯s answer was naturally made. ¡°But even if I get close to them, I¡¯ll be by your side. Because I¡¯m not the Count¡¯s man, but I¡¯m my Lady¡¯s man.¡± It seems that he was bothered about what she said to the vice-captain earlier. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural that you pledged your loyalty to me?¡± Blenn, who had hoped Serdel would be a little touched, nodded with a slightly disappointed look. ¡°Okay, shall we get started? But what should I do first to build up my stamina?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never done anything other than breathing.¡± Serdel looked at Blenn who just looked at her stunned. ¡°¡ªI think it¡¯s better to warm up lightly first.¡± First, she followed Blenn¡¯s instructions. ¡°What should I do?¡± He demonstrated it again. ¡°What do I do here? Arms like this? Legs here? How far should I stretch?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Blenn, who was already speechless, just shook his head. ***** ¡®Simple is always the best.¡¯ Blenn¡¯s way of warming up was not suitable for her. He was a warrior deep down, and none of his moves were easy. Without a potion, she would have suffered from muscle pain properly. Since then, Serdel has just run until her limit. Even if she was out of breath, she ran, ran, and ran more and more. Then, on the 5th day, as soon as physical training was finished, she went home on horseback instead of by carriage. It was quite far from the Count Robbesta territory, and it was exhausting because she had to make sure to maintain her balance. She was stubborn and wanted to go on the expedition so she knew she could not cause any inconvenience. And to do that she had to get to a respectable level since the expedition wasa place where only people with monster-like stamina could gather. Fortunately, Serdel, who is not as good at most physical activities, liked horseback riding, so her body was quite suited to riding. Thanks to it, she enjoyed riding a horse. Just running fast through the cool wind seemed to open her heart. ¡°Lady, slow down! You¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Riding alongside her, Blenn shouted anxiously. Serdel turned her head. As she always thought, his silver hair fluttering in the wind was very pretty. The wall keeping his heart closed off was completely torn down and his eyes full of trust were only directed at her. ¡°It¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I like it. Because it feels like we¡¯re alive, and I feel safe. Because you¡¯re protecting me.¡± When she sees Blenn and Laura these days, she often feels overwhelmed. That a person who had died in the past escaped from a miserable fate and even worse demise. And that she¡¯s the one who saves their lives. It was comforting to see that they were steadily enduring the rehabilitation right in front of her eyes. Her confidence that she will not fail has also become stronger. ¡®I can go back.¡¯ Her hope had also grown. Even if there¡¯s no one who welcomes her. Living as someone other than herself became both depressing and frightening as time continued to pass. It was even worse because she had already experienced the ending a long time ago. Serdel, who turned her gaze back to the front, suddenly became bitter. ¡°Giddy up!¡± She sped up more. Blenn stared at Serdel, who was ahead. Rather than enduring the wind, the small and slender back seemed to be pushed down. As he came to his senses, he quickly approached her side and looked sideways. While he was disappointed that she no longer looked at him, her eyes steadfastly looking straight to the front were so beautiful. And he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off of her. At the same time. ¡°I like it. Because it feels like we¡¯re alive, and I feel safe. Because you¡¯re protecting me.¡° Her words rang in his ears. His neck turned red. ****** ¡°You¡¯ve been going out a lot lately, haven¡¯t you? With that jerk too.¡± After washing and having dinner Serdel was looking over some documents in her study, Redan, who came in after a few knocks, came to pick a fight. ¡°Brother, judging by your outfit you¡¯ve also been out; where did you go?¡± ¡°I had something to do.¡± ¡°I also went out because I had something to do.¡± ¡°¡ªThey say you¡¯re going to a horseback riding lesson?¡± He seems to have heard from the butler about her schedule. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been fond of riding horses since you were little. You¡¯re afraid of a lot of things, but strangely, you¡¯re not afraid of horses.¡± Standing by the door and crossing his arms, he looked like he was reminiscing about past memories. He smiled. His tired face also brightened a little. ¡°You don¡¯t know how nervously I watched you, father, mother, and me, fearing that you might fall. Do you remember? At that time, you stumbled and lost your focus, so father was trying to catch you, but instead, you fell down, and mother saw that later¡ª¡± His mouth, which was humming excitedly alone, closed. What should she do if he were hurt by her words? ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°¡ªHuh?¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t remember.¡± Serdel replied indifferently because she hated the silence. Of course, this was not a lie. The warm memory of the past that Redan was fondly speaking of was really not in her head. ¡°Ah¡ªYou¡¯re right, you were too young, so it¡¯s natural that you don¡¯t have any memory of it.¡± Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head. For a while too. ¡°I heard you went to the training ground. How is it? Are you building up your stamina?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Hey, is that all you have to say? Why are your answers always so short?¡± He came closer while grumbling, then rolled his eyes and pulled a box from his pocket tossing it onto her desk carelessly. ¡°What is this? No way you¡¯re going to say, ¡®I just picked it up while I was coming back¡¯?¡± As if Serdel had guessed exactly what he was going to say, Redan¡¯s shoulders flinched. ¡°Do you think your brother is such a lame and boring guy? Tsk. You drank that low-grade potion, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good for fatigue recovery.¡± ¡°Ha. Yes, you will never build up your stamina if you keep using that. Even if you exercise your hardest using a low-grade potion will just return you to your original, weak, state. Do you drink it knowing that?¡± When she opened the box, there were several round pills. ¡°Is that why you picked this up so that I can use it instead of a low-grade potion?¡± ¡°I bought it! I bought it! Where can you just pick up this expensive thing? Do you know how much it costs? Damn it. You need to build up your strength. Even if you have muscle pain, you need to have more strength to increase your stamina!¡± He, who was angry, let out a sigh as he saw her who didn¡¯t respond at all. Tuk. Again, he took out another box. When she opened it, it was chocolate. ¡°Because medicine is a bit bitter¡ªtake this to wash away the taste. It¡¯s popular with Young Ladies these days¡ª. Wow, just how long was that line? I almost spent all day in line.¡± With a shallow boast, he turned around, touching his nose for no reason. She was a little confused because she didn¡¯t know Redan would take care of her like this. ¡°¡ªI will leave.¡± Redan, acting shy, began striding toward the door then suddenly turned again and approached with frightening momentum. Today, he was so unpredictable. CH 50 ¡°Hey! Open the medicine box again. Hurry up.¡± When she opened the lid with a fierce urge, he picked up one pill and put it in her mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave you. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t eat it after just tasting it. So eat it in front of me.¡± The bitter smell poked her nose. Her forehead frowned. She didn¡¯t want to eat it right away, and she couldn¡¯t open her mouth at all because of the awful smell of medicinal herbs. ¡°Aa, do it. It¡¯s good for your health.¡± Redan¡¯s worried eyes had the power to convince her mouth open even if she didn¡¯t open it right away. She was embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ll eat it on my own later¡ª¡± She turned her head to say no, but his fingers slipped into her mouth and forced the pill in. With only the pills left. ¡°Uph!¡± As soon as it touched her tongue, she was about to spit it out in surprise and shock at the terrible taste but then he covered her mouth with his hand. Hmph! ¡°It¡¯s okay, Serdel. It¡¯s just a little bitter. Just close your eyes and chew quickly. You can¡¯t spit it out! Do you know how expensive this is?¡± Uph hmph! ¡°Even if it¡¯s disgusting, they said it only contains precious herbs, so I ordered it and waited for two weeks! Besides, not everyone can buy this. So just swallow it! Swallow it!¡± ¡°Uhh¡ª!¡± ¡°Ah, really. How come you were like this when you were young, and you still can¡¯t take medicine now that you¡¯re all grown up!¡± Redan¡¯s nagging continued, but she couldn¡¯t hear it well because her ears were ringing. Uph, uph, she forcibly resisted the feeling of nausea that was about to force her previous meals out of her. After recovering from that, she managed to push the pill down to her throat. She suffered a lot. To the point where she didn¡¯t want to eat it again. She almost cried. After confirming that she had finished eating, he took out a chocolate and put it in her mouth. She felt like her stomach was calming down because of the sweetness. Wiping his palms with a handkerchief, he continued to click his tongue. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go if you just hide it somewhere and don¡¯t eat it. Hey, rat! Make sure your owner eats this well. If she doesn¡¯t eat or tries to throw it away, bite her nose. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll understand what I¡¯m saying.¡± Just in time, he pointed his finger at Dell, who came inside through the window, and shouted. [That human poo¡ª Why do you always call me rat?¡ª] ¡°I¡¯m going to check if you ate them!¡± Redan ended his tirade with a threat and walked out. Serdel still felt faint. It felt like a rough typhoon had swept through. She felt exhausted. Apart from the traumatizing taste, her energy quickly recovered. There was definitely a difference from eating potion. It felt like her body was being cleansed. It felt like every muscle was renewed. [Nuna?] Dell, who jumped onto the desk, shook his tail. ¡®Oh, how did it go?¡¯ Dell sighed a lot. [It was hard. Dell is tired because he had so much work] He lied down while blinking. She put a candy in Dell¡¯s mouth, who¡¯s whole being exuded exhaustion.. Even then, maybe it wasn¡¯t enough, since he kept opening his mouth. Eventually, it was only after eating a few more pieces that Dell began to relax by rolling the candy around his mouth. [I think I¡¯m going to live now] Phew¡ª. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Not too long ago, he revealed the fact that he built his own network using birds. From the mind-connected birds, and from the worms they call Dell received an unbearable amount of information. Serdel and Dell realized that their plan had a huge flaw. In particular, bugs with miniscule brains just relayed what they heard regardless of who was speaking. It was impossible to properly collect information amid the indiscriminate bombardment of words. In the end, Dell and Serdel stopped asking for the animals help, and decided to move themselves, although it would be somewhat dangerous. [I caught a lot of Lerre bugs on my way home and left them in the offices of aristocrats] ¡®Lerre bugs?¡¯ [Oh, you don¡¯t know about Lerre bugs? It¡¯s a transparent grass bug that sleeps for more than a year after living a busy life for just a month. Compared to other insects, their brain capacity is larger, so they¡¯ll be more discriminating when getting information. And when they¡¯re asleep, they don¡¯t have any willpower, so it¡¯s easier to deal with them.] It¡¯s her first time hearing about them. [And they¡¯re delicious! When I was in the forest, it was my staple food. I had no strength to hunt, I was hungry, and that was the only thing I could eat] Serdel stroked Dell¡¯s belly. [Hehe. I have engraved the voices of the nobles into my mind and listened closely, so I can get information more easily now.] Ah! The boy straightened up. [While we¡¯re at it, we looked at the memories of nearby trees, grass, and flowers. Wait a minute.] Woohoo, Dell is truly amazing. When Dell, who had closed his eyes, focused, his eyebrows shuddered. Instinctively, Serdel also closed her eyes. The memories Dell saw began to flow into her mind. This ability was only possible because of their connected souls. The amount of information was huge. Flowers had little memory due to their short flowering period, but trees had memories from recent times to decades ago. Her head was pounding furiously, working through all of the information. ¡®Dell, we don¡¯t need memories from too long ago.¡¯ There would have been no deep or controversial conversations in the garden. It¡¯s been a while since she and Dell had begun looking through the memories. When she opened her eyes again, the dawn was rising. At the same time, she had a splitting headache. ¡®Ugh.¡¯ For a moment, her forehead felt distorted from the pulsing of her brain. The headache gradually disappeared, perhaps because the energy of the pills remained in her body helping her recover. ¡®It¡¯s mostly a waste of time but it¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t have any harvest at all.¡¯ There was no clue regarding the Countess who she wanted the most information on. She didn¡¯t think it would be easy, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel like it was all in vain. But it was funny on the other hand. Redan was like this, too, which was the exact reason why he was able to preserve for such a long time. It seemed that she could finally understand the madness inside him. In addition, she was able to realize that she didn¡¯t know much about Redan. Because he is Serdel¡¯s family and brother. Even if they don¡¯t get along well, she thought that they knew each other well because of the memories left in her body. ¡®But it was an illusion.¡¯ A shuddering shock enveloped her. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡®Well¡ª¡¯ Knowing doesn¡¯t change anything. Now, she had little desire to know more about him. It was enough to know only as long as it would not interfere with her work, and it was enough to maintain that kind of relationship. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s the most appropriate.¡¯ As she turned her gaze away, suppressing her complicated feelings, she saw the box of medicine and chocolates that he had given her. Serdel¡¯s hand gained strength. The medicine that seemed able to make even the devil cry, and the way Redan force fed it to her was the worst. ¡®But¡ª I¡¯m not angry.¡¯ Because he showed concern about her in his eyes, voice, and actions. She couldn¡¯t bear to be angry. In addition, the chocolate, a sign of consideration, was very sweet and delicious. Unknowingly, she opened the lid and put a piece of chocolate in her mouth. The sweetness spread out. One more. She ate another piece and softness filled her mouth. The more she ate, the more complicated her mind became. Eventually, Serdel put both of the boxes in the desk drawer. ***** There are now ten days left before the official exploration sets off. Originally, they should have left earlier, but it was delayed as they changed their business partner to the Marquis of Spendar. This was because the weapons preparation and manpower that they decided to prepare were not yet fulfilled. But they couldn¡¯t say anything about it. Since it was a relationship that they formed in a hurry, they had no choice but to understand. However, only Serdel, who had something to gain, was growing more nervous day after day. Just in case the forest situation has changed. Her mind became more nervous, but she didn¡¯t show it. In addition to this, there were so many things that she had to pay attention to. [The mercenaries¡¯ preparations are progressing steadily.] Beyond the communication channel, Edwan¡¯s expression darkened. [Contracts were also concluded sequentially. After I finish the interior and the plates by next month, the display case and the items will come in.] As expected, he¡¯s competent. [And I think it would be good to differentiate it from other mercenaries, so I have entrusted the production request to the workshop for the products Nuna came up with.] His uprightness was thorough in terms of work, so he did not make an exception to the schedule he had once planned. He kept it sharp. [However, rumors are circulating among mercenaries in relation to me. They seem to know about a wealthy sponsor but don¡¯t know who it is, I think I¡¯m under surveillance. For the time being, I think we should be more careful about our actions. Please forgive me if I can¡¯t contact you often.] Edwan bowed his head. CH 51 [Count Sollette¡¯s movement could not be tracked. Although he usually likes to be out and about, it seems that the person who goes out several times a day has not been out of his mansion for several days.] Serdel¡¯s eyes hardened. [I approached the people in the house secretly and asked, but they all said they didn¡¯t know and shook their heads.] There¡¯s no way his eldest son has already moved to beat his father. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t have been ready yet, but what would he do?¡¯ [However, a maid who quit there recently told me that there was something different from usual.] ¡°Something different? What¡¯s different?¡± [He made orders as if he were at a restaurant, no matter how sick he was, but then he¡¯d lock himself in his bedroom and had only soup and sandwiches. Isn¡¯t it strange that he can¡¯t eat all of it?] ¡°I¡¯m sure something happened.¡± [I think so] ¡°What about Count Maient?¡± [Perhaps he noticed something strange, so he secretly sent a spy.] ¡°First of all, tell your friends in the back alley to keep an eye on them just in case, but avoid them immediately if they think it¡¯s dangerous. Tell them not to overdo it.¡± If they get caught for no reason, they¡¯ll find out that Edwan is behind them. Later, when they step on his tail, he will be revealed. [Yes, I understand.] After finishing the communication, Serdel tapped her chin. It was strange. ¡°By this time, Count Solette had made no issues.¡± She didn¡¯t have a good feeling. She couldn¡¯t think of anything for a long time. ¡°Lady. It is said that His Highness Falden will arrive in ten minutes.¡± At Monem¡¯s report, Serdel got up from her seat. Today was the day of final inspection before the official expedition, and the 2nd Prince as the representative of the imperial family also attended the meeting. When she went out, Cartal, Redan, and the butler had already come out first. Her eye meets Redan¡¯s. ¡°Why are you so late? And isn¡¯t the dress too fancy? Just wear something fancy like that in your room.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t fall off the bed and hit your head, did you?¡± ¡°Are you still half asleep? What are you talking about? ¡°You want me to reply seriously? Wear such a fancy dress only in my bedroom. You don¡¯t want to hear rumors that the youngest daughter of the Count is trembling alone, right?¡± ¡°¡ªThe way you talk. Why did you do your hair like this? Your accessories are too¡ª¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy today?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be busy for a while. Hey, did you take the medicine?¡± Serdel¡¯s forehead crumpled. ¡°The taste is unpleasant.¡± It¡¯s as if she¡¯s a sick person. ¡°It¡¯s all unpleasant. So, did you eat it?¡± ¡°I ate it. Why do you ask when you¡¯re getting reports from Monem?¡± ¡°Are you going crazy even if I take care of you? Tsk. Aren¡¯t you almost done eating all of them?¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s a shame that there¡¯s only a few pills left. I am eating them very well. Still, it is said that it is not easy to purchase because it is made of expensive and precious medicinal materials¡ª¡± ¡°Hey, I know that¡ª¡± Srrk, what he pulled out of his pocket was a small pocket pouch. It was an artifact with space expansion magic, and there were plenty of those damn pills inside. ¡°¡­.¡± The color was different from the last one, so she took out one piece and smelled it. The body trembled as it grew higher. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°Thank you, right? That¡¯s a better version. Heh, it was really hard.¡± It wasn¡¯t his intention to smile full of confidence, but his proud smile was really annoying. He twisted his lips and put the pill into his mouth. Rather, a satisfied smile was caught around his mouth. Serdel picked up another piece and smelled it. What is it? It just smells like it was taken out of a magical water, but does it actually taste amazing when you eat it? After thinking for a while, Serdel approached the butler, who made eye contact, and put one piece in his mouth. The butler¡¯s eyes widened in a sudden situation. He tried hard to move his mouth. His mustache danced rhythmically. ¡°Oh! Thank you, Lady. Nevertheless, I¡¯ve been so tired lately, but my body has become very light. How can you share such precious things with me? I was touched!¡± ¡°How does it taste?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very good!¡± Serdel took out another piece and sniffed it, then approached Cartal who was looking at her and put it in his mouth. ¡°¡­.¡± The mouth of Cartal, which was eaten with a pill, gradually hardened. His eyes trembled. The slow-moving jaw stopped at some point and he turned around. Something was strange, but Redan blocked his front as she tried to approach from the side. ¡°Hurry up and try it. You have to eat this well to withstand exploration.¡± ¡°¡ªI have to greet the guests now, so I¡¯ll eat it later.¡± ¡°So¡ª¡± He was about to take out a pill, and a white carriage came in with good timing. ¡°Tsk.¡± The carriage stopped a short distance away, Damon and Marquis Spendar got off. Serdel, who closed the pocket, approached to meet them. ¡®Uhm?¡¯ Cartal still had his back turned. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re more beautiful today, Young Lady.¡± I smiled with a short greeting. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I saw you. Marquis Spendar.¡± Redan was also greeted with courtesy. Oh! With a short exclamation, Marquis Spendar reached out first. ¡°I know. It¡¯s been a while since I saw you. How have you been!¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m still alive.¡± ¡°The brazen-facedness is still the same.¡± Marquis Spendar smiled and hit his arm. Then he glanced at Cartal. Cartal, who hurriedly drank water that was brought by the maid, eventually ate two pieces of chocolate in one bite, something he rarely did. ¡°Count, is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Haha¡ª¡± While Redan calmed down the situation with laughter, Cartal, who turned his body around, approached. ¡°Cough, you¡¯re here, cough.¡± ¡°Oh, is there anything wrong with your body¡ª¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± There was an unfamiliar feeling of embarrassment in the voice that answered. Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. She alternately looked at the pocket, Redan, Cartal, and the butler standing in the distance. The butler¡¯s face was very calm. How can they react so differently when they ate the same thing? ¡°Young Lady, it¡¯s been a long time. You look better than the last time I saw you.¡± Damon came closer and grabbed her hand and kissed it. ¡°Sir Damon looks very good, too.¡± In response to Serdel, he smiled and she put her mouth close to his ear. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯ve been training so hard. I¡¯m working out four hours a day.¡± Redan¡¯s eyebrows twitched as he saw them whispering playfully. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Sir Damon.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Stepping forward, he gently pushed Serdel back with his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough, but I look forward to your kind cooperation. Sir Redan.¡± ¡°I have to make a request. You have no idea how reassuring it feels to be able to handle my family¡¯s business like this.¡± With a smirk, he slammed the wall between himself and Damon. She was thinking of pinching the wide back in front of her. Apart from that, Redan¡¯s dealing against Damon looked a little different. His expression and tone were so relaxed. Better than Damon¡¯s in some ways. It was also different from Addis, who always showed an inflexible and rigid appearance regardless of position or person. It was so strange that she was looking at it without realizing it, and a black carriage broke through the gate with a loud noise and speed. As soon as the carriage stopped, the coachman moved. But even before he approached the side of the carriage, the door opened, and a tall man jumped down. It was the 2nd Prince, Falden Asladen. Unorganized red hair stretched out here and there, making the already sharp impression fiercer. ¡°I¡¯m seeing the 2nd Prince.¡± Marquis Spendar and Cartal politely greeted him. ¡°It¡¯s been a while for both of you.¡± After greeting them with an indifferent face, he turned, looking for someone. ¡°I see Your Highness the 2nd Prince, I¡¯m Damon Spendar, the successor of the Marquis Spendar.¡± ¡°Redan Robbesta, it¡¯s been a while since I saw Your Highness.¡± ¡°Nice to see you.¡± The prince mildly dismissed the two men. Passing by the two he stood right in front of Serdel. As if his purpose was to meet her. There was some confusion about whether the ¡®nice to see you¡¯ was directed to Damon and Redan or to her. CH 52 Gulp, Serdel swallowed automatically. She replied as calmly as possible. ¡°Serdel Robbesta greets His Highness the second prince.¡± On the other hand, he did not answer. He just looked down at her. His shadow, which was hanging over her partially, completely covered her. Serdel, trapped in the dark shadow, couldn¡¯t even step back. ¡°I was curious what the Young Lady¡¯s expression would look like when you saw me.¡± Unknowingly, his gaze ran up her body. A dark arc was drawn on the corner of his mouth. The dark emotion that filled his golden eyes was his interest in her. ¡°It¡¯s fun.¡± After saying that, he turned around. Cartal, who had hardened his eyes, took the lead in following the prince. Long after, Serdel, Redan, and Damon followed him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Redan¡¯s chin was tense asking about the situation. If Damon wasn¡¯t next to him, all sorts of words would have come out of his mouth. ¡°Did you have anything to do with the second prince?¡± Unexpectedly, Damon also showed interest. Serdel internally swallowed a sigh, she looked away and her eyes met his. Some kind of message was transmitted from him through his serious look. Redan¡¯s eyes looking between the two alternately became fierce in an instant. If they hadn¡¯t arrived at the meeting room just then it might have been quite troublesome. ¡°Damn it. Talk to me later.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later, Young Lady.¡± At the same time, Redan and Damon looked at each other for a while and turned their heads without saying anything to each other. ***** As they sat around the round table, the butler and the maid placed refreshments in front of each person. ¡°First of all, before the full-fledged meeting begins, Your Highness, I would appreciate it if you could look at this first.¡± Damon handed the prince a bunch of documents. They were documents related to the exploration and development exchanged between the two royal families. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard from time to time, but the details are¡ª¡± ¡°Ah, it would be more helpful in understanding the upcoming meeting to read these for yourself.¡± With an indifferent look Prince Falden looked at the documents that were handed to him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Starting with one short, heavy groan, Falden¡¯s eyes and fingers moved quickly. Only the sound of flipping papers filled the air. Raising his head again, he crossed his arms. Suddenly, his eyes changed. Knock, knock. Just in time, the butler opened the door to the knock. ¡°Forgive me for being late.¡± It was Addis. As if she had come in a hurry, she greeted Prince Falden first, wiping off the sweat on her chin. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just sit down.¡± Sitting next to Serdel, she greeted Marquis Spendar and Damon. Then she whispered to Serdel a little. ¡°How have you been?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been doing well.¡± ¡°Your complexion seems to have brightened up a lot.¡± ¡°You seem to have gotten a lot better, too, Sister.¡± The conversation did not flow smoothly. It was more awkward to deal with Addis than before. It seems like it¡¯s because it¡¯s been a while since she has been back. ¡°Ah, Your Highness. The captain and I decided to join outside the castle on the day of the expedition.¡± Addis added. Falden nodded. ¡°Now, I think everyone is here, so let¡¯s start the meeting.¡± He gestured at Cartal and Marquis Spendar to begin. His attitude was arrogant. Then Damon got up from his seat. He first handed out the newly prepared documents one by one. ¡°This is the expedition schedule. Please take a look first.¡± It was full of contents inside. Just looking at how tight the plan is, it makes her exhausted. ¡°Since Elbash Forest is an unknown forest, there is a high chance that things will not go as planned¡ª¡± ¡°If you know that, you shouldn¡¯t prepare it like this, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Falden, who put down the documents, suddenly argued. Marquis Spendar¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Of course, in theory, it¡¯s perfectly safe.¡± He lazily buried himself in the chair. ¡°Moreover, it makes me want to applaud you just for being aware of the possibility that things won¡¯t go as planned. But even so, it doesn¡¯t change that you¡¯re going to move on based on this plan, right?¡± Falden sneer at him. ¡°What if we fail? What are you going to do then?¡± ¡°We have to move according to the situation.¡± ¡°You talk lightly. If that¡¯s the case, is there any need to gather here?¡± His words struck straight to the bone. Falden looked around everyone. Damon¡¯s words continued before his mouth opened. ¡°I¡¯ve never said this plan is perfect, we don¡¯t even have a map of this place. We are fully aware of the possibility of failure, as we have mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, we need to set the order of priorities.¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± Damon remained unshakable even when a slow burst of laughter poured out. ¡°We can¡¯t go into a mess without measures, can we? Don¡¯t worry about failure. We have prepared a number of measures. Here are these documents¡ª¡± ¡°Ah, you really know nothing about the world. You think that the world you devised is the whole reality. You don¡¯t even know there¡¯s a frog in a well.¡± The atmosphere in the hall became cold as if cold water had been poured on everyone. ¡°The measures that Sir spoke of. How long do you think it will work in a real forest? Let me just ask one thing. What if you fail even after using every contingency plan you¡¯ve thought of? What do you think will happen then?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Everyone dies. They might die as they panic and can¡¯t remember the new plans. That¡¯s the danger of an unknown forest.¡± Silence fell. Falden pushed forward the first document he had looked at. ¡°Now, shall we discuss realistic matters? First of all, there are too many people on the expeditions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to put as many people as possible to check it out quickly¡ª¡± ¡°No. If it were me, I would reduce the number of personnel and focus more on subjugating monsters. Do you know how negatively it affects their mentality if people die from the start?¡± Damon¡¯s words were forcibly cut off by the prince. ¡°In addition, the forest was stimulated to aggression by hunters who first found the mine.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It means that there is a high possibility that the nerves of the monsters are sharp. But what if a large number of people wander around again? Do you think they will stand still?¡± Damon¡¯s grip on the documents was tense. ¡°Monster-related countermeasures are not bad. No, it was rather good to deal with it in detail because I didn¡¯t know how many monsters there would be. But if there¡¯s one thing that I¡¯ve overlooked, it¡¯s their intelligence.¡± Tok. His finger hit the desk. ¡°Just because it¡¯s a monster doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t have a brain. Smart ones like them sometimes play with humans. If that¡¯s all they do, that¡¯s a relief, but what if they don¡¯t?¡± ¡°As it is an unknown forest, there is a high possibility that many races that we¡¯ve yet to encounter are hiding.¡± Serdel¡¯s murmur drew everyone¡¯s attention to her. ¡°You understand what I¡¯m saying quickly. Right, as the young lady said, what if you encounter a race that uses magic or spirits? That¡¯s when the battle gets more complicated. In that sense, your plan is too unrealistic.¡± When it comes to it, monsters were like a species in the forest. They were more sensitive to the energy of nature than humans, and they accepted it quite freely. There are probably a few, not many, of them who are born with this ability. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡ªit would be advantageous to quickly explore with the right number of people, gather as much information as possible, and start subjugating immediately.¡± The original plan was to go back for subjugation a month after the expedition was over. She thought this was too slow. Unexpected situations may happen suddenly, a month would be too long. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t give them any time.¡± Serdel narrowed her forehead. ¡®Is this the reason why the damage was great in the past?¡¯ At that time, three months had passed between the expedition ending and the subjugation beginning. Because the imperial family withdrew in the middle of the three month gap, the subjugation team had no choice but to take replacements. Morale gradually fell, and the manpower gathered as replacements were not well absorbed into the existing force, although their skills were also good. In the end, quite a few people were needlessly sacrificed. She had previously believed that the cause was that the imperial family did not give them any help at all. ¡®But if the cause of the failure was the time difference, the damage would probably have been similar even if they had been with the imperial family.¡¯ Soon, there was talk of going back for subjugation two months after the expedition. Serdel watched Falden again. Due to the restrictions of the Empress, the mother of the 1st Prince, he was never able to stay in the palace for long. He was always sent somewhere and had to fight with his life at stake. This occurred so frequently that he had more experience on the battlefield than the knight Addis. Damon, on the other hand, had never been driven so far into a corner that he needed to take action himself. The differences were obvious especially now when this side is only discussing a rigid plan, Falden immediately grasped obvious holes in the plan and added a sense of reality through his extended experience. CH 53 ¡°How many troops did our two families gather?¡± ¡°Counting the knights, the squires, soldiers, and the mercenaries we hired, it will be about 3,000.¡± (T/n : before I put ?? as servant but I changed it to squire, the meaning is like a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself.) Damon answered Falden¡¯s question. His pride should be hurt, but he didn¡¯t seem bothered by it. Rather, he quickly threw away the parts he thought were wrong. He was different from an ordinary nerd because he was quite flexible. ¡°It¡¯s 3,000. It¡¯s not bad, but it¡¯s not a lot.¡± ¡°If you only count people who we could use for exploration and can join the subjugation squad, it¡¯s never a small number.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it true that there are not enough talented people who can be used in various ways? No matter how good the number is, it¡¯s always useless if most aren¡¯t useful.¡± There were certainly more soldiers and mercenaries than the number of knights or squires. No matter how A-class mercenaries were, their skills are more or less the same as most squires. In a way, Falden¡¯s complaint was also natural. Tsk. As he clicked his tongue, he suddenly looked at her gently. She was embarrassed by the sudden long gaze coming from the second prince. ¡°The meeting should continue, but I¡¯ll be leaving for a while. Young Lady, I have something to tell you, so follow me.¡± He got up from his seat. ¡°Your Highness. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s causing you to call my sister separately, but if it¡¯s not important that it¡¯s confidential, please tell her here.¡± Addis gave a sad look. Redan even held Serdel¡¯s arm. Cartal didn¡¯t show much, but he seemed uncomfortable. ¡®Cough, cough!¡¯ He spit out a cough. Damon¡¯s face also grew darker when his plans were ignored. Only Marquis Spendar quietly looked at his son, the 2nd Prince, and then Serdel alternately. ¡°It¡¯s not something to talk about here.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s something you can¡¯t say in front of everyone, don¡¯t say it. What are you doing ahead of something important?¡± ¡°Addis Robbesta. Don¡¯t be rude. Who do you think I am?¡± Falden said with a tense smile. Despite the smile on his face, a sense of intimidation that was hard to resist emanated from him. ¡°Your Highness the 2nd Prince.¡± But Addis returned his energy instead of being pushed back. Ha. Falden swept his hair back. ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot. Then I¡¯ll ask Dame¡¯s sister, Serdel Robbesta.¡± She was nervous not knowing what could come out of his mouth. For some reason, it didn¡¯t seem like there would be many good things he could say. ¡°I¡¯ll follow you¡­and Sister (Addis), stop it too.¡± ¡°Serdel!¡± Standing up, Serdel looked at Redan, who was not willing to let go of her. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°¡­Sit down.¡± ¡°Let me go. Otherwise, I won¡¯t take the medicine and I¡¯ll burn it all instead.¡± She shook the pocket full of blood curdling pills. ¡°Hey! Do you know how precious those are?¡± But Serdel didn¡¯t blink an eye. Ugh, he grinded his teeth and Redan eventually let go of her arm. ¡°Young Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Please take care of the meeting, Sir Damon.¡± Serdel, who turned her head resolutely, stood in front of Falden. ¡°Follow me.¡± Where should she guide him? While she contemplated, they left the building and headed to the indoor garden. ***** After sending out Rudella, the maid, who was watering the trees, became a watcher at the entrance of the garden, Serdel boiled water to make tea by herself. ¡®I only know how to drink, I¡¯m nervous doing it myself.¡¯ As a daughter of a noble family, ¡®Serdel¡¯ also learned tea ceremony etiquette, which is considered basic manners. However, Serdel in the past, who was not good with her hands, made frequent mistakes. That¡¯s the same for the current Serdel. Strangely, she was not good at using her hands since she was young. Because of that, it was awkward for her body to do something unfamiliar. ¡°Young Lady. It¡¯s okay, just leave it.¡± It seems obvious that everything is unstable. She was embarrassed for no reason. ¡°Then who¡¯s going to make the tea?¡± Should she bring Rudella? For a while, Falden, who was scratching his forehead, beckoned her to step away. Instead of Serdel, who was sitting on a chair, he used his hands very skillfully, making it look effortless. ¡°¡ªYou are delicate.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good at everything I do with my hands. Besides, it¡¯s comfortable for me to move by myself.¡± It¡¯s not a big deal if she just listened to it, but considering his status, it was an answer that showed complicated circumstances. ¡®Well, most of the maids of the imperial palace must be under the control of the Empress.¡¯ The food they gave would not have been safe or of the best quality. Now that he has a lot of his own people around him, he may feel relieved, but he must have been anxious day after day until he got to that point. He would have no choice but to pay hyper alert to everything he does and consumes. ¡°Try it.¡± The finished tea was placed in front of her. The tea tasted quite soft. She liked it so much that she smiled without realizing it. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good? Young Lady will be the only one who has had the Prince serve her tea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Then he sat across from her. Their eyes and the atmosphere changed completely. ¡°What do you think I¡¯ll say to you, Young Lady?¡± The tone was still friendly and playful, but the boundaries seen in his eyes were not amicable. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Well, are there too many things that you can¡¯t even guess, right?¡± The expression ¡°too many¡± was annoying. There were not many close encounters with him to the extent that such words could be used. ¡°That silver haired man I saw in the gladiatorial arena. How is he? I¡¯ve been wanting him a lot. I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d lose him to the Young Lady.¡± ¡°I heard about that from my sister.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª back then, my resentment remained quite strong, and as soon as I saw Sir Addis, I complained quite a bit.¡± As his gentle attitude continued, the tension disappeared from the room and he gradually calmed down. Come to think of it, it seems to have always been like this at the moment of crisis. Serdel, who put down the teacup, smiled. ¡®Even if I have to get close to this man for the ending at least, for now, I don¡¯t have to.¡¯ He is now a colleague who will walk the same path, as well as an enemy who might steal what she owns. ¡°But I lost someone to Young Lady again this time. Do you know how hard I tried to win Edwan¡¯s heart?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re the man with beautiful blonde hair and a black spot under one eye.¡± Serdel asked. ¡°What is this, were you watching me?¡± ¡°No way. I heard about this and that while talking with Edwan, and I was just curious about who did that for him, so I asked him what they looked like. Edwan¡¯s drawing skills were of high quality. That¡¯s when I first found out.¡± ¡°Since when did you aim for him?¡± Falden seemed convinced she was doing it on purpose. ¡°I didn¡¯t aim for him. I found out because he was marrying a maid of my family.¡± ¡°Ha¡ª!¡± Falden, who turned his head, swept his hair roughly. The fingertips, which were meticulous when he made tea, were strained with irritation. ¡°What? Did I get pushed out by the lucky one? I¡¯m speechless.¡± Fortunately, from his tone of voice, it was unlikely that she would be forced to give up on Edwan or ask to return him. ¡®In the first place, when he took that much time to win people over, it must have been for the purpose of gaining pure loyalty rather than forcing them with authority.¡¯ That way, he won¡¯t be betrayed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it weird? The two of us.¡± There was no hint of playfulness on his face when he looked straight ahead. ¡°How can things always overlap like this? In addition, the winner is always the Young Lady.¡± Startle. She clenched her hand under the table tightly as she jolted in her chair. His gaze on her seemed like a predator just before it ate its prey. Goosebumps ran down on her spine. The pressure that made her feel like she might die in an instant had squeezed her neck. ¡°Tell me what you want. Isn¡¯t there something you want to say when you called me separately?¡± ¡°Smart and bold. As expected, I didn¡¯t see it wrong on the gladiatorial field that day.¡± He slowly leaned back and leaned against the back of the chair, crossing his legs. ¡°I wish I could join the Young Lady¡¯s mercenary business.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t want you to?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you can say no? Young Lady, our calculating Emperor is not very interested in the Count¡¯s business. He¡¯s just being polite to the family that has followed him for a long time. He might even want to step out of the car the moment you drive it.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying let¡¯s negotiate.¡± ¡°Then I will ask you one thing. If His Majesty asks you to step back, do you have the power to prevent that?¡± ¡°When arrogance pokes into the sky, it¡¯s easy to drop ones slender neck in an instant¡ª¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try it once.¡± ¡°¡ªWhat?¡± ¡°Try to drop my neck once.¡± She forcibly calmed her trembling breath. He wouldn¡¯t know boundaries if she conceded with a low attitude from the beginning. Once she raised the bridge of her nose, she had to keep pushing. To avoid being swayed by his judgemental eyes. CH 54 ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s Your Highness¡¯ only card. You didn¡¯t disguise yourself just to get Edwan right?¡± One corner of Falden¡¯s lips went up. Commoners don¡¯t know his face very well. He wouldn¡¯t get caught even if he didn¡¯t disguise himself. Even so, he must have been conscious of the eyes that were chasing him for purchasing things like that. Knowing that he can¡¯t fool their eyes with just hair color and a dot. Rather, he used it in reverse and held them so that their gaze was directed only at him. ¡®As Edwan guessed, he must have sponsored an orphanage or something.¡¯ Externally, it is. And in fact, it is highly likely that he secretly used his subordinates to do other things. ¡°Your Highness¡¯ cards are not Your Highness¡¯. You can¡¯t threaten me with a card that will change depending on His Majesty¡¯s heart. On the contrary, my cards can put Your Highness in crisis at any time.¡± ¡°Ah, is that so? Haha. Hahahahaha! Ah, I ate one bite without even thinking about this. Try it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try to put you in crisis. Would it be fun?¡± It didn¡¯t feel good. She thought that maybe he had another card in his hand that could shake her up. ¡®No way, it can¡¯t be, right?¡¯ He has never seemed like he had such a strong card. Maybe it¡¯s just an unreasonable anxiety¡ª. ¡®Why is it so ominous?¡¯ ¡°Ah¡ª I¡¯ll fall for you. Young Lady.¡± What does he like so much to laugh like that? ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were such a charming person.¡± He continued to praise her. Her hands that gripped the skirt of her dress felt clammy. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll show you. The card the Young Lady wants.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°No matter what His Majesty does, I will block everything on my own. I will take full responsibility for Count Robbesta¡¯s business until the end. I swear.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t respond right away. ¡°Ah, is this weak enough? After all, a person who is bold enough to threaten the Prince couldn¡¯t bend easily right?¡± He implored again, speaking alone and asking again. ¡°Serdel Robbesta. Include me in the mercenary business. Then, in return, I¡¯ll give the support of five hundred subordinates and a wizard for this job.¡± Her eyes got bigger. Wizards were treated with great value just for their existence. In addition, they all belonged to the wizard tower. Even in the organization, there is a separation within the wizards tower. Of course, they held themselves in high esteem. Not only did they ignore imperial commands but in the Empire the Wizards Tower was treated like their own realm. Cartal also made several requests for support from the Wizard Tower but was repeatedly rejected. In the end, he had to leave behind his regrets and buy artifacts in large quantities, but how did he¡ª. ¡°There are people I took a long time ago and have grown to become magicians of the wizard tower. 2 people from the 3rd circle, 3 people from the 4th circle, 2 people from the 5th circle. 7 people in total will be on this journey. What do you think?¡± Serdel¡¯s lips softened by the intense temptation. But the answer did not come easily. Eventually, she will end up being his shield if he goes into her business. He will completely hide behind her, and he will naturally rise to the surface over time. From Falden¡¯s point of view, it would be more secure than putting Edwan in front. ¡°You¡¯re greedy. Seeing that you haven¡¯t made a decision yet. Well, it¡¯s good. I like people with big ambitions. I like everything about being cautious and having a lot of courage. But sometimes it¡¯s about being reckless without a plan.¡± The nuance was annoying. Whether this is reckless without a plan or whether you have seen it separately¡ª. ¡°As you can see from Edwan, I can import goods from other countries in large quantities. It is thanks to the fact that I have established a fairly strong network. Now, I¡¯ve taken out all the cards that I can confidently talk to Young Lady about.¡± He raised both of his hands. ¡°I want you to make a decision now.¡± It was not a bad proposal considering that after the expedition and development were completed it was mostly profits for her. But it¡¯s also getting closer to him. Although dangerous, it wasn¡¯t bad. ¡®But it¡¯s just a little uncomfortable.¡¯ Not being able to figure out exactly what his weakness was, was just like prey caught in his web. ¡®No, let¡¯s not go too deep.¡¯ First of all, considering the situation just in front of her, the support of the wizard would be monumental. If they come forward and are a part of her party she will feel reassured. ¡®I think I¡¯ll be able to build a connection with the wizard.¡¯ ¡°Should I give you more time to think?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m done thinking.¡± Falden nodded. ¡°So what¡¯s your final decision?¡± Serdel reached out to his hand. Rather than bowing her head, she chose arrogance here. ¡°Let¡¯s shake hands. Let¡¯s take care of each other.¡± ¡°Ha, Hahahaha. As expected, you don¡¯t disappoint me. You know what? Young Lady will be the first noble to dare to shake hands with the Prince.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s better.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good because I¡¯m the first one.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before he held Serdel¡¯s hand. It was small and slender. As if it¡¯s going to break even if he puts a little force. It looked weak, but there was no shaking as much as the eyes. ¡°Who would believe you¡¯re the same person as when you were a debutante?¡± Covering the leaked murmur with a smile, he turned her hand over and kissed her briefly. ¡°Me too. Please take good care of me, Young Lady.¡± ***** ¡°I want to talk to you more, but I can¡¯t today, Young Lady. Too bad.¡± He kissed Serdel¡¯s hand and smiled bitterly. ¡°The next promising day is probably the expedition day. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± ¡°Yes. See you then.¡± Looking at Serdel smiling, Damon threw his eyes beyond her. Cartal, Addis, and Redan were looking at their side with sharp eyes. And next to her¡ª Falden was watching the four with his arms crossed and a relaxed look. ¡®What the hell did the two of them talk about in the middle of meeting?¡¯ was the question hanging in the air. When Falden and Serdel went back to the garden, the atmosphere in the meeting room had changed. Damon wondered why. He wanted to ask, but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Damon finally showed his respect to Falden and got into the carriage. As the carriage departed, the roaring sound of the wheels pierced his strangely disturbed heart. It felt uncomfortable. ¡°If you do this job well, your position as a successor will be solid.¡± Having been absent-mindedly listening for a while at the sound of words flowing from the opposite side, he came to his senses and listened carefully. ¡°Your brothers won¡¯t stay still. Don¡¯t allow a counterattack. I don¡¯t want to see a family divided into two and three.¡± So far, the current Marchioness resuscitation and second son have had little strength, but Damon has found his own way to live. At this point, he had to admit it. ¡°I will maintain the family¡¯s atmosphere well so that you don¡¯t have to lean to either side until you return from the Elbash Forest.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you, Father.¡± ¡°If you wish, you can confirm your position through marriage.¡± Damon¡¯s hand flinched at the word ¡®marriage¡¯. Up until now, he has been rejecting any marriage proposals. Marriages between nobles were mostly political marriages. On the other hand, all the women who wanted them dreamed of romance. He needed the strength of the family they belonged to, but he didn¡¯t have the confidence to answer the love they longed for. So he can¡¯t choose anyone. He couldn¡¯t do that. Because he has clearly seen in front of his eyes what a woman begging for love is like. Unless it was a woman who could treat herself with thorough logical calculations, it was difficult to have her by his side. Obviously, she¡¯ll just end up clinging to him. Just like his mother did to the man in front of her. She hopes for affection that has never been given to her, and in the end¡ª. She might choose to hang her neck instead. At any rate, he fears that his child will see the sight and suffer from the same scene. He never expressed it, but he was afraid. There was a deep shadow around his eyes. And all of a sudden, his throat became numb. He wanted to release his cravat right away. The more he felt so, the more Damon held hands tightly. To be disturbed is to be agitated, and such agitation will break down the path he has built over his darkness. ¡°It¡¯s only for now that the broken engagement with Count Maient is still broken, but once the forest development is successful, marriage proposals will pour out here and there.¡± Ugh. Biting the flesh inside his mouth, Damon managed to maintain his mind. Serdel¡¯s face came to mind. The image of that day, when she smiled softly as the sunlight shattered through the large window, still left a deep impression in his mind. And the servants around her. Just looking at her caring figure that cared for her servants calmed his heart. The brightness. He didn¡¯t want to turn away despite himself. ¡°I have no intention of doing that. I¡¯m confident that I¡¯ll do well in this business even if I don¡¯t have to get married. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Marquis Spendar¡¯s forehead looking at his son frowned. Tsk. ¡°Okay, do what you want.¡± After opening the newspaper, he soon paid attention to the written articles. Damon tightened his lips watching Marquis Spendar. He never wanted to resemble him. He despised the man in front of him. CH 55 Serdel turned away as she saw the carriage on which Falden was riding move away. ¡®It¡¯s strange.¡¯ It was only after the Marquis of Spendar and Damon had first left that he kissed the back of her hand again and got into his carriage. He was an unpredictable person. ¡°Hey, what did you talk about with the 2nd Prince earlier?¡± Redan grabbed her arm and wiped the back of her hand with a handkerchief. ¡°What are you doing, brother?¡± ¡°You got something dirty on you!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing on it.¡± ¡°There is!¡± Ha. She was dumbfounded, but Serdel just stayed still as he did that. It was also troublesome to bicker about this. ¡°What did the second prince talk to you about? Why did he call you separately? What took him so long to say, huh? Do you know that the two of you were out for over an hour? Hey, you must have left the door open when talking, right?¡± When she turned her head, Cartal and Addis were also looking at her with bewildered eyes. In particular, both showed interest in Redan¡¯s last words. ¡°Huh? Why aren¡¯t you answering me? You talked with the door open, right?¡± ¡°¡­First of all, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Serdel, who took her hand out of Redan¡¯s grasp, strode forward and paused only when she saw the butler. ¡°Oh, come to think of it, I almost forgot. Butler, I have a question. I want you to be honest.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady, please tell me. This butler will always be honest.¡± ¡°Pills. Did you use it a lot?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± In response to the butler¡¯s sharp answer, Serdel glanced at Cartal. His shoulders flinched. ¡°¡­It was worth eating¡­¡± If he meant it, he wouldn¡¯t have lost his composure. She saw him eating two pieces of chocolate after drinking a glass of cold water. As if reading Serdel¡¯s expression, the butler laughed. ¡°As I get older. If it¡¯s good for the body, it¡¯s sweet and delicious. The Master felt it was bitter because he was young, and the Lady was still young and also couldn¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°But my brother ate really well.¡± ¡°Young Master eats everything given to him well. He¡¯s not a gourmet.¡± Redan¡¯s eyes looking at the butler became cold. ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t throw away your medicine. I¡¯m going to watch you eat everything.¡± For some reason, she became more afraid to eat. Serdel glanced at Addis ,she looked healthy today. ¡°I know you thought about handing it over to Sister. Sister, you know Medren Herbal Medicine, right?¡± ¡°How can I not know? Did they give you medicine? It would have taken quite a long time to get the medicine.¡± After a moment of being startled, Addis placed her hand on Serdel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Serdel, the medicine made there is very good. Even if you have money, you can¡¯t easily buy it, and just because you have a lot of power, you can¡¯t just make and eat it. Because it¡¯s so popular, the line is huge. So make sure to eat well. It¡¯ll be a great help to your physical strength.¡± ¡°Did you hear that? It¡¯s a medicine that you wouldn¡¯t have had if you didn¡¯t help the owner recently!¡± ¡°¡­Okay. I¡¯ll eat well, so stop it.¡± With a sigh, she grabbed the bag tightly. It was terrifying to think of how Redan would behave if she lost it. Still, it¡¯s true that she¡¯s grateful, so maybe she¡¯ll have to repay it sooner or later. If so, what would be good? While she was thinking about it, she arrived at Cartal¡¯s office just in time. ¡°Now, say it.¡± Redan, who had put her on the chair first, pressed her from the side. After organizing her thoughts for a while, her mouth opened. ¡°His Highness Falden is¡ª¡± Except for the mercenary guild part, she confessed the rest of the story according to the situation. ¡°So, you mean now that the 2nd Prince decided to support with his five hundred men and wizards, not just one, but seven?¡± Redan asked, pressing his temple. ¡°Yes. He also wants to keep it a secret, so he asked me to use the ones hired by the Count.¡± ¡°Why did he tell you such a thing? It must have been difficult to talk about it since Marquis Spendar was here earlier, but after that, it would be okay to stay and talk later.¡± Addis¡¯ eyes stiffened. ¡°What is his purpose?¡± ¡°I think he wanted to test me. I¡¯m not as strong as sister Addis, nor have I been holding a sword since I was young like my brother, but I wanted to go there and he wanted to figure out how helpful I would be.¡± ¡°Ha. I¡¯ve heard rumors about him being a weirdo, but he¡¯s a funnier prince than that.¡± Redan grumbled. It was an eye that soon understood. To both of them, she was a younger sister, but to Falden and others, she was nothing more than a troublemaker with questionable abilities. ¡°Is that all?¡± Cartal, who had been listening for a while, stared into her eyes. ¡°Really, that¡¯s all.¡± When he asked again, Serdel nodded. For the time being, she had no intention of confessing about the mercenary business. She didn¡¯t want to bring it in the family because it might be dangerous until she went into mining and started trading in earnest. It¡¯s even more tenuous because she¡¯s decided to do it together with Falden. ¡°Okay.¡± Cartal said nothing more. Ever since the day he found out about her foresight dreams. As always. He accepted that if there was something she didn¡¯t say in the first place, there would be a good reason for it. ¡°You can go. Good job for today.¡± After leaving the office, Serdel looked at Addis and Redan¡¯s back, walking one or two steps ahead of her. ¡°Do you have some time?¡± The two of them were frozen like stones. They looked back at her. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± It¡¯s almost the first time Serdel has said something like this, so both Addis and Redan blinked blankly. Serdel passed between the two who had stopped. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Ooh time! I have. I have.¡± ¡°Hey, all that¡¯s left is time.¡± She took the two to her office. Addis¡¯ eyes, who had never seen Serdel¡¯s office before, rolled around quickly from side to side because she had been busy. ¡°You decorated it well. Hmm? Then, when she saw Dell lying on the sofa, she burst into exclamations. ¡°This child, this is a beast. Did you get it from the slave market?¡± ¡°Huh? This punk is a beast?¡± Redan looked at Dell with surprised eyes. Dell turned his head away. He seemed to hate Redan, who called him a rat when he looked at him. ¡°Older Sister, how did you know he was a beast?¡± ¡°When subjugating, there were times when we ran into some of them. Most of them were wary of humans, but after signs of goodwill, they would often help.¡± Addis reached out carefully to Dell with a smile. Contrary to the fear that he might scratch her with his fingernails, Dell remained calm. The boy, who had avoided even the touch of the maid who took care of his meal, did not reject Addis¡¯ warmth. ¡°There were times when we saved them.¡± Grrng, grrng. ¡°For knights, the beast is the most special friend you can meet in the forest. There is no knight that can¡¯t recognize such a precious friend.¡± Her appearance like this was unexpected and new. She¡¯s always been like this. The smile on her face at this moment looked very comfortable. Serdel felt weird. In the past, they had never seen each other, and even in the second round where the relationship had changed a lot, Addis had never smiled so much in front of her. Her mouth was bitter, and emotions that were difficult to describe were creeping into her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had something to say?¡± Serdel, who was absent-minded, came to her senses at Addis¡¯ words. She nodded and sat down on the sofa first. Addis and Redan sat side by side on the opposite side and waited for her words. ¡°It¡¯s about exploring the Elbash Forest.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. Serdel, I think you should move with Reddan. If I could, I¡¯d take responsibility for you, but I¡¯m participating as the successor of the family and vice-captain of the imperial knight¡ªyou might be in danger if you¡¯re with me¡ª¡± ¡°I want to move alone.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Hey! What are you¡ª¡± ¡°I want to move alone. I need to find something in the forest.¡± Originally, she didn¡¯t mean to say anything before leaving. Maybe she¡¯ll bring Blenn along to help her solve it on her own somehow. Like the day she got hurt while saving Laura and Dell. But Addis and Redan¡¯s faces seemed to overlap over Terra¡¯s face, who was greatly hurt by her quiet attitude. Perhaps she should have just kept her mouth shut and climbed onto the horse. ¡®Then I must have really become a nuisance Young Lady.¡¯ CH 56 It was likely that everyone could not concentrate on the expedition because of one person. She almost messed up. ¡°No, never! Do you think I said you could participate to make you act alone?¡± As expected, Redan was furious. ¡°Alone? Hey, ha! You say that one more time. Expedition or whatever, I won¡¯t let you move out of the bedroom!¡± He opened his eyes wide. His body trembled as he snorted wildly with anger. ¡°What do you want to find?¡± On the other hand, Addis was surprisingly calm. ¡°What kind of thing?¡± She couldn¡¯t say it¡¯s some kind of power. Because she didn¡¯t know if that would really prevent her from participating in the expedition. ¡°Tell me where is it and I will¡ª¡± ¡°No one but me can go all the way there, and no one but me can touch it. I have to go and put it in my own hands.¡± Addis, who closed her mouth, was worried. Redan jumped up from his seat and wandered around frantically, she noticed what he didn¡¯t like and was especially worried about. ¡°Count Robbesta¡¯s family will be the envy of many people in the future. It is absolutely necessary to protect the family.¡± ¡°So that was the reason you wanted to go on the expedition.¡± When she nodded, Addis straightened her back. ¡°Serdel Robbesta.¡± Dignity emanated from her. ¡°You stay here. Even if you don¡¯t have those things, I can protect you and our family well enough.¡± ¡°Sister! What are you¡ª!¡± ¡°Serdel. I have nothing to say about the past. I¡¯ve hurt you so much so far, but¡ª¡± Addis bowed her head deeply. ¡°If something bad happens to you, I¡¯ll die.¡± Serdel closed her mouth. She didn¡¯t know what to say. Redan, who had been pacing around, also stood still. Addis¡¯s eyes reddened as she raised her face, which had been bowed for a while. ¡°So choose. Will you move with Redan or stay here? Instead, Redan.¡± Upon receiving her gaze, Redan swallowed his saliva. ¡°Do not interfere in any way with what Serdel wants to do. This is an order from the successor. Don¡¯t doubt your sister¡¯s abilities.¡± Serdel almost teared up. Identifying why Serdel was reluctant to move together and preventing her family from being hasty in the face of dangerous decisions. Addis was showing her ability now. The person who was usually not flexible. With a single word from her, Redan will no longer be suspicious of what she is going to do, nor will he be able to stop her from doing it. In other words, one restriction on Serdel¡¯s movements disappeared. Redan tilted his head back then clicked his tongue and closed his eyes tightly and then opened them. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tsk damn it. What¡¯s with that you jerk! I¡¯ll do what you tell me to do.¡± Redan broke his stubbornness. ¡°So don¡¯t leave me alone. Because it¡¯ll be scary¡ª¡± ¡°Brother.¡± Serdel interrupted. ¡°What!¡± ¡°Please take care of me.¡± Serdel held out her hand with an indifferent look. As he stared at it, he hesitated for a moment, feeling embarrassed, and then took her hand. ¡°Yeah.¡± For the first time, she felt grateful to Addis. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After the two finally left, Serdel stretched out. It seemed that the feeling of discomfort in the past had become lighter. After moving her body for a while, Dell suddenly jumped in and hugged her. The boy¡¯s body shook. [I, I, I was scared.] ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ Serdel looked around because she couldn¡¯t understand his sudden words. [T, the scary old lady threatened Dell!] What? Scary old lady? Was there someone like that? [If you don¡¯t protect my sister properly, I¡¯ll throw you into a cave on that day¡ª Ugh. Pretend to be in a good mood. Dell was so scared that I cried.] No way, is Addis the scary old lady he mentions? [I, it¡¯s my first time hearing a voice in my head without Dell¡¯s permission. Dell was so scared that I couldn¡¯t say anything] He was quite flustered, so she patted Dell¡¯s back. ¡®I heard the knights who have risen to a certain level can communicate with their mind to their opponents by using mana.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know Addis¡¯ level was that high. [Nuna, I, I¡¯m scared of that old lady.] At Dell¡¯s sniff, Serdel only let out an awkward smile. She didn¡¯t know such threats existed under a kind and caring touch, so she felt like she became a fool because she felt complicated despite the smile she showed earlier. Why did she show that side of her? To be friendly as a good person to her? She couldn¡¯t know Addis as well as Redan. She was a very unpredictable sister. ****** An official expedition was organized to explore the Elbash Forest. Since everyone was on horseback to move quickly, the length of the line was considerable. Even though the gate of the Count is wide open, there is not enough space. Serdel checked her outfit. An ivory shirt that sticks to her body. On top of it, she wears leather armor given to her from Redan. On both hands, which will hold the reins for a long time, she was wearing the leather gauntlets that Addis had trimmed. The light brown leather pants and the black leather boots that Cartal had been acquiring for days were quite soft, so her feet did not feel uncomfortable. A small magic bag filled with scrolls and other items, as well as two daggers, were fastened to her waist belt. As Serdel finished her check, Cartal, who was scanning here and there, coughed. ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous place, so be careful. Just follow Addis or Redan around. The moment you travel¡ª Even if you grab your brother¡¯s back and throw him away, just run away. He¡¯ll survive on his own.¡± He had a worried face, but it was awkward somehow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Father. I¡¯ll be back safely.¡± Serdel also nodded, answering somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Lady, please be safe. This butler will pray to God every day.¡± The butler sniffled as he pressed his eyes with a handkerchief. The maid and Monem also teared up. ¡°Lady, you have to be safe.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be safe.¡± ¡°L, lady, you have to be safe.¡± Laura, who suddenly approached, with a face covered in tears and a runny nose, rested her forehead on Serdel¡¯s hand holding the reins. ¡°I, I, I will pray to God too. A, and Lady this¡ª¡± What she carefully handed over was a handkerchief with embroidery on it. ¡°So you embroidered a puddle of water.¡± ¡°T, this is a rabbit, Lady. H, here are the eyes too.¡¯ She thought it was a baby fish in water. ¡°Yeah, so it¡¯s a rabbit. It¡¯s pretty. Thank you. I¡¯ll use it well.¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m glad you accepted it. P, please be safe, Lady.¡± Laura, who had a lot of instability, looked much better. ¡°Did you say hi to Blenn? I¡¯m sorry, it must be hard to meet each other and you don¡¯t want him to leave.¡± ¡°N, no. It¡¯s not like that. W, we already said goodbye, Lady. Don¡¯t worry about it. My brother will surely risk his life to protect you.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She grabbed her shoulder with a smile. In the meantime, this time the vice-captain and the knights approached. ¡°Oh, my. It¡¯s too crowded. The people who said hello first, please step aside.¡± The vice-captain who came all the way to the ground complaining bowed his head. ¡°Fuhu, Lady. Please have a safe trip. Take this with you.¡± He smiled as usual and held out a rapier. ¡°Having a weapon calms you down when you¡¯re worried or afraid. Don¡¯t be afraid to stab if you want since you¡¯re leaving. You might be able to get rid of a single punk if you¡¯re lucky.¡± It was an irresponsible and dangerous remark that was not suitable for the position of vice-captain, but it was full of concerns about her. The vice captain¡¯s nose was red, perhaps because they were in and out of the training grounds every day, and they had become too close lately. ¡°If the Lady gets hurt¡ª I think it will be very heartbreaking. If you encounter a battle situation, be sure to hide in a safe place.¡± He told her to stab hard before. ¡°Lady, you have to be safe!¡± The knights saluted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± This was all she could say to everyone who was anxious. Just like a parrot, she just spit the same words out. Redan, who came closer, bid farewell to Cartal with an indifferent face. ¡°I¡¯ll be back safely.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah. Be back safely.¡± This time, Addis came. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Cartal¡¯s answer got shorter and shorter. Then he hesitated for a moment. ¡°Take care of your sister.¡± After saying that, he went to greet Falden, who had just arrived. ¡°Tsk. Grabbing the back of my head and throwing me. Where does she have the power to do that?¡± As if just hearing what Cartal had said earlier, Redan grumbled belatedly. CH 57 ¡°Hey. Look over there.¡± Damon was surrounded by women when she looked to where Redan¡¯s chin pointed. The Ladies wanted to give Damon their handkerchiefs and were trying to find a way to get the tokens to him. ¡°If you¡¯re a good person, do you behave like that? Did you see that? Giving everyone a smile. Don¡¯t be too friendly for no reason.¡± He grumbled. Serdel glanced at Redan¡¯s chest like that. ¡°As expected, brother, also behaving a lot like your looks.¡± His armor was full of handkerchiefs that the Young Ladies had tied on. It was the same for Addis. There were quite a lot of handkerchiefs and food in her hand, Serdel didn¡¯t know when the ladies had time to give out so many. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m fine. Even if I look this way. But, tsk. Hey, you¡¯re only next to me. Don¡¯t even go near those guys.¡± Redan said, adjusting his armor. Serdel shook her head. And after a while said¡ª. ¡°We¡¯re going to leave soon. Are you ready?¡± Falden is approaching. His hands and chest were clean of extra adornment. There was no handkerchief or food. He glanced around the messy surroundings and leaned slightly towards Serdel. ¡°Young Lady. Do you have any handkerchiefs?¡± Without thinking, she held out what she usually used. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s pretty. The Young Lady¡¯s name is also embroidered.¡± He spread the handkerchief left and right, rolled it up, and wrapped it around his wrist. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll use it well.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Smiling, he went to the front. There was no time to ask for him to return it. Falden raised his arm wrapped with Serdel¡¯s handkerchief high into the air. It was the starting signal. The soldiers pushed away from the people around them. Huuuuuu¡ª. With the sound of dull horn trumpets, the knights shouted. ¡°Go!¡± Finally, the hunt began. ***** She has enjoyed horseback riding every day, but this feeling was different from running in a fenced in riding arena. Her heart shook with tension, despite the fact that she also felt free. Serdel glanced back. Siri, Terra, and Blenn were following along with the others of her party. Even though she had recently learned to ride, Siri was quite stable. The same goes for Terra. His expression was quite serious, too. Two swords were hung on his waist while two bows and a fairly large quiver were hung from his shoulders. Addis, who was ahead of her, noticed Serdel and looked back, smiling. ¡°Did you know that the main weapon of that punk, Terra, is a bow, not a sword?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°His sword handling skills aren¡¯t that great, but his archery is almost top-notch. He grew up in a back alley when he was young, so his movements are light. In general, he¡¯s good at handling weapons such as bows.¡± It¡¯s the first Serdel heard of it. ¡°However, it¡¯s difficult to become a knight with that skill alone, so I made him learn how to use a sword, but for some time he started using a bow again instead of a sword.¡± Addis¡¯ gaze, which had turned to Terra, shifted to her. ¡°No matter how hard he tries, it¡¯s hard to use a sword like a knight, so I think grinding and polishing what he¡¯s good at will be more useful in protecting his master.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t originally a motivated guy, but you changed that. That guy, I trained him not long after he became a squire.¡± It seemed she remembered that time. ¡°He never followed me sincerely. The Count¡¯s squire. He must have been a very arrogant guy.¡± Addis stretched out her arm and swept Serdel¡¯s back. ¡°Once he gives his heart, he will never betray you. First one person, then two more, and finally four people. Serdel. The more people you trust, the more they will repay you with loyalty.¡± Serdel looked back at Terra again. He wasn¡¯t the only one who made a change. Through his appearance Terra showed that day, she was also able to get one step closer to Addis and Redan. It was a relationship that could have never been changed without him. And he was never upset with her unless he was angry with the wounds she suffered. She probably continued to hurt him unknowingly, not recognizing that her injury had caused harm to someone else. It was Terra who reminded her of that. Serdel, who was laughing bitterly for no reason, turned her eyes to see Blenn. Blenn, who was riding his horse with a more relaxed posture than anyone else, looked like a painting. His newly dyed silver hair was fluttering frantically in the wind, and his fair skin was dazzling in the sunlight. Dark eyebrows and calm brown eyes furthered his charming atmosphere. Even though they were wearing the same leather armor, he stood out among the knights. Perhaps he felt her gaze, and so their eyes met. The soft smile built around his mouth was beautiful. She glanced over at the rest of the group. He¡¯s out of sight for now, but Dell will be following her. She tried to leave him in case anyone recognized him, but she couldn¡¯t help it because he cried and went crazy. ¡®He might be of great help in the forest.¡¯ [Dell is hiding well and working hard. Nuna, don¡¯t worry.] ¡®If something happens, call me right away.¡¯ [Yess¡ª!] After his brave answer, Serdel straightened her head. How much longer did they have to move? As soon as they left, she saw a tall man standing in the middle of a wide-open field. An ivory shirt that loosened up from the neck. A man with dark hair and dark eyes wearing dark green leather pants, worn leather armor over it. This man had the title of the best knight in the Empire¡ª. ¡®Belters Blendard!¡¯ It was the Duke, one of the male protagonists. ¡°Whoa, whoa¡ª¡± Falden, who had stopped his horse a short distance away, arrogantly raised his chin. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while. Your Highness, the 2nd Prince.¡± ¡°It was nice to meet you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Please speak comfortably. It¡¯s gross.¡± Contrary to how the Prince had greeted him with a quarrel, he smiled and hit Belters on the shoulder familiarly. ¡°Captain.¡± Addis greeted and approached them, getting off her horse and bowing her head. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you, but the vice-captain is still brave.¡± ¡°Captain is also the same.¡± Addis sighed. Seeing her like that, Belters burst into laughter. It was Serdel¡¯s first time seeing him up close. With moderately white skin, as if God had made it, the features were distinct but not surprisingly burdensome. The eyes without double eyelids were quite attractive, so she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off. Did he feel her gaze? His eyes turned to Serdel. His and her gazes collided in the air and entangled with each other. ¡°My sister, Serdel Robbesta.¡± Following Belters¡¯ gaze, Addis briefly introduced her. ¡°Serdel Robbesta, Aah, who joined with Marquis Spendar.¡± At the same time, he smiled softly as he said her name once. Time felt like it slowed down. As her senses became dull, she began to feel like she was being pushed away from reality. The world was flashing. In the white space that suddenly appeared, she was the only one, left alone. It felt like her heart was pounding. It¡¯s similar to the time when she went back to the beginning, saying she couldn¡¯t finish the ending. As soon as fear was about to climb up the fingertips, the status window appeared with the opening song she heard in the original work. [Before you get into the full story, you meet the four male protagonists. Now, please build a relationship] [Open a lucky point. ¡úAccumulate luck points by improving relationships with characters. ¡úThe causal ratio accumulated so far is converted into points. ? Total points: 10,000 ¡úThe use of points will be guided with a congratulatory message when reaching 35,000] She was distracted by a series of windows. Reading it again and again. After capturing it in her eyes and repeating it again and again. The flashing world began to return to its original state, and on the contrary, the space that has left her behind has disappeared. A sense of reality that had become distant sank deep into her skin. The wind blew just in time, and she was able to come to her senses without any significant gaps. Through the vanished status window, she could feel Belters¡¯ gaze still on her. ¡°Stop it, Captain. I¡¯m starting to feel uncomfortable.¡± Addis stood in front of the Captain and blocked his view. ¡°My sister¡¯s face looks like mine. So stop it.¡± ¡°Sisters who look alike but don¡¯t resemble each other.¡± With a smirk and a short laugh, he climbed onto his horse. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Your Highness.¡± CH 58 Falden increased his speed more and more. They moved day and night, and for the first time, they hurried without any rest. She thought it would be very uncomfortable. But this was surprisingly not bad. It was because she took the medicine Redan gave her on a routine basis. Even if she ate food on a galloping horse, she didn¡¯t feel nauseous. She was fine even though she hadn¡¯t slept. There was no problem with her physical strength. If it was before, she would probably be exhausted to tears. ¡°Lady, are you okay?¡± However, there was a fuss around her. Once an hour, Blenn checked her condition. Siri tried to put something to eat in her mouth from time to time. Terra offered a low-grade potion to recover from fatigue in case she might be enduring quietly by herself. Considering that there were quite a few potions in his bag, he seemed to have poured all the money he had saved into this journey. They were worried for no reason. ¡°Please try this, Lady.¡± Siri put a slice of cheese in her mouth. ¡°Just give it to me.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Serdel cut the cheese little by little and dropped it on the floor. It was for Dell to chase from behind. [Cheese, it¡¯s cheese! Nom, nom, nom.] Dell¡¯s reaction, saying it was delicious, made her smile. ¡®How much longer should I go?¡¯ Serdel, who raised her head, looked blankly ahead. She could see the back of Belters and Addis moving side by side. And how skillful her straight back is. She thought it was a little cool. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Redan spit out a question as she wondered when he was coming. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you took the medicine rightl?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying this again and again, but even though it must have been asked with good intentions, every time I hear it, I feel the same way.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Redan shrugged, unable to understand Serdel¡¯s dry joke. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your back or butt hurt? What about your arms and legs?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± ¡°Still¡ª¡± Scratching his nose, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her waist and quickly pulled her into his arms. Huh huh? Serdel, who suddenly sat on Redan¡¯s horse, and also in front of him, blinked in embarrassment. The reins of the horse she had just been holding until now were held by Blenn. ¡°Sleep for a while. The harshness will continue in the future. Even if you don¡¯t have any physical problems, it¡¯s more dangerous if you¡¯re mentally stressed. Because medicine can¡¯t solve that.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± She tried to say something then closed her mouth. This situation of being trapped in Redan¡¯s arms is unfamiliar but strangely warm. ¡°Hurry up and sleep.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can sleep because it¡¯s awkward.¡± ¡°What do you mean awkward? You always came and slept next to me when you were young. To be honest, it was a bit annoying back then.¡± The day¡¯s schedule was tight as he had to receive sword training and successor training. He was busy, but his younger sister came every day and asked to sleep together. Honestly, it was annoying. Everytime he saw his younger sister, he thought she was stupid. While his older sister, just like an older sister, is working hard to get away from a place full of men. What¡¯s good about a child who doesn¡¯t know anything? He couldn¡¯t understand. But when his mother passed away, he found out that his younger sister had the ability of foresight He was resentful at first. Then he poured it out onto her. He spit out the words he should not have even put in his mouth, holding on to his younger sister¡¯s small shoulder so hard that it bruised her. To a child who lost her mind due to the shock of not having a mother anymore. He said what he shouldn¡¯t have said. That moment was left as a deep wound that he didn¡¯t want revealed even to himself. Despite not wanting to remember he still suffered every night from guilt. Redan glanced down at Serdel who was in his arms. She¡¯s all grown up but she¡¯s still small. Putting his chin down on the top of her head, he whispered softly. ¡°Go to sleep.¡± ¡°My head hurts. Put your chin away.¡± Serdel¡¯s body, which had been tense, loosened little by little even though she was complaining. Without realizing it, she buried her head in his wide chest. ¡°After you sleep, you will feel more comfortable. Even if you have nightmares, it¡¯s okay because you have your older brother, Serdel.¡± It was like magical words. She closed her eyes without realizing it. Her brother¡¯s arms were warm. Is that why? She remembered her childhood. Her older brother reaching out his hand saying that he wanted his younger sister, who had lost her words due to abuse, back. The little hand that briefly told her about the comforts of family and went away forever to a place of no return. She suddenly remembered. ¡°¡­.¡± Her breathing soon calmed. ***** After arriving at the end of the Count¡¯s territory, she was even more distracted. In particular, the officials started to report recklessly, chasing after Addis for further instructions. Even though they were prepared in advance, they were so shaken that they couldn¡¯t even afford to be polite when the expedition had just begun. On the one hand, it was a natural reaction as the territory was standing at the crossroads between being trampled on by monsters or not. ¡°The people who live in the territory who heard the news of the expedition are quite anxious.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better calm down first. There is nothing to be anxious about, so tell the heads of each village not to create a chaotic atmosphere.¡± ¡°¡ªI understand.¡± ¡°And prevent any news from spreading among the people of the territory regarding the Elbash Forest.¡± They never know what¡¯s going to happen when they¡¯re exploring. People will get more terrified as more information about the forest becomes known. Seeing Addis turning around, the officials were perplexed. Is this the end? She¡¯s the family¡¯s next head who they met in these difficult circumstances! In the meantime, she has been acting on Cartal¡¯s commands, but only through channels of communication. It had been a very long time for them to face the lord¡¯s family. They hoped she would give them more detailed orders and give them peace of mind, but Addis was cold-hearted. ¡®It¡¯s too straightforward.¡¯ As is usual for Addis, the position¡¯s tasks are unofficially handed out. She must have thought that this level of pressure was something they had to endure. ¡°Let His Highness the 2nd Prince from the Imperial family know that you are very strong.¡± A voice came from behind Addis. ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± One of the officials asked. ¡°In addition, the sword master, Duke of Blendard, and as many as seven wizards are with us. Even though my father is in the mansion, please keep an eye on the county and spread the word that he is supporting this side.¡± In the end, Serdel stepped up. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on her. In particular, a distinctive look appeared in Falden¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not just about blocking information. They are more likely to be afraid by imagining all kinds of things. Rather than that, it¡¯s better to repeatedly let them know that talented people and outstanding wizards are together.¡± If they let people know that a lot of power is being mobilized for this task, rather than lightly meddling in the forest, the fear that they¡¯d unsettle something they couldn¡¯t handle would go away. ¡°And be careful not to spread bad rumors about the territory. Now, since the County is getting a lot of attention, the more convincing the rumors spread outside are, the more difficult a position my father will be in.¡± ¡°Ah, yes yes!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re still anxious, send some soldiers to each village. If you have a strong shield next to you, you will be able to focus on your daily life with confidence. ¡®No matter what happens, our daily life will not change, and we are safe. Rather, the monsters will disappear and the land will grow stronger.¡¯ Isn¡¯t it suitable lyrics for a song?¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯ll make a song and have the children sing it. It¡¯ll be repetitive brainwashing, so they¡¯ll definitely feel less anxious!¡± The Officials¡¯ eyes sparkled. It¡¯s like meeting a savior while being in hell. In addition, Serdel gave instructions very skillfully. Addis and Redan stared blankly at such a decisive Serdel. Falden, who had his arms crossed, was leaning obliquely against the wall and smiling, and Belters burst into exclamations, saying it was an interesting idea. Damon was mesmerized as Serdel¡¯s charismatic commands continued. He felt overwhelmed by her gentle charisma. Even though she was covered in dust from traveling a long distance. At this moment, Serdel looked brighter than ever. ¡°¡­.¡± Blenn, who stood far away from her location and watched over her, also admired her. Giving a timely order according to the situation seemed like a trivial task, but it was quite difficult. ¡°Wow, our Lady is so cool.¡± The Count¡¯s knights also opened their mouths. Siri and Terra¡¯s faces were full of pride for Serdel. ¡°She looks cooler than Dame Addis.¡± The shoulders of the two were full of strength. Their mouths got caught in their ears, and they didn¡¯t think their smiles would come down for a while. CH 59 After giving the officials a lot of work, they went straight to Lebilton Village. As it was located near the Elbash Forest, the atmosphere was quite different from other villages. Boys with bows on their backs guarded the high walls and watchtowers that surrounded the village. There were also young men standing with spears along with knights and soldiers from the Count. The spirit was quite good, perhaps because they had been training for a long time. ¡°We¡¯re greeting Dame Addis!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s show courtesy to the 2nd Prince first.¡± ¡°The greeting is late because I didn¡¯t recognize it. Please forgive my rudeness.¡± The chief and villagers who approached Falden knelt and bowed their heads as the knights and soldiers bowed in front of him. ¡°You may raise.¡± They stood up at his gesture, but no one raised their head easily. It¡¯s hard even if the lord comes, but it¡¯s the prince. The weight of power was bound to be too heavy for commoners. Falden passed through them, who were like hardened statues, and looked inside the village. Serdel followed him naturally. ¡®The housewarming party is quite strong.¡¯ Since they were in a dangerous area, the housing material was different from the houses in other villages. ¡°Chief. Empty the houses close to the entrance, and let the children, women, and the elderly stay as far away as possible.¡± As if he had figured out the structure of the village, Falden immediately issued an order. ¡°And I think it would be better to pay attention to the barrier by setting up a double wooden fence. Raise the height higher than it is now. It¡¯s better to have the walls secured and to shoot powerfully from the watchtower.¡± The local residents moved right away. Dozens of houses close to the entrance were emptied in about an hour, and the young men went with the knights to cut trees to prepare a wall. ¡°You guys, start working on the barrier as soon as the tree¡¯s are ready. Apply reinforcement magic to the barrier, and put a barrier around it to prevent a single ant from breaking in.¡± The wizards who received the order moved one by one. They created dozens of black guardians using the magic circles they had prepared in advance to get the job done quickly. ¡°Hiik!¡± The villagers, who had never seen magic up close, were surprised when the black guards moved like smoke. The black guardians became workers and worked hard. Thanks to this, they were able to shorten the time it took to cut enough trees down. They were also very helpful when working on the barriers. The villagers burst into exclamations as they watched the wizards with awe. Falden split the 1000 men up, 700 were to be stationed in the village, and 300 would be split into five teams of 60 men each that would begin exploring as the day got darker. The time they had to end exploring was in a month. By then the official subjugation team will arrive in the village. Before that, they had to figure out as much as they could. ¡°The first expedition will be carried out first, led by Dame Addis, and is scheduled at dawn.¡± After two days of contact with Addis about the direction of the movement, Damon took charge of the second expedition which departed immediately. ¡°The third is me, the fourth is the Duke of Blendard, the fifth is Sir Redan¡ª¡± Falden¡¯s eyes were on Serdel. He frowned for a while. ¡°Together with Young Lady Serdel.¡± The captains of each team exchanged position and other information from time to time. ¡°Let¡¯s make sure that the direction of movement does not overlap. In addition, location information is provided not only to the leader of each team¡ª¡± As he beckoned, two old men in white robes approached. ¡°Let these two know too. They will make a map of the forest with the information they collected.¡± He even brought in two scholars who had a history of participating in empire cartography for this job. Those who retired a long time ago as they had gotten older. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t compulsory, and the two old men showed great enthusiasm throughout the trip. ¡°Thank you so much for bringing this old man who no one has ever been looking for to a place like this, Your Highness!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how grateful I am for giving me such a great opportunity, as I have only a few days left to live. I will dedicate myself to completing the map of Elbash Forest, which has been veiled for so long!¡± ¡°Although we¡¯re old, we can still work!¡± ¡°Trust me! Cough! I¡¯m so passionate that I don¡¯t fall behind young people, cough!!¡± The two scholars clenched their fists at the same time. ¡®They look like they¡¯re going to die soon. Will it be okay¡ª?¡¯ They each took a potion out of their arms, drank it, and sat in a chair prepared by the chief, exhaling. ¡°Thank you, young man.¡± ¡°When I was young, I was fine even though I traveled all over the world, but now my joints are all achey.¡± The young village chief saw the old men and looked at the rest of the expedition group. ¡®¡ªIt¡¯ll be okay, right?¡¯ Hm, the old men drank potions and threw them away as well. Addis approached her because she was staring at them for no reason. ¡°Serdel.¡± Standing in front of Serdel, Addis gently put her hand on Serdel¡¯s head. Unknowingly, Serdel¡¯s eyes turned upwards. ¡°I hope you¡¯re safe. I don¡¯t believe in God, but if it¡¯s true that he really exists¡ª¡± Addis closed her eyes. ¡°May His blessings shine on the path you are going to take.¡± She sincerely hoped so. With a short prayer, she kissed Serdel¡¯s forehead. Feelings of worry, fear, and anxiety mixed under a shallow shiver. ¡°Redan, that guy. He¡¯s hot-tempered, but he¡¯s good at judging the situation. If he says absolutely not to do something, I¡¯d like you to think deeply before moving on. And¡ª I ask you to take good care of him because he¡¯s a very unstable man.¡± Redan was also a younger brother to Addis. She tries not to show it, but she must be very worried about him as well. Moreover, from her tone, she seemed to know the deep wounds he had. ¡°Yes, I understand. Sister, too¡ª¡± Serdel hesitated for a moment, then handed her a handkerchief. She embroidered it herself¡ª. ¡°The fat sparrow is very cute.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a hawk.¡± Serdel muttered. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s great that the hawk is so brave and skillful. Thank you.¡± She spread out the handkerchief and tied it around her wrist. ¡°I will be safe too.¡± Serdel nodded. Serdel, who had prayed for her inwardly, hesitated for a moment, then raised her tiptoe and kissed Addis¡¯ forehead. May she be safe. Serdel sincerely hoped. And late at night. The full-scale expedition began. It was Addis who took the most dangerous first step as planned. ***** A few days have passed since then. Damon, Falden, and Belters began exploring in the predetermined fixed order. All that¡¯s left is Redan and Serdel. Serdel saw the people gathered around her. There were those who came from the County, to those who were taken out of the castle, and even some servants left behind by Falden. 18 knights, 10 squire, 26 soldiers, 1 wizard, Blenn, Siri, and Terra. There were a total of 60 people, including her and Redan. She was a little afraid when she thought that the lives of many people would depend on her own judgment. She swallowed her saliva in worry. ¡°As soon as the dawn rises, we will also depart. Everyone, don¡¯t slow down even for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Blenn, Siri, and Terra shouldn¡¯t be separated from Serdel.¡± The three people nodded at Redan¡¯s order. ¡°Serdel. You must never be a nuisance to them. Be careful with your actions.¡± Redan, whose tone had completely changed, showed charisma that surpassed Addis. ¡°And I¡¯ll protect you, so don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Redan grabbed her hand tightly. How long has it been? As the dawn began, everyone, including Serdel, took a step into the unknown forest where monsters were. The adventure began. In the original story, Falden met the opportunity exactly ten days after the expedition. ¡®Maybe I will gain power at a similar time in the past.¡¯ However, for the second round, the exploration schedule itself was delayed. It was impossible to predict what kind of variables might occur. ¡®I don¡¯t think he found it yet when I see the location information that was shared through the communication channels at dawn.¡¯ It takes 4 days to receive the power of Radun. If Falden had found him, contact would have been cut off for a while, or a subordinate would have taken his place. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ Only the last scene she saw in her foresight dream came to mind like a nightmare. ¡®You can¡¯t come all the way here and take it away. I must take it with my own strength.¡¯ CH 60 Serdel looked closely at the forest. [Ugh¡­ This forest is strange.] With a grunt, Dell clung to her. Whoosh¡ª. At the sudden appearance of the boy, the knights immediately drew their swords. ¡°Don¡¯t be alerted; he¡¯s my beast.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± After putting the sword back in, they looked at the shiny white-haired Dell with wonder. In particular, the Count¡¯s Knights were more perplexed because they did not notice any signs Dell was following. Only Redan, Siri, Terra, and Blenn, who all knew in advance, were not shaken. ¡®Did you change the color of your fur?¡¯ [I¡¯m afraid my identity will be revealed. And if I¡¯m too flashy in the forest, it¡¯s rather dangerous. But, Nuna. It¡¯s weird here. The energy in the forest is also quite unstable and scary. There are no worms.] The boy trembled once. His tail and back fur even stood up. ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡± Redan muttered. ¡°The atmosphere here is quite strange. Serdel, never leave my side.¡± His forehead was filled with cold sweat. Redan pulled out a sword while wiping at his forehead roughly with his sleeves. So that he can attack as soon as he sees a threat. Blenn was also sensitive to the energy of the forest and was glancing around, his hand never leaving the handle of his sword. They walked the whole day in such tension. The road narrowed and a deep forest appeared as they continued on their path. A clear sign that the hunter¡¯s domain ended and the monster¡¯s domain began. ¡®The fact that I reached the boundary of the domain quickly means that I have come to the right place.¡¯ While she felt fortunate, she couldn¡¯t wait to turn around. Startle. She couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted because the oppressive aura of the forest finally started to affect her. The mild energy pricked her skin like a bee sting. Her skin was itchy and it was hard to breathe. The inside of her nose was in pain. Her whole body trembled at the tingling sensation she felt from her forehead. The effect of the medicine was moot at this point. ¡°Serdel, are you okay?¡± Redan was surprised by her pale face. His complexion was also pale. When she looked back, most of them except for Falden¡¯s men were struggling with the pressure of the changed energy. One of the soldiers threw up blood and collapsed. Another soldier picked up the potion he received and let it flow into his mouth. His eyes were open, but he couldn¡¯t get enough energy, so other soldiers had to support him. ¡°Are you okay, Lady?¡± Blenn stuck to Serdel¡¯s side. He looked at Redan¡¯s eyes for a moment, then quickly held her. At the same time, her uncomfortable breathing became a little easier. Redan, who was about to say something, shut up when Serdel¡¯s face gradually returned to normal. If it weren¡¯t for Blenn, she would have really collapsed. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not okay. You don¡¯t have to pretend you¡¯re okay in front of me. Lady.¡± He rustled and moved around to hold her in a more stable position. She buried her face closer to his chest. Arms with nowhere to go were wrapped around Blenn¡¯s strong shoulders. At the same time, his breath touched the nape of her neck. It felt like the hairs all over her body were rising. Her face became hot. ¡°I¡¯m Lady¡¯s escort. Please say that it¡¯s hard when you¡¯re tired, and that you¡¯re uncomfortable when you¡¯re uncomfortable.¡± She opened her eyes at the sound of his voice, which seemed somehow angry. Her eyes met his as he was looking at her. ¡°I¡¯ll move.¡± As soon as she was about to nod, [Wu, wuuuuuuuuuuu!] Dell¡¯s cry rang out like thunder in her mind. [Kungkung! Khuuung!] It felt like the bones were shaking. She looked down, surprised, and found Dell glaring at her and Blenn while puffing his cheeks, displeased. [Kyuuuu!] ¡°¡ªHuh?¡± As the shout went in, the boy¡¯s body was slowly growing. Huh? Dell¡¯s body was filled with the forest¡¯s silver energy. For some reason, the scene caught her eye clearly. ¡°What¡¯s with this rat? Look elsewhere. Or are you hurt? Hey, are you okay?¡± Redan tried to reach out to Dell. ¡°Brother, hold on a second! Don¡¯t touch Dell.¡± [Kyuuuuu!] ¡°Blenn. Can you see the air gathered around Dell?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see it, but I can feel it.¡± ¡®So it¡¯s only visible to me.¡¯ It was scary to be aware of it, and her field of vision widened, and she was able to see layers of multicolored aura floating in the forest. [Wuuuung!] Dell swallowed the energy endlessly. The more he did, the bigger his body grew. ¡°H, huh?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened at Dell¡¯s change. Same goes for Redan. ¡®Is the forest energy affecting Dell¡¯s growth rate?¡¯ Is it possible to advance the time like this and become an adult? Grrrrrr¡ª. The boy¡¯s eyes, which were only cute, were torn sharply like a wild beast. Just staring at the glistening fangs that appeared between the long main lights was enough to make one feel threatened. Whooo¡ª. The boy who stopped inflating his body with the last sigh lifted his head. Everyone almost blinked at the power. [Now Nuna can ride on me!] ¡°¡­.¡± A lively voice that did not match the terrifying appearance rang her mind brightly. It was not that he had become an adult, but that he had temporarily grown his body using the energy he had swallowed. ¡®Is this possible?¡¯ [I don¡¯t know. I just didn¡¯t like that guy hugging Nuna, so I did it. Hurry and get on Dell¡¯s back, Nuna] The boy twinkled his eyes and hit Blenn¡¯s arm with his big front paw. Redan swept his hair with both hands. ¡°Hey, you rat! What a wonderful punk! So you were originally a great guy!¡± Grrrrr.. Although his snout twitched, Dell didn¡¯t attack Redan. Instead, he just expresses dissatisfaction by swinging his tail and slightly hitting Redan¡¯s thigh. ¡°Hahaha, you punk. He¡¯s getting angry after getting bigger. By the way, I can feel the good energy from him? No wonder I feel comfortable breathing.¡± Redan quickly removed Serdel from Blenn¡¯s arms. Then he sat her down on Dell¡¯s back quickly. ¡®Ah¡ª!¡¯ As Redan said, Dell has delivered a cool and refreshing energy. Thanks to this, her body was energized. Breathing also became much easier, and her headache that had been throbbing since entering the deep forest disappeared. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Serdel called for the soldiers who were being supported. ¡°Come this way.¡± The soldiers approached with a glance. The complexions of those who approach Dell brightened at once. Whoo. The rough breathing of the soldier also gradually stabilized. He regained his energy in less than three minutes. Serdel gave him another bottle of potion, just in case, and gave an order to Dell. ¡®Can you expand the scope of this clear energy from your body?¡¯ [Ung. I will do it.] The beast man with his mouth wide open sucked in the energy of the forest. Once the absorbed energy was circulated and spread to his body, his aura expanded. To the point where all of them fit inside. ¡°Whoo.¡± Everyone¡¯s face brightened up. Sigh, Siri and Terra, who had dark complexions, were relieved that they would live a little better now. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡®Go forward like this.¡¯ ¡°We¡¯re going to speed up.¡± Dell strode forward. Everyone diligently followed after him. ***** Two days have passed. As they went inside, the nature of the energy gradually grew more and more oppressive. However, thanks to Dell, they were able to move quickly without much difficulty. ¡°It¡¯s strange. In this kind of atmosphere, we should have already run into one or two monsters, but it¡¯s frighteningly quiet.¡± Redan nodded his head at the muttered words of Falden¡¯s subordinate. That¡¯s why they¡¯re more nervous. The eyes looking around became fiercer. Only Serdel was relieved. That she wasn¡¯t running into any danger meant she was on the right track. ¡®Uhm?¡¯ While she was gazing at the various layers of energy in the forest, a strange golden air flowed in with the sudden wind and pointed to one place. She could instinctively tell that it was a sign to follow. CH 61 ¡®Dell. Turn right! Keep going like that.¡¯ How far did it travel along the golden stream? Grrrrrrr. Dell, who suddenly stopped, bowed his upper body and became alert. [Nuna, we can¡¯t go anymore. I don¡¯t think we should go. It¡¯s dangerous] ¡°Lady, I can feel a powerful wave of mana beyond. It is ominous that the quality is different from the energy we have encountered so far. I think we should go back.¡± Blenn¡¯s face, which had been reddened from effort, turned pale. ¡°We might be swept away¡ª¡± [Nuna!] Serdel, who got off Dell¡¯s back, moved forward. ¡°Serdel!¡± ¡°Lady!¡± Redan, Siri, Terra, and the knights blocked her path. ¡°You, what are you doing!¡± Shouting loudly, Redan grew angrier. ¡°Lady, you must not go any further than this. The energy from beyond is unusual. Let¡¯s start by reporting to others through the communication channels.¡± Falden¡¯s subordinates also tried to stop her. ¡°Blenn, brother. Please come with me for a moment.¡± Serdel took the two of them to a secluded area a little away from everyone else. When she stopped walking, Redan held her by both shoulders. ¡°No, Serdel. Never. No matter what you say¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m looking for in there, brother. I have to go.¡± ¡°Serdel¡ª!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous. Not at all!¡± Her voice gained strength. Her serious eyes were also emitting a strong light, and Redan¡¯s face was further wrinkled. ¡°I won¡¯t get hurt. I guarantee it.¡± Redan¡¯s lips trembled. He couldn¡¯t answer easily. He bowed his head completely avoiding Serdel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Brother.¡± Serdel hugged Redan. He¡¯s much bigger than her, but why does he feel so small at this moment? ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± There was no time to delay. In the meantime, she was anxious and nervous because she felt like she would lose Radun¡¯s power to Falden. ¡°You can¡¯t¡ªgo alone. I will never let you go alone.¡± Serdel nodded and looked at Blenn this time. ¡°My Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Blenn.¡± She reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder, and pulled him down. She whispered low to his ears and leaned back. ¡°His Highness Falden, may arrive. Knights of the family or servants of His Highness will never block His Highness.¡± Blenn looked at Serdel. His towering nose touched her cheek. ¡°You should stop him.¡± ¡°¡ªOr perhaps this was the deal you were asking me to ask you to save Laura, Lady?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He gritted his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s cruel. Rather than saving the life of a savior, watch you jump into danger. Furthermore, I have pledged my loyalty to the Lady.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an order.¡± His that had been narrowed into a cold glare, widened at her voice. ¡°Follow me.¡± She lifted her hand from his shoulder. She took a step back from him, who had stiffened, and widened the distance between them. With a blank expression, he looked at Serdel silently for a while. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll follow your order.¡± This was all he could say. Blenn¡¯s hands were tensed into fists. ¡°Yeah. I believe you¡¯ll do well, Blenn.¡± It¡¯s definitely the same thing, but why does it feel different from when he said it in the slave market? Serdel turned around and walked away. Her distant back looked particularly chilly at this moment. Blenn felt cold. ***** When Redan, Serdel, and Blenn returned, everyone who was waiting came. ¡°You¡¯re going to turn around, right?¡± Falden¡¯s subordinate looked at Redan and Serdel alternately with tense eyes. ¡°No. We¡¯ll have to look into the situation. That way we can make a proper report. If you turn around because you think it¡¯s dangerous, that¡¯s not an expedition. Me, Serdel, and Blenn are going inside.¡± They tried to say something, but they closed their mouths. Certainly, as Redan said, it was difficult to get information if they turned around at the first sign of danger. They didn¡¯t come here to avoid it. This one hesitation could adversely affect the subjugation in the future. ¡°We¡¯ll go in together. It¡¯s more dangerous to get separated in a place like this. Besides, there¡¯s only one communication channel, right?¡± ¡°We are people who have a duty to protect the Young Master and Young Lady, not beings to be kept in a safe place.¡± The knights of the family, including Falden¡¯s subordinates, looked determined. Redan, who had been lost in thought for a while, nodded. [I, I¡¯m scared¡­] Dell teared up. [Dell thinks it¡¯s very scary¡ª Can you not go? I think it¡¯s really dangerous over there. It¡¯s not just what Dell is saying. There wasn¡¯t a single ant pup all the way here. There were no birds flying in the sky.] His ears drooped. Even if he grew in size, the child was still a child. ¡®It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, Dell. Let¡¯s go. Or you can wait here. Can you be alone?¡¯ [¡­I don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m going to protect you, Nuna.] Putting up his snout, the boy raised himself. [I don¡¯t want you to be taken away by him] His eyes were on Blenn. Before she knew it, Dell had a burning sense of competition. As she entered through the intense energy pouring in, a cave appeared. The front of it was covered with deformed trees and branches, and at first glance, the entrance seemed to be wrapped around a camp. ¡®It¡¯s a visual that can¡¯t be compared.¡¯ It was frighteningly bizarre. The atmosphere that seemed to be hard to endure just by reaching the dark entrance was overrun and wild. She swallowed nervously. The golden airflow sparkle in front of the cave entrance. When Serdel tried to take the lead, Redan caught her and sent her behind him. His hands trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll go first and check.¡± Siri jumped forward and looked at the cave entrance. And as soon as she carefully stepped into the cave, Paang! ¡°Kyaak!¡± As if there was a barrier at the entrance, she pushed out without mercy. ¡°Siri-ssi!¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for the startled Terra running forward and catching her body, she would probably have been thrown into a tree. Hugging Siri tightly, he rolled around the ground. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Uh.¡± ¡°Siri!¡± Serdel was going to go see if Siri was alright, but Redan didn¡¯t let her arm go. ¡°Brother?¡± His eyes as he looked at the cave gradually turned red. Whoo, whoo. He take a deep breath and exhale once, ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s something you want inside, right?¡± He looked back at Serdel. ¡°You must have been in there.¡± In her dreams. ¡°Then I can go as I am holding your hand.¡± What Serdel said before suddenly came to mind. It can only be done and visited by her. Redan denied the words to himself. The moment he admits it, he is afraid his sister will go into that dangerous place alone. He strode along. Serdel, who was still caught by his hand, was also dragged along with his stride. ¡°B, brother!¡± After arriving at the entrance, Redan looked inside and looked around. Whoo.. Finally, after taking a deep breath, he stepped in to go inside. No, he was going to hold it. Paang! ¡°Ugh.¡± Likewise, the barrier of the entrance pushed him out without any mercy. As his body was greatly pushed to one side, Serdel¡¯s body caught in the rebound also leaned to the other side. Her body leaned close to the cave. Almost at the same time, the energy that stretched out from the inside pulled Serdel¡¯s waist. He didn¡¯t even have time. Redan¡¯s eyes shook severely, missing Serdel¡¯s hand, which was held tightly by certain force. ¡°Serdel¡ª!¡± A vein stood on his neck. Both eyes were about to be dyed with fear and madness. ¡°It¡¯s okay, brother!¡± While being sucked into the cave, Serdel shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°Lady!¡± [Nunaaaaa!] Surprised, Blenn and Dell came running. [This character died in the original work.] [This character died in the original work.] [This character died in the original work.] [You don¡¯t have the right to access the original work.] [You don¡¯t have the right to access] [You don¡¯t have the right to access] Above Blenn¡¯s head, a red warning window that he couldn¡¯t even see emerged like a frightening warning. CH 62 ¡°Stop! Blenn, Dell! That¡¯s an order!¡± She was shocked by the unexpected phenomenon. If they came after her like this, it felt like Blenn would disappear for some reason. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t come!¡± Blenn and Dell¡¯s bodies stopped just before they reached the entrance of the cave at her desperate command, which was fired with a scream. [Nuna¡­] Although nothing could come to mind yet about Dell, if there was a character as unexpected as Blenn in this round, it was him. She had never seen him in the original. So she was worried because she couldn¡¯t tell if Dell was a dead character or not. ¡®If you jump in to save me for nothing, something might happen.¡¯ [N, Nuna¡­] Dell cried. ¡®I want you to wait patiently! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be out soon! And stop Blenn from approaching. Because it¡¯s dangerous. And tell my brother that I¡¯m okay, I¡¯ll be okay, so don¡¯t worry¡ª¡¯ [Uwaaa¡­.] Eventually, Dell, who sat on the floor, burst into tears, and Blenn¡ª. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± She saw him spacing out with a shocked face. His eyes, not knowing what to do, were like a lost child. It was somehow strongly engraved in her brain. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Protect everyone, Blenn.¡± With those words, she was completely swallowed up by the darkness that had overtaken her. ***** When she came to her senses, she stood in the middle of a wide passage. She narrowed her eyes and looked around. Particles of light were floating in the air like dust. It was like fireflies. Thanks to that, she was able to secure her location right away. ¡®Here¡ª¡¯ It was the place she saw in the original. Ah, she arrived at the right place safely! Even though she began walking slowly, she gained acceleration. Her heart was overwhelmed when she arrived at the end of the passage. Finally! She felt relieved at the thought that she had reached the moment she had been waiting for. ¡®Whoa¡­¡¯ She swallowed the exclamation that was about to escape her mouth as a result of the mysterious energy she felt all around her. On the ceiling there is a huge eight-pointed star. In the middle of a place full of runes on the floor. She saw a scattered black robe. Just like Falden did in the original, she got closer and lifted it up. The white powder that flowed from the inside of the robe flew in all directions. As if reacting to it, light began to drift from the eight-point star. The outside is black. Red in the middle. Inside, dark blue lights lit up one after another. The air currents that had filled the space also gathered under the light, and the runes engraved on the floor filled with blood. ¡°¡­.¡± The sight of light that began to flutter with a bleak energy was like an aurora. She looked at it for a while. ¡®But were there different types of light in the original story?¡¯ At the sudden question, her excitement cooled down. ¡®In the original story, there was only gold and silver.¡¯ She took a step back in surprise, and the black robe she was holding slid out of her hand. ¡®Do you want to inherit my power?¡¯ Startled. As she turned her head to the classic line she heard suddenly, she saw a phantom in a black robe looking straight at her. It was a man wearing a crow mask. When she played the game, she laughed at it, saying it was dirty and tacky¡ª. But there was no laughter now. ¡®In the original story, it was definitely a white crow mask¡ª¡¯ Why? ¡®This guy wears a black crow mask, right?¡¯ Her heart pounded as if it were a drum. ¡®Do you want it?¡¯ The man has asked the same question again. The tip of her lips trembled. Is the situation different from the original story, in which Falden gained power and she came in here instead of him? She was confused. ¡®Do you want it?¡¯ The same question followed again. ¡°¡­I want.¡± She was nervous, but since she had come this far, she couldn¡¯t back down. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a black crow or a white crow, as long as I can get power.¡¯ Having made up her mind, she even approached the man¡¯s side. ¡°I want it.¡± So hurry up and give it to me. I don¡¯t have time. ¡®¡­.¡¯ The man muttered in a strange language. The longer the murmur, whether it was a spell or not, the more the eight-pointed star light and the bloody rune language on the floor fluctuated like a wave. Later, as if to increase the effect, blood-colored runes came out of the floor and even floated up. This was also a completely different scene from the original story. Her fingertips, which had begun to tremble, couldn¡¯t be calmed, so she clenched her fists. She kept closing her eyes in fear of getting too creeped out. Meanwhile, the bloody runes that had entered the eight-pointed star took the place. And the man¡¯s eyes also flashed under the mask. Maybe that was the signal. The completed eight-pointed star emitted a thick green mist, and the scene she had foreseen began to unfold. From the fog that enveloped her from head to toe, a sense of arrogance, which is difficult to define in one word, has been transmitted. She felt pressure, and her whole body felt numb. The brows frowned as the strange power spread throughout the body, accompanied by the discomfort. ¡®Ugh.¡¯ As she gritted her teeth, the reduced size of the eight-pointed star fell over her head. Light glistened in her head. It was as if the car¡¯s headlights were blinking toward her eyes. ¡®I¡¯m dizzy. Damn.¡¯ She was forcing herself to endure it, but the man suddenly touched her face. ¡®It is a reward given to you for inheriting my roots.¡¯ ¡®¡­.?¡¯ ¡®Focus on me.¡¯ Hiik! Her face was straightened by the man reaching out his hands. She reflected herself in his red eyes. As she stared blankly, she remembered a child who looked just like her. It was the young Serdel. The child stared at her. Her small lips twitched. She seemed to be saying something, but she couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°¡­.¡± When Serdel blinked as if she was stupid, the child slowly opened her mouth wide. She still couldn¡¯t hear her voice. Serdel, who gave strength to her eyes, focused on the shape of the child¡¯s mouth. ¡®Why¡ªdon¡¯t¡ªyou¡ªremember?¡¯ ¡®Uhm?¡¯ Remember? ¡®No way, are you talking about childhood memories that are not in the body?¡¯ ¡®Re¡ªmember¡ªit.¡¯ At the end of that, the young Serdel disappeared, and instead¡ª. ¡°Oppa¡ª?¡± (t/n: from what I see, it seems like the brother she talks about here was her brother in real life. Not Redan, since he¡¯s still alive.) It was a 12-year-old boy. A precious person who built a fence called the family to her, who had nothing to ask her to be a younger sister when she was young. The little boy who died saving her was smiling brightly. Tears flowed from Serdel¡¯s eyes. ¡®You¡¯re crying again.¡¯ The boy raised his hand. But the small hand didn¡¯t touch her cheek. ¡®You know. You remember what I said last time, right? You didn¡¯t forget, right?¡¯ Unlike the young Serdel, this time his clear voice rang in her ears. It¡¯s a voice she has always missed, but it hurt her a lot when she heard it in this situation. No. I can¡¯t remember. I¡¯m sorry. Unable to answer the guilt, she just cried. It was a car accident. The older brother who had saved her and had been hit in her place would be in pain, but he smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Nevertheless, she kept crying. She definitely heard it. Perhaps because the shock was too great, she couldn¡¯t remember it after that. Despite living the life of her older brother, she couldn¡¯t remember what he had said to her that day. Sorry, I¡¯m sorry. ¡°Oppa¡­¡± How much did she apologize and apologize again? As her brother¡¯s voice disappeared, the only thing left in the man¡¯s red eyes was her present self. The messy face was ugly. At that moment. ¡°Get out of here!¡± She was able to wake up from the despair she had been sucked in like crazy with an unfamiliar voice hitting her ear hard. It felt like cold water was pouring over her head. ¡°Get out of here! Serdel Robbesta! Wake up!¡± She forcibly turned on the face held by the crow mask. It looked like a fire was raging. An angry man with red hair fluttering was running towards her. With a sharp force and fierce eyes, it was Falden. CH 63 Even though she put up a shield called Blenn. ¡®As expected¡ª from the male lead.¡¯ There was a backlash in front of the situation that flowed exactly like what she saw in the precognitive dream. ¡°Get out of here!¡± She feels annoyed. You should be the one who gets lost! She wanted to shout. ¡°Young Lady! How dare you throw away your cheeky self and squeeze it out like it is! Wake up! It doesn¡¯t suit you!¡± There was a lot of abusive language. At the same time, his blue energy shot towards the green mist that surrounded her. But. Whoosh¡ª. As if not to interfere, his attack was blocked by an air current from the green mist. Clank! The two energies collide in the air, and in the aftermath, the surrounding area is shaken. The deep echo that passed through her toes shook the inside of her. ¡°Ugh.¡± Beyond the aching pain, all the groans came out under the pressure of swelling and bursting muscles. Even her mind was dizzy from the pain that followed. It was as if the world in which she was standing was turned upside down. ¡°Young Lady!¡± The more the disturbance continued, the stronger the green energy tightened itself. The man in front of her was obsessed, saying he would never let go until he accepted all his strength. ¡°Damn! Hang in there. Don¡¯t be afraid! I¡¯ll save you soon!¡± In the midst of this correct obsession, the red-haired man with the slightest obsession gathered energy again. Please. You don¡¯t have to save me. Please, just go, please! The blue mana on his sword drove people crazy. Her mind went blank. You don¡¯t have to save me! ¡®This crazy guy¡ª¡¯ Oh God¡ª! Serdel found the God she didn¡¯t normally believe in. It seemed that she could become a fanatic at this moment. But she had a feeling that Falden would cut everything and proudly take her out. With the feeling of a new fear being engraved all over her body, she lost her mind. ¡°Damn it, what the hell is that?¡± The hand holding his sword gained strength. Falden eventually stared at the green fog that swallowed Serdel¡¯s head and the man who was between them. The man wearing a black robe and a crow mask never looked back at him. It wasn¡¯t a humanoid monster or a beast. It didn¡¯t even seem like something related to black magic. Ugh. What state is Serdel in right now? And what is the best option to save her? ¡®Increasing the intensity of the attack¡ª No. She could get hurt at some point.¡¯ However, he couldn¡¯t leave it as it is. If she got hurt or worse here, the Elbash Forest business was likely to stop. At best, he made a team of secret troops and wizards, but he couldn¡¯t end it in failure without any benefit. Moreover, the front of the cave was a mess now. The Count¡¯s knights were in a state of panic, and Redan had lost his mind a while ago. According to his subordinates, it was him who first approached the cave holding Serdel¡¯s hand. It must have been hard to stay sane after that, because it was like driving his younger sister into a dangerous situation. And the silver haired man. ¡®Did he say it¡¯s Blenn?¡¯ By simply looking at him, the people around him were affected by his darkened eyes and the atmosphere on his pale, tired face. ¡®He ran to me.¡¯ To be exact, he blocked him from approaching the cave. He didn¡¯t do it out of concern. Rather, he guarded the entrance to the cave as if he were a gatekeeper. The atmosphere around Falden became ferocious due to the incomprehensible behavior. To the extent that Falden¡¯s subordinates pulled out swords at Blenn all at once. Nevertheless, Blenn didn¡¯t blink at all. If it had not been for some energy flowing out of the cave that swallowed him in a moment of hesitation Falden probably couldn¡¯t have avoided a fierce battle with Blenn. ¡®Damn it. Please be safe.¡¯ The older brother of the Young Lady is looking for her, crying, and going crazy outside. ¡®She won¡¯t die.¡¯ ¡°¡­What?¡± It was then. At the voice that flowed into his head like a hum, Falden twisted one of his eyebrows. ¡®She won¡¯t die, there won¡¯t be any danger. So don¡¯t disturb us.¡¯ ¡°Ha, how do you guarantee that? And why do I have to listen to you?¡± ¡®Do you intend to kill her?¡¯ ¡°You crow punk!¡± ¡®The energy on the tip of your sword could kill her. If you do it incorrectly.¡¯ Slowly, the man who had never moved turned his head to the side. The moment he met his empty red eyes, a chilling shiver ran down his spine. ¡®It¡¯s going to be over soon.¡¯ After saying that, he was silent, and Falden could no longer attack knowing the danger. The opacity of the green mist began to dissipate at some point, and the figure of Serdel was revealed. ¡°Young Lady¡ª!¡± Fortunately, her complexion, which should be bad considering she had lost consciousness while being held by the man¡¯s hand, was not bad. He was a little relieved. Falden slowly approached her while watching her eyes. By then, the man¡¯s appearance had also become quite blurred, but when Falden was close to him, he completely disappeared. The same was true of the green mist. Her body was about to collapse to the floor. He quickly stretched out his arms and supported her. ¡°Young Lady!¡± He placed his hand on her face. He felt the warmth and her breathing was also stable. ¡°Haa.¡± Really. Tsk, Falden hugged her with one arm. Then he took the communication tool out of his arms. ¡®I think it¡¯s better to keep what happened here a secret.¡¯ It seemed somehow safe for her. Furthermore, he thought it would help her. After hitting the communication port a few times with his thumb, he saw Redan in the dazzling light of the cave entrance. Falden lifted Serdel up higher. Redan¡¯s eyes grew bigger when he saw her. His eyes shook. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your sister is safe, Sir.¡± Redan, who had been biting his lips several times, eventually shed tears that he had endured. Without even making a sound. He couldn¡¯t raise his head for a while. [¡­Thank you. Thank you¡­ Thank you, Your Highness¡­] How anxious he must have been. His burning emotions were conveyed. ¡°So get a hold of yourself. Redan Robbesta Will you show that face in front of your younger sister?¡± The madness engraved in his eyes was the mark of a deep wound. Count Robbesta¡¯s long tragedy was also well known to Falden. He also lost his mother at the same time, so it was understandable. ¡°We¡¯ll be out soon, so please calm down until then.¡± Only after seeing Redan nod his head did he end the communication. ¡°Okay, shall we go out now?¡± As soon as he took a step forward, Boom! A vibration was transmitted from the earth¡¯s core. Cracks broke out in the cave¡¯s ceiling and walls. ¡®Was the crow mask punk is something that was maintaining the cave?¡¯ At this rate, it seemed that it would collapse soon. He ran lightly. Falden, who quickly escaped from the cavity, continued to run. Booom! Behind him, with a roar, the common ceiling completely collapsed. ¡°Tsk.¡± After that, the aftermath came rushing in. The floor shook more violently, and large and small piles of stones were splashed on the walls as well as the ceiling. Booom! The thick dust also filled the surroundings. Falden¡¯s movement has become agile. ¡®How much further do I have to go?¡¯ He ran for a long time, but he couldn¡¯t see the exit for some reason. ¡®No way, is there no exit at all?¡¯ He didn¡¯t walk in normally, so he thought that in order to get out, he would have to face a similar phenomenon as before. ¡®If I keep going like this, we¡¯ll be crushed to death.¡¯ Boom! He looked around with his eyes, avoiding things falling from the side. He became impatient. In his eyes, the golden air that had led his steps up to this point shimmered again. He followed quickly because he didn¡¯t want to miss it. Run and run. At the end of that, he could find the growling of light. After ignoring this, he finally increased his speed and flew towards the light. Warmness wrapped around the body. He opens his eyes to a strange sensation and the sensation of being swallowed completely for a moment. ¡°Ha¡ª¡± They was thrown into a place other than the entrance to the cave. ¡°Crazy.¡± CH 64 [You have gained the power of the sorcerer Radun.] Floating, a dark space all around her. Serdel was relieved when she saw the status window floating in the air. ¡®It wasn¡¯t stolen!¡¯ She finally got it. As a result, the original story was twisted one more time. To her, who had only been screwed over until now, the feeling of screwing up a major plot point didn¡¯t feel bad at all. ¡®By the way, is this place a dream?¡¯ Just because Radun¡¯s power was gained, did not mean it was immediately available. She had to train in a world beyond consciousness since the knowledge he had accumulated as a sorcerer was so vast. ¡®I inherited the roots, but I still can¡¯t use them properly.¡¯ Just in time, the crow man appeared with a white fog. ¡®So make it completely yours.¡¯ After saying that, the crow man stretched out his hand and released his power. A spell ran from his fingertips with the light, wrapping itself around him and her like a rope. As if reacting to that, the bloody airflow and mist rising from the floor circulated around them, slowly expanding. Startled. Even though it was only in a dream, it was like being trapped in a huge pillar of fire, the feeling of intimidation was no joke. Whoo. For some reason, it felt like she could feel heat and pain like her flesh was burning. ¡®Follow me.¡¯ Serdel¡¯s eyes changed. ***** It feels like she stayed in a dream for quite a long time. Serdel raised her head and saw the date and time displayed in the air. It¡¯s been exactly four days. As she lowered her gaze, she could see the status window that appeared above the crow man who disappeared like smoke. [You have gained the power inherited from the sorcerer Radun through intense training.] [Sorcerer class goes up to A] [Lucky Points increase to 10,000 ? Total points: 20,000] Her body was overflowing with energy. The crow man had completely disappeared, and the status window disappeared as if there was nothing more to say. After a brief silence, as if the carpet was being rolled up, flashing began from the edges of the dark landscape. She knew it was the process of waking up from a dream. Serdel closed her eyes. A clear smell lingered in her nose along with the sensation of being pushed out of space. Also, her mind was refreshed. She slowly opened her eyes when she realized that she had returned to reality. ¡°¡­.¡± Shadows fluttering over her knees. In the meantime, a ray of sunlight shone as if revealing its presence. There were green leaves in front of her, and small branches stretched out over her head. Above the branches, a clear blue sky could be seen through the open space. For some reason it felt pretty close. This time she looked down. ¡°¡­.!¡± The ground was terribly far away. It felt like her eyes were spinning at an unexpected height. Only then did she find out that she was up high on a large tree branch, she felt arms around her and looked back expecting to find Blenn or her brother. Startled. Instead she saw a sleeping Falden. Serdel¡¯s eyes grew bigger. What kind of situation is this? Her eyes rolled around. ¡®Why am I in his arms?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t even move her body well, that was how strongly he held her with his solid arms. ¡°Hmm¡ª¡± He lowered his head as he exhaled heavily. If she hadn¡¯t avoided his face in a hurry, his lips would have passed gently over hers. ¡®It¡¯s a relief that he didn¡¯t.¡¯ Instead, his nose pressed the skin of her neck. A hot breath penetrated her thin shirt and poured down her body. The heat that hit her made her back stiff and her cheeks burn. ¡°Hmm.¡± He seemed pretty tired. Falden rubbed his face. His slightly rough lips brushed her soft skin mercilessly. ¡°¡­.¡± She was embarrassed and tried to move away from him. That one rebellion was about all she could manage. She wanted to move more, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡®Should I headbutt him?¡¯ At least he would wake up now. But, still, he¡¯s a Prince. She couldn¡¯t possibly do that. In the end, he eventually raised his head up, then lowered it down and turned to the side without realizing it. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± When he came to his senses, his eyes met her eyes. He looked terribly drowsy since he was still leaning his head on her shoulder and looking up at her. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the golden eyes that contrasted with the red hair. It¡¯s a shame they were in such a dangerous place His eyes were very pretty. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Her shoulders flinched at the deep voice mixed with sleep. Slowly, he lifted his head and gently loosened his neck by moving it from side to side. ¡°How¡¯s your body? How are you? Are you aware that you¡¯ve been unconscious for 4 days? Oh, you don¡¯t know.¡± While asking and answering alone, he looked over her again. ¡°I thought it was wrong. Are you really okay?¡± ¡°Sorry for making you worry. I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. It¡¯s a problem if the Young Lady is sick.¡± Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed. ¡°With this opportunity, I plan to take a strong position instead of being kicked out of the imperial palace, but it would have all been ruined. Young Lady, you too, would have failed in everything you had planned.¡± That¡¯s true. ¡°Young Lady¡¯s body is not just yours. Don¡¯t forget that we are partners.¡± After a brief pause, he immediately jumped from the tree. Without any notice to her. Of course, there was no time to be surprised. Serdel, who had fallen to the ground, forcibly swallowed her embarrassment and tried to move off of Falden¡¯s body. Thanks to Radun¡¯s energy, her body felt very light. ¡°Young Lady.¡± ¡°Wha!¡± She narrowly caught what he had thrown carelessly. It was a communication device. ¡°Look around.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± It was quiet. There was no one but him and her. The feeling of the forest was quite different. The air felt deadly and harsh, and the grass and trees surrounding their feet were more poisonous rather than fresh. They were not near the cave. She could see that they had entered much deeper into the forest than that. ¡°It would have been nice if we could have escaped through the main entrance, but we couldn¡¯t. It was a place like this.¡± It was a phenomenon that didn¡¯t exist in the original. Falden, who gained Radun¡¯s power before, was safely led outside where his subordinates were waiting. Therefore, he had been trained in the dream for four days under their protection. ¡®Is it because I screwed it up?¡¯ Thinking that it wasn¡¯t going to be easy to find their way back, Falden took out a piece of paper from the small bag he was wearing around his waist and unfolded it. As Serdel was wondering what it was, she looked closely and realized it was a simple map showing the places he had been through so far. ¡°Let¡¯s meet them first. Oh, put in communication with Sir Redan.¡± She touched the communication device like he told her to. With a light and a short pause, her brother¡¯s face came into view. A moment of awkward silence passed between each other. [¡­A, are you okay?] ¡°I¡¯m okay. How about brother? Are you not hurt?¡± [I¡¯m, I¡¯m okay. Are you really okay? I was told that you were unconscious yesterday¡ª!] Redan turned his head to the side and bit his lips. His eyes turned red. His breathing was also shaky. [Damn it. I thought something went wrong. I had all sorts of thoughts that I might have pushed you to the edge with my wrong judgment for a moment. I thought you were left alone in a place like that¡ª] Eventually, Redan covered his eyes with his big hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother.¡± [¡ªYou didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Again¡ª it¡¯s my fault for not trusting you in the end. I should have believed you and listened to you more¡ª.] If so, Redan would have waited a little more leisurely. Serdel would not have been sucked into the cave that way either. With unexpected variables in mind in advance, they must have prepared enough to separate from each other. But he couldn¡¯t do that this time. She could tell that it had triggered Redan¡¯s trauma. He couldn¡¯t raise his face because his emotions weren¡¯t the subject. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m sorry for pushing you too hard.¡± [¡ªWhere are you now? Serdel. This brother¡ªdon¡¯t leave this brother alone. Because I¡¯m scared. Serdel, this brother is scared.] She was frustrated with herself. Her chest hurt so much. When Serdel, who had her lips tightly shut, couldn¡¯t say anything, Falden, who was wiping the back of his head, took away the communication device. ¡°You should get a hold of yourself now, right? Your reunion is when you meet each other in person. Don¡¯t do it through the communication tool.¡± [I, I apologize. Your Highness.] ¡°I¡¯ll keep it simple for now. Seeing that the nature of the forest has changed compared to yesterday, Young Lady and I seem to have entered quite deeply.¡± Falden glanced at the forest once. ¡°The characteristics change several times a day.¡± As he said that, the energy of the forest became different from before. It became more brutal. CH 65 ¡°We¡¯ll move slowly, so please lead my team and get inside quickly, Sir. I want to scout out all of the dangerous places as much as possible before going in for subjugation. Hurry up.¡± [I¡ªunderstand.] ¡°I¡¯ll protect the Young Lady, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± Falden, who finished speaking first, reached out to Serdel. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What do you mean what is it? We should hold hands. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen here. Or should I hug you? Like how I did until yesterday?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hold hands.¡± His hands were bigger than Redan¡¯s. And each of his fingers was covered with calluses. She could see how much effort he made to survive. ¡°I¡¯ll adjust to your stride, so I don¡¯t want you to complain at all about what to do if your legs hurt. I¡¯m not a gentleman enough to match a lady all the time.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen, so you don¡¯t have to worry?¡± ¡°Ah, really? But aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± At the same time, he handed over some soft bread and some fruit. ¡°Aren¡¯t you thirsty? This is a powder made of dried fruit, so how is it? Do you want me to make it for you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°Then should I just give you water? You have to drink water first before eating bread to avoid indigestion.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you need beef jerky?¡± ¡°This is enough.¡± ¡°Your shoes aren¡¯t uncomfortable, are they?¡± ¡°Please close your mouth. I can¡¯t eat.¡± Eventually, Serdel became annoyed and the conversation stopped. ¡°I¡¯ll make you some soup for dinner¡±. Serdel, who was trying to respond, just sighed. ¡°¡ªI owe you, so I¡¯ll make the soup.¡± This time, Falden didn¡¯t respond right away. As he walked ahead and picked bread, he turned his head and looked at Serdel. It was as if he had heard something he couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Are you trying to kill me? Did I make a mistake?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± It¡¯s true, she couldn¡¯t even brew a cup of tea properly the other day. However, this was a little hurtful. Serdel quietly chewed her bread. ****** He was quite attentive, considering that he said she had a bad personality and wouldn¡¯t match a Lady. He pressed down on the ground while walking ahead so that she could move comfortably. He seems to be worried that she might trip over a branch or a large, and sometimes even small, stone. He even led the way by pointing his front toes to the side. When the leaves were sparse, he covered her face with his hands so that she wouldn¡¯t get burned in the strong sunlight, and he provided food from time to time. ¡®I don¡¯t think he was like this to the original female lead either¡ª¡¯ Shrugging in mild confusion Serdel looked at his wide back. What¡¯s the difference between him and her? Why did he receive the power of a white crow, and she received the power of a black crow? ¡®Because he¡¯s a main character and I¡¯m an extra?¡¯ To say that, black or white was all the power of Radun, and the black crow said that she was accepting his roots. These were words that even Falden had never heard in the original story. ¡®After all, Radun¡¯s power was originally close to darkness, and the white power was only one side¡ª.¡¯ If so, it means that she has inherited a more powerful and complete power than what Falden had. In addition, the crow man showed young Serdel and her brother, saying it was a reward. Despite the two forms of the crow man the meaning of what the two said to Serdel in this timeline and Falden in the original story was the same in the end. Remember. What young Serdel said must be a memory related to the Countess. She must have remembered the last words her brother left while dying to appease him. It would not be strange if she considered her reward and Falden¡¯s reward as different but when she put the clues side by side it felt like there was some kind of connection. ¡®Or maybe it¡¯s just my mood?¡¯ ¡°Young Lady, Young Lady?¡± Taak! She was surprised by the sound of fingers coming close to her nose, so she walked backwards. ¡°What is it? What are you thinking about? I called you several times. Are you not feeling well anywhere?¡± With a frown, he pushed his face close. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m thinking about something deeply. Can you move your face? It¡¯s burdensome.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m really handsome?¡± When he asked that with a smirk, Serdel remained indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s true that you¡¯re handsome for a man, but I don¡¯t feel pressured because there are many good people around me.¡± Falden¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Young Lady can say some bitter words. I guess you aren¡¯t sick because you said everything you wanted to say.¡± ¡°By the way, why did you call me?¡± He raised his finger. ¡°I was wondering if you could see that.¡± A beautifully twisted golden and silver stem caught her eye as she lifted her head. ¡°I can see it.¡± ¡°As expected. I thought we were looking at the same thing because the cave that threw out everyone else had swallowed us.¡± He became serious. ¡°Where is this thing leading us? It feels like we¡¯re being played around by the forest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s uncomfortable to ignore. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s bad to follow along.¡± ¡°What if we join them late after chasing that?¡± It¡¯s a relief if their reunion won¡¯t be delayed. The road could have twisted off into any direction and they might not be able to meet each other until the end of the exploration. ¡®Is there a way to join them quickly?¡¯ Serdel, who had been agonizing for a long time, called out to Dell in her mind out of curiosity. If their souls were connected, he might be able to hear her voice even if they were separated. ¡®Dell, Dell, Dell!¡¯ Maybe he can¡¯t hear her? Is the energy in the forest affecting Dell and her? Serdel focused more on her bond with Dell. ¡®Dell. Please listen to my voice.¡¯ Dell, Dell. ¡®Dell¡ª¡¯ [Ung.. Wuung? Nuna!] After a desperate call, Dell¡¯s voice finally flowed through her mind. [Nunaaaaaaaa! Unggg!] He wailed loudly. [Dell was nervous. Uwee. The human poop¡ª No, Redan poop owns the communication device alone, so Dell can¡¯t even see Nuna¡¯s face. I want to see you too. This punk, this idiot.] Is it revenge for being called rat poop? Or maybe he should come up with another name to call him, it¡¯s too strange to call him Hyung right? Dell¡¯s harsh words relieved Serdel¡¯s tension and made her laugh instead. ¡°Young Lady. You¡¯re not going crazy, right?¡± Falden¡¯s worrying question was simply ignored by her. [Nuna, where are you? No matter how much I walk, I can¡¯t see Nuna.] ¡®I can¡¯t explain because I don¡¯t know exactly where this is.¡¯ [Then we can¡¯t meet?] ¡®Dell. Can you focus on me for a second?¡¯ [Yes.] Whoo. Is it possible? ¡®Let¡¯s not doubt it.¡¯ As she lowered her eyes, she moved Radun¡¯s energy. Colorful air flowed around the room sprinkling light and moving according to her will. The three rings she created wrapped around her heart. With the sorcerer¡¯s power, she was able to make a total of seven rings. ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel¡¯s lips twitched. Runes flowed out of the three rings with dark blue light, she concentrated on a sentence in her head. The stronger her concentration, the stronger the power. Beyond her mind, her five senses are connected with Dell¡¯s. A shiver ran through her at the sensation she felt for the first time. At the same time, she was able to see the situation on Dell¡¯s side through his eyes. [Whoo, wooaaaa! Wow, wow!!] It was the same for Dell. He was able to see and feel all the sensations she could feel where she was standing. As if it was amazing, he exclaimed for a long time then ran to Redan and bit his sleeve. Grrrrr, grrrrowwll, grrrrr. ¡®What is it, rat poop? Are you hungry? You ate a lot earlier.¡¯ Redan pushed Dell¡¯s forehead as if he was annoying. Grrrrr, grrrrr! [Ah, stupid. You idiot.] Groaning, Dell lifted his chin and shook his head. As if to follow him. ¡®Don¡¯t lose your mind, too. I can leave you behind.¡¯ [Nuna. Can I leave this stupid person here?] ¡®Don¡¯t do that.¡¯ As soon as she said that she heard Blenn¡¯s voice. ¡®I think he wants us to follow him¡¯ Blenn noticed Dell¡¯s behavior and approached Redan. His face after just a few days was quite bad. ¡®Since it¡¯s the Young Lady¡¯s beast, maybe he figured out her location.¡¯ Not even a single emotion could be felt in the low-pitched voice. Redan looked at Blenn with eyes showing dissatisfaction and looked at Dell. ¡®Hey, is what that punk said right?¡¯ Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod. Dell nodded his head vigorously. ¡®Guide us.¡¯ Dell, who took the lead, stomped ahead, his nose first. The boy, whose senses became several times more sensitive thanks to his stronger connection with Serdel, led them in the right direction. CH 66 Tahat! The boy who jumped off the ground ran faster than an arrow. Blenn followed casually. Ughh, there were flustered groans everywhere, but soon everyone, including Redan, hurriedly flew away. ¡®Dell. It¡¯s dangerous if the soldiers fall behind, so please think of them and adjust the speed.¡¯ She was worried that Siri and Terra would fall behind. [Yes~] Whoo. ¡°Your Highness. We should be moving too. I¡¯ve given orders to my beast, so we¡¯ll be able to join them soon.¡± Falden, who was looking at her with his chin on his hand, said ¡®Hmm.¡¯ vaguely before she realized it. He didn¡¯t doubt her or even ask what the hell the beast was and how she was so sure about it. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± Instead, he stared at her for a few moments, as if observing her, before just holding out his hand. ****** They moved nonstop for two days, following the twisting air current of gold and silver. The more they went into the heart of the forest, the more brutal the atmosphere became. It was so quiet that she wondered if even a monster could properly survive in a place like this. Grass and trees were all that lived and breathed. Even Falden, who has a lot of experience in subjugation, was tired of it. ¡°I feel suffocated. How can there be no disruption? Can you even call this a forest? Don¡¯t you think so, Young Lady?¡± As he said, the forest was not at all like nature. It felt like she was trapped in a huge, well-made landscape. ¡°Is it okay? You don¡¯t feel anything bad right?¡± When there was no answer, he looked back at Serdel. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± After inheriting the power of Radun, the energy of the forest didn¡¯t affect her in any way. Unaware of it, Falden continued to look at her and check again. ¡°Just in case¡ª Here.¡± What he handed over was a high-level potion. ¡°I don¡¯t need it. Now that I think about it, I think Your Highness will be the only one who treats high-level potions as water.¡± ¡°Young Lady. I will just say it right away, I¡¯ve given it out like it was water, but I¡¯ve never drank it myself. If anyone hears the reason why, they would think that I¡¯m bragging, but it¡¯s fine, I have never been tired or hurt enough that I had to drink it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Instead of replying he spat out a groan. Strangely, while talking about himself, Falden always spoke about it with such a serious face. It¡¯s the same now. He, who had been silent for a while. ¡°At this moment, Young Lady, I need to ask you.¡± As if she was going to end his worries, he lowered his voice soothingly. ¡°Does Young Lady know what happened to you in the cave?¡± Serdel looked at him silently. ¡°No. I¡¯ll have to change the content of the question. Did Young Lady participate in the expedition to meet the crow man?¡± It was sharp and straightforward. ¡°When I heard that the Young Lady was going on an expedition, I was annoyed at first because I couldn¡¯t believe it. On the one hand, I thought you were immature. Because expeditions are not for joking around.¡± He raised his hand, and the hair that fell in front of him bothered him. He swept it wildly. ¡°However, I thought there must be something to that self-confidence without having the strength to protect yourself.¡± He took a half step closer. ¡°And when I brought out the fainted Young Lady, I was convinced. This was all the result of Young Lady¡¯s plan.¡± Serdel raised her head. He, who was already huge, felt even bigger. ¡°In particular, I became convinced once again through the conversation between Young Lady and Sir Redan through the communication device. He didn¡¯t seem to know anything about the cave, but at least he seemed to know the purpose of the Young Lady.¡± A smile formed on Falden¡¯s mouth. It felt cold at first glance because it didn¡¯t contain even a single emotion. ¡°You¡¯re not flustered.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason to be.¡± She was already expecting this situation to come. ¡°Don¡¯t talk in circles and get to the point.¡± ¡°This is why I really like the Young Lady.¡± With a smile, Falden took a step back. Thanks to him, her neck, which had been straining while looking up at him, was relieved a little. ¡°Young Lady, how do you think this expedition is going to be? Do you think we can finish it well? In addition, I would like to hear how far you can predict the success or failure of forest development.¡± The question was vague. Depending on what she heard, it seemed like she was being asked whether she knew the future or if she wanted to share her personal opinion. ¡®It¡¯s not like I got the power of foresight.¡¯ She¡¯s simply getting a taste of the forest as a result of the actions she¡¯s taken so far. He¡¯s trying to see how far her information network reaches. ¡°I think the expedition will go well. If the subjugation is carried out smoothly, the forest development will be successful without difficulty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very obvious answer, not just the right answer. Without knowing that the answer I was looking for wasn¡¯t like that¡ª. After all, I haven¡¯t gained the trust of Young-ae yet, so it¡¯s only natural.¡± It would be difficult to say anything comfortably. Serdel¡¯s eyes gradually narrowed as she heard even his shallowest murmur. She wasn¡¯t the only one who didn¡¯t trust the other person. He was only flattering her on the outside, but Falden didn¡¯t even have faith in her. ¡°Okay. I made up my mind. I will work to gain trust from the Young Lady until the expedition is over.¡± What? What the hell is the purpose for this? First of all, she will just follow his rhythm. ¡°No way, you didn¡¯t say anything like you want to receive my loyalty right?¡± ¡°Things like that are not gained by forcing it, Young Lady.¡± ¡°Then is trust gained by forcing it?¡± ¡°Trust is loyalty, but the emotions earned from forcing are only temporary. I don¡¯t like such shallow relationships. Can¡¯t you see the hard work I put into Edwan?¡± He took another step closer. Thanks to this, she lifted her head up again, but there was not enough space between them, so her chin touched his firm chest. ¡°Rather than a relationship that can be broken at any time, I want Young Lady to come into my corner more clearly.¡± His gaze looking down at her suddenly softened. But still. There was no emotion in it. It was literally empty. ¡®Ah¡­ I¡¯ve seen this expression often in the original story.¡¯ At the time, she just thought it was kind. Especially when it is shown in front of the female lead. But when she saw it in person, she realized it wasn¡¯t. ¡®This is how you hit the target when they let their guard down.¡¯ After making it so that the opponent doesn¡¯t experience a feeling of distance, it is clear that it is a method that kills emotions and observes intently from then on. The inside of the mouth was dry. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°All of a sudden?¡± Speechless, he smiled in vain, and this time Serdel stepped back two steps. She was a little hungry. With her chin raised, she proudly reached out one hand. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯m sick of beef jerky and bread. If you have dried fruits, please give them to me.¡± ¡°¡­Pfft.¡± ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± ¡°Pft. Young Lady, what would you have done if you hadn¡¯t met me in that cave?¡± ¡°Honestly, who knew I would fall to such a remote place? If it wasn¡¯t for Your Highness, I would have picked some fruit and ate it.¡± Seeing Serdel shrugging her shoulders, Falden suddenly sat down on the ground. ¡°Will fruits be here? If you don¡¯t eat at least one meal a day, you¡¯ll suffer later.¡± He skillfully lit a fire and pulled the pot out of the magic bag. After tearing a low level scroll and preparing water, he added soup powder and cut beef jerky into small pieces. It was a fascinating sight no matter how many times she watched it. ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing to keep receiving something. Next time, I will¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say terrible things. I¡¯m not good enough to eat something bad and say it¡¯s delicious.¡± Falden got serious. ¡°I want to enjoy the food. If you want to cook, go home and do it with your maid later.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you underestimating me too much?¡± Although I¡¯m not good at it, if I make up my mind¡ª¡± ¡°Eat that when you¡¯re alone. Eating together is a nuisance.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d work to gain my trust?¡± ¡°Trust that doesn¡¯t preserve your life is not trust, right?¡± She hated him for not losing a single word. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s done.¡± The pot was full of soup. ¡°Thank you for the food.¡± Replying back, Serdel picked up a spoon. Falden began eating with an aggressive spirit after receiving a big amount of soup in a bigger bowl. ¡°Do you need anything else? Feel free to tell me if you want more.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Serdel calmed the cold energy that was leaking out when she saw him exhilaratingly eating bread. Rather than Damon¡¯s obvious wall she had expected, the current wall he had put up seemed more ferocious. ***** The splendid wave of magic that guided the way was cut off. Serdel and Falden, who had relied on it for several days, found a cave right in front of them instead. CH 67 ¡°I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m being pulled like before.¡± Serdel nodded at Falden¡¯s murmur. She didn¡¯t even feel a tinge of energy. It was rather quiet. ¡®It looks so normal that I think it¡¯s more strange.¡¯ The eyes quickly looked around. Long vines were covering the entrance, and leaves were scattered on the ground. In the meantime, a vague illusion came to mind. Like a video with playback problems. The content was cut off in the middle, but there was no problem with grasping the rough situation. The sound of breath is full of fear. desperate steps. The guys who go in. They were hunters. With their pale faces at the end, the illusion was over. Serdel knew at once that it was a memory engraved on a leaf. At first glance, it was similar to when she experienced the cross-section of foresight in a slave markey, but what she saw now was not the present or the future, but the past. ¡®Is it possible to use this ability because Dell and the five senses are connected?¡¯ Because she doesn¡¯t have the ability to see the past. [N, Nuna! Are you going to go there? You¡¯re not going in, right? Don¡¯t go in. Yes? Please] Dell, who saw the cave through Serdel¡¯s gaze, was terrified and begged. [Dell is scary. Uwaa..] The boy was extremely anxious, perhaps because of a cave trauma not too long ago. ¡®Don¡¯t worry. Nothing dangerous will happen.¡¯ [S, still¡ª Can¡¯t you go in until Dell arrives? Nuna, if you go in there, I will be human and reach out to the idiot Redan!] Serdel clicked her tongue at Dell, who was making threats. ¡®Are you going to give up candy in that case?¡¯ [U, ugh! I, I don¡¯t have to eat candy for the rest of my life. D, Dell won¡¯t sell your safety for food! Do you want to make me become human? I¡¯m going to do it?] ¡®Try it.¡¯ [¡­..Uuuungg.] ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Dell. Nothing will happen.¡¯ Serdel persuaded Dell until Dell¡¯s anxiety subsided. [Then just a little bit. Just step in for a little bit, and if you think it¡¯s strange, you have to come out right away.] ¡®Okay, thank you, Dell.¡¯ As soon as the permission was granted, Serdel inadvertently threw her gaze at Falden. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± ¡°Do you know what¡¯s in there?¡± Falden stared at Cerdel. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s trying to read her mind. ¡°Of course, we have to check it to make sure. You can¡¯t just sit around like this, can you?¡± ¡°Ah. Seeing the Young Lady say that, there¡¯s nothing particularly dangerous about it, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure?¡± Serdel shrugged at him, who was worried. Soon he took the lead. ¡°Hold it.¡± His big hand, which was stretched out toward her, was so natural now. ¡°Be careful with your feet. If you ever get scared, you can stick close to my back.¡± He looked back and smiled, and his smile was so mischievous. ¡°As soon as we leave, I will use Your Highness¡¯s body as a shield.¡± Falden¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°Young lady seems to have forgotten that I¡¯m a prince.¡± ¡°If that was the case, I wouldn¡¯t call you Your Highness, right? What are you doing? Let¡¯s go in quickly.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Who the royal family is.¡± Tsk, twisting his lips, he strode into the cave. The entrance was quiet. She didn¡¯t feel anything at all. It¡¯s like something inside is preventing energy from spreading to the outside. Glittering walls and ceilings that are neither too high nor too low. It¡¯s not clearly revealed, but it was very beautiful because it felt as if pure white pearls had landed on a black background. It was like a night sky full of stars. ¡°Whoa¡ª¡± ¡°Is it a mana stone mine? Ha¡ª it¡¯s beautiful.¡± [Wow, it¡¯s pretty!] Falden was amazed next to her, and Dell burst into exclamations in her mind. She stared blankly for a moment, then put her hand against the wall. The mana stones protruding out of nowhere were touched. Judging from its size and purity, it was a low-class of manastone. As they went further inside, an intermediate mana stone appeared, and a heavy air flowed as if the area itself was different from the place where the lower class mana stone came out. Of course, the size was slightly larger, and the purity was exceptionally high. ¡°¡ªI expected it, but it¡¯s definitely different from other mana stone mines.¡± Let¡¯s go by it there and go further inside¡ª. ¡°¡­.!¡± She couldn¡¯t close her mouth because it looked different. The whole area was shimmering in a glossy black light. It was like an illumination. The size of the mana stone embedded everywhere was also large, and the purity was indescribably the best. Of course, the waves of Mana were also intense. ¡®It¡¯s really cool to see it in person.¡¯ According to the level of the Mana stone, the areas within the mine are separated like a sword. Manastones are difficult minerals, so when a low-level manastone mixes with the energy of an intermediate manastone, or when an intermediate-level manastone mixes with the energy of a higher-level manastone, they collide with each other. Therefore, when various grades of mana were found in one mine, there were many mana stones that had lost their function. It was natural that there would be a problem with the amount of mining. However, the area of energy was clearly divided by grade. And they didn¡¯t even invade each other. ¡®Maybe it is thanks to this that the purity of the Mana stone is high.¡¯ Serdel, holding a dagger, put it through the gap in the mana stone. ¡°Ugh.¡± She wanted to pick one and check it in more detail, but mining was not easy. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Falden, who approached with a smile as if it was ridiculous, took Serdel¡¯s hand and gave it strength. Crack! The mana stone that was pulled out rolled on the floor. As soon as she picked it up, a high-quality mana stone of the same size and with the same energy grew in the spot where it was pulled out. The speed was so fast that it couldn¡¯t even be compared to other mana stone mines. It was a moment when the amount of mining in the future was expected. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Usually, the mined manastones have their roots closed and the purity goes down. There¡¯s nothing like that at all.¡± There was tension in the corners of Falden¡¯s eyes. ¡°Even Count Robbesta will have to pay more attention from now on. Since these mana stones appear to be released in large quantities in the market, the number of people who explicitly aim for the territory will increase. ¡° Sticking out his tongue, he cast his gaze at Serdel. ¡°You¡¯d better be careful too, Young Lady, because all the weird guys might stick together.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. Young Lady, can I take one too?¡± Serdel gently looked at him. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m not a random guy. I hope you don¡¯t include it in that standard.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Your eyes were disrespectful!¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to show it to His Majesty, right? Just pay 10 gold and take it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that when I take care of you and feed you in the forest?¡± ¡°Of course, well.¡± ¡°Damn it. What the hell is this dry feeling!¡± Grumbling, he pulled out another mana stone using the dagger he used. Then, he soon looked around. Serdel, who noticed at once what he wanted to do, suggested first. ¡°We¡¯d better go out first. You want to show it right?¡± He nodded. ¡®Really, what kind of reaction will the Emperor show to this achievement?¡¯ She was curious. Originally, the Emperor should have been informed of the situation at least once a day, but Falden didn¡¯t do it. In order not to be swayed by excessive interference. So for some time, he stopped contacting him. Falden, who came out to the entrance, took out the communication device. After fiddling with it for a while, he looked back at her. ¡°Young Lady.¡± ¡°Please say it.¡± ¡°Young Lady, how many more mines do you think there will be in the forest?¡± ¡°You know, it¡¯s not easy to find even a single mine, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but for some reason, it feels like that. I don¡¯t think this is the only mine in this vast forest.¡± She looked at him, his serious eyes on her. This time, she could see that he wasn¡¯t just asking for no reason. However, if she gives him the answer he wants here, she will give him confidence in his guesses. Can she trust him? Having had Radun¡¯s power by herself, he could no longer be called an enemy. He didn¡¯t even have the rude tendencies of Count Maient. He was also one of the male protagonists. She doesn¡¯t know if she¡¯ll make it to the ending. ¡®It¡¯s also a business partner.¡¯ Just because she built a wall for him, she couldn¡¯t keep rejecting him. ¡°I think there are three places in total.¡± CH 68 ¡°Then, can we just figure out the locations of two more mines besides this one?¡± She nodded quietly. ¡°Thank you, Young Lady. Please wait here for a moment.¡± He walked a short distance and immediately tried to communicate with the capital. After a while, Falden began reporting the situation to the emperor he had contacted after a long time of silence. The emperor¡¯s atmosphere was quite cold from a distance but that was to be expected. However, it didn¡¯t feel good that he didn¡¯t respond much even after seeing the mana stone that Falden held out. Even though the state was far superior to the mana stones the hunters had brought, the emperor didn¡¯t even wiggle an eyebrow. Falden was also nervous, and his broad back gradually stiffened. [I didn¡¯t allow you to act in any way you wanted] The Emperor didn¡¯t even burst out in anger. But his cruelty was conveyed just by saying every word with strength. [Did you try to avoid making contact with me because you knew what kind of order I was going to give?] ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty.¡± Falden bowed his head. The emperor, who was silent, watched him for a while. His eyes and expression didn¡¯t seem like he was looking at his son at all. Even though they could only see each other through the communication port, his majestic eyes were able to swallow the air from this side, making the surroundings depressing. Falden bent to his knees. Putting the crystal ball on the stone, he also bent his head. ¡°¡­.¡± A man of great size bowing like that. He bit his lips and bowed down in front of the emperor, who didn¡¯t have the face of a father, exuding an unfamiliar majesty. It looked a bit servile. ¡°I won¡¯t make excuses. For disturbing Your Majesty¡¯s feelings, I will go to the palace to receive the punishment later. Please do it directly at that time.¡± [Smart brat.] There is no way to punish the son who returned after resolving a matter that attracted everyone¡¯s attention just because he did not contact home often. It would only be swept under the rug by saying that the emperor was very humble. Clicking his tongue, the emperor cut off the communication without saying anything more. She could feel it for a moment. That she no longer had to worry about whether the emperor would issue an order to withdraw. Under the tacit silence, she has entrusted all things related to this matter to Falden. ¡®It¡¯s a relief.¡¯ Serdel was relieved and placed a mark at the entrance of the cave using the power of Radun to make it easier to find later. Until then, Falden remained silent still kneeling in front of the turned-off communication device. A complicated heart has been conveyed by the stiffness in his back. She approached him slowly and placed her hand on his shoulder. ¡°Your Highness. Now let¡¯s stop¡ª¡± Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to get up? But her mouth was shut as she was about to say something. Falden¡¯s face was dark with his head tilted to the side. Startled. The anger flowing from him was so deep that she couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment. At the same time, the pendant hanging on her neck reacted. With the vibration, [The red hawk¡¯s eyes assimilate into the other person¡¯s deep emotions and the form is created.] A child who looked much younger than Falden is now looked around for a while and stared at the communication tool as if attempting to kill it. Am I not your child? Your Majesty the Emperor! Me too! I¡¯m your child. You said you loved my mother so much! Why are you doing this to me who is left alone? Why do you keep doing this to me? Tears flowed from the bloodshot eyes of a child full of anger. At the same time, a new background unfolded as her mind assimilated to the child¡¯s deep emotions. Waaaaaaaaaaaaa! A desperate roar to drive away the fear of death hit her ears like a thunderbolt in the dry sky. Along with the static, goosebumps spread widely along her spine. Dududududududu! She thought she was going to get motion sickness since her head was trembling from the deep vibrations from the ground. Large armies rushing in one direction with a thick gust of sand. The leader was only a 12-year-old child. The child wears armor that doesn¡¯t fit his body like shackles. They had to engage in fierce battles. Overcoming his endless fear. The child stained with blood fought and fought again. Then he got hurt by the enemy and was deceived by allies and fell into a trap. Most of the allies who harassed him were from the empress¡¯s side. In the midst of crisis and death that he somehow overcame drunkenly, he had no choice but to become strong. And blaming his father, the emperor¡ª. On one hand, if he becomes more proficient in martial arts, he will be able to receive his father¡¯s attention for once, so he tried with anticipation. He swung his sword thousands of times. Is it still difficult to compliment me for doing well? Not as father, but why are you, the only Your Majesty the Emperor, always so cold to me? Hyungnim is not your only child. Me too! I¡¯m also your child. Please, don¡¯t draw the line coldly. And when you die, I don¡¯t want to be left as a terrible child who can¡¯t even shed a single tear. In the eyes of Serdel, who had escaped from the memories of the battlefield full of pain, the shadow of the child had changed into the bigger but familiar figure of Falden. ¡°¡­.¡± Even though he had been treated like that all his life, he couldn¡¯t let go of his father. He longed for the emperor to reciprocate any amount of affection. But far from noticing this, the emperor cut off communication indifferently instead. Finally, the shadow of Falden, who was grinding his teeth, disappeared under a smattering of light. That¡¯s how the long phenomenon ended. Serdel¡¯s hand, which was holding his shoulder, also lost strength as the light faded. A deep sense of exhaustion overcame her. ¡°¡­Young Lady?¡± As soon as Faldennoticed her falling he reached out for her in surprise. Whoosh! ¡°Young Lady!¡± In the surrounding void he could hear the sound of movement cutting through several layers of air, Whoosh! Raising his body, Falden hurriedly hugged Serdel to his chest and drew his sword. Whoosh. Startled. Did something fly this way? His sword and something heavy collided, and his ears were ringing. Falden¡¯s sharp gaze turned to one place. Ta-ha! Ta-ha! Something was jumping from tree to tree with terrifying speed and force. [Nunaaaaaaaaaaaa!] Dell¡¯s voice also filled her mind. ¡®Huh¡­?¡¯ The position she saw through his gaze was not far from where she was standing. Serdel, who mustered her remaining energy to force her eyes to focus, looked in the direction Dell was coming from. ¡°¡­Blenn?¡± Cold air was flowing from him, shot with enough force that his silver hair was fluttering. Blenn jumped off a tree and landed heavily on the floor. Boom! Like something heavy falls. The ground was pitted in, and the cool air around Blenn engulfed the surrounding atmosphere. ¡°Blenn!¡± His face, full of shadows, looked worse than she had seen through Dell. ¡°Lady¡­¡± He looked pale, and his eyes were empty. Like a dead person. ¡°Lady. Are you okay? Are you okay?¡± Emotions gradually began to come back to his expression as he looked her up and down, over and over again, and over again to see if there were any injuries. ¡°Come this way, Lady.¡± He reached out with his hand that was not holding his sword. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Falden, who was hugging Serdel tightly, frowned. ¡°Are you crazy? How dare you throw a sword at the prince? Are you crazy? Do you want to die? If you make a mistake, even your master would have died!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I would harm the Lady! Besides, you come first!¡± Blenn¡¯s voice rose. ¡°Didn¡¯t you threaten the Lady with a ferocious energy!¡± Life gleamed in his eyes. His mask like face, which had always maintained its indifference, had already been broken. Blenn, ironically, felt like a living person for the first time. He grinded his teeth. Despite the fact that his presence looked far from human after saving Laura. Blenn, who had been quiet for a moment, was now visibly angry. ¡°You showed hostility to the Lady first!¡± ¡°Ha¡ª¡± Falden, who was trying to say something, breathed out in vain. While he was calming his anger from the uncomfortable communication with the emperor, he reacted sensitively to Serdel who approached him. Even if it was just a simple reaction to being startled, it would have been a quite threatening attack to his opponent. Even if that¡¯s the case. ¡°I¡¯m the Prince. I didn¡¯t harm the Young Lady, but should I be treated like this by only you? Come to think of it, you blocked me at the entrance of the cave last time, right?¡± CH 69 ¡°I ordered him to stop you. He only faithfully followed my orders, so I will take the blame for it.¡± So that his anger no longer goes to Blenn. So that the grudge feelings of the two don¡¯t get worse anymore. Serdel stepped up. ¡°Are you defending him?¡± It was something she did because she was concerned that things would get bigger, but Serdel didn¡¯t have to respond. Tsk. Falden looked down, clicked his tongue. Just in time, he made eye contact with Serdel, who was raising her head. ¡°Please let go of me now.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Everyone will arrive soon.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Your Highness.¡± He was terribly arrogant, whose judges were twisted tightly. Serdel¡¯s voice sank to a low level. Blenn gave strength to the hand holding the sword. Fearing that he might attack, Serdel reached out to mean not to move. ¡°Stay calm, Blenn.¡± Ugh. Blenn bit his lips. ¡°Let me go, Your Highness.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only received my help so far, so why? You don¡¯t need it anymore?¡± Perhaps the wounds stimulated by the emperor had not yet subsided, he groaned bitterly. A low sigh came out naturally. ¡°Yes. I think it will be if I meet my brother.¡± There was no saying that it wasn¡¯t. Serdel spoke more coldly. ¡°In the first place, it was just that we had no choice but to move together, right?¡± ¡°Young Lady, were you always this kind of person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be worse than this. So don¡¯t be clingy, okay?¡± ¡°¡­What? Clingy?¡± Ha! He laughed in vain as if he was dumbfounded. ¡°Clingy? Say it again. Clingy? Me?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not clingy, what is it?¡± Ha, Ha! Ha! ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m clingy. I can¡¯t believe it¡ª¡± [Nunaaaaa!] Just in time, she could see Redan running with Dell from afar. [Uwaaaaa! Uweeeeng!] As soon as he saw her, Dell burst into tears. The boy¡¯s tears flew away madly in the wind. The boy who came running stopped right in front of her. Then he glared at Falden and entered the border between them. [Wuuuuu¡ª] The boy¡¯s snout twisted. Hiik, Dell stood on its hind legs and raised its fur. Growl. Growl. He even raised his tail. [Nunaaaaa. Uweee¡­.] With his outstretched front foot, he pushed Falden¡¯s shoulder away. Grrr, grrr, grrr! [Get away. Get away. Get away. Get away from my Nuna!] ¡°Ha, now¡ª¡± As he was getting angry, he saw Serdel¡¯s cold gaze. Tsk! He clicked his tongue and eventually let her go. He looked at Dell, shaking off the dirt off his shoulder. ¡°Is this boy the same beast that the young lady said? I knew that a dog had been secretly following us from the Count, but that¡¯s this kid? It seems like something has changed in size?¡± As expected. He seems to have noticed Dell¡¯s existence in advance. Serdel simply turned a blind eye to Falden¡¯s curiosity. Now, sharing the emotion of the reunion was a priority. [Unggg. I¡¯m glad to see you again. Dell was really scary. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to meet you. Dell is afraid to be alone again. I was so scared. Dell doesn¡¯t have a mom or dad¡ª] She wiped away Dell¡¯s tears with her hands. The one who had been acting cute for a while under Serdel¡¯s hand glanced at Redan. [Nuna. You know. This stupid guy is really worried¡­ That¡­ I hate this stupid guy a lot but¡­ Hyung really worried a lot about Nuna. A lot.] Before she knew it, the title of Redan was naturally upgraded. Amid the sense of unity that had been lost, he seemed to be getting close enough to eat the food he gave him in a snap. Serdel with her head raised saw him standing in the distance. Two big eyes on a face that was bruised by worry about her. He only glanced at her, but didn¡¯t readily approach her Contrary to usual, she didn¡¯t like the way he looked dazed. ¡°Brother.¡± Startled. His gaze gradually went down. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I didn¡¯t get hurt anywhere.¡± Serdel took out a pocket containing medicine from the magic bag. ¡°I took the medicine while I was away.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± With his fists clenched, he quickly raised his face and looked straight at her. He looked like he was about to cry. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m sorry. Because I¡¯m so arrogant, I¡ª¡± He stuttered and apologized. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re arrogant, really.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± At him, who was in a daze, Serdel smiled enthusiastically and shook her head. ¡°But I don¡¯t think¡ª I hate that arrogance anymore.¡± ¡°Serdel¡ª¡± ¡°So it¡¯s okay. Brother.¡± It¡¯s not like Cartal, Addis, and Redan¡¯s actions were not burdensome. Since they had been at odds with the atmosphere in the past, this was unavoidable. It¡¯s been a few years. Only a few months. There was a change in their relationship. Therefore, the wounds she received were not shallow enough to be easily forgotten. Even if it is not in the memory of the three, it is clear in one¡¯s mind as if it were yesterday. To be honest, at one time, she also thought that the interest of the three people in her was pretentious. However, as time went on, she learned a little bit about the pain of the three, and she felt strange. She couldn¡¯t treat them harshly. Because she¡¯s tired and lonely to do that. She didn¡¯t want to get hurt and hurt three people who were equally tired and lonely. Biting his lips, Redan hugged her. ¡®You¡¯re this big.¡¯ At this moment, he was like a child. For the first time he looked small as he shed tears as he swallowed his sobbing. Serdel wrapped his arms around her and stroked his trembling back. ****** ¡°Then we¡¯ll go this way. Your Highness.¡± Since Serdel and Falden met with their respective teams, they had to finish their vague expedition and take a proper look at the forest for the rest of the time from now on. But it seems that Falden¡¯s thought is different. ¡°Let¡¯s move together. I think that would be better. Don¡¯t you think so, Young Lady?¡± He blocked the front of Redan and looked at Serdel. He bent down and put his mouth close to Serdel¡¯s ear. ¡°I see the same thing, but I think Young Lady¡¯s ¡®eye¡¯ is better when I see you finding the cave faster when I enter the forest first.¡± Serdel raised her eyes and met Falden¡¯s gaze. There was tension between the two people who were stuck together without a gap. His eyes gleamed like sharp blades. A hot breath brushed her cheeks. ¡°We went too deep. You don¡¯t know what kind of danger you¡¯ll face. It would be less burdensome for Young Lady to move together.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking for a rather dangerous situation?¡± He may be wondering what she got from the cave. He¡¯ll want to check it out with his eyes. In response to a straightforward question as to whether or not he had proposed this for that, Falden, who had taken a straight posture, shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± The smile on his face as he looked down at Serdel grew deeper and deeper. And there was no specific reason to refuse. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s move together.¡± At the same time as the answer, the golden and silver airflow that guided them to the Manastone Mine reappeared. ¡°Can you see it?¡± ¡°I can see it. Let¡¯s go.¡± Falden, who nodded, took the lead. [Nuna. Get on Dell¡¯s back.] Dell shook his tail. [You¡¯re going to ride on Dell¡¯s back, right?] ¡®Yes. You will work harder a little more. I¡¯m sorry, Dell.¡¯ It was several times faster to travel by Dell than to walk. [Ehehe. You don¡¯t have to be sorry] As soon as she climbed on his back, Redan and Blenn stuck close to each other. Siri and Terra also stood behind. The Count¡¯s knights formed a tight line and surrounded them. ¡°What are you guys doing? Why don¡¯t you protect me? It¡¯s been a few days since we saw each other.¡± Falden grumbled at his servants with a complaint. ¡°Ey, what do you mean. Your Highness has to protect us. You¡¯re stronger than us. Why are you exaggerating?¡± As the big man jokingly responded, the people standing next to him burst into laughter. They seemed quite relaxed compared to the Count¡¯s knights, who looked stiff with tension and determination. ¡°Damn it. I can¡¯t afford loyalty!¡± ¡°What are you talking about! If we weren¡¯t loyal, would we have followed Your Highness? To be honest, you¡¯re not that rich, and you¡¯re not good-tempered!¡± ¡°This cocky punk! Tsk!¡± Falden clicked his tongue. Thanks to this, the rigid atmosphere here has been relieved a bit. ¡®You did that on purpose.¡¯ If all the strength goes into their body, it will be difficult to use their skills in a crisis situation. Serdel nodded her head in gratitude to Falden, who had softened the sharpness of the Count¡¯s knights. He sent a hand signal that they were going to leave, replacing the answer with a smile. Along with him, Falden flew his body sleekly. Everyone followed after him. CH 70 After following the airflow for four days, she was able to find another Mana stone mine. The purity was high, and the amount of mining was expected as the area was determined by grade. There was constant exclamation among those who saw the Mana stone mine for the first time. On the other hand, Serdel was nervous in a different sense. ¡®Will they know if I wander here?¡¯ It took her 4 days to get here, even though she just came as instructed. ¡°The forest is bigger than I expected.¡± As if thinking the same thing, Falden clicked his tongue. ¡°Even though we¡¯ve entered quite deep, we haven¡¯t met a single monster. How deep are these brat hiding?¡± He mumbled that he would have a hard time subjugating in this way and left the cave first. Looking at the back for a while, Dell¡¯s voice filled with excitement rang. [I, it¡¯s good!] ¡®Huh?¡¯ As she bowed her head, he was already working hard on one of the higher-level mana stones. [It¡¯s cold, sweet, and delicious!] ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ [I want to eat it!] ¡®No. Get your teeth out!¡¯ Flustered, Serdel pulled Dell, who drooled, behind the mana stone. It felt like his eyes would turn over once he started tasting it. ¡®No I mean, can you really eat Mana stone in the first place?¡¯ [I think it¡¯s going to be delicious¡ª] Seeing the twinkling lights in his eyes made her feel weak for no reason. [Hehe.] The boy who sneaked closer to the mana stone looked around and stuck out his tongue. ¡°Hey, you brat, why are you doing this! Look at how sharp this is, what if you cut your tongue!¡± Redan, who was approaching, grabbed Dell¡¯s face. [Ung?] ¡°No, you can¡¯t! Tsk! Is this brat hungry? I¡¯ll give you beef jerky, so don¡¯t do it!¡± [I want to eat dried fruits] ¡°I¡¯ll give you dried fruits, too.¡± [A lot] ¡°I¡¯ll give you a lot.¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t understand Dell at all, Redan somehow continued the conversation with him. He took out plenty of jerky and dried fruit and placed them in front of Dell, and he didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°Drink water first and eat it. Because you will have an upset stomach.¡± He poured water into the bowl. Chop, chop, chop. ¡°Is it good?¡± Redan, who reached out, slowly swept Dell¡¯s head. Dell didn¡¯t avoid it. He didn¡¯t even make a sound, but he accepted Redan¡¯s touch quite comfortably. It was very fascinating. After eating, he even licked Redan¡¯s hand. [Hyung-ah, Dell wants to eat sweets.] Perhaps he didn¡¯t notice it this time, but Redan threw his eyes away. In front of Redan, Dell, who was lying down, wagged his tail and acted cute. Ang. Awng, Ungg. [Sweets. Sweets. Hyung-ah. Dell wants sweets.] No matter how hard he sent the signal, Redan continued to pretend he didn¡¯t see it. Then Dell, with his front paws up, touch Redan¡¯s arm. In the end, Redan, who couldn¡¯t help but look down, gave three candies at once. [Hehe.] ¡°No, it¡¯s not rat anymore now. Won¡¯t you be satisfied with one for now? Look at his size.¡± As soon as our eyes met, he laughed out loud at Redan, who was arguing like an excuse. Serdel left a mark here as well and went out of the cave. Blenn followed. Falden, who had come out first, was just taking out the communication device. In order to communicate with several people at the same time, the screen is divided, and then triple transmission is attempted. The first to receive it was Belters. His figure appeared on the screen on the right. ¡°¡­.¡± It seems that there was a battle just before. The view behind him was windy. It felt like the bloody smell was being transmitted all the way to here. Belters was neat and didn¡¯t go well with such an atmosphere. At first glance, there was a sense of solidity. If it wasn¡¯t for the background behind Belters, it would look like a person who went out for a walk. ¡°Are you okay? It looks like you¡¯re okay. Let¡¯s start by reporting the situation.¡± [All the wounded were healed by the wizard, and there was no death. Let¡¯s talk about the situation before the attack. Suddenly, strange energy began to spread in the forest, and a number of monsters appeared without any signs. It¡¯s like falling from the sky.] ¡°Suddenly appear?¡± [Yes. I expected that the monsters would be in a different state because it¡¯s an unknown forest, but this is more than that.] ¡°How was it?¡± [All of them were deeply engulfed by the energy of the forest with their pupils relaxed. It¡¯s like being controlled by someone.] At that moment, a slave market came to mind for some reason. Of course, the circumstances and places are different from back then, but the phrase ¡®engulfed¡¯ strangely caught her heart. ¡°Is there someone with the ability to foster the energy of the forest and control multiple monsters? Like a monster magician?¡± [Yes, it seems that many of them are located somewhere in this forest] The faces of Belters and Falden became dark. Amidst the heavy silence that was about to fall down, Addis received the second call. Her figure appeared in the middle of the split screen. Serdel¡¯s mouth opened. Her heart was pounding. She seems to have fought a fierce battle, too. The area around where Addis stood was a sea of blood. Several human bodies were also seen between the bodies of monsters scattered here and there. Her fingertips were shaking. Serdel¡¯s eyes hurriedly looked back at Addis again. The blood dripping near her cheeks and neck shook her body. [Serdel!] ¡°Lady!¡± ¡°Young Lady!¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Blenn, who was standing right behind her, to catch her. She would have fallen down as it was. It felt like blood was draining from her body. [Are you okay!] Addis¡¯ face was pale as she quickly asked all the questions she should have asked. ¡°¡ªSister, sister, are you all right?¡± [I¡¯m fine. Oh, this blood is not mine, so don¡¯t worry. Serdel] Addis smiled awkwardly and wiped the blood off her cheek with the back of her hand. Then, when the handkerchief wrapped around her wrist was stained with blood, she frowned. [Oh, my. You made it for me] She carefully untied the handkerchief and put it in her arms. As she took each action in her eyes, she was about to cry. [I¡¯m really okay. I¡¯m not hurt anywhere, so don¡¯t worry] At the gentle voice that comforted her, every corner of her chest shook violently as if a wave had filled her. In order not to cry, Serdel gritted her teeth. Just in time, Redan, who came out of the cave with Dell, approached. Surprised to see her almost in Blenn¡¯s arms, he reached out. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you sick?¡± ¡°¡­I, I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°What do you mean okay! You look so pale. Are you sick? Stay still, Potion. Potion¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, brother. I don¡¯t need a potion.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was sick that she had to drink potion. ¡°You always say you don¡¯t need it!¡± Why are you saying it¡¯s okay!¡± Redan burst into anger as if he were upset. Then he turned his head and stopped at Addis¡¯ reflection over the communication device. Soon he asked calmly. ¡°What is it? Did you meet a monster? Are you okay?¡± [Yeah. I¡¯m okay.] ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡¯ It ended with that. Redan, who turned his attention from Addis, continued to watch only Serdel. On the other hand, Serdel¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t know how to turn from Addis. ¡°Hey, are you really surprised to see your sister like this? Don¡¯t worry. You know what kind of person your sister is.¡± The casual muttering was annoying. ¡°Even a genius knight is a human too.¡± She¡¯s not invincible. Without luck, she could have died in an instant. Serdel¡¯s voice was filled with anger. Redan, who was scratching his face, carefully put his hand on her head. ¡°What are you doing¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Addis Robbesta will never die.¡± Redan¡¯s eyes were serious. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s me, but Nuna will be fine.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Ironically, her feeling, which had been trembling enough to cause motion sickness, was calmed by those words. Her firm eyes were no longer like before. Like a deep trust towards Addis. And his firm confidence suppressed her anxiety. [Yeah. Serdel. Don¡¯t worry about me] [The vice leader of each Golden Hawk Knights is not weak at all. I guarantee her strength, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much] Belters also helped with what he said. As Serdel¡¯s face gradually returned, Addis was relieved. Although he didn¡¯t show it, it was the same for Falden, who was looking at Serdel with concern. ¡°Now, let¡¯s start it.¡± [Yes, Your Highness. The injured were treated by a wizard, and 2 squires, 4 soldiers, and a total of six people died during the battle. Fortunately, the damage is not so great, so I think we can continue the expedition as soon as the report is over, what should we do?] ¡°Yeah, that¡¯d be good. Keep moving, Dame.¡± [Yes, I understand. Then, I will show you the location information I moved to yesterday and today.] She unfolded a simple map and reported in detail the direction and terrain she explored. This was carefully marked on what Belters and Falden each had. At the end of her report, the Belters continued to report, and Falden also solved the information and filled the blank side of the map once again. That¡¯s how an hour has passed. After the report. They were waiting for Damon to receive it, but for some reason there was no call from him. CH 71 ¡°It¡¯s probably not going to work. If this happens, we¡¯ll stay all day at this rate. Let¡¯s let the Dame move first.¡± [Yes. I understand.] With a brief salute, Addis turned away and looked at Serdel. She didn¡¯t say anything in particular, but through their eyes, Serdel could see Addis¡¯ deep feelings that she wanted Serdel to be safe. Strangely enough. It was only in this kind of place, in this kind of situation, that Addis didn¡¯t feel so awkward. ¡°Be careful, Unnie.¡± [Okay.] Communication with her ended with a smile. The portion that had been illuminated with Addis¡¯ figure was dyed dark, and a moment of silence fell. ¡°The Duke should wait for a little while longer. Just in case Sir Damon may call you late.¡± [Yes, I understand.] ¡®Nothing will happen, right? It shouldn¡¯t be like that.¡¯ He may not be able to reach them at the scheduled time for communication. However, if less than an hour has passed, there is a high possibility that a problem has occurred. Falden, who unfolded the map again, looked through Damon¡¯s path. The same goes for Belters. ¡°Because of his nature, and how he likes to make tight plans, he probably didn¡¯t deviate too far from the line he¡¯s been moving so far. Especially since he has no experience in subjugation.¡± Falden¡¯s judgment was quick, and he soon touched one spot. At the same time, Tak! Damon¡¯s face came to mind as the light exploded at the communication zone. It was amazing timing. [¡­For the late report¡­] A boiling hot voice. Every word he spit out was full of pain. Serdel, Falden, and Belters¡¯ eyes hardened as they glanced at him quickly. [I, I apologize¡­] It was terrible. Damon¡¯s condition was the worst, with a large amount of blood dripping from his mouth, as that single word was the first thing that came to mind. [I, I¡¯ll report it.] There were hardly any of them left around him. Damon continued to report calmly, stepping hard one step at a time to escape. Belters and Addis were attacked at the same time today. And he¡ª. [¡ªYesterday morning, suddenly the energy of the forest began to darken, and an army of monsters that seemed to be of sufficient spirits rushed in.] Damon and his team members are said to have been exposed to a group of monsters for a full day and a half a day. [¡ªConstantly injured, one after another.] The situation turned urgent. As soon as the wounded were healed, they had to be sent back to battle. Potions, which they had taken enough of, were quickly consumed, and when they realized that they had no more potions to use, hell unfolded. Eventually, even the wizard collapsed due to mana depletion. The situation reached its worst when magic support was cut off. The only person who managed to survive after that was Damon, a fainted wizard, and one subordinate left by Falden. [¡­.] ¡°Do you know where you are now?¡± [I marked it from time to time in the middle.] Based on the information he gave, they looked up the current location¡ª. ¡®It¡¯s consistent with where Falden inferred they would be.¡¯ ¡°Duke, let¡¯s go.¡± [Yes. I understand.] Belters, who nodded, soon began moving. ¡°It must be hard, but hang in there.¡± [Ha, haha¡ª Thank you, Your Highness.] With a big smile, Damon rolled his eyes. [¡­Young Lady¡­] His gaze reached Serdel. His tired face, as the shadow of death fluttered, was absolutely beautiful. To the point where it doesn¡¯t feel real. [¡­Young Lady¡­] ¡°Don¡¯t lose your mind, Sir Damon. Duke of Blendard is now just left¡ª¡± [Young Lady¡­ End your expedition, and leave the forest¡­.] ¡°¡­.¡± [I, it¡¯s too dangerous. Young Lady¡­ You might get hurt¡­ I¡¯m worried¡­] ¡°Now is the time to worry about who? Look, Sir Damon. Come to your senses.¡± While Serdel, who had hardened, was unable to answer any questions, and Falden intervened ¡°Don¡¯t fall asleep. Keep thinking even if you lack energy. Don¡¯t even stop talking. Keep talking.¡± [I didn¡¯t want to show you something like this, but I¡¯m pathetic¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Young Lady¡­] ¡°No, why do you say Young Lady at the end of every word? Hey, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s talking to you right now, Sir. Focus on me.¡± [Young Lady¡­] ¡°Everyone doesn¡¯t even listen to me. The Prince¡¯s authority has fallen to the ground. Tsk.¡± [Leave¡­ Just leave. Please, I don¡¯t want to see Young Lady in danger¡­] ¡°Stop looking for the Young Lady¡ª Hey, Sir. Sir Damon! Wake up! After saying that, Damon loses consciousness. His body collapsed on the ground. ¡°Hey!¡± ****** ¡°Let¡¯s move first. It¡¯s better to join Sir Damon as soon as possible.¡± Belters was all ready go, but Falden rushed as if he was anxious because he didn¡¯t know what unexpected things would happen. Serdel, who climbed on top of the Dell, came to mind. ¡®Why is Damon the only one in a different situation?¡¯ And why didn¡¯t the monster appear at all on this side? He doesn¡¯t know if all three teams met them naturally but. ¡®The fact that they suddenly appeared without even seeing any signs means they were watching and sending the monsters on purpose.¡¯ They should have entered the forest deeper than anyone else and encountered them earlier, but this place is quiet. ¡®Why are only the three teams attacked?¡¯ Also at the same time? ¡®In addition, Damon¡¯s situation is strange.¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t have been able to defeat all the high leveled monsters. There were only 60 people, and that number was not enough for a group that had much more soldiers than knights or squires. He must have looked for an opportunity and ran away. ¡®Damon¡¯s walking speed was noticeably slow due to a serious injury.¡¯ There¡¯s so much blood shed there, but the monsters with a sensitive sense of smell don¡¯t chase after him? No, in the first place. Is it possible to escape through such a large number of monsters? ¡°Your Highness.¡± Falden turned his head to Serdel¡¯s serious voice and smiled bitterly. ¡°You must have noticed.¡± ¡°As expected, is it a trap?¡± ¡°I told you in the meeting room last time. Smart monsters play with humans, too. Sir Damon may not even know that he has become a bait to attract his colleagues. Because he never experienced the intelligence of a monster.¡± She couldn¡¯t say anything. It was very complicated. ¡°But what¡¯s the point? We go even knowing it¡¯s going to be dangerous. Because I can¡¯t turn a blind eye to my colleagues. Besides, if he dies, it¡¯ll be a political issue.¡± The Marquis of Spendar maintained his neutrality, but he was not a staunch neutral either. Sometimes he followed the Emperor, and sometimes he got attached to the aristocracy by looking at the opportunities present. Through this tug-of-war, the Marquis expanded his influence in the center. What if Damon dies. Rather than mourning, the Marquis was more likely to use it to shake the board. Of course, there was no choice but to do something about Falden. ¡®The Empress will not miss this opportunity, so¡ª¡¯ They could have used the incident to somehow frame him and try to get rid of him. Falden¡¯s expression turned cold when he started looking at the front again. ¡°Young Lady. I¡¯m saying this just in case you don¡¯t know, but you should never interfere in the subjugation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Shall we speed up?¡± As soon as Serdel nodded, Falden¡¯s movement became faster. ****** It was a few hours after Damon was found. It seems that the Duke of Belters hasn¡¯t arrived yet, in a quiet forest. They saw him leaning on the tree and resting his mind. The face turned white. With blue lips. His eyes were black and his mouth and chin were covered with blood. His body, which couldn¡¯t be checked with a communication device, was full of cuts and stab wounds. On the contrary, someone seems to have come to his senses next to it. The wizard, who sat cross-legged, was taking a mana breath to refill his magical power, which had run out. As a result, he became defenseless and was being guarded by Falden¡¯s subordinate. ¡°Y, Your Highness!¡± The subordinate¡¯s face was relieved. ¡°You¡¯re here¡ª it¡¯s a relief. Ah, really, it¡¯s a relief.¡± Brug. The subordinate¡¯s body fell down. Cold sweat was dripping down his forehead, and his bare back was revealed through his helplessly bent upper body. ¡°You did a great job.¡± Falden quickly gave him a potion before beckoning to Redan, to give another one to the wizard Henry. Looking at the patients who soon started having their wounds healed, Serdel approached Damon. ¡°Sir¡­ Damon.¡± She tried to put her hand under his nose just in case. The heat felt in his breath. Haaa. It felt like she was finally able to breathe, which had been stuck before. ¡®Potion, potion¡ª¡¯ ¡°Please move. Magi can¡¯t be stopped with anything like potions.¡± She was searching inside the magic bag, and a wizard named Maroran approached her. He was the highest level wizard among the wizards brought by Falden, and had a rather cynical personality. Normally, he had a face like everything was a burden to him, but now he looked at Damon¡¯s wounds with a serious expression. ¡°It¡¯s good he was able to endure without dying.¡± CH 72 When she followed his gaze and looked closely at the wounds one by one, black magic was clinging to each other like leeches. He took out a small medicine bottle first and dropped it into Damon¡¯s mouth to absorb. ¡°It¡¯s distracting, so please stay away from me.¡± Serdel took one or two steps back, then stepped back to add a little more distance at Maro¡¯s dissatisfied gaze. Stopping in the right place, she continued to look at the two. As Maro closed his eyes and focused, a cool wind and fresh energy gathered around him. At the same time, a beautiful, holy ray of light bursts out of him, and soon sparkles into Damon¡¯s wounds. And it was then. Paang! Something stretched out with a relentless force through several layers of air smashed the nearby tree. It was a stone the size of an adult¡¯s head. Crack¡ª. A huge tree fell over another tree. In the aftermath, countless leaves fell like rain, along with a chilling noise. Whoosh¡ª. Redan, Blenn, Falden, and his men pulled out the sword at once. ¡°Lady, get out of here!¡± ¡°Siri!¡± Siri, who ran in front of Serdel, reached back and pushed her away. Terra quickly examined the surrounding terrain. He put the quiver he was wearing on the floor and picked up a bow. The movement was very natural and smooth. Whooooooooo~~ While preparing for the enemies who will appear. The energy of the forest fluctuated. Branches were bent or broken by a harsh piercing wind, and the air turned more desolate. The colorful air currents that were floating around lost their individuality and got tangled up. The surroundings were dyed dark by the swarm of black clouds that gradually gathered. It was immediately clear that it was the sign that Belters and Addis were talking about. A forest full of darkness. A group of orcs came out one after another from the black smoke that appeared everywhere. The number was enormous enough to be hard to figure out how wide the line was. Serdel¡¯s eyes were on Damon. Having yet to be treated, he was still exposed to danger. Maro, who had warned her to stay away, had already caught him, but she couldn¡¯t leave it like this. She ran to him quickly. As she moved, Dell and Blenn, Redan and Siri followed naturally. ¡°Siri, come here.¡± She stood in front of her again. She was anxious to see that she was ready to jump out at any time, so she grabbed her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady! I¡¯m pretty strong!¡± But even if the squire was strong, it was just a squire. She¡¯s not ignoring Siri¡¯s capabilities, but this was the reality. In addition, she had no practical experience. She didn¡¯t want Siri to be swept away into the upcoming battle. ¡°Stay next to me.¡± ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re next to Serdel.She¡¯s nervous.¡± Siri glanced over Serdel. After examining Serdel¡¯s complexion, Siri eventually stuck close to her. Only then did she feel relieved. Serdel took dozens of scrolls with shield magic in them. First, she tore several scrolls over the heads of Damon and Maro, who was treating him, protecting them layer by layer. Then for the wizard who was mana exhausted and barely breathing, as well as Falden¡¯s subordinate and Henry who were being treated she made a protective shield layer by layer the same way. Shields were also placed on Blenn, Redan, Siri, and Dell¡¯s bodies. She tore up the scrolls that helped with the transfer of simple items, and sent some of them to Terra. Then, just in case, she also held dozens of attack magic scrolls in her hands. As she lowered her eyes at the same time and secretly entered intense concentration. It is a basic preparation so that she can use the power of Radun at any time. Whoosh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Blenn smiled softly, as if he thought she was frightened and withdrawn. ¡°Thank you, Blenn. But¡ªcan I ask you a favor?¡± ¡°Anything. If you want anything, tell me.¡± ¡°Can you fight together with His Highness?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°We have to hold on somehow until the Duke arrives. If the monsters break through, we¡¯re all in danger. So I need your help.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m the Lady¡¯s knight.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking for help. I don¡¯t want only myself to be safe.¡± Blenn¡¯s face has hardened. From his point of view, every order she gave after coming out on this expedition was disappointing. She couldn¡¯t just use her powers that could be of great help to everyone right now, just to protect herself. ¡°Please.¡± Blenn turned his gaze away and stared at Falden and the large army of monsters alternately. ¡°¡­I understand.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± With a low sigh, he approached Falden with an indifferent face. Step by step. Each time Blenn took a step, the airflow that vibrated over his body changed. Falden glanced at him standing next to him and got into position. Roaaaaar. The orcs rattled their snouts. Along with saliva, hot breath flowed out one after another. The eyes of those who were completely engulfed by the black energy that covered the sky were empty as Belters said. The illusion Goblin seen in the slave market came to Serdel¡¯s mind again. Even though the situation and location are different. She felt a d¨¦j¨¢ vu. That¡¯s why it was more chilling. GRAAAAAAAAAR! With a deep roar, they rushed in. The ground and trees shook violently as if there was an earthquake. The green and fresh grasses were brutally crushed under their heavy bodies. The dark aura that flowed out of the orcs¡¯ bodies changed even the nature of the air, leaving the soldiers¡¯ faces grim as if facing certain death. ¡°Get out of here! Hurry up!¡± Serdel shouted. Crushed from the momentum, they are of no help to the group. Standing awkwardly for no reason will only interfere with the movement of the troops. Among the soldiers who heard her shout, those who were unable to hold out hurried to near Terra and changed their weapons into bows. Serdel also sent them a few scrolls with built-in shield magic. At that moment, everyone¡¯s expressions improved with the sense of security that they were inside the protective wall. Terra issued orders out to those soldiers. Everyone¡¯s face has become brighter. Serdel turned her eyes and saw Blenn and Falden at the forefront. The two jumped into the crush of Orcs almost at the same time. Swoong¡ª A group of dazzling lights gathered in Falden¡¯s sword. His energy, which was clear and blue like the sea the other day, is now as red as his hair. It was as if a blazing fire had swallowed up his sword. Slash¡ª! Under the sword of fire he created, several orcs were swept away. Because they stomped and created holes, blood collected on the bottom of the hollow, and dozens of large and small puddles were created. His movements were cool, thrilling and full of energy. It also exuded a strong presence. In addition, she felt the power and spirit that led and inspired everyone. The subordinates, who were familiar with his relentless defense, felt their will to confront the Orcs burn. In the midst of the fierceness, at first glance, a sense of relaxation existed between them. As a result, the Count¡¯s knights also shook off their hesitation and moved swiftly. Thanks to this, even in front of a large army of Orcs, no one lost their morale. Kyaaaak! It was then. Serdel¡¯s gaze shifted naturally to the sharp burst that pierced her ears. ¡°Wow¡ªThat brat is really strong huh.¡± For the first time in Redan¡¯s mouth, exclamations burst against Blenn. With his silver hair fluttering and killing the orcs with an indifferent expression, Blenn was like a well-forged blade. His movements were sleek, and there were no unnecessary movements. The energy on his sword is cold enough to freeze everything it touches. It was chilling just to watch. Slaash¡ª! Every time a silver flash passed by, the Orcs fell down. This is my territory! With Falden roaring with his whole body¡ª. And quietly destroyed the enemy with a noble feeling¡ª Blenn¡¯s fighting style was completely different, and he was fiercely strong. An eerie light was sprayed from the eyes of the two. It was like watching a berserker. [Wuuuuuuuuuu¡ª!] ¡°What? Hey. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Redan and Serdel¡¯s gazes went down at the sound that came out of nowhere. Dell, who held out his chest, was howling with his head held high. He doesn¡¯t want to lose to Falden and Blenn. [Wuuuuuuuuuuuu¡ª!] In response, the forest responded to the cry. Soon, there was an even stronger wind. [Wuuuuuuuuuuuu¡ª!] In the aftermath, everything in the forest shook wildly. In the midst of it. The air and atmosphere of the forest with the added eerie feeling were all under the influence of Dell. His howling continued for a while. Then a surprising sight unfolded in front of them. ¡°¡­..!¡± The forest completely resonated with Dell¡¯s deep cry and began to drive away the dark energy. Of course, the aftermath also had an impact on the Orcs whose minds were engulfed. ¡®Their movement is getting slower and slower!¡¯ CH 73 It¡¯s hard to believe. Serdel looked at Dell again. The Tawl Wolfs indeed become strong enough to be called the rulers of the forest when they become adults, but he¡¯s still a child. ¡®He just used the energy of this place to build up his body.¡¯ But can he use the power when he becomes an adult? ¡°They¡¯re slowing down! Don¡¯t miss the opportunity that Young Lady¡¯s beast made!¡± Everyone shouted ¡®Waaaa!¡¯ to Falden¡¯s call. [Woooooooo¡ª!] Dell¡¯s howling, which had put a lot of force on his shoulders, grew deeper and louder the more he did. Now, the dark energy has been lifted quite a bit, and although they are still inferior in number, the momentum of the situation has become more favorable to their side. Blenn, who took a wide step, swept the orcs away with a Mana stream as long as a whip. Kwaaaaaaaaak! It cut down a few trees along with dozens of orcs. Whoosh¡ª! ¡®If it goes on like this, it¡¯ll end quickly!¡¯ She clenched her fist naturally. [¡ªWoooooooo!] But Dell seems to have reached his limit. Dell¡¯s howling, which he was spitting out despite his redding face, weakened over time. Like a balloon deflating from a small hole, his body size decreased and he eventually returned to his original stature. [Wooo¡ª.] The boy with a reddened face and his tongue sticking out barked out a groan at Serdel¡¯s feet. Huk, huuk, huuk. ¡°Hey! What a great brat. You¡¯re such a great boy! Hey, you did a great job!¡± Dell¡¯s ears perked up when he heard Redan¡¯s stormy praise. His appearance was cute and unique, so Serdel bent over and hugged him. She was glad that she had brought Dell. ¡°Great job, Dell.¡± She gently swept his hair sticking to his forehead and was about to get up. Saak! With bleak energy, a dark shadow glistened not too far away. She swallowed dryly from the shudder that ran down her spine. Serdel¡¯s head stiffly turned upward. The balck fog had condensed into a huge circle right before Serdel¡¯s eyes. Like a black hole, it spits out monsters instantly with a deep echo. Large enough to fit even giants, she soon saw a huge form coming through the dense fog, eyes protruding like a frog with pressed nose and lips. She could feel a huge source of magical power, looking closer she could see it was coming from a circular shield hanging in the center of the Raunel¡¯s forehead. The dark energy emitting from the object looked like long black nails piercing anything they could grasp, just looking at them was enough to know a single touch was poisonous. ¡°¡­.¡± It was a giant Raunel being manipulated by a mutated monster. ¡°Serdel¡ª!¡± Surprised, Redan straightened his sword as he stood in front of Serdel. Just before he jumped at the monster, Serdel quickly found and tore a scroll with a strong but harmless wind spell. As soon as the scroll was ripped a strong wind blew directed by Serdel. The wind pushed back Redan, Siri, Damon, and the wizards trapped in the shield. Only Serdel. She was the only one left on the frontlines. ¡°Serdel!¡± ¡°Lady!¡± Both Redan and Siri screamed out. The two immediately tried to rush to Serdel, Terra shot several arrows at the Raunel¡¯s forehead, face, neck, and chest as it lumbered closer and Serdel tore several attack magic scrolls as soon as she could. Suddenly, dozens of ice spears manifested in the air and were hurtled towards the creature¡¯s chest. She also shot a short burst of dry lightning at the Raunel¡¯s head. Daang! But nothing was helpful. Most mutated monsters had high mana resistance. So, unless it was magic that a high-level wizard had directly designed, there was nothing she could do with such weak scrolls. She forgot about it for a while because she was agitated. ¡®Damn it! I only end up wasting a scroll!¡¯ As soon as it touched that punk¡¯s skin, Serdel chewed her lips as she saw the ice spear and dry lightning that had turned into puffs of air. Even the arrows that Terra had shot were caught deftly. Terra chose arrows with higher strength, speed and elasticity and aimed at it again. Shot¡ª. The Raunel caught one arrow, but the other two arrows were stuck in its thigh and stomach, respectively. But that¡¯s it. To the Raunel, with its thick leathery hide, this was the equivalent of a bug bite. Terra, who couldn¡¯t handle mana, was unfortunately unable to deal with Raunel effectively. At that, Serdel clicked her tongue and tried to move the energy in her body. Baaang! ¡°Kyaaaak!¡± ¡°Oh my, the child was hit!¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, what is that driver doing? Isn¡¯t he getting off? Don¡¯t you have to check the condition of the child first?¡± Startled. Serdel, unknowingly, raised her head to meet Raunel¡¯s eyes at the sound of familiar words flowing into her ears. The disgusting eyeballs rolled around. No. Don¡¯t look. Don¡¯t look into those eyes! Even though she was muttering hard inside, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of it once her gaze met its. Instead, she was intertwined more deeply. At the same time, reality seemed to be moving slower around her, and the sounds around her felt distant. Baaang! ¡°Kyaaaak!¡± ¡°Oh my¡ª¡± Instead, the only thing that appears repeatedly is the terrible memory of that day, beyond the glass-like eyeballs. ¡°¡­Oppa¡­¡± Her older brother who is dying after being hit by a car. Her older brother who says something to her. Then, the sound of ¡®Boom!¡¯ that started again hardened her whole body. ¡®Wake up!¡¯ This is a hallucination. Raunels show their opponents the most painful memories through their eyes and then swallow the accumulated ¡®desperation¡¯ when the prey¡¯s heart is exhausted. In the end, it used their memories and turned the opponent into an idiot. Baaang! Biting her lips to the point of bleeding, Serdel resisted, trying to escape the monster¡¯s evil spell. On the other hand, she was angry. To think that the end of the most important person in her life is being mocked in this way. Endless anger burned her heart. ¡®I¡¯ll never leave you alone!¡¯ With this in mind, she barely managed to spread the eight-pointed star in her mind. At the same time, Radun¡¯s energy accumulating in her body started to flutter, creating four rings in her heart. Serdel¡¯s lips twitched. The completed spell encircled her body. Whoosh! The ground on which she stood dimmed slightly. She fired a sharp soil sword like a spear through the thick sand dust that had risen around it and slashed the Raunels right leg. Slash¡ª! The monster¡¯s body, which lost its balance, leaned with a terrifying crashing and groaning sound. Meanwhile, the monster swung its black nail like darts out. Just before reaching Serdel, light burst from her pendant. [The red hawk senses hostility] [The power of the shield that traps the hawk is activated and protects the owner.] A reddish opaque membrane visible only to her surrounded her like armor. It was different from a normal shield. ¡®Uhm?¡¯ But there was no time to be amazed. ¡®Huh?¡¯ It¡¯s because her body had been pushed to the side and held by someone. It was¡ª none other than Blenn who was now attacking the monster. It was as if he saw her in the middle of a battle and ran to her. There was blood overflowing from his shoulder that was scratched by the Raunel¡¯s fingernail. ¡°B, Blenn?¡± He rolled on the ground several times while holding her. It must have been painful, but he didn¡¯t utter a single groan. Instead, as soon as the rolling stopped, he immediately got up and held her carefully in his arms. Then, he raised his hand, holding his sword forward, and looked out for Raunel. Even though that brat lost one leg, it didn¡¯t lose its momentum. Instead, it tried to lie down and crawl to this side, relying on one front and one back foot. Slaaash! The body was split in two from the back before the monster even got far. The torn body was scattered. Her eyes met with the man who had sliced through the thick layers of flesh and bone with ease. Black hair fluttered in the wind, and the black eyes, like obsidian, shone in the dim light. ¡°Duke Blendard¡ª.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Smiling and apologizing, he was Belters. CH 74 The Black Mist vomited out the monsters once more, but the situation changed with Belters joining. Falden and Blenn were really strong, but¡ª. The strength of Belters was at a different level. His swordsmanship seemed fast to the naked eye but felt slow. Although it was slow, he smashed the monsters standing there to the floor as she followed the path in which he swung the sword. It was never loud. Like a calm wave by the lake. His movements were quiet in themselves. [So cool¡ª] For some reason, Dell burst into exclamations without being jealous. [Whoa. That¡¯s cool. That¡¯s really cool. Nuna, should Dell also change the color to black? Then will I look cooler?] With a smile, Serdel patted the boy¡¯s head. [Then, will Nuna fall in love with Dell at first sight?] His eyes sparkled. It was as cute as a little child saying, ¡®I¡¯m going to marry my mom when I grow up!¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t think I can fall in love with you because you¡¯re still too young?¡¯ [Ey. If you wait a little bit, Dell will be an adult soon¡ª] Dell dug himself. [Redan Hyung said Dell was the coolest today!] Now, the boy jumped up and raised his head to the fullest, sticking out his chest. It only looks very cute now that it looks like a baby. Wooooooo¡ª. He pretended to be howling. [Today¡¯s winner is Dell. Dell drove the darkness away! That¡¯s really cool. Hehehe. I¡¯ll have to brag about it to my cat subordinate later.] The guy wags his tail wildly while coloring his cheeks red. ¡°Are you crazy after working hard, rat?¡± Redan, who approached, looked at Dell like that and started arguing. [Candy, candy. Hyung-ah, give Dell candy.] Dell jumped and opened his mouth wide. ¡°What do you want me to do? I don¡¯t have candy. Why are you trying to eat all day? Your teeth are going to rot, you punk.¡± Even though they obviously couldn¡¯t communicate, Redan quickly realized what he wanted and scolded him. Dell¡¯s tail drooped down. ¡°Don¡¯t be a nuisance, go over there and play.¡± [¡­Damn.] Dell turned around, stroking the swear words as much as he could. He seemed upset. Watching the boy move away for a while, he asked. ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. How about brother?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine. But, hey. I¡¯m warning you.¡± Redan, who was scratching his back head awkwardly, opened his eyes violently. ¡°Don¡¯t do the same thing again like before. Why are you protecting me? What would you have done without that brat?¡± He turned and stood up straight, holding Serdel¡¯s shoulders tightly. ¡°Is it because you want to see me go crazy? I¡¯m¡­ Ugh.¡± Redan bit the flesh in his mouth. ¡°When I saw my mother die like that¡ª I almost died, but should I watch my little sister die to pieces as well, huh?¡± His eyes glistened with anger. Seeing that he put his mother in his mouth, which he would never usually bring out, she could tell he was very angry. That¡¯s why she was even angrier at herself. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Huh? Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± ¡°Then did I have to watch my one and only brother die instead of me?¡± Unbearable anger came out of her mouth. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°What? Why aren¡¯t you answering me?¡± He seemed to be speechless. The closed mouth of Redan couldn¡¯t open easily. ¡°What do you think I will do if Brother is seriously injured or something goes wrong while trying to protect me?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll live normally? Do you think I¡¯m that harsh to you?¡± The anger that filled his eyes slowly faded away. On the other hand, Serdel¡¯s eyes were more intense. ¡°Why don¡¯t you think we feel the same way?¡± Redan¡¯s head gradually fell. ¡°You¡¯ve always been like that, right, brother? Why do you only talk like that? I¡¯ll be the one asking. Why can¡¯t you say anything else?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t think of my feelings, don¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± He raised his head again. ¡°And take your hands off my shoulders. Because it hurts.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Taking his hand off Serdel¡¯s shoulder, he washed his face dry. ¡°So¡ª Don¡¯t get hurt. Because I was all wrong. Brother was all wrong. So¡ª.¡± His hands trembled. He glanced over at Serdel¡¯s shoulder, which he had just held tight, to see if she had any bruises. The word ¡®hurt¡¯ made him trapped in the past again. Into the memory of the moment, he startled his little sister with harsh comments while bruising her shoulder. ¡°I was all wrong, Serdel. I was just¡ª I was just worried, but I didn¡¯t expect it to sound like that¡ª because I was wrong¡ª¡± ¡°¡­I was wrong too. So don¡¯t get hurt too, brother.¡± His hand, which had been rubbing his face like crazy, paused. Serdel was grabbing his wrist before he knew it. Her grip was tense. Redan¡¯s hand slid down, and he revealed his eyes full of pain. ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt. Brother.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡¯ She hugged him. Patting his back with her small hand, Serdel sighed. She felt so bad for his brother. His life was caught up in the past. It was so pitiful. ***** Blenn, who finished treatment for the wound, is almost here. Redan hesitated for a moment, glanced at him, then spoke up. ¡°About earlier¡­ Thank you.¡± It was very small. ¡°Please continue¡­to take care of my younger sister.¡± This time, in a smaller voice. As he mumbled, he awkwardly patted Blenn on the shoulder. As if he has worked hard. Then, he approached Dell, who was still scratching the tree with his back turned and gave him two candies. Ah¡ª. The boy who ate it all opened his mouth again. ¡°Eat it, you punk.¡± Looking at Serdel¡¯s eyes, Redan put two more candies into his mouth. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t feed him a lot of candy.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t feed him.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Sorry, I won¡¯t feed him.¡± Dell glanced away from Redan and turned his head as if looking at a distant mountain. The boy¡¯s cheeks were convex with two candies. Haa, shaking her head, Serdel turned her gaze to Blenn. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. Are you okay, Lady?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m okay. Thank you for earlier, Blenn.¡± Even if Blenn had not jumped in, she would have been safe with the power of the pendant he gave her. But she didn¡¯t put it in her mouth. Instead¡ª. ¡°It¡¯s a bit harsh to say in this kind of situation, but it¡¯s because I don¡¯t think I can afford it any more than now.¡± ¡°Please speak comfortably, Lady.¡± ¡°I know that you care about me well. I know it well, but there is still a line. If it is not followed, it will be difficult.¡± Blenn¡¯s face became darker. ¡°You were too rude to His Highness the Prince.¡± No matter how much he¡¯s treated in the imperial family, the Prince is the Prince. Blenn, whose status is ambiguous, was not a match to treat him recklessly. It¡¯s crazy that Falden just moved on about it. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been alive by now. So she had to fix it. He¡¯ll let him go once or twice, but he won¡¯t let him go three times. Because Blenn¡¯s carefree attitude is poisonous not only to him but also to her. ¡°Don¡¯t do that from now on.¡± ¡°¡­I apologize.¡± ¡°Okay. But thank you for thinking about me. I¡¯m always grateful for your heart.¡± Blenn smiled bitterly, following Serdel, and clenched his fists. It¡¯s like the words ¡®thank you¡¯ spit out one after another hit a wall. His heart was throbbing. He vowed to be her knight. For a knight, it is very natural to protect their owner from danger. It was sad to draw a line with words of thank you. For fear of revealing such impure feelings on his face, a pendant on Serdel¡¯s neck came into his eyes as he tried to lower his head. It looked very good on a white and slender neck. At that moment, red eyes stuck in the hawk glinted. Yeah. This must have protected her. Even if he didn¡¯t jump in, she would have been safe. Even after he gave it to her, his body bounced out first at that moment. In case Serdel gets hurt. He¡¯s afraid something will go wrong to her. In fear. He hadn¡¯t thought of this. ¡°Blenn?¡± Again, he lowered his head. To hide complicated emotions. He took a step back CH 75 Slowly, the battle came to an end. Looking around once, Serdel approached Damon, who was lying on his back. His pale and blue complexion lit up with life. ¡°Whoo. The treatment is over now. It took a long time.¡± At the end of a single ray of light, Maro took his hand off Damon¡¯s abdomen. With a tired expression. ¡°If you think about it again, he is a very tough person. If it were someone else, he would have died right away. It would have been like that if we had arrived even a little later.¡± Maro shook his head. ¡°But I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to die now.¡± He lay flat on his back after emptying three bottles of potions one after another. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if he¡¯d just been stabbed and cut? Healing must have been more difficult due to the magic embedded in the wound. ¡°¡­Ah, thank you very much earlier. I survived thanks to you who made a refuge with shields and wind magic.¡± Serdel smiled awkwardly because she didn¡¯t expect to hear such words from him. ¡°And¡­ I¡¯m sorry for being cocky earlier. When I use healing magic, I get nervous too.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± An awkward silence encompassed them after their stilted thanks. ¡°Whoo.¡± For a moment. The wizard, who was in Mana¡¯s breath, opened his eyes. ¡°Hey, Beman.¡± As if wanting to blow away the awkward aura, Maro clasped his fellow mage¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re alive?¡± ¡°I almost died.¡± ¡°Who told you to use magic like that on an expedition? Foolish, reckless, and even dangerous. If you were on the defensive, you should have run away.¡± ¡°There was no way I could afford to do that. You should be able to run away together.¡± Beman, who had been muttering with a sigh, finally looked at Serdel and smiled brightly. ¡°Thank you, Lady.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Oh! When wizards are in mana breathing, their nerves become sensitive and their five senses open. We can¡¯t see with our eyes, but we can hear everything and roughly understand the situation.¡± With a friendly smile, he kindly explained. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the Lady, I would have died. Thank you!¡± If Maro was a typical magic tower wizard, Beman had a good personality, unlike other wizards. ¡®Well, that¡¯s why he must have gone into battle without any tricks until he ran out of mana.¡¯ ¡°Whoo.¡± Finally, Henry, who was being treated by Falden¡¯s subordinate, opened his eyes. ¡°I am not a professional in healing, so every time I do it, it takes a long time and is very difficult.¡± The subordinate said as he began cleaning up around them. When he awoke, Henry turned his gaze away with a grunt of dissatisfaction, looked at Serdel, and nodded his head. That was the end of his greeting. As a member of the same team as Henry, they moved together from the beginning, so she was already used to that indifference. ¡°You all worked hard.¡± First of all, she said a short congratulations. Beman is particularly friendly, and usually, wizards are wary, sensitive, as individuals. Now was the opportunity to be thankful for it, as she had to build acquaintance with them for future plans. Serdel looked around once more. ¡°The battle is going to be over soon. We¡¯ll have to treat the wounded too, so can you help me a little bit before that?¡± Serdel smiled and took out several magic bags with large-capacity subspace magic from inside the magic bag. ¡°Ah, are you going to get some monster by-products?¡± Beman flashed his eyes. ¡°Then I¡ª¡± ¡°First, I¡¯d like to examine and dissect the Raunel¡¯s body. Please make a deal with me.¡± Maro, who jumped up from his place, suddenly pushed his face forward as he cut off Beman¡¯s words. Henry pushed Maro¡¯s face aside, and his eyes shone brightly instead of his words. ¡°What else do you need?¡± Serdel asked. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°We need 20 orc corpses. We would appreciate it if you could trade more. Shall we start with the contract? If you don¡¯t want to die, put this hand away.¡± Maro, who intervened again before Beman could speak, glared at Henry, who was still pushing his face and grit his teeth. In an instant, flames rose from Maro¡¯s hand, and ice flowers bloomed from Henry¡¯s hand. And Beman, who pushed between the two of them, handed over a piece of paper. ¡°These are all I need!¡± Even if it was a list, there was nothing much because the only things on the list were orc corpses. To begin with, the only content was that they intended to keep at least five or up to 30 orcs for each type of additional hunting. And below that, ¡®You are free to make any deal you want. However, if you take good care of me and trade as much as possible, the God of Fortune will be with you. I have always admired the Lady very much ?¡¯ was even added. Laughter naturally came out. ¡°If each of you needs something, write it like Beman on a piece of paper and give it to me. I¡¯ll give you a gift in return for your participation. But don¡¯t be overly greedy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just giving it to me? Whoa! T, thank you. Lady!¡± Beman shouted first. Maro and Henry, who had their mouths shut, let out a rough snort over and over again as if they were excited; they hurriedly took out their paper and pen. ¡®It must be unexpected.¡¯ Because it¡¯s Elbash Forest, not anywhere else. They don¡¯t know what could happen in such a dangerous area, so they should have stopped being greedy for monster by-products, even though it was a pity to waste such precious parts on the forest floor. In fact, even in the past, no one took it during expedition or subjugation. ¡®Did they ever have time for that?¡¯ Due to the rapidly changing surrounding circumstances, they would have focused only on getting rid of threats and surviving. But it¡¯s different now. She didn¡¯t realize she would be able to return with a magic bag filled with monster corpses. It¡¯s disgusting, but the monster corpses were very valuable. Hunting is not easy, and the supply is not smooth compared to the demand. And it¡¯s worth it. It was possible to make high-quality armor from the tough hides and bones, while the blood and organs became precious ingredients for great medicine. Aside from that, they required eyeballs, fingernails, and even a few strands of hair raw materials to create magic reagents. Besides, in one or two out of ten, magic stones are found in their chests¡ª. ¡®This means that the corpse is especially precious.¡¯ Moreover, the air here is different, and the quality of the magic that resides in the body is different from the monsters born and raised in ordinary forests. There will be no one who doesn¡¯t wish to own it. ¡°Here, Lady.¡± Maro and Henry handed over their papers at the same time. Since then, the three people who rolled up their sleeves have been wandering around and sweeping up the dead bodies. Opportunities to carry the wizard tower on their back were piling up one after another. ***** Finally, the battle with the huge Raunel that had its forehead pierced by an arrow from Terra was over. Although he couldn¡¯t deal with Raunel effectively, his arrows still worked on orcs. 100 shots, 100 hits. Any target of his was either dead or badly injured whenever he pulled his string and let an arrow fly. Thanks to this, the relatively weak soldiers who couldn¡¯t take much damage, were able to hold out as they only had to wait and finish off the orcs Terra didn¡¯t instantly kill. Instead, the squires and knights were the most injured. The wizards, who took all the monster corpses under Serdels¡¯ orders, immediately treated them. ¡°It¡¯s chilly. I¡¯m not expressing it outloud, but everyone is anxious. I¡¯m afraid another monster will appear.¡± At Siri¡¯s muttering, Serdel nodded. They¡¯ll be afraid. If they were mesmerized by the raging heat and moved throughout the battle. Now that the battle is over, the silence has fallen, the blood-stained ground, the leaves smashed in the aftermath of the battle, and the fallen trees. It will put more pressure on the dark reality that the survivors now must face. Serdel tore the scroll with nature regeneration magic to get rid of the acrid smell of blood. As the scent of spilled blood disappeared and the fresh air enveloped their lungs, the dark faces of those who had been tense and anxious became brighter. In the distance, Beman gave a thumbs up. Henry and Maro also greeted each other with expressionless faces saying that it was a good choice. ¡°You¡¯ll be rich. Young Lady.¡± As she was smiling in response, Damon approached her just in time. He had woken up earlier, and after a while, he seemed to be alright. He threw out a joke. ¡°Of course. You have to be rich.¡± Rather than asking if he was okay, Serdel responded lightly to his words. It was her own consideration. ¡°I thought I was going to die.¡± But he started talking first. She looked up at Damon. While looking straight, he turned his eyes and made eye contact with Serdel. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more comfortable to die? I had dozens of such weak thoughts.¡± How should she respond? Her lips twitched, but no words came out. ¡°My mother, who took her own life, also shuddered. It was then that I realized. I guess it was more tiring than I thought.¡± His face, which he had always maintained and only displayed the expression he had created, was natural for once. ¡°Let go of our mind. Then I will be comfortable. I¡¯m about to give up everything.¡± Whoops. He moved forward. ¡°I was lucky to have met Young Lady. The day I met you I remembered the smile that Young Lady showed me in the hallway where the sunlight was coming in.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t die. I didn¡¯t want to die.¡± He took her hand. He kissed her lightly on the back of her hand, his lips lightly skimming over her skin as he smiled softly. ¡°After all, meeting the Young Lady seems to be the fortune of my lifetime.¡± CH 76 She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it. He was breathtakingly beautiful as he returned to life in the devastated forest, turning his back on the slowly setting sun. ¡°Let¡¯s do our best in the future, Young Lady. And I told you before, right? If there¡¯s anything you want, tell me.¡± His smile deepened. ¡°It¡¯s still a valid promise, so if you need anything, please feel free to tell me at any time. I¡¯ll help you, Young Lady.¡± He kissed the back of her hand once more, then released it. Why? The wall he had built against her was completely gone. His eyes and smile are much softer than before. Suddenly she thought it was difficult for Damon who approached one step closer. Strangely enough. The closer they got, the more distant she felt. It was an unexpected shock. She understands to some extent. It seems like a confident character has gone from a predictable boundary¡ª. Somehow, she couldn¡¯t get to know him more. ***** When the treatment for the injured was completed night fell in the forest. After a fierce battle, everyone moved together until dawn because they didn¡¯t know what would happen again. After finishing a simple breakfast. ¡°I think it would be better to part ways sooner rather than later.¡± ¡°Yes, I think that would be good.¡± Belters nodded at Falden¡¯s words. ¡°Sir Redan and the Young Lady will move with me, and Sir Damon moves with the Duke.¡± ¡°¡­There¡¯s not much time left for the expedition.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Damon spoke up. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Please support me so that I can form a new team.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Falden refused at once, saying there was no need to think. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t know your position, Sir. You don¡¯t know that feeling either, but even if it¡¯s not your fault, who would want to serve a superior who lost all his subordinates in such a dangerous place? What would you like to believe in and entrust your life to?¡± Darkness fell on Damon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Expedition, yeah. As Sir said, there is not much left, so we have to finish it as soon as possible. If the period is extended or if we don¡¯t find out about this place properly, there will be a greater risk of failure.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°But even so, it can¡¯t be. Do you think you will be able to withstand the fear of death one more time? Don¡¯t be overconfident of yourself.¡± It was cold-hearted words, but what Falden was right. Adventures in these places were like suicidal acts. Even though he knew that, Damon didn¡¯t seem to want to back down easily. ¡°Fear isn¡¯t something you have to overcome, right?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve felt it once, why don¡¯t you think you¡¯ll be more careful the second time?¡± Damon turned and looked at the wizard Beman and Falden¡¯s subordinate who were moving with him. ¡°Will you refuse if I ask you to move with me?¡± The two looked at each other for a moment. But even then, it seemed that they had decided on something. Beman stood next to Damon. ¡°Uh, hmm. If you form a team again, I¡¯d like to be with you. This time, I will also try to fight cleverly. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible. Haha.¡± Falden¡¯s eyes got a little bigger. Even though Beman had a good personality unlike other wizards, he didn¡¯t act without thought and he wasn¡¯t simple-minded. He didn¡¯t even know that his life was precious. However, leaving Damon after he lost his troop also seemed ill thought out. ¡°Your Highness. I would also like to join Sir Damon if he forms another team.¡± Falden¡¯s subordinates also stepped up. ¡°At the moment of crisis, Sir Damon didn¡¯t panic and calmly fought until the end. Even though despair was just around the corner, my colleagues didn¡¯t back down and relied on him to take the lead until he died.¡± His eyes were filled with faith in Damon. He could see that Damon had a pretty strong impression. ¡°Everyone tried to save Sir Damon, and Sir Damon tried to save all of them. Although the result was ultimately a failure, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s to judge ability by that respect. Please reconsider.¡± ¡°And¡­ Sir reported that he didn¡¯t make good use of me, but it¡¯s not true. I thought I¡¯d die if I stayed still¡­ Even though Sir warned me over and over again to preserve mana, I¡¯ve never followed it, so I used it recklessly because I couldn¡¯t believe it.¡± Beman bowed his head deeply. ¡°I apologize.¡± Falden rubbed his eyes with his large hand. ¡°Are you still not able to change the habit of going all out blindly? It¡¯s been quiet for a while.¡± ¡°No, but Your Highness. How can you not come forward in such a situation? I¡¯m scared to death.¡± Ha. A big sigh eventually burst out of Falden¡¯s mouth. ¡®You idiot,¡¯ Maro muttered from behind. ¡°Is there anyone else who wants to go under Sir Damon?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll go.¡± It was Siri who raised her hand. Startled, Serdel grabbed her arm. ¡°Siri, why¡­¡± ¡°After watching the battle yesterday, I felt a lot of things. Everyone came out, but I was the only one who couldn¡¯t do anything, Lady.¡± Siri¡¯s face was so serious that it was scary. ¡°Lady. I took the sword to protect Lady. But I was still protected under the shadow of the Lady. I won¡¯t be able to keep you safe the way I want if it¡¯s like this. I can¡¯t go back to a place like this without gaining experience.¡± ¡°Siri¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be incompetent with the most shining master in my life. If you fly, I¡¯ll fly, and if you shine, I¡¯ll shine, too. We will walk together so that you will not be lonely on the path you want to go. I would love to do that, Lady.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold on to those words any longer. She felt like she was about to burst into tears. ¡°I won¡¯t get hurt, so please allow me. Because I made a promise with my teacher that I¡¯ll learn a lot.¡± In the end, the only thing Serdel could do for Siri here was trust her. She¡¯s anxious and afraid. ¡°¡­Okay. Wait for a moment¡ª.¡± Siri shook her hand as she saw Serdel searching for something in the magic bag. ¡°There are a lot of potions and scrolls in my magic bag that the Lady gave me. You always give it to me so that it overflows. You don¡¯t have to give me any more.¡± ¡°Okay, then¡ª¡± Serdel grabbed Terra. ¡°Take this guy too.¡± She was nervous to leave Siri alone. Confused, Terra looked at Siri and Serdel alternately. ¡°Lady, I¡ª¡± ¡°Please take care of Siri. Terra.¡± After hesitating for a long time, he eventually nodded at Serdel¡¯s earnest gaze. Falden, who was silently watching this, selected several more knights and assigned them to Damon. ¡°The Duke goes to the right, Sir goes to the left. I will go this way.¡± ¡°Yes, be safe, Your Highness.¡± Belters, who also smiled at Serdel, turned around. ¡°I¡¯m going to go first, too. Your Highness.¡± Damon, who had bowed his head at Falden, approached Serdel. ¡°I hope Young Lady doesn¡¯t get hurt.¡± He didn¡¯t tell me to get out of the woods like before he almost died. Because every way out is dangerous anyway. Instead, Serdel said the same thing to him, who prayed for her safety. ¡°I wish you the best of luck, Sir.¡± The soft gaze and the spreading smile towards him made her mouth numb. Serdel, who was looking at him moving away with his new team members, turned around. Falden was staring intently at him. She frowned at that blatant gaze. She wants to ask what he¡¯s looking at¡ª. ¡°There are so many talented people around Young Lady. Earlier, that squire also used his bow wonderfully. Do you purposely put those people next to you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Somehow, we got close.¡± ¡°Somehow you get close¡­ is that even possible?¡± He took the lead while repeating what he said. After following the airflow that appeared again this time, they even found the last mine in the Elbash Forest. The scale was overwhelmingly larger than the two mines that they had been through so far. Walls, ceilings, and even the floor. Mana stones of a certain size were densely growing on every surface. The purity was also of the highest quality. In terms of value, it is overwhelming. When admiration is about to come out¡ª. [The three long-hidden mines were successfully found through the Elbash Forest expedition.] [A reward will be given for the difficult journey] [Luck goes to the main characters on the journey.] Suddenly, a window of congratulations appeared in the air in front of Serdel. However, she wasn¡¯t the one to receive the luck. CH 77 [Falden Asladen ¨C Increases his presence in the Imperial family and lays the foundation for his position. Gain the Emperor¡¯s attention.] [Damon Spendar ¨C A change of heart leads to a turning point in life and is even more recognized as a successor. The succession of the position will be faster] [Belters Blendard ¨C The original luck has been increased.] [Edward Blenn (alias, Blenn) ¨C Recognized in everything by the Count.] [Dell ¨C Take everyone¡¯s love. Especially cats and bugs.] [Terra ¨C Gaining the blocked enlightenment and improving his skills.] [Siri ¨C The latent genius has been awakened.] Serdel¡¯s gaze first focused on Terra and Siri. Terra, who had been a squire and had practically slow growth swordsmanship for a long time, seemed to gain significantly from this move. ¡®And Siri¡¯s potential genius!¡¯ No way, will she become a talented person like Addis? What would happen if she hadn¡¯t given permission because she was concerned when she went after Damon? ¡®I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t.¡¯ At the very least, she almost blocked her bright future. With a sigh of relief, Serdel looked at Damon now. It was always planned for him to strengthen his position as successor. And it was surprising that the succession of the title was speeding up. ¡®I don¡¯t think Marquis Spendar will step down so easily.¡¯ The momentum of his half-brothers would be unstoppable, and the power of the Marquis and other family members was also quite strong. That¡¯s why Damon didn¡¯t even notice until now. ¡®Change of heart¡­¡¯ As expected, being pushed to the threshold of death seems to be the trigger. ¡°Serdel, are you sick?¡± Suddenly, Redan brought his face closer. ¡°What was it that surprised you so much before, and then you admired it, and then you got serious? What are you looking at?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Serdel smiled awkwardly and left a mark here as well before leaving. Outside, Falden was receiving a report through the divided screen of the communication port. Addis and Belters were both unharmed when she sneaked a peek. Damon¡¯s leather armor was dirty, perhaps because there had been another battle. Behind them, Beman, who was exhausted and put in there, Siri, who wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand, and Terra, who retrieved the arrows from the monster¡¯s body. As if he felt Serdel¡¯s gaze, Damon smiled. [Young Lady¡¯s people are safe. You don¡¯t have to worry.] ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± [Then, Your Highness. I¡¯ll end the communication now] The light in the communication port went out and the surroundings became quiet. ¡°He has changed.¡± Falden murmured as he swept his chin. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Sir Damon. Doesn¡¯t it seem like something has changed somehow?¡± ¡°How do you think it has changed?¡± ¡°He¡¯s even more annoying. I feel bad when we have a conversation, but I don¡¯t know why it¡¯s bad? Tsk. Ah, that¡¯s the last mine, right? Instead of answering, she nodded. ¡°Then all the mines have been found. All that¡¯s left is the completion of the forest map and the location of the monster village.¡± He dug his leg by placing his butt on a large nearby stone. Sighs burst out of his mouth one after another. It¡¯ll be frustrating. There were only three days left until the expedition was over, and outside the forest, a subjugation group that had already arrived was waiting for the expedition team. Serdel walked around and looked at the sky. The monsters must have been watching this location. This side couldn¡¯t even figure out where they were hiding, so the fight was likely to take place excessively. ¡®Is there a better way?¡¯ No matter how much she wanders in the forest for the rest of the time, she won¡¯t be able to find out as much as she wants. She had to find a solution to not shake hands. As she was lost in thoughts for a while, she suddenly noticed an ordinary airflow that didn¡¯t contain golden or silver colors. An unfamiliar thought struck her mind in an instant. ¡®Is it possible?¡¯ She¡¯s not sure, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to give it a try. Serdel stopped and turned her head. Blenn, who had quietly followed her, stopped moving. ¡°I¡¯m just saying this, so don¡¯t be surprised if anything happens to me.¡± ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Ah, before that. Blenn, after this work, I¡¯m going to ask my father for you and Laura¡¯s imperial citizenship and get them, is that okay?¡± The Luck given to him is to be recognized by the Count, so she wanted to give him a certain and secure new identity on this occasion. ¡°And I¡¯d like you to be a member of the Count. Be an official knight.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already the Lady¡¯s knight.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t register. You have to make sure where you belong. That way, there won¡¯t be any problems in the future. You should also think about Laura.¡± When he becomes the Count¡¯s official knight, his position changes. Regardless of his past status, it would have been easy to get married. She doesn¡¯t know if he¡¯s not interested in marriage. ¡®One day, he will meet someone he loves.¡¯ So that he can be happy. She wants him to build a foundation as he saves her. ¡°I want you and Laura to be happy now. You¡¯ve suffered so much in the past, so I want you to live a stable life even now. Is it burdensome or do you not like it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Blenn bowed his head. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± ¡°Me too. Please take care of me, Blenn.¡± He smiled and reached out his hand. ¡°It¡¯s not going to happen, but I¡¯m just saying it just in case.¡± When he tried to kiss, ¡°Please don¡¯t betray me.¡± He hesitated. But that time didn¡¯t last long. He immediately pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Serdel, who was bitten back by him, closed her eyes. She tried to look at the entire forest by assimilating her mind with the airflow in the air. It¡¯s just Luck that she wouldn¡¯t have tried anywhere else but the Elbash Forest. Where Radun¡¯s arrangements had been buried for a very long time. ¡®The air currents that guided me to the cave must have been derived from the arrangement.¡¯ If this assumption wasn¡¯t wrong, it was highly likely that his energy was melted throughout the forest. To begin with, the airflow-like threads pulled from Mana Hall were tightly intertwined. When she covered her heart with the completed five rings, the air currents drawn like a magnet around Serdel overflowed. Some of the thread flowed and mixed with the Eight Stars that came to mind, completing the incantation as a whole. When she opened her eyes with a shallow recitation, beautiful light came out of her eyes. The five senses became more sensitive as some of them gained control over the forest. Tingling, tingling, tingling. Various sounds have been transmitted through numerous trees and the huge land. Even if it didn¡¯t move, the surroundings made a noise, and ¡®Swissh!¡¯ it passed her eyes and reflected the views all around. New backgrounds endlessly entered the eyes and mind. At the end, it reached the real realm of the monsters. ¡°¡­.!¡± As she was concerned. It¡¯s not an unknown forest. They all lived together, regardless of race. ¡®It¡¯s not the size of the village!¡¯ Hundreds of large and small burrows. The monsters were constantly going in and out. On one side, the lower level monsters were working like a slave. She could see that the hazy eyes had lost willpower. They guarded the surroundings, hunted nearby, or destroyed the prey they had hunted for each piece, and the good things were dedicated to the higher-ranking monsters with a sound mind. The action scene seemed regular as if it had been repeated for a long time. So it was even more creepy. Clank, clank, clank! On the other side, upper-middle-level monsters were in the process of making weapons. The craftsmanship can¡¯t be said to be good, but the weapon was a weapon, and the fact that it was piled up to form a small mountain was intimidating enough. ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel¡¯s view turned upward. The wooden fence surrounding their territory seemed quite solid. There was even a magic circle drawn there, and it seemed to play a role in eliminating their presence in addition to the protective barrier. The beasts wander freely near the fence. Piik! The goblins who were watching from the watchtower shot it with the arrow. The beast, whose neck was pierced at once, slowly died. Dry saliva was swallowed automatically. Serdel turned her gaze again and looked at the largest burrow. The leader is probably living there. Startled! ¡®Whoosh!¡¯ To block the vision, a huge sickle formed of black energy was smashed. She opened her eyes, almost instinctively. Otherwise, the aftermath would have been transmitted in some way. Haa, haa, haa¡ª! Her breathing became rough due to the tension that rose for a moment. ¡°Lady!¡± Surprised Blenn approached and helped her. ¡°Are you okay!¡± For a while, she nodded, and she completely lost her mind in deep dizziness. ¡°Lady!¡± CH 78 When I opened my eyes again, it was a cabin. ¡®Ah, the expedition is over.¡¯ She could feel it instinctively. When she turned her head to the side, she saw Redan leaning on his forehead while holding her hand tightly. ¡°Oraboni¡ª¡± (t/n: From now on, I will just use Oraboni, Unnie, Nuna instead of Brother and Sister.) Startled. With his face up, he saw her and stood up. His eyes were red. He cried again. Was he always good at crying? A bitter smile came out. ¡°Are you awake? How about your body? Are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sorry to surprise you.¡± Unknowingly, the words of apology came out first. ¡°Serdel?¡± When she turned to another familiar voice, Addis looked at her with a surprised face as if she had just entered the cabin. ¡°Serdel!¡± Her trembling hand brushed her cheek as she approached her hastily. ¡°A, are you okay? I, is there no pain anywhere else?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It doesn¡¯t hurt. How long has it been since I collapsed?¡± ¡°Even in the midst of this¡ª!¡± ¡°Unnie.¡± Addis¡¯ eyes, which seemed to be upset or distorted, were also a little red. Did she cry too? ¡°Two days have passed. As soon as you collapsed, His Highness immediately ended the expedition. If you were not feeling well, you should have said it all! Then what if something went wrong¡ª!¡± Oh, Blenn seemed to have roughly wrapped it around just in case she was in trouble. Serdel raised her body first. ¡°I wasn¡¯t hurt. It¡¯s not like that, so don¡¯t worry. More than that¡ª¡± Knock, knock. As she was about to call Falden, the door opened with a knock, and he came in. Falden¡¯s eyes, which saw her, grew a little and then subsided. ¡°So you¡¯re awake, are you okay?¡± As he approached, he suddenly reached out with his big hand, grabbed the back of her head, and pushed his face close as it was. She was so surprised at how powerful it was, and her body hardened. His forehead touched her forehead. Then her eyes blinked wildly. ¡°Hmm, you don¡¯t have a fever.¡± Only then did he pull off his face. The energy of anger erupted from both sides. Addis and Redan¡¯s eyes were burning. ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I was just checking my temperature. Is there any place where you feel uncomfortable, Young Lady? No, why are people so foolish? If you were sick, you should have told me that you were sick. Do you know how surprised I was?¡± With Redan joining, Falden quickly hit the target. ¡°I am not sick. I didn¡¯t fall because I¡¯m sick, first of all¡ª¡± Serdel glanced at Addis and Redan for a moment. ¡°Unnie, Oraboni, please go out for a moment.¡± ¡°What? Why do we have to go out?¡± Redan frowned. ¡°Because I have something to tell Your Highness. Please leave for a moment.¡± ¡°Hey, just send Your Highness out and talk to us. Then I can kindly explain it to Your Highness, right?¡± ¡°Both of you stop and go out.¡± Falden pointed out with his chin to Redan. Nevertheless, the two of them held on for a while, and when Serdel glared at them, they just left. Serdel also tore the magic scroll that blocked the sound to prevent the conversation from leaking out. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re nervous, Young Lady? What are you trying to say that you¡¯re so thoroughly prepared?¡± Falden, who pulled out a chair, sat on it, and crossed his legs. ¡°Can you take out the map first?¡± ¡°Map? Why?¡± ¡°The expedition is not completely over yet. I¡¯ll mark the places we haven¡¯t looked around. Then you can explain to the scholars, Your Highness.¡± ¡°¡­Did you find out with the power of that crow? That¡¯s why you sent those two out?¡± Serdel shrugged. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take out the map?¡± ¡°Ah, wait a minute.¡± He spread the map in front of her. Everyone worked so hard, but there were more empty places than filled ones. While swallowing his useless bitterness, Serdel slowly explained what she saw and felt. She drew the empty spot without hesitation with the charcoal he handed over. Startled. ¡°Young Lady. Wait, wait a minute.¡± Gulp. Swallowing his saliva, he glanced over the map with a grim expression on his face. ¡°That, won¡¯t you give me some charcoal? Ah, I¡¯m so sorry. I made a big mistake.¡± ¡°¡­What mistake?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think that the Young Lady¡¯s dexterity was this terrible! But I didn¡¯t know you couldn¡¯t draw this simple picture! What is all this? What did you express? Is there an art level that I don¡¯t understand?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes became cold. She took turns looking at Falden and the map. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with it?¡± ¡°A sense of not even noticing something strange¡ª. Did the trend code of the system change these days? Or is Young Lady¡¯s sense that special?¡± ¡°¡­Are you being sarcastic?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m telling you the truth.¡± ¡°Here.¡± She grabbed his hand and put charcoal in it. ¡°Draw it yourself.¡± ¡°Are you upset?¡± ¡°I¡¯m upset. I¡¯m going to keep explaining, so please watch. From here to here, it¡¯s the monster area. A fairly high wooden fence was very solid, and a magic circle was drawn here. Beyond that¡ª¡± After one smirk, Falden listened to her explanation. After listening to it for a while, it was about the time he completed the map. He sighed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting them to be small, but this is more than that. We¡¯d better revise the subjugation plan altogether.¡± A deep tension flashed across his face once. ¡°But it¡¯s a relief. I like the Young Lady¡¯s ability. Otherwise, we would have suffered.¡± After folding the map carefully, he stared at Serdel for a moment. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Do you trust me?¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t say I¡¯m not.¡± That doesn¡¯t mean she fully trusts him. ¡°Then are you sure you won¡¯t feel threatened no matter what I say?¡± ¡°Are you going to threaten me?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t have any intention of doing so, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you. But from Young Lady¡¯s point of view, it¡¯s a story that¡¯s likely to feel that way, so I¡¯m taking time.¡± Is he trying to bring up the smokescreen he had done so far? (T/n: I¡¯m not sure what this mean;;) ¡°Please say it.¡± ¡°Why did you go to the slave market?¡± As soon as he said it, he hit the point. ¡°¡­.¡± She was flustered. When he gives off a hint as if he knows something, he actually does. She didn¡¯t think she¡¯d really get caught. As she closed her mouth without saying anything, he took something out of the bag around his waist. It was a mask that was the entrance ticket to the slave market. ¡°Look here. Because I¡¯ve erased everything they¡¯ve covered.¡± Her name was engraved in small letters in the place where Falden pointed with his finger. ¡°They don¡¯t just give out passes. This is how they deal with it so that they can check their opponent¡¯s identity at any time. Few customers can recognize this.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The strength in the hand holding the half mask was so strong that the tip of the finger turned white. ¡®Didn¡¯t he say it was burned down?¡¯ Blenn said so to her when she asked where he left the half mask. But why is it in Falden¡¯s hands? Even though she didn¡¯t ask, he continued to talk. ¡°I secretly put my subordinate there two years ago because I needed to find out something.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°When he saw the silver hair acting suspiciously that day, my subordinate blocked the way. Then my subordinate was apparently on the verge of death, and of course, he was well treated and moved without any problems, but anyway, he seemed to have dropped it while running away.¡± He tried to maintain the calm atmosphere as much as possible, fearing that Serdel would be scared and wary. ¡°But it seems that Count Sollette picked it up first in the chaos and checked who it was. He¡¯s also one of the few customers who knows there¡¯s a mark on the mask. Young Lady.¡± Serdel bit her lip. ¡°And Count Sollete is now being arrested. Because his son swore allegiance to me.¡± Startle. Ah. ¡®Is that why his whereabout were strange?¡¯ A bitter laugh came out. It is also shocking that Count Sollette¡¯s son swore allegiance to Falden, unlike in the past. ¡®Blenn deceived me¡­¡¯ Tiredness poured in rapidly. The strange sense of force made her feel down, and she lost strength in her body. She couldn¡¯t believe it. CH 79 ¡°Why did you start a fire? What were you thinking? Did you know how dangerous that place was? I heard that he bought a slave there.¡± ¡°¡ªWhat does Your Highness want to say?¡± Falden was confused for a moment. Serdel complexion didn¡¯t look so good. He seemed to be questioning her too much by saying more than this, so in the end he forcibly swallowed his unending questions back. Instead he said¡ª. ¡°Please take good care of me in the future. At least when we start a business together, but it¡¯s kind of weird to hide this. But I couldn¡¯t say it blindly. I wasn¡¯t sure about Young Lady either. I don¡¯t care if you trust me.¡± Serdel looked at Falden straightforwardly. Without avoiding his eyes, she accepted his gaze and let it go. There was a bit of emotion in his empty eyes. She could see that his wall had been opened for her. ¡°Why did you catch Count Sollette?¡± Simply, he wanted to confirm her motives, because this mask¡¯s owner has been confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m suspicious of something. So I¡¯m trying to figure it out.¡± Perhaps it was a personal matter, his expression turned creepy for a moment, then subsided. ¡°Anyway, there was no other trace of Young Lady on the line that I could erase, but there is no secret that stays forever. One day, someone might find out that you entered there.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know for what reason you went there, but it would be better to make a story in advance so that you wouldn¡¯t be suspected of being a criminal.¡± He dragged his chair back and stood up. ¡°And, the subjugation will begin in about five days. So, Young Lady should prepare to go to the capital starting tomorrow.¡± She nodded helplessly. ¡°Get some rest today. Because your complexion doesn¡¯t look so good.¡± After saying that, he left the cabin. The subjugation began two days later. After seeing them off, Serdel got on a carriage going up to the capital. She was leaving behind Terra and Siri, who had also expressed their intention to participate in the subjugation. What a last minute change of heart, Redan, who said he would also remain there, was also left behind. Serdel left the territory. And two more days have passed. Rattling. Rattling. In the carriage rolling the wheels hard, she looked at the subjugation situation that the wizard Maro sent to the communication device. In the forest where the dark dusk fell. The place where the fierce battle swept through was a mess. There was not a single tree intact, and the crushed grass and ground formed a river of blood. The corpses of monsters piled up on top of it¡ª. [Oooh ooh. It¡¯s gross!] It all looked like money. She gave Redan, Terra, and Siri a magic bag with large-capacity subspace magic, so they all technically belonged to her. It felt like the bell of getting rich was ringing in her mind. Dell, who was chewing on some beef jerky and watching it together, sighed. [I think the smell of blood is coming all the way here. Oh, my nose!] Dell pretended to cover his nose with his short arms. [Today¡¯s battle seems to end at this point. Everyone is safe, so you don¡¯t have to worry. Of course, I¡¯m tired of being overworked, so I¡¯ll get going] Even before she said anything, the light in the communication device went out. At the same time, a sense of silence fell Raising her head, she suddenly opened the window and looked outside. Stars embroidered in the black sky and sprinkled brilliant light around them. Her shoulders trembled once in the night wind that just blew. ¡°The night wind is cold, Lady.¡± At the same time, a worried voice came towards her. It was Blenn. He put his horse close to the carriage and smiled when his eyes met hers. ¡°¡­.¡± He smiles a lot. After that day, seeing Blenn became uncomfortable. As his gaze touched her, her emotions rose. Therefore, she often avoided his gaze. Because she doesn¡¯t know how she should feel about Blenn. At first, she was honestly angry. Later, she tried to understand his situation. He barely met his younger sister, so it must have been difficult to bring up such things. As time passed, another feeling of disappointment flooded in. There were certainly many opportunities to speak. If he had told the truth even if it was too late, she wouldn¡¯t have blamed Blenn even if she was confused. What happened that day was so sudden. Even if there was a mistake, she could fully understand it. However, Blenn¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t move. A few days ago, When she told him not to betray her. ¡®What the hell was he thinking when he kissed the back of my hand?¡¯ Even then, he should have been honest. ¡°Lady, do you have anything to say to me¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± ¡°What do you¡ª¡± ¡°Is there anything you¡¯re hiding? Or something you didn¡¯t tell me.¡± Blenn¡¯s mouth slowly closed. He looked into her eyes and tried to figure out what she was asking. He didn¡¯t even know that such an action would intensify her anger. ¡°Should I get you a house?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°A house to live with your sister.¡± ¡°My Lady. If I did something wrong¡­ If I have made any mistakes¡­ please tell me. Then I will fix everything¡ª¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you have the option of confessing to me before I asked you to tell me?¡± Serdel took out the half mask in front of him and shook it. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long I thought I could hide it, but I got caught surprisingly quickly. From your point of view.¡± Blenn¡¯s eyes got bigger. His composure was slowly broken and fear, pain, and guilt spread like wildfire across his distorted face. ¡°¡­.¡± His eyes were lost and he wandered here and there, unfocused like a rolled ball. ¡°¡­I, I apologize, Lady. That day¡ª¡± ¡°You should have made an excuse when you were given a chance.¡± ¡°Lady, I was wrong. To tell you the truth, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed in me¡ªit¡¯s useless. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll push me away¡ª¡± ¡°So you lied like that?¡± ¡°¡­I was wrong. Lady.¡± ¡°I saved your sister from the most dangerous place. Are you aware that you pushed me out of the most dangerous place?¡± If this mask hadn¡¯t been in Falden¡¯s hands. If Falden had nothing to do with Count Sollette. If he hadn¡¯t locked him up! Count Sollette certainly approached her with a sly smile. She got goosebumps thinking about how she would have been threatened by him without any preparation. ¡°I¡¯m really, really sorry. I should have done a better job. I couldn¡¯t do that. I was wrong, Lady.¡± ¡°No. You still don¡¯t know what you did wrong. You don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Anyone can make a mistake. I¡¯m not to blame you for it. But you should have told me the truth that day. If you had, I would have prepared for everything. But you didn¡¯t, and I, I¡ª!¡± What if Falden hadn¡¯t been interested in her? She didn¡¯t even want to imagine it. ¡°I¡ª I got slapped in the back by someone I trusted. Ha, haha.¡± A sad laugh flowed out. Suddenly, she felt sad. Just because she knows the original story doesn¡¯t mean she knows everything about him. She treated Blenn as if she knew everything, and trusted him like a rock. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have trusted you.¡± Resentment flowed out. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± What should she do with him in the future? ¡°You should have told me the truth before you swore loyalty. You didn¡¯t and so your loyalty faded, Blenn. I can¡¯t trust you anymore. I can¡¯t trust you.¡± Serdel closed the carriage window tightly. ¡°Lady, I was wrong. Lady! I was all wrong. I¡¯m sorry, Lady.¡± Blenn¡¯s desperate voice continued to follow. He kept knocking on the door of the carriage with desperation. ¡°I was wrong, Lady, I¡¯ll tell you the truth from now on. Lady. Just once, please let it slide once.¡± Serdel tore the sound-blocking scroll and ignored all the noise he made. Of course, she won¡¯t be able to abandon Blenn. It was hard to find such a talented person. If it were in the past, she would have let go of his hand with a broken heart, but now she had no time to be overwhelmed by shock. She had to hold onto and use any card that could be used. To do that, instead of holding on to Blenn¡¯s betrayal and feeling upset, she had to use it as a weakness and press down on it. Although he fell to the bottom, unlike his sister Laura, he had never lived a life where his will power was blocked. She had no idea when he¡¯d act rashly and cause trouble. In fact, didn¡¯t he push the sword into Falden before? Serdel crossed her arms and buried herself in the backrest. She pretended to be calm and collect her disorganized feelings again. She closed her eyes for this. Suddenly, a sound was heard from the other side. [Dell doesn¡¯t hide anything from Nuna¡ª] Sniff! [But¡ª I promised to only eat two jerky earlier, but when Nuna watching the communication device earlier, I secretly ate 10 of them¡ª sniff.] Sniff! Frightened, Dell snorted and shed tears. Serdel also pretended not to know. [I was wrong¡­ Sniff¡­ Dell will raise his hand.. Sniff.] CH 80 After that, there was no conversation with Blenn. In the intense atmosphere. Serdel, who arrived safely in the capital, headed straight to the Count. When she arrived in front of him, Cartal, who had been in contact with her, opened the door of the carriage himself. Behind him was the butler, the head maid, Monem, and the vice captain. All four of them were greatly relieved to see Serdel. That¡¯s the same with Cartal. He examined Serdel from head to toe several times. ¡°¡­I¡¯m glad you¡¯re fine.¡± Dark complexion. The deep eyes. The rough skin. The messy lips that look tired. She could tell that he hadn¡¯t slept for a long time. ¡®Well, he sent all three of his children to Elbash Forest.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t relax. After hesitating for a moment, he held out his hand and said to get off. Originally, they were awkward, but it was even more because they had been apart for a while. ¡°¡­I¡¯m back, father.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± The answer was short, but his stiff mouth was loosened. She carefully put her hand. Cartal¡¯s hands were larger than Addis and Redan¡¯s, had more calluses, and were full of traces of suffering. And it was warmer. ¡°You look very skinny¡ª wasn¡¯t it hard?¡± ¡°It was hard. There were moments when it was very dangerous.¡± So she answered his question like a child without realizing it. ¡°How about what you want? Did you get it?¡± Serdel nodded her head. ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s a relief.¡± Cartal also nodded his head. With her feet on the firm ground, she looked at her mansion for a moment. She felt relieved that she had arrived home. ¡°You must have been tired, take a good rest.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more to report than that. I¡¯ll take a break later.¡± She went into the office with Cartal and opened the map of the forest that she had copied with a magic tool. Then, he checked the location of the mine by pointing to each place with his hand. ¡°This is the mana stone from the first mine.¡± The low-grade, mid-level, and high-level magic stones that have been mined are listed in order. ¡°And these are the things I brought from the second mine I found.¡± Hmm, with a low sigh, her father meticulously checked the condition of the mana stone. ¡°The last thing I found in the third mine is this, which is quite different from the previous one. The atmosphere of the mine was the same, but all the mana stones were of the highest quality.¡± There was excitement in Cartal¡¯s eyes. Mana stone mines, which consist of only the best, were not easy to find. In addition most of the existing top mines had poor internal circulation, grew very irregularly and only thrived in places where magic power was heavily concentrated. Naturally, the amount of mining had to be small, and the price was also terrible. They can¡¯t even get this because they don¡¯t have it since such scenarios were rare. The top-tier mana stone mines in Elbash Forest are uniform in size, with all floors, walls, and ceilings the same size, and their purity is much higher than the previous ones. The speed at which it grows after mining was also superior. In terms of value, it was the best mine in the empire. It was only a matter of time before the territory became rich and strong. Serdel also informed him of the battle situation in the forest, which she had not yet reported. ¡°In this state, unless something unusual happens, I expect that the subjugation will be over in about two months.¡± ¡°Before that, we must finish all the preparations necessary for development.¡± Cartal opened the papers that had been put aside. She looked over it together. Knock, knock. The butler came in with a knock. ¡°Master. A person has arrived from the Imperial Palace. He¡¯s asking to see you. What should I do?¡± There was a little tension in Serdel and Cartal¡¯s face. ¡®It¡¯s only been an hour since I came back to the family, but they already sent someone?¡¯ No way, have they been watching the family all this time? Otherwise, the timing was so amazing. ¡°Let them in.¡± After a while. An old man dressed neatly came inside. ¡°It¡¯s been a few days since I saw you. Count Robbesta. I¡¯m Chapelta, the Chamberlain.¡± In his simple greetings and movements that were alive with a sense of deception, he exuded a charisma that was difficult to approach. His simple greetings and words made her feel an unparalleled charisma in his movements. ¡°This is a letter from His Majesty.¡± He omitted the aristocratic style of greeting and offered the purpose of visiting this place immediately. Cartal¡¯s forehead, which opened the inside and examined the contents, hardened. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve confirmed your reception, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± The chamberlain went out, and a brief sense of silence came and went between the father and daughter. ¡°Haa.¡± Cartal sighed as he pressed his temples. ¡°He¡¯s asking you to visit the palace tomorrow.¡± No way. ¡°Serdel. You alone.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Her complexion grew dark. ***** As it became dawn of the next day, Serdel was dragged to and fro by the hands of the maids. ¡°Make it simple, keep it simple. It¡¯s just the palace, so even if it¡¯s too flashy, it doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°But if you¡¯re simple, they will look down on it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Moreover, isn¡¯t it a place to attend an audience with His Majesty the Emperor? Giving some consideration is polite.¡± At the head maid¡¯s words, Monem nodded next to it. In the end, with a gorgeous dress, colorful accessories, and gorgeous shoes, Serdel dressed in splendor that had never been seen before. As she left the bedroom with a tired face, she ran into Cartal, who was walking in front of her. ¡°¡­Serdel.¡± When he saw her, he opened his mouth. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you take off her hair ornaments? She looks crazy¡ª¡± The head maid was disappointed by Cartal¡¯s criticism and pulled off several ornaments. She told them not to do that earlier. ¡°That¡­ the necklace and earrings look too much¡ª¡± The head maid¡¯s eyes grew more and more ferocious. Her hands shook as she took off Serdel¡¯s necklace and earrings. ¡°And¡ª¡± ¡°Master! Since Dame Addis only wears knights¡¯ uniforms all year round, her outfit is always modest. His Majesty¡¯s eyes say, ¡®All the ladies of Count Robbesta are modest¡¯ and will think like that!¡± In the end, the head maid, who could not stand it, raised her hand, saying that Count could no longer touch the outfit. ¡°Besides, she¡¯ll run into quite a few people on her way to visit His Majesty, and if she¡¯s too modest, they¡¯ll look down on her!¡± The position of the Countess had already been vacant for a long time. There could be critics that the Count doesn¡¯t have someone to properly decorate the youngest Lady. ¡°¡ªYeah, it¡¯s nice to see. I think it¡¯ll be fine to add one more hair accessory¡ª Ehem.¡± With a cough, Cartal glanced at the ceiling. Then the head maid quickly chose one of the most splendid hair ornaments she was holding and put it in. ¡°Look at this. How pretty you are! Isn¡¯t our Lady the prettiest girl in the world!¡± The butler nodded enthusiastically. Monem also applauded with satisfaction. If just one more hair accessory made her the prettiest thing in the world, wouldn¡¯t that ornament be prettier? Mumbling inwardly, Serdel approached Cartal. ¡°Even though I¡¯m alone, I think I can do it if I know it well. Don¡¯t be too scared.¡± Just in case he thought she¡¯d be intimidated. She tried to relieve the tension by saying that it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal as much as possible. However, it is Serdel who has already seen the cruel side of the Emperor through the communication port. It couldn¡¯t have been a big deal. Then¡ª. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Father.¡± Serdel smiled and walked behind him. The butler with the box, the vice captain, and several knights followed her. At the entrance stood a carriage from the Imperial family. The imperial knights were waiting for her behind it waiting to escort, and Chamberlain Viscount Chapelta waited for her in front. Since she was entering the palace as a guest of the Emperor by receiving an official invitation, everyone bowed their heads in courtesy to Serdel. ¡°After the audience is over, I will take you back to the Count¡¯s manor.¡± Therefore, there was no need to take their family knight, so that Serdel had no choice but to glance at those who stood behind her. Serdel, who had been handed the box from the butler, tried to get on the carriage as it was, but the imperial knight stopped her. ¡°I apologize, but may I check the contents first?¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± The knight carefully opened the box. Inside was a map of the forest and mana stones from the mine. ¡°Excuse me.¡± After confirming that there was nothing special, he put the box inside and stepped back. She took Viscount Chapelta¡¯s hand and climbed into the carriage. As soon as she was able to sit on the opposite side, the carriage with the two of them departed. An uncomfortable silence began. CH 81 The imperial palace she arrived at was grand and splendid, but at the same time quiet. She felt as if she had entered the middle of the Elbash forest with how similar the brutal energy that suddenly surrounded and oppressed them felt. It¡¯s not even her first time here. ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean I came here often.¡¯ During the birthday banquets of the royal family, she had ventured to the palace several times as part of her duties as a noble. And back then she wasn¡¯t alone. ¡®Whoo, let¡¯s be alert.¡¯ The chamberlain led her to the Emperor¡¯s private office, not to the audience room. As she entered through the open door, the first thing she noticed was the guard knight standing by the wall. She naturally turned her eyes away. With his back to the half-curtained terrace, a middle-aged man was looking at her. His white skin was pale, and his wrinkled eyes were fierce. His eyes were as cold as ice, and she was much more nervous after seeing the severe aura emitted from the skinny body over a communication channel. If Falden is the kind to dominate the room to the point that it¡¯s almost as if he¡¯s saying ¡°This is my territory!¡± and it seems huge like nothing can oppose him for a while. This man overwhelmed everything under the crown over his head. He wasn¡¯t the type to dominate his opponents with explosive charisma, but he was a person who could use the power in his hands better than anyone else. To put it bluntly, he was good at politics. At worst, he was opportunistic and intolerant. ¡®In the original story and in the past.¡¯ Judging from the atmosphere, she didn¡¯t think it would be very different at this time. ¡°I see the highest sun in the empire. Count Robbesta¡¯s Serdel Robbesta¡ª¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± She was ignored before she even finished saying her greetings. She sat down at the seat he pointed to and glanced at the curtains for a moment. As if they had already prepared it, a servant brought the tea. The Emperor stared at her. Without asking anything. Without a word, simply staring for a while. When the tea in front of her became cold, the chamberlain changed it back to a fresh cup of warm tea. The emperor didn¡¯t even touch his teacup. Naturally, she was unable to relieve her thirst. She had no idea why he was putting indirect pressure on her in this way. ¡°When you went on an expedition, you didn¡¯t take any of my men. I didn¡¯t know they were all alone in the village and eating away.¡± When teaming up. Falden excluded the rest of the Imperial Knights from the expedition except those who favored him. It is obvious that every move will be reported to the emperor or other people. This was because many of them had arrogant personalities. In particular, they are those who have been closely observing Falden¡¯s position in the imperial family. The look in their eyes was disrespectful. The prince treats them the same way, but there is no guarantee that there will be no clashes within the team. From Falden¡¯s point of view, it was natural to take such people out of the equation by not allowing them on the expedition. Serdel felt her palms get wet. If she answers that she doesn¡¯t know, she¡¯ll put all the blame on Falden. ¡®But then it could be seen that the Count¡¯s Young Lady is scheming with the Prince.¡¯ But she can¡¯t give another answer recklessly. Or it might appear as if she had ignored the emperor¡¯s people. Eventually, she had no choice but to just shut up. ¡°¡­.¡± When Serdel remained silent, he clicked his tongue. It was clear that he thought that if he applied pressure to the Young Lady, she would become terrified and try to talk to him. Silence fell again. It was suffocating, ¡°Why did Young Lady participate in the expedition?¡± He asked a question to which she had no choice but to answer. Serdel, pretending to be in trouble, spoke carefully. ¡°I have always been interested in forests. There is something I want to investigate, so¡ª¡± ¡°Did you go to that?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± She smiled softly. Yet without looking too naive. She made her expression right at the right time. It was better to act as if she were on guard against such an opponent. ¡°You¡¯re fearless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not true, Your Majesty. I was very scared.¡± Her voice without a hint of cuteness is a little calm. It sounded strangely pleasant. Hmmm. At the same time he let out a low groan, the now cold teacups were again removed and the hot tea was placed in front of them once more again. The Emperor¡¯s hand naturally gestured. ¡°It smells good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She was very thirsty, so she drank a few sips as little as possible, and then she felt like she was going to live. ¡°Did you run into Monsters often?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t often, but when I went deep into the forest, I ran into¡ª¡± Serdel explained a version of event with a little tension, but not too much fuss. The Emperor¡¯s eyes and ears were increasingly focused on her words and expressions. ¡°Whoo, Sir Damon must have suffered a lot. He almost died and came back to life. If he had died, his brothers wouldn¡¯t have liked it. Fortunately, he survived, so the vassals will be more than happy.¡± Serdel made a natural expression. She couldn¡¯t laugh or put on a straight face here. She hid her face by drinking tea. ¡°How was Sir Damon in Young Lady¡¯s eyes? Do you think he will be able to take over the Marquis?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s the successor?¡± ¡°You understand what I mean, but you¡¯re clever enough to avoid it. That¡¯s rather like Count Robbesta.¡± He picked up the teacup again. In the meantime, Serdel motioned to Chamberlain to prevent silence from consuming them again. He gave the box he was holding to Serdel. She pushed it out in front of the emperor. He opened it and took out the mana stones. There was no change in his expression. When he took out a map and opened it, his eyes changed a little. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see a map of the Elbash Forest! The forest is bigger than I thought. It wouldn¡¯t have been easy to look around all these places in that short time!¡± Anyway, it was supposed to be reported to the emperor later. Showing everything now will be more helpful to gain his favor rather than trying to explain or hide something vaguely. ¡°I wondered if it was because Falden took the two old scholars. They were put to good use. It¡¯s great. Isn¡¯t it, Young Lady?¡± Instead of answering, Serdel smiled lightly. ¡°How does it feel to Young Lady? Do you think the second Prince will be able to properly set foot in the imperial family with this incident?¡± Questions that were difficult to answer followed. Beyond that was a clear boundary. Falden thinks that the Emperor only hates him, but in the original story, he did not love either the 1st Prince or the 3rd Prince. He didn¡¯t even give any affection to the Princesses. They were merely born out of necessity. He didn¡¯t like his children and, on the contrary, saw them as a static enemy out to take his place. Even though he had three grown-up Princes, he didn¡¯t choose a successor. His obsession with power was considerable. In fact, until he was killed, the emperor constantly fought the princes and prevented them from confronting him. ¡®Who killed him?¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re not answering me this time, are you?¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes were cold. Standing up, he opened the desk drawer and took out the paper. Then he scribbled something with a fountain pen and sealed the letter in an envelope. On the front, he stamped the seal. ¡°Take it.¡± Serdel took the thing that was given to her. ¡°Come with the Count tomorrow. Let¡¯s have a meal together. If you have a favorite food or dessert, I¡¯ll tell them to prepare it.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯d be happy with anything Your Majesty likes.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The audience ended with this. As the silent celebration fell, Serdel slowly lifted the hem of her dress. ¡°It was an honor to meet you. Also, thank you for allowing me to taste that glory tomorrow as well. Well then, I¡¯ll get going, Your Majesty.¡± Fortunately, this time her greeting was not ignored or cut off. Relieved inwardly, Serdel went out with the chamberlain. Taak. The door closed. The emperor at the desk glared at the door. ¡°What in the world caused that person to change so drastically?¡± He murmured for a moment, and his eyes darkened. There is only one person who has changed throughout everything. ¡®Serdel Robbesta.¡¯ She was always at the center of big and small changes. In other words, it could be said that all these unique coincidences were caused or at least affected because she had changed. The Marquis of Spendar intervened. ¡®Even Falden, who used to only looked at me, was acting boldly.¡¯ The Elbash forest expedition ended quickly, and it produced quite a lot of results. He looked at the map Serdel had brought. ¡®That child was merely involved in the expedition, and I can¡¯t believe such a map was created.¡¯ How should he accept this? CH 82 Tuk, tuk, tuk, tuk. As he tapped the desk with his finger, he opened the drawer and pulled out a pile of papers. Five days ago. It was a business plan brought forward by Count Maient. The Emperor, though not directly involved, was aware that Maient was after Count Deriens, famous for his shadow business. He knew that Maient would ask for help. Suddenly, he raised his hand and swept the top of the pile of papers aside. More than half of the pile poured down to the ground and a new titled document appeared, which had been hidden before. [Proposal for priority trading rights in Elbash Forest Mine] He was sure that Count Maient would prepare something like this separately. It¡¯s also obvious that he¡¯ll receive an obvious request to add a word so that Count Robbesta can pass on the rights to trade in minerals to him. He knew everything. But a map of the Elbash Forest. He didn¡¯t expect this to unfold before him. Because it¡¯s something he has never experienced before. Tuk, tuk, tuk. He was knocking on the desk again and pulled the rope. The servant came in. ¡°Tell Count Maient not to act like a dog. I don¡¯t care whether he hits Count Deriens in the back of the head or not.¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°Don¡¯t touch Count Robbesta, tell him that straight away.¡± The servant who received the order bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯ll deliver what you said, Your Majesty.¡± ****** ¡°Then, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± The vassal, Viscount Chapelta, who was dropped off in front of the Robbesta¡¯s mansion, returned the greetings. The sun had already set, and the surroundings were dark. He seemed to have been waiting when she entered the gate. ¡°Lady.¡± Blenn approached. Serdel passed by him casually. ¡°Lady!¡± He ran and stood in front of her. Serdel turned right away. ¡°Lady, please. It was all my fault. I never deceived or tried to deceive you. It was because I was afraid of being abandoned. Lady, please.¡± She stopped walking. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Are you the only one who¡¯s afraid? You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s afraid of being abandoned.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stand in front of me again.¡± She passed him again. No, she tried to do that. Swish. Blenn knelt down. ¡°Please forgive me once, Lady. I will never deceive you again.¡± ¡°I told you, right? I don¡¯t trust you.¡± ¡°What can I do to make you believe me? If you ask me to give you my hand, I will. If you ask me to give you my eyes, I¡¯ll give you my eyes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Why are you doing this? You found your sister and the forest expedition have ended. The deal between you and me is completely over. Even if you swore allegiance, you are not an official knight, and strictly speaking, you are a guest. It¡¯s enough if you pretend it didn¡¯t exist and go away.¡± Blenn¡¯s mouth, which had been wide open, closed. As Serdel said. He found his younger sister, and he wasn¡¯t a knight of the Count, so he could leave this place and live freely if he wanted to. Obviously, he had such a dream at first. However, at some point, it became natural to remain here. No matter who he sees. No matter what is in front of him. The smile that she always shows, who is always indifferent, is so warm. At first glance, it seemed cold, but on the inside, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. He was confident that she would be different from everyone else. She won¡¯t betray him¡ª. Ah. He realized it for a second. Serdel¡¯s feelings. ¡°I made a mistake. Lady, I¡¯ve only been pushing my apology for what I¡¯ve done¡ª and I haven¡¯t really thought about how hurt you must have been.¡± Blenn¡¯s voice, which was filled with anxiety, calmed down. ¡°By pushing only my feelings as an excuse, I hurt the Lady¡¯s broken heart again. I apologize.¡± Suddenly, he got up and looked straight at her. Sympathy shouldn¡¯t be used as a weapon to apologize. Realizing how selfish and violent it was, he just bowed his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand you. I know how hard you¡¯ve been living up until now.¡± Blenn couldn¡¯t give any answer. ¡°But Blenn. I¡¯ve lived as hard as you have, you know? So don¡¯t hurt me. As much as I am considerate of you, you should be considerate of me too.¡± ¡°I swear, this will never happen again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. Don¡¯t betray me.¡± If the same thing happens again. ¡®I might kill you to protect me. So, don¡¯t hurt me. Don¡¯t let me throw away the you I saved with my own hands.¡¯ Even that will hurt her deeply. ¡°I won¡¯t betray you. Never.¡± Yeah, answering briefly, Serdel finally relaxed and turned away. ****** It was dawn. There were many meanings to entering the palace so many times in a row, and only after being dragged around for a long time by the hands of the maids that were shaking, Serdel, who had only now finished dressing up, stretched her shoulders. ¡®I¡¯m tired already.¡¯ She had lost all her strength before she even met the Emperor. With a sigh, she went to Cartal¡¯s office. ¡°Father, this is Serdel.¡± When she carefully opened the door and went in, it seemed that he was organizing the documents to bring to the Imperial Palace. She saw Cartal busy hands giving things to the butler. ¡°You¡¯re here. Today¡ª you¡¯re gorgeous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Lady.¡± Unlike Cartal, who left a rough and short impression, the butler put butter on his mouth. ¡°The green dress looks bright and cool, and the Lady wearing it is as beautiful as a spirit of the wind.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°The exposed neck with her hair turned up looks pure, and the gorgeous accessories seem to double the beauty of the Lady.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, butler.¡± Why does she feel so embarrassed? When Serdel glared at him, the butler burst into laughter. For a moment, Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. That¡¯s the same with Cartal. She had never seen the butler laugh like that before. ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you laugh happily.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª Hahaha.¡± The butler¡¯s laugh turned awkward. ¡°Good.¡± A smile spread around Cartal¡¯s mouth. Even his eyes, which usually didn¡¯t budge, became curved and contained softness to the fullest. With that uncomfortable and natural appearance, he let go of the butler this time. Serdel was also stunned. Then her eyes met with Cartal. Embarrassed, Serdel hurriedly avoided his gaze. The butler picked up a bag containing papers. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± In the office, where there were only two of them, Serdel and Cartal looked at each other awkwardly for a moment. It was Cartal who spoke first. ¡°If we go to the palace today, we will have a place to discuss negotiations on mining.¡± Starting with that, he shared his thoughts and sought Serdel¡¯s opinion. The meeting between the two continued for a while. The butler, who was walking in the hallway, stopped. He looked at his way back for a moment, and remembered the smile that Cartal had just shown him. It was the smile he often saw when the Countess was there. And it was something he had never seen again since her death. Along with his own really. It¡¯s been a long time since he laughed so comfortably. He always maintained his day with the expression he made in front of the mirror. Seeing Serdel staring at him, he thought of the person he had longed for and went back to the past for a moment. Tears came out of the butler¡¯s eyes. His old body bent helplessly, covering his eyes with wrinkled hands. Before getting into the carriage, he remembered what the Countess had said, holding his hand. ¡°Take care of my husband and my children. Butler. Please take care of them. Even if it¡¯s hard, if you are the butler, you¡¯ll be able to withstand it.¡± He couldn¡¯t keep it. He couldn¡¯t protect his master¡¯s smile. He failed to protect Addis, Redan and Serdel¡¯s feelings. He just held out. The smile of the master, which he saw when he was confused as to whether he was holding up well, will be stuck in his heart like this. ¡°Butler!¡± The head maid who saw him from afar came running. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you! Did your head hurt again!¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡± The head maid helped him. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you to your room, just in case.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. Today the master¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not okay. I¡¯ll take care of it, so go get some rest.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­do you remember what you had for lunch yesterday? What about dinner?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Arriving in the room, the head maid sat him in bed. Then she pulled out the briefcase he was holding tight. After that, he locked the window tightly. He was also tied around his waist with a leather cord. Paperwork is something he used to do, so he would have done it habitually. The fact that he couldn¡¯t even remember what he ate yesterday was a sign that his mind would soon go black. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, head maid.¡± The head maid kept her lips shut. Leaving the room, she locked the door with her trembling hands. It was the promise between the butler and the head maid, Monem. Only for those who have been asked favor about the Count by the Countess. Secretly. CH 83 The bloody atmosphere inside the Imperial Palace was still there. Still, she wasn¡¯t as nervous as yesterday. Because she¡¯s not alone. There was Cartal, her father,next to her. Serdel and Cartal, who arrived at the dining hall under the guidance of the Viscount Chapelta, first came and saw the Emperor sipping wine, and immediately showed courtesy. ¡°Enough, come here and sit down.¡± The Emperor personally poured wine for them as soon as they were seated. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty,¡± ¡°Drink comfortably,¡± He pushed the plate with cheese to the front of Cartal. His tone was still hard, but the atmosphere was a little softer than yesterday. ¡°There is still a long way to go before the meal is ready, so let¡¯s have a quick bite. And, for the Young Lady¡ª¡± The maid prepared refreshments in front of them when the Emperor pointed it out with his chin. ¡°Because it¡¯s before the meal, the quantity is small, but it will be good for simple enjoyment.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but hold the fork as he stared at her. She put a little cake in her mouth. The cream was heavy and hard, but the right sweetness was good. It went very well with the blueberry jam inside. She drank a sip of tea right away. The combination that went well in her mouth was fantastic. She liked it so much, should she eat half of it? ¡°Your Majesty the Empress has arrived.¡± The Emperor¡¯s forehead became stiff at the report of Chamberlain. Before his mouth could even utter a sound, a beautiful middle-aged woman with beautiful golden hair, pure white skin, thick eyebrows, rich eyelashes, and golden eyes, came with her heels ringing. Her elegance was enhanced by a gorgeous dark purple dress. At first glance, there was even a sense of tension between the two royals. Then a young man followed. Tall and skinny with short reddish-blonde hair blended with red and golden colors. The clear facial features were as beautiful as a mixture of the Emperor and the Empress, but he was the 1st Prince, Jayden, who somehow had a mean impression. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m a little late.¡± The Emperor didn¡¯t smile at the Empress¡¯s smile. Through the cold and hardened atmosphere, it was clear to see at once that she was an uninvited guest. ¡°Ah, Count Robbesta. Congratulations. Did you find three mines this time?¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty Empress.¡± ¡°I have been very blessed with the Count. Again, congratulations. You have no idea how happy I am.¡± With a frank greeting, her gaze naturally turned to Serdel. ¡°I see Your Majesty the Empress, I¡¯m Serdel Robbesta of Count Robbesta.¡± ¡°Yes, nice to meet you. Have you been on an expedition? You probably don¡¯t have excellent swordsmanship like Dame Addis, but how amazing is Young Lady¡¯s bravery, who went out for the family. I thought it was pretty cool.¡± She praised her with a kind expression, but the Empress¡¯ snake-like eyes examined her from toe to tip. ¡°You¡¯re very adventurous, very much like the Countess. She would always look at the world with curious eyes. Come to think of it, your appearance is becoming more and more alike to hers.¡± Startled. Words that she never thought she would hear at a place like this flowed out of the Empress¡¯s mouth. ¡°As if she came back alive¡ª oh my, I made a mistake. I said so much as someone who didn¡¯t get along well with her.¡± With a low-pitched voice. Goosebumps ran down her back for some reason at the content and tone with such vague intention. When she glanced at Cartal, there was a dark shadow around his stiff eyes. His outstretched arms even trembled violently. Like a person who has a sudden shock. It was her first time seeing him like this. Surprised, Serdel quickly grabbed his hand. The warmth of the touch startled him as well, but he didn¡¯t push her away. No, rather, he held Serdel¡¯s small hand as if it were a lifeline. ¡°Empress.¡± The Emperor, who drank his remaining wine at once, put down the glass until it made a loud noise. ¡°If you are here to celebrate, just congratulate them.¡± It¡¯s not like he¡¯s raising his voice, nor does he have any particular emotion in his voice. But the warning itself was enough to give a sense of intimidation. The Empress¡¯ eyes trembled. At the same time, the chef and the maid pushed the trolley in at the right time. The Empress and the 1st Prince were seated. The cutlery was placed according to the number of people as if it had been announced before coming here. ¡°How was the exploration? It must have been very dangerous for a weak woman like the Young Lady to participate.¡± Breaking through the quickly sinking atmosphere, the 1st Prince asked Serdel. Seeing him arrogantly raising his chin as if asking her to tell some stories, Serdel opened her mouth. ¡°Yes, it was very dangerous. The aura of the forest was quite rough and difficult to breathe, and the monsters that appeared suddenly were very strong. Even if you deal with them more will appear again, if you deal with those, then even more will appear again. To the point it¡¯s like a black stream. Afterward, monsters will also fall from the sky.¡± ¡°Oho! Falden must have had quite a hard time. No matter how much combat experience you have, you are bound to be embarrassed in front of such an unexpected situation.¡± ¡°Everyone had a hard time. Except for one, Duke Blendard.¡± Serdel said with a smile. There was nothing good about Falden¡¯s name being mentioned in a place like this. The 1st Prince would want to degrade him at any cost, fearing that this incident might increase his position, but there was a high possibility that she would only be in trouble if she matched his rhythm. ¡°He was certainly the best knight in the Empire, and he was very strong. How can he move so fast without a drop of blood on his body?¡± She naturally focused on Belters. He was a man of power. In a position like this, he was fit to be used as a shield. ¡°The Duke of Blendard, well¡ª¡± The 1st Prince held up a glass of wine and muttered anxiously. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything else besides the Mana stone Mine? It is a place famous for the unknown forest, so there must have been a lot of strange things.¡± ¡°I was expecting that too, but unfortunately it didn¡¯t happen. However, I was lucky enough to be able to bring what I had taken up in advance because it is a famous forest that is so dangerous, and I didn¡¯t know what was going to happen.¡± ¡°Oh! What is that?¡± ¡°A monster corpse.¡± In response to the 1st Prince, she looked at the Emperor. He probably thought of a deal with Wizard Tower at once. ¡®It¡¯s always a place where monster corpses are needed for research.¡¯ However, Wizard Tower refused to participate in the Elbash Forest Expedition. They were not asked to intervene directly even though they supplied suitable products to the visiting nobles since they were unwilling to be used in political battles. If Falden¡¯s secretly raised wizard had not been granted permission to work under his orders from a higher level. ¡®Perhaps this time he moved without a wizard.¡¯ Therefore, the wizard tower must be looking forward to their findings by now. The fact that being born and raised in the Elbash forest would create a different constitution than being born and growing in an ordinary forest. Because they can imagine the possibilities easily. ¡®In other words, I have a card in my hand to move the high wizard tower.¡¯ ¡°I had a hard time bringing hundreds of them.¡± The 1st Prince¡¯s forehead was crumpled. He pushed the plate aside as he felt uncomfortable with the steak in front of him. ¡°I have no idea how good the magic stone is when I open their chest. Blood and organs, too.¡± The hand of the 1st Prince who was about to drink wine stopped. As if the flowing red wave in the glass had suddenly bothered him, he put it down quietly, avoiding the gaze of everyone else in the room. Unlike Falden, who has a strong fighting propensity, the 1st Prince had no talent in swordsmanship. Of course, there is no way he has had experience in subjugation. He¡¯d never even seen a monster corpse up close before. It seemed ridiculous that such a man would try to find fault with Falden. On the other hand, the Emperor¡¯s eyes were still as soon as he understood why she had brought this up. The same goes for the Empress. ¡°I want to pour a glass of wine for Young Lady.¡± The Empress blinked at the 1st Prince at the same time he said those words. After a moment of hesitation, he gave the order. ¡°Bring me some white wine.¡± The Chamberlain quickly handed him an uncapped wine bottle. Serdel, who was handed a drink by the 1st Prince, had no option but to drink it. It¡¯s not to her liking. ¡°It¡¯s good to have such an opportunity.¡± The 1st Prince¡¯s arrogance was increased by Serdel¡¯s short smile. The moment he was about to say something, ¡°I¡¯m glad it suits the Young Lady¡¯s liking.¡± The answer came from the Empress¡¯s mouth. ¡°Young Lady. I have precious tea leaves, so please come and taste them sometime.¡± ¡°Yes, I will. Your Majesty, the Empress.¡± ¡°It would be nice if you could come and talk to me often, and the Countess was once very close with me. Dame Addis is an imperial knight, so it would be good if Young Lady would visit me often.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to make time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that, maybe tomorrow¡ª¡± ¡°Now that the meal is over, I wish we could go somewhere quiet.¡± The Emperor, who rose from his seat, cut off the Empress¡¯s interest in Serdel. ¡°The Empress should go too.¡± Afraid that she¡¯ll cut in on him again. He moved first, blocking her in advance to prevent any more interference. Cartal and Serdel also immediately got up. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you later.¡± The greeting ended like this. Serdel turned away from the Empress, and followed in the footsteps of the Emperor with Cartal. Her insides feeling heavy. CH 84 The Emperor entered the indoor garden, not the office. It¡¯s indoors, but the scale was amazing. To illuminate the surroundings, five large spheres of light floated on the domed ceiling that was embossed with colorful patterns. The surrounding trees were all large, their long and short branches stretched coolly in all directions. They served as resting places for birds flying around. The colorful flowers below showed off their elegance. The scent from it was very good. This was dedicated to the only person the Emperor had in his heart. It was a place created for Empress Belia, which was much more cozy and beautiful than what was seen in the original. She, who is also Falden¡¯s mother, closed her eyes after suffering for several years because she had become very weak since giving birth to him. It happened when he was only five years old. Potions, wizard¡¯s healing spells, and even the priest¡¯s divine power were all useless. Rumors circulated that the young prince might have been cursed because of that, but the Emperor dismissed it. As rumors spread, the atmosphere around the Imperial Family grew more disturbed. Because internal conflict is similar to exposing good prey to external powers. The Emperor covered up all the questions. ¡®Even in the original, there was no mention of the cause of the death.¡¯ ¡°Sit down.¡± The Emperor pointed to the table in the middle of the garden. ¡°What do you think I will ask for?¡± As soon as they were seated, the Emperor bluntly asked. The question was directed not to Cartal, but to her. She had to act here with confidence. The Emperor now looked at her with a look of willingness to discuss while maintaining the proper arrogance of a ruler. ¡°What and how much will you ask for?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so bold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± Responding as calmly as possible, Serdel slowly changed her momentum, her atmosphere was unlike before. Because the emperor had designated himself as the negotiator to represent the Count, she needed to present herself suitably and use the atmosphere to her advantage. The emperor¡¯s eyes, which had previously been apathetic, revealed a shallow contrast. ¡°Bring it out.¡± The chamberlain placed the pile of papers in front of Serdel. The emperor beckoned her to open it and read it. ¡°¡­.¡± [Proposal for Elbash Forest Mine Priority Trading Rights] Serdel, who immediately remembered Count Maient, skimmed down the page one by one without changing the expression on her face. Tsk, she clicked her tongue inside and closed the papers. ¡°The Count of Maient is still chasing after such an unreliable thing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I refused.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t have to say thank you. ¡°Should we start with the mining rights negotiations?¡± The Emperor¡¯s mouth was fixed with a fierce smile. ¡°We will only receive 20% of the total revenue from the three mines.¡± For a moment Serdel thought her ears heard wrong. Usually, when a mine is discovered, 25% to 35% must be paid back to the imperial family as tax, based on the size, condition of the mineral, amount of mining, and total profit. In the case of Elbash Forest, three mines were discovered, which was overwhelming in every way. Additionally the imperial family was lending aid from the expedition to the subjugation so, there was nothing strange if the imperial family had asked for more than the usual 35%. ¡°Instead of trading with me, it would be better if you used the corpses of the monsters that Young Lady has retrieved and make a deal with the wizard tower. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible, but no more, no less, we need three Imperial Wizards of circle 4 or higher.¡± She was going to do that anyway. ¡®Anyway, because I have the power of Radun.¡¯ It is true that his future as an Emperor has become a little heavier, so she wanted to reward him in some way. ¡°As you know, the Imperial family and the Wizard Tower are not on good terms. I asked for cooperation before, but it was rejected.¡± She knew that. So there was not a single wizard in the royal family. ¡°Can you deal with them?¡± ¡°I can do it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good spirit. I like it. I look forward to your kind cooperation. Young Lady. Count.¡± Cartal and Serdel nodded at the same time. ***** After returning to the county Serdel immediately sent a message to Maro, a wizard who was deployed with one of the subjugation teams in Elbash forest. As the communication device connected the background Serdel could see grew clearer and clearer. The previous battle seemed quite fierce. The situation in the forest behind and around Maro was very brutal. It was the definition of devastation itself. Even the sights she had seen before during her time in the forest could not be compared. The blood that covered the floor was pitch black, the sky, overcast with gray clouds, was gloomy, and there was a rippling¡ª. It was raining, too. [¡­Ha] Maro¡¯s appearance was so disheveled that she was concerned that the dark circles under his eyes would spread to his mouth. [I¡¯m not dead, I¡¯m alive.] It was the first time he had said such weak words. [It was a fierce fight. I¡¯ve never seen so many monsters in my life. I might have died a long time ago.] He seemed to be losing his mind. Smiling, he swept away the rainwater dripping from the tip of his chin with his hand. His fingertips trembled as if he had run out of magic power. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± .She was sorry that this was the only thing she could say to those who had just fought for their lives. Seeing Serdel¡¯s bitter expression, Maro shrugged his shoulders with a gloomy face. [Yeah, really, really! It was hard work. So today I¡¯m going to make a brief report. That¡¯s all. Then, bye~] ¡°No, wait! Even if it¡¯s short, it¡¯s too short without context! Don¡¯t hang up! If you hang up, I will call you again!¡± Serdel, embarrassed by he who was about to end their call without a hitch, shouted. Sorry is sorry, work is work. [¡­.] Maro¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I know you¡¯re annoyed, but will you listen to me first?¡± [¡­Was it obvious?] ¡°Well, always, every time.¡± [What business is it? I also need to rest a bit, so please tell me quickly and finish it, okay?] ¡°I want you to connect me with the Wizard Tower.¡± [You¡¯re telling me you want to see the Lord of the Wizard Tower, right?] ¡°Yes.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower was a difficult person to meet unless it was through another high leveled wizard. If she contacted them herself, perhaps the most powerful person she can meet is the youngest elder. [Ha, I understand. I¡¯ll hang up then.] But before he could finish his words, a huge figure approached and grabbed his head with one hand. [Ugh!] Surprised, Maro screamed and raised his eyes. [Young Lady, long time no see?] It was Falden. From head to toe the decorations of the leather armor Falden was wearing could barely be seen through all of the monster blood clinging to him, it made for a terrible sight. ¡°Are you all right?¡± [How have you been?] Their greetings for each other came out at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± [Oh, I¡¯m fine.] This time, they answered almost at the same time. As if it was funny, he chuckled. It was a bit weaker than usual. Is he annoyed by the wet hair that clings to his forehead in the rain? The way he raised his hand and swept at his hair roughly was like seeing a handsome actor in a foreign movie. ¡°Oh, are you hurt?¡± The back of his hand, soaked in red blood, caught her eye later. When she looked closely, the split flesh was severely gashed and still bleeding. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hurt? Aren¡¯t you supposed to get treatment right away? The blood is still flowing.¡± [Are you worried about me?] ¡°No¡­ well¡­¡± He grinned and then licked his hand with his tongue when she hesitated. Even though he had humor in his eyes, he was full of sensuality probably because of the atmosphere. It¡¯s nice to see it, but, ¡°Are you a pervert? Why do you lick dirty things?¡± [¡­You make me speechless.] ¡°Why don¡¯t you treat it with a potion? And you look very tired, so stop and go rest.¡± [Yeah, yeah. Oh, Dame Addis and Sir Redan are safe. And the two of your servants are also safe, and after this subjugation is over, the squires will have improved their skills so much when they return. You can look forward to it, Young Lady.] ¡°Thank you.¡± [Yeah. See you next time] CH 85 ¡°You didn¡¯t mention anything to the Young Lady, did you?¡± ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t. I just said everyone was fine.¡± Maro responded with a tired face to Falden¡¯s question. ¡°She¡¯s a quite good-natured person. Even if she asks, just answer vaguely. Don¡¯t fall for any leading questions.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t answer, I didn¡¯t, why did I fall for a leading question?¡± Maro groaned and took the lead, only to stumble forward suddenly. Before his body fell forward, Falden approached quickly and Hiik! He lifted Maro up and onto his shoulders like a bale of hay. ¡°¡­Thank you, Your Highness.¡± He, who had been grumbling, finally let go of his sullen mind. Falden entered the temporary barracks and laid him on an extra bed, then forced his mouth to open and gave him three bottles of potions one after another. He will now take care of refilling the drained mana through mana breathing. Falden turned and looked to the side. On an extra bed made from roughly cut large trees. ¡°Ughhh, S, Serdel¡­ Mother¡­ Father¡­ R, Redan¡­ N, no¡­ C, calm down¡­¡± Addis, the heir and eldest daughter of Count Robbesta, was groaning. ¡°Haa.¡± As he was washing his face dry with one hand, someone came into the barracks. It was Redan. Having retrieved a basin full of rainwater, he silently took a towel and wiped Addis¡¯ face, neck, arms, and hands. Most of her upper body was wrapped in bandages, and blood was slowly seeping between them. The more the bandages reddened, the more Addis¡¯s face grew pale and tired. One wound to save Redan. Another wound, to save the adjutant. Other than that, she fought with endless crowds of monsters. It would have been okay if she had been treated right away, but she didn¡¯t accept any. Because the battle was so fierce, the number of wounded was endless, so she gave her spot in line away, and gave it away again to another person. Then the wizards encountered a huge problem. ¡°Damn it, I wish it wasn¡¯t magi.¡± Magi infected wounds couldn¡¯t be cured with potions. Any treatment was useless except for the healing magic of the wizards because the strong magi that was stuck like a tick in her wounds. Helplessly, she¡¯ll be receiving treatment tomorrow morning. ¡°¡­Redan. C, calm down¡­¡± What kind of dream was Addis having? Addis shed tears as she continued to look for her family after losing consciousness. At first, she called Serdel¡¯s name and apologized endlessly that she was sorry, but later she looked for her mother, father, and lastly, Redan. When she called him, she said the same thing over and over again. Like calm down, it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t get too excited, don¡¯t go crazy, and come to your senses. And now. ¡°¡­.it¡¯s really¡­hard¡­mother. It¡¯s¡­really hard.¡± She complained about the pain of life. Redan¡¯s hand stopped. He raised his head and looked at Addis blankly. She was always a person ahead of him. She always keeps her back straight. Addis never looked back even once. So, even though he knew that she had a weak heart, he thought she would be fine. But she wasn¡¯t. She had been tired for a long time. To be honest, he was vaguely aware of it. He just turned away. Falden sneaked into the room after noticing the sobbing Addis and Redan¡¯s increasingly dangerous aura while watching her. ¡°¡­Dame Addis is not an ambitious knight.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a simple and honest knight. A person who doesn¡¯t have a desire for power is not fit to lead a family.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Dame Addis is the person most suited to knights. and Sir Redan. You are the person most suited to the position of the successor.¡± Redan¡¯s head slowly bowed down. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to break down your barriers? I apologize in advance if I¡¯m being presumptuous.¡± To cheer him up, he gave him a few patted on the shoulder and left the barracks. Redan moved his stopped hand again. Tears welled up in his eyes as he carefully wiped Addis¡¯ face. His body trembled as he pressed his lips together to prevent the sound of crying from escaping. He was afraid of the responsibility he had to take. Even his father, whom he had admired, couldn¡¯t protect his mother. He thought and feared that he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect his loved ones, and he ran away at that moment. He thought he was going to die. Giving up one made it easier to give up the two. Then later the three, then four. Even though he kept throwing them away like that, he couldn¡¯t let go of one thing, his obsession with the one who made his mother like that. That alone has become a driving force in his life, forcing him to endure. But then¡ª. While he was throwing his life away, his sister¡¯s heart died. Is this what he was hoping for? His younger sister, who was only weak, was walking her own way, but he was the only one who stopped. Like an idiot, just let him die. Why would you save me! If he dies, he will be able to meet his mother. Just leave it like that. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Nuna¡­¡± He suddenly remembered what Serdel had said. ¡°Even a genius knight is a human.¡± At that time, he thought she was overly worried about everything. As Serdel said, a genius knight was also a human. They can become weaker than anyone else. She was an ordinary person. It¡¯s just that he didn¡¯t know¡ª. Throughout the dawn, Addis groaned in pain. Listening to it all silently, Redan took care of her. No more tears came out. A thin ray of light leaked in from the entrance of the barracks as the dawn had risen. His gaze, which had been fixed only on Addis, moved along with the light. ¡°Whooo~¡± Then, with a deep breath, Maro opened his eyes. ¡°I survived.¡± He murmured and looked around. He and Henry, who arrived just in time, went to treat Addis. After watching over them for a while, Redan got up and left the barracks. The rain that had been pouring steadily suddenly stopped and a bright sky greeted them. ¡°¡­.¡± Perhaps because he had accepted Addis¡¯ weak side, which he would have ignored before, his mind was strangely clear. It seemed as if the foggy mist that had been covering his eyes had been lifted. ¡°The treatment is over.¡± He went straight to the barracks at the blunt voice he heard from inside. Addis was up. Her complexion was very good. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Sorry for worrying you.¡± ¡°If you know that, brace yourself.¡± ¡°Where does that mean?¡± ¡°Nuna, are you still a genius knight?¡± As always, while grumbling, he helped her put on the armor, just in case she was still in pain. Just in time, Falden, Damon, and Belters entered, they saw her and were relieved. Falden nodded with an indifferent look. ¡°Come out and eat.¡± ¡°Did Your Highness make it again?¡± ¡°Then who makes it? I want to eat delicious food too. There¡¯s no one who makes it as delicious as me. What can I do?¡± Looking at the grumpy Falden, Redan suddenly burst into laughter as if he had remembered something. ¡°What is this, have you gone mad?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I suddenly remembered the soup Serdel made me when I was a child.¡± ¡°Ah, the soil soup.¡± Addis shook her head. ¡°It was a soup that a living human could never eat.¡± ¡°Then, holding the pot saved my life. There was a time when she was going to make food while we were away from our party, so I stopped her.¡± Addis and Redan burst into laughter as they watched Falden, who looked serious. No one talked about what happened last night. After such a simple meal. The battle resumed. ****** Five days have passed since then, but there has been no news from the wizard tower. Serdel was not in a hurry, and she had expected it to be a while to some extent. Rather, this late response is proof that they have been interested in watching Count Robbesta¡¯s movements. ¡®They would be reluctant to approach me, who entered the Imperial Palace twice in a row.¡¯ Wizards have strong pride, a high nose, and a strong sense of superiority, but they also have a lot of curiosity. They are wary now because they think their meeting with her will not end in a simple transaction. The period will not exceed 10 days. Knock, knock. It was the butler who came inside. ¡°Lady, Count Maient has sent a man here.¡± Serdel¡¯s brow wrinkled as she was about to drink the tea freshly brewed by her maid. ¡°Should I send them back?¡± ¡°No. You don¡¯t have to. Bring him inside.¡± She was smiling brightly, but Serdel¡¯s mood changed in an instant. After a while. ¡°I greet the Count Robbesta¡¯s Lady.¡± Count Maient¡¯s aide, after a brief greeting, pulled a letter from his arms. ¡°The Count ordered me to deliver a message and then asked for an answer.¡± I quickly skimmed through the content. I just heard that you came back safely? I¡¯m so glad you didn¡¯t get hurt. Did I worry too much? At the bottom of the long-line of generic well wishing phrases. He wrote that he wanted to talk to her alone, so he wanted to see her tomorrow. It was obvious what he was going to say. Serdel tore up the letter right away. CH 86 ¡°There is no reply I can write to someone who is not even worth a single piece of precious paper, so go ahead and tell him this. Don¡¯t be so ugly as to be greedy for other people¡¯s things. This is the end of my response, so leave.¡± The bewildered Count Maient¡¯s adjutant hesitated. ¡°Please leave now.¡± The quick-witted butler quickly dragged him away. Serdel, who was left alone, buried herself into the sofa. She felt like she had been drenched in mud. She wanted to run out as soon as possible and shake Count Maient¡¯s grimy head. No, not just that. ¡°I want to punch him in the face.¡± Her stomach is boiling. ¡®I¡¯ll never leave him alone.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t thought of him in a while, but¡ª. Now, even more so, she wanted to get rid of Count Maient from this capital. ¡®Bastard.¡¯ She¡¯s going to throw him away. She¡¯ll step on him thoroughly. Her eyes were burning with fire. Two days later. Count Maient sent the adjutant once more, but Serdel didn¡¯t let him enter the mansion at all. It was complete disregard. Then two more days went by. Finally, the letter from the wizard tower arrived. The next day. Serdel got onto the carriage. Blenn and the vice-captain came as escorts. Just as the carriage carrying her left the mansion and was about to run in earnest, a carriage with Count Maaient¡¯s pattern approached. The door opened, and Count Maient came down. At the same time, his eyes met with Serdel, who was looking outside through the window. ¡°Young Lady, I have something to say.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Keep moving.¡± The coachman, who received the order, passed right by him. Blenn and the vice-captain on horseback also followed the carriage without even saying hello to him. ¡°Young Lady!¡± Frustrated, Count Maient turned around and shouted, but Serdel didn¡¯t even listen with her ears. ¡°I have something to tell you, Young Lady!¡± He looked really disgraceful while shouting out. ***** The atmosphere changed drastically when she entered Normand Street after passing the 8th street of Amelga Street, the largest entertainment district in the capital. As it is famous as a magic street, there were shades made by magic in the air, spread out like awnings. The cool wind that flowed from it cooled the hot energy and the heat from the floor. Light bulbs were floating in the narrow and dark alleyway, so it didn¡¯t look dark at all. The phantom guardians, created by wizards, stood guard starting from the street entrance and ending in the middle. They were dressed in indigo blue robes and carried a large staff, and they were extremely alert to their surroundings. She can feel the powerful mana from each of them. If they look at it and move it, she may become a handful of ashes in the magic attack that bursts her. It was pretty threatening. Of course, there was no one on the street that caused a disturbance. ¡®By the way, I¡¯ve been telling Terra to buy magic supplies all along.¡¯ She used to ask Siri to do it. Pulling her head out of the window, Serdel looked more interested in the surroundings. The signs of magic shops lined up everywhere were so colorful. Some places only handled potions and scrolls, and some stores sold only magic weapons separately. While the magic shops spread out across the place can handle several items in one space, In the capital case, there is a wizard tower, and since it occupies an area like this, each store is closer to a specialty store. There were various types of potions, countless scrolls, and extraordinary products. There were also quite a few types of magic supplies that were sold on a trial basis. After a long walk up the street of shops, she finally found the white spire of the wizard tower. At the entrance, phantom guardians stood guard, but when the carriage stopped, they approached and bowed their heads. ¨C Welcome to the Wizard Tower. Please tell me the purpose of your visit. Instead of answering, Serdel showed them the letter with the Lord of Wizard Tower¡¯s seal. ¨C You have a scheduled visit. We¡¯ve confirmed it. When the front door opened and she went inside, she saw an interior that was much more expansive than it looked from the outside. Thick and dense trees clustered in the hall suffusing the air with a woody fragrance. She couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the smell of nature that pierced her nose. It was as if they had moved a whole forest. Serdel got off the carriage and looked down blankly. Under the grass, a huge magic circle that seemed to have no end in sight was flowing with mana like water. Her fingertips trembled. She can feel the surge of magical power with every step she takes. ¨C Please come this way. I will guide you. The phantom guardian took the lead guiding them through the forest. After crossing the wide forest and entering the main building, a complex energy overcame her. There was also a huge magic circle in the hall, and in the center, there was also a spiral staircase. The ceiling was very high. As if they were inside a conch shell, even a strange ringing sound was transmitted through her ears. The phantom guardian approached the desk, said something to the head-sized communicator, and then went up the stairs. ¡®No way, I don¡¯t have to walk all the way up there, right?¡¯ Swallowing dry saliva and quickly following up, she suddenly felt a strange sensation from her head to her toes. ¡°¡­.!¡± The view changed in an instant. Suddenly, she, Blenn, and the vice-captain were standing in the empty hallway. The phantom guardian was nowhere to be seen either. ¨C We only allow Young Lady Serdel to enter. Others, please wait here. A long sofa and a tea table appeared with a low voice echoing in the air, and a tea table was set on them. ¡°Wait here.¡± The vice-captain nodded and immediately sat down on the sofa and lifted the tea. ¡°Ah, the tea tastes good.¡± With a short exclamation, the vice-captain began chewing the cookies. He even finished a fairly large cake. ¡°I don¡¯t know where you¡¯re looking, but could you give me more of this? I wish I could have some juice and water too.¡± The vice-captain was brazen everywhere. The appearance of ordering without permission didn¡¯t matter. In response, huge chunks of cake and buckets full of juice and water came down from the air. A few candies bigger than a fist and a few chocolates also fell. ¨C ¡­.. In the end, it looked like it wasn¡¯t enough, so a full meal was prepared. They placed a few thick chunks of steak on a plate that was easy to eat. The wine was served whole, and there were dozens of beers with ice, soup filled with rabbit meat, and a huge amount of salad was served on a large plate. The hallway has now become a dining hall, as the tea table had turned into a long table. ¡°You¡¯re very generous.¡± Surprisingly, he showed no interest in alcohol, and as a result, he couldn¡¯t drink because he didn¡¯t like it. Blenn, on the other hand, never touched anything other than the tea. How far did she walk after leaving those two behind? A red door appeared in front of Serdel. As she stepped inside, a warm, cozy yellow light surrounded her. All sides of the room were full of magic books, and the floor was covered with soft rugs. Above, it was quite messy. The same goes for desks. Various items were scattered around as if someone had been doing extensive research before. Serdel, who stood in the middle, raised her head. Wow, there was a burst of exclamations. With the golden eight stars spinning slowly, the high ceiling was like the night sky. Thanks to the runes floating next to it, it felt like a moon and a star. It was truly a wizard¡¯s room. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing you. Young Lady Serdel Robbesta.¡± She turned her head to the low-pitched voice. The purple hair was cut straight from the shoulder line. Pale skin as if it hadn¡¯t been in the sun for a long time¡ªbeautiful purple eyes with a sharp nose. Moderately tall and skinny. A white tunic shirt and black pants. ¡®And barefoot¡ª¡¯ The front of the shirt was loosely ripped open, revealing the smooth nape of the neck and the prominent collarbone. The white forearms stretched out between the rolled sleeves were engraved with complex magic formulas like tattoos. ¡®He¡¯s a cold, handsome man.¡¯ The raised eyes were fierce, and perhaps because of the glasses and the atmosphere flowing out of the whole body, the cold air flowed out of this space. It even has an indifferent expression on it. For some reason, it felt like a chill was coming on, so her body trembled once in a while. CH 87 Bordeaux Andelman, the Lord of Wizard Tower. A child of a former Lord of Wizard Tower and a person who was appointed and raised as the next Lord of Wizard Tower from birth. He was also a great wizard of the 8th circle, and he looked too young to be in his mid-thirties. ¡°Sit down.¡± A chair and a tea table appeared as he tapped his hand. On top of it, there was hot tea and cookies that were good to eat. ¡°I can prepare a meal for you if you wish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± As soon as he took his seat, his next words flew like a bullet. ¡°As people say, I am a very closed-minded wizard, so I don¡¯t have the talent to speak in a noble way like you.¡± ¡®Even if I stab you, not a drop of blood will come out.¡¯ She¡¯s not even talking to the ice doll. ¡°How did you sweet talk to Maro?¡± Contrary to what she expected to continue talking about the monster corpse, a question she hadn¡¯t thought of came up. ¡°I didn¡¯t sweet talk to him. He¡¯s the one who did it.¡± ¡°Then, the next question. Are you sure you¡¯re just here to trade the body of the monster? I heard you went to enter the palace twice as soon as you got back from the expedition. You¡¯re not sitting here with the details of your deal with the Emperor, are you?¡± He was too aggressive and straightforward from the beginning. Serdel sighed and took out several magic bags from inside her magic bracelet. The longer she talks with someone who keeps his people in his area and is wary, the worse it gets. It just makes her tired. Rather, it would be interesting to show the things as soon as possible in order to finish a quick transaction that will change the atmosphere. ¡°Can you take a look at this?¡± She took out the highest level mana stone and hold it out. His eyes twinkled but shone sharply. ¡°You must have seen and heard about the size of the mine and the condition of the mana stones.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an overwhelming size than any other mine, and it is said that the regeneration speed in the mined site is also fast because the mana stones grow so densely that there is not even a space to step on them. Is that right?¡± Serdel raised her nose. ¡°That¡¯s right. The amount of magical power flowing through the mine was so great that I dare to say that the mana stones will never dry out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s charming.¡± There was also an exclamation in the murmur. ¡°Would you like to check this as well? There is a corpse of a monster, so take it out and take a look.¡± He immediately slipped his hand into the magic bag and pulled out the corpse. Fortunately, blood doesn¡¯t flow out because it was frozen under the influence of magic hanging inside. However, it was eerie because it was the same as it was when he died. ¡®The smell is still there.¡¯ As she was clicking her tongue, he suddenly called up the research table and placed the corpse on it and took a close look. His concentrating eyes were sharp. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s a monster from Elbash Forest. The amount of magi in the body is high, and the purity of the blood is also high. I was a little unsatisfied with the research I was doing¡ª¡± ¡°Would you like to look inside the bag a little more? You¡¯ll find something more coveted than that.¡± Her words came out with a relaxed smile, and heat was now radiating from his eyes. He cut off one of the legs, and the body of Raunel, which Belters had cut in two, was dragged out into his hands. ¡°It¡¯s Raunel! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seeing such a rare variant of a monster here!¡± Even though it wasn¡¯t in perfect condition, she felt like her hair was rising again with the unusual aura she could feel. Bang! ¡°Kyaaak!¡± ¡°Oh my, the child was hit!¡± ¡°Oh my, oh my¡ª¡± Her body hardened again to the sound that flowed into her ears. Unknowingly, her gaze gradually turned to Raunel¡¯s eyes. She saw her Oppa through the big glass-like eyes. Even though it¡¯s just a corpse, is the ability not dead at all? Just before sinking deep into the hallucination, she came to her senses by the tingling sensation in her clenched fists. ¡®I almost looked ugly!¡¯ Serdel, who managed to calm her beating heart, took out the magic stone and pushed it in front of him in the calm face. Startled. ¡°¡­.¡± The Lord of Wizard Tower gaze was fixed on Raunel¡¯s. His gaze, after staring at it for a while, turned to her. Then, after checking the magic stone on her hand, his eyes lit up belatedly. ¡°I think I¡¯ve shown you everything I¡¯m going to show you. Now, what are you going to do?¡± He straightened his posture. ¡°Tell me what you want first.¡± After washing his hands in the whirlpool of water floating in the air, he naturally turned and sat down. What the Emperor wanted was three wizards of 4th circle or higher. ¡®What I want is a close relationship with Wizard Tower, so once this transaction is successfully completed, it will follow naturally.¡¯ ¡°Please transfer at least six wizards of 4th circle or higher to the Imperial Wizard.¡± ¡°Ah, as expected. The imperial family is involved. The Emperor has asked for 3 Wizards with 4th or higher circles before. Don¡¯t put the Young Lady¡¯s hand too far on the line if you¡¯re dealing in frivolous negotiating.¡± As expected, it is not easy. ¡°Will you listen to it?¡± ¡°I refuse. Wizard Tower has no intention of getting involved in politics.¡± ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s unfortunate that the Lord of Wizard Tower will experience the fact that you won¡¯t get anything by sticking to tradition.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡ª¡± Serdel packed the magic bags containing the mana stones, magic stones, and corpses back into the magic bracelet. ¡°No way, are you going to leave like this? Just in case, even if this deal breaks down, the Wizard Tower won¡¯t have any regrets right now.¡± ¡°There is nothing to regret ¡®right now¡¯, but it doesn¡¯t mean that you continue to not regret it, right?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re saying you¡¯re going to wait until the Wizard Tower becomes a disappointing situation?¡± Instead of answering, Serdel raised her head proudly. Now that he has seen good products with his own eyes, she doesn¡¯t think he¡¯ll even like the ones below. ¡®If you bend or act carefully here, you¡¯ll only look like a pushover.¡¯ Let¡¯s go a little rougher. Before that, she couldn¡¯t stand the fact that her forehead was frowned at the terrible smells emanating from hands. Without realizing it, she continued to bring her hand to her nose. Why do I keep smelling it even though I know for sure that it smells stinky¡ª? Then a whirlpool of water appeared in front of her. ¡°Oh my, thank you.¡± When she washed it clean with a smile, the wind blew and dried the water. She even put lotion on the back of her hand. ¡®You seem to be careful.¡¯ She felt refreshed by the sweet scent of flowers. However, the moisture wasn¡¯t very good. ¡°It would be a good idea to think carefully. The Wizard Tower is the only way to buy such a large amount of monster corpses at the best price. In addition, the Wizard Tower will also be the biggest customer of the mana stone. If Young Lady leaves your seat like this, The deal is broken.¡± ¡°Is it a threat?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a threat, it¡¯s a rather blatant reminder of the fact. Are you going to lose your big hands like this? Don¡¯t underestimate the influence of the Wizard Tower. We can also pressure merchants and prevent them from doing any business with Young Lady.¡± It¡¯s a threat, well. ¡°At most, the manastones you have mined, you won¡¯t be able to show them properly in the market, are you okay?¡± The Emperor deserved the trouble. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The Wizard Tower is not only in the Empire. Do you think there¡¯s no place to sell it?¡± Serdel showed her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s a bit uncomfortable to bring in wizards from other countries, but if you put strong restrictions on their actions to prevent them from moving, you won¡¯t be able to do anything in vain.¡± She shrugged her shoulders and blew his last shot. ¡°His Majesty has already given me permission to import and export. If you don¡¯t hold onto me today, you¡¯ll regret it¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be this way. Ah, I understand.¡± He flicked his fingers out of the blue. The tea table disappeared and the table appeared. On top of it were corn soup, salad, freshly baked bread and cheese, and smoked chicken. ¡°I think I¡¯m losing my mind, so I need to fill my stomach. Have a seat, Young Lady.¡± She was dumbfounded. What the hell is this random and reckless behavior! ¡°I don¡¯t have much appetite.¡± ¡°Anyway, if I don¡¯t open it, Young Lady won¡¯t be able to leave this space. So, let¡¯s eat together.¡± Is he trying to drag out the time? After having an eyes fight for a while, I nodded as he placed the chicken legs neatly cut with a fork and knife on a plate. Sitting down helplessly, Serdel began to eat. ¡°¡­.¡± What is this taste? The corn soup was savory and light, and the smoked chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, melting in the mouth. Glancing at Serdel, who muttered hard, the Lord of Wizard Tower continued to pour the piece of meat on her plate. It was the first time in decades that he had a meal with someone. The Wizard Tower shows unity in front of a common purpose, but other than that, it was rare to eat together because of its strong individualistic tendency. He picked up the bread, cut it in half, put chicken, cheese, and vegetables, and then put the sauce on it. It was also given to Serdel. He even offered apple juice in case she was thirsty. CH 88 After the meal. Serdel and the Lord of Wizard Tower looked at each other. ¡°The eyeballs of the dead Raunel store the hallucination he saw just before he lost his life.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± It¡¯s the first time she heard it. ¡®So what I saw and heard earlier is what I experienced before?¡¯ (I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not sure about ¡®who¡¯ experienced it;;) No way, he also saw it¡ª. ¡°Originally, the information contained in the eyeballs can¡¯t be seen except by a person who has been hallucinated, so what I¡¯m talking about is because I have a very excellent ability so I can do it.¡± For a brief while, the tension that crept from the tips of her toes made her spine tingle. ¡°I became interested in everything about Young Lady. All right, I¡¯ll do whatever you want. Can the three wizards of the 4th circle or higher be Maro, Henry, and Behman who participated in this work? Isn¡¯t it more reassuring to have people you know standing next to the Emperor than people you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡®It¡¯s completely discarded. Damn it.¡¯ ¡°Instead, please satisfy my interest in Young Lady. Those are my conditions. Oh, of course, I¡¯m not going to tell anyone about our conversation. I swear.¡± It¡¯s harder than dealing with the Emperor. It is because he is a being who has reached the peak of his power, while the Emperor acted in a way she could predict. She didn¡¯t know where the Lord of Wizard Tower will jump. ¡®Looking at the result itself, it went the way I wanted it to.¡¯ In order for Falden to safely secure the power in the Imperial Palace, those three were the wizard in mind from the very beginning to be sent to the Emperor. ¡®The Lord of Wizard Tower has some kind of connection between them and me. It seems that he misunderstood and gave it to me.¡¯ Rather, it wasn¡¯t that bad. Understanding and accepting this means that no matter what actions she takes in the future, there is a high probability that he will accept anything. While she felt reassured that she had caught his attention and interest, she also felt uneasy that a deep secret was revealed. In particular, she was a little afraid of not knowing what and how much he might ask and show interest in the future. ¡°Your gaze is hot. Would you please stop looking at me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just looking and I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so hot, but Young Lady hasn¡¯t given me an answer yet.¡± ¡°¡­How do you want me to satisfy your interest in me?¡± ¡°I think Young Lady would know better than me, first of all.¡± He pushed his upper body closer to her. His purple hair, which poured down straight, gave off a strong scent of the forest. ¡°I hope to see you more often in the future.¡± ¡°Well, okay. Let¡¯s see each other often.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good answer.¡± After nodded and the Lord of Wizard Tower flick his hand. Different types of tea and desserts were served. ¡°I want to make a toast, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll like, so I prepared everything. Please enjoy it comfortably. Do you drink wine or beer?¡± ¡°Ah, dessert is enough.¡± Tak! ¡°Then are you hungry?¡± Dessert had disappeared, and the meal had been placed out. It hasn¡¯t been ten minutes since they ate. ¡°If you don¡¯t like this either.¡± Fruits were placed in different kinds. ¡°If you don¡¯t like this either.¡± The sweet scent of the candy and the huge amount of chocolate made her dizzy. ¡°Stop! I don¡¯t want to eat anything more. I think I¡¯ll have to go now. Could you please open the door?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Avoiding her gaze, the Lord of Wizard Tower suddenly pointed to the ceiling. ¡°Look at that. Doesn¡¯t it look like a star in the night sky?¡± ¡°As soon as I got inside, I already thought about it. Please don¡¯t say anything else and open the door.¡± Serdel got up and stood at the door. ¡°Hurry up, open the door.¡± When she said it again with a sullen face, the Lord of Wizard Tower beckoned. Kiik¡ª. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time because I¡¯m very busy, but please call me by name whenever you want to see me.¡± ¡°Okay. Well then, see you again.¡± After this greeting, Serdel, who left the door, sighed as she saw the two handle swords pushed in front of her. ¡°Lady!¡± The vice-captain quickly retrieved the sword. ¡°I was worried that you didn¡¯t come out even after a long time.¡± As expected, Blenn¡¯s face was also like that. The two glanced at Serdel from head to toe. ¡°Nothing happened. Let¡¯s go now.¡± As Serdel took the lead, the vice-captain and Blenn quickly joined. Soon after, they were swallowed up by the descending light, and when she lifted her head again, it was in the carriage. ****** A group of negotiations went on, but that didn¡¯t mean the deal was finished. It is unusual to send the Wizard of the Wizard Tower to the Imperial Family. There were dozens of elders in the Wizard Tower, and more than half of the important issues had to be approved. Even for them, this was so sudden that they had no choice but to have a long time to worry. Fortunately, there were no major problems during the decision-making process. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know that the Emperor had long coveted the resources of the Wizard Tower. As much as it was a decision made by the Lord of Wizard Tower, who had not been moved by any temptation or pressure until now. Everyone decided that there must be some other reason. To that extent, the trust of the elders in the Lord of Wizard Tower was great. Serdel, who was watching the Wizard Tower, quickly informed the Emperor. Then, to make sure until the end, she entered the palace with the Lord of Wizard Tower. Cartal was also on this road. ¡°So this is what the Imperial Palace is like.¡± As soon as he got out of the carriage, he looked around frantically. Despite his frantic behavior, he looked great in the sun. His purple hair was neatly tied up and his forehead looked good. The dark brown robe without the front was like a long coat, heightening his atmosphere. The faces of the maid passing by turned red. Even the servants stare blankly at him, who has a strong neutral charm. ¡°It¡¯s too wide and unfamiliar, so I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll get lost.¡± ¡°If you follow me well, that won¡¯t happen.¡± Even if he loses, if he asks someone, everyone will guide him in vain. ¡°Please hold my sleeve.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± If it had been someone else, she would have dismissed it as nonsense, but because he said it with an expressionless face, she completely ignored it. ¡°If rumors spread that the Lord of Wizard Tower had been lost inside the palace, it would be disgraceful.¡± So is it okay for the Lord of Wizard Tower to go to an audience with the Emperor while a Young Lady grabs his sleeve? She almost asked back like this. ¡°Hold my sleeve if you don¡¯t mind. Or should I hold it for you?¡± Cartal, who was listening to his silly comments in silence, held out his hand instead. ¡°Since I remember all the paths I came from, I don¡¯t think we need to hold onto each other. Let¡¯s go comfortably.¡± As he was looking at the Lord of Wizard Tower with a sullen gaze at the sword-like rejection, he gently grabbed Serdel¡¯s frilled sleeve. Unable to let go, Serdel moved quietly. The place where we arrived with the guidance of Chamberlain was the meeting room. There were the Emperor, the prime minister, and two high-ranking nobles of the imperial sect. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± The Emperor who saw Cartal and Serdel approached. His eyes naturally turned to Lord of Wizard Tower as well. ¡°¡­.¡± There was quite a long silence between them. The Emperor waited for his greeting, and the Lord of Wizard Tower didn¡¯t greet him first. If they look at it, he is the Lord of Wizard Tower who has never bowed to anyone before. Although it occupies a section of the capital, it was difficult to see how the Wizard Tower was placed under the Emperor¡¯s control. Even if the owner of the Empire was in front of him, he was not a person who would blink an eye. He was stiff in the face of the center of power, and fortunately, the Emperor was a little flexible. ¡°Nice to see you, the Lord of Wizard Tower.¡± It was only a long time before the Emperor reached out his hand first. Ordinary people would have bent over and kissed the back of his hands. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you, Your Majesty.¡± The Lord of Wizard Tower took the Emperor¡¯s hand comfortably with one hand. It was a time like shaking hands with friends. CH 89 ¡°¡­.¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyebrows trembled slightly. His eyes were about to turn ferocious, too. ¡°This way.¡± With a pretentious smile around his mouth, he led the Lord of the Wizard Tower to his next seat. ¡°You don¡¯t know how happy I am to know that you have received the request from the imperial family here.¡± ¡°Young Lady¡¯s suggestion was just not refusable.¡± ¡°Young Lady, thank you for your hard work. You have no idea how high my expectations are for the Young Lady. Thank you for living up to my expectations.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Your Majesty.¡± That was the end of the empty compliments. Serdel nodded quietly to him, who was asking her to discuss the rest of the story later. ¡°First, I want to know the personal details of the three wizards who will enter the Imperial Palace. I wish you could give me some information about them.¡± In response to the Prime Minister¡¯s remarks, the Lord of the Wizard Tower presented the documents that Serdel had told him to prepare in advance. The Prime Minister showed it to the Emperor first. The papers had their origin and age, how long it had been since they entered the Wizard Tower, and when they were recognized as official wizards. It even detailed what products they had developed so far and which entered stores, including the evaluation of buyers, how many classes of wizards they are now, etc. Even their magic thesis published within the Wizard Tower was attached. The Emperor¡¯s eyes gleamed as he carefully examined it. ¡°As expected, they are wizards of 4th circle or higher, and they seem to have excellent skills. When can you send them to the palace?¡± ¡°Currently, they are participating in the Elbash Forest subjugation. As soon as they get back from work, I will receive a status report and send them right away.¡± ¡°¡­the forest, the people who participated in the subjugation¡­?¡± The Emperor¡¯s gaze turned to Serdel. He had no choice but to feel uncomfortable about bringing people who had close ties with an aristocratic family to the palace. Moreover, she even persuaded the Lord of the Wizard Tower to sit here. It¡¯s definitely a big thing, but because of that, Serdel¡¯s power will change in the future. That was fine. Was it what he expected? The wizards who participate in the Count¡¯s excursion! Serdel was the person who went on an expedition with them. When the Emperor tried to build a friendship, he could use the one she already had to control them. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you want a wizard with a 4th circle or higher? Why would those who are so talented want to go out of the Wizard Tower? I¡¯m sending them off because they seem to be more flexible, because they¡¯re interested in outside things.¡± As if the Lord of the Wizard Tower had read the sharpened atmosphere, he spoke with an indifferent face. ¡°Oh, should I look better to the Young Lady in the future?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same for me, I have to look good to the Young Lady too.¡± To prevent the Emperor from aiming his bow at Serdel, the Lord of the Wizard Tower secretly protected her. ¡°Haha, you hate being swept away by politics, yet every word you say is political, considering you¡¯ve been in seclusion?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even have enough time to pay attention to my research, and I didn¡¯t go out because I had no reason to step into the meaningless riots caused by unrelated people. Your Majesty.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t look down on me?¡± ¡°Did you look down on me, your majesty?¡± ¡°Not at all. That¡¯s impossible.¡± With a slight smile, the Emperor shrugged. The tension that might explode at any time receded from the conference room. ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine. The one who regrets anything should dig the ground. Anyway, thanks to Young Lady, it¡¯s true that this was achieved, otherwise, the wizards wouldn¡¯t have entered the Imperial Palace.¡± At the Emperor¡¯s gesture, the prime minister held out the contract. ¡°There is no problem with the content.¡± Both signed the contract after their brief overviews. As a result, Maro, Henry, and Beman became wizards belonging to the imperial family. With the consideration of the Lord of the Wizard Tower who thought about Serdel¡¯s position, he promised to personally take a part in the affairs of the imperial family once a year. With the help of the Wizard Tower, the Emperor gained the reserve power to handle the situation as he wanted to some extent ¡®I will contact Maro soon.¡¯ Maybe the message will find Falden first. She¡¯s worried that he¡¯ll be angry and ask why she did something dangerous. Anyway, she felt soft and itchy that she was helpful to him. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation, Lord of the Wizard Tower.¡± ¡°Sure, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The tingling sensation suddenly became heavy and her skin stung. ¡°¡­Right, Young Lady, follow me for a second. We still have a lot to talk about.¡± The Emperor rose from his seat. ¡°Count Robbesta and the Lord of the Wizard Tower can stay here to chat comfortably.¡± Serdel quietly followed him as he turned around. Bordeaux¡¯s gaze was persistently attached to her, but she pretended not to know and turned away. The emperor took her to the indoor garden today as well. Refreshments were already set on the table. ¡°Not long ago, Count Maient came to me with a new plan.¡± Serdel gave no answer to the words that fell on her as soon as she sat down. She skimmed through the documents, but she soon let go. ¡°It seems that he will never be able to let go of his regrets regarding the Elbash Forest. Even though I gave him a separate warning.¡± The Emperor clicked his tongue. Then, after a sip of tea, he lowered his eyes. ¡°What I said earlier is not a joke.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I told you, Young Lady, that I would show you how good I am in the future.¡± Another crisis has come. He had an odd atmosphere coming from him. Serdel immediately bowed her head. ¡°The person who needs to look good is me. I will do my best not to be hated by His Majesty. So please keep an eye on me.¡± ¡°I have kept my attention and eyes on you for a long time. This would be good for Young Lady, too.¡± ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re smart. I like it better because you¡¯re quick with sense.¡± The Emperor, holding a properly cooled teacup, finally enjoyed his tea. ***** Serdel, who came out of the indoor garden to go first, was forced to hold back a sigh that was about to burst out. After she came out after dealing with the Emperor, her hair was about to stand up from all of the intense gazes pricking her from all sides. There were a lot of eyes that were hiding and watching her from everywhere. The Empress and the 1st Prince. The 3rd Prince and his mother, the Emperor¡¯s wife Debor. Besides that, even those spies planted by each faction were noting her every move. Serdel moved calmly, pretending not to notice their presence. Perhaps by now, Cartal and the Lord of the Wizard Tower had come out of the conference room. ¡®If I go to a moderately midway point, I¡¯ll meet them.¡¯ Serdel, who had been walking quietly for a while, looked up to the clear chirping of birds. Then she looked around. It was a quiet and bloody place, much like the Emperor¡¯s quarters, and all aspects of the interior that so clearly reflected in her eyes were splendid and beautiful. What did Falden think every time he returned to the palace from time to time after one of his frequent expeditions? ¡®Did he ever see this beauty properly?¡¯ After losing his mother at the age of only five, his past must have been a thorny road, when he had to do everything he could to survive. She felt bad. ¡®I wonder what he is doing?¡¯ Contrary to the sunny weather in the capital, is the sky still gloomy there? She remembered the image of him she had seen through the telecommunication channel not long ago. The thick blood of the monster was all over the place. His eyes looked quite tired as he ruffled his hair wet from the rain. ¡®There¡¯s no way he¡¯d be in danger, right?¡¯ What about Addis and Redan? Will they be all right? Her steps were quickened by a sense of unease. She wanted to return to the Count¡¯s house quickly. She thought she would be relieved to see them safe through the communication channel. ¡°Young Lady¡­?¡± Stop. A familiar voice came from behind. Even without looking back, it was obvious who it was. Serdel ignored it. ¡°Young Lady!¡± He followed and grabbed her arm as if snatching it. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ Serdel¡¯s eyes, which were forced to turn, shone brightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but let go of me.¡± It¡¯s disgusting. ¡°Ah, Young Lady. I see you here. It¡¯s a relief. I had a lot to say, but I can¡¯t meet you¡ª¡± It seems like he hasn¡¯t slept well for a long time. Count Maient, her ex-fiance who couldn¡¯t let go of the Elbash forest, and who had a rather pale face, smiled at her. Somehow, she got goosebumps because it looked frightening. CH 90 ¡°Just a moment. Please give me a moment, Young Lady.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that. I¡¯m busy, so let go of me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same for me, who¡¯s busy. It¡¯ll only take a moment. It¡¯s important¡ª¡± ¡°I have nothing to say to you. So let go of me!¡± ¡°While you were out on an expedition, a new restaurant opened in the capital, and it is already rumored that the wine tastes great. I heard that meals and desserts taste good, but Young Lady and I are busy, so let¡¯s just enjoy a glass of wine.¡± They couldn¡¯t communicate anymore today. She tried to force her arm away from him, who was pushing her around recklessly, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The more she tried to get away, the stronger his grip grew. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ If it weren¡¯t for this being the Imperial Palace, she would have raised her opposite hand and slapped his cheek several times. ¡°Young Lady, don¡¯t do that¡ª¡± ¡°Let go of this. It¡¯s dirty! I did it before, right? Don¡¯t be so pathetic. Do you know how pathetic you are now?¡± ¡®Ugh!¡¯ A blood vessel popped out on his forehead. It felt like her arm that was caught was about to break. Count Maient¡¯s large and rough hands mercilessly crushed her pure white skin. The skin that had turned white at the end of the redness was so painful. ¡°Young Lady must have a lot of feelings for me, too. Of course, you will. I understand, so please, let¡¯s talk in a quiet place.¡± Understand? ¡°Why do I have to obey you? Hey, Count. I think you misunderstand something, but you won¡¯t get what you want just by talking. It¡¯s already over.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t finish it, so what¡¯s over? It¡¯s not over yet. It¡¯s just the beginning. Don¡¯t speak carelessly, Young Lady.¡± Crazy bastard. It¡¯s not even like she was his. He was already out of his mind, exceeding the limits of ambition and strong obsession. All of a sudden¡ª. Could it be that he abandoned her and chose the female lead because of the female lead¡¯s covetous background? Wasn¡¯t it the things that came after her that he loved, not the woman? She had this thought. Now, he looked like a monster, so she couldn¡¯t imagine him being sincere to anyone. Count Maient growled lowly, his eyes twinkling. ¡°And lower your voice. You know where this is. There are a lot of hidden eyes watching.¡± ¡°Is this the kind of person who knows that you¡¯re threatening me like this? You¡¯re being so rude to me because you know where I am, right?¡± ¡°Rude? Ha! Don¡¯t you think the Young Lady, who is only a Count¡¯s daughter, is using an inappropriate word to me as a Count? Is it so rude to just have a conversation in a quiet place?¡± ¡°I said I had nothing to say!¡± ¡°I have so much to say! If you have nothing to say, just listen to me, Young Lady!¡± His rapidly fierce eyes showed anxiety and urgency. He dragged Serdel by force. There was also a limit to how long one could hold out by only using leg strength. As she broke the heel of the right shoe, the body that had lost its balance even staggered once, and anger rose. ¡®Damn it! I can¡¯t use Radun¡¯s power recklessly because I¡¯m in the imperial palace!¡¯ She just signed a contract with the Emperor. The ink hadn¡¯t dried out, and she couldn¡¯t go to work. No matter how secretly she used her power, there were too many hidden eyes to watch. Because she didn¡¯t know how it would be reflected in their eyes, she couldn¡¯t get her hands on Count Maient. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ ¡®But I can¡¯t even be dragged away like this!¡¯ Today¡¯s Count Maient looked very dangerous, perhaps because he had lost his reason. Nothing good will come from being alone with him. ¡®Let¡¯s take advantage of this situation.¡¯ There has been a commotion already anyway. The blind Count Maient was unlikely to let her go easily. Those who hide and watch will not come out because of their position. They¡¯re more liable to think, ¡®I will report this situation to my master quickly.¡¯, and run away. Those who need to gain favor from her will come running thinking it¡¯s time to improve their standing with her. ¡®They will severely criticize the person who created this situation to protect me.¡¯ Good. Biting her lips, Serdel continued to pretend to rebel. Even without a big performance, her body staggered because she lost the heel of one of her shoes. In the end, she fell on purpose. ¡°Kyaa! Ugh!¡± Her knee hurt a lot, probably because she had properly torn it on the stone floor. ¡°Ugh¡ª!¡± A groan broke out. Ha. He frowned with a deep sigh. Rather than asking if she was okay, he looked into the air as if to endure his irritation. As expected, trash. ¡°Get up.¡± Tsk, he even clicked his tongue and glanced around him, then he gave her strength and forced Serdel to stand up. It seemed like the bones in her arm were about to dislocate because they were pulled up as much as it was. Her ankle must have been sprained as well. It was quite sore. Seeing her sit down again, he twisted his lips. This time, he grabbed Serdel¡¯s shoulder and raised her. Unintentionally, her legs lost strength, and she fell again. ¡°Ha.¡± The heels of the shoes had come off before she knew it and were rolling around on the floor. She looked miserable. ¡°Damn it, get up! Are you going to humiliate me? You think I¡¯m going to give up?¡± There was a glimpse of madness in him. He harshly pulled her up as she tried to sit still for a while. The floor was swept with her legs. Tears welled up in bitterness. And it was then. ¡°What are you doing! Let go of that hand!¡± Cartal, who ran forward suddenly, took Serdel from the hand of Count Maient. The fury that was emanating from his body was terrifying. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Slap! He was completely different from his usual self when he hit Count Maient¡¯s cheek mercilessly, shouting loudly so that the inside of the palace rang. It looked like he was going to kill ten people right away. ¡°What is this¡ª!¡± The bewildered Count Maient expressed his absurdity by hissing in the wind. Hit! Cartal, who raised his fist again, struck him again in the face without hesitation. Count Maient¡¯s head turned with a crackling sound. ¡°How dare a bastard like you! How dare you! Cartal, who grabbed Count Maient¡¯s neck with both hands, gave strength to his hands. ¡°L, let go of me¡ªUgh!¡± Count Maient¡¯s face turned pale. He scratched at Cartal¡¯s wrists with his fingernails, trying to remove the choking hands, but Cartal didn¡¯t budge. Instead, Cartal lost his temper and choked harder as if he was really going to kill Count Maient. She has never seen her father like this before. He never lost his cool in anything. Even more so in a position where one had to think of one¡¯s dignity as an aristocrat. His eyes burn with anger. ¡°How dare you! You answered the request for a broken engagement so easily. Did my daughter look ridiculous in your eyes!¡± ¡°Ugh¡ª!¡± ¡°It hurts my heart that she continued without knowing how to hit the back of the head, and she didn¡¯t even ask anything! You don¡¯t even know how to say thank you, you filthy bastard!¡± Blood and tears seemed to flow from Cartal¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will not leave you alone today! How dare you, my daughter! That poor child!¡± ¡°F, father!¡± If he seriously harms a noble in the Imperial Palace, things get bigger. Maient committed the first fault, but they could blame all the sins on Cartal if this continued much longer. This was different from what she had hoped for. The moment she tried to get up because she thought she had to stop him. Whoosh. All the nearby trees were shattered by the strong wind blowing from behind. ¡°¡­.¡± After that, the floor and the surrounding area were thick with dust. When the obscured view was restored, hundreds of splinters surrounded Count Maient. ¡°Stand back, Count.¡± Startled. Her body trembled at the low voice. When she turned her head, the Lord of the Wizard Tower was walking. There was no sound. His movement was silent yet captivating. It was similar to when the Duke of Blendard killed the monster. She also felt the atmosphere that only the strongest beings could exude. CH 91 He waved his fingers at Cartal, who didn¡¯t back down. A gust of wind forced Cartal and Count Maient apart. ¡°Ugh! Let go of this! I will not let him go! I will surely kill him in this place today!¡± Cartal twisted his body with veins on his forehead and neck, but the wind held him tight. ¡°Ugh! Ukkkh¡ª!¡± Meanwhile, the Count Maient bent on his back, exhaled through his blocked throat, and breathed heavily. After a while. He roughly wiped the saliva flowing from his lips, and when he saw the hundreds of debris floating around him, he hardened. His complexion turned pale. As he stepped backward, he was startled by the pieces of debris stabbing his back and moved to the side again. He was terrified to see the shiny sharpness in front of his eyes. In the end, it was funny to see that he didn¡¯t know what to do and was confused. It didn¡¯t matter. It was enough to make her laugh out loud. She felt several signs of people approaching as the corners of her lips were about to rise in pity. Serdel quickly went into facial expression control. ¡°What a fuss this is!¡± The first to appear was the Emperor. His breathing was rough, probably because he was in the indoor garden and rushed after hearing the news. On the other side, the Empress and the 1st Prince walked towards them. The prime minister and the palace¡¯s nobles were also present. They saw Count Maient and the destruction around them. Then, they saw Serdel¡¯s condition and shut their mouths. ¡°¡­.¡± The pure white arm had severe bruises left behind. The heeled shoes were rolling on the floor. Her white legs, exposed through the dresses rolled up due to being dragged around badly, were filled with scratches here and there. Blood flowed from her broken knee, and her sprained ankle was even swollen. Even seeing it with their own two eyes, it was unbelievable. How can a Young Lady of a family be insulted in this way in the palace where the Emperor lives! It shouldn¡¯t have happened. Everyone looked at Count Maient, who created this unbelievable situation, with stunned faces, as if they were dumbfounded. He also bowed his head, unable to find a place to put his eyes as the hostile gazes that were drawn to him pierced him. The person who they shouldn¡¯t touch the most right now was Serdel Robbesta. Not knowing what repercussions this would bring in the future, some of the nobles who were close to Count Maient stepped back altogether. As if they don¡¯t want to be involved. ¡°W, what the hell is going on here¡ª!¡± Swallowing his saliva, the Emperor¡¯s words also trembled, his lips still stiff from shock. ¡°Count Maient! What the hell is going on here! Explain it to me right now!¡± The Emperor¡¯s anger exploded. ¡°¡ªIt wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°How can you say that now! It wasn¡¯t a big deal?! How can a person become like this!¡± ¡°I just wanted to talk to her for a while. But¡ª¡± ¡®It¡¯s really pathetic.¡¯ It¡¯s a shame that it all happened. How can such a guy be one of the main characters? She cursed her past self for being so desperate for a guy like that. ¡°Isn¡¯t the order wrong?¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower cut off the words of the Emperor, who was about to shout more. ¡°Young Lady has been treated like this for no reason. Instead of rebuking the other person, shouldn¡¯t you ask her if she¡¯s okay?¡± He took off his robe and put it over Serdel¡¯s shoulder. At the same time, the warm energy that flowed from his hand permeated into her body. The wound has healed completely. He didn¡¯t stop there, he took off his shoes and put them on Serdel and restored her dirty dress. ¡®If it¡¯s possible, you could fix my shoes.¡¯ ¡°Narrow shoes looked uncomfortable on your feet.¡± She¡¯s sure he didn¡¯t even read her mind. With Serdel sitting on a soft chair made of wind, he stood barefoot in front of everyone. And then he looked at the surroundings carefully. The person who his gaze landed on in the end was still Count Maient. Perhaps it was difficult to bear the cold eyes of the Lord of the Wizard Tower, the Count was sweating like a herbivore standing in front of a wild and hungry carnivore. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Young Lady, I wouldn¡¯t have come outside without interest.¡± Everyone focused on what he said. ¡°If only Young Lady hadn¡¯t instilled a curiosity in me. But, I didn¡¯t know that I would face such an unpleasant situation within a few hours of coming here. That the person who took me out of the tower would be treated so carelessly by anyone.¡± With a low murmur, the surrounding air changed. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t intend to make me, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, your enemy, anyone who treats Young Lady rudely during this time, regardless of status¡ª¡± As he lifted his finger, several debris floating in the air slashed Count Maient¡¯s thigh. ¡°Argggh!¡± Count Maient¡¯s body staggered violently. The Lord of Wizard Tower raised his finger once again. Then this time, a fairly large piece of debris flew toward Count Maient. ¡°A, arghhh!¡± The debris stopped just before his nose. U, ugh. Count Maient let out a rough breath. ¡°It¡¯s just a threat, but it¡¯s no fun if you¡¯re so scared like that.¡± Tak. With a clear sound resounding between his fingers¡ª. Baang! Count Maient¡¯s body flew wildly and crashed to the ground. Startled Everyone couldn¡¯t even breathe. Count Maient, who was involved, also blinked blankly, as if in disbelief. And for a while. His brow furrowed as if the shock that had been thrown began to come just then. ¡°Arggh! W, waist! M, my waist!¡± A scream broke out in Count Maient¡¯s wide mouth. ¡°Arggh!¡± He tried to straighten his body, but he only struggled with his hands and feet as if something invisible was pressing him down. It was quite ugly, like an insect. The more pain he was in, the darker the atmosphere got. No one was able to stop it. Even the Emperor. The Lord of the Wizard Tower looked down at Count Maient with very cold eyes. Crack! ¡°Ugh!¡± His body was forcibly lifted up as the Lord of the Wizard Tower flicked his finger. Maybe it was a big shock, but he couldn¡¯t stand up on his own. ¡°¡­Argh.¡± His condition looks very messy. His hair was messy, and his clothes were dirty from top to bottom. It was difficult to hear the crying that flowed from his dry mouth since he was almost wailing while crying. The Lord of the Wizard Tower raised his hands again. ¡°S, stop!¡± The Empress suddenly shouted. Her face grew red as if she was angry with something. ¡°Stop it now! That¡¯s enough! This is the Imperial Palace. You¡¯ve crossed the line no matter how much you¡¯re the Lord of the Wizard Tower!¡± ¡°Mother.¡± The bewildered 1st Prince grabbed the Empress¡¯ arm. Nevertheless, she stared at the Lord of the Wizard Tower as if to kill him. ¡®Tak,¡¯ Looking at the Empress indifferently, the Lord of the Wizard Tower snapped his hand. The Empress¡¯s body trembled, and at the same time, the debris floating in the air disappeared, and he quickly restored the damaged area. Only Count Maient remained the same. ¡°It was just a simple warning today, but if it happens again next time, I¡¯m not going to stay still. Don¡¯t touch the Young Lady.¡± If the other person behaved as he is now in front of the Emperor without asking permission from the Emperor. That alone would have been enough to push him to treason. But the opponent was the Lord of Wizard Tower. No one dared to speak of treason in front of him. ¡°¡­.¡± The tip of the Emperor¡¯s lips, who had been silent for a while, rose subtly. Serdel was reflected in his shiny eyes. The Lord of Wizard Tower has just declared that touching her is the same as touching him. She¡¯s already going to change her influence with today¡¯s deal. With the words of the Lord of the Wizard Tower on top of it, Serdel¡¯s influence will soar astronomically in the future. He could feel the heat around him. Everyone who looked at Serdel had a desire. They must think that if they get their hands on her, they can hold the power of not only the Lord of Wizard Tower but also the entire Wizard Tower. ¡®She¡¯s someone who is not fit for being held by someone¡¯s hand.¡¯ Even if they approach it wrongly in order to take advantage of it, they will be exploited deep inside their bones. His head was throbbing with the thought of what was about to happen around him until he recognized what was going on. ¡®Count Maient, if only he hadn¡¯t created this situation. Tsk.¡¯ The Emperor glanced at the Empress. The complex eyes of the Empress looking at Serdel were unusual. The 1st Prince, who stood next to her, was completely consumed by greed. Haa. The power in the capital territory from today¡ª. ¡°It will all change.¡± Pressing on his temple, the Emperor clicked his tongue inwardly. CH 92 The Emperor didn¡¯t let Serdel go, even though she was already healed with the treatment of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. Instead, he said it would be good to take a break because she must have been very surprised, so he sent five imperial doctors along with her to the guest room. On the other hand, he didn¡¯t give a single doctor or even a single bottle of potion to Count Maient, who was unable to move due to a severe back injury. He didn¡¯t even give him a single indoor room. He had lost favor as an attraction in many places where people passed by, and in reality, he had been abandoned. Count Maient, who was suffering on such a cold floor, was carried away with the help of his aide who came running after receiving a call. There were not only one or two people who watched the whole process. Rumors spread quickly, and when Count Robbesta heard about it, he almost turned the palace upside down. ¡°L, lady¡­¡± Monem was so surprised that she fell to the floor. The butler and the head maid¡¯s complexion also turned pale. The knights were furious and left the mansion with a sword led by vice-captain and Blenn. Where they headed was Count Maient¡¯s mansion. The knights who surrounded it without hesitation drew out their swords. In response, the knights of Count Maient came out and confronted each other. But they couldn¡¯t pull out a sword. It was because of the awareness that they shouldn¡¯t create an excuse for a fight anymore. The carriages that came and went by also stopped in front of the bloody scene, and the ladies opened their fans and covered half of their faces to discreetly watch. There were also nobles who got out of the carriage and took a look around. In a situation where they don¡¯t know when it will explode. A carriage with the mark of Count Maient arrived. The vice-captain who saw this blocked the front. ¡°What are you doing? Get out of my way!¡± Count Maient¡¯s aide, who was sitting on the carriage, shouted. ¡°I won¡¯t move away! To enter the mansion, Count Maient will have to get off the carriage!¡± At the momentum of the vice-captain, the aide clenched his teeth. He glanced at Count Maient through the narrow window in the carriage. By the Emperor¡¯s order, he couldn¡¯t even bring a royal doctor, let alone a bottle of potion. The current situation for Count Maient was the worst because he was not allowed to receive any treatment in the palace even though his condition was so bad. Because he was also exposed to the shaking of the carriage, it was dangerous if he was not treated as soon as possible. ¡°Stand back! What are you guys doing!¡± The aide shouted at the knights of the family in the middle of the confrontation. However, no one was able to move easily even with his thunderbolt-like shouts. It was because of Blenn. The pressure emanating from him was powerful enough to suppress everyone¡¯s momentum. Some knights of the Maient family even felt their legs tremble. Stupid bastards! Power entered the hand of the aide who was holding the reins. ¡°For now¡­ The situation here is urgent. So please step back.¡± Pressing his voice, he asked for a shallow understanding from the Robbestan Knights. Ha! A laugh came out of the vice captain¡¯s mouth. ¡°The assault on the Young Lady is the same as openly stepping on Count Robbesta! How ridiculous you must have been to commit such disrespect in the palace! As a knight who has sworn allegiance to the family, I can¡¯t let this insult pass by, so if you want to go inside, take a look and do your best!¡± ¡°¡­I will apologize for that separately later. The Count is in a very serious condition, so please get out of the way for now. I beg you.¡± The stiff head of the aide bowed. Nevertheless, the vice-captain didn¡¯t step down. On the contrary, as he got closer, he cut off the leash of the horse connected to the carriage with a sword. Hiingg¡ª! The horse, frightened by the sword, neighed loudly and ran away . ¡®Baang!¡¯ Something fell as the carriage leaned forward harshly in the aftermath. Surprised by the sound, the aide jumped off the carriage seat. ¡°Count!¡± The aide who had opened the door to check on Count Maient was forced to drag him out of the cart. ¡°Ha¡ª!¡± The count seemed to have lost his mind because he could not overcome the intense pain. The vice captain¡¯s mouth was filled with mockery as he looked down at the Count¡¯s pale face. ¡°It serves you right!¡± Crowds of people also pointed their fingers at that. Everyone mocked Count Maient, so he was moved into the mansion. Suddenly a red exclamation point appeared above his head, shrank quickly and then vanished to be replaced by: [You¡¯ve lost all of the charms you have as the main character.] [You have been disqualified.] [Hershe Maient ¨C Forcibly downgraded to one of the supporting roles.] A bright red status window like a red alarm appeared silently, but no one saw it. ***** [Hershe Maient ¨C Forcibly downgraded to one of the supporting roles.] She was finally able to send away the worried Lord of Wizard Tower, who refused to go. Serdel, who was laying on the bed in the guest room, rolled her eyes at the red status window that suddenly appeared as she received Cartal¡¯s worried gaze. ¡®I can¡¯t believe it.¡¯ It was confusing. What will happen if the main character¡¯s charm runs out while he is supposed to be enjoying the game? There were times when she wondered when she looked at the gauge bar. She had no idea it would lead to the removal of the male lead. ¡®I thought I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there weren¡¯t any more status windows.¡¯ Today¡¯s trouble seemed to have had a bigger impact than expected. She didn¡¯t expect this result! ¡®It¡¯s a relief.¡¯ It was a relief, really. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She was relieved several times inside, but Cartal bowed his head feeling guilty. Surprised, Serdel raised her upper body. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°This father is not good enough to almost marry you with such a man. I am so sorry.¡± ¡°I should have known more, I should have done more research before trying to marry you with him¡­. because you seem so lonely¡­¡± What should I say? Serdel held his trembling hand carefully. This wasn¡¯t Cartal¡¯s fault. Hershe is the one who has approached with a mask on. ¡®It¡¯s a relief to know now.¡¯ How can people be conscious of the darkness inside before being struck! ¡°My wife is gone, my little one¡­ I haven¡¯t been able to take good care of you. At the time, I thought that was the best thing¡­ but looking back, now I know what I¡¯ve done to you as a father¡­¡± As the voice gradually grew smaller, Cartal¡¯s hand suddenly became cold. ¡°Ah! W, what have I done to you¡­if I knew your life would be like this¡­ I, I¡¯ve ruined it. I¡¯ve ruined your life.¡± Deep darkness seemed to rise behind his enlarged pupil as if he was possessed by something. She¡¯s worried it¡¯ll take his mind if he didn¡¯t stop. She was terrified. ¡°Father!¡± Serdel gave strength to his hand as she held it tightly. At that moment, Cartal¡¯s trembling gradually subsided. ¡°This father¡­ is incompetent and pathetic¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t say that.¡± His forehead touched the back of her hand. One drop, two drops. Something hot touched it and then flowed down. Her heart ached. ¡°All my actions to do for you¡­ ended up pushing you to the edge of the cliff¡­¡± Every word was full of regrets. In addition, uncontrollable pain has been passed on. ¡°I¡­ Blame me, Serdel.¡± ¡°¡­no, I don¡¯t want to.¡± She used to blame him a lot. But it was hard to hate, resent, and even see him face to face at the end. Even more so, not long after the second round started. She hated that. But not now. ¡°I don¡¯t want to, Father.¡± ¡°Serdel¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t blame you, so why do you ask me to blame you?¡± She no longer hates her family. Of course, she can¡¯t say she knew them very much. It was heartbreaking when Redan, who was always arrogant, cried. She was upset when Addis, who only showed her back, bowed her head. When Cartal, who pretends to be indifferent while looking at her, was silent, she was worried that he seemed to swallow his pain. Is that all? Count Robbesta almost threw everything precious away . Siri used to be the only person she could rely on, but that is no longer the case. ¡°I¡¯m fine. So¡­ don¡¯t push me away.¡± Cartal, who raised his head, hugged her. So did Redan, who was clinging to her¡ªher father felt very small. She raised her hand and patted Cartal on the back. ¡°I¡¯m really, really fine. Father, don¡¯t be sorry.¡± She said it again, firmly, and buried her face into her father¡¯s shoulder. It was too warm in his arms so she didn¡¯t want to let it go. In addition, she thought that she had to face the problem that she had Dell using his bugs to investigate. About who killed the Countess. Who pushed her family off such a cliff? It seemed that she had to find out for sure by using her own power. CH 93 By the time Cartal calmed down, the Emperor had come in with Chamberlain. The Emperor quickly examined the atmosphere inside. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Glancing at his face once, Cartal immediately got up from his seat and bowed. Serdel was also about to get out of bed, but the Emperor raised his hand. ¡°Be comfortable.¡± She can¡¯t do that. No matter how considerate he was, she couldn¡¯t be arrogant in front of the Emperor. Furthermore, the power she now wielded was like a suddenly inflated balloon. Because the Lord of the Wizard Tower gave her too much power, it turned into a double-edged sword. Therefore, it was difficult to see the power obtained now as completely her own. Even if it¡¯s safe now, it¡¯s better to be more careful about her actions later. Doesn¡¯t the rice plant bend its head more as it ripens?? (It means people who know a lot are (or should be) humble about their knowledge) Serdel got up from bed right away. ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better, Your Majesty. I¡¯m really sorry to have worried you.¡± ¡°Why should you, Young Lady, be sorry? Count Maient did something he shouldn¡¯t have done! It¡¯s crazy, I mean, he¡¯s out of his mind.¡± ¡°How dare he ignore my warning. Ha¡ª!¡± His eyes glistened. Even for a moment, he pressed his eyes tightly once and threw his gaze at Cartal. ¡°Are you alright? You looked very surprised.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve shown you something you shouldn¡¯t see. I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Hey. It would be a little sad if you said that, Count. It¡¯s understandable that it¡¯s difficult to bear as a parent when our child is insulted.¡± She almost laughed. There almost seemed like there was no pretense as the Emperor put those words in his mouth, boldly speaking like a wise father. She doesn¡¯t know if there was any change in facial expression. It was even more creepy because there wasn¡¯t despite such a blatant lie. ¡°And that¡¯s not important now. I think the Count should leave the palace right now.¡± What does that mean? Cartal¡¯s head, which had been bowed down, raised. ¡°When the Count¡¯s knights heard about Young Lady, they were furious and it¡¯s said that they were besieging Count Maient¡¯s house.¡± The Emperor didn¡¯t hide his discomfort. ¡°If such a situation is created in capital with an Emperor for a long time, wouldn¡¯t it only create a sense of incompatibility? The imperial family has already become a mess because of the Lord of the Wizard Tower.¡± ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly. Oh, Young Lady should remain in the palace. Considering my position¡ª¡± ¡°But, Your Majesty.¡± Cartal cut off the Emperor¡¯s words. At the same time, he even covered her with his body so that the Emperor¡¯s burdensome gaze didn¡¯t reach Sertel. The Emperor¡¯s eyes hardened at his actions, which he would never normally have done. ¡°I don¡¯t think I will be able to pull back the knights.¡± ¡°Count.¡± The Emperor¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°I¡¯m not defending him, but Count Maient has already been badly insulted. Isn¡¯t that enough? There are other nobles¡¯ eyes, and if you think about my face, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Until now, I have been living as a loyal servant of Your Majesty, but it seems that I will not be able to follow your will this time. Please forgive me.¡± ¡°Count Robbesta!¡± The air became cold, and the Emperor let out a roar. However, Cartal¡¯s momentum was also extremely fierce. ¡°I am not fine. I haven¡¯t given him enough insults yet. Didn¡¯t Your Majesty say that you will also do the same? If a child is being insulted, it must be hard for a parent to bear, didn¡¯t you understand me?¡± The Emperor¡¯s forehead twitched several times. He probably didn¡¯t know that what he said would be taken in such a good way. ¡°The insult that punk suffered was only from the Lord of the Wizard Tower. He can¡¯t take my place in vengance. In addition, Serdel is a precious master to the knights. Shouldn¡¯t they also relieve their pent-up resentment?¡± Count Maient¡¯s disrespect to Serdel was an insult to the whole people of the Robbesta county. Serdel wasn¡¯t the only one who was hurt by this. The knight and the servants have never considered betraying her. ¡°There will be no bloodshed. This is the capital Your Majesty is in. No matter how angry they were, they were not thoughtless enough. So don¡¯t worry.¡± After bowing his head once, Cartal turned around. His eyes looking down at Serdel were different from before when it was empty. He bent his body slightly and held Serdel lightly. She had been unintentionally hugged by Blenn, Falden, and Redan several times before, but this was the first time she had been hugged like this. It feels like something was stable in her arms.. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you stop walking!¡± ¡°Your Majesty. Don¡¯t just force Your Majesty¡¯s position. My daughter and I have our opinions, too. Besides, you got what you wanted. The deal is closed, please don¡¯t use my child as a shield or tool of power any longer.¡± Finally, after giving the warning, Cartal left the guest room. Something was a bit odd. Was he still the same Cartal that always acted according to his status like a dead person. She didn¡¯t expect him to act like this. And to the Emperor! ¡°¡­will it be okay?¡± At Serdel¡¯s careful question, Cartal lowered his gaze and made eye contact with her. ¡°His Majesty was just trying to kill the spirit of this incident to make it easier to use. Normally, I would have agreed, but many people have already seen Cunt Maient being mean to you, right?¡± An unfamiliar kind of charisma emanated from him. ¡°In the future, more and more people will approach you with many intentions. It will be difficult at first because they don¡¯t know what more you have. Then, as soon as they get used to it, there will be people who mistreat you again.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°In order not to be subjected to such disgrace as today, the family must not look ridiculous to anyone. That is the same for His Majesty. I serve him, but don¡¯t worry, because his heart is not more important than my children.¡± He¡¯s like this, what should she say? There was a warm glow. But it wasn¡¯t awkward. Maybe the Countess was always so proud of him before she died, to the extent that she thought of it. His stubborn expression resembled Addis. No. Addis must take it from him. She laughed for no reason. ¡°¡­Oh, I left my shoes behind, Father. I couldn¡¯t put them on because I got up in a hurry to see His Majesty earlier.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new pair.¡± ¡°They were the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s shoes¡ª¡± ¡°You can throw it away.¡± With a firm answer, he took a few more steps for a moment. ¨C What do you mean you can throw it away? You¡¯re so mean. With a murmur of dissatisfaction, a gust of wind blew around it. ¨C First of all, I think you must be tired, so should I move you so you can rest quickly? ¡°¡­.¡± Cartal nodded instead of answering, and the wind swallowed him and Serdel. When they opened their eyes again, they were at the Count¡¯s residence. ¡°¡­Thank you. I¡¯ll buy you a new pair of shoes.¡± ¨C I bought it from Forshun. I was lucky enough to have only one pair left, saying that this is the design the designer is pushing this year. The gentlemen standing behind me were quite disappointed. ¡°I¡¯ll pick a better one and send it to you soon.¡± ¨C I think it would be better if Young Lady could look at it and choose it. Oh, if you have time, I¡¯d like to go buy it with you tomorrow¡ª. ¡°She¡¯s tired so we¡¯ll get going.¡± ¨C ¡­. ¡°Serdel must be very tired.¡± ¨C ¡­Take a good rest today, Young Lady. The whispering wind disappeared. And how much did it move? ¡°M, master! Lady!¡± The butler, the head maid, Monem, who had been dazed in the hallway, saw Cartal and Serdel, and rushed to see them. The faces of the three people, who were tired and pale, looked so bad that it seemed like they were about to fall down at any moment. ¡°Are you all right!¡± ¡°A, are you okay Lady?¡± The head maid swept Serdel¡¯s face in tears. The butler and Monem were mesmerized by her complexion and outfit. ¡°F, first of all¡ª¡± The butler hurriedly took the lead and led Cartal¡¯s footsteps to the bedroom, thinking that she should rest comfortably. As soon as Cartal carefully laid Serdel down on the bed, Monem covered her with a blanket. Whoo, Cartal raided his head as if relieved now. ¡°I have heard of the general situation from His Majesty. Butler, go to Count Maient right now and report to the vice-captain.¡± There was tension in the butler¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him. I will get to go out and¡ª¡± The head maid, who suddenly intervened, bowed her head. Cartal, who had been looking at her for a while, continued. ¡°Tell the vice-captain to prevent anyone from entering and leaving the Count Maient¡¯s abode completely.¡± There was a chill in Cartal¡¯s voice. ¡°Until the rat bends its knees.¡± CH 94 A dark bedroom without a single chandelier light. The figure of Count Maient, who was almost lying on the edge of a double blackout curtain, looked utterly exhausted. Rolling wine bottles, broken glasses. Clearly, he had had so much alcohol that there was no life in his drooping eyes, and his parted lips were all swollen and rough. He had also forgotten to shave his chin, which was filthy. He looked at him and pressed his temple as if he were suffering from a headache. ¡°I beg you to pull yourself together.¡± Haa. He let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not the time to let go of yourself like this. Please, my Lord.¡± Tsk. Between the irritatedly twisted lips, there was the sound of a tongue click. ¡°Please! Come to your sense!¡± Finally, he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and scream. It was the first time. How did he express his feelings to his master like this? The aide¡¯s eyes grew red with anger. The blood vessels sticking out over the forehead were about to burst. ¡°Do you know how noisy it is outside the mansion now!¡± He crumpled the newspaper he was holding in his hand mercilessly. ¡°The damn knights of Count Robbesta are besieging the mansion day and night!¡± Is that all? Nobles who had nothing else to do even came on purpose in a carriage as if it were some sort of tourist attraction. Thanks to this, the content of the articles published in the newspapers is always changing every day. It was a series of ridicule and ridicule and ridicule. What¡¯s even more troubling is the fact that the newspapers are thrown inside, which is entirely restricted by restricting entry and exit. He didn¡¯t know he was trying to put pressure on it. Now that they¡¯d gotten their intended result, everyone in the Count was anxious. The servants were anxious about the uncertain future, and the butler and head maid couldn¡¯t control them. The knights on this side, facing the knights of Count Robbesta, struggled under pressure. Soldiers and squires were totally useless. Even though things have gotten to this point, the Master is restless and doing nothing about it. ¡°Damn it! I didn¡¯t follow you to see this kind of damn state!¡± How did this happen? ¡°Get a hold of yourself, please¡­ This is the end. The end. What are you going to do if you can¡¯t even recover!¡± While Count Maient was like this. In the estate, his half-brother, whom he had been wary of until now, was carrying his vassals on his back and expanding his position. Surely they will not miss this opportunity. Tears flowed from the aide¡¯s eyes. Instinctively, he knew that their time was running out. After a while, he was exhausted and left the bedroom. Until then, Count Maient didn¡¯t budge. Like he¡¯s out of his mind, and all he can do is only breathing. ¡°Alcohol¡­¡± He¡¯s thirsty. Starting from his throat, he felt as if his five internal organs were suddenly burning up. Fearing that the phenomenon would repeat itself again, he hurriedly fumbled around and scratched his finger with the shards of glass from the broken glass. His eyes widened as he saw the dripping blood. ¡°¡­U, ugh¡­ Arrrghhh!¡± The scene of that day flashed into his mind, which had been quiet. In addition, regardless of his will, he was forced to stay in his memory again this time. Hundreds of pieces of wood blew up around him. The bloody pain that pierced his thighs and the pressure he felt in his lower back from being thrown to the floor came back to life one by one. He¡¯s sure he¡¯s already received treatment. Even if he shook his head recklessly, the unfolded memories did not easily shake off. ¡°Aaaargh! My waist, my waist!¡± He rolled over, and this time, a shard of glass got stuck in his thigh. Aaaaarggggh! His scream grew louder. Nevertheless, no one came in. Naturally, the more he struggled, the deeper the wound got. Blood splattered over the wet carpet with alcohol. Then he found a ray of light leaking from inside the desk drawer, and his movements stopped. Gulp, he swallows his saliva. Soon darkness came, and then a light came out again, so he got up and took out the communication tool from the drawer. The beautiful green hair. A small, pure white face and clear and beautiful eyes like emeralds were facing him. Ah, Alexa! Count Maient¡¯s lips drew a bizarre smile. ¡°Young Lady Alexa! Why, why! Why are you calling me now? How long have I waited, how long have I been waiting to contact you¡ª!¡± [I¡¯m sorry, Count. I¡¯ve been so busy.] ¡°No matter how busy you are, how can you not answer my calls? No, it¡¯s not. No, that¡¯s right. You can be busy. Yes, I understand. I understand.¡± [You don¡¯t have to understand. After all, being busy is an excuse.] ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Before he could ask what that meant, she smiled at him. It was a bright smile that didn¡¯t match the situation at all. Could it be that everything so far has been just a nightmare? For a moment, he felt like that. It was so bright that Count Maient¡¯s lips went up at the same time. At the same time, anxiety came. He slowly felt nervous. ¡°L, let¡¯s meet, Young Lady. I¡¯ll go meet you right away. I¡¯ll be there in two hours, no, an hour.¡± [Oh, I guess you don¡¯t know the situation in the mansion very well. Will you be able to come out?] ¡°¡­.¡± The mouth of Count Maient twitched like a carp. [It¡¯s so disgraceful, Count.] ¡°Alexa¡ª¡± [What is that look?] He took a glance at himself. It certainly wasn¡¯t something to be seen by a noblewoman. ¡°I, I¡¯ll be better after wash up¡ª¡± [Let¡¯s break up] He felt like he was hit on the head by a huge hammer. ¡°What do you mean¡ª¡± [Let¡¯s break up] ¡°Alexa!¡± Count Maient¡¯s hand, holding the communication device, trembled like crazy. ¡°W, what do you mean to break up! That¡¯s too much!¡± [Where? Which part is too much? If you¡¯re a noble, you should have kept your face until the end. If I stay next to the Count, I will look ridiculous.] ¡°It¡¯ll be over in a minute. This situation will disappear like the wind!¡± [Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think it will disappear easily. The Count has failed, and you will soon be held accountable. I don¡¯t¡ª] She shrugged her shoulders. [¡ªI don¡¯t love the Count enough to lose it with you. I¡¯m sorry.] ¡°¡­We can¡¯t break up. We can¡¯t break up! Do you think I¡¯ll let you go in a situation like this?!¡± [Don¡¯t show it to the floor beyond that. Still, we had a burning relationship, even for a short time. Wouldn¡¯t it be too sad for me to cover the bottom too much? So why didn¡¯t you be the one I needed? Why didn¡¯t you be useful to me? If you had, I could have loved you more.] ¡°Alexa!¡± [I definitely said let¡¯s break up. So don¡¯t contact me anymore as of this time.] ¡°Alexa! Alexa!¡± Without a moment¡¯s notice, she cut off contact. Holding on to the communication device that had lost its light, he called her over and over again. He tried to communicate several times, but she never answered. ¡°Alexa! Damn it!¡± He finally threw a communication tool and was about to tear his head out. How could this be? He trembled with a sense of betrayal. ¡°Aaaaargggggh!¡± Serdel! Serdel! Serdel! Serdel! Serdel Robbesta! If it weren¡¯t for you! I wouldn¡¯t have gone through such a disgrace! ¡°Serdel!¡± As he vomits out, the anger seems never to go away¡ª. ¡°Why are you calling my Nuna¡¯s name?¡± Startled by the voice that came out of nowhere, he turned around. The dark curtains fluttered in the wind from the open window. The sun poured in through it. The eyes, which had long been accustomed to the darkness, couldn¡¯t accept the sudden light. He raised his arms to cover his eyes, then opened his eyes several times to get used to it. As if he had poured sugar, the white skin didn¡¯t look like a human. The pink hair that covered it was so beautiful that it was dazzled by the passing sunlight. The gold eyes were as beautiful as jewels, and through the bright red lips¡ª Fangs? Grrrrrrrrr. A threat leaked through the man¡¯s trembling teeth. ¡°You. Why did you hit my Nuna?¡± Count Maient closed his eyes and then opened them, wondering if he saw things in vain. ¡°Do you want to die?¡± The man grabbed him by the neck at once. ¡°Ugh!¡± He opened his eyes and hit the man¡¯s solid arm with his hand. ¡°Uggh!¡± He even scratched his big hand, which was pressing his neck with his fingernails. ¡°Do you want to die? Huh? Why did you hit my Nuna? You bastard who falls into this shit box and can¡¯t get your act together for three months and ten days.¡± He listened to the curses of the maids and followed them. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Saliva dripped from Count Maient¡¯s open mouth. His eyes widened more, and then his body drooped. ¡°¡­What? Have you passed out already? Why are you so weak?¡± The man grumbled and threw Count Maient. Then he took a palm-sized bug out of his pocket and put it on his forehead. What just happened was swallowed up by a bug that had engulfed his own energy, so Count Maient won¡¯t even remember. ¡°From now on, take care of yourself. I¡¯m letting it slide today because I¡¯m afraid Nuna will get in trouble if I get caught because I came secretly. If you mess with Nuna one more time, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Nevertheless, after leaving the threat, he opened his mouth wide. Whoak, whoak, whoakk! After several times, he took out three of the top mana stones in his stomach. At the same time, the man¡¯s body shrank and soon turned into a baby wolf. CH 95 Translated by Tam Edited by Genie Dell, who opened the opening to the magic bag and put away his magic stones, stopped while about to leave. There was a mountain of paperwork on the desk, which caught his eye. [Um¡ª there are many things like that on Nuna¡¯s desk] For some reason, he was instinctively interested, at the same time, his hands moved on their own. Sneaking through the drawers, he collected everything he could find and placed it all in the magic bag. After that, he turned around without hesitation and left Count Maient¡¯s house. After moving like the wind on the roof, Dell arrived at the mansion and headed straight for Serdel¡¯s office. After confirming that she wasn¡¯t there, Dell put the magic bag back in its original place. [This is a perfect crime. No, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong¡ª that¡¯s a perfect plan, uhm.] All that is left now is to quietly escape and brag about the story to his cat subordinates. Hiik! As he was wagging his tail, Serdel entered the room. ¡°Dell? Have you been playing in the garden? I haven¡¯t seen you all morning. Have you eaten?¡± Dell¡¯s head moved stiffly. The thief¡¯s legs were numb. The corner of his mouth began to tremble uncontrollably. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Dell shook its front paws wildly, meaning to say no. His eyes trembled violently as if an earthquake had occurred. And for a moment. [¡­.!] He remembered the documents he brought with him from Count Maient. Dell stood up right away. It was only then that he realized what he had done. It was all for nothing if he had moved secretly but left with evidence that he had been there. Surely Serdel will open the magic bag. It contains a variety of magic items like communication tools. And she¡¯ll see the documents. It was only a matter of time before he was caught. The perfect crime¡ªno, plan, ended up with a poor finish by him unwittingly picking up something so obvious and delivering it right to his master. He wanted to slap himself on the forehead, but he couldn¡¯t reach it. In the end, Dell raised both front feet as high as possible. Because Serdel hated someone who lied. The boy shed tears in order to find the light through surrender. [Uwaaaa. I made a mistake, Nuna.] ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Serdel tilted her head, staring blankly at Dell, who was crying out of the blue. Sniffing. [T, t, that¡ª. I came here after beating the guy who hit Nuna. I¡¯ve erased all his memories, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem. And!] Dell slowly looked around, took out the magic bag that he had just put in a drawer, placed it on the desk, and then stepped back. [I, I brought it from the weak punk¡¯s desk] ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel¡¯s mouth, which had been opened blankly, closed. At first, she wanted to know what Dell was saying, but her expression hardened as soon as she understood what he meant. Where should she start? She forcefully stretched the stiff forehead with her fingers and checked the inside of the magic bag. It was full of documents. She took out one page at a time and carefully looked through it. Most of the reports were related to Count Maient. There was information that she knew, and there was a lot of information that she didn¡¯t know. There were also various references to the shady business of Count Deriens, which he had been working on. Serdel¡¯s concentrating eyes were very fierce. ¡°Dell. Take this back and put it in its original place.¡± ¡°Yes? Why? Once we pick it up, it¡¯s all mine.] ¡°The knights of our family are threatening the place now, so who would you suspect first if you found out that such a thing is gone?¡± Dell¡¯s lips closed as he narrowed his eyes. Serdel put the papers in a new, empty magic bag, attached a string to it, and hung it around Dell¡¯s neck. ¡°Hurry up and put it back. And did you leave a scar on Count Maient¡¯s body?¡± [I think I left a handprint¡ª from strangling him until he passed out. In the sense of not flirting with Nuna, I also left the new bride on his forehead.] Bride¡ª. ¡®Did you leave a bug behind?¡¯ Sighing, she packed a bottle of potion. It¡¯s a waste to use it for such a guy, but at best, she didn¡¯t want to make anything that could get caught up in her head when things were going well. Dell¡¯s head drooped. [I¡¯m sorry. Dell got angry for nothing¡­ Dell just brought things¡­ But we have no idea what he would have done if Dell had not punished him.] He glances at her. When Count Maient called out Serdel¡¯s name, his eyes were filled with poison. Just thinking about it again makes his hair stand up. Dell knew better than anyone how dangerous a person with such a look in their eye could be. And how cruel those guys can be. Besides, wasn¡¯t he abandoned by his companion? He just wanted to stop him from approaching Serdel. [He¡¯s half crazy. He suddenly looks into the air and screams] Serdel didn¡¯t answer. Thanks to Dell, she learned a lot of information she didn¡¯t know. Especially since he was constantly reporting every move of Count Deriens, whom she couldn¡¯t take a close look at due to lack of manpower. Even so, she couldn¡¯t praise Dell¡¯s actions. ¡°Hurry up and put it back.¡± [¡­Yes, I¡¯ll be back.] The boy who was walking jumped off the terrace. Seeing Dell moving away, Serdel recalled the contents in her head. As soon as she got to her desk, she wrote down her future plans on paper. Then she took out the communication tool and contacted Edwan. [Lady!] Edwan was able to pick it up after the short pause. [Are you alright!] As soon as he saw her, he suddenly asked how she was. Behind him, Rudella was watching her with her waist bent. Her eyes were very big. [You don¡¯t know how worried I was. They say something bad happened in the palace, and the newspapers only pour provocative articles every moment. But when I contacted her first, I thought she was very upset because she didn¡¯t know what situation Lady was in!] [I will cut that bastard Hershe¡¯s legs¡ª] [Nunim.] Edwan stopped before Rudella¡¯s twisted lips could utter a bloody word. [First, let me give you a report. I put up the sign 5 days ago, and yesterday, after finishing the interior work, the display cases and items arrived. We got all the staff members] ¡°Hmm.¡± [10 sales staff, 5 clerical staff, and 5 retired mercenaries were hired as horsemen and delivery staff. If we get bigger, we¡¯ll also get peddlers.] As Serdel nodded, he continued. What items were purchased, how they will be sold, and even introduced items that Rudella, who is good with her hands, commissioned to the workshop and completed in large quantities. [Oh, and when do we start getting things from other countries? We need to know the schedule to promote it] The only way to know for sure was for her to speak with Falden. After completing the subjugation, will the items be brought directly to them, or will there be someone else who will send it to them? ¡°I¡¯ll see. How¡¯s the surveillance of Count Deriens going? Do you have any special information about him?¡± [Surveillance is still ongoing, but what has been discovered is insignificant compared to the effort put in. There was no problem up to a certain level, but when I tried to dig deeper¡ª.] Well, it¡¯s going to be difficult. The fact that she did what Count Maient had been working on for years and only discovered after a few months was ridiculous. [Lady. How about getting out of here? Isn¡¯t it because of Count Maient that you began to be wary of Count Deriens?] It was started as a business to bind the hands and feet of Count Maient in order to prevent him from wanting the mining business. Moreover, it would be difficult for the current Count Maient to make a comeback, so it was right to take her hands off of it. But¡­ ¡°It seems Count Deriens is interested in this.¡± She¡¯s just holding back for a while because of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. Through the documents Dell brought, it was possible to find out that he had a deep interest in Count Robbesta and was conducting a separate investigation. ¡°Edwan, please find out about a person named Eslie Rovello.¡± [¡­Yes. I understand.] Seeing the tension on his face, Serdel received a report from Rudella if any nobles had approached them at the same time as she left the Count. Fortunately, there were no particular people to be wary of. After finishing the communication, Serdel buried her body into the chair. Once she cleared her head, she straightened her posture again. Then she made a call to Falden. ¡°¡­.¡± It was quiet. No matter how many times she called, the front of the communication screen didn¡¯t light up. She tried to communicate with Maro, but it was the same. ¡®Are they in the middle of fighting?¡¯ Serdel, who was tapping the desk with her finger, then called Redan. She doesn¡¯t feel good. As time passed, her heart pounded. Swallowing up the anxiety of climbing, Serdel tried to contact others as well. The communication tool was still black. ¡°¡­.¡± Addis, Damon, and Belters too. She couldn¡¯t reach anyone. CH 96 [Nuna! I¡¯m back after taking care of it! I didn¡¯t feel good, but I poured the potion well on his face. I was very upset, but I even checked that I had healed the wounds!] Even though Dell approached with his tail wagging, Serdel¡¯s mind was blank. [Nuna?] Dell, who came close to her, tilted his head. [Nuna¡­] Dell¡¯s ears and tail drooped down. [Dell will go to the corner over there and be quiet¡­] The boy, who was stumbling and walking with heavy footsteps, soon whimpered. As if he misunderstood that Serdel was so angry that he turned away, Dell fell asleep after squatting in the corner for a while. Until then, there was no response from the communication tool. Her insides felt burnt. (It¡¯s an idiom meaning to worry about something and be fretful.) ****** The darkness that had fallen ended all of a sudden. Serdel, who stayed up all night with wide eyes, opened the door to the terrace. Goosebumps arose as the cool air of the early morning touched her skin. Whooo¡ª. After taking a deep breath, she exhaled for a long time. How many times has she repeated the same actions to try and soothe her anxious heart? The cold air chilled her. Whoo. She stepped off the terrace with one last breath and reached for a communication tool on her desk. ¡®Please, please pick up¡¯ ¡®Oraboni.¡¯ She prayed earnestly in her heart, but the light of the communication tool didn¡¯t change. It was the same with Addis and others. Is the battle continuing without even a moment to break? Is that why no one can answer her call? Or did the forest situation change rapidly, and smooth communication become impossible? She was frustrated because she didn¡¯t know the situation. ¡®How nice would it be to have a foresight dream at times like this!¡¯ It¡¯s one of her abilities, but why can¡¯t she control it as she wants? ¡®It would be very convenient if I could see into the future whenever I wanted.¡¯ The nervousness that began to happen once didn¡¯t subside easily and eventually led to dissatisfaction with her ability. The more she did, the smaller she felt. ¡®Everything¡¯s gonna be alright.¡¯ Yeah, it¡¯s going to be fine. Because it¡¯s a very unpredictable forest, communication will be difficult for a while. No news is good news. Isn¡¯t no news also bad news? She was pressing her chest, and a maid came in. ¡°Lady, I have prepared water for you to wash.¡± When she washed her face, her hair, which had just been dull, became a little clearer. Aside from that, she didn¡¯t touch the food. She couldn¡¯t even fit a spoonful into her mouth properly. She choked at the thought that everyone might be enduring the worst when she was at home. ¡°Lady. Your complexion doesn¡¯t look good. You¡¯re not in any pain, are you?¡± Looking at Serdel, the maid asked cautiously. ¡°You barely eat¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t have any appetite today.¡± In the end, Serdel bit the food she had barely touched. ¡°Would you like a cup of tea?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Wait a little bit! I¡¯ll hurry up, clean this up, and get in a delicious tea! Oh, and I¡¯ll bring some sweets. It could make you feel better.¡± As she said, she glanced at the newspaper placed near Serdel. She seemed to think that the master was in a bad mood due to the noisy stories with Count Maient continuing day after day. The maid hurried out, pretending to be bright. Left alone, Serdel approached the desk again. She swallowed her mixed feelings and touched the communication tool again. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me my communication tool is broken.¡± She shook the communication tool she had picked up. She looked over and over again. It was clean without a crack. It was then. With a short light, the communicator lit up. [¡­.] ¡°¡­Father?¡± She saw Cartal. [¡­I thought it was broken¡­. So It wasn¡¯t. I haven¡¯t been able to contact Addis and Redan for days.] ¡°¡­It¡¯s the same here.¡± Serdel¡¯s answer darkened his complexion. He was pretending to be calm so as not to show his anxious expression, but there was blue protruding from the back of his hands. [Nothing will happen] ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be fine.¡± She wanted to reassure him. It was the same for Cartal, and at the same time, she was dazed by what was said. [Since there¡¯s Addis, Redan will be safe] ¡°Since there¡¯s Unnie, Oraboni will be fine.¡± Cartal and Serdel¡¯s mouth shut. There was a moment of silence. Come to think of it, this situation was kind of like that. If she leaves this room and moves a little, she can see his office. It was rather funny that they were doing this with a communication tool. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, father.¡± [Yeah.] ¡°Did you eat?¡± [I already ate. How about you?] ¡°I¡¯m eating deliciously too, and I¡¯m waiting for tea.¡± [Yeah, and¡ª don¡¯t worry about Count Maient. Apparently, he¡¯s going crazy because he was shocked by the Lord of the Wizard Tower; that arrogant guy must not be in his right mind because he was treated like that in front of so many people.] He clicked his tongue. [Tsk. They said that his aide also eventually turned his back on him, so he would not be able to hold out for long and will end himself. So, you can stretch out your legs and sleep comfortably. You have nothing to worry about.] As Serdel nodded, Cartal finally ended the communication with a warm smile. The sense of silence fell again. The heavy silence felt more frightening today. Perhaps now Cartal feels the same as her, being crushed by the heavy air. She buried her head in her arms on the desk. ¡®Isn¡¯t there any way to understand the condition of the forest even if we are far away?¡¯ ¨C Knock knock. Hello, Young Lady. A low voice rang out. Even though she raised her eyes, she couldn¡¯t see anything, so she straightened her posture. ¨C I¡¯m outside that door. The procedure was too complicated to get formal permission to come, so I came without permission, but I still find it difficult to enter Lady¡¯s room at will. Knock knock, could you please excuse me? Did he knock with his mouth? She couldn¡¯t even laugh because she was dumbfounded. ¡°Come in.¡± ¨C Then excuse me. Serdel frowned at the Lord of Wizard tower that passed without opening the door. His body was opaque, like a ghost. That was why he had no choice but to knock by mouth. ¡°What a terrific excuse. What is it?¡± ¨C We haven¡¯t seen each other since that day. I was worried, but you didn¡¯t call me. Even if I want to ask with a voice in the wind, I want to ask after you face to face, but I think the Count will kick me out. I had no choice but to come to the state of my soul. ¡°¡­Come to think of it, I¡¯m too late to say it. Thank you very much for that time.¡± ¨C I don¡¯t like such formal greetings. ¡°Then what kind of greeting do you like?¡± ¨C Please buy me shoes. The conversation seemed to go to the mountain, but it went on strangely well. Looking down, Serdel looked at his feet. He was wearing the shoes when he lent them to her. ¨C Oh, it¡¯s a pity to leave it in the Imperial Palace. I bought a pair that was the only one left. ¡®You have shoes, right?¡¯ That¡¯s not what you mean, are you? Buy me new shoes. It is good to go out by carriage. Ah, Young Lady. Have you ever flown in the sky? ¡°I know how it feels to be in the air because someone jumped with me in his arms.¡± As she escaped from the slave market, Blenn held her in his arms and jumped swiftly from roof to roof. Back then it felt like flying in the sky. And when she and Falden were alone in the forest, there was a time when he jumped from a high tree while he was holding her. At the time, she felt like she was falling. ¨C ¡­. The Lord of the Wizard Tower looked at Serdel with dissatisfied eyes. ¨C Have you ever been spun around in the air? ¡°Is that a new kind of torture?¡± ¨C Well, I¡¯m hurt. It¡¯s just a conversation that doesn¡¯t mean much, but at some point, the tension was released, and her mind calmed down a bit. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you shoes soon.¡± ¨C Do you promise? As soon as she nodded, he stepped up and pushed his face close. It was so out of the blue that Serdel slightly backed up. ¨C Now, what makes you look like that? ¡°¡­.¡± ¨C What kind of trouble do you have that you are so immersed in worry? Please tell me everything. I¡¯ll help you. ¡°¡­I can¡¯t get in touch with my sister and brother.¡± ¨C Yes. ¡°I can¡¯t get in touch with other people too. You know the Duke of Blendard, don¡¯t you? ¨C Isn¡¯t he the best knight in the empire? ¡°Yes, I can¡¯t get in touch with him either.¡± It must have been that something big had happened to the fact that even the strongest people couldn¡¯t get her call. ¨C You must be worried. ¡°So I¡¯m looking for a way.¡± ¨C Hmm. With his chin raised, he went into thought. The expression was so serious that she was grateful for some reason. Unlike when she was alone earlier, she didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable or scared. Serdel, who rolled her eyes, continued the line of thought that had been paused for a moment by the Lord of the Wizard Tower. She had put her own mark on the mine to make it easier to find when going into further development. ¡®If I connect my mind to the power remaining on that mark, can I know the situation of the forest?¡¯ But to do that, she had to be close to the forest, but this place was too far. ¡®Will I be able to see the situation through this path¡ª¡¯ As she sighed, a good thought suddenly came to her mind. Serdel raised her head. ¨C You have a good idea. You can tell me anything. I¡¯ll be the Young Lady¡¯s strength. CH 97 ¡°Will you protect me?¡± ¨C Protection, you say? That¡¯s unexpected. I thought you¡¯d ask me to take you to Elbash Forest. A bitter smile formed on Serdel¡¯s lips. If she were going to make such a request, she wouldn¡¯t even have come back to the capital first. She had only received permission from Cartal to join the expedition in the first place. No matter how much of Radun¡¯s power she gained, only Falden saw the process and knew about it. Even then, he expressed concern in the middle for fear if she would participate in the subjugation. He decided coldly that Serdel wouldn¡¯t help in the subjugation. Apart from not having any experience in combat, there was a high possibility that Addis, Redan, and even all the Count¡¯s knights couldn¡¯t concentrate on the battle. In the face of a life-threatening battle, Serdel could become everyone¡¯s weakness. Even if she shows her power and is only slightly in danger, everyone will try to save her. No matter what her intentions are, she will end up being a bother to everyone. She didn¡¯t pretend not to know that, so she didn¡¯t even consider going to subjugation. Even more so now. She can¡¯t go. ¡®If I¡¯m gone, the mansion will turn upside down.¡¯ Cartal was already pale due to Addis and Redan¡¯s concerns, but he may have fainted if he received a significant shock like his last child being missing. ¡°I can¡¯t move around without knowing the situation. They must have been in danger, but I don¡¯t know what kind of place they might be fighting against the monsters in.¡± Serdel thought about the situation in many different ways so that she wouldn¡¯t limit the range of her thoughts. The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s mouth turned up, and his eyes seemed to see further than common sense. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t know even if it¡¯s close. It¡¯s too far from there. I don¡¯t even know the exact coordinates.¡± ¨C Yes. Obviously, the longer the distance, the more secure the trip is guaranteed only when I¡¯ve been to a place I¡¯ve been to. Teleport belonged to high-ranking magic, which was difficult by nature. As far as the capital palace and her home was concerned, they could go back and forth as easily as going from the front yard to the foyer, but the farther away they went, the more likely it was that they would get stuck at the edge of the dimension if they tried to move only by prediction. ¨C However, there is another way, we could fly in the sky as long as the Young Lady gives directions. ¡°It takes a long time, so I think that method will be difficult.¡± ¨C It¡¯s reckless. Especially since I¡¯ve never been outside the capital. Oh, now that I¡¯m doing this, I suddenly look pretty dull. I said with confidence that I would listen to everything. The Lord of the Wizard Tower shrugged his shoulders with a sad expression on his face. ¨C I don¡¯t look cool. This is why life is sad. Why is the state of his life suddenly mentioned here? He shook his head and took off his shoes and his coat. ¨C As expected, barefoot is more comfortable for me. When my feet are sweaty, my head feels like it¡¯s frozen. He also unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt, which was tight around his neck. ¨C I was very careful about meeting the Young Lady and came out dressed up, but I think this is the most comfortable for me. Now, how can I protect you? ¡°I¡¯m going to concentrate. Maybe for quite some time. So please help me not to be disturbed by others.¡± ¨C Yes, I will. Serdel took the mana stones from her magic bag that she had brought from the mines. ¡°And one more. I wish you could constantly put mana into this mana here.¡± ¨C All right. It was not an easy request. Even so, the Lord of the Wizard Tower replied lightly as if that was not a big deal. Thanks to him, she felt reassured. The worry and fear that she might fail are almost gone. She raised and pulled the energy in her body as she closed her eyes. The silver threads floated into the air. At the same time, she absorbed the mana flowing out of the mana stone. The Lord of the Wizard Tower then transferred his mana to the mana stone. First, Serdel, who had tied the forest energy to her body before, created seven rings, which was the most she could make, and wrapped them around her heart. Even when she trained in dreams with Radun for a short time, she only made seven rings at once. Since it was the first time she had tried it in real life, her heart felt heavy in a strange and familiar way. ¡°¡­.¡± She felt a bit overwhelmed. It was definitely different from when she imagined it. She was about to groan, but she forced herself to swallow it. Instead, her lips move slightly. As the poured words grew more powerful, she could feel them seeping back into her heart. She created several spells by combining them with the runes that flowed out of the ring. The rest of the spell came out of her body and surrounded her body. Serdel¡¯s spirit, which had swallowed up the energy of the Lord of the Wizard Tower through the mana stone, quickly followed the open road and headed for the Elbash Forest. ¨C ¡­.. In the meantime, the Lord of the Wizard Tower mixed the powder and liquid he took out of his pocket, put it on his hand, and drew a magic circle in the air to activate it. Soon, Serdel¡¯s presence became hazy. The room was the same, but no one in the mansion would recognize this place for a while. After completing a series of tasks, he focused Serdel again. He fixed his gaze on her rune, which tied her around her. Sorcery¡ª. He couldn¡¯t believe it. He never thought he¡¯d see this ability, which has been dead for a long time¡­!! The day she first entered the Wizard tower. Through the magic circle at the entrance, he could tell that someone with unusual energy was coming in. So he was thrilled when he faced Serdel. It was only natural that she stimulated his curiosity as a wizard. The Lord of the Wizard Tower carefully approached her. ¨C That¡¯s amazing. At first glance, sorcery and magic seem similar, but it was different. It¡¯s the same as building up mana in a mana ball, drawing all the forces around it to the base, and blowing them all up at once. Unlike magic, where power and trajectory is clearly visible, sorcery is invisible. While magic was a force that was used openly, sorcery was like a secret force. How the hell can she handle this power? It would be an impossible skill to acquire without a teacher. Maybe from the Countess? ¡®It couldn¡¯t be. Because I¡¯ve never felt any special power in her.¡¯ They said the Countess was quite eccentric, and she was a good-natured person. She often said things that didn¡¯t make sense, whether she was good at predicting the future or not. Then who is it? Who awakened her to this power and taught her? This dangerous power. The greedy Imperial family wouldn¡¯t miss her if they noticed. A cold shadow fell at the corner of the Lord the Wizard Tower¡¯s eyes. For a while, even though no one was looking at him, he hid his expression and looked at Serdel¡¯s face. She looked peaceful with her eyes closed. ¨C You will hear my voice. Reach out whenever you think it¡¯s in danger. I¡¯m going to save you. He¡¯s not sure if it¡¯s possible, but he wanted to make her feel better. A faint smile appeared around Serdel¡¯s mouth as if to thank him. That¡¯s the answer. Pulling out a chair, he sat down and focused on Serdel¡¯s condition with his arms crossed on the desk. There was no one to disturb her. ***** It felt like running through a dark tunnel at the speed of light. The place where she arrived at the end was familiar yet unfamiliar. ¡®This is definitely¡­¡¯ It was where Radun¡¯s arrangement was. She heard that it had fallen down, but has it ever been restored? She was looking for the mine¡¯s energy since it was filled with Mana Stones and was likely where people would be, but it seemed like she was led here because her core was attracted to Radun¡¯s power. Serdel tried to leave for now. How far did she go that way? The light swarm that came over sent her outside. ¡®¡­.¡¯ The scene she encountered was even more horrifying than what she saw in her predictions. Against the bloody air, there was no longer a fresh and beautiful forest. Serdel took a deep breath as she looked at the situation, which was so bad that she couldn¡¯t even see the whole extent of it. Even though she was only experiencing it with her soul, it felt like the bloody smell that wrapped around everything was trapped in her lungs. She looked for the trace of Addis and Redan with a frown on her face. The ground was covered in blood, and there were so many obstacles that it was not easy to take a step. At first, she walked consciously, but just as the Lord of the Wizard Tower had just crossed the door earlier, she also ran recklessly without hesitation. Soon after, the bodies of soldiers and mercenaries were seen. She tried to bite her lip and turn away, but she stopped without realizing it when she saw a young soldier. The mark on the armor looks like a soldier from the Marquis of Spendar. Even though he died with his eyes wide open in fear, he can¡¯t rest. She wanted to close his eyes. Serdel unknowingly took her hand closer. Her hand should have passed through him, but perhaps because of her deep desire, the body¡¯s eyes were closed in line with her hand movements. CH 98 Serdel, who started moving again, continued to run. However, because the forest was so wide, she couldn¡¯t find any trace of anyone. If this is the case, she will only be wasting precious time. She couldn¡¯t just wander, so she had to come up with a way. ¡®Can I use more power here?¡¯ There are already seven rings, which is the most that she can make. She didn¡¯t know what would happen if she overdid it. Serdel recalled the way Falden used Radun¡¯s power in the original story. Even though they both had the same basis for their power, he inherited the power of a white crow and used it combatively without suffering too many repercussions. The way he used his powers and abilities was completely different from the way she was able to do things. It¡¯s like day and night. No, like the outside and the inside. His power combined with the white crow¡¯s had an amplifying effect. ¡®So I can¡¯t take it any further.¡¯ What kind of bad thing will happen to her if she overdoes it? ¡®Is there no choice but to try it myself?¡¯ She was nervous, but she couldn¡¯t act halfway here. After anxious thinking for a few more seconds, she immediately began to focus. She added twisted skeins of thread over the existing ring. It was impossible to increase the number of rings, so there was no choice but to expand the area already created. The four rings more than doubled in size compared to the other three rings she hadn¡¯t worked on. Nevertheless, contrary to her concerns, it was easy. Rather¡ª. ¡®I feel a little more stable.¡¯ It felt almost contradictory. Why is it less of a burden when she used her power when her body and mind were separated? Come to think of it, even when the black crow trained her in her dream, her body was only asleep. ¡®¡ªNow is not the time to think deeply about these things. Calm down.¡¯ Turning her head, Serdel turned her attention from Addis, Redan and Falden. He had mined a mana stone with her the other day to report to the Emperor. If he still has it, she will surely be able to find their trace. ¡®¡­.¡¯ After suppressing her anxious mind. ¡®I found it!¡¯ Serdel¡¯s eyes began to see a mixture of silver and gold. She hurried to move her legs, but it was slower than when she moved on Dell. It would be convenient if she could fly like magic. While pondering her regret, darkness came, and she moved non-stop until the day dawned. ¡®It¡¯s so quiet.¡¯ At this point, it was possible to meet a few monsters, but it was as quiet as a dead mouse. She was scared. ¡®Everything¡¯s gonna be fine.¡¯ Everyone¡¯s going to be fine. As she became more nervous, she became more impatient for no reason, and her concentration broke. Serdel scrambled to refocus her mind and continued her slow trek. After another half-day of moving like that, she was able to find the camp. As if there had been a great battle, there was nothing. Instead, the bodies of soldiers and mercenaries were scattered all over the large and small barracks that had collapsed. There were also traces of a fire, and the choking smell of smoke was even stronger at that time. After crossing the battlefield for a while, the air current stopped. She glanced at the cave that appeared in front of her. She felt a presence inside. When she gathered power in her eyes, she widened her field of vision, and she was able to look into the cave in more detail. Several soldiers and servants were sleeping together, and between them, she could see Siri and Terra taking care of their surroundings. She almost burst into tears. Siri¡¯s leather armor was torn here and there, it seems that she was seriously injured. Contrary to Siri¡¯s tired face, her eyes were sharp, perhaps because she had jumped from life to death and back repeatedly. There was no longer her previous appearance of smiling innocently like a puppy. Leaving behind the complex emotions, Serdel looked beyond that. Damon was sitting alone in a corner. Even though he was very tired and his face was pretty beat up, he shone like he was in another world. He was sharpening his blood-stained sword. The usual soft look was there, but the deadly force that came out of nowhere quietly was fierce. ¡®The others¡ª!¡¯ She couldn¡¯t see them. She heard that they were all fighting together, unlike during the expedition. Why aren¡¯t they here? Come to think of it, the number of people in the cave was small to be the total number of troops. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me, did they split up?¡¯ It was impossible, so Serdel quietly went inside. No one noticed her presence. No one will ever see Serdel as she is now unless they are very sensitive, or she allows it. As she walked past Damon and went further inside, she heard a shallow groan. When she got closer, Redan, who had taken off his top, was sitting there. The amount of blood oozing over the bandages wrapped around his solid muscles was unusual. The magi that covered it was also thick. Redan¡¯s hand was holding a mana stone that Falden had probably given him, he absorbed the mana contained inside and prevented the magi from penetrating further. His body was shaking like crazy. ¡®What about Maro? Where is he?¡¯ Where the hell is Addis? While Serdel¡¯s thoughts were running around. ¡°Am I¡ª seeing something?¡± When he opened his eyes, Redan growled with heavy breathing. It sounded more like coughing because of pain in his voice. ¡°Or is it time to die¡ª¡± ¡®Can¡­ you see me?¡¯ It seemed that he felt a sense of her presence for a while because of the increased concentration of energy he had after absorbing the energy of the Mana Stone. ¡°¡­even if it¡¯s a hallucination, I don¡¯t want to see you in a dangerous place like this, so go away.¡± Serdel¡¯s face was distorted. ¡°¡­No, don¡¯t go¡­. Even if it¡¯s a hallucination, yeah, it¡¯s a hallucination, but stay in front of me. I can¡¯t die here. Even so¡­ My head is getting blank¡­ I have to keep talking¡­.¡± It felt like her heart was about to collapse at the sight of his struggling smile. ¡°In the past, I didn¡¯t think there was anyone who would be hurt if I died¡­ Now, I feel sorry for Nuna, I feel sorry for you¡­ and I feel sorry for my father.¡± Saying that, Redan looked the most pitiful in Serdel¡¯s eyes. What does this look mean¡ª. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sorry. That bastard Hershe Maient¡­¡± While muttering, he bit his lips to the point of bleeding, as if he were getting emotional. ¡°That bastard¡­¡± His eyes grew redder and redder. ¡°When you¡¯re having a hard time¡­ I can¡¯t be next to you as your older brother¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Ha, haha. It¡¯s just hallucinations, just hallucinations¡­ but I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± Something dripped down the tip of her chin. Serdel didn¡¯t even know she was crying and only shook her head to try and clear her blurred eyes. Why can¡¯t sorcery heal people? If she had been a wizard, she would have healed him right away if she had only been able to use heal magic. Even when the ending failed, the feeling of helplessness was not so deep. Redan¡¯s eyes also shed tears. ¡°And¡­ when I was young¡­ I¡¯m really sorry for putting all my resentment that mother died on you in the past because you didn¡¯t tell me properly¡­ But, Serdel¡­ I don¡¯t know how much I regretted it¡­.¡± ¡®¡­.¡¯ ¡°When I was young, I was always annoyed by you looking at me and chasing after me. Instead, you were smiling at me¡­ You looked so stupid¡­ But if I could go back to that time, how great would it be¡­¡± Serdel¡¯s head bowed down gradually. Maybe her face is a mess right now. She didn¡¯t want to get caught. ¡°I can¡¯t go back¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s right. So¡­ I¡¯ll survive and stop wasting my breath. To my place, I¡¯m going back¡­ Serdel¡­ can you smile at me for once?¡± Redan¡¯s body leaned to the side at the end of those words. ¡®Oraboni!¡¯ His eyes were slowly losing focus and he was slipping down to the the floor. ¡®Oraboni! Oraboni!¡¯ Her heart rushed her in panic. ¡®Maro, I have to bring Maro!¡¯ She left the cave after setting up several layers of camp with sorcery around the place where Redan was. ¡®How do I find it, how do I find him?¡¯ The more she thought of Maro, the more she remembered the unique energy he had exuded while treating Damon. In an instant, she awakened her instincts, and Serdel used location-tracking magic based on his energy from her memory. At the same time, she kept trying to swim through the forest in the direction of the Monster Village she saw the other day. But to find Maro, she had to stop moving. At that moment¡ª. The earth rang, and she could feel the monsters headed to the scent of blood. Serdel¡¯s head turned. ¡®I must not let them go to the cave!¡¯ She combined the runes flowing from her fingertips according to her will. She didn¡¯t know how effective her attacks would be in this state, but she can¡¯t just give up. The mana gathered between the completed sorcery spells soon became blades of wind and smashed into the incoming horde. Whoosh! She tore down a few monsters with a creepy shattering sound. Without stopping there, the ground on which they were standing sank, and protruding earth swords slashed through the other monsters as well. Kill, kill again. To protect Redan and his people. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t get tired because she was able to constantly swallow the energy of the Lord of the Wizard Tower through the mana stone. Just having someone to support her was a great help at this moment. It was then. From the other side, flashes of light came, and many monsters turned into dead bodies and fell to the floor. It was Belters. He was approaching with Maro, who seemed to have fainted, on his shoulder. Even when he saw Serdel, he was calm. She was also more relieved than surprised he could see her as she didn¡¯t expect to be able to deceive Belters¡¯ eyes since he was the top swordmaster. ¡°You¡¯ll hear more about this later. The subjugation will be over soon after dealing with the boss. Young Lady, let¡¯s get out of that state and return to reality.¡± ¨C ¡­.. ¡°Dame Addis is fine, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± His smile to Serdel was soft. After hesitating for a while, she ended her projection and raised her consciousness back to her body when she heard that Addis would arrive soon. CH 99 Translated by Tam Edited by Tam ¡°¡­.¡± As the distant sensation of her body returned, Serdel opened her eyes. But she couldn¡¯t see well. She wondered why, but her vision was blocked with tears. Not only that but her cheeks and chin were wet. Serdel, who covered her face with both hands, bowed her head. Her heart really hurt. Every word Redan said to her was stuck in her mind like broken glass, and she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it at all. At the same time, the blade of guilt cut through her heart, which was already hurting. She feels sorry. Because she¡¯s not the real Serdel. Up until now, neither Addis nor Redan had gotten emotional, and Cartal had only ever bowed his head and said he¡¯s sorry. They had only given apologies in their first life, which they didn¡¯t even remember. But this time, she couldn¡¯t think of it that way. Redan¡¯s sincerity was toward her, but it wasn¡¯t hers. As soon as she realized it again, terrible loneliness and suffering poured into her like a storm. Today, the world just seemed more unfamiliar. ¨C Is the situation very bad there? She was in so much pain that she couldn¡¯t help herself, then the Lord of the Wizard Tower asked her that, breaking her stupor slightly. Serdel shook her head slightly in that state. ¨C Did your family get hurt? She had to answer, but her throat choked, and she couldn¡¯t speak clearly. ¨C Is everyone safe? She nodded her head. ¨C That¡¯s a relief. Yeah, it¡¯s a relief. How did Belters show up with Maro at that moment? Thanks to this, Redan will be safe. Is that all? Everything is very different from the past when the imperial family suffered a great loss by pulling their foot out. Falden, who had strong strength and leadership, stood at the center of everyone, and his outstanding subordinates supported him. With the help of wizards, many people were saved, and Belters was there for support. He had such great power as a swordmaster that he had already killed the boss. As he said, the subjugation would be over soon. Everything was showing better results than she expected. ¨C But why are you crying? Why are you so sad? ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel¡¯s head lowered more. The Lord of the Wizard Tower thought about what to do as he watched her try to hide her face. ¨C I¡¯m used to being alone, so I don¡¯t know how to comfort people who cry. He unfolded his magic without hesitation, but there was no clever humor that could solve such a situation. He felt lost, especially since he rarely sees anyone cry. With some hesitation, he reached out and put warm energy into Serdel. It was comforting in its own way. The comfort that had been conveyed strangely touched her heart. Her fast beating heart calmed down. Without her realizing it, she slowly raised her head. The invisible hand of the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who approached just in time, moved as if to wipe her tears. At that moment, everything reflected in her eyes shuddered, and her vision suddenly changed. It was a phenomenon that was not unfamiliar to her anymore, not now, ¡®foresight.¡¯ ¡®It didn¡¯t even come to me when I wanted it desperately.¡¯ Laughter flowed out at the sudden phenomenon. Chewing on the inside of her lip, Serdel concentrated on what was unfolding before her eyes. The dark time before dawn. With only one point of light pouring from the rising moonlight shining around. She was crying by herself. It¡¯s sadder than now. She swallowed her pain. She didn¡¯t know why she was crying, but Blenn was standing next to her. His face was also distorted to the fullest. Even though he was confused, he carefully held her arms and¡ª cried with her. As if to share the pain. Blenn was even more hurt and upset by her outpouring of emotions. He moved his lips slightly, but somehow there was no voice, unlike in previous foresights. However, she could see that he was trying to comfort her. The short foresight ended with the last image of her leaning her forehead on his chest, perhaps exhausted. The phenomenon that had blocked her eyes disappeared, and Serdel shook her head briefly. However, her movement to shake the moment seemed to reject the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s hand that was reaching out. ¨C Ah, I¡¯m sorry. The Lord of the Wizard Tower stood by with awkwardness. Naturally, the atmosphere has become strange. ¡°¡­my face is very ugly¡­¡± Serdel muttered something to get rid of the awkwardness. ¨C No, it¡¯s not ugly at all. He hesitated again before reaching out and brushing his arcane fingers gently around Serdel¡¯s eyes. Of course, she can¡¯t feel his touch. Instead, a cool refreshing sensation touched her face and then disappeared. The corners of her eyes, which had been stiff with tears, softened. The skin around it, which felt stiff, was also soft. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¨C It was nothing. Whenever you¡¯re having a hard time, call my name. Even though I¡¯m not free, I¡¯ll be right there. Serdel nodded her head. ¨C You must be tired, so take a rest today. Previously, he tried to stick around with any excuse of arrogance, but today he stepped back on his own. Soon, both the Lord of the Wizard Tower and the magic that had been in the room disappeared. Serdel, who was left alone, jumped up and left the bedroom, forcibly shaking off her depression. I told you to rest¡ª. It felt like she had heard a shallow murmur from somewhere. ****** Serdel headed to Cartal¡¯s office. ¡°Lady, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the butler?¡± ¡°Ah, he has work to do for a while.¡± The butler, who would normally stand guard in front of the office like the guard, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the head maid was taking his place, and she smiled awkwardly at Serdel¡¯s question. ¡°Hmm, please prepare some tea.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady. Oh, the Master hasn¡¯t been able to eat a whole meal lately. I¡¯ll put a simple sandwich on it. He will eat it because he doesn¡¯t want the Lady in front of him to worry.¡± So, as if begging her to stay as long as possible, the head maid clasped her hands. After a brief nod of agreement, Serdel went inside. Cartal was completely absorbed by the papers in front of him. Deep enough to not even notice she came in. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel came closer and tapped the desk with the back of her hand. ¡°Father.¡± Only then did Cartal, who saw her, get surprised later. It was also the first time she saw him so embarrassed, so Serdel was rather surprised. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. For a moment¡ª¡± After rubbing his forehead, he took a deep breath and swept his face dry. ¡°I lost my mind for a moment.¡± He looked like he couldn¡¯t sleep because his eyes were even darker than when he looked at the communication tool. He had a rough face, and the few white hairs she saw for the first time today seemed to show how sad he was. ¡°¡­I still can¡¯t communicate with Addis and Redan¡­¡± He was speaking calmly in front of her, trying to be calm somehow, but his hands were shaking. He held it tightly together as if to hide it. ¡°Addis, this isn¡¯t the first time she¡¯s joined a subjugation¡ª at least¡ª¡± The words ¡°relieved¡± couldn¡¯t come out of his mouth. Even a genius knight was a child to him, and there was no reason not to consider her precious. Perhaps every time Addis went on a subjugation, he couldn¡¯t sleep. He just didn¡¯t express it as a father. He must have always been worried. Emotions fluctuated again as things that were not visible kept on being seen. If she hadn¡¯t known, she would have just ignored it, but now she can¡¯t do that. ¡°¡­I¡¯m worried about Redan. He never lets go of a sword in his hand, but he hasn¡¯t trained as hard as I did when I was young¡­ Besides, he¡¯s an unstable guy, so there must have been something wrong¡­.¡± His blue lips trembled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Father.¡± Cartal raised his head. ¡°Unnie and Oraboni are safe. The Duke of Blendard said that. I think the subjugation will be over soon since they¡¯ve already killed the boss. After they deal with the remaining monsters, everyone will safely return to the capital.¡± ¡°¡­.!¡± He kicked the desk and jumped out of his seat. ¡°T, that¡¯s¡ª is that true¡ª!¡± ¡°Yes. So you don¡¯t have to worry. You can let go of your anxious feelings. Father.¡± ¡°A, ah¡ª Oh my¡ª!¡± He covered his face with both hands, bowed his head and sat down as if his legs had lost power. For a while. His body leaned to the side. ¡°Father!¡± Surprised, Serdel ran to him. His whole body was hot as a fireball. She looked through the drawer, but she didn¡¯t find a potion bottle. ¡°Father, father!¡± Serdel, who had laid Cartal¡¯s head on her lap, shouted out. Then the surprised knights came in, carried Cartal and ran to the bedroom. After that, Serdel followed them. The knights who carefully laid him down on the bed looked through the drawers. However, not a single potion came out. Why didn¡¯t he keep a bottle of medicine nearby? ¡°Bring all the potions from my desk drawer in my room!¡± The knight who rushed out to follow her command soon came back with a potion. She slowly dripped it into her father¡¯s mouth. His fever went down and his normal complexion began to return. At the same time, a status window appeared in front of her eyes. CH 100 Translated by Tam Edited by Genie [The distorted family relationship heals in a better direction and the families¡¯ understanding of each other increases.] [Inner view of the mansion will be given as a reward for the relationship.] ¡°¡­.¡± She doesn¡¯t know how to react. The information in the status window was so important that Serdel just stared blankly into the air for a while. As she slowly blinked once, the inside of the mansion she got as a reward opened. The mansion is so spacious, and she usually only goes to the same places, so there were quite a few places she didn¡¯t know. Therefore, as soon as she received some house management rights from Cartal, the first thing she did was examine the house¡¯s interior. It seems that there was another area that she didn¡¯t know about. ¡®The fact that this was given as a reward¡ª In other words, there must be something I need to find out in that unauthorized place, right?¡¯ She didn¡¯t have to think about what it would be. More than anything, she wanted to know why a status window with such content was being displayed in such a situation. ¡®I was trying to find out about the Countess anyway.¡¯ It felt like the system was helping. More specifically, it seemed to be leading her. At the same time, it feels like deja vu. ¡®¡­if only I could gather information in some way¡­¡¯ It¡¯s not bad, but why does she feel so uncomfortable? ¡°Lady, if I may ask, do you feel sick or something¡ª¡± After staring into the air for a long time, Monem, the head maid and the butler wiping away tears at Cartal¡¯s sudden collapse, turned to look at her. The three of them were worried that she might fall ill too. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of my father, so go get some rest.¡± ¡°No, Lady.¡± Monem¡¯s head shook in refusal. ¡°We are fine. You must be going through a lot, Lady, so hurry up and get some rest.¡± The head maid also waved her hands. ¡°After my father, there are three people in Count Robbesta who are the most important. My father also collapsed, but are you going to fall together while trying too hard? Then who will protect the mansion? I can¡¯t do it alone, so I want you to take care of yourself.¡± When Serdel gave a firm order, the three people hesitated for a moment before shrugging their shoulders. ¡°Drink a bottle of this. Hurry.¡± She put a potion into each of their hands. The three finally drank the potion when Serdel looked at them with her sharp eyes. ¡°Ah, but why isn¡¯t there a single medicine bottle in my father¡¯s office and bedroom?¡± ¡°¡­The Master doesn¡¯t take much even when he is sick. Medicine too¡ªhe doesn¡¯t take it well. When he hurts, he doesn¡¯t forget that he¡¯s alive¡­.¡± The butler¡¯s face was heavy as he answered. It even looked painful at first glance. ¡°I knew he was doing too much because he hadn¡¯t been eating much recently, but I couldn¡¯t stop him¡­Nevertheless, I couldn¡¯t take good care of him, so the Master collapsed¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the butler¡¯s fault. So don¡¯t blame yourself. I¡¯ll take over all the work for the time being instead of my father. Please let me see it.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Go and rest.¡± Seeing that the three were leaving, Serdel gave a separate order to the maid standing next to her. ¡°Go and bring the papers from my father¡¯s office.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± When the maid left, she did nothing but sit in the bedroom in silence. Cartal lost consciousness that day. Until the next day. **** Early in the morning, Cartal¡¯s eyes, which had been closed for two days, were opened. He paused for a moment, then rolled his eyes and looked around. After making sure it was his bedroom, he finally remembered that he had fallen, biting his lips and lifting his upper body. Srrk, srrk. He turned his head when he heard the sound of the paper turning and saw Serdel sitting at the desk looking at the documents. Serious eyes and a serious expression. Despite her small body, he could feel her charisma in her upright posture. The figure was impressive for some reason. Cartal watched his daughter in wonder. Then, his eyes met Serdel¡¯s. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Serdel was neither surprised nor nervous. She didn¡¯t even ask if he was okay. In order not to make Cartal feel uncomfortable, she treated him as naturally as possible. ¡°Yeah. My body feels very light after a long time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the power of a potion.¡± At the meaningless joke from his daughter, he burst into laughter. ¡°Haha, hahaha¡ª¡± Although he lacked a bit of energy, the sound of laughter was quite light. ¡°You have to eat, right? I¡¯m hungry, father.¡± ¡°At this late hour?¡± He looked at the darkness outside the window and tried to wave his hand. ¡°Everyone is on standby. They said they didn¡¯t know what father would need when you woke up. Even if I tell them to rest.¡± Serdel shrugged her shoulders. Conversations went back and forth more easily and naturally than ever. The feelings of debt each had towards each other disappeared for a moment, and thanks to them, they were now like ordinary fathers and daughters. As Serdel pulled the string, Monem, who was waiting outside, came in. When Monem saw Cartal awake, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Y, you have to eat something, Master. Because you will get an upset stomach.¡± ¡°Prepare it for me.¡± Cartal smiled, and Monem nodded and left. Again, the two were left alone. ¡°What were you looking at?¡± ¡°Reports from the territory. When they were informed that the subjugation would be over soon, the officials suddenly became very ambitious.¡± ¡°Did they have any useful comments?¡± ¡°Not really. Everyone¡¯s just excited and holding the floating clouds.¡± (It¡¯s an idiom that means something like talking about something impossible.) ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°For the time being, I will take over all of my father¡¯s work. So take a break.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like an old man in the back room.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes fixed on him as she was about to turn to the papers. ¡°I never treated you like that. And if you don¡¯t want to be treated like that, you should have taken care of yourself. You didn¡¯t wake up for two days.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel took a pill out of her magic pocket. ¡°It¡¯ll be great if you eat it.¡± Cartal¡¯s forehead was wrinkled. His lips trembled. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, take a good rest for a while. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to force you to eat this.¡± He raised his eyes and scanned the ceiling as if he were looking at a distant mountain. Only then did Serdel concentrate on the papers again. It was nice to hear the sound of the fountain pen touching the paper. Cartal glanced at Serdel with a squint. Peace seemed to have come. In addition, for some reason, he thought that the seat and Serdel fit very well. ¡°¡­Will you continue to sit down here?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I mean, will you keep sitting there? I¡¯ll give you a successor position if you want.¡± Before Serdel could say anything, Cartal¡¯s words continued. ¡°Addis has the best qualities as a knight, but not as a successor. I¡¯m sure you know that better than anyone.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°In the beginning, I chose Redan to be the successor because I believed he would soon come to his senses, so there would be no regrets. Redan also has no desire for his place¡ª¡± ¡°No, Oraboni will be the successor again.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°He will find his place. So when he comes back, this seat will be Oraboni¡¯s. It¡¯s not my place, father.¡± Cartal¡¯s eyes hardened. His expression became colder, the opposite of what he had expected. ¡°He was hot-tempered when he was young, but he was definitely smart. But not now. He has intelligence, but he doesn¡¯t have the stamina to keep it up for long.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. Oraboni is different.¡± ¡°No. The temperament of a person who has been greatly twisted doesn¡¯t come back easily. From the outside, it looks okay. But if something difficult happens at some point, he¡¯ll start throwing it away again.¡± As always! Cartal was firm. ¡°On the other hand, you have overcome all those difficult times. Aren¡¯t you walking on the right path with your own strength? Serdel, you will become the heir. So, follow this father¡¯s footsteps.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes looked down. ¡°I thought I could protect you just by hiding you. I¡¯ve only thought I could keep you safe if I put out your temper.¡± Cartal, who got out of bed, slowly approached. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose you too; I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose you as well. I¡¯ve thoroughly ignored and turned away from you. However, the temperament wasn¡¯t something I could put out as I said, and it came back to life again¡ª¡± He stopped in front of the desk, stretched out his arms, and grabbed Serdel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This father will surely protect you. No matter what danger comes, even if my body is torn to pieces! I will risk my life to protect you, so why don¡¯t you look up at me once in a while.¡± Suddenly, Cartal had returned to being the head of a family, not her father. Serdel¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°Serdel Robbesta. Be the successor to Count Robbesta.¡± A dignified voice fell over her head. At the same time, [You have successfully completed the subjugation of Elbash Forest.] [You will be rewarded] [Serdel Robbesta ¨C Recognized as the successor of the Count.] The status window floated out of nowhere. With a terrifying force¡ª. CH 101 [You led the planning and progress of the Elbash Forest exploration, learned a new type of magic, and influenced the subjugation. The resulting casualty ratio is converted into points. ? 13,000 additional points will be added. ? Total Points: 33,000 ¡ú Points will be used with a congratulatory message upon reaching 35,000.] [Those who took part in the subjugation and made the most advances are also rewarded.] [Siri ¨C A genius awakened by a life-threatening battle shines brighter than ever. A special power is concentrated around her.] [Terra ¨C He begins to feel mana. If he concentrates his power he can add mana to their arrows.] [Addis Robbesta ¨C One step closer to the highest level of Sword Expertise.] [Maro ¨C To he, who was full of mannerisms and slowed down his development as a wizard, this incident makes him a hot topic, breaking barriers. In the future, he will become a much stronger imperial wizard and a strong supporter of the 2nd Prince.] Is it enough to come out now? She can¡¯t think of anything. Serdel glanced at Cartal¡¯s hand that was holding her shoulder. Then she looked away. His firm will to make her a successor has been transmitted through his eyes. ¡®I¡¯m lost for words¡ª¡¯ She had to say no, but the words didn¡¯t come out well. She was even more confused by what he had just said. Cartal¡¯s promise to protect her presence felt like a heavy burden if she couldn¡¯t kill his temper. His promise to protect her even after death didn¡¯t make her happy or touched at all. She was somewhat anxious. ¡°¡­..¡± To stall for time, Serdel examined the ground. She remembered Redan, who said he was sorry and would find his place soon. The position of the successor was unstable, and it was probably a place he had to return to. She didn¡¯t want to take that. She was about to open her mouth, but a status window came up a few seconds later than the rest. Naturally, her head also looked up. [Redan Robbesta ¨C His heart and mind grow through this event. If he leaves the capital, he will shine and gain stability.] To call that a reward, she could say that it was full of nonsense. She wondered again what was going on. Isn¡¯t leaving the capital like being demoted? ¡®What happens if he doesn¡¯t leave?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself. A red warning window popped up as if to answer her. [Dies within four months.] She felt like her heart would drop. The status window disappeared as if it had finished its job. Serdel¡¯s eyes, which were looking at the clean air with a surprised look, met Cartal¡¯s eyes. ¡®Why the hell¡­ Is there someone trying to harm Redan?¡¯ It is said that both his heart and mind are growing. No way. Is it temporary? Or¡ª. ¡®Even if Oraboni becomes the next successor, he will still try to find out who murdered the Countess.¡¯ He might use his new power to find things he couldn¡¯t have found before. Did he get close to the truth? So close that he had to die? Her mouth became dry on the inside. Her throat felt choked as she forced herself to swallow her saliva. ¡°If you need time to think, just tell me.¡± When Serdel couldn¡¯t come up with an answer for a while, Cartal took a step back for now. He stood up straight and took his hand off her shoulder. Cartal¡¯s gaze turned to the document Serdel was about to sign. And when he picked it up¡ª. ¡°I¡¯m done thinking.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes changed. ¡°I¡¯m still lacking a lot, but I¡¯ll do my best as a successor. Please take care of me, father.¡± Serdel got up from her seat and bowed her head. ¡°Thank you. The official appointment will proceed as soon as Addis and Redan return.¡± ¡°Okay, then the conversation is over. Father, go to bed and lie down. You need to rest.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m all better now.¡± Serdel grabbed Cartal by the wrist while he was holding the documents. ¡°If you don¡¯t keep your promise, you have to eat this.¡± Serdel placed a pill on the table in front of Cartal. Cartal¡¯s lips trembled. The papers slid out of his hand helplessly. ¡°If possible¡­ throw it away. It¡¯s not made for a living person. Even the dead will be shocked if you put it in their mouth.¡± Cartal laid down on the bed with a disgusted expression after murmuring a few words. He closed his eyes quickly, and by the time the meal was being served he was deeply asleep and couldn¡¯t be woken up. ***** The day was bright. After handing over the approved documents to the butler, Serdel had breakfast with Cartal. His complexion was quite good because he had rested well. He moved the spoon quickly as if his appetite had changed. Monem and the head maid were very relieved to see him eat well. After eating, Serdel forced him to go for a walk. On the other hand, Serdel kept reading the reports that were piling up in the office. A few hours have passed since then. The light came from the communication tool in front of her and showed the faces of the people about whom she had been worried. ¡°Unnie! Oraboni!¡± After that, Damon and Belters were seen. [You must have worried a lot¡­ I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t contact you.] Addis scratched her nose with an awkward smile. Then, Redan, who took the communication tool from her, put his face in. She felt like she was about to cry. [Hey. The subjugation is over, and we¡¯re at the Count¡¯s Castle now. We immediately found a communication device and contacted you when we arrived at the castle. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re okay.] ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Father was very worried, too.¡± [What about you?] ¡°Of course I did worry a lot. I was anxious. I¡¯m really happy that you¡¯re safe.¡± Redan coughed for no reason. [You¡¯re not sick anywhere, right?] After hesitating for a moment, he asked carefully. The way he looked at her was full of worries. [That, I saw you in a dream a while ago. I wanted to call you as soon as I came to my senses, crying sadly¡ªbut somehow it was too late. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be by your side during difficult times.] Serdel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Oraboni. Father had fun beating him. So I feel better. So don¡¯t be too sorry.¡± [Are you really okay?] Addis asked again with a stiff face. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± [Because I¡¯m incompetent¡­] ¡°Unnie. I¡¯m okay. You continue to treat me as if I¡¯m a child, but I¡¯m also an adult.¡± [That¡¯s why I¡¯m even more sorry. I couldn¡¯t even protect your childhood, and until you grow up¡­] As soon as Addis started biting her lips, Falden took the communication tool from her grasp. He also had a communication tool in his hand. He seemed to have contacted someone separately. [What are you doing to make the atmosphere gloomier? Young Lady says it¡¯s okay. Asking the wrong thing repeatedly is a bigger disrespect to the other person.] Falden, who was criticizing her for a short time, went somewhere with the communication tool. It was a study room. He locked the door and ripped the scroll to stop the sound from leaking out. Then, as if relieved a bit, he turned his gaze back to the communication tool and stared at Serdel. ¡°Thank you. Maybe my sister and brother would have just kept telling me they were sorry if Your Highness hadn¡¯t come forward.¡± [¡­Yeah, I thought it would be a little¡­ uncomfortable.] He moved his lips slightly a few times. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Are you all right, Your Highness?¡± [Aah, about me, well. I¡¯m fine. Oh, my subordinate will be in touch with Edwan soon. There are quite a variety of items we procured, so it would be good to get an early start, so tell them to prepare well.] ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Even with my assurances, Edwan was very worried because the supply for the foreign goods he had to bring in was nonexistent.¡± [Yeah¡ª Oh, I heard that Young Lady worked hard in the capital. Maro grumbled a lot about why he had to become an imperial wizard, but I think it will help build a solid foundation. Thank you. Even though it¡¯s late.] Serdel smiled instead of answering. [His Majesty¡¯s character must have been difficult to bear¡­ so much, that¡ª] Ah, this is not right. Falden scratched the back of his head and mumbled. Unlike usual, he felt a little flustered today. He didn¡¯t just blurt out what he wanted to say or what he couldn¡¯t say. Instead, he was very careful with her. [It¡¯s not right to ask this question after all my criticism of Dame Addis, but¡ª are you sure you¡¯re okay?] He lowered his hand and asked with a serious face. [If you were next to me, I wouldn¡¯t have let that happen.] ¡°That wasn¡¯t the case.¡± [Yeah. That¡¯s right, but still¡­ I can¡¯t help but worry about it¡­] Falden¡¯s head slowly went down, and this short action showed his frustration. ¡°Count Maient¡¯s reputation is over. He will be leaving the capital soon.¡± [Ah, of course, he should. He¡¯ll have to leave the capital. If not, I¡¯ll kill him as soon as I get to the capital.] For a second Falden¡¯s eyes became dangerous and cold,but then he scratched his head seemingly flustered again. [Young Lady is my precious business partner. If your partner is treated like that by others, you get really angry, right?] His ears were red when he said that. [Anyway, we¡¯ll be leaving soon, so let¡¯s meet in the capital.] ¡°Yes. See you in the capital.¡± After staring blankly at Serdel¡¯s smile for a moment, he nodded. The tension on his face began to ease slowly. [Yeah.] The tone of his response was also soft. CH 102 When Falden saw that the communication tool¡¯s light was off, he disappointedly shut his mouth. Serdel, who he hasn¡¯t seen in a long time, is still small and arrogant. He was thrilled to think that she would go to the palace and do business with the emperor for some reason. He doesn¡¯t know how she got the Lord of the Wizard Tower out of the tower, but he was able to fill the most important positions with his people because of her. When he heard about this from the subordinate planted in the Imperial palace, he was emotional. It was Falden, who had lived as if he had been kicked out of the palace since he was young. His status didn¡¯t protect him on the battlefield. If anything, nobody cared about the fallen prince. Therefore, even if the opponent was a soldier, he had to try hard to win favor. The process of getting the current subordinates was intense. At first, no one tried to reach out to him. Serdel was the first and only one. The first feeling he had was gratitude. People had betrayed him so many times in the past, so he kept treating her like a test¡ª. But she opened the way for him. Come to think of it, even when they moved together during the expedition, she didn¡¯t turn away at the most important moment and gave the most help. She has no idea how helpful it was. But then he couldn¡¯t help but be shocked by the news that followed her because of how she was. That¡¯s because the Young Lady, who the Emperor invited to an audience at the Imperial Palace, was assaulted! For a moment, he doubted his ears. He couldn¡¯t believe it. Is that Serdel? At first, he was dumbfounded, then he laughed because it was so ridiculous, and in the end, he was angry. It also brought up memories of the abuse he received from the Empress as a child. Anger boiled over when he remembered how powerless he was and the fragile woman. When their comrades at the palace told Addis and Redan about this, none of them became angry. He probably would have too if her brothers and sisters hadn¡¯t gone crazy in the enemy camp. ¡°Damn, I shouldn¡¯t have asked you if you¡¯re okay.¡± It must be something she doesn¡¯t want to remember. When he looked back, he was afraid that he had hurt her again. Ha. After wiping his face nervously and sighing, everyone was looking at him when he left the study. In particular, Addis and Redan quickly pulled their faces away, as if they were listening to the door. After feeling embarrassed for a moment, Addis started to get angry. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve communicated with my sister. Why are you interrupting me? This is beyond your power!¡± Redan eagerly nodded next to her and said that she was right. ¡°What exactly both of you talking about¡ª¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Young Lady say that before? She¡¯s an adult. Aren¡¯t you treating Young Lady like children too much?¡± Addis¡¯s mouth closed. On the other hand, Redan made sullen answers, ¡°¡­I couldn¡¯t even treat her like a child when she was a kid. I don¡¯t want to regret it now, so I¡¯m trying to get closer before it¡¯s too late. What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to be close, but it¡¯s not the right way. Have you ever thought that the Young Lady would feel uncomfortable? It¡¯s nice to care about and think about your younger sister, but the two of them tend to push too hard. From the point of view of accepting it, that is neither considerate nor anything else.¡± Instead, it was just like any other violent act because she had to force herself to understand the other person¡¯s point of view. However, Falden didn¡¯t speak until that point. More than that is really too much, and it¡¯s the same as using violence against the two of them. Instead, he took a look around ¡°Besides that, shouldn¡¯t the two of you be more concerned about the castle and the estate? Didn¡¯t you feel it when you came in? The expression on the faces of the officials, the lighter atmosphere.¡± Falden thought it was strange that they were so excited about the new business in front of him. ¡°A new well attracts flies. In the capital, the Young Lady is doing her best to protect her family despite all the bad things. This is not the time for the both of you to relax and worry about your younger sister.¡± Redan¡¯s face hardened at his sharp criticism. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get in the way of the path that the Young Lady has made, right?¡± When Addis and Redan finally looked up, they quickly went through the castle. Certainly, the atmosphere flowing from everywhere was different from before. Damon walked up to Falden, who was about to look away when he saw the two people¡¯s eyes change. ¡°I think I need to use some communication tools too.¡± He held out his hand with an indifferent look on his face. Falden hesitated for a moment, then gave the tool to the man and left. Is he trying to contact the Marquis? Or is he trying to contact Serdel separately? He felt kind of bad because he felt especially close to her. Damon, who he had only thought of as an inexperienced person, showed a figure that was daring and brave after one failure. He didn¡¯t have strong powers, but he covered all his weaknesses with a good brain. As he fought, his eyes became sharper, his judgment was as fast as a sword, and he gave his subordinates only accurate orders without any errors in judgment. Perhaps he will have a bigger status in the family starting from this time. Maybe he¡¯ll push his two brothers down and go straight up to the Marquis¡ª. ¡°Is the Young Lady doing okay?¡± Falden, lost in thought, turned his head. Belters were standing next to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see something good before?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡ª well, no.¡± ¡°What is this?? What are you curious about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, we¡¯ll meet when we get to the capital anyway.¡± ¡°¡­Why is the Duke meeting Young Lady?¡± He has a relaxed expression and seems to be contemplating something with his chin raised. It was terribly annoying. ¡°It can be happen.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You¡¯ve never talked to Young Lady before, have you?¡± ¡°There is. Pretty dramatic.¡± Falden¡¯s eyes darkened. He thought there was nothing big going on between Serdel and Belters. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around.¡± Belters shrugged instead of answering. At that, Falden¡¯s fist tightened. His stomach was boiling. ****** Cartal reported to the imperial family that the subjugation of the Elbash Forest was successfully completed, and at the same time, he had a related article published in the newspaper. No matter what side they were on, the nobles sent invitations to Count Robbesta to say congratulations. Some people even wrote to Ledan and Serdel to ask if they were planning to get married. When Addis entered the Imperial Knights, she said that she had no plans to get married, even though she was the heir to the family. So, even though it was hard to go after her directly, Count Robbesta had Serdel, whose engagement had just broke, and Redan, who had to leave the house and could not decide on marriage. There were a lot of people who wanted him, especially because if they got married to Redan and had a child, they could adopt it as Addis¡¯ successor. Everyone was wasting their time because Cartal had not yet said who would be his successor. ¡°First, return all the invitations.I have no interest in engaging with those people.¡± Serdel pushed the invitations in front of her with her hands. There was sure to be a big difference between going to this event as a Young Lady and going in the future as a successor. The butler said he thought it would, and he took the papers with him. Soon, the communication tool burst into light, and Edwan came. [The merchant is ready to open. The day after tomorrow, we will officially open it.] He showed him a video he had taken of the inside of the store. ¡°You organized it well.¡± Edwan blushed at the brief compliment. Rudella, who was standing next to him, also blushed and liked it. [Oh, and Ashley Rovello, who you told me to look into before. I think you need to give me a little more time.] Serdel nodded. She didn¡¯t think he could gather information right away. The documents that Dell brought from Count Maient also only had his names written next to Count Deriens. There was nothing special about it. ¡°Okay.¡± [Yes, then I will contact you the day after tomorrow.] After finishing the communication, Serdel lowered her head to focus on the document again. However, Monem came in with a knock and great timing. She thought she had brought tea, so she was going to tell her to put it next to her¡ª. ¡°Lady. A person has arrived from Count Maient. I think you should go out and see.¡± Serdel put down her fountain pen when the tension in her low and heavy voice. Monem¡¯s expression was also serious. Eventually, she got up from her seat and went out. Cartal, who came out first, had a cold expression on his face. Serdel¡¯s gaze turned to the other side. The knights of Count Robbesta, who had been oppressing Count Maient for some time, were surprised to see a familiar person standing in front of them while random strangers restrained him. One of the strangers, who seemed to be the representative, walked out. ¡°I¡¯m meeting the Head of Count Robbesta. My name is Carlon Maient, and I¡¯m the new head of the Count Maient.¡± It was Hershe Maient¡¯s half-brother. She had heard that he was going to come up to the capital when he had successfully assimilated all of the territory¡¯s power with the assistance of his followers, but she didn¡¯t know he would arrive so soon. As he beckoned, the captive figure was dragged out. It was Hershe, who was once the head of Count Maient and Serdel¡¯s fianc¨¦e. ¡°Kneel down.¡± At Carlon¡¯s cool command, the knights hit Hershe¡¯s leg and forced him to kneel. Then he pressed it with his hand and forced his head to the floor. The look was terrible. ¡°I want to express my deepest apologies to Count Robbesta for the irreparable harm that our former head of family caused you.¡± Carlon also bowed his head. And over their heads¨C. [Hershe Maient, one of the supporting actors, loses more than 90% of his presence and is demoted to an extra.] The worst death sentence for a character was dropped. CH 103 The Young Lady Who Broke Her Engagement Is Only Obsessed With The Ending CH 104 She swallowed her saliva naturally. It was Serdel who turned her eyes away first. Belters, on the other hand, didn¡¯t look away from her. She moved her body carefully because his gaze felt like too much of a burden, but his eyes continued to follow her. She was hoping he¡¯d stop looking at her. ¡°Duke.¡± Falden stood in front of Belters. Thanks to this, Serdel was able to escape from the duke¡¯s persistent gaze, and quickly hid behind Redan. Ah, a short sigh escaped Belters¡¯ mouth. ¡°Do you have anything to do with the Young Lady?¡± Falden¡¯s uncharacteristically brusque question showed how he felt. From the moment he arrived, Belters only looked at Serdel. Aside from the fact that Falden was upset that she didn¡¯t look at him first, it was very annoying to see Belters¡¯ obvious interest in Serdel. ¡°Yes, I have some business.¡± With a blunt answer, Belters smiled as he turned his head to look at Falden. Falden¡¯s glare gradually subsided. He showed patience and didn¡¯t even ask what was going on. Serdel is also not far away, and he didn¡¯t want to do anything that seemed excessive. Instead, he tried to say something, but Damon arrived and Falden missed the opportunity. As soon as Damon got off the horse, he approached Cartal at the speed of lightning. Cartal, who was still opening his arms towards Addis, saw Damon and straightened his posture with a cough. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve greeted you. Count. It must have been difficult for you to endure everything alone in the Capital, but you worked hard.¡± Damon bowed his head. ¡°No. You¡¯ve been through a lot. There must have been a lot of dangerous things, but thank you for the effort.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Damon reached out and grabbed Cartal¡¯s hand. Unlike others who arrived first but were distracted by Serdel, he arrived late, but he was faster than anyone else. After exchanging a few more words with Cartal, he approached Serdel. Even though he was covered with dust, he still shone. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see the Young Lady here so I can feel that I¡¯m back alive.¡± The smile that bloomed beautifully was so beautiful that no one could take their eyes off of him. Addis and Redan were on guard with their eyes wide open, but Serdel stepped forward and responded. ¡°I¡¯m glad you came back safely, Sir.¡± She could feel it at this moment. According to the status window that appeared in front of her as soon as she found the last mine the other day, the succession of the title will happen quickly, beyond that he will be recognized more highly as the heir. ¡®Perhaps he was more lucky than he was back then.¡¯ If Damon keeps going the way he is, it seems likely that he will take over the family as soon as he gets back to the Marquis. ¡°I thought you would tell me that.¡± He raised Serdel¡¯s hand and kissed the back of it. Every action was as natural as water. Falden, who was watching it from afar, opened his mouth blankly. ¡°I heard that the kind of person who is hard to beat in the world is a smart guy, and that¡¯s true.¡± Ha! Falden approached Cartal with a bitter laugh. Cartal also moved to say hello to Falden. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I saw you, Your Highness the Second Prince. Thank you so much for all you have done for our family. Without Your Highness¡¯ help, the subjugation could not have been completed so quickly.¡± ¡°Thank you for saying that.¡± ¡°Duke Blendard, thank you for your great help, too. Thanks to you, I was able to relax my anxieties.¡± Cartal also greeted Belters. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say that. I was just moving on the orders of the imperial family, and it was nice to be able to take a look at the unknown forest that I had been curious about for a while.¡± Unlike Falden, who was very stiff, Belters seemed to have a kind tone, and he had the charisma of a powerful man. He had a higher title than Count Cartal, but he was a lot younger, so he didn¡¯t have any holes in his manners. ¡°Dame Addis.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Captain.¡± Addis immediately turned to Belters¡¯ call. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you met your parents, but aren¡¯t you only concerned about your younger sister?¡± Even though he was smiling, his aura seemed to be making the atmosphere feel tense, so Addis closed her eyes and slowly walked toward Cartal. Cartal also didn¡¯t know what to do when Addis walked up to him. An awkward atmosphere flowed between the two. ¡°¡­I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Cartal opened his arms stiffly and hugged Addis. Cartal¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°You did a great job. It must have been difficult to take care of Redan, I always feel sorry for you.¡± Just because she was born first, she was carrying too much of a burden. So, even while relying on her deeply, Cartal always feels uneasy. ¡°Because your father couldn¡¯t¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t speak any more and just patted her back. Since they¡¯ve been keeping a certain line, it¡¯s been a long time since they casually hugged each other. Her eyes were a little red, as if the emotions contained in Cartal¡¯s hand gesture were conveyed to Addis. She wanted to say something to her father, but she couldn¡¯t, so there was nothing she could do other than keep her mouth shut. It was a little sad for Addis. The distance between her and her younger brother and sister seems to have gotten closer, but her father is still a long way away. ¡°Ehmm, hmm! Now, let¡¯s go inside.¡± After letting go of Addis, Cartal turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go in, Unnie.¡± Serdel took Addis¡¯s hand, who was only standing at a distance. She always felt so big, but at this moment, she looks like a child. She couldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Hey, hold my hand, too. This should be fair.¡± She even holds Redan¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m back to my childhood.¡± Addis and Redan raised Serdel¡¯s hands with a grin, trying to force the bitterness out of their mouths. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m not a kid. So why don¡¯t you stop raising my body with your arms?¡± Serdel¡¯s face turned red. She quickly let go of the two of them, and she clung to Cartal¡¯s back. The hardened atmosphere was relieved like a warm spring day. When they entered the drawing room, refreshments were set on the table. Soon, after everyone sat down, the atmosphere changed significantly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start the final report.¡± With Falden¡¯s words, the process of finishing monster subjugation and reporting of the forest¡¯s status began. Even though they have already sent a lot of people to work on development, development has not yet begun. Since it was an unknown forest, everyone focused until the end in case something unexpected could be found. By the time the meeting was over, it was night. Falden and Damon, who had to report the situation to the Emperor and the Marquis, moved in a hurry. Belters also got up from his seat. Before leaving the door, he approached Serdel and lowered his upper body. ¡°I¡¯ll call you separately soon. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± Seeing him riding away on a horse with a relaxed smile, Serdel frowned. ****** After finishing a late dinner. Addis, Serdel, and Redan gathered in the office with Cartal. Cartal, who had closed his eyes for a while and was lost in thought, soon moved to speak with a deep sigh. ¡°Father, I have something to tell you.¡± Addis and Redan looked into each other¡¯s eyes and soon got up. ¡°Listen to me first.¡± The two eventually sat down again at his heavy command. Since they didn¡¯t know what he was trying to say, Serdel¡¯s heart was heavier for it. ¡°First of all, you have worked hard to hold on as the center of the family. Addis. I already knew from a long time ago that you are struggling with the position of a successor. Nevertheless¡ª.¡± Cartal kept his mouth shut for a moment, fearing that Redan would blame himself if he continued here. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being selfish up until now, Father.¡± Redan, who couldn¡¯t be unaware of it, bowed before Cartal¡¯s words were finished. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about getting my act together from now on.¡± ¡°¡­No, Redan.¡± Redan¡¯s eyes were wide open at the firm words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Addis Robbesta. As of today, I¡¯m removing you from the position of successor.¡± Cartal clenched his fist. ¡°And I will appoint Serdel Robbesta as the new successor.¡± Addis and Redan¡¯s eyes turned to Serdel. She wanted to avoid their gaze, but she didn¡¯t. Instead, Serdel proudly straightened her shoulders. Somehow, she felt like she should. ¡°Father¡­¡± Redan raised his hand to block before Addis, who was bewildered, said something to Cartal. He looked down at Serdel for a moment and then patted her head with his large hand. Not only that, but he smiled proudly at Serdel. After a while, he lowered his hand and straightened his posture, looking straight at Cartal. ¡°I will respect and follow my father¡¯s choice as head of our family. Instead, please send me to the Count territory as acting heir.¡± CH 105 She was thinking of sending Redan down to the estate because it would be dangerous to leave him in the Capital, but she didn¡¯t know that he would make such a request first. Serdel looked at Redan with astonished eyes. ¡°The territory is not very fussy. But, at this rate, it will be overflowing with people trying to work outside.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a territory that hasn¡¯t changed for a long time. Since the situation has changed dramatically after moving as planned, it is natural that everyone can¡¯t keep up. So, please send me as an acting successor.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, I happened to be nervous about it, but that¡¯s good.¡± Cartal didn¡¯t show that he was surprised either. ¡°Thank you. I will never let my father down again.¡± ¡°Addis, Serdel. You can go out for now.¡± Addis, who had been hesitant, first stood up. Serdel followed from behind. Tak. Watching the door close, Cartal turned to look at Redan again. His son looked very different now than when he last saw him long ago. If he used to be unhappy and anxious, he seemed a little clearer now that a single layer of emotion was gone. ¡°Don¡¯t you resent your father for making this decision?¡± ¡°It was surprising. To be honest, I thought I would take over the successor position again. I had talked about it with Nuna in advance.¡± ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± ¡°No, rather, it was a relief.¡± Redan continued with a slight smile on his face. ¡°Because Serdel is a much better fit for the heir position than I am now.¡± ¡°Hm¡ª¡± ¡°She has the power to lead the people around her. It was because of Serdel that I decided to change¡ª. She¡¯s my younger sister, but I respect her.¡± For him, the memories of his childhood with Serdel are more painful than the childhood itself, and now that she has grown up, he¡¯s pretending to care for her and acting childishly. From the beginning, he knew that his younger sister was the coolest adult of all. But he was just worried. She had to take on so many responsibilities as the heir that her shoulders were bound to be heavy. Even Addis, who was like steel, cried, saying it was difficult, even though it was said in a dream. It was heartbreaking to let her younger sister suffer such pain following the same path as his Nuna. ¡°Honestly, I thought you wouldn¡¯t accept it right away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t know how important this time is for my family, no matter how much I lost my mind and lived in vain.¡± Only because of one position. It was just right for the rumors to say that it made the family confused. After hitting the jackpot in the mine, there was a good chance that the siblings would fight with each other and make the family look bad. ¡°If I had come to my senses in the first place, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. But I didn¡¯t, and Serdel has made good moves in the past. So she deserves to be the successor.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be remembered as an ugly older brother by his younger sister. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can, father.¡± She will no longer wander in front of her family. ¡°Yeah, I trust you.¡± ¡°Yes, please trust me.¡± Redan answered bravely so that Cartal wouldn¡¯t feel sorry. ****** How long has she been standing in front of the office? Serdel glanced at Addis, who quietly leaned her back against the wall. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me.¡± Addis smiled sadly at Serdel like that. It was complicated for her. Serdel and Redan were both her siblings. She felt sorry when she thought of two people who would have complicated minds over a position she hadn¡¯t been able to lead properly. Just as Addis¡¯s head was about to bow down, the door opened, and Redan came out. He first smiled at Addis, saying it was okay. Then he approached Serdel. ¡°Here.¡± What Redan brought out was the magic bag she gave him to bring the monster¡¯s corpse. ¡°I was going to give it to you earlier, but I didn¡¯t have a chance to do that. I brought everything I could see. Ehem, it smelled so bad that I thought I would die.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s wrong with your expression?¡± He placed his hand on Serdel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°As head of the family, father chose you. I will do what I can. You do what you do. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Oraboni¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to get here, but you can do better than Nuna or me. Serdel, I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± She didn¡¯t expect to hear this from Redan. Addis, who suddenly approached them, hugged Redan and Serdel. ****** The next night. Redan, who had come to see Serdel, took the lead and said they had to go somewhere as it got darker. He even disguised himself using magic artifacts. Serdel also changed into what he had given her, which was an old woman with a lot of gray hair. ¡°Why does Oraboni turn into a young woman, and I¡¯m like this?¡± ¡°Oh my. Grandma. What do you mean by Oraboni?¡± His voice even changed. The look was quite funny. ¡°Yes, my daughter. Hurry up and guide me.¡± As soon as Serdel spoke, Redan, a beautiful figure with luscious brown hair, fiercely opened his eyes. ¡°Daughter? What do you mean? Isn¡¯t that an insult? Do you want to die?¡± Serdel pouted her lips. Then Redan giggled and took her hand. After walking for a while, they got on the prepared carriage. The carriage headed to Laxen 10th Street, where the commoners lived. After moving for 30 minutes, they got off in front of an ordinary family house. Knock, knock, knock¡ªknock. When he knocked at a certain beat, the door opened automatically. ¡°Remember it.¡± She followed Redan inside. There is only one bed and one desk inside. Redan lifted the floor and went down the secret staircase that appeared below it. The wall was not dark with a light bulb. When they went down carefully, the space that appeared was quite large. And there were men who could have been 50 people in the middle of that big space. All of them, dressed in black, bowed down as soon as they saw Redan. ¡°Make good use of it in the future.¡± Tak. Redan flicked his fingers, and then the effect of the disguise that had just hidden the two of them disappeared, and their original figures were revealed. ¡°Listen, everyone. As of this time today, you recognize and follow Serdel Robbesta, not me, as the master. Therefore, Serdel¡¯s orders are absolute, and the collected information is not shared with anyone, including me.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Redan put his ring on Serdel¡¯s hand. ¡°Usually, you can order and report with this. It¡¯s not as strong as the knights, but it¡¯s pretty good for stealth. The information processing ability is pretty good too.¡± He whispered in Serdel¡¯s ear. ¡°I know you set up a merchant with Rudella and her lover and that you¡¯re looking for Ashley Robello, who is connected to Count Deriens.¡± Redan chuckled playfully. She wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. She had predicted that there were people working for him a long time ago. ¡°Perhaps father also knows that created it.¡± Serdel was also vaguely noticing this. She didn¡¯t think she would be able to keep it a secret anyway. She just didn¡¯t say it because she was afraid that if she did, it would make Cartal feel burdened before the exploration even started. Even if the development had progressed to some extent, it was planned to be officially reported due to the distribution of mana stone. Except for the secret partnership with Falden. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re moving in secret without even telling your family. Maybe you thought it would cause damage. But don¡¯t hit the wall like that. Don¡¯t regret it like me.¡± ¡°¡­These are the people Oraboni needs. Is it okay if you give it to me?¡± Redan wasn¡¯t just joking when he said he wanted to give her full ownership of them. ¡°If you want to live in the Capital, you have to get strength not only from your family but also from yourself. But your foundation is still not strong. Also, the knights are set in their ways and can¡¯t be changed.¡± Serdel looked at them. As Redan said, what she needed the most was her own person. Suddenly her heart was filled with emotion. Then it looked like a chill ran down her back. ¡°We swear allegiance to our new master. Please give us orders!¡± When many people talked at once, she could feel the energy. ¡°Count Deriens wants something our family has.¡± The man at the front raised his head. ¡°We have gathered enough information. Everything was ready to go to work. We just have to put it into action, so how¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Proceed it.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± They left this place through a separate passageway as soon as they answered. Redan bowed his head toward Serdel. ¡°Give me orders too. Because I am your shadow.¡± At this moment, they were not siblings, but successors and acting successors. So, instead of saying anything against it, Serdel said. ¡°Oraboni, please go down to the territory and protect it.¡± ¡°I will follow it.¡± She formally gave orders to Redan. It was the first step as a successor. ****** Redan went down to the territory and, after a while. Cartal announced that Serdel had become the new successor to Count Robbesta. Many noble families sent invites to the party along with gifts to express their congratulations. Among them was the invitation of the Emperor. With the content that only those in power in the Capital would be invited to the dinner, Serdel wrote a reply saying yes and handed it to the butler. Then, when she tried to fold the Emperor¡¯s invitation, she saw a very small text that she had missed earlier in the corner. [Do you know about my death?] Her heart sank for a moment. CH 106 She had almost seen and done everything, so she didn¡¯t think anything would surprise her. However, this was an unimaginable situation. Serdel, who was deeply shaken, dropped the invitation. As she forced herself to swallow the dry saliva, her mouth, which was already dry as a desert, felt like it was getting tighter. After blinking several times, Serdel bent down to pick up the invitation. Then she looked at it again. ¡®There¡¯s nothing¡ª¡¯ The small text she had just seen had disappeared like a dream. She tried to touch the part out of curiosity, but there was no special energy or anything else when she did. ¡®What is this? Is this foresight?¡¯ There is not only one way to read the future. This was learned before by being forced to deal with different situations in the slave market. Serdel kept looking over the invitation. No other phenomenon happened. Eventually, she folded the invitation with a sigh and remembered the short and intense phrase. ¡®It says, ¡®do you know about my death?¡¯.¡¯ It was foresight that the Emperor couldn¡¯t appear without remembering his past life. ¡®Does he have the same power as me? Since when? Did he ever go back¡ª¡¯ She didn¡¯t let her mind wander. ¡®The fact that I saw something like this means I will hear something similar from the Emperor sooner or later.¡¯ It felt like a tingling sensation was riding up from her toes. What did the Emperor think when he saw her walking a completely different path from the previous life he remembered? Every time she went to an audience, her heart beat like crazy at the thought that he would pay close attention to her. ¡®Let¡¯s calm down.¡¯ ¡°Whoo.¡± ¡®At times like this, I have to calm down.¡¯ Maybe the Emperor thought she was one of his own kind. And by the time he said those words, he likely had already decided that she was reliable or useful. In other words, it was like an opportunity for her. ¡®Of course, it could be more dangerous, but.¡¯ Serdel buried herself in the backrest and held up the invitation again. The dinner party is in 10 days. Before that, she had to think about how to treat the Emperor. Knock, knock. ¡°Lady, it¡¯s Monem. The Duke of Blendard has sent a man.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± After a while, the door opened, and an old man older than the butler entered. The old man with the walking stick took a deep breath, and bent his waist even more toward Serdel. Serdel straightened her posture. For some reason, she felt like she had to approach him and give him some support, so her butt shook for nothing. ¡°It is an honor to meet the new successor of Count Robbesta. But, unfortunately, the master said that communication is not working well, and he asks you to join us for dinner tonight. Cough!¡± On the day he returned from the subjugation, Belters left a message saying that he would contact her separately, and he sent a letter two days later. Serdel turned down his offer to meet up if she had time, saying she was too busy. Since then, she has been contacted more than once but has refused to answer. ¡°The dinner will be accompanied by the knights who participated in the expedition, so it won¡¯t be too much of a burden. Dame Addis will also be there, and he told her in advance that Young Lady would be there, so he asked you to come.¡± There was no justification to refuse. She became wary when she tried to meet someone who was relieved when they were on the same side. Moreover, it was strangely burdensome to explain what happened that day. Falden kept the powers that she and Dell showed during the expedition to a complete secret. Most of them were his subordinates, so it wasn¡¯t difficult. Nevertheless, she obtained a magic contract to restrict him from discussing it with his subordinates, which he showed over the communication channel. Belters didn¡¯t tell anyone about her either, but because she was found directly using her power, it was true that it was more burdensome than with Falden. The old man crept up on Serdel while she was pondering. As if he won¡¯t move until she says she¡¯s going. ¡°The master even sent a wagon. He said it is okay to come in comfortable clothes and just attend then return.¡± The old man stared at Serdel with the most pitiful expression in his eyes. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll attend. When I¡¯m done with my work.¡± ¡°Yes, then I will wait patiently. Oh, there is a cat. Come here.¡± Today, Dell, who has turned into a black cat, came in through the terrace. The old man shook the jerky he took out of his arms. Why does jerky come from such a place? Unsurprisingly, Dell came toward the old man, drooling. And looking for the gap, Dell swung the front foot. He used his brain because taking the beef jerky off the toenails would be easy. However, the old man¡¯s hand was faster. The old man who had thrown the jerky in his mouth grinned and pulled out another jerky from his pocket. The movement was unusual. It was difficult to concentrate on the documents, so Serdel eventually got up. ¡°I will just leave now. Monem, if father finds me, tell him I have an appointment for a while.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± When she opened the door, Blenn was standing in the hallway. ¡°Are you going out?¡± She nodded instead of answering. Then Blenn followed naturally. Outside the mansion, as the old man said, she saw a luxury carriage with the Duke¡¯s mark on it. She took Blenn¡¯s hand and gently climbed into the carriage. As she and the old man boarded, the carriage moved slowly. ****** When they got there, the Duke¡¯s house was much bigger than the Count¡¯s. This was natural, as the size of the land allowed by the imperial family differed according to their status. The carriage stopped. As the door opened, Serdel stared at the hand approaching her. It was Belters. He must have been out in advance when he saw the carriage coming in. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a successor. Also, thank you for accepting my invitation.¡± She had thought since the last time she saw him, but his half-formal speech made her feel awkward. It¡¯s the same soft tone, but when he spoke formally, he was more charming, and when he said informally, he looked funny. ¡°Thank you for congratulating me.¡± She grabbed his hand and stepped out of the carriage, and the smell of food wafted through her. ¡°Dame Addis and the knights are expected to be here in an hour.¡± So Serdel had no choice but to follow his gaze, asking to talk separately. ¡°Hand, please take it off.¡± She was just about to walk with Belters, but Blenn came out. He stared at Belters¡¯ big hand, which was holding Serdel¡¯s hand with a cold expression on his face. When the greeting was over, it was polite to let go of their hand. But, so naturally, he forgot about Serdel. Serdel took her hand first. Only then did Blenn step back. Belters took the lead with a strange smile, and Serdel stepped back one step and then followed him. The mansion was splendid and magnificent. Frames hung all over the hallway, making her feel like she was in an art museum. He took Serdel to the office, contrary to her expectation that he would lead her to the drawing-room. The maid was waiting, and as soon as she sat down on the sofa, she made tea and left. In the middle of a large space, they were left alone. ¡°It felt different from magic. What kind of power is that?¡± Belters said straightforwardly. ¡°The leader of the Knights of the Imperial Family is not just a position to protect the Imperial Family. I have a duty to defend the capital, so I have to figure it out when I find an unidentified power.¡± Serdel couldn¡¯t immediately answer. ¡°It¡¯s an unknown power. Even Dame Addis didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a harmful power.¡± Hmm, with a low moan, he clearly looked into Serdel¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t escape his gaze. ¡°I trust you.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Serdel was confused by the clear answer for a contact like this to ask to meet. ¡°If you look into the other person¡¯s eyes, you can tell if they¡¯re serious or not.¡± It was funny that she was nervous. ¡°Young Lady¡ª no, as Lord Serdel said, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a harmful force, so I¡¯ll keep it a secret.¡± She felt a little unfamiliar with her name, which was naturally upgraded. Most people still called her Young Lady. Even the invitation they sent her to the party said Young Lady. As she became the heir of a family, Serdel wasn¡¯t simply a woman of an aristocratic style. Based on her status, it would be the same as moving up one level, so it was appropriate for her to be called ¡°Lord¡± instead of what she was called before. She felt respected. Without realizing it, her mouth moved. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I did something dangerous back then?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t dangerous as a result, was it? That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s natural to use it when you have power. Thanks to that, you also protected Sir Redan and many others.¡± It was new. People always try to protect her and tell her it¡¯s dangerous, but now she¡¯s up against someone who sees her as an equal. It was something new to her. CH 107 ¡°Just in case, did it make you sad that I sent you away like that?¡± Serdel, who was about to become dazed for a moment, immediately answered the question that came back. ¡°No. I wasn¡¯t sad at all. Rather, thanks to the Duke, I could not ruin the plan to go back just to make sure everyone was safe. And I wasn¡¯t in any trouble.¡± Addis, who is on a high stage, would have been very surprised to see Cerdel if she had stayed like that. Serdel bowed her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the late greeting, but thank you so much for protecting my sister and brother. I was so relieved to see the Duke at that time. I was scared. Like I thought I would lose my brother?¡± It was a strange thing. She had never said such weak things to Falden, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, or Blenn, who had helped her many times before. Even though she cried sometimes, she didn¡¯t show how unstable she felt in the first place. But what about in front of Belters? She can feel at ease. She felt comfortable because she knew he wouldn¡¯t overreact if she showed a weak side. His big, long fingers gently stroked Serdel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Come to think of it, you cried a lot at that time. It bothered me, but I couldn¡¯t wipe it because it was obvious it wouldn¡¯t touch.¡± Serdel pulls her body back in surprise. She isn¡¯t even crying right now, so why? Belters¡¯ hands followed her movements. The unfamiliar warmth that flowed from his fingertips was very warm. ¡°Lord Serdel smiles, yet you seem to be crying.¡± ¡°¡­is it a crying face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡ª¡± After taking off his hand, he shrugged his shoulders and straightened his posture. Just as I was about to turn my attention to the unnecessary awkwardness, an old man came in. ¡°Dame Addis and the knights have arrived. Master.¡± The timing was amazing. Serdel stood up straight away. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go now.¡± ¡°Dame Addis will be training with her men on Mount Sakra soon. You won¡¯t be able to see each other for about two months, so wouldn¡¯t it be sad if you go back like this?¡± Her body stopped. ¡°We prepared a delicious meal. Have you ever enjoyed an outdoor dinner?¡± There isn¡¯t such a thing. ¡°Even if you eat food that is usually just delicious, it tastes really good when you eat it outside. So I hope we can enjoy it together.¡± Belters reached out to her as he got closer. ¡°I¡¯d like to escort you.¡± The black eyes were as pretty as obsidian and curved like half-moons. The image of him that she had hardly looked at began to appear in her eyes at this point. The black hair, which was blowing in the wind, was neatly pulled back, and he also buttoned the black shirt all the way up to the neck. Nevertheless, the slightly revealing neckline and the solid shoulder line that went to the side caught her eye. He felt like a free knight when he explored. No, it was just like that. Therefore, he had a presence, but she couldn¡¯t feel his atmosphere. But it was different now. He was so neat that he looked like a noble who had grown up well. Even more than before, a charm kept her from looking away, so she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. He took Serdel¡¯s hand, even though she was unwilling to reach out. When he opened the door, they ran into Blenn, who was standing in the hallway. When he saw that Serdel¡¯s hand was wrapped around Belters, he hardened his face. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The voice of that person had a force that was impossible to resist. Eventually, she was led out by him. Blenn, who had no choice but to follow the two quietly, chewed inside his lips and clenched his fist. ****** When she went to the garden, she saw the knights and Addis. A huge amount of food was spread out on the long table in between as well. It was enough to get tired of just looking at it. ¡°Serdel!¡± Adis approached. ¡°Captain, will you take your hands off her?¡± Her gaze turned to Belters¡¯ hand, which was holding Serdel¡¯s hand. She had enough speed to pull out her sword and cut it quickly. ¡°Right now. Hands off, please.¡± Her face turned cold in an instant. There was a hidden warning in each and every word that was repeated over and over again with great emphasis. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s nothing I can do to protect my hand.¡± Belters let go of Serdel¡¯s hand. He couldn¡¯t hold on to it anyway. ¡°Never hold my sister¡¯s hand again. I¡¯m the only one who can hold my sister¡¯s hand.¡± Fat sparrow¡ªno, Addis pulled out her hawk embroidered handkerchief and wiped Serdel¡¯s hands. ¡°You¡¯re doing too much. It¡¯s just an escort.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have basic common sense about escorts? For example, how do you see escorts holding hands so tightly?¡± ¡°Dame is very hard.¡± ¡°Captain was too free-spirited.¡± Belters laugh bitterly at Addis, who could not lose even one word. The sun was setting, and the sky was red. The beautiful background and his smile went so well together that it looked more like a work of art than any other artwork hanging in the hallway. Addis frowned at him. Not only that, she even hid Serdel behind her back. In the meantime, Belters¡¯ gaze scanned the knights. ¡°You had a hard time in the forest. Have a drink.¡± Belters lifted the old man¡¯s glass high. Serdel, who released Addis¡¯ hand, also stepped forward and lifted the hem of her dress. If Belters praised the Knights¡¯ hard work from the Knights Commander¡¯s position, it was right for Serdel to say hello on behalf of the family. ¡°Thank you for all the hard work you put into the work of Count Robbesta.¡± Serdel bowed her head, and so did the knights. Addis, who had been watching her for a while, also spoke up. ¡°Everyone worked so hard. Just relax and enjoy yourself today. If you leave training soon, you will suffer to death.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± A silence fell in an instant. The knights¡¯ faces gradually turned dark. Addis casually sipped the glass she had been holding. ¡°In terms of personality, just listen to the words of the vice-captain and start eating right away.¡± Belters came in, but the mood didn¡¯t change for the better. The knights slowly ate the food with the plates they received. Serdel clicks her tongue. Indeed, Addis didn¡¯t even have enough flexibility. ¡°Come on, you eat too. Uhm, this is very delicious.¡± Addis, who brought a plate full of food, put a fork and spoon in Serdel¡¯s hand. ¡°I can¡¯t eat this much, Unnie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re so skinny. You should eat this much! Serdel secretly gave the plate to Blenn. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡± ¡°Yeah, eat comfortably.¡± Addis beckoned without being wary of him for some reason. When Blenn stood between Belters and Serdel, she felt a little better and went back and forth between the knights to cheer them on. Only then did the hard atmosphere ease. Surely she shined among the knights. It seemed somewhat comfortable, perhaps because she was out of the line of succession. Let¡¯s just fill her stomachs and drink water¡ª. ¡°Can you eat it like that?¡± She heard a familiar voice. ¡°I don¡¯t remember inviting Your Highness, but what are you doing here?¡± It was Falden. Belters approached him with a smile. ¡°I know. How can you leave me out?¡± ¡°Haha. You¡¯re so busy when I have a chance to meet.¡± ¡°You must have thought that I would come by my even if you didn¡¯t invite me. Don¡¯t you?¡± With a casual conversation, Falden continues to take a look at Serdel. Then, before Belters spoke again, he greeted her and pretended to know her. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you like this other than through communication channels. How have you been?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been well too. I¡¯ve heard that Sir Redan has left for the territory. And¡ª¡± Falden quickly poured out the words of what was so urgent, and then with an indifferent look, he held out a small box inside. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a successor. I can say it on the communication channel, but for some reason, I want to say it myself.¡± She closed her eyes and then took the ribbon off. A big, colorful brooch was in the box. It was an artifact that felt full of mana energy. ¡°In a dangerous moment, Young Lady¡ª no, now it¡¯s a Lord. It¡¯s going to protect Lord Serdel.¡± She didn¡¯t know that Falden would call her by her proper title. ¡°¡­Thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thankful, hurry up and put it on.¡± When she hung a brooch around her chest, it felt like the dress was spreading. ¡°I chose it because it looks like the color of Lord¡¯s warm eyes and the jewels inside, and it suits you well.¡± A smile spread around his mouth. ¡°Once again, congratulations. Young Lady¡ª No, if it¡¯s Lord, you can do it better than anyone else.¡± Before she could even say thank you, Falden turned around. His neck and ears were red. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m hungry. What¡¯s there to eat¡ª¡± He looked around and picked up the plate and piled up the food. Then he started to eat in earnest. As if trying to hide how embarrassed he is. ¡°Eat slowly.¡± Serdel hands over a glass of water. She also held out a glass of wine just in case. As she was about to withdraw her hand, she felt a vibration in the ring that Redan gave her. Serdel got up from her seat and hid herself in a corner of the garden. CH 108 Author: Tam Blenn, who was careful to follow her, hid his body. However, he didn¡¯t hide in the same place as Serdel. So that she won¡¯t get in trouble for her strange look if someone notices it. He just watched her from a distance. In the past, even that would have bothered her in the past, but not now. He had secretly followed Serdel when she and Redan left the mansion in disguise as an old man. It was the same with Dell. Because it was to protect both of them in case Serdel was put in danger. Serdel pressed the ring while not looking at Blenn. Right after that, she could hear the voices of the subordinates Redan had given her. [Before reporting the situation, I would like to inform you about the Ashley Robello you were looking for earlier. It is said that she was one of the greatest help in putting an end to Count Deriens¡¯ shadow business a very long time ago. It is also said that the two of them had a romantic relationship at one point.] Count Deriens took all of her father¡¯s business and property, which she had inherited from the Baron, and almost killed her. It¡¯s scary that she survived and is now living as someone else. The situation was similar to the situation Serdel experienced in the past, only the character was different. [She is good at business, and in the basement of the entrance to the homeless area, she runs a gambling room with a bar used by many commoners.] Count Deriens knew she was dead, while she had been sending a man to watch his every move for a long time. [I thought it would be best to take advantage of Ashley Robello¡¯s revenge, so I sent the bait through her minions, and the opponent took it. She also leaked information to the nobles who hated Count Dariens and made them attack him.] ¡®So, what¡¯s the result?¡¯ [It did manage to shake Count Dariens up to a certain extent. But it seemed a little weak, and when Count Sollette went missing, his son, who took over as head of the family, got rid of any evidence of his father¡¯s dealings with Count Deriens. This could have been a weakness for the family in the future, so she also told him what she knew.] Falden is currently holding Count Sollette as a prisoner. As much as the son followed him, it probably went into Falden¡¯s ear. ¡®I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s something they¡¯ve worked on.¡¯ [I think we can get more than half of Count Deriens¡¯ business in two months.] Suddenly, she wondered how deeply they could investigate and understand. ¡®Do you know where the Count Sollette disappeared?¡¯ [I¡¯m not sure, but it seems like the 2nd Prince was involved. But it¡¯s not confirmed] It¡¯s confirmed. [Please don¡¯t worry. Even if the 2nd Prince intervenes, the master¡¯s existence will not be revealed.] When they bit Falden¡¯s tail, it showed that their skills were never small. But why didn¡¯t they find out about the Countess? [Then, I¡¯ll get going.] As the wave disappeared, Serdel¡¯s mind also calmed down. ¡®I have to make time.¡¯ She got an inside view of the mansion, but couldn¡¯t afford to look inside. To be more honest, she was scared. The more intense the thought of having to find out, the more the fear that had subsided from below for some reason rose. So it was hard to move easily. She was afraid that if she was shocked, she might go crazy. ¡°Whoo¡­¡± Serdel took a deep breath to shake off the tension that had suddenly risen. Then she gets out of the dark shadow and returns to her seat but then¡ª Tuk! Something fell from the sky. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± When she picked it up, it was a small box. She looked up at the sky as she raised her head. There was nothing but the moon and stars. Could it be that the Lord of the Wizard Tower is playing a prank? When she untied the ribbon and opened the inside, there was a luxurious hairpin. There were beautiful jewels that shone brightly under the night sky. Tuk. Another box that was a little bit bigger fell from the sky. Although it was not flashy, it was an earring with a neat and luxurious feel. And before she even took one more step. A box larger than the previous two boxes fell. The size of the ribbon was also large. There were shoes inside. At the same time, someone jumped from a tree a few steps ahead. It was Blenn. When the hell did he move¡ª? Leaves fell all around him. ¡°Congratulations¡ª I wanted to give it as a gift earlier, but the Lady is so busy¡ª¡± More than that, there were so many people congratulating her. He didn¡¯t want to be stuck between them and give the same congratulations to her. So he always carried it in his magic pocket. ¡°I was going to give it to you on the way back to the mansion¡­ but I think the Lady is a bit depressed¡­.¡± He approached and knelt down on one knee. Then he took the shoes out of the box. ¡°Please excuse me. Lady.¡± He took her shoes off carefully and put her new shoes on. Contrary to what it looked like, it was quite comfortable. More than any other shoes she¡¯s worn. ¡°A long time ago, when my younger sister complained that her shoes were uncomfortable, I did this. I love making things.¡± A new shoe was worn on the other foot. ¡°You always looked uncomfortable walking. Is this okay?¡± It¡¯s not just the point okay. Her feet didn¡¯t hurt, and neither did her ankles or calves. Seeing Serdel¡¯s face brightening, he smiled, saying, ¡°It¡¯s a relief.¡± In his magic pouch, he kept the shoes and box she had been wearing just before. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you after I fix this too.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you, Blenn.¡± ¡°Are you feeling a little better?¡± ¡°Ung.¡± The disturbing emotions subsided. ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± He got up and stepped back. Serdel walked past him and went back to the garden. Addis, who was coming fast, pulled her along and made her dance¡ª. She felt like she was on a roller coaster. Serdel¡¯s eyes, which had been spinning like a top for a long time by Addis, started to spin suddenly. Addis became a drunkard while holding a bottle of wine with one hand. ¡°You should dance like this! Trust me.¡± Addis¡¯ limbs moved uncontrollably. Serdel¡¯s body was strangely bent in the same way. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± The genius knight was weak in drinking. And she was terribly bad at dancing. So the knights paid a silent tribute. ***** Addis¡¯s bad drinking stopped only after Belters knocked her out. Embarrassed, Blenn quickly supported Serdel. ¡°Are you okay, Lady?¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Falden, who approached, also asked anxiously. ¡°¡­I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°I think she needs to leave her seat now. She doesn¡¯t usually drink alcohol, but she seems to have been relieved a lot since she stepped down from the position of a successor. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll get drunk, but she seems to be having a good time.¡± Belters shook his head. ¡°Anyway, isn¡¯t it so terrifying?¡± Perhaps the situation just before was ridiculous, Falden burst out laughing. ¡°W, we¡¯ll be on our way!¡± The knights who were paying attention carried Addis and disappeared one by one. They had to go back to the palace because they were only allowed to leave for a short time. Seeing them moving away, Serdel bowed her head politely to Belters and Falden. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to do that. You don¡¯t have to. Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Falden waved his hand and stopped Serdel from grabbing the hem of her dress. ¡°¡­I¡¯m okay.¡± Although she¡¯s still dizzy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be on my way, too.¡± ¡°Ah¡­That¡¯s too bad.¡± Falden scratched the back of his head as he licked his lips. But he didn¡¯t grab her. Because it¡¯s very late. He turned around only after seeing her get into the carriage with Belters. ¡°Damn it, Dame Addis¡ª I will see you tomorrow!¡± Ugh, as Falden was grinding his teeth, Belters¡¯ face, who had been smiling just before, subsided. ¡°The atmosphere in Marquis of Spendar is bad. Did you hear that?¡± ¡°Ah, I heard about it before I came here. The Marquis was hospitalized.¡± ¡°He was poisoned.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably not the work of Sir Damon, who began to be recognized by him for this, but his half-brothers.¡± ¡°But the half-brothers seemed to be driving Damon¡¯s work.¡± Tsk. Falden clicked his tongue in displeasure. There was nothing more dirty than using poison. Since he had managed to save his life in a number of crises so far, Falden was terrified of poison. ¡°They say the eldest of the Marchioness¡¯ sons are making a fuss to bring down Sir Damon, claiming to be the head of the family.¡± Belters¡¯ eyes darkened. ¡°I heard from the person who I planted it separately, that he sent a marriage proposal to Lord Serdel.¡± In an instant, Falden¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I think he was trying to take advantage of Lord Serdel¡¯s authority. Or maybe he was trying to scratch Sir Damon¡¯s nerves¨C¡± ¡°How dare¡ª¡± Falden¡¯s body rose. ¡°Please calm down, Your Highness.¡± Belters let out a low sigh as he watched Falden¡¯s eyes gradually turn red. It was then. An old man who was pretending to be weak in front of Serdel before ran at a frightening speed. ¡°I just got a call! The sons of Marquis Spendar are dead.¡± CH 109 Author: rolypolyEditor: Tam ¡°In the end, Sir Damon drew his sword.¡± At the murmur of Belters, Falden clicked his tongue briefly. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. I remember the brothers weren¡¯t that stupid, though.¡± ¡°Sir Damon has not changed much like before. He¡¯s a successor, but he doesn¡¯t have a mother to support him. On the other hand, his brothers had Marchioness, and they had been successful in appeasing some of their vassals.¡± Damon has the support of more of the vassals, but his brother must have been able to get them on his side. Especially while he was in the Elbash forest, he must have been sure that it was finally his time to take over the family. ¡°But it probably didn¡¯t go as planned, and he must have gotten more impatient as the days went by. When Sir Damon came back after a few months, he must have been scared by how different he looked.¡± Falden¡¯s expression sharpened. ¡°Duke, don¡¯t you feel the same way? The person who changed the most on this journey was Sir Damon. He must have known that he and his brothers, who were competitors, would fall behind if they didn¡¯t take advantage of the moment.¡± Belters had many brothers, but no one objected to taking over the family because of his superiority. No one was jealous of him from the outside. He had already reached the level of a swordmaster by the time he was in his late teens, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to understand because he had never been in a power struggle. The position of the person who has no choice but to fight even though he is likely to lose. ¡°Even so, Sir Damon¡¯s way of dealing is certainly extreme.¡± ¡°If it were him before, he would have locked up his brothers with the evidence he had in his hands, then negotiated with the Marchioness and pressed the whole thing.¡± He would have taken the risk without making many sacrifices. ¡°When the Marquis wakes up, I don¡¯t know if there will be a real fight.¡± Will he ever believe that his two sons poisoned him? Can¡¯t he see that it¡¯s a trick by Damon? The Marchioness, who had lost her children, would go on the rampage. If the Marquis sides with Damon, he will fight with his beloved Marchioness, but he will lose his only son if he sides with the Marchioness. That would be quite a burden even as a Marquis. On the other hand, it was also likely that the vassals would protect Damon, who had won the battle for the line of succession. ¡°Under the circumstances, he will not be able to accept His Majesty¡¯s dinner invitation soon.¡± There is no way that the family¡¯s affair can be settled. ¡°When will you move, Your Highness? It wouldn¡¯t be too bad to just wipe it cool like Sir Damon did.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying good things to sell.¡± The circumstances of the Imperial family and the Marquis Spendar were similar but different. First of all, Falden had to deal with a lot of enemies. The 1st Prince was an ambitious fool, but not with the Empress. She had a lot of people and things behind her, and her strength was strong. What about the 3rd Prince and the other Emperor¡¯s wife? As expected, the Emperor¡¯s wife also had a lot of power in her hands. Besides, the 3rd Prince¡ª was the type of person who had no idea what he was thinking, and it was impossible to know exactly what his abilities were. The fact that his sword skills are not bad is the only information he knows about him. Even though it was Falden, that didn¡¯t make it any less frustrating, he can¡¯t hold his breath forever, but he¡¯ll be hit right away if he acts like Damon. ¡°Do you want me to sweep it cool? Then stick to this side. Don¡¯t just sit on the sidelines.¡± Belters didn¡¯t answer Falden¡¯s provocative question but instead smiled at him. ¡°Is this why I hate the Duke? Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re going to help if you¡¯re going to take a step back at an important moment.¡± With all that said, he trusted Belters quite a bit. He liked his character. Only a few people were as high and consistent as Belters. He looked arrogant, but he wasn¡¯t. He also didn¡¯t ignore his weaker opponent, even though he had never been weak for a single second. ¡°Haha. If I help you, what will Your Highness do for me?¡± ¡°Do you want anything from me, even though you already have everything? Tell me if you have. I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡± ¡°Not yet. But it might happen sooner or later.¡± With a meaningful remark, Belters lowered his eyes. ¡°Then, it¡¯s late today, so let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°I was going to go.¡± With sullen words, Falden turned around. ¡°I wasn¡¯t being sarcastic, I was just joking.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°If you know, give me strength.¡± Whining, he walked away. ****** Serdel closed her eyes as she listened to the sound of the carriage¡¯s wheels turning. Then she felt a vibration in the ring and pressed it with her thumb. [I¡¯m calling because I have something to tell you urgently. People say that the Marquis of Spendar is sick with poison. Sir Damon was almost falsely accused, but he escaped by killing both of them.] Serdel slowly opened her eyes at the report that had flowed into her mind. She didn¡¯t feel uneasy when she looked out the window and saw nothing but darkness. When the status window said he would be rewarded by getting the title faster, she knew this would happen. Power can¡¯t be taken easily, and someone else has to fall for someone to rise. [We¡¯ll contact you again as soon as we get new information. Then.] The carriage arrived at the mansion just in time and stopped. When the carriage¡¯s door opened, she saw Cartal. ¡°Did you have a good trip?¡± He held out his hand to Serdel and glanced at Blenn, who was sitting opposite her. He got off first and bowed his head toward Cartal. ¡°Did you have dinner?¡± ¡°I ate. How about you? Did you eat a lot of delicious food there?¡± ¡°Not much. My drunk sister grabbed me and forced me to dance, leaving me with nothing to eat.¡± Cartal¡¯s brow wrinkled. The head maid and Monem, who was standing behind him, were surprised and, with a short sigh, covered their mouths with their hands. ¡°Dame Addis can¡¯t dance, right? A long time ago, I remember when some dance teachers left, saying that it was the first time they had ever taught someone who couldn¡¯t get better¡ª.¡± When the head maid sneakily asked Monem, Monem coughed heavily. Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Our master was stepped on several times in the past¡­¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± Monem shut the head maid¡¯s mouth. Then she looked at Serdel with pitiful eyes. Cartal¡¯s gaze somehow seemed to be looking at her feet. It looks like a foot that she never stepped on. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing.¡± Silence fell for a moment. To make things less awkward, Cartal turned and walked toward Blenn. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s your and your sister¡¯s Imperial citizenship. I was going to give it to you right away, but you went outside.¡± Blenn¡¯s eyes widened a little. ¡°And this is an identity card.¡± The citizenship was stamped with a seal symbolizing the empire along with the words that they would accept the two as citizens of the Empire. The mark of Count Robbesta was crafted on the ID card, and when Blenn touched it with his hands, he fell to his knees. Cartal seems to be trying to end it all at once. ¡°I recognize you as the official knight of the family.¡± He even gave the knight a badge to him. As a result, he became a citizen of the Empire and, at the same time, became a member of Count Robbesta and a knight. He went from an escort with an uncertain identity to a full-fledged man. ¡°Please take care of Serdel.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give my life.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll believe you.¡± With those words, Cartal entered first. Blenn got up after being on his knees for a while. His face was flushed. A status window appeared above Blenn¡¯s head. [Edward Blaine (Blenn) ¨C Recognized by the Count family. His luck increase, and his presence get stronger.] ¡°Congratulations, Blenn.¡± Cerdel, who naturally looked down from the status window, congratulated him. Blenn¡¯s mouth was also drawn with a gentle smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Get a good rest today. And tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you and Laura a vacation, so go get some fresh air with her. Even though you¡¯ve seen her again after a long time, my work has kept you from spending enough time with her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lady.¡± ¡°You may be okay, but I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Yeah, with a short answer, Serdel went inside. She handed a pocket of money to Monem, who followed her. ¡°Give it to Laura. Tell her to buy something delicious with her brother.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Serdel entered her office and sat down at her desk again. ¨C Do you have time? She was about to look over the papers she had seen before she left when she heard the voice of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¨C Even if you¡¯re busy, if you take the time to talk to me, I¡¯ll be very happy. It seemed like it was wrong to handle the work today. ¡®Well, I was going to call you tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.¡± Serdel covered the papers and took out the magic bags from the drawer instead. ¡°I have time.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower, who appeared in a sparkling silver mist, put out his hand. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have something ready for you.¡± Confused, he put his hands on each other, and her view changed instantly. The destination was his laboratory. A big table was in the middle of the still-chaotic area. It was full of fancy food. ¡°I wanted to be the first to tell you congratulations, but the Young Lady was surrounded by so many people. Oh, and now you have become the successor¡ªit¡¯s not Young Lady, right? What should I call you?¡± ¡°You can call me Lord Serdel.¡± ¡°Aha, Lord Serdel. It¡¯s cool and nice. Please sit down.¡± CH 110 Author: Tam She wasn¡¯t really hungry, but she couldn¡¯t resist all the sincerity around her. The eye-catching plating and the flowers in the middle made it very beautiful. They gave her lighter foods as time went on, which seemed to be because they thought she may have already eaten. Sitting in her chair, she took a sip of the soup. She nodded when she tasted something good on the tip of her tongue. The sauce on the salad with thinly sliced duck meat was refreshing, stimulating the appetite. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower, who watched Serdel eat for a moment, also raised his fork. The meal continued without a word for a while. When she felt she had eaten some, Serdel wiped her mouth. ¡°I ate well. Thank you for congratulating me.¡± On her smile, The Lord of the Wizard Tower also drew lines awkwardly. ¡°As expected, the food we eat together is delicious. Thanks to you, I enjoyed the meal.¡± As soon as he said that, all the food on the table disappeared, and they brought out tea and small refreshments. Black tea¡¯s moderate temperature gave her mouth a refreshing wash. After putting down the teacup, she looked at the atmosphere for a while and bowed her head. ¡°Lord Serdel?¡± ¡°I picked out clothes and shoes. I¡¯ll send it to you in a few days. I¡¯d like to go out and buy it for you, but I don¡¯t have time, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Before she got help with magic the other day, she promised to buy the Lord of Wizard Tower¡¯s shoes with him. But she couldn¡¯t afford it because she was too busy with work. Honestly, she had no sense of shame. She saved Redan with his help in the most urgent moment, but she couldn¡¯t even keep her promise. ¡°Raise your head. It¡¯s a pity, but it¡¯s a fact that everyone in the capital knows that the Lord is busy. Did you choose my shoes and clothes by yourself?¡± Even though Monem brought her the catalog, she did choose items that would fit him. Before she could even open her mouth, ¡°Then that¡¯s enough.¡± He made it understandable. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re grateful, why don¡¯t you escort me to dinner?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it usually the other way around? The Lord of the Wizard Tower needs to escort me.¡± Pft, laughter came out. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m afraid to go alone, so please hold my hand.¡± What do you mean alone? To be precise, there were the three wizards that Falden raised secretly and participated in the exploration and subjugation. Serdel made a deal with the Emperor, and they both became imperial wizards, but they only talked about it. And they hadn¡¯t entered the palace yet. The Emperor gave them some time so that they could finish their long life in the mausoleum. So they could finish their long lives in the wizard tower, the Emperor gave them some time. It was a kind of consideration. In the meantime, the Emperor looked at the time to officially introduce the wizards in front of many people. He probably thought that now was the right time because Serdel had become a successor. He pretended to make a place to celebrate her, and he thought she wouldn¡¯t know that he was planning to gather the most powerful people in the capital and show the Lord of the Wizard Tower and wizards on the spot. The Lord of the Wizard Tower would not be there if she weren¡¯t there. Not long ago, she found out about it while talking to Maro. She was dumbfounded and clicked her tongue. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll hold your hand.¡± At Serdel¡¯s permission, the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s eyes gleamed for a moment. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. This¡ª¡± He snapped his fingers, and several scrolls appeared in front of her. ¡°This is a teleport scroll. I heard that the Lord¡¯s brother went down to the estate.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I heard it¡¯s hard to know the exact coordinates unless you¡¯ve been there once. Don¡¯t tell me¡ªdid you go all the way to the territory to make this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± For a moment, she was speechless. She alternately looked at the scroll and the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¡°Now that I know the exact coordinates, I can take you there. If you want to go quietly by yourself, you can use the scroll. Please tell me when you run out. I will make it again anytime.¡± She almost felt like crying. She never felt at ease for a moment after leaving Redan like that. She saw his face more often through the communication device than when they were together, but it was bittersweet every time they couldn¡¯t actually see each other. Even though he didn¡¯t show it, she knew that Cartal was secretly lonely. Besides, Redan didn¡¯t contact Cartal very often, probably because it was too awkward. ¡°¡­Thank you. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°There are ten sheets in total. Just in case, one sheet per person.¡± Then¡ª Five as a gift to Cartal¡ª. ¡®No, I¡¯m sure Unnie will miss Oraboni.¡¯ Serdel carefully took the scroll, thinking she should give four to Cartal and three to Addis. Then she held out the magic pocket from the desk drawer. It had the bodies of monsters that she had brought back from the expedition, as well as the bodies that Redan, Siri, and Terra had gained after subjugating them. ¡°Please give this to Maro and the two wizards. I promised to take it with me during the expedition. And this¡± At first, they got things that she was supposed to trade or valuable gifts, but she couldn¡¯t be too calculating. In the beginning, the monster corpses were taken to make a connection with the Magic Tower. She didn¡¯t have to trade what she brought for an excuse now. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you as a gift.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m shameless, don¡¯t you think?¡± A wizard has no sense of shame. ¡°Because I was going to make a deal¡ª¡± He flicked his fingers again. Then a magic pocket appeared in front of Serdel. It must have money in it. Serdel pushed it politely with her hand. ¡°No, please don¡¯t make me a shameless person.¡± Teleport scrolls were not something anyone could create. They had to be a top-level wizard to try it. ¡°Once I get the money, I won¡¯t be able to comfortably ask for it when I miss my brother. The Lord of the Wizard Tower gave me something more precious than money. So I want to give you this, too.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°¡­It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever received a gift. It¡¯s really the first time I¡¯ve ever received anything from someone in my life.¡± He got up from his seat and started to walk around all of a sudden. ¡°Uh, um¡­ do you need anything else? Anything else you want to eat. I can make you anything.¡± He moves around wildly for a while, like a child who doesn¡¯t know how to show how happy he is. The more he did, the more various kinds of food and desserts piled up on the table. Several objects floated up in the air. Seeing the hand lotion, Serdel held out her hand and squeezed it out. Even though the fragrance is nice, the quality of cosmetics in this world isn¡¯t very good. ¡°Ah! Would you like to look around the sky? It will be a special experience.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to look around.¡± Not long after Drunk Addis turned her around, she absolutely turned down the same experience. Serdel waved her hand with frightening speed. ¡°It¡¯s late, so I think I¡¯d better get going.¡± If someone comes into the office and finds out she isn¡¯t there, they will be surprised. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower was greatly disappointed. Apart from that, his gaze was directed at the magic pocket. He seems to want to get the monster¡¯s body out and study it. ¡®It¡¯ll be okay, right?¡¯ Inside that magic pocket was also the corpse of Raunel, which Serdel had encountered before. ¡®Anyway, I saw the Lord of the Wizard¡¯s Tower the last time, and if he wants to know anything, I¡¯ll tell him whenever he wants.¡¯ It would be easier to pass them all at once. In the meantime, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who had been contemplating back and forth, decided with a troubled look on his face. ¡°Then, for today¡­ Just¡­ um. If you are bored or have anything to do, call me right away.¡± ¡°I will.¡± She smiled softly. At last, the silver air currents that appeared after the Lord of the Wizard Tower made a gesture swallowed Serdel¡¯s body and disappeared together. He felt a little cold in the lab, where he was alone. But, when he thinks about it, he is always alone. A long time ago, many people came and went a few times. Since then, he has been alone all the time, so he felt that familiar loneliness approaching him today. The Lord of the Wizard Tower turned his head and cleared the table. Instead, he brought in a research desk and took a few monster bodies out of the magic pocket. When Serdel came here for the first time, Raunel¡¯s body was also there. He looked first at Raunel¡¯s eyes. There must be some scenes in which Serdel was stimulated by it. Even as the Lord of the Wizard Tower, he couldn¡¯t see it because it was in an area he couldn¡¯t normally see. As he had seen before, this time again, the saved scenes were played naturally in front of his eyes. Boom! ¡°Kyaaa!¡± ¡°Oh my God, the child was hit!¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, what is that driver doing? Don¡¯t you get off? Aren¡¯t we supposed to check the child¡¯s condition first?¡± He saw a whole new world for the first time. A child who ran into something unfamiliar for the first time and flew away. People in unfamiliar clothes gathered around it. The girl, who was lost in the middle, looked a lot like someone. And he jumps toward something big to save the child and gets hurt instead¡ª. In an instant, the boy¡¯s appearance suddenly distorted and became familiar. ¡°¡­.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s body stiffened. CH 111 Author: Tam He must have seen it wrong. He must. He shook his head and couldn¡¯t open his eyes for a while. It had been a long time since he had been so intensely flustered and agitated. How long did it take him to stop his heart from beating so fast? When he opened his eyes again, the familiar thing disappeared, and the boy who had been there was bleeding and dying. ¡°¡­.¡± And the lost girl was unfamiliar. Another tension arose as she looked completely different from before, which resembled someone a lot. The Lord of the Wizard Tower swallowed dry saliva, taking his gaze away from Raunel¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­What is it?¡± This phenomenon. Before, the background wasn¡¯t as clear as it is now, as if it were foggy. The focus was only on the characters. All he could see clearly was a boy who ran into something unknown and flew away, and a girl who sat in front of it and cried blankly. At the time, that alone was interesting. It¡¯s clear that this is a language he doesn¡¯t know, but it wasn¡¯t surprising that as soon as it reached his ears, it was automatically converted into this language. It was even more so because the children¡¯s clothes and shoes were unique. Moreover, Raunel was a monster gnawed at his opponent¡¯s trauma and mind. In other words, this meant that it was one of the things Serdel had experienced in the past. Perhaps she had experienced it in another dimension, and it was very likely that she saw it by accident and was shocked by it, which developed into a trauma. It was natural that Serdel¡¯s hand felt attractive at the time. He didn¡¯t want to go out, but she wanted to know more about her. Of course, apart from that, seeing her being assaulted by her ex-fiance, he couldn¡¯t bear to ask questions that could hurt her. ¡°¡­.¡± He moved closer to Raunel¡¯s eyes once more. Then the scenes that stopped were played again from the beginning. An unfamiliar world that looks just as clear as before with a loud scream. Something that looked like a carriage but didn¡¯t have a coachman or a horse rushed toward the girl. The girl couldn¡¯t avoid seeing it. But, more than that, what surprised her was she raised her finger, pointed to one side, and let out a startled scream. A boy who looked several years older than her jumped toward the girl. Bang! As soon as the girl was pushed back, the boy¡¯s body floated in the air for a moment and then fell. The sound of a girl crying out loud penetrated his heart. The Lord of the Wizard Tower, who hardened his forehead, continued to look at the girl. The memories stored in Raunel¡¯s eyes would have ended here, but for some reason, the girl¡¯s crying didn¡¯t stop and continued. As he listened to it, he slowly saw the shadow of someone he knew. ¡°Lord Serdel¡­¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower turned his head to look down. The figure of the dying boy was also distorted and turned into an acquaintance. He didn¡¯t see it wrong. ¡°¡­How do you¡­.¡± At the same time, a few memories that had been lingering in his mind came rushing up like waves. ¡°After 10 days, you¡¯ll make a new measurement of the distance to finish the perfect teleport magic.¡± ¡°Of course, it will fail, but success¡ªlet¡¯s see, in the future a little further. Can¡¯t you believe it? Shall we make a bet?¡± ¡°If I win, will you do me a favor?¡± One being who suddenly stepped into his domain like a storm one day. A person who often uttered nonsense because he had a strange sense of humor, even though he didn¡¯t feel any special powers. For a while, it was annoying to come here because he talked a lot, was strange, and said stupid things, but he is really something. The person who disappeared after telling him what terrible loneliness was, was smiling brightly in his mind for a long time. ***** As soon as dawn came, Cerdel pulled on the rope. Soon Monem came in. ¡°I¡¯m having breakfast with my father today, so prepare it.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Serdel got up from her seat after Monem left, and the maid who came in after her served her. It is said that the meal was ready just in time. She held the scroll given by the Lord of the Wizard Tower in her hand. ¡°Lady, please slow down. You¡¯re going to fall.¡± She wanted to give it quickly, so she walked quickly without realizing it, and the maid who was following her shouted in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t fall!¡± Her body leaned forward as she was about to go down the stairs with a courageous answer. Before she could even think, he reached out his hand. Blenn was holding on to Serdel when he came. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Instead of replying, Serdel smiled, saying thank you. She got up before he could let her go and went downstairs to the dining room right away. ¡°Father!¡± Cartal stopped as he was about to walk into the dining room. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Yeah. Good morning. Keep going in.¡± Inside the restaurant, the butler was setting up the food as if he hadn¡¯t done it in a long time. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± He bowed his head towards Cartal and Serdel. ¡°Butler.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Your voice doesn¡¯t sound good, are you sick? I haven¡¯t seen you since yesterday afternoon.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m alright.¡± Haha, with a smile, the butler quickly pulled out Cartal¡¯s chair. ¡°Are you really okay? Even if you¡¯re sick, you don¡¯t show pain, so how can I tell? Now that you¡¯re old, please take things easy.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Serdel glanced sideways at his answer. He certainly looked pale. ¡°Monem.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady.¡± ¡°If you look in my desk drawer, there will be potions. Give it to the butler.¡± When Monem left, the butler belatedly waved his hand. ¡°Oh no, Lady, I¡¯m not sick. The Master is doing it for nothing.¡± ¡°I just want to give it to you. I¡¯ll give you some good medicine later.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± As he stepped back, the meal began. And just before they eat something. ¡°Father, this is a gift for you.¡± Serdel shows what she wants to give. ¡°It¡¯s a teleport scroll connected to the Count estate. The Lord of the Wizard Tower gave it as a gift to congratulate me on becoming the successor.¡± Cartal¡¯s eyes widened. He takes the scroll in disbelief. ¡°He gave me a total of ten scrolls, but he said that one person only had to use each one. So I¡¯m going to give three of them to Unnie.¡± ¡°This precious thing¡­¡± As he put down the scroll, his eyes were full of complexity. ¡°Come to think of it, we were supposed to buy him a pair of shoes¡ª I completely forgot about it.¡± ¡°We had a lot of work. I¡¯ve prepared the shoes, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± ¡°Still¡ª¡± ¡°Do you not want to see Oraboni?¡± Serdel turned to him, but he wasn¡¯t happy, maybe because he was rude to the Lord of the Wizard Tower for no reason. ¡°Why¡ªI don¡¯t want? He¡¯s my son.¡± ¡°You should go today. I¡¯m sure Oraboni will be happy.¡± He will probably be quite flustered by the sudden appearance of Cartal. It was obvious even without looking at it. ¡°There are things to deal with¡ª¡± ¡°You have no time but now. You¡¯ll probably get busier after you accept His Majesty¡¯s invitation to dinner. You should go today.¡± ¡°Yes, Master, please go. Didn¡¯t you worry a lot about the Young Master?¡± The butler, who had been sneaking a look at the scroll from behind, approached. Monem, who had entered quietly earlier, had given him two bottles of potions, which he held in his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the mansion. There is also a potion that the Lady gave me, so I will do my best.¡± ¡°Yes, please go, Master.¡± The head maid also added another word. In the end, Cartal replied, ¡°I understand,¡± as if he was being pushed on his back. With that in mind, he left the dining room quickly. ¡°Butler. What did he usually like? What did he eat well? Head maid, told the chef to make Redan¡¯s favorite food quickly. And monem, go to his favorite dessert shop¡ªoh, what was it? Is it Monranche? Buy some of each type of cake there.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Following his orders, the butler, the head maid, and Monem were also busy. When Serdel saw that, she put a smile on her face. ****** Around lunchtime, Cartal took the items the three of them had prepared and went to the territory using the scroll. It¡¯s probably been a long time since he went to the Count¡¯s Territory. Also, it would be the first time she was left alone in the mansion. ¡®It feels a bit chilly.¡¯ Cartal and she were both busy with work, so they didn¡¯t see each other very often, but that didn¡¯t make it any less lonely. Serdel went into the office and looked at the documents the vice butler brought. As she focused on her work, her restless mind calmed down. Because of that, she skipped lunch, and when she looked up, it was already dark outside. ¡®I was too focused.¡¯ Pressing the back of her neck tightly, she stretched out, and she got up from her seat. As soon as she opened the door to the terrace, the wind blew in. ¡°It¡¯s going to rain¡­¡± She was going to ask Monem for a cup of warm tea because it was chilly, but she saw a familiar figure walking from afar. ¡°Butler¡ª?¡± His steps were dangerous to where he was going. He looked like he was going to fall over, and she couldn¡¯t look away. ¡°As expected, is he really sick somewhere?¡± Turning around, Serdel grabbed her shawl and came out to chase after him. CH 112 Author: Tam ¡°Lady!¡± The maid who followed Serdel grabbed her arm. ¡°Do you want to get some air? It¡¯s so chilly because it¡¯s late at night. It looks like it will rain soon. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just go in? Or I will come out with an umbrella and a thicker coat, so please wait until then.¡± Serdel gave a firm command to the maid, who was worried about her catching a cold. ¡°It¡¯s all right, you should go in.¡± Leaving her behind, Serdel tried to move quickly, but had already missed the Butler. She had no idea where he went. [Nuna. The grandpa butler went over there!] Dell, who jumped out just in time, took the lead, waving his tail. Blenn was letting off some energy nearby. It was as if he was protecting her so that she could relax. A bitter smile came out. ¡®This is my house anyway.¡¯ Cartal had already laid down several instructions before leaving his seat. Therefore, the current vice-captain had placed knights and squires in various places. So, there was no danger as long as the enemy didn¡¯t invade. She wanted to be comfortable moving alone, so she thought about asking Blenn about that. But the Butler she saw earlier wasn¡¯t in very good condition, so she thought she might need his help at some point. Then she started moving again, crossing the garden along Dell and going further inside. Serdel¡¯s steps slowly slowed down. It wasn¡¯t that big compared to the main building, but she could see a building that looked like it had been maintained with great care. ¡®It must be an annex.¡¯ When Rudella was a maid, it was a place where she took care of both the indoor garden and the annex, which was in a quiet, lonely place. She was startled by the cold sensation of the energy that had poured into her surroundings. ¡®Is this my first time coming here?¡¯ In the past, she only went to places guided by Siri, and after entering the second round, she never really came here. As she took on more family responsibilities, she only knew where it was, but because they hadn¡¯t used it in so long, she had forgotten where it was. Why the hell did the Butler come here at this late hour? Does he have any urgent business? ¡®In a place like this? There doesn¡¯t seem to be any problems that need to be resolved right now¡ª¡¯ He can take care of it when the sun comes up tomorrow, but why should he now¡ª? She wondered with anxiety. When she opened the door carefully, raindrops fell just in time. With her head up, two or three drops were also splashed on Serdel¡¯s cheek. Meanwhile, Dell entered the annex first. It was dark inside. After walking through the hall, she noticed that there was not a single light that lit on as she stepped on the stairs. But Serdel had no problems. Her eyes quickly got used to the darkness. How much did she move while looking outside through the big window in the middle? When she reached the end of the hallway, another staircase appeared. She went up, walked down the hallway, then went up again and walked down the hallway. It seems to be the last floor. When she got to the fifth floor, the butler was standing by the doorway and looking through his key pack. ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t this right? Then is this it? Oh, no. No, why can¡¯t I remember?¡± The Butler was trying to force the keys in, but when the right key didn¡¯t come out, he panicked and didn¡¯t know what to do. Then, seeing Serdel, he stopped. A flash of light flashed through the window in an instant. Then, lightning struck one after another without a sound. Once, twice, three times. After that, the darkness came. Serdel approached the butler first, just in case he was surprised. At the same time, the Butler also moved slowly toward her. As they were so close that they could feel each other¡¯s breath, the Butler grabbed Serdel¡¯s right hand. ¡°M, Madam¡ª!¡± ¡°¡­.!¡± Is he okay¡ª the thing she was about to ask went down her throat. ¡°Madam, oh my, Madam, where have you been and that you¡¯re coming back now?¡± She couldn¡¯t close her open lips. Surprised, Serdel kept blinking because she didn¡¯t know how to react. Blenn, who had noticed something was off, tried to move forward, but Serdel put her left hand up to stop him. His butler¡¯s wrinkled hand, holding her right hand, was trembling softly. ¡°Do you know how worried the master was? Madam. Where the hell did you go, and how did you come so late? The Master waited for you without a wink of sleep.¡± Tears flowed from the butler¡¯s eyes. ¡°You should have told me where you were going. Or you should have taken this butler, too.¡± As the amount of water pouring out from his eyes increased, the light around his eyes also disappeared. ¡°My master was so worried.¡± As he continued, Serdel felt suffocated. Before she knew it, the breath that came out of her mouth was filled with an uncomfortable trembling. ¡°Madam, Madam¡ª Uh-huh. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m doing well.¡± Suddenly, the butler began to cry out loudly. His mood was also strangely different from before. ¡°Madam asked for it, but I couldn¡¯t protect the Master, the Young Master, and the two Lady.¡± At that moment, the light shone through the window again. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do anything. How can I see you when I die¡ª¡± Once, twice without sound¡ª. Boom, boom, boom! The third lightning strike was different from the previous one. The light that came out was loud enough to shake the ground, and the sound was harsh and violent, like a roaring beast. The only thing in the hallway was dark, but now it was full of anxiety and brightness, and it seemed like he had come to his senses a little. ¡°¡­Lady? ¡° The face of the Butler was full of surprise. His tears stopped before he knew it. His lips trembled. The Butler¡¯s hand, which was weak and loose, dropped the bundle of keys. Dell, who was paying attention, quickly bit it and hid in the darkness. Then the sound of loud footsteps came. She turned around and saw Monem and the head maid. ¡°Huh!¡± When the head maid saw Cerdel, she was very surprised, and she had a rope in her hand. ¡°Uhhh, ugh.¡± The butler, who was sitting on the floor and hitting his head hard, may have found it hard to deal with the situation. ¡°L, Lady¡ª¡± Taking turns looking at the Butler and Serdel, the head maid swallowed her saliva. ¡°First.¡± Serdel forcefully pulled out her words that seemed unlikely to come out. ¡°Take care of the butler first. His condition doesn¡¯t look very good.¡± The head maid came up behind the butler and forced him to stand up. The Butler didn¡¯t even recognize the head maid. It seemed hard for the head maid to handle him alone since he twisted his body all over and told her not to touch him. Eventually, Blenn stepped up and overpowered the Butler. ¡°Blenn. Take the Butler to the bedroom.¡± Blenn, who carried him on his shoulder, went down first after the head maid. Boom, boom, boom! This time, lightning came with the rain. The sound of hitting the window was quite loud. ¡°Monem.¡± Monem, who was left alone without chasing the two, knelt in front of Serdel. ¡°Explain what happened.¡± ¡°¡­there¡¯s something wrong with the butler¡¯s head.¡± ¡®Is it dementia?¡¯ ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Since 2 years ago¡ªit flickers often. It got worse last winter.¡± ¡°Does father know?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I see.¡± If Cartal had known, he would have told his butler to retire right away and take steps to make sure he could rest well. ¡®I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s still survived in that condition¡ª¡¯ It could be seen that his loyalty was deeper than Serdel had thought. ¡°Anything more to say?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t report earlier.¡± Monem¡¯s hands and body trembled as she lay flat on the floor. She didn¡¯t think she had anything else to say, so Serdel stood in front of the door where the Butler was about to go and held the key pack that Dell had given her. A silver air current appeared when she opened the key package on her palm. She took the key that it pointed to and opened the door. Soon a large space appeared. There was nothing but a chandelier. She stared blankly at the empty space for a while. It was impossible for him to have important business in a place like this. Judging from the condition of the butler, it must have been that he set his foot in the wrong place while trying to go somewhere else. If so, where did he originally want to go? [Would you like to see the interior view of the mansion?] The status window popped up as if she had been waiting for this moment. ¡°¡­..¡± Her heart was pounding. She felt strangely uncomfortable. However, she also thought that now is the right time. This couldn¡¯t have been delayed much longer as Cartal was already in the territory and she learned about the butler¡¯s secret. Serdel blinked one eye slowly, and the interior view of the mansion unfolded. Near the basement of the annex, a silver air stream that had never been seen before flashing. Her body, which had stopped, moved again. When she¡¯s just about to pass Monem. ¡°Lady.¡± She grabbed Serdel¡¯s foot. It seemed that she instinctively knew where Serdel was going. ¡°Please¡­ please don¡¯t open the door.¡± The voice was desperate. Monem¡¯s face was a mess when she raised her head. ¡°Please, don¡¯t open the door.¡± Serdel bent down and took Monem¡¯s hand off of her foot. ¡°Lady¡ª!¡± Serdel went down, ignoring her scream. CH 113 Serdel arrived at the hall and turned around. There was a door behind it, and as soon as she opened it, there was a staircase leading down. She went down and found the hallway. The structure was the same as above. Just in case, Serdel opened all the doors and checked the inside. There was nothing there. It was all empty, and the same was true below. Maybe that¡¯s why the sound of shoe heels hitting the floor was louder than usual. When she went to the last basement, she felt a cool chill. The tension she had forgotten for a while began rapidly rising from her toes. She stopped without realizing it. It was difficult to take even one step again. It felt like the pressure in the room was making her stomach twist, and there was a sense of nausea. Her head was strangely ticklish, and she couldn¡¯t help but think of any memories with it. Is that why? Even though she wanted to move forward, her instincts and body told her not to. She suppressed her hesitation and stood in front of the door at the far end of the corridor. It was different from any other door she had seen because it had more than one lock. When she opened the door, she saw a room full of things. The large size of the luxurious bed and the antique furniture that didn¡¯t fit in the small room were the first things that caught her eye. When Serdel looked up, she saw a chandelier with no lights. For some reason, she preferred to see this room through the light rather than through the eyes that were accustomed to the darkness. So she took out the scroll and tore it apart, and a light sphere floated in the air. In an instant, the room became brighter, and the chandelier swallowing the light suddenly burst out with sparkling lights. Serdel approached the bed. Each pattern that was placed on the bedpost was full of life. There was no need to think about who the user was. The bed was in good condition because magic was used to keep it that way. There wasn¡¯t even a single speck of dust. She reached out and touched the blanket. It felt like something soft and warm that she couldn¡¯t feel was wrapped around her hand. Serdel took a step back and looked at the furniture. There wasn¡¯t a single piece of clothing hanging in the closet or a single common accessory. ¡°Dell.¡± Dell, who approached her secretly at her call, looked into her eyes. Serdel looked at Dell and began to focus. It didn¡¯t take long for their minds to connect. ¡®I want to get a glimpse of the memories engraved on these objects in turn.¡¯ Leaving Dell behind, she swept her hands over the waist-high wooden drawers. Likewise, thanks to the preservation magic, the condition of the wood grain were quite good. The hesitating boy jumped up and rubbed his face on the back of Serdel¡¯s hand. At the same time, the memories of the drawers pass through Dell to Serdel¡¯s mind¡ªit seemed to flow in, but they cut off. [The preservation magic is too strong¡ª] It seemed to block unfamiliar energy from getting through. The same goes for other furniture. Serdel scanned the interior of the mansion again. ¡®There¡¯s another space in here!¡¯ Her eyes moved in a hurry. Then she approached an empty bookshelf with no books on it and pushed it hard. Soon a secret room appeared. As soon as she stepped inside, the light turned on. There were magic balls that were attached to the ceiling and walls. It was twice the size of the previous room she had been in. There were many more types and quantities of things stored. When she opened the closet door, she saw the tightly hung dresses. Next to the closet was a jewelry display case, and next to it was a shoe rack. They were all in good condition with preservation magic. Also, there were three portraits hanging on the wall on the opposite side, one of which was a portrait of a couple, and the other was a portrait of a family. The last one was a solo portrait of the Countess. The Countess she saw for the first time was an orphan. A small, white face with clear features. Her light brown hair was rich and beautiful, and her golden eyes were as bright and intense as the sun itself. Her raised eyes looked haughty as a cat. ¡®I think I can see why the butler looked at me and called me Madam.¡¯ The impression was a little stronger on the Countess¡¯ side, but the overall feeling was similar to Serdel¡¯s. ¡°A lot alike¡ª¡± Without realizing it, she muttered and walked closer to the portrait. The Countess looked sharp and hard in the individual portrait, but in the couple portrait and family portrait, she looked soft and lively. There was a baby in her arms. It was Serdel. Young Addis and Redan stood on either side, and Cartal stood behind them, all of them looking at Serdel. It felt warm and caring. And for some reason, she felt nostalgic. [Nuna¡­] Dell called Serdel. Huh? When she lowered her head, tears poured down her eyes. ¡®Uh¡­Was I crying¡­?¡¯ Embarrassed, she wiped her eyes with her hand. She wiped it and then wiped it again. Nevertheless, the tears continued to flow without stopping. Her heart just sank. The moment she turns around because she doesn¡¯t think she should be here anymore¡ª. ¨C Re.mem.ber. The voice of the young Serdel, whom she had faced for a while through the crow mask in the cavity, struck her ear. And with it, whoosh! Her entire body felt as if it were sinking. Her blue lips trembled. [N, Nuna¡­?] In some serious atmosphere, Dell hit Serdel¡¯s skirt with its front foot. ¡°I, it¡¯s okay¡­.¡± Serdel gave her stiff legs strength with a short answer. Just before she left, she turned her head for the last time and looked at the portrait with her eyes. Her heart tightened at the look of the benevolent Countess. ¡®Don¡¯t run away. Let¡¯s not run away.¡¯ She didn¡¯t come here to look away. Serdel wiped her tears with her sleeve, trying to stop her body from shaking. Then she goes back to the portrait, whoosh¡ª! Someone grabbed her arm. When she raised her head in surprise, it was the Lord of the Wizard Tower. While he was barefoot and wearing wide pants and a loose shirt, he looked around for a moment. Seeing the portrait of the Countess, his eyebrows hardened. ¡°How are you here¡ª¡± ¡°Are you all right?¡± Not knowing what to answer the question, Serdel hesitated for a long time. On the other hand, she couldn¡¯t understand why the Lord of the Wizard Tower appeared at such a time. After staring at the portrait for a while, he turned his gaze away. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it, but I think I¡¯ll have to show it to you.¡± The box he held out contained one of Raunel¡¯s eyes. ¡°How does this look in Lord Serdel¡¯s eyes?¡± Serdel looked at Raunel¡¯s eyes and the Lord of the Wizard Tower alternately. The question¡¯s main point was strange. ¡°Who do you think this boy in the accident looks like?¡± She was going to say that he looked like her Oppa, but instead of answering, she looked into Raunel¡¯s eyes. There seemed to be a reason why the Lord of the Wizard Tower was doing this. Also, her Oppa, who appeared after young Serdel, looked like her. He thought there might be some kind of connection between the young Serdel and her Oppa. ¡®I don¡¯t think so, but¡ª¡¯ Let¡¯s start with some negation, Bang! She saw her Oppa crash into a car and get blown away. Serdel clenched her fists tightly. Her Oppa, who had been in an accident instead of the little girl, was dying. He shook and reached for the little girl who was crying helplessly in front of him. But he couldn¡¯t reach it. ¨C You¡¯re crying again. ¨C Do you remember the last thing I said? You didn¡¯t forget, did you? Her Oppa asked with a faint smile. With that, the video ended. Serdel lifted her eyes and looked at the Lord of the Wizard Tower. His complexion was dark. ¡°Let me ask you again. Who do you think this boy is?¡± ¡°Who do you think he is in the eyes of the Lord of the Wizard Tower?¡± ¡°Do you still see him as a boy in your eyes?¡± The conversations between them seem strange. ¡°Let¡¯s concentrate again. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll look like someone else.¡± But no matter how often she looked at it, it was always her Oppa. Her Oppa kept asking her if she had forgotten. As she listened to the same questions repeatedly, she felt d¨¦j¨¢ vu. Her head feels hurt. It was like she had a headache. She was pressing her temples down when someone suddenly pulled her. There was no surprise. When Blenn returned from bringing the butler to the bedroom, he held Serdel tight and put some distance between them. In one hand, he held a sword pulled from his waist. ¡°Who are you?¡± Blenn¡¯s blood rose when he saw Lord of the Wizard Tower for the first time. The aura seemed so strong that he could kill his opponent. The Lord of the Wizard Tower looked at Blenn with indifferent eyes. ¡°Blenn, he¡¯s not an enemy, so take your sword.¡± Serdel ordered, but he couldn¡¯t easily follow. So instead, he gave more power to the hand holding the sword because he felt threatened by the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s special energy. He seemed to feel threatened by the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s special energy, so he gave a hand holding the sword more power. ¡°Blenn, he is the Lord of the Wizard Tower. So take your sword.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the Lord of the Wizard Tower, at the Imperial Palace¡ª?¡± ¡°Yes, he saved my life. He¡¯s here because he has something to do with me¡ª¡± Serdel¡¯s words, who were about to order him to withdraw his sword, didn¡¯t continue. Blenn¡¯s eyes moved from her to Raunel, who was being held by the Lord of the Wizard Tower. She has lost touch with the world and her sense of the present and is being pulled into a past she doesn¡¯t remember. CH 114 ¡®What kind of situation is this?¡¯ It looked like it was floating in the air, like dust. Maybe because of that she was dizzy. How long has she been in this state? Tuk, tuuk. She heard the sound of something falling over her consciousness. At first, a sound that seemed so far away slowly got closer, waking up her mind. At the same time, the sight was secured. ¡®Here¡ª¡¯ It was the place she hated the most as a child, and it was the same orphanage that she always had to return to when abandoned. She felt embarrassed since the place she was pulled to was not ¡®Serdel¡¯s¡¯ past but her own. Not knowing what to do, she saw a child squatting in the corner with only her head bowed. The hair was sticking out here and there because it was loosely tied up. She has a small body that hasn¡¯t grown properly to the point where even the kinky socks she wears are too big. It was her as a child. She felt strange. Seeing what she didn¡¯t want to see made her angry and upset. Around this time, she was adopted and abused several times, especially since it was a time when she couldn¡¯t open her mouth after going through a dissolution of adoption. Emotions were bound to be complicated. At every turn, self-esteem was crushed, and the lack worsened. The more she wanted attention, the more people turned away from her. When she returned to the orphanage like that, she always hid in a corner. With her face covered like now. ¡®¡­.¡¯ It suffocated her for a moment. Serdel turned around. Rain was pouring down through the narrow window. There was even thunder and lightning. She didn¡¯t want to go outside, no matter how miserable she was in her situation. In the end, she quietly squatted next to it. ¡®¡ªWhat the hell is this.¡¯ All she needs to know is about Serdel¡¯s lost memory and the Countess. Why is it that she is faced with her younger self? Shaking her head before her mood subsided, she recalled the Lord of the Wizard Tower that had come to the underground space. What kind of appearance was her Oppa reflected in the eyes of Raunel he saw? Why did he ask her again and again? ¡®And what about Blenn?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t understand why this situation happened the moment she looked into Raunel¡¯s eyes. ¡®It felt like we were drawn into the past together.¡¯ If so, where is he? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to go looking for him now? The situation is very different from saving Redan. Will the power of sorcery really work? She had a lot of questions, but just as she was about to focus on trying for a moment¡ª. The outside became noisy. It wasn¡¯t because of rain and lightning; it was human noise. Soon, the door opened, and someone came inside. ¨C Hello. The bright, familiar voice pulled her head out from between her knees, where she had been hiding it. A slender body, and short dark brown hair. The boy with a soft impression was her Oppa. ¨C Hello? She must have heard it, but her younger self didn¡¯t move. She took a moment to look at her Oppa and her younger self in a daze. And beyond the door, she still watches the pouring rain. ¡®Did it rain like this when I first met Oppa?¡¯ She thought the weather was nice at that time¡ª. There must be something wrong in her memory. ¡®Well, it¡¯s because Oppa died that way and I couldn¡¯t hold onto my heart for a while.¡¯ It¡¯s just the weather, so she might not remember. ¨C Nice to meet you. Her Oppa looked down at her younger self, who still wasn¡¯t moving, and said something. When he didn¡¯t get a response, he got down on one knee. Oppa, who stretched out his hand and forcibly lifted her face smiled brightly. The smile was as beautiful as the sun. In his clear, deep eyes, only her younger self was reflected. ¡®¡­.¡¯ She was thankful for that, but she was a little disappointed. She was sad that her Oppa could no longer see her. Her Oppa kissed her forehead and cheek as a child. ¨C You don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been looking for you. I was really worried that I might not be able to find you now that I don¡¯t have much time left. Then he gave her a big hug for the last time. Was it because she missed the warmth that came from being in his arms? There were tears in her eyes. ¨C You must have a hard time, right? It¡¯s not your fault. Sorry. I¡¯m really sorry. It¡¯s all my fault If I¡ª if I wasn¡¯t going to be sacrificed¡ª. Her eyes blinked as she listened next to her Oppa¡¯s mumbling. ¡®A sacrifice? You just said a sacrifice, right?¡¯ What does that mean? ¨C I¡¯ll pick you up again soon. Wait until then. Don¡¯t forget me and wait. Adoption required procedures. ¨C I¡¯ll be sure to pick you up. Don¡¯t forget me. That¡¯s how her first meeting with her Oppa ended. ¡®I was confident that I remember everything about Oppa.¡¯ Unexpectedly, she realized she couldn¡¯t remember the details of the conversation. At the same time, she was pushed out of consciousness and pulled into another memory from the past. It seems to be after adoption. Her younger self and Oppa played in the living room during the day. ¡®Oh, I remember that time.¡¯ Her slow-talking Oppa often read her a fairytale book. Then, when they were excited, they would draw a picture and create a story to tell. It was the same today. Oppa, who picked up a colored pencil under a large sketchbook, began to draw this and that. ¨C Once upon a time, there lived a stubborn and greedy Emperor. The repertoire was almost the same. The Emperor in Oppa¡¯s fairy tale always had the exact figure. He drew an emperor with a dead queen, and Empress that he doesn¡¯t really care. An empress who was struggling to gain the love and power of such an emperor. Then the exhausted empress gives up her love and begins to cling to power and her son. The Empress was at odds with the Emperor and the other wives. Even the princes were fighting endlessly for the throne. Her younger self yawned every time she turned her head, as if she was a little bored, but she couldn¡¯t stand behind it. Living as Serdel, every story her Oppa told me was unusual. In particular, the corners of her eyes hardened when he talked about a picture with green waves, whether it was a forest or not. ¨C Listen well. You must remember this. Here in the counties there is a huge forest where only monsters live. Money minerals and great power reside in this place, you know? ¨C Ung. Her younger self gave a rough nod. ¨C It¡¯s the power that I buried for you after a hard deal. Only you can use that power entirely. So you have to get it. I¡¯m going to mark a hundred stars. Remember, it should never be taken away by someone. ¨C What happens if it gets taken away? The one who stole it will die? ¨C No. It will be transformed and absorbed according to the tendency. They won¡¯t die, but they can¡¯t use the power of this essence. To put it this way, would it be called lick the outside of watermelon? (T/n : To do something superficially without fully understanding it.) When she heard that, the power of Elbash Forest and Radun came to mind at once. At the same time, she now know for sure why Falden¡¯s power and the power she gained were different. ¨C Don¡¯t ever meet someone who doesn¡¯t have a good feeling after you get that power. Because they might have a bad feeling for you. At some point, stories about fairy tales turned into advice for her younger self. ¨C Okay. ¨C And watch out for the imperial family. Especially¡ª. When Oppa tried to talk, blood and a cough came out of his mouth. ¨C Oppa! Her younger self jumped out of fear. ¨C D, does it hurt a lot? When Oppa suddenly started to bleed, she was shocked and worried that he had a serious illness. But not now. ¨C Due to restrictions¡ª I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t tell you more. But you have to remember it well. ¡®What do you mean restriction?¡¯ She felt like her eyes met Oppa¡¯s eyes, who raised his eyes for a moment. ¨C Be careful of the imperial family. Startled, she took a step back before she knew it. ¨C Don¡¯t ever forget¡ªForest, power, or royal family. Don¡¯t let them take what is yours. His eyes were so intense that it was as if he was looking at her. There¡¯s no way he can see her. If this were the present, someone with a good sense like Belters would have found out right away. But it was in the past. It was ridiculous that her already dead brother saw her. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Oppa¡¯s lips turned toward her younger self. It seemed to whisper something. Her younger self nodded. ¨C Ung, I won¡¯t forget. Never. ¨C Promise. Her young self, who puts her finger on her brother¡¯s, looked a little dark. What did she hear? ¡®I can¡¯t think of anything.¡¯ Why can¡¯t she think of that whisper she just heard? What the hell is the true identity of her brother? Confusion aggravated confusion. Just before it exploded, it once again pushed her out of the scene. CH 115 It rained lightly. The gloomy sky was getting darker and darker. She looked around her surroundings. Various people were seen. Some people opened their umbrellas they had brought, and others hurriedly covered their faces with raindrops falling from the sky. Some of them stepped on shallow puddles of water and skimmed past her. It was in the memory of the past, but it was full of reality because the surroundings were crowded. Among them, her younger self had just come out of the bakery with her brother. ¨C It looks delicious. ¨C Be patient. Let¡¯s go home and eat. Her smiling older brother looked very tired. His cheeks were thin, and his eyes were dark and cloudy. His lips were also dry. It was something she had never seen before in her memory. The only thing she could see in her eyes was his hum. ¨C Wait. Her brother, who stopped her younger self from jumping, quickly covered his nose. It looked like his nose was bleeding. ¨C Oppa, are you sick? ¨C No, do you want to wait here for a second? I¡¯ll get some tissues. Yeah. Her younger self, who had been waiting when her brother didn¡¯t come after five minutes, swung a bag of bread to appease her boredom. ¨C Waaaa! Then, there was a cry coming from the side. A child was playing with the ball, and the ball rolled over to the road. Her younger self quickly ran to pick it up and give it to the child as soon as the blue light turned on. What about it makes her smile? She had no choice but to watch this, which made her heart feel heavy. She knew what would happen to her soon, so she seemed even angrier. At the time, she wondered if she could use her magic to stop that accident from happening. Suddenly, the background turned gray, and she felt like she was being pushed away from the memories of her past. It seemed to warn her not to intervene. Anxiety and fear flooded in. It was a completely different feeling than seeing it through Raunel¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d rather put her hands over her ears and close her eyes, but. ¨C Huh? She turned her attention to the voice she heard. Her younger self was on the verge of being hit by a black car. ¡®Avoid, please. Avoid it!¡¯ ¨C Huh?? Even when she saw the car, she didn¡¯t try to avoid it. Instead, her younger self stretched out her fingers. ¨C Hey, that person¡ª. She also looked in the direction she was pointing. Suddenly, her whole body felt stiff. There must be some kind of tint in this luxury sedan. It would have been impossible to see the inside, but the situation behind the driver¡¯s seat caught her eye. A man threatened a young boy who seemed to be a foreigner. The boy resisted with all his might. However, it was not enough. The man soon pushed the boy into a corner. Then, she stops seeing her younger self. With her eyes wide open, she tried to reach her hand toward the driver¡¯s seat. Come to think of it; the driver was also in a strange condition. His eyes were half closed. It¡¯s dangerous! Get out of the way! The boy shouted at her younger self, but she couldn¡¯t hear him because the sound couldn¡¯t get out of the car. On the other hand, it came to her mind for some reason. Even in a life-threatening scenario, the boy tried his best not to be swept away by her younger self, but the fight didn¡¯t last long. The boy, who was strangled by a weight difference, slowly died. ¨C Your Hyung-nim said that if you die, he will ensure that my family does well. ¨C U, ughh!! ¨C Who told you to be born the son of a concubine? You should have kept living like an idiot. Why are you running into it! Even my hands got dirty because of you! Just die. Your little sister will be waiting up there by now! The man with his eyes wide open was going crazy from guilt. The boy hit the driver¡¯s seat with his hand even though he was weak. ¨C Avoid¡­it. The last effort ended with that. The boy¡¯s arm, whose eyes were turned upside down, fell. The driver¡¯s head also fell. At the same time, a car came running over her younger self. Bang! It was her brother who was hit by a car, not her. Her younger self, who had fallen on the floor, was confused for a while and then got up. ¨C O, Oppa¡­ There was a lot of blood around her brother. Her younger self was getting more and more out of breath. ¨C U, uh¡­O, Oppa¡­ Slowly, tears started to come. The tears that had been falling one or two drops at a time suddenly poured down. ¨C You¡¯re crying again. With a heavy breath, her brother raised his hand. ¨C You know, remember what I said? You didn¡¯t forget, did you? However, her brother¡¯s hand could not wipe away her younger self¡¯s tears. She also cried as she saw him fall down helplessly. She met her brother¡¯s eyes for a moment. There¡¯s no way he could see her. But it looks like he is looking and talking to her. ¨C If you don¡¯t forget, tell me. You, who you are¡ª. The question was directed at her, but her younger self answered it. ¨C Hik¡­uh¡­ S, Serdel¡­ Robbesta. S, Serdel Robbesta. What my brother whispered to me¡­ I will never forget it. I, I¡¯m Serdel Robbesta; I¡¯m not an orphan. I, I have a family¡­ So please don¡¯t die¡­ Please¡­ Don¡¯t die¡­ ¨C Don¡¯t forget it. Who you are¡­ this time¡­ never¡­ never forget it¡­ Even in this twisted¡­ world, the end has come¡­ A faint line was drawn at the corner of her brother¡¯s lips. ¨C Now¡­ I can¡¯t save you anymore¡­ So, don¡¯t get lost. Serdel. Whoosh! The moment the name ¡®Serdel¡¯ came out of her brother¡¯s mouth, his appearance began to change. Not the boy she knew, but the Countess she saw in the portrait. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡®H, huh¡­?¡¯ Serdel is her, and she is Serdel. Her head was spinning because of a conclusion she had never thought of. ¡®No way. There¡¯s no way!¡¯ Cartal is her real father. Addis and Redan are her real sister and brother. If so, what is the life she has experienced in modern times? What else is the virtual world that she believed to be the world in the game! It took her a while to get away from the truth, which hit her hard. The dead brother¡ª no, several scenes overlapped over the Countess. A carriage was coming into the Count¡¯s house. Inside the coffin, they pulled out the damaged¡ª Mother. And as expected, the ban in her thoughts broke as the doors to the memories that were buried deep in the abyss were wide open. Memories that weren¡¯t clear came back to her. ¡°Ssh, Serdel. Your ability is a secret between us. Okay? You can¡¯t tell anyone.¡± It was the first time she started having a prophetic dream. The Countess¡ª no, her mother told her not to tell anyone from the start. She shouldn¡¯t tell anyone. She knew nothing and only enjoyed having secrets with her mother. Then her mother died, and she blamed herself for the shock. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t tell you, father. I, It¡¯s all my fault. It¡¯s all my fault that my mother died.¡± She felt like tearing her hair in front of Cartal. But he didn¡¯t resent her like herself. Instead, he hugged her and cried. Holding onto his broken little daughter, he cried more sadly than anyone else. Just in case something goes wrong with her. There were times when he came back in the morning when she cried for a long time. Then, he asked the former Lord of Wizard Tower to seal Serdel¡¯s memory. In front of Cartal, she lost her memories one by one. Even though he was in such a bad situation, when she thought about his eyes at that time, it felt like his heart was being torn apart. ¡®Ah¡ª¡¯ In the end, Serdel sank. It was painful. Even though the raging was so strong, it was hard for her to endure it alone. ¨C Lady. It was then. She raised her head to a familiar voice. Something passed over the boy¡¯s body, who had died in the car that hit her brother, and immediately approached her. It was Blenn. His eyes were full of confusion as he realized the previous life he had never known. Tears streamed down his tired face. ¨C Lady¡ª. Boiling on one knee in front of Serdel, he reached out carefully. They were both in a state of souls, so she thought he would pass, but to her surprise, his thumb touched her cheeks. ¨C Are¡­ Are you okay? He was worried about Serdel. ¨C No, it¡¯s not okay. It hurts too much. How about you? Are you okay? ¨C I¡¯m¡ª as long as Lady is all right, that¡¯s fine. The tears didn¡¯t stop running. Blenn hugged Serdel. At that moment, the curtains fell over the unfolding memories, and the surrounding darkened. How long has she been trapped in a quiet space? She was brought to her senses with the lost sense of reality. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower approaches her. One of his hands still held Raunel¡¯s eyes. The memories stored inside were regenerated again. The boy hit by a car on her behalf was no longer seen as an older brother. He seemed to have guessed the meaning of Serdel¡¯s tears. ¡°I see, as expected.¡± The face of the Lord of the Wizard Tower darkened. CH 116 The Lord of the Wizard Tower, who had been contemplating for a moment, then swept his hair roughly. ¡°Today¡­ I¡¯ll just go back for today. There are a lot of things I want to ask, but the Lord¡¯s condition is not good¡ª¡± ¡°How do you know my mother?¡± When Serdel asked, he paused. Serdel, who slipped away from Blenn¡¯s arms, wiping away the flowing tears with the back of her hand, looked straight at him. Even though the situation was chaotic, the actions of the Lord of the Wizard Tower remained clear in her head. Moreover, his murmuring just before was clearly significant. He said, ¡®I see, as expected.¡¯ It was a word that couldn¡¯t come out unless he knew something. ¡°Did you ask me who did I see the boy in Raunel¡¯s eyes? Who did you see in the eyes of the Lord of Wizard Tower? Since when? No, this question is probably meaningless. You must have seen the same scene as me at first.¡± If that weren¡¯t the case, as a wizard, he would have asked right away. ¡°Yes, as you said, he looked like a boy at first.¡± The Lord of Wizard Tower replied as if there was no reason to hide. ¡°Then, on the day that I received the corpse of the monster as a gift, as soon as the Lord left, I immediately took out Raunel¡¯s corpse for the purpose of research. Then, the boy who died in an accident began to look like the Countess.¡± He stood near Serdel. Blenn¡¯s body behind her stiffened. He gave strength to the hand holding the sword so he could attack immediately. ¡°The girl who was crying in front of him looked like the Lord. So I was surprised. When I first saw the scene, the surrounding background was blurry, so I was just shocked to see the scene and thought it was a trauma¡ª¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower lightly swept Serdel¡¯s eyes with the back of his hand. The cool energy relieved the tired eyes from the tears. After a while, the tears stopped. ¡°With the Countess, hmm. How should I say it? Should I say that I was tired from the first meeting? She threatened to come to the Tower and see me.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°She was a very annoying person. She often uttered nonsense. The reason I am now ignorant is probably the influence of the Countess.¡± She didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Thanks to her, I¡¯ve overcome many difficulties. I was a lazy person at first, but after I learned about emotions, I became less bothered. She was a good friend to me, who was used to being alone.¡± He took a step back. ¡°Of course that person approached me with different intentions.¡± There was not even the slightest displeasure in the face of the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who shrugged his shoulders. Rather, she could tell through his soft eyes that the meeting at that time remained a pleasant memory for him. ¡°The last time she came to the tower, she asked me a favor. If someone like her reaches out to me, please don¡¯t turn it down.¡± The Lord of Wizard Tower took a sideways look at the portrait to remember it. As she bowed her head more seriously than usual, the figure of the Countess came to mind. ¡°She said she¡¯d let me know a lot more emotions than I did. At the time, I said it was annoying, so I refused¡ª¡± He focused on Serdel. ¡°Because the first time I saw the Lord, I became interested.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower held out a box containing Raunel¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know how the Lord and the Countess met in another dimension. Perhaps, after the Countess became that way, there have been a few times when the Lord¡¯s time stopped.¡± Serdel, who received the box, put the cover on. ¡°There may have been an external force at that time. However, this is an area where human power alone is impossible¡ª¡± Hmmm, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who was about to enter the thought again, raised the air current as if he didn¡¯t miss Serdel¡¯s darkened face. ¡°The Lord¡¯s complexion isn¡¯t very good right now, so I think you need to get some rest. I¡¯ll see you soon, so if you need anything, call me. I¡¯ll go right away.¡± The air current rose to the top of his head, and after a while, the Lord of the Wizard Tower disappeared. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Blenn, you should go and rest, too. It must be confusing¡ª¡± ¡°¡­I apologize.¡± Blenn boiled his knees. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, there wouldn¡¯t be such an accident.¡± Serdel turned and looked at Blenn. She didn¡¯t feel resentful towards him. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s not because of you, Blenn, so don¡¯t feel guilty.¡± Her mother would have died shortly after if it hadn¡¯t been for an accident. He hid it thoroughly in front of her young self, but her eyes were completely blank. ¡°But because of me¡­.¡± Serdel brushed Blenn¡¯s cheek slightly with her hand. She felt sorry for him. ¡°Your life¡ª is as complicated as mine.¡± He was killed in his previous life. Even here, where he returned, he lived a miserable life in the past. If it wasn¡¯t for her, it probably would have been the same this time. After releasing her hand, Serdel immediately looked back. If they continued to face each other, it felt like the tears that had stopped for a moment would burst again. ¡°Go get some rest. I want to be alone.¡± He hesitated and went out. Left alone in silence, Serdel approached the portrait. ¡°¡­For protecting me, for trying to protect me in any way¡­Thank you, mother.¡± She slowly lowered her back. To be honest, she still can¡¯t accept all of this. The chaos was still raging within her without end. However, she has already lost too much to be engulfed in it. She was also worried about how much more she might lose in the future. As time went on, Serdel suppressed her emotions. After a while, she straightened up and checked every box around her. She doesn¡¯t know how far she¡¯s looked and prepared, but there must be at least one thing left for her. Dell, who was hiding, came up and opened the cap of the box. [Nuna, sniff. Dell will protect you. Don¡¯t worry.] Maybe it¡¯s because their nerves are linked, so it¡¯s as if he could see into her past. Dell blew his nose. [Dell will grow up quickly and make sure to protect Nuna.] ¡°Yeah, thank you.¡± [And¡ª] Dell pointed at a corner with a snout. [I think there¡¯s a strange smell in there] Under the display case, where the ornaments were displayed, a gap was seen. She reached down and touched the box. She took it out and checked inside. There was a bloodstained dress, broken accessories, and heels. At the moment, her heart beat fast. Serdel, who clenched her teeth, put her hand over the dress. Dell also focused at the same time, and soon the memory left on the dress unfolded through them. A carriage full of congratulatory gifts for grandfather. The mother, who held hands together, glanced out of the window with an uneasy face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Madam?¡± The escort knight, who saw this outside, approached and asked. ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry, because of me.¡± Her mother smiled sadly and only said sorry to the knight. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The knight who couldn¡¯t understand her words properly said it was okay. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve been out, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯re worried, but trust us!¡± ¡°¡­one in a million¡­If something bad happens, like an attack¡­ ¡° ¡°It won¡¯t happen. Who dares to attack the Count¡¯s carriage? You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°But if something bad happens, can you promise me one thing?¡± The clear-eyed knight gave strength to their closed lips, meaning that she could speak comfortably while looking at her mother. It looked pretty strong. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t protect me and run away.¡± The knight¡¯s forehead distorted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam. Nothing is going to happen. Even if it happens, we will protect you. So don¡¯t say that. Please take a rest now.¡± The knights with their heads bowed back slightly. As if she couldn¡¯t tell them to run away for the second time. Despair came to her mother¡¯s eyes. And after a while. Men in black suits attack the carriage. It looked like the amount would be enough for a hundred. For ordinary assassins, it is basic to move in small numbers, but there were many of them. Even though it was a narrow forest road, it moved swiftly as if there was no problem. The squire and soldiers were the first to die. The knights surrounding the carriage opened the door and reached out to her mother. ¡°I apologize, Madam! I think it¡¯ll be dangerous at this rate. You have to run away!¡± Her mother, who was shaking her head, couldn¡¯t help but hold the Knight¡¯s hand. Everyone must avoid, no matter what she said, there was no way the knights would move over their Master. However, she couldn¡¯t say that it was useless to run away. Eventually, the mother abandoned the carriage with three knights and moved, but was surrounded by the enemy shortly thereafter. The clear-eyed knight tried to protect her mother until the very end, but in the end, they stopped breathing. Her mother, who survived alone, took out her dagger and tried to stab herself in the chest. However, a dark complex man who stepped forward blocked it. ¡°Here, you can¡¯t, die.¡± The man with a mask on his face spoke in a slurred way. Taking the dagger from her mother, he knocked her out and put her clothes on the corpse he had already prepared. ¡°If you¡¯ve, taken care of the evidence, leave.¡± CH 117 ¡°¡­.¡± Her mind went blank. Serdel was so lost for a while. The memories of the dress were short after her mother was taken away by men in black outfits. With the help of the knights released by the Count, the disguised corpse was placed in a coffin and arrived at the mansion in the capital. Cartal¡¯s face was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t even feel sadness on it, and Redan turned his eyes away quietly. And Addis¡¯s screams, which she let out like a madman, were still echoing in her mind. ¡°Dell. What do you think¡ª? Is my mother alive?¡± [¡­Uh¡­ Hmm¡­ I think she¡¯s alive?] Dell slipped his head down. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. So, who is the mother I met in modern times? What the hell did I see?¡± She¡¯s confused. She was dizzy as the situation continued where there was no definite answer. Serdel lowered her head and looked at the blood-stained dress. She even looked into the memories of the broken accessories and the shoes with the heels out, but the content that unfolds was the same. How should she interpret this? Even though he took her alive, the man in the mask said, ¡®Here, you, can¡¯t, die.¡¯ In other words, it meant that there was another place to die. ¡°Ha¡ª¡± What¡¯s that? Serdel, who covered her face with her hands, fell on the floor. With her mother¡¯s death, it was very scary to try to come up with theories while holding on to a thin thread of hope. [Nuna¡­ Are you okay¡­?] Dell tapped Serdel on the knee with his paw. However, she couldn¡¯t respond. Serdel¡¯s brain was already overloaded. She couldn¡¯t calm down no matter how much she tried to calm herself. Her body trembled endlessly. She didn¡¯t even know what kind of spirit she had in order to get out of the secret room. She opened the door right after she reached the bookshelf. Blenn was waiting in the hallway. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Lady¡ª¡± Serdel gave him the set of keys she was holding while her eyes grew wide with despair. There were many locks to fill. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like she was in the mood to finish it all. ¡°Please take care of it.¡± After she left him, she first walked out of the annex and stood for a moment looking up at the foggy sky. The rain had stopped before she knew it. ¡°¡­Lady.¡± Monem approaches her. Her face looked completely worn out. ¡°As expected¡­ The memories¡­¡± Serdel supported her as she stumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t fall down. Don¡¯t fall, Monem. How long have you been waiting here?¡± The soul was dragged into the phenomenon unfolding from the past and stayed for quite some time. It seemed that she had to figure out first. ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t been waiting for long. I¡¯m fine.¡± Monem¡¯s lips, which she said were fine, were blue. Maybe she misunderstood her because she was worried about her. ¡°How long have you been waiting?¡± Serdel¡¯s voice grew stronger. ¡°¡­About four hours¡­¡± It was fortunate that not so much time had passed. Well, it only shown in a very serious case. ¡®Because I wasn¡¯t stuck in the whole memory.¡¯ ¡°What about the Butler? Is he come to his sense?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°What about father? Did you report him?¡± ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t told him the situation yet. I think I¡¯ll have to wait for the Lady¡­¡± Serdel nodded and took the lead. Then Monem quietly followed. Standing in front of the Butler¡¯s bedroom, Serdel looked at the door. The first thing she saw was the lock. ¡°Ah, please come inside.¡± Monem, who was watching, quickly opened the door. ¡°Lady¡ª¡± The butler, who was sitting on the bed, and the head maid, who was wandering around, saw Serdel and knelt on the floor. The butler¡¯s body trembled especially badly. ¡°Both of you get up.¡± ¡°No, Lady.¡± ¡°Get up. It¡¯s not a sin to be sick.¡± The butler didn¡¯t move at all, unlike the maid who got up. In the end, Serdel came forward and raised the butler herself. Tears flowed endlessly from the corners of his wrinkled eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady. I¡¯m really sorry. I should have been more alert¡­ Because of me, because of me¡­¡± She thought she should calm the butler down for now. So Serdel sat him in a chair and held his hand. She remembers holding the butler¡¯s hand often when she was young. He was a kind and loving grandfather and a good friend to young Serdel¡ª no, to her as a child. The person who taught her how to write was also a butler. ¡°Madam¡ª a month before she passed away, she often told us to take care of the family and the Lady.¡± It was then. Monem came forward and spoke as if she was going to tell the truth that she was curious about. ¡°She said we were the only ones she could trust¡ªespecially Lady will have the hardest time, so she asked us to take good care of you. At the time, we laughed and joked about it, so we all accepted it without any tension.¡± Monem¡¯s hands trembled. She grabbed her skirt to calm herself down. ¡°On the day of departure, the Lady cried and told Madam not to go because something bad was going to happen¡ª I only knew it when I caught you. Something ominous might happen. So I stood there and tried to stop¡ª¡± Her eyes probably signaled her not to do that. ¡°Madam already knew that. What will happen to you. When she left, I pressed down on my uneasiness, arranging your bedroom with an anxious mind¡ª¡± Monem paused and pulled out old letters from the pocket of her apron. Each letter was written by her mother to Monem, the head maid, and the butler, and the contents of each letter were different. ¡°She asked me to stand behind the family and support the Count. She asked the head maid to make the Young Master a meal with warm tea at dawn so that he wouldn¡¯t go hungry after wandering for so long.¡± ¡°¡­For me, she asked about the Lord.¡± The butler raised his head. ¡°She thought Lord would be seriously hurt, and he would lose his composure because he had to deal with too much¡ªin fact, the Lord couldn¡¯t sleep properly for several years. He woke up frequently even when he was sleeping. Especially¡ª¡± The butler wiped the tears away with his sleeve as he tried to swallow the feelings that were choking him. ¡°When the Lady was seriously hurt and didn¡¯t wake up for a while after getting medical treatment, he almost went crazy.¡± Serdel closed her eyes. She tried to hold it in, but in the end, tears flowed again. She doesn¡¯t know if she¡¯s upset or sad. ¡®I don¡¯t know anymore.¡¯ If there was any notice. If she had known something in advance, she might have figured out that she was the real Serdel. It wouldn¡¯t have been this hard. Still, it was time to decide, rather than being crushed by the truth. When the head of the family was away, the successor was like the head of the family. At times like this, she had to be stronger. ¡°¡­Butler, you need to rest.¡± ¡°I know. I know I¡¯m in a bad condition. But not yet. I can¡¯t¡ª I can¡¯t rest yet. Please, please.¡± She expected it to come out like this. It was not loyalty that would easily be withdrawn just because someone told him to resign. If he had, he wouldn¡¯t have been hiding his pain. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll tell my father when I get a chance.¡± ¡°Lady¡ª¡± ¡°Instead, I¡¯m going to convince him so the butler can keep working. I can¡¯t just put a burden on Monem and the head maid. If you¡¯re sick, you should tell me you¡¯re sick. What is this? This is too harsh.¡± The butler needed help when he couldn¡¯t work. If she knew, she wouldn¡¯t leave him in this condition. ¡°I¡¯ll bury everything else that happened today. Don¡¯t report anything to father. That I went to the annex.¡± Knowing that she has regained her memories, Cartal must be in pain. ¡°It¡¯s an order as a successor.¡± ¡°¡­.I will follow Lady¡¯s order.¡± The three people bow down. ¡°You must have had a hard time today, so rest now.¡± After saying those words, Serdel went to her office. She sat at her desk and thought quietly for a while. She didn¡¯t try to sort out her confused thoughts. Rather, it seemed that she would fall into a deeper swamp and lose her cool if she did. ¡®If I shake, everyone will fall apart.¡¯ Her influence in the family has grown too much. She couldn¡¯t show her pain. Moreover, she hasn¡¯t been able to figure out who the enemy is that she thought she would be able to find out if she went through the secret door. Cerdel clasped her hands and reflected on what her mother had told her. ¡®Obviously, she told me to watch out for the Imperial people.¡¯ She didn¡¯t hear who to watch out for. There were roughly figures that came to mind. ¡®Emperor, Empress, and the 1st Prince.¡¯ She swallowed her anger. And two days later. Cartal is back. With a face full of dissatisfaction, with the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡ª. CH 118 ¡°Thanks to you, I arrived safely. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thankful, I would appreciate it if you could treat me to a meal.¡± Cartal¡¯s mouth was tightly shut in a straight line. Even though he had a terrifyingly glaring look on his face, the Lord of the Wizard Tower didn¡¯t seem to care about it at all. And in the end, Cartal had no choice but to order the head maid to prepare lunch for them, including his portion. In 10 minutes. Serdel sat in the dining room with the two of them in a very chaotic situation. She was thirsty for no reason, so she drank some water and then looked alternately between Cartal and the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¡°How did you two come together?¡± Ha! At Serdel¡¯s question, Cartal burst out laughing. ¡°I thought the teleport scroll was a round-trip scroll, but it wasn¡¯t!¡± Serdel rolled her eyes for a moment. What does that mean? ¡®It¡¯s not a round trip?¡¯ Come to think about it, the Lord of the Wizard Tower only mentioned a scroll that could be used to travel to the territory, not a round-trip scroll. Maybe, because Serdel was excited to receive the gift alone, she only thought she could comfortably go back and forth between territory and capital. But, at that moment, Serdel realized what kind of mistake she had made and bowed her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, father. I should have asked the Lord of the Wizard Tower in detail¡ª¡± ¡°No. You have nothing to say sorry for.¡± Cartal glared at the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you have told her that when you first gave her the gift? For what purpose did you give my daughter a scroll? Thanks to you, I¡¯ve become a rude person who complains more than expresses gratitude, even though you share good gifts!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why Lord Serdel will call me. If possible, we¡¯ll visit the Count territory together.¡± Cartal¡¯s hand, which was holding the glass of water, trembled in response to the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s carefree answer. Both his eyes were on fire. ¡°I almost came back in a carriage. That would have been a very long journey!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a long trip, so wasn¡¯t that enough?¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower shrugged his shoulders. Then Cartal averted his gaze as if he couldn¡¯t bear to look at him any longer. His normally serious face turned pale and red. Serdel, who felt it wasn¡¯t just a round-trip scroll, asked indirectly. ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°Nothing happened.¡± At that time, the maids came in with the trolley and put food in front of each of them. ¡°Let¡¯s eat now¡ª¡± ¡°I asked him to send the Lord to the Wizard Tower for a few days on condition that I take him to the Capital, but he refused.¡± Cartal frowned. ¡°So I told him to take his time in the carriage, and he called me back. So I suggested it again, and it was rejected. I think I¡¯ve been rejected 40 times in two hours.¡± ¡®¡ªThen did he accept for the 41st time?¡¯ The Lord of the Wizard Tower is a strong talker. Because he refused for two hours, he must have been tortured, so Cartal¡¯s anger was understandable. ¡°I will contact you separately soon.¡± [I¡¯m trying to figure out how the Countess crossed the dimension.] Serdel¡¯s eyes calmed down as she heard a secret whisper in her mind. [Also, how she was able to hide her appearance so perfectly from another dimension. The Countess I¡¯ve seen is pretty predictable, but she doesn¡¯t have any special powers.] ¡°¡­.¡± [In the end, it is the power she gained while crossing the dimension. I think we¡¯ll have to find out how this was possible to track down the people who made the Countess like that.] ¡°Yes, please contact me. Then, shall we start eating?¡± Serdel smiled at the Lord of the Wizard Tower, then raised the glass. When they finished the meal, tea and dessert were served to each of them. ¡°Ah, Lord of the Wizard Tower, please give me a moment before you leave. The clothes and shoes I was supposed to give you arrived this morning.¡± ¡°Oh, I look forward to seeing Lord Serdel¡¯s eyes.¡± Ehem! Then, Cartal coughed. And he slightly raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m going to the office now. Butler, I need a report to see if anything happened while I was gone, so please follow me.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The butler, the head maid, Monem, and Serdel all looked at each other for a moment, and then Serdel made a sign with her eyes to Monem. Then, as if she understood, she quickly followed behind the butler. ¡°Shall we go too?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She headed to the office with the Lord of the Wizard Tower, and as soon as she sat down on the sofa, Serdel opened her mouth. ¡°After the tragedy of the day, my brother investigated the people who had made our mother that way for quite a long time. And yet, he hasn¡¯t found any clues about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely not because he didn¡¯t have enough abilities that he couldn¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°Yes. Do you know by any chance that the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower sealed my memory?¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s forehead hardened. ¡°You mean my father? I didn¡¯t know. Wizards don¡¯t share what they have been asked to do. Even between parents and children. Please excuse me for a moment.¡± Suddenly, he reached out his hand and gently stroked Serdel¡¯s hair, which covered her neck. His face turned to the back of Serdel¡¯s neck. At that moment, the energy that was emanating from the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s hand began to wrap around her neck as well as her head and then disappeared. ¡°I can feel my father¡¯s energy, even though it¡¯s very weak and it looks like it¡¯ll be gone sooner or later. From what I didn¡¯t notice before, it seems that the magic was applied with great care¡ª or did the Lord forcibly break the energy my father planted? No way. Did it happen the day before?¡± Even though she didn¡¯t explain in detail, as usual, he quickly figured out about Serdel¡¯s situation and understood what she was saying at once. ¡°Yes. So I got my memory back, and I was reminded of the warnings I had heard from my mother.¡± ¡°What kind of warning?¡± ¡°She told me to watch out of Imperial family, and¡ª¡± Serdel hesitated for a moment, but then she looked right into his eyes, which were focused on her. The Lord of the Wizard Tower was the same as the arrangement made by her mother. He will help her, and she will know how to deal with it thanks to her foresight. Moreover, he will never betray her. ¡°This is something I discovered through my powers. My mother didn¡¯t die on the spot and she was kidnapped. At that time, the corpse that was brought to the Count¡¯s mansion wasn¡¯t my mother¡¯s body, but a body that had been prepared by the enemies.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s eyes sank deeply. ¡°My mother also said that she had been sacrificed. Because of the restrictions, she couldn¡¯t tell me in detail.¡± ¡°The Imperial Family, the Sacrifice, the Restrictions.¡± ¡°Usually, assassins move in small groups and attack in secret, but I found out at the time that there were many of them. The range of attacks was wide and varied. I¡¯m just starting to think they might not be assassins because they¡¯re wearing black and hiding their face.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it from my father before. There are shadows in the Imperial family that move for the Emperor and Empress.¡± If it was a shadow, it meant that people other than the guard knights were also working secretly. Does Addis know about their existence? ¡°That¡¯s all right. Maro, Henry and Behman will be joining the Imperial Wizards soon, so let¡¯s gather information from them.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a very good idea.¡± The three of them are close friends, but in the first place, they are Falden¡¯s subordinates. Besides, regardless of how irrelevant this may seem, Falden was also a member of the Imperial family. So although she benefited much from having him as a business partner, she couldn¡¯t help but be wary of him. ¡°There¡¯s something going on. Okay. Then let¡¯s think about a different direction. Ah, you didn¡¯t forget to escort me, did you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t forget.¡± Serdel held out the box she had left on the drawers. ¡°I chose it because I thought it would suit the Lord of the Wizard Tower very well. I hope you like it.¡± The expression of the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who took out the clothes and shoes from the box, hardened. ¡°Since your hair is purple, the purple shirt and pants went well with it. Oh, would you like to see the shoes too?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I also chose purple shoes in particular.¡± ¡°¡­Have I ever been very disrespectful to the Lord? If so, please forgive me. Please, I beg you.¡± When Serdel blinked and asked what he meant, the Lord of the Wizard Tower shut his mouth tightly. ¡°Do you not like it? I think it¡¯ll suit you very well. You¡¯ll look even better with your hair pulled back.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower brought the catalog to one side and unfolded it. He looked around and pointed to a model with blonde hair wearing a yellow shirt and pants. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Bright and pretty!¡± This time, he pointed to a model with blue hair, a blue shirt, and yellow pants. ¡°What about this outfit?¡± ¡°Wow, the colors are so pretty. Should I have bought you yellow pants?¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower, who covered the catalog so that it made a clicking sound, washed his face dry. ¡°I think I can see why the Count laughed at me when I said that I was expecting the eyes of the Lord.¡± ¡°¡­Did my father laugh at you? I didn¡¯t see it¡­ If you don¡¯t like it¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s rude to give and take it away. Anyway, I¡¯ll take it with gratitude.¡± He sighed as he put his clothes into the box one by one. At the same time, Dell, who had come over through the terrace to get some sun in the garden, saw it and covered his snout with his front paw. [Pft.] CH 119 Serdel showed Dell the Capital map when the Lord of the Wizard Tower returned. Then, using one hand, she pointed to one place. ¡°Remember the location.¡± It was the residence of the imperialist nobles on whom the Emperor relied most. Before, she only paid attention to high-ranking aristocrats¡ª but now, it was time to focus on the Emperor, the Empress, and the key figures who followed the concubine. Dell, recognizing Serdel¡¯s intentions, nodded and left immediately. After being left alone, she pulled out a communication tool and contacted Edwan. [Yes, Lady.] ¡°Are you busy?¡± [I am extremely busy. The store is about to burst with customers. There are many onlookers. The vice owner and I have to go out soon.] Serdel¡¯s merchant, named ¡®Russell Merchant,¡¯ was a hit as soon as it opened. It was thanks to its huge promotion in newspapers and magazines and various items from other countries imported through Falden became as popular as expected. Besides, the popularity of the products designed and developed by Rudella, the vice owner, was greater than expected. And in some ways, the response to that is better than the response to the imports. ¡°Did you receive a sales request for a business trip?¡± [Yes, there are a lot of places to go today] Those who wanted to avoid conflict with others would sometimes buy from merchants by calling in the owner, vice owner, or staff they normally pay attention to and purchase the goods. [His Majesty¡¯s banquet is going to be held soon, isn¡¯t it? The requests for jewelry from the ladies are considerable.] ¡°Is that so? So, while you are trying to sell items, spread the words that the Lord of the Wizard Tower and I are going to attend the banquet together.¡± [With the Lord of the Wizard Tower? Did you decide to be escorted?] ¡°Yeah. And spread the word that His Majesty will introduce the wizards who have joined the Imperial Family on the spot.¡± Quite a few nobles were curious about the imperial wizard. The news of the introduction of the wizard spread, but the Emperor didn¡¯t officially introduce it, so it was natural for interest to increase. [It¡¯s going to be crazy] ¡°I know.¡± It was because the unique power of the Imperial wizard was good prey for the aristocrats even without knowing that wizards are never easy to handle. Because when it came to politics, it was clear that they would act quickly without thinking if it was easy for them to control. ¡®They¡¯ll suffer for a while.¡¯ The image of Maro, who disliked her and said that life had become too hard, came to mind naturally. ¡°I¡¯d like to see the vice owner for a moment.¡± [Yes, please wait for a moment.] He knocked on the door of the room next door, and a well-dressed Rudella came out from inside. As soon as she saw Serdel, she smiled brightly. [I¡¯ll go first. And Nunim, you are so powerful and beautiful today.] Rudella¡¯s cheeks turned red. [See you later in the evening.] ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel quietly watched Rudella as she waved her hand and talked charmingly, making her goosebumps. Soon Edwan left, and she bowed her head. [I greeted the Lady.] Her voice also became a little hoarse. ¡°¡ªYeah. I want to ask you one thing. When you worked as a maid, the annex was your place of work, right?¡± [Yes, Lady.] ¡°Did you manage the whole annex?¡± [No. I managed the hall and up to the second floor.] ¡°Since when?¡± [¡­Since 6 years ago.] ¡°Were there locks all over the room back then? Did you open the room? Did you find anything?¡± [¡­.] Rudella¡¯s gaze went down. It felt like she was trying to avoid something. ¡°Rudella.¡± [¡­It was locked. Up to the second floor, the butler gave me the key¡­ Every time I cleaned it, I opened it and went in. The inside was empty. However, it happened not long after I was assigned to work¡­.] ¡°Hmm.¡± Serdel responded briefly, signaling that she should continue speaking. [It was a little difficult to clean by myself. It was quite spacious to manage up to the second floor. Why do I have to take care of these places by myself? I was dissatisfied then] Serdel listened quietly to her private opinion. Rudella smiled awkwardly at her. But her lips were trembling, then Rudella swallowed saliva before continuing. [There is nothing, but the butler and the maid¡¯s behavior was also strange. That was kind of hard. That¡¯s not a position where I can express my dissatisfaction, I just cleaned it hard that day, but the Count went to the incinerator and threw something in the trash can next to it.] She entered his office and took a fancy note out of the desk drawer immediately. [I saw something¡ª] Rudella opened it and looked at what was inside. [From what I can see, there is nothing written on the inside. This is different from the outside, where I can tell that the note has been used. At first, I thought, why did he throw it away? That too directly.] She took a moment to read the air. Her eyes were thinking about whether or not to say more. [¡­Then, I accidentally overheard the words of the senior maids who worked for a very long time at the Count¡¯s mansion¡­ Uh, I¡¯m sorry.] Rudella suddenly covered her face with her hands. [All maids who have worked for more than ten years have been asked to watch their mouths. Therefore¡­.] Her hands trembled. ¡°If it¡¯s about my mother, it¡¯s fine, so please feel free to tell me.¡± There was a moment of silence. [¡­Sometimes it seems that the Count¡­ throws away the deceased Madam¡¯s belongings one by one in his sleep¡­] ¡°¡­.¡± [I was taught that I should never talk about Madam in any way in front of Lady¡­] Rudella¡¯s eyes were red as she lowered her hand. [After hearing that, I was flustered. Maybe it¡¯s really the Madam¡¯s belongings. Actually, I¡¯ve been wondering if I should give you this over and over again since we¡¯ve been connected. But¡­the meaning of the line didn¡¯t fall out¡­] ¡°Obviously, it must have been difficult to bring it up. I understand.¡± [Thank you¡­ Actually, the head maid¡­ said that Lady was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t remember what happened that day. So¡­] ¡°Just keep it for now. I¡¯ll send someone to you in private.¡± [Yes, I understand.] Rudella bowed her head. After the conversation was over, Serdel closed her eyes tightly. When she learned the secret of the annex, the first person that came to mind was Rudella. Because it seemed like she would have said something that neither the butler, Monem, nor the head maid would have said. And her guess was right. Soon, Serdel will get a notebook that may have belonged to her mother. ¡®There are traces of use, but nothing is written on it.¡¯ She wonders what kind of memories are hidden in it. Then, as she took her hands off her eyes, she straightened her posture. After that she went to work. She couldn¡¯t delay work any longer. * * * It was the day of the banquet hosted by the Emperor. From dawn, the maids were busy, and Serdel had to be dragged around accordingly. ¡°Kyaa, you look great in your new dress, Lady!¡± The maids were excited. There were exclamations everywhere. Serdel saw herself clearly in the mirror. The off-shoulder dress, which showed off her white shoulders, had a lot of sleeves, and the combination of indigo blue and dark purple made her look even more elegant. The burst of gold that started at her waist made her look gorgeous. Then Serdel wore the shoes that Blenn had fixed up for her here. ¡°I¡¯ll start getting your hair done.¡± The ends of her long hair were a little bit wavy, and she wore a headband with jewels and pearls on it. Finally, Serdel, who finished the long make-up by wearing earrings and several rows of necklaces, lifted her chin. She looked arrogant. ¡®I really like the makeup.¡¯ When she left the bedroom, Blenn stood in the hallway. Today, with his silver hair neatly combed, he looked like a nobleman and the uniform engraved with the mark of Count Robbesta also suited him very well. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Lady.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cool, too.¡± Laura, who was standing next to him, seemed to like it, as her eyes twinkled. ¡°K, kyaa! L, Lady, you¡¯re so pretty! O, Oraboni is so cool too! You¡¯re like an angel with a spear that came down from the sky!¡± What is an angel with a spear? Does that mean she looks like a fighter? Then it wasn¡¯t bad. Because she doesn¡¯t want others to look down on her today. When she came out with Blenn¡¯s escort, she saw Cartal dressed in a neat outfit. ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± He held out his arm. Just as she was about to raise her hand, a short gust of wind came up, and the Lord of the Wizard Tower showed up. ¡°¡­.¡± Then Cartal bit his lips. Blenn had no expression on his face. He doesn¡¯t seem to be particularly impressed. Only the maids standing behind covered their mouths with their hands and turned their reddened faces. ¡°What do you think?¡± With his purple hair pulled back, he was wearing a purple shirt, purple pants, and purple shoes. Is it because it¡¯s too harmonious? It might seem a little strange, but his face seemed to cover everything. ¡°It looks good on you. It¡¯s very cool.¡± ¡°¡­is that so? Yes, I see.¡± With a resigned face, Serdel climbed into the carriage. CH 120 The inside of the carriage was quiet. As soon as they got on the carriage, Cartal opened the newspaper and was busy reading the article; meanwhile, the Lord of the Wizard Tower was checking his outfit as if he was concerned about his clothes. Serdel looked out through the window. Her gaze was immediately drawn to Blenn, who was riding on a horse. ¡®He definitely looked cool after being dressed up.¡¯ She rested her arm on the window frame and put her chin on it. Then Blenn, who had died in a luxury sedan in the modern past, came to mind. What if the car he was driving hadn¡¯t hit her mother, who was in the form of her brother? If that were the case, he would have died there and wouldn¡¯t have had anything to do with this place. However, this is just her assumption that he was swept away and started living here. Naturally, like flowing water. As if it was fate. As if he could feel Serdel¡¯s eyes on him, Blenn smiled as he looked at her. It was as beautiful as sunlight. Serdel was about to smile back when a gorgeous six-horse carriage passed by. ¡®The Duke of Heurion¡­¡¯ Serdel¡¯s eyes hardened when she saw the family mark. It was the family of the woman Hershe Maient loved passionately. The carriage, which had just entered the Imperial Palace, stopped shortly after. Click, the carriage door opened, and Cartal got off first. She grabbed his outstretched hand and moved, and the Lord of the Wizard Tower reached out his hand this time. She blinked like she could see what he was doing. ¡°I need to get off the carriage too.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± She was able to hold back her laughter because it was so ridiculous. Then Blenn reached out to him. ¡°Please take my hand and get down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m allergic to rough hands. So it must be Lord Serdel.¡± However, Blenn didn¡¯t step down despite the firm refusal of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. It seems that there was a strange battle of nerves between the two. Cartal clicked his tongue, and Serdel quickly reached out to the Lord of the Wizard Tower because she thought he would stay like this all day if she didn¡¯t do it. He stepped down lightly and looked around. At that moment, the nobles were getting off the carriages one by one. Their gaze was focused on this side. To be precise, their attention was drawn to the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who is full of purple. ¡°Pft.¡± ¡°¡­Is it a new fashion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to understand.¡± Those who had seen the Lord of the wizard Tower in the palace the other day were bewildered, and those who didn¡¯t know him burst into laughter. ¡°What¡¯s with that purple guy?¡± ¡°Does he love purple so much that it¡¯s driving him crazy?¡± Even though it was only a whisper, Serdel heard it because her five senses were quite sensitive. ¡°¡­.¡± It was then that Serdel sensed that something was wrong and looked at the Lord of the Wizard Tower. He must have heard the mockery directed at him, but his expression remained unchanged. ¡°¡­Uh, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Even with Serdel¡¯s apology, he remains calm. ¡°I chose it because I thought it would look good on you¡ª¡¯ ¡°Then why are you sorry? You chose it for me, right? That¡¯s all I need.¡± Saying that makes her even more sorry. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you.¡± She was going to stretch her arm when the Lord of the Wizard Tower extended his arm first. ¡°As expected, I think it would be better for me to be the one who gives an escort.¡± This was different from before. ¡°There are more eyes than I thought. There is also your position as Lord, so I can¡¯t just show how greedy I am.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Serdel put her hand on his arm. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± At just the right time, the Chamberlain, Viscount Chapelta, approached. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you to the banquet hall.¡± Chamberlain was usually in charge of the person with the most power in a place like this, where many nobles gathered. However, today, he chose to stand before Count Robbesta instead of the Dukes or Marquis. This could be seen as a clear sign that the Emperor¡¯s interest is currently directed to this side. Then Serdel saw the carriages whose doors hadn¡¯t yet been opened. One of them was the Duke of Heurion. He was probably one of the people who waited because he thought Chamberlain would come to them. ¡°Today¡¯s Lord Robbesta is very beautiful. Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s outfit also suits you very well.¡± Through his greetings, the faces of the nobles who recognized that the man in purple was the Lord of the Wizard Tower changed. People who bought things from the Russell Merchant heard that Serdel would go with the Lord of the Wizard Tower, but they thought it was unlikely because of his outfit. Meanwhile, Chamberlain took the lead, and the nobles who had gathered paved the way on both sides. As they followed the Chamberlain, the carriage door opened, and a woman with beautiful green hair and a middle-aged man got out. With a beautiful appearance that took her breath away, she looked straight at Serdel. The middle-aged man, Duke Heurion, was the first to approach. ¡°I greet the Duke Heurion.¡± Receiving greetings from Chamberlain, he stood in front of Cartal. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve lived under the same capital¡¯s sky, Count Cartal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± With a smile, the two shook hands. Then the woman, Alexa, walked up to Serdel and acted as if she knew her. ¡°Nice to meet you, Lord Serdel.¡± The nobles whispered. ¡°I heard that the Duke has a hidden daughter.¡± The ladies quickly spread out their fans and covered their mouths. However, the whisper just grew louder and louder. It¡¯s Alexa, who hasn¡¯t been able to attend official events for a while. This is unavoidable because she is Duke Heurion¡¯s illegitimate daughter, and it has been less than four years since he recognized her as his daughter. Therefore, the coming-of-age ceremony was completed by eating a small meal in the family without even having a debutante. Naturally, the Duke didn¡¯t want her to join the aristocracy alone in his absence. It¡¯s because of the fear of not knowing what kind of mistake she might make. But, looking at it now, the Duke was squinting at Alexa. ¡®In the meantime, she met Hershe.¡¯ Hershe must have loved her, but he must have seen the background behind her. Besides, Duke Heurion probably didn¡¯t know about the relationship between the two. Most likely, Hershe was able to come out in such a bold way because he thought of her as his support behind him. ¡°Nice to meet you. Young Lady Alexa.¡± Serdel raised her nose. Even the Duke¡¯s daughter didn¡¯t have any power. On the other hand, Serdel was the Count¡¯s successor. She was mostly polite, but she didn¡¯t even have to bow down. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Duke Heurion.¡± Instead, Serdel approached the Duke and showed a straight face. Elegance flowed from her, who had manners without any disturbance. Oops, as if she wanted to, Alexa also approached Kartal and lifted the hem of her dress. However, many nobles who had already seen Serdel¡¯s elegance didn¡¯t even pay attention to Alexa¡¯s greeting. ¡°Well, then¡ª¡± Before the conversation lasted longer, Chamberlain stepped forward. Cartal moved forward with him, and Serdel, who was about to follow, whispered very quietly near Alexa. ¡°Did you enjoy the secret love affair, Young Lady?¡± For a moment, Alexa¡¯s eyes became cold. Serdel smiled softly. Her relationship with Hershe was now a weakness for Alexa. The aristocratic society seemed to be open, but it was also subtly conservative. Who knows if Hershe is alive and surviving? Of course, since he was already dead, he couldn¡¯t have had power. As soon as there is a rumor that she seduced a man with a fiancee and broke the engagement, even the illegitimate child will be caught and cursed. Whenever Hershe took advantage of her and abandoned her in the past, she always gave her a mocking look. Serdel¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Hershe Maient is.¡± Startled, Alexa¡¯s shoulders trembled. She paid close attention in case someone had heard Serdel¡¯s words. Then she made eye contact with the Duke Heurion, and her complexion turned pale instantly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you received that love well. Of course.¡± Serdel smirked at her as she passed her whose lips were turning blue. ¡°Lady, are you all right?¡± Blenn asked carefully from behind. ¡°Lord Serdel. You¡¯re like a villain with a rose in your mouth.¡± Beside her, the Lord of the Wizard Tower raised his thumb. ¡°It was very attractive.¡± Serdel shrugged and told Blenn that she was fine. The place where Chamberlain led them was an outdoor banquet hall. It was nice because the weather was clear and it wasn¡¯t stuffy because it was daylight. The large table, which was divided into several rows, was piled up with various treats. The reaction of the nobles, who followed one after another, was not bad. They were seated where they were assigned. A familiar voice came from behind when Serdel was about to sit next to Cartal. ¡°Lord Serdel.¡± It was Damon. She didn¡¯t expect to see him here. The head of the family is poisoned, and he has to take care of his two half-brothers. She thought he couldn¡¯t go because he was too busy trying to get his family back in order. ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t come, right?¡± He shook first so that Serdel wouldn¡¯t feel awkward talking. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. You¡¯ve become the successor. Congratulations.¡± With greetings, he gave her a small gift box. There was a fountain pen inside. ¡°Thank you.¡± With a bright smile, he was also polite to Cartal. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Count.¡± ¡°Has your family been stable?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you for your concern, my family has been very stable.¡± ¡°How about the Marquis, is he okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still struggling a little bit, so he decided this morning to put down his duties and rest in the annex.¡± It was said that he had stepped down as head of the family and was taking rest in the annex. Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. CH 121 Cartal immediately congratulated him. ¡°Congratulations on becoming the Head of the Family! Everyone will be talking about it for a while. It¡¯s just a pain you¡¯ll only have to go through once, so don¡¯t worry too much and move forward well.¡± Usually, in the case of a similar situation as Damon, it¡¯s natural for them to start from Head of the Family¡¯s substitute because they¡¯re conscious of other people¡¯s gaze. At least up until the condition of the Head of the Family improved, they didn¡¯t desire the position of Head of the Family. In any case, the Head of the Family, who didn¡¯t like his son taking over his position, kept pretending to be sick and used the sympathy of those around him as a shield. However, Damon blocked all the situations that the Marquis could engage in, as if he wouldn¡¯t even give him a chance to do so, and took over the position of Head of the Family at once. ¡®I knew he was going to be the Head of the Family soon. But I didn¡¯t expect him to use his hands so quickly.¡¯ (T/n : it¡¯s an idiom that means to take necessary action on something(?? ??.) It was truly a scary decision. ¡°I also just recently informed His Majesty that I will be attending.¡± ¡°Once again, congratulations. You¡¯re going to be busy in the future.¡± Cartal¡¯s tone has changed from before. ¡°Please be comfortable with me. You don¡¯t know how grateful I am to the Count. Didn¡¯t you hold my hand so that I could seize this opportunity? I¡¯m still lacking a lot, so I want to get help anytime.¡± (t/n : ?? ??/hold hands here means cooperate/work together.) ¡°It was just a deal that was clear what each other wanted. Please take care of it. We have some business left.¡± Cartal declined Damon¡¯s request to feel comfortable with him by talking about the mining business they are working on together. Even though he said he lacked a lot, he was a Marquis now. It meant that they wouldn¡¯t make things that would hurt each other¡¯s feelings in the future. Noticing the meaning at once, Damon replied with a bitter smile. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± After shaking hands, Cartal sat down again. Damon¡¯s gaze naturally returned to Serdel. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry that I was the only one who received a gift. If I had heard the news, I would have prepared a congratulatory gift.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather hear congratulations than gifts. Would you like to congratulate me?¡± ¡°Of course. Congratulations on becoming the Head of the Family. Marquis Spendar.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sad because I feel like it puts a gap between us from being called that.¡± Damon¡¯s eyebrows drooped. It seems like he became more sly when she didn¡¯t see him. Serdel stared at him for a moment. ¡°You seem to have lost some weight.¡± Even though they are on Falden¡¯s side, those people still have a lot of respect for him. Damon should have people like this, but no one will be able to make him feel comfortable enough to talk. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re getting thinner?¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± The eyes, which were always kind to everyone and give some distance to everyone, were now quite fierce. Instead of the wall disappearing, what filled it was a sharpness that seemed to cut through it just by getting close. But it wasn¡¯t threatening. Even though it¡¯s only for a moment, she can see the deep loneliness hiding under the fierce atmosphere. As someone who had to bear with a lot of things on his own, she understood how he felt. ¡°Don¡¯t try too hard or push yourself. Even if you don¡¯t, you will do very well.¡± Damon¡¯s lips slowly moved into a smile. He raised Serdel¡¯s hand and kissed her lightly. ¡°Thank you, Lord Serdel.¡± ¡°Cough! Cough, cough!¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower next to him coughed loudly out of the blue, perhaps because he was in a bad mood. Blenn¡¯s eyes, which were standing behind, also burst with fire. ¡°He¡¯s the Lord of the Wizard Tower.¡± ¡°Ah! It¡¯s nice to meet you. My name is Damon Spendar.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower didn¡¯t reply back. Instead, he just stared at his hand reaching out to him. ¡°Lord Serdel. Let¡¯s sit too.¡± While he ignored the handshake until the end, the Lord of the Wizard Tower gestured for her to sit on the other side. Then Blenn pulled out Serdel¡¯s chair first. As soon as she was able to sit down, the Lord of the Wizard Tower sat down next to her. Damon, who looked at his hand that was left in the air for a moment, took a low breath as he approached the other side of Serdel and pulled out the chair. Serdel, feeling sorry for nothing, apologized with her eyes. Then Damon nodded slightly to mean it was okay. Serdel stayed silent for a moment and looked around. Aristocrats who had been whispering while watching this side gave them a quick glance. In particular, many Young Ladies showed interest in Damon. He was originally popular, but after hearing that he had become the Head of the Family, they tried to somehow look good to him. With a short smile, Damon looked away. The Young Ladies turned their heads back in shame, but only Alexa looked at Damon with determination. Then her eyes met Serdel. Alexa¡¯s eyes sank. She, who was likely to turn her gaze first, did not avoid it and threw it away. Serdel clicked her tongue and stopped to stare at her. At the same time, the Emperor and Empress entered. The Emperor reached out his hand to stop Chamberlain who was trying to shout loudly. Even if he didn¡¯t, the nobles stood up and bowed their heads. A twisted smile appeared on the Emperor¡¯s lips. It was followed by Queen Consort Debor, the 1st Prince, and Falden. (t/n: Hello I decided to put Debor as Queen Consort for ??.) There was no 3rd Prince. ¡°Thank you for accepting my invitation. Everyone raise your heads.¡± As the nobles straightened their postures, the Emperor glanced at them. Suddenly, the knights were standing behind the Emperor. Addis wasn¡¯t present because she had gone out for training. The Emperor¡¯s gaze finally turned to Serdel. ¡°Serdel Robesta, come forward to me.¡± Preventing the Lord of the Wizard Tower from following the outrageous call, Serdel approached the Emperor. ¡°Congratulations on being the heir of the Count.¡± The Emperor didn¡¯t think it was strange to talk about a happy family event happening at such a place. Even though it wasn¡¯t loud, the nobles gave each other quick glances. ¡°This is a gift from me. I don¡¯t know if you like it.¡± There was nothing inside the well-wrapped box. Then she thought of something for a moment. Then the Emperor whispered in her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a real present separately.¡± It means to quietly see him later. Serdel quickly closed the cover and treated the Emperor with courtesy in case anyone saw that the box was empty. ¡°Thank you for congratulating me. I will keep the precious gift from Your Majesty for the rest of my life.¡± With a satisfied smile, the Emperor raised his chin. ¡°As you all know, Lord Serdel here has given us three precious wizards to the imperial family.¡± Maro, Henry, and Beman, who were waiting for the Emperor¡¯s hand gestures, stepped forward. Maro has a sullen face, Henry¡¯s has no expression, and Beman only smiled awkwardly and bowed his head here and there. Maro, standing next to Serdel, murmured very quietly. ¡°Thanks to you, I can enjoyed playing clowns.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely not a relief. Still, the monster body you promised was well delivered through the Lord of the Wizard Tower. Thank you.¡± After that, he kept his mouth shut. The nobles looked up and down at the three of them. Their eyes were like snakes. Then, veins popped out on Maro¡¯s forehead. By the time his patience reached the limit¡ªthe Emperor pushed the three of them back. ¡°Then, enjoy the banquet, everyone.¡± The aristocrats gave thanks and talked as they moved from place to place. ¡°Young Lady. Ah, no. Lord Serdel.¡± When she was about to go back to her seat, the Empress talked to her and grabbed her. She drew attention to her neckline by flipping up her bright blonde hair and wearing a red dress that showed off her body shape. She also looked pretty aggressive, just like she did last time. ¡°To become the heir of a family, you are taking an unexpected step.¡± The Empress gave her a warm smile and a glass of wine, but the energy was cold. ¡°Well. Dame Addis is good at swordsmanship, but not so much as a successor. On the other hand, Lord Serdel is said to be intelligent from an early age.¡± ¡°Thank you for your compliment. However, Your Majesty the Empress. It seems that the person involved in the rumor has changed. It¡¯s not me, it¡¯s my brother who was rumored to be intelligent.¡± ¡°Ah, I heard that Lord¡¯s brother was also intelligent.¡± One of Serdel¡¯s eyebrows trembled. She kept saying, ¡°Your brother too,¡± without making any correction, which means she heard a story about her childhood somewhere. Not that she didn¡¯t hear about how smart she was when she was young like Redan, but the rumors didn¡¯t get out of the wall. Moreover, as a child, Serdel was overshadowed by Addis and Redan, who were both geniuses, and did not get much attention from the outside world. No one talked about her. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you the other day? I had a close relationship with the Countess. She¡¯s always talked about the Lord.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Serdel softened her voice. ¡°You lost your mother when you were young, so you wouldn¡¯t have many memories.¡± The Empress, who raised her hand, swept Cerdel¡¯s cheek sadly. ¡°If you want to hear any interesting story of the Countess, please come to me anytime.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind heart. Your Majesty the Empress.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you my precious tea as long as you say that you will come.¡± The Empress sneakily grabbed and dragged the 1st Prince. ¡°Being side by side like this, you really look good together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they look good together?¡± As if he had been watching since when Falden approached. CH 122 ¡°2nd Prince.¡± She thought that the Empress would frown, but instead, she saw a smile on her face. With great kindness. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve been to the palace, and you¡¯re showing your face now, isn¡¯t it too indifferent?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve been busy. Were you sad?¡± ¡°I always feel sad everytime. Do you know how worried I was about sending you to that dangerous place?¡± ¡°Haha. Why? Are you afraid I¡¯ll come back alive again?¡± As expected, Falden laugh and strikes back with a sword in his mouth. Then Serdel looked around carefully. The eyes of some nobles turned in this direction. Since both of their voices are so small, they will look close from afar. However, they won¡¯t believe everything they see. It¡¯s a fact that everyone knows the Empress is driving the 2nd Prince, who doesn¡¯t have enough support, outside. ¡°2nd Prince.¡± ¡°Yes, please say it. Mother.¡± The Empress placed her hand on Falden¡¯s cheek. The touch itself was different from when she touched Serdel. The long, colorful nails of the Empress barely swept his skin. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you to watch out for your mouth?¡± Her thumb reached the tip of Falden¡¯s lips. The Empress drew closer and wrapped her other arm around Falden¡¯s back. ¡°I have already told you that if you make a mockery of me, I won¡¯t let you go. How dare you come forward?¡± When the Empress looked at Falden, she had fierce eyes. ¡°Your dead mother did the same. She didn¡¯t know when she should stop, so I just stepped forward. How could you be similar to her? Tsk.¡± The Empress took a step back and lowered her eyes. When she looked into her eyes again, a smile filled her face. ¡°Lord Serdel. I¡¯m waiting for the day when Lord Serdel comes to visit me. Come here and play comfortably.¡± The Empress glanced at the 1st Prince. Just as he was about to reach out to Serdel, Falden grabbed her arm. ¡°Lord, don¡¯t you have something to talk about with me?¡± He naturally approached Serdel and quickly widened the gap so that the 1st Prince couldn¡¯t catch up. Because of that, Serdel had to leave the banquet hall. ¡°Don¡¯t get close to the Empress as much as possible. Because she is a dangerous person.¡± ¡°Your Highness, please let me go.¡± ¡°Close to the Empress¡ª¡± ¡°My arm hurts, Your Highness!¡± Falden, who had been walking without hesitation and looking ahead, stopped at that moment. It didn¡¯t hurt because he didn¡¯t hold it too hard, but she thought it would be better to calm him down first. ¡°¡­Sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± Surprised, he quickly took his hand off her arm. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I was angry¡­ for a while. I¡¯m sorry. Are you okay?¡± As he washed his face dry with a deep breath, he looked at Serdel¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Your Highness?¡± There was no way it would be okay with the mother in the mouth of the Empress. His reddened eyes resembled Cartal, who the Empress had recently provoked. ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay. No, it¡¯s not okay.¡± He reached out his hand. Fearing that she might say she was in pain again, he gently grabbed Serdel¡¯s shoulder and leaned down to make eye contact. ¡°¡­In the future, the Empress will approach and try to attach the 1st Prince next to the Lord. Don¡¯t get too close¡­ there is a high possibility that it will become dangerous.¡± Falden¡¯s eyes slowly became more worried about Serdel. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll do to the Lord if you get close to him half-heartedly. It¡¯s better not to deal with it from the beginning.¡± He continued to talk, afraid that she might get hurt. ¡°Do you remember that I have Count Sollette locked up separately?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I found out something during the interrogation.¡± He said after hesitating. He seemed to be thinking about where to start and where to go. ¡°¡­A part of the profits from slavery is flowing into the Empress¡¯s back pocket.¡± Serdel¡¯s eyes widened. The fact that he got that information from Count Sollette meant that the Count hadn¡¯t just been coming and going to enjoy the slavery up until now. This also explained why Falden sent his subordinates to the slavery market. From the beginning, she thought there was a connection between the slave market and someone from the royal family, which was the reason for the attack. Then she came to monitor Count Sollette. Serdel thought a high-ranking noble would own the place when she first went there to save Laura. As she got closer to Falden, she had a vague feeling that there might be a bigger, darker secret, but she didn¡¯t look into it. At the time, there wasn¡¯t enough manpower to find out, and it was more important that Hershe Maient was using Count Sollette to covet Count Deriens¡¯ shadow business. So she didn¡¯t care about anything else. ¡®How far did Falden find out about the Empress?¡¯ Serdel, who was just about to ask him, closed her mouth. What should she ask? ¡®Should I ask if the Empress kill Countess Robbesta?¡¯ Startle. Even just thinking about it makes Serdel shiver. Is it okay to make such a dangerous statement only by heart without any physical evidence? Serdel reflected on what the Empress had done to her. Earlier, she had secretly devalued Addis and Redan and mercilessly dug up her mother¡¯s accident, which had left a great scar on the family. Then, in a subtle tone that seemed to recall memories, she felt her strange obsession with her mother. Serdel clenched her fist. ¡®If I ask, will you answer my questions?¡¯ Indeed, is Falden a reliable person? She came to her senses after a moment as if she was drenched with cold water. Her shaky eyes also calmed down. ¡°Is Count Sollette deeply involved in the slavery business?¡± ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t. But he is following the Empress¡¯s family. So there was quite a bit of information that I knew.¡± ¡°Are you saying that it is highly likely that the owner of the slave market is¡­ the Empress¡¯s family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it either. There seems to be a third person with that the Empress has colluded with her family secretly. Count Sollette, this little bastard knew such information by himself without reporting any such information to the superiors.¡± Maybe he was trying to hide a weakness in case the Empress and her family abandoned him later. ¡°¡­.!¡± She wants to ask a lot more questions, but the story can¡¯t go any deeper than this. ¡°Now you know how dangerous the Empress is, don¡¯t you? So keep your distance. You don¡¯t have to accept the Empress¡¯ invitation.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t answer. ¡°As long as you become the heir of a family, you will be exposed to many risks. By the way, I hope you don¡¯t get caught up in the Empress. It would be great if I could always protect you by your side¡­ but there might be situations where I can¡¯t.¡± Serdel pushed his hand away from her shoulder. ¡°I am not as weak as you think. Also, I am not weak enough for Your Highness to protect me.¡± ¡°I know. I know, but I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Lord is strong and never weak. I admire your strong will and good judgment. But there are times when you don¡¯t take care of yourself to the point where you¡¯re reckless.¡± A bitter smile came out for a moment. With that reckless act, she met Blenn, rescued Laura and Dell, and has received great and small help from Dell until now. She even gained the power of Radun, and now knows she is the real Serdel. ¡®I¡¯ve already been on the unstoppable train, Your Highness.¡¯ It was full of things she couldn¡¯t find out unless she were reckless. There were still many things she didn¡¯t understand. She is Serdel, but what is the twist of the original work? What is the relationship between the female lead and the male lead? And why does she still feel trapped in the game? ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do to satisfy this thirst.¡± If she has to be reckless, she has to be reckless. And as she was about to say that she was fine. ¡°Lady.¡± Blenn and the Lord of the Wizard Tower approached in stride. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve been away too long. I have to go back.¡± ¡°Lord Serdel¡­ Please, don¡¯t put yourself in a dangerous situation.¡± Falden has shown signs of desperation. Then Serdel spits out words that could not be kept to end the situation. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°If you get hurt, my heart will hurt a lot.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t get hurt. Don¡¯t worry, Your Highness.¡± He smiled as gently as he could so as not to be anxious. Only then did Falden slowly turn around. The look of his distant back looked lonely. Serdel whispered to the Lord of the Wizard Tower who was standing nearby. ¡°Lord of the Wizard Tower, I have a request.¡± ¡°Say anything. I¡¯ll listen to everything.¡± ¡°Can you use your magic to track down the location of the 2nd Prince? You have to keep it secret, so you don¡¯t get caught.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Please. His Highness has locked up a person somewhere, and I think the atmosphere will be dealt with soon. Before that, you have to hide the person.¡± [Is it something to do with the Countess?] The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s voice resounded in her mind. Serdel nodded her head. ¡°All right.¡± His answer cleared her heavy heart. Relaxing her stiff face, Serdel walked right to the banquet hall. The aristocrats who saw her being dragged out by Falden and finally returned after a long time were whispering. ¡°What is her relationship with His Highness the 2nd Prince?¡± ¡°Did they get close while exploring the forest?¡± ¡°No way, they¡¯re not in that kind of relationship, right?¡± ¡°Ey, what happened to the prince who fell off the string¡ª.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case. I heard that His Majesty often visits His Highness the 2nd Prince these days.¡± ¡°Oh, I heard that, too. Besides, if it were me, I would have sent him somewhere else right away, but he¡¯s staying in the palace all the time.¡± When Serdel looked at them, those who were whispering shut their mouths tight. She walked toward Cartal with her eyes fixed. ¡°Is it okay?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s fine.¡± Cartal nodded and gave Serdel a plate of cake. ¡°I kept it because it looked delicious.¡± As he lifted the fork with a fresh smile and a gloomy voice, a status window popped up. CH 123 ¡°Should I bet? If you win, I¡¯ll make some of the situations you want.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try to win well with that ability to see the future.¡± I¡¯ve got goosebumps all over my body. The voice that penetrated my head out of nowhere was so loud that it felt like my stomach was twisted. ¡®What is that?¡¯ At first glance, it seemed as if it was talking to herself, and it seemed as if she heard a voice from the future that she would one day hear. Along with, ¡®It strangely stinging¡­¡¯ She felt like she had heard part of someone¡¯s conversation a long time ago. ¡®What do you mean a bet? What kind of bet¡ª?¡¯ She indirectly asked a question in her head just in case, but there was no answer. Instead, Serdel looked at the status window in front of her. [You became the heir of a family, and your status has increased. You have attracted the attention and interest of many powerful people. Convert the causal ratios so far by adding them into points. ? 15,000 points will be added. ? Total Points: 48,000 ¡úCongratulations! Your total points surpassed 35,000.] [You can upgrade the interior view of the mansion using points.] It was the first time the point had risen since the Elbash Forest expedition. But the only thing she can do with that point is to upgrade the interior view of the mansion. It was significant in many ways. It was as if the Count¡¯s mansion was hiding something that couldn¡¯t be confirmed without this system. It feels uncomfortable. Furthermore, her thoughts were complicated by the fact that an upgrade window appeared as if the point had been waiting as soon as it crossed the system¡¯s threshold. ¡®It feels like I¡¯m a dice inside a huge board that someone¡¯s made.¡¯ ¡°Lord Serdel.¡± A group of people approached her while she was thinking with a hard face. They were the successors of each family. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± One of them is pretending to know her. Gorgeous golden hair as if sprinkled with gold powder, mean eyes underneath, and an annoying smile. Quite similar to the 1st Prince, he was the heir to the Marquis of Caloas, and was none other than the Empress¡¯s nephew. ¡°I think it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you like this since your debutante, won¡¯t you give me a chance to be polite to Lady?¡± He asked her to reach out so he could kiss her hand. His tone was polite, but his behavior was arrogant. She wants to give him one punch to the chin. Then, instead of giving him her hand, Serdel greeted him gracefully. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you. However, since I¡¯m not a Young Lady but an heir of my family, I think it¡¯s enough to show respect for each other. Sir Robinson.¡± There¡¯s no reason to look good to you as a lady, and the other successors who saw her say that, turn around. ¡°Haha¡ª Well, that¡¯s it. Oh, since the Lord has become the heir, shouldn¡¯t you come to our meeting soon? I sent you an invitation the other day.¡± There were several groups within the institutional aristocracy, and the successor group was the largest. Addis never attended the meeting once a week under the pretext of discussing politics and building friendships regardless of faction. It was because she was so busy as an imperial knight. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since I became a successor, so I¡¯m busy. I¡¯ll try to make time to participate in one soon.¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m thinking of holding a meeting around the end of this month. Can you join us?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you a definite answer.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll send someone two days before the meeting. Please let me know whether you will participate or not through him. Oh, and¡ª¡± He held out a small badge. ¡°Wear this when you come.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Serdel turned around with a nod. Damon came closer just in time as if he had finished greeting the other nobles. Seeing the badge in Serdel¡¯s hand, he hardened his eyebrows. ¡°I recommend you not to participate if possible.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a meeting with good intentions like I thought it would be. Drinking, fighting, I¡¯d say it¡¯s a mess.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She glanced away and saw the heirs of other families standing behind Robinson like a folding screen. Some eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. ¡®I¡¯ll have to go once.¡¯ Perhaps it is Robinson and his followers who lead the promiscuity. Bad rumors didn¡¯t spread much as they joined up, but it was clear how much he stirred up and led the group while carrying the title of the Empress¡¯s nephew on his back. There must have been quite a few people who didn¡¯t like him. ¡°I know what the Lord is thinking. However, it is recommended not to venture out in an aristocratic society.¡± Damon pointed his hand at his head. ¡°Everyone is quick to calculate as much as they have ascended to the succession. There are many who fought fiercely among them to gain the position they are today. The Empress will not be able to reject someone with a strong backbone.¡± ¡°Thank you for the advice. However, Marquis. I didn¡¯t come to this position comfortably either.¡± ¡°¡­I made a mistake. I¡¯d like to apologize if you were offended.¡± ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t offended at all. But more than that, shouldn¡¯t you go instead?¡± Serdel pointed to the Young Ladies who were watching this side with their eyes. ¡°Everyone seems to be waiting for the Marquis to talk to them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to go.¡± Damon would have dealt with the Young Ladies coming toward him without really stopping them if it had been before. Also, he didn¡¯t respond to Lora¡¯s glance like he used to. ¡°Lord¡­ Do you believe in love?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± She has been betrayed several times already. Furthermore, she wasn¡¯t free enough to risk her life for love anymore. ¡°Then you won¡¯t be tied to love.¡± With a bitter smile, he beckoned to the servant, who was busily passing between the nobles and handed him a glass of wine. ¡°Would you like a glass of wine?¡± She had to meet the Emperor soon, so she couldn¡¯t smell alcohol. She was about to say no, but Chamberlain stood in front of Serdel. ¡°His Majesty is looking for you.¡± ¡°Then, please excuse me, Marquis.¡± Damon nodded his head and stepped back. Following Chamberlain, Serdel moved away. Following it with his eyes, Damon slowly tilted the glass of wine in his hand. ¡°You still don¡¯t want anything from me even though it¡¯s aged wine.¡± The first time they ate together at a restaurant was because of something related to the Elbash Forest. She said she¡¯ll tell him if she needed aged wine. ¡°I¡¯m ready to help you at any time.¡± Or is he still not as mature as she thinks he is? So that¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t need anything from him? He doesn¡¯t know why, but Serdel, who he hasn¡¯t seen in a long time, seems impatient. She pretended to be okay, but it was almost as if she had climbed on a single rope at a critical moment. That¡¯s why he wanted to give her a bottle of wine and told her to let him know if she needed help. Damon wiped his lips with his hand, sipping the rest of the wine at once. ***** After following the Chamberlain, she arrived at the Emperor¡¯s office. He sat at his desk and closed his eyes. He must have felt the presence of Serdel with the sound of the door opening, but he didn¡¯t open his eyes for a while. Suddenly, Serdel stopped in front of him, but she waited patiently. ¡°Go out, Chamberlain. I don¡¯t need tea.¡± At the command given, Chamberlain moved quietly. It¡¯s a quiet space with only two left. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes. How meaningless was her precious time wasted? The Emperor finally opened his eyes and looked straight at Serdel. ¡°Bring the empty gift box I gave you earlier here.¡± The Emperor lifted the cover from the box he had received, placed what had been taken from the drawer, and returned it as is. Inside was a brooch with the emperor¡¯s personal seal imprinted on it. ¡°If you¡¯re in trouble, use it anytime.¡± This was no different from giving away some of the Emperor¡¯s power. It was a considerably big present. However, it was also an item that couldn¡¯t be used carelessly. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you gave me such a precious thing¡ª¡± ¡°Enough with the greetings. After much deliberation, I decided to trust the Lord. And so I did it.¡± There was a lot of meaning in the words. Closing the cover of the box, Serdel swallowed dry saliva. ¡°Do you believe in me?¡± This is a test. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes, I thought the Lord would answer that.¡± If she had said she believed him, the Emperor would have sent her back. Then he would have been more likely to be wary of her. Moreover, with the invitation he sent, she had already seen a glimpse of the future. So Serdel could easily guess what he was going to say from now. The Emperor¡¯s mouth, which had been heavily closed, opened again. ¡°Lord Serdel, do you know about my death?¡± CH 124 [Do you know about my death?] When she saw it in the corner of the invitation, it looked like it was passing by, and she thought her heart was going to sink. At the time, she was so surprised and embarrassed at the time, but thanks to preparing for this moment, she¡¯s calmer now. ¡°Don¡¯t think about hiding it. I know everything.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t answer. Just like the Emperor did. She closed her mouth and looked at him quietly. The surrounding was filled with cold energy enough to freeze even his exhaled breath. ¡°Lord Serdel.¡± The Emperor, who had put pressure on her with weight until a moment ago, softened the momentum first. It was a rare sight for him, who was usually arrogant. ¡°Answer me.¡± Serdel gave him a sarcastic smile when he spoke softly or nicely in a relaxed, cowardly tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Your Majesty is saying.¡± ¡°Ha, you don¡¯t know? Yeah, you might not know. But if that wasn¡¯t a lie, you should have been surprised to hear what I just said.¡± The Emperor sneered as he pointed out her actions. ¡°You showed no sign of surprise. Rather, you were so calm that it seemed like you knew you would hear this from me. Don¡¯t tell me my eyes are wrong.You don¡¯t want to talk, do you?¡± Even though Serdel knew that depending on the answer, he would strictly rule with the charge of contempt, he didn¡¯t raise an eyebrow. It was an act that could never be done by someone who didn¡¯t have some guts. If it had been someone else, he would have shouted at her for being rude, but it was Serdel, so he couldn¡¯t. The Emperor finally burst out laughing. It wasn¡¯t Serdel who was disappointed here. Both she and the Emperor knew this fact very well. ¡°It will take some time to get a proper answer from the Lord. I¡¯ll give you time to think. In the meantime, listen to me.¡± It was his secret, which he had kept for a long time from anyone he had trusted. In addition, it was impossible to move on to the next by just hiding one. The Emperor needed Serdel¡¯s cooperation, and for that, information sharing was fundamental. How should he get started? The Emperor¡¯s expression, which had only been looking up at the ceiling for a while, was lost in thought and dazed for a moment. ¡°I have memories of my past life. To be precise, I think I did something called a regression.¡± Haa. From deep inside, the pressure is rushing like a wave, and he can¡¯t stop sighing. She could feel his anger building up. The Emperor¡¯s eyes grew red. ¡°It was nothing special as usual. That¡¯s all¡­and I died.¡± His hands, which were resting on the desk, gradually got stronger. ¡°Pain¡­ there¡¯s no such pain.¡± The clenched fist revealed blue veins. ¡°When I drank the tea I used to drink before going to sleep, my throat was paralyzed and I couldn¡¯t even scream. I couldn¡¯t even resist that one time and died. It was so humiliating that the mirror reflection looked like an uncivilized insect¡ª!¡± Ugh! With a laugh, he grabbed his stomach. After spitting out only a bizarre laugh for a while, he took a deep breath and washed his face dry to calm his emotions. Strangely, the series of actions was similar to Falden¡¯s. ¡°At that time, I liked to be alone in my personal space, so I didn¡¯t put a guard next to me.¡± Serdel glanced at the corner. They¡¯re not here right now due to the content of the conversation, but there must have been a guarding knight standing there the other day. After returning, he seemed to be close to the office. ¡°If someone had been with me, I would not have suffered such a petty death if they had called a priest and treated me quickly.¡± The complicated madness that had turned around was revealed through his bitter voice. ¡°I died alone like that¡ªbut then I opened my eyes again. It was very confusing. I even doubted if I might have gone crazy¡ª¡± He was confused. Suddenly, his shoulders lost strength. ¡°I couldn¡¯t lead a normal life for a while. Who killed me? Is it the Empress? Or the 1st Prince. If it¡¯s not them, Falden? Ah, if it were the guy who was thrown out of the house since he was a child¡ª he deserves a grudge against me. ¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It could be either the Queen Consort or the 3rd Prince. Or someone from outside.¡± Ugh. The Emperor buried himself in the back of the chair and wiped his eyes with his hand. ¡°The days of doubts continued. My nerves stood up, and I couldn¡¯t trust anyone. In the meantime, Lord caught my eye. When I saw you walk down a completely different path than before, I knew one thing for sure.¡± The Emperor¡¯s gaze, which had been facing the ceiling, returned to Serdel. He looks pale. ¡°Lord is the same as me. Even the Lord has likely lived longer than me and that you¡¯ve returned. Watching you run without fail, I realized.¡± Standing up from his seat, he slowly approached Serdel. ¡°Why did such a strange phenomenon happen to the Lord and me? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn¡¯t come up with an answer. Unless something went awry¡ª but it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The Emperor paused. ¡°The important thing is that I have come back to life. Unless I find out who killed me in the past, I will be killed again.¡± Even though the method will be different. ¡°Because the enemy¡¯s idea of killing me will not change. So, tell me. Who killed me?¡± He told her that he would give her time to think, and Serdel asked him a question instead of giving him an answer. ¡°Does Your Majesty really believe in me?¡± He said he believed her earlier, but he didn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t a kind of alertness that could be described with just one word. ¡°I believe you.¡± Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t change his words. Serdel looked into his eyes. How long have they been trapped in the silence they¡¯ve created for each other? She thought it would be hard to tell from this conversation whether he had anything to do with her mother¡¯s death. Serdel fiddled with the pendant Blenn gave her in return for his loyalty before becoming an official knight. This pendant was not triggered for some reason, even though it claimed to be able to see the opponent¡¯s truth through the eyes of the red hawk. Even though this is the most important moment¡ª. In the end, she had to admit that there was a limit to hiding the truth and reading the other person¡¯s truth. ¡®Let¡¯s go straight through it.¡¯ Without finding the answer, she couldn¡¯t turn around from where she was. ¡°I¡¯m not a chess horse that Your Majesty can swing at will. Please don¡¯t involve me in Your Majesty¡¯s fight.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to share a boat with me?¡± What do you mean? It¡¯s only a one-time deal. ¡°I just moved for the benefit.¡± The Emperor furrowed his brow. ¡°Lord Serdel!¡± ¡°What can I gain by helping Your Majesty?¡± The Emperor, who had just barely been able to hold back the roar, raised his hand and told her to wait a moment. Whoo, whooo¡ª. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll listen to anything. If there¡¯s anything you want, say it.¡± ¡°Can you promise me?¡± ¡°I can promise. I¡¯ll make sure to listen.¡± ¡°Then please fill out the magic contract. To the top level of it.¡± The magic contract carries the risk of the promise. It depends on the level, but from the top level, life is basically collateral. In the case of the highest level magic contract, he had to risk his own life as well as valuable things. It could be a person, or it could be an object. It was a so-called double security contract. Instead of worrying about betrayal, it was a pretty dangerous contract. Therefore, a witness was also needed. The Emperor¡¯s open mouth slowly closed. His forehead narrowed, too. ¡°A top-level magic contract¡­Lord is the first who ask such a thing from me.¡± One step, two steps. He stepped back and sat back at his desk. ¡°Okay. Before that, I want to ask you a question.¡± ¡°Please ask.¡± ¡°¡­After I died¡­ What happened to Falden¡­?¡± It was an unexpected and unintentional question. ¡°Did he die? Or did he survive?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alive, and left.¡± The emperor clenched his fists. ¡°Yeah¡­ I see.¡± He started to control his facial expressions while mumbling as if he were relieved. ¡°I don¡¯t have a top-level magic contract right now, so I will call the wizards and tell them to make it. I¡¯ll call you back as soon as it¡¯s finished¡­¡± ¡°Lord of the Wizard Tower.¡± At Serdel¡¯s call, a silver stream appeared along with the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¡°Could you give me one of the top level magic contracts?¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower snapped his finger as he looked at Serdel¡¯s hand, which was in front of his nose. Then, out of the air, a piece of paper filled with heavy energy fell into her hand. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It was nothing.¡± Then the Lord of the Wizard Tower disappear as it was. This time, Serdel came close to the Emperor. He is trying not to show it, but the Emperor¡¯s embarrassment is clear. She had no intention of giving him time. If she did, she should probably stop. She put down a top-level magic contract in front of him. ¡°As the content is the content, It would be better if you called the witness after writing the contract. Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Well¡­ okay.¡± The Emperor took out a fountain pen. He quickly wrote down what he wanted. ¨C Serdel Robbesta speaks and cooperates as she knows about the person who killed me(the Emperor). ¨C Serdel Robbesta will not betray me(the Emperor). ¨C ¨C Most of the ten or more rules were pretty much the same. He put down the fountain pen and changed only the words to stop her from using the blind spot to escape from the contract. This time it was Serdel¡¯s turn. She wrote down her thoughts one after another and showed them to the Emperor. ¨C The Imperial family thoroughly protects Count Robbesta and doesn¡¯t betray him. ¨C The Imperial Family doesn¡¯t harm anyone in Count Robbesta. The Emperor makes this promise on behalf of the Imperial Family. ¨C The Emperor clicked his tongue. He had known for a long time that Serdel was a tough opponent, but she was also a very good player. The transaction was made by two people, but she specifically mentioned the imperial family, so the agreements applied to all palace members. That¡¯s not enough. On behalf of the Imperial Family, the emperor promises¡ª. If someone in the palace attacks Count Robbesta with an evil heart, the risk of breach will not only go to the enemy but also to him, the Emperor. The Emperor twisted his lips and looked under the contract. Startle. his shoulders stiffened. ¨C The Emperor tells the truth he knows about the death of Serdel Robbesta¡¯s mother, the Countess. This contract must be answered as soon as it is read, and the eye for determining the truth contained in the top-level magic contract are activated. ¡°Lord Serdel¡ª!¡± CH 125 The Emperor gritted his teeth. The top-level magic contract, which required double collateral, had a device embedded to determine what the contractor valued. It was the ¡®eye that distinguishes the truth¡¯ right away. Usually, it is only triggered by the confirmation process at the final stage of the contract, but Serdel has drawn the function so that it can be used from the middle of the contract by skillfully writing the content of the clause. The magic contract seemed perfect at first glance, but it was just a well-made fix system. It could not flexibly catch up with people¡¯s complex thoughts and various intentions. Serdel caught them off guard properly. As he watched from hiding, the Lord of the Wizard Tower stuck out his tongue. ¡°What the hell is this! How dare you¡ª¡± At that moment, the light energy emitted from the contract suddenly took on the shape of red eyes. ¡°Answer for the clause.¡± Serdel didn¡¯t care that dark flesh was coming from his boiling eyes. He wouldn¡¯t have tried it if he knew he would be overwhelmed by this force. ¡°Did Your Majesty kill my mother?¡± ¡°Lord Serdel!¡± ¡°Answer me, Your Majesty.¡± A count began to open in the middle of the red eyes. 10, 9, 8, 7¡­ There is a risk of not answering when the count reaches ten. Serdel¡¯s face became as cold as ice. But, on the other hand, the Emperor¡¯s face gradually got darker as he felt more pressure. His eyes turned to the decreasing numbers. The moment it just entered 1¡ª. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill¡ª!¡± The Emperor hurriedly spat out an answer. At the same time, the count stopped. ¡°Then who did it?¡± ¡°How can I do that¡ªUgh!¡± The Emperor¡¯s complexion, who had been expressing his anger, suddenly turned blue. The nature of the energy contained in the red eyes changed, and the power that flowed out of it tightened the Emperor¡¯s neck. ¡°Ugh¡­ I don¡¯t know who killed it¡­ the one who harmed my Queen Consort¡­ didn¡¯t it¡­!¡± His eyes were full of dirty blood. When he vomited out his hidden feelings, the energy that had put pressure on the Emperor was removed. Touching his neck several times, the Emperor¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you talking about Her Majesty, Queen Consort Velia?¡± She was the mother of the 2nd prince, Falden, and the only person the Emperor loved. She died after a five-year illness caused by her weak body after giving birth to Falden, and many believed she was cursed because she couldn¡¯t be healed even with the highest level potion, wizard¡¯s heal, and priest¡¯s divine power. For the sake of the stability of the imperial family, the Emperor had to dismiss it himself. ¡°¡­the Countess¡¯s corpse condition when she returned to the Count¡­¡± This time, strength entered Serdel¡¯s fist. ¡°The same goes for Queen Consort Velia. She was sick, so I sent her to a nursing home¡ª and she died in the carriage returning to the palace. Her face¡­ was damaged a lot. It was so unrecognizable that I doubted if it was really her a dozen of times¡ªno, hundreds more.¡± The Emperor¡¯s chin trembled enough for her to hear the sound of his teeth clinking together as if he were trapped in that time¡¯s terrible memories. ¡°The only words that had spread throughout the palace that she must have been cursed stayed in my mind and wouldn¡¯t leave. But I¡¯m the Emperor. There were so many people who wanted the Imperial Family to be shaken, so I had to suppress the rumors somehow.¡± The emperor, who was about to sweep the mouth with his hands and pull the rope, paused. In this situation, it was not possible to call a maid. The Emperor gave up drinking water and swallowed saliva to calm his dry throat. ¡°I secretly released my subordinate, but I didn¡¯t find out anything. I couldn¡¯t find any evidence from the people I suspected. In the end, I had no choice but to ask the question quietly in my mind.¡± His voice cracked as he struggled with his emotions. ¡°But¡­ years later, the Countess¡¯ accident happened. The moment I received a report on the condition of the Countess¡¯ corpse, I thought of the Queen Consort Velia.¡± The Emperor turned his angry head as if to ask if this answer was good enough. Clearly, Queen Consort Velia and her mother had a strangely similar accident. However, unlike Empress Velia, who died in her carriage, her mother was kidnapped. Moreover, they even disguised her death with someone else¡¯s corpse. ¡®Wait¡­Perhaps Queen Consort Velia was also kidnapped and then was disguised¡­it¡¯s not, right?¡¯ Serdel got goosebumps at the sudden suspicion. ¡°¡­After that¡­ didn¡¯t you know more?¡± ¡°I know. I didn¡¯t have anything in my hand.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­ who do you think is the culprit?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you exactly who. To me, everyone seems to be the culprit, and not everyone seems like one.¡± Nothing is more dangerous than determining the criminal based on rash assumptions. Even now, the Emperor didn¡¯t dare say the names of the people he had strong suspicions about. ¡°However, didn¡¯t the person who killed me also harm the two of them? Now, shouldn¡¯t Lord tell me who is it? Who kill me?¡± ¡°Before that, the contract I wrote were not yet finished. Please take a look.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be the same as it is now, so you can read it with peace of mind.¡± The Emperor carefully scanned the remaining parts without taking away the suspicious face. ¨C If the death of the Countess is irrelevant, the Emperor will unconditionally cooperate with Serdel Robbesta. ¨C The Emperor and Serdel Robbesta do not keep secrets about the information they want. The Emperor can¡¯t be pushed too far, so Serdel has added a clause that will satisfy him. As expected, the Emperor¡¯s eyes lit up at this point. The Emperor, who had read all the way to the end, put down the contract. All they had to do was sign each other. ¡°Please wait a moment, Your Majesty.¡± Serdel, with a fountain pen, added a line of text at the end. ¨C The only people who can see the content in the contract are the Emperor and Serdel Robbesta, who are the contract¡¯s parties. The witness can¡¯t check what¡¯s in it. At the same time, light burst through the contract, making the conditions clear. It could be seen well by Serdel and the Emperor, but it would only be recognized as a blank paper by the witness. ¡°Who will be the witness?¡± ¡°Wait for a moment.¡± The Emperor pressed the jeweled part of the bracelet he was wearing and immediately ordered someone. ¡°Come to my office for a moment.¡± Perhaps, the Chamberlain Viscount Chapelta will come. As I was waiting with that thought in mind, the door opened, and an unexpected person entered. It was the Duke of Belters. ¡°I had to sign a contract, so I called you as a witness. Come here.¡± As he approached, he glanced down at the contract. It felt like the tension was pulling on the muscles in her back. If he was the Duke of Belters, he might be able to see through the invisibility of the magic contract. [I don¡¯t think I can fool his eyes.] As expected, the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. ¡°The Duke has a very heavy mouth. I think he can be trusted as a witness, do you have any complaints?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such a thing. However¡ª¡± Serdel held out the fountain pen to the Duke of Belters. ¡°As a witness, you have to keep everything you saw and heard here a secret, and I think it would be more reliable if you could fill it out.¡± ¡°That would be nice.¡± The Emperor agreed. The Duke of Belters, who took the fountain pen, wrote it down without missing a single toe, just as Serdel said with a soft smile. After that, he signed it. ¡°Is this all right?¡± He¡¯s looking at the emperor, but his question is directed at Serdel. ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± The answer, of course, came from the Emperor¡¯s mouth. The Duke of Belters stepped back. The Emperor scrawled his signature to finish it. Finally, when Serdel finished signing, the energy from the magic contract tied her and the Emperor. ¡ù The first contract has been completed. Please put something valuable as collateral. At the same time, the eyes that distinguished the truth with the phrase rose above the air. The Emperor beckoned Serdel. ¡°Lord, you can do it first.¡± Serdel thought for a moment. ¡°Serdel Robbesta. I¡¯ll bet myself.¡± In the past, there was nothing precious other than Siri, but now it is different. There were too many. Her mother crossed the dimension to save herself despite the chaotic world and complicated circumstances. Regardless of her feelings being ruined, her father always protected her. And when she remembered who she was and found out that Addis, Redan, and many other people in the Count love her, Serdel became very precious to herself. So Serdel bet herself. So that even if her contract is broken, it can only hurt her. The energy of the red eyes that read her sincerity was calm. ¡°It¡¯s Your Majesty¡¯s turn.¡± ¡°¡­I will stake my fortune.¡± The nature of the energy coming from the red eyes changed, and the Emperor grabbed his chest. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°I think you should be honest. Your Majesty.¡± The Emperor gritted his teeth at Serdel¡¯s ridicule. ¡°I will bet my position!¡± Ugh! A thin stream of blood flowed through the Emperor¡¯s gums. Then, as the Duke of Belters was about to approach, the Emperor stretched out his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t come near me!¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes were red with heavy breathing. After enduring the pain for a while, he soon said. ¡°¡­2nd Prince, I¡¯ll bet on Falden. If anything happens to my son, I won¡¯t stand still!¡± CH 126 Before the Emperor¡¯s roar spread across the door and into the hallway, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who had been hiding and watching, quickly cast sound-blocking magic. Serdel glanced sideways at Duke Belters. Despite the Emperor¡¯s appearance, he was calm and not the slightest bit surprised. As if he already knew the Emperor cared about Falden. In fact, since he was the commander of the Imperial Knights, it was only natural that the Duke of Belters was close to the Emperor. She couldn¡¯t even imagine if it would be a tough master-slave relationship. From the moment he called him as a witness, she thought there¡¯s no way¡ª. However, she couldn¡¯t believe he was really relying on him. What and how far did the Duke of Belters report to the Emperor? And how far does the Emperor know about her? Serdel stopped thinking about the complicated questions and looked straight at the Emperor, who was spewing life all over him. ¡°He is my and the Queen Consort¡¯s son. If there¡¯s a mistake and problem in his life, I¡ª¡± ¡°Your Majesty should do it well.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Whether His Highness Falden is in danger or not depends on whether Your Majesty will do the contract well or not,¡± The Emperor¡¯s mouth, which had been wide open, closed. ¡°As long as Your Majesty doesn¡¯t betray me, His Highness Falden will not be in danger.¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes shook. The always arrogant mask began to crack, revealing the bare face he had been hiding for the first time. The Emperor, who looked like an ordinary father who wanted to keep his child close, but was heartbroken because he couldn¡¯t, even looked helpless. At that moment, the pendant, which had been quiet during important times, exploded with a light that she could only see with her eyes. [The red hawk¡¯s eyes assimilate into the other person¡¯s deep feelings and form.] A shadow flowed from the Emperor¡¯s body as the surroundings turned gray. It was an Emperor who looked much younger than he is now. After looking around for a moment, Serdel was swallowed by a mist that had been blowing like the wind. Before she raised her arms to cover her eyes, she saw young Falden and the young Emperor kneeling in front of her in the middle of the changed background. ¡°I grant you a sword.¡± The child, who had been forced to use the sword by the young Emperor, was trembling with fear. ¡°I, I don¡¯t want to die. Your Majesty. It¡¯s only been two years since I picked up the sword. Please take the order to participate.¡± The young Emperor clicked his tongue, staring at the crying child coldly. ¡°You¡¯re such a weak brat! Fulfill your responsibilities and duties as a Prince!¡± ¡°Did the 1st Prince fulfill his responsibilities and duties as a prince? He¡¯s not! You¡¯re abandoning me because my mother died! I know it all. You¡¯ll throw me away because I¡¯m useless!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s good that you know.¡± He turned his back on the crying child and gave a casual answer. The young Emperor teared up with every step as if every word the young Falden said was a dagger. The child who couldn¡¯t see his sorrow and loneliness vomited endless despair in his heart. It¡¯s scary not having a mother. So please, don¡¯t abandon me. He begged earnestly, but the young Emperor abandoned him by walking away without stopping. The background changed once more with him. It was a library. The young Emperor, who pulled out a book and opened it, turned the page with a dull cold face. Then a few men came up behind him and got down on their knees. It looks familiar. Then a few men came up behind him and got down on their knees. They were subordinates who were comfortably throwing jokes at Falden in the Elbash forest. ¡°There¡¯s no need. Sometimes just let me know if he¡¯s alive or not. Then, if you serve him as a master, live as Falden¡¯s person thoroughly. If he tells you to keep a secret what he¡¯s planning, keep it a secret. Then I will treat him as badly as it is¡­and put pressure on him, so that he will treat me like an enemy, not like a father and son¡­¡± ¡°I will obey your order.¡± ¡°Yes, that child¡­please take care of him.¡± After staring blankly at the ceiling light for a moment, the Emperor looked down at the book again. He couldn¡¯t concentrate properly because he couldn¡¯t see the writing. ¡°This father who loved the daughter of a local Baron is guilty of a great deal.¡± If he hadn¡¯t met her like fate by chance. If only it hadn¡¯t been love at first sight. She wouldn¡¯t have suffered such a death, and Falden would have never been kicked out by his father. In the end, it was all his fault that he couldn¡¯t protect the two of them. For a long time, the young Emperor blamed himself like a madman. By the time his murmur diminished, with the wind, Serdel was freed from the phenomenon. ¡°¡­.¡± When the color of reality came back to the gray area, it was the middle-aged Emperor that she saw. ¡®I thought he was a selfish person who was cold-hearted and only knew about himself.¡¯ He wondered if he really loved Queen Consort Velia when he saw what he was doing to Falden. But when she found out the truth, her mouth was bitter. Just as Cartal became a cold father to protect her, the Emperor also became a heartless father to protect Falden, who has no support. Moreover, Falden was still resenting the emperor. ¡®Is this the reason I have him by my side these days?¡¯ In the past, every time he returned from work, he was sent out again, so he couldn¡¯t stay at the palace for long. However, he kept him in the palace for now. ¡®He¡¯s afraid.¡¯ He is afraid that Falden will also die the closer it gets to the day he is poisoned. He pretends that he doesn¡¯t trust Falden on the surface and pretends that he hates him. He was putting pressure on him and swinging at him with a lot of force, which showed that they had a bad relationship, but he was afraid he might lose him. Even though she knew everything, Serdel couldn¡¯t express herself. ¡°Lord¡­It will work if you don¡¯t betray me. Ha, hahaha. Yeah. of course.¡± The Emperor ruffled his messy hair, transcribing Serdel¡¯s words. ¡°Duke of Belters. Thank you for coming out as a member. Just go out and see.¡± The Duke of Belters, who had taken turns looking after Serdel and the Emperor, quietly retreated. ¡°I¡¯ve walked everything I need to walk, so I¡¯ll close the contract.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The Emperor took the dagger out of the drawer and signed the contract again with the blood that came out of his thumb. Serdel also signed the contract with the dagger that was given to her with blood on it. The blood of the two and the energy contained in the contract merged, and the new power that came out locked the heart of Serdel and the Emperor. With this, the contract was completely concluded. Whoo, whooo. The expression on the Emperor¡¯s face as he let out his breath looked tired. Serdel stretched out her hand and pulled the string. The Emperor¡¯s forehead distorted at the sound of the bell ringing. ¡°What are you doing now?¡± When the head maid came in, the Emperor changed his expression. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty¡­ bring me something to drink.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± As soon as the head maid left, the emperor struck the desk with his hand. ¡°Calm down.¡± Serdel interrupted what he was about to say by speaking first, but the Emperor¡¯s anger eventually followed. ¡°If it¡¯s Lord, can you be calm! I¡¯ve been through all sorts of things, but I¡¯ve never been fooled by a successor of a family like today!¡± Serdel bowed her head. ¡°Ha! Now come and bend your back.¡± ¡°I was also desperate.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Your Majesty knows how much the Count family has been ruined since my mother died like that. My sister had to carry all her burdens alone, and my brother was so shocked that he couldn¡¯t attach affection to his family for a long time.¡± The Emperor¡¯s anger subsided a little. ¡°I, who was young at the time, also lost my memory because of it. In the past, I continued to live in that state, and just like Your Majesty, I came back. I couldn¡¯t be swayed by the former Count Maient anymore, so I had to change my mind and move. That¡¯s why I came here.¡± ¡°Did you lose your memory?¡± ¡°I must have lost my mind after my mother¡¯s accident. Part of my memory disappeared at that time, but I recently found it again.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°The memory that I recovered is also unstable, and some memories from the past have been slightly tangled during the regression¡­¡± She doesn¡¯t know who killed the Emperor. Perhaps he, too, vaguely noticed. That Serdel most likely doesn¡¯t know the culprit. If she knew, her reaction would have been different from when she heard the Emperor say that the person who killed him might have harmed Queen Consort and her mother. ¡°I don¡¯t know who killed Your Majesty, but I can tell you how it turned out after you died and who was tortured for it.¡± CH 127 ¡°¡­Ha, ha, hahaha¡­.¡¯ The Emperor laughed out loud while holding his forehead with one hand. ¡°Kkk, hahaha¡­¡± Then, he began to burst into laughter at one point, and a creepy feeling was felt through his exposed teeth. Knock knock. Just in time, the head maid came in, put down water, tea, and simple refreshments, and then left. The Emperor gulped down the water. And yet, his face seemed to be dull. Serdel held out her glass of water. Without hesitation, he drank it out at once. ¡°Since you put it off without answering my question, I thought that the Lord would say the same thing as is it now¡ª¡± The Emperor deliberately dropped the empty glass on the floor. It didn¡¯t break due to the carpet being laid, but the blatant expression of displeasure chilled her spine. ¡°The process of telling the truth is too long. I lost my memory, and it all got tangled while returning. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t know who killed Your Majesty¡ª¡± The Emperor pointed his hand at his head. ¡°Lord and I are really on the same boat now. So let¡¯s not brainstorm each other. We don¡¯t have to be tired to find someone who may be a common enemy. Even if you say you don¡¯t know, I won¡¯t doubt your words.¡± Through this contract, the Emperor showed too many appearances and even offered a precious existence that shouldn¡¯t be put on hold. The bottom of the floor was all exposed, but now she couldn¡¯t believe it and doubted Serdel. So, no more fooling around, the Emperor quietly warned. ¡°Now that I think about it, I was impatient. They killed the Emperor and no one else. There is no way that they would have revealed their true identity after committing an act that could be considered treason. I don¡¯t know if someone deliberately figured it out. Judging by the Lord¡¯s reaction, it seems that there was no such person.¡± The Emperor drank moderately cold tea. Thanks to that, the anger that happened just now subsided, and it seemed to have calmed down a little. His glistening eyes also became silent. ¡°Say what the Lord knows. I will believe whatever the Lord says.¡± The Emperor took the first step in trust. ¡°¡­I know that you have enjoyed drinking Atra root-dried tea for a long time.¡± The Emperor¡¯s hand paused. Usually, the Imperial Family kept secrets about what they enjoyed eating and drinking in case of danger. He ate a few bites of the food he didn¡¯t like, and even when the food he liked came out, he didn¡¯t get to eat it too much. Therefore, most people didn¡¯t know what the Emperor really liked or disliked, except for the Chamberlain or head maid. The Emperor put down his cup. ¡°Atra root is a very calming herb.¡± ¡°I have suffered from frequent headaches since childhood. I tried drinking potions each time, but the pain only subsided for a while. The headache started again within ten minutes.¡± The divine power of the priest was also temporary. He didn¡¯t even speak a word to Wizard Tower because they didn¡¯t have a good relationship. During the time of Queen Consort Velia, she repeatedly asked him to meet the wizards, but he kept his pain a complete secret. ¡°Mysteriously, only atra root worked well for headaches. However, the effect gradually diminished due to prolonged use, and in the end, I had to drink more than six cups a day.¡± To make matters worse, the more the amount increased, the more abnormal symptoms appeared. ¡°One day I lost sight of one eye, and the other day I lost strength in my legs.¡± Only then did he realize it was a side effect of herbs and took herbs that could neutralize them. It was fine for a while. It couldn¡¯t be relieved because the energy of the atra root had accumulated so much in his body, but he was satisfied with just the pain. ¡°From the reference to the roots of Atra, as expected, the tea that I drank before I died and the piled-up on my body didn¡¯t match. If that¡¯s the case, then the Chamberlain and the head maid must have been dealt with.¡± It seems to be one of the results he has already thought about countless times. The Emperor raised his head in despair and stared blankly at the light from the chandelier. ¡°The headache must have been a curse, and in the end, they worked with the intention of harming me for a long time¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve thought too far.¡± The Emperor¡¯s headache was neither a curse nor anything. It was because of the curse. He couldn¡¯t resolve the pain caused by mental pressure with potions or divine powers. Atra roots were also very effective in relieving tension. ¡®It¡¯s also completely non-toxic.¡¯ No matter how much he took, it didn¡¯t accumulate in the body. Of course, once he gets used to it, the effect diminishes, but that was the same as any drug. As a side effect, such symptoms also didn¡¯t appear. ¡°Perhaps someone noticed that Your Majesty was taking atra root before the symptoms started to appear in the body. The curse was most likely at that time.¡± ¡°Did I get worse because of the curse?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± To disguise his death from a side effect of the tea he often takes. It was a black tea that the Emperor drank just before he died. In it, a little bit of leto grass juice, a tasteless and odorless hallucinogen, was added. With a safe grass that has no effect on life, the Emperor probably complained of pain somewhere at the time. It must have been a small amount added to alleviate it, but rumors that he had been poisoned had spread all over the place. ¡°The number of tea drinks must have been one of the rituals that triggered the curse.¡± For example, if a restriction was placed on the trigger condition, ¡®He must drink ten cups of tea to die¡¯, the curse would have reacted correctly on the tenth cup. It is not known from the original story or from the past as to who the Emperor died for and for what reason. For this reason, the imperial court released the only information Serdel knew. ¡®Atra root, neutralize herbal medicine, leto grass juice and black tea¡­.¡¯ The day she returned from Elbash Forest and formally met the Emperor. Serdel thought for a moment to help prevent the death of the Emperor. It was because she had taken Radun¡¯s power, so Falden couldn¡¯t use that ability, and she was afraid that he might not be able to ascend the throne safely. If the Emperor would support Falden, that alone would be of great power. So she was momentarily worried about the process of the Emperor¡¯s death. The answer at the end was this. ¡®Cursed murder disguised as poisoning.¡¯ ¡°After Your Majesty¡¯s death, Her Majesty the Empress has captured and imprisoned Chamberlain and the head maid.¡± The Chamberlain was fine, while the tortured head maid¡¯s condition can¡¯t be put into words. While avoiding their eyes, she pointed to Queen Consort Debor, the mother of the third prince, as the one who instigated the poisoning. It was natural that there was a bloody wind. ¡°The Chamberlain is fine, but the head maid is a mess. I think you¡¯d better watch out for the Chamberlain.¡± Serdel nodded and asked the emperor. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± ¡°Do you mean the headache? It¡¯s still severe.¡± He only pretends to be taking a tea made from Atra root. Then, after waking up again, the Emperor pressed his temples, saying that he had not even touched them. ¡°I¡¯ll find something to eat instead.¡± He stopped moving as he was giving himself a massage between his eyebrows with his hands. ¡°Will you do that?¡± ¡°If only Your Majesty is okay with it.¡± ¡°Okay. I will trust the Lord and wait.¡± Serdel turned her head and looked through the window. It was getting dark before she knew it. ¡°I think I¡¯ve been away too long. I¡¯m going to leave now.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that. I will follow soon.¡± ¡°Please take care of me in the future. Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yeah, take care of me too.¡± When she left the office, the Chamberlain, Viscount Chapelta, was waiting. Duke Belters approached just as he was about to lead the way back to the banquet. ¡°I have something to share with Lord Serdel, so don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Taking a look, the Chamberlain steps back. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you.¡± The Duke Belters stretched out his arm. ¡®What do you want to talk about?¡¯ As soon as Serdel placed her hand on it, he sent his voice through his mind, so that only she could hear it. [You don¡¯t have to limit yourself. What I saw and heard about the Lord in the Elbash forest, I didn¡¯t tell His Majesty.] ¡°Can I trust you?¡± Serdel whispered very quietly. ¡°You can believe it. My mouth is very heavy.¡± The way he smiled as he looked down at her was fascinating. CH 128 Author: rolypoly ¡°Then you won¡¯t answer my question. Do you have a heavy mouth?¡± ¡°Was it surprising to see His Majesty thinking of the 2nd Prince?¡± He picked up the part Serdel was curious about and put it in his mouth. It was a series of significant actions. ¡°Yes, it was unexpected.¡± Serdel avoided his gaze and looked ahead. The Duke Belters, however, didn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural for parents to think of their children? He couldn¡¯t express it because of his position, but His Majesty is still a father after all.¡± ¡°From what you said, it looks like His Majesty is usually open to you.¡± ¡°No way. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m quick-witted and have a good sense.¡± ¡°It seems like His Majesty is relying on you a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m the commander of the Imperial Knights.¡± Serdel, who stood still, took her hand off his arm. Then she stood in front of him and stared for a long time. ¡°What do you think I¡¯m thinking right now?¡± [Why didn¡¯t I ask? I read all the contents of the contract. Why am I not curious?] ¡°Is it not?¡± The important details flowed into Serdel¡¯s mind, and Duke Belters came closer. He lowered his upper body slightly to match Serdel¡¯s height. It felt like a large shadow was approaching in line with the movements of Duke Belters. It was strangely impressive that his short black hair, which was not too long, blended with the atmosphere he was exuding. [Pretend not to see it and pretend not to know it. That¡¯s where the Imperial Palace should be. It is rude to be so curious about His Majesty¡¯s affairs.] ¡°¡­.¡± [The contents of the contract were quite interesting, but I will keep it a secret as the Lord requested. I made a promise, so I will keep it thoroughly.] So don¡¯t worry, Serdel turned instead of answering with her eyes. Just as she had thought about it before, but it was difficult to treat Duke Belters strangely when he smiled like that. It doesn¡¯t feel hostile or intimidating. It was just harder to figure out the truth than most people. Serdel, who was sensitive to people, was now confused about whether he really had done her a favor. ¡®I was comfortable when you looked at me as I was¡­¡¯ Now it was neither uncomfortable nor comfortable. Standing next to Serdel again, he raised her hand and placed it on his arm. Serdel, who was silent, didn¡¯t ask him anymore, and the Duke Belters also remained silent. ¡°Lady.¡± Just as she was about to go outside, Blenn, who was waiting for her, approached her. Serdel, who was naturally moving away from the Duke Belters, put her hand on Blenn¡¯s arm. [He is a person who has been hiding his inner feelings for a long time. Have you ever thought about what kind of storm will come when such a person begins to shake?] Serdel¡¯s steps stopped. ¡°Lady?¡± The corners of her eyes grew cold. Without looking back, Serdel raised the energy in her body. She hasn¡¯t tried it yet, so she doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible, but she¡¯s trying to concentrate as hard as she can. Radun¡¯s energy, which started from her heart, rose to her head and created several runes. When they gathered together to create a spell circle, it was activated with smoke loaded with light. ¡°See you later, Lord Serdel.¡± At the end, she was able to let the voice go through the mind of Duke Belters, who greeted her. [The one who opened the door to the beginning of the storm is His Majesty. Not me.] Serdel looked sideways at his feet and glared. [And, please don¡¯t give me such a warning.] [I apologize if I offended you.] [If you¡¯re sorry, please answer my question. Who do you think is the most dangerous person in the Imperial palace?] Duke Belters paused. Serdel turned her head completely and looked straight at him. [Answer me.] [¡­Everyone, all of them. Rather, it must be said that there is no one who is not dangerous.] [I heard the answer. Then see you next time.] [See you again] Raising his hand, he swept up and leaned against the wall as if the hair that came down was bothering him. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Blenn.¡± Serdel got out of there by pushing his foot which had stopped. Watching her walk away, Duke Belters folded his arms. ¡°The blood wind will blow soon. Will His Highness Falden be able to withstand it?¡± He was worried. While saying it calmly, Duke Belters looked back at the path he had walked with Serdel. The atmosphere in the building had changed before he knew it. It was cold and bloody. ***** Entering the dinner hall, the aristocrats¡¯ eyes were on Serdel. Most of them had seen her go out with the Chamberlain, so it wasn¡¯t like they didn¡¯t know that she had been alone with the Emperor. ¡°What conversation did you have with His Majesty?¡± Some ladies chattered with their mouths covered with fans. ¡°Lord Serdel.¡± It was then. A Marquis¡¯ Young Lady approached Serdel nervously and offered her an invitation. ¡°Will you participate in my tea party?¡± With a round impression, she twisted her body, blushing her cheeks. ¡°I also set the date for Dame Addis¡¯ return from training¡ª¡± It seems like she¡¯s Addis¡¯ fan. As Addis couldn¡¯t attend the tea parties of noble Young Ladies, she knew at once that she had approached her after hesitating. ¡°I¡¯d be more than happy if¡ª you could come with Dame Addis.¡± Kyaa! She was embarrassed, covering her face with her small hands. The figure was just like a squirrel. ¡°I¡¯ll participate when I have time. Thank you for the invitation.¡± ¡°Really? Really?¡± The Marquis Young Lady, who lowered her hand, lit up her eyes with a bright face. Serdel smiled awkwardly and had an invitation card as a courtesy, passed her and went to Cartal. Then she saw Alexa. She was next to the Empress. The same goes for the Duke of Heurion. After clicking her tongue inside, the Emperor entered with the Duke of Belters. He has some conversations with the nobles who approach him¡ª. ¡°Thank you for accepting my invitation to the banquet. I¡¯ll make another occasion like this next time, so I hope you¡¯ll enjoy it then.¡± When the dark night fell, they dug up their seats. The Emperor, the Empress, and the 1st Prince left the dinner hall first, receiving greetings from the nobles who felt sorry for the short event. After that, Queen Consort Debor, the mother of the 3rd Prince, followed slowly, and just a short distance from Serdel, tak! she dropped something. Serdel bent down first before Blenn stepped up and picked it up. It was a precious-looking bracelet with colorful jewels embedded in it. ¡°The Queen Consort¡ª¡± When Serdel lifted her upper body, Queen Consort Debor was already left. She looked at the bracelet again. A thin cloth was tied to the end. The words came out when she unfolded it. [I¡¯d like to have a cup of tea with Lord Cerdel. You can return the bracelet then. I want Lord to give it back to me] It meant not to be sent back through people. ¡®Great.¡¯ Even so, she was thinking about how to approach Queen Consort Debor. And she made the excuse first. It was not a bad situation for Serdel as she had to jump into the den to catch the criminal. She took out a handkerchief, wrapped it around the bracelet so it wouldn¡¯t get damaged, and followed Cartal into the carriage. ¡®Whoo.¡¯ She had only been there for a few hours, but she felt as tired as if she had been locked up in the palace for a few days. ¡®Ah¡­ I think I left something behind¡­¡¯ As the carriage left the palace and ran down the street, she finally remembered the purple thing she had forgotten. Of course the Lord of the Wizard Tower wasn¡¯t in the carriage. ¡°Father, what about the Lord of the Wizard Tower?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, wouldn¡¯t he have gone back by himself?¡± Cartal waved his hand saying don¡¯t worry about him. [I¡¯m on the roof of the carriage] The voice of the Lord of the Wizard Tower rang in her mind. Serdel¡¯s eyes glanced to the ceiling. [I don¡¯t know why you forgot to take care of me, but it¡¯s okay because you thought of me now] [I¡¯m sorry.] As she had tried with the Duke Belters earlier, Serdel raised her energy and sent a voice into the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s head. [It¡¯s okay. I have a lot of work today. By the way, the 2nd Prince is in the slum.] The Lord of the Wizard Tower is the one who secretly placed a detection spell on him at Serdel¡¯s request in order to track down Falden. [Hmm. He went into the pub. It seems that both the staff and guests are disguised as an ordinary pub, given that the momentum is fierce.] The voice of the Lord of the Wizard Tower sank heavily. [He¡¯s going downstairs. It is quite spacious. A middle-aged man is tied in the corner. Ah, it looks like he¡¯s the one the Lord is looking for.] ¡®Count Sollette!¡¯ The fist was clenched by itself. [The 2nd prince drew his sword as he was trying to kill him as the Lord said.] What to do? Now, to get Count Sollette out, she has to use magic, but if she makes a mistake, the existence of the Lord of the Wizard Tower could be revealed. A quick-witted Falden will surely recognize that Serdel is behind the Lord of the Wizard Tower. [I think I have to go. Oh! He already swung his sword. He looks quick-tempered. Tsk, let¡¯s get going. I¡¯ll get back to you soon.] The energy of the nearby Lord of the Wizard Tower slowly faded away. [Don¡¯t worry and wait. If he¡¯s related to the Countess, I¡¯ll save him somehow.] At the end of the sentence, his voice that rang in her head was cut off. CH 129 Author: rolypoly After arriving at the Count¡¯s residence, Serdel washed roughly, changed into comfortable clothes, entered the office, and sat at her desk. ¡°You don¡¯t have a good complexion, would you like a cup of tea?¡± Monem, who came after me, asked carefully. ¡°Yes please, thank you.¡± ¡°Is it fine to have a meal? If you¡¯re hungry, I will prepare a simple meal.¡± She attended the Emperor¡¯s dinner, but there were not many foods she ate properly. People will come to her when she wants to eat, and the Emperor will call her when she wants to eat. However, she wasn¡¯t really hungry because her nerves were sharp. ¡°Please give me chocolate. I don¡¯t think I need anything else.¡± Then Monem quietly retreated. Serdel, who was left alone, pressed her forehead. ¡®What happened to Count Sollette?¡¯ Did the Lord of the Wizard Tower save him? Why is there no contact? Why hasn¡¯t she heard anything from him? She was nervous. Even after eating all the chocolate and drinking the tea Monem had brought, the voice of the Lord of the Wizard Tower was nowhere to be heard. After a late night, dawn is almost here, and the silence that has been there for hours makes it hard for her to breathe. [Lord Serdel] With the silver stream, the Lord of the Wizard Tower appeared before her. Serdel, who had been silent for a moment, kicked off her desk and stood up. ¡°Can you come with me?¡± At the same time as she nodded, the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who was approaching in stride, grabbed her hand. As she moved where he led her, the dark space filled up with her surroundings. It was only a few steps, but it was amazing to be walking on a path made of magic. The long space, like a hallway, was filled with sparkling mana. The energy she felt from it was quite warm. Thanks to it, her uncomfortable heart has subsided. How much did she rely on the warmth he gave, holding in the hands of the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡ª. Whoo, she closed her eyes tightly in the black mist that came upon me and opened it, and she arrived at an unfamiliar square space. A middle-aged man with a haggard face was lying in the middle of it. He was dead, to be exact. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Serdel.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower lowered his eyes. ¡°I couldn¡¯t save him. No, he couldn¡¯t be saved. A corpse that has just stopped breathing can be brought to consciousness for a short time if the best use of healing magic is used¡ªbut when I arrived, it was already inevitable.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°However, with the magical power of Lord Serdel, even a dead body can be interrogated.¡± His gaze turned to Serdel. A bitter laugh escaped her mouth as she was about to say something. She had never revealed the identity of the power she possessed to the Lord of the Wizard Tower. ¡®Although I¡¯ve used my abilities to save my sister and brother.¡¯ She only operated her power as if she was hiding it inside. She had never created a power that was so real that it could be seen. She also thought it was funny that the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who is sensitive to foreign energy, didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± In response to Serdel¡¯s answer, the Lord snapped his finger. The corpse of Count Sollette, who had fallen, was forcibly raised by some force. Serdel approached him and stretched out her hand. The power of Radun she took had the nature of darkness. It¡¯s not like black magic, so it¡¯s impossible to revive a corpse, but she didn¡¯t know if it was possible to have a conversation, according to the Lord of the Wizard Tower¡¯s words. As she closed her eyes and focused, the energy in her body moved. Seven rings, the best she could create, wrapped around her heart first. Heavy pressure was transmitted. Before, it made her chest feel tight, but now it¡¯s not that much. The more she used the extreme force, the more she felt familiar with it. As if it wasn¡¯t Radun¡¯s power but her own power from the beginning. The energy melted into her mind and her whole body. The runes flew wildly over the octagram that came to mind. Whoosh, Serdel opened her eyes and looked directly at the corpse of Count Sollete. I need to hear the truth you know. A desperate wish created the spell. The energy that flowed from her ran through Count Sollette¡¯s head. At the same time, his eyelids lifted upward, revealing his dull, dead eyes. As soon as Serdel straightened up the waist that she had bent, the scary¡ª. ¡°Please, save me. Your Highness the 2nd Prince¡ª¡± Count Sollette¡¯s pale blue lips moved first. It seems that the deep fear he felt right before he died was imprinted all over his body. ¡°Please, save me.¡± Even though he was in a state of a dead body without a will, he begged for his life. The tone that was used without hesitation was particularly strange. ¡°Save¡ª¡± His words, which had been saying the same thing for a while, decreased. ¡°¡­.¡± Serdel could only let her energy flow a little stronger until the end in silence. A rune appeared in his two eyes. She could see that it was completely weakening. ¡°What did the 2nd Prince ask?¡± ¡°¡­the Empress, tell me everything you know about it¡­¡± He recited exactly what Falden had told him. Slave market and Empress. With most of the story about the Empress¡¯s family and knowing more weaknesses besides what Falden had told her, Serdel opened her mouth to hear what she was most curious about. ¡°Do you know anything about¡ªCountess Robbesta?¡± ¡°¡­Countess, Robesta,¡­Cartal Robbesta¡¯s wife. She used to go, to the palace often.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°She¡­ was close to Her Majesty the Empress.¡± The words of ¡®Empress,¡¯ who had a close relationship with her mother, seemed to ring in her ears. ¡°She favored the Countess more than the other ladies. A sensitive and picky Empress¡ªas much as the Countess, she always wanted to be by her side.¡¯ ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Why, why¡ª I heard it by chance. The chat between the Empress and the Countess.¡± Since he wasn¡¯t alive, he was just spitting out words, but his well-coordinated tone changed strangely. It¡¯s like he doesn¡¯t know enough. As if he were talking about what he thought after looking at it for a short time and having doubts. ¡°That day, the Empress was not feeling well. She said she had something to deal with, so she went to see it, and she was angry and told her to go back. Then I saw it. The Empress hung on. Can my son become the emperor? The 2nd and 3rd princes are not a threat. She took the Countess¡¯s hand, asked, asked again, asked again. Why did she ask such a thing?¡± Her words were like asking questions to herself. Serdel¡¯s chin trembled. ¡°The Countess didn¡¯t say anything. The Empress, disappointed and resentful, said, ¡®Aren¡¯t we friends, why didn¡¯t you help me?¡¯.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been in charge of the dirty work of the Empress family¡ªbut I¡¯ve never been ordered to deal with the Countess. Rather, the Empress¡ª mourned her death.¡± The confusion came to her. Then Serdel turned to the question. ¡°Did the Empress kill Queen Consort Velia?¡± ¡°Queen Consort, Velia, the 2nd Prince¡¯s mother¡­¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°¡­she didn¡¯t kill it. The Empress hated Queen Consort Velia¡­but she only hated her. She didn¡¯t kill her. The young 2nd Prince who lost her mother¡­ At first, she felt sorry for him¡­ At that time, the Empress also had a soft heart. She secretly took care of the 2nd Prince, but¡ª The Empress¡¯s family couldn¡¯t tolerate that¡­ Kuuk!¡± With nausea, Count Sollette¡¯s mouth opened wide, and dead blood poured out of it. Soon, Count Sollette¡¯s head was bent forward. It seems that it was hard to endure the power of magic anymore. ¡°Then who killed the Countess? Who do you think killed her?¡± Serdel became impatient. She reached out and grabbed Count Sollette¡¯s head. She was horrified by the cold sensation that had come from the dead. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. The Countess visited the palace not long before she died in the accident¡­¡± Count Sollette¡¯s voice was getting lower. His eyelids, which had been lifted by Selder¡¯s power, were slowly closed as if a heavy stone crushed them. ¡°¡­On that day, the Countess didn¡¯t met the Empress¡­ but the Queen Consort Debor¡ª¡± The magic energy that flowed through him was broken in an instant. Serdel took her hand off his face as the string that had been connected broke. Serdel calmed her emotions to clear her complicated head. Then she remembered a fairy tale told by her mother, who was her ¡®older brother¡¯ at that time. CH 130 ¡°The Emperor didn¡¯t love the Empress who was bound by power.¡± A nostalgic voice broke through the memories that had sunk to the bottom of the sea and resounded in her mind. His loving voice is soft and warm. She felt emotional for no reason. ¡°But she respects it. The Empress who loved the Emperor was heartbroken, but she had no choice but to be satisfied there. Then the Emperor met his fateful mate. He welcomed her as wife, but the happiness didn¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Queen Consort Velia, who came from a powerless local aristocrat, fell ill without knowing the cause, and then she went to heaven. Leaving his young son alone, the Emperor, in a sense of loss, grew colder, and the Empress tried to comfort him, but the favor was not accepted.¡± ¡°The Empress, tired of love, gave up the Emperor¡¯s attention. Instead, he began to become obsessed with power and his son.¡± ¡°At the same time, she was wary of Queen Consort Debor, who sat in the seat of wife with the support of the aristocracy. And as expected, the Queen Consort Debor also hate the Empress. The two fought invisibly, and many people were killed.¡± ¡®The invisible fight and sacrifice¡­.¡¯ Looking back, the content of the fairy tale was short, and there was no ending. If it were a normal fairy tale, it would end with the words, ¡°They lived happily ever after.¡± But her mother, who was her ¡°brother¡± at the time, didn¡¯t end the story with those words. Since her mother had good foresight and had already made plans with the Lord of the Wizard Tower, it¡¯s unlikely that she didn¡¯t tell her because she didn¡¯t know how the story ended. ¡®She must have been unable to tell me more because of her restrictions.¡¯ She still can¡¯t even guess who put the restrictions on her. Serdel opened her eyes and put her hand on her chin. She listened thoughtlessly as a child and was quite focused when she recently moved from a state of the soul to the past. Nevertheless, it is also true that she paid the most attention to the Emperor and Empress. Although she never completely forgot about Queen Consort Debor, she found thinking about her to be less uncomfortable. On the matter of her subject, when she started giving orders to Dell to find out about her and her followers through his bugs as well. Even just before Queen Consort Debor dropped her bracelet at her feet, her vigilance towards her was not as high as that of the Emperor or Empress. ¡®Is this why stereotypes are scary? It was like that in the past as well. When Queen Consort Debor was driven out by the poisoning of the Emperor, Serdel wondered if she had been falsely accused. She did this because she secretly thought the Empress must have done it. Without any proof of her, she looked down on her, seeing Falden, who couldn¡¯t even set foot on Capital because of the Empress. Serdel looked at the corpse of Count Sollette lying on the floor. A living person can play with their tongues, but a corpse without a will can¡¯t. So he wouldn¡¯t have told her a lie. ¡®The Empress hated Queen Consort Velia, but she didn¡¯t kill her¡­.¡¯ She also felt sorry for young Falden and used to care for him in secret, but the Empress¡¯s family didn¡¯t like it. Does that mean Marquis Caloas, the Empress¡¯ brother, killed Queen Consort Velia? ¡®No. If that was the case, the name of Marquis Caloas would have come out of Count Sollette¡¯s mouth.¡¯ So the death of Queen Consort Velia has nothing to do with the Empress and her family. However, the Emperor only threw him out because he was afraid that he would be killed in the palace, even if he was alone in a situation where he didn¡¯t even know who the enemy was. After Carlos, who recognized that his interest and affection were being directed at Falden, he must have threatened to avoid becoming an obstacle to the destiny of the young Prince. Until now. ¡®Falden overcame the crisis of death many times, but he didn¡¯t die.¡¯ No matter how secretly the Emperor had attached the shadow, it was far from a young child who had only held the sword for two years to survive on the battlefield. ¡®Did the Empress spare Falden?¡¯ She doesn¡¯t let Falden¡¯s blood get on her brother¡¯s sword. By treating him harshly and pushing him out of the palace. ¡®Why?¡® Why would she put herself through all that trouble? Before leaving for the nursing home, Queen Consort Velia, who knew she would die, fell on her knees and didn¡¯t even have a situation¡ª. ¡°Ha¨C!¡± She burst into laughter. As she was washing her face dry, the words of Count Sollete rang. Can the 1st Prince become Emperor? The Empress who asked whether the 2nd or 3rd Prince would be a threat must have known her mother¡¯s abilities. ¡®Did my mother say that?¡¯ Or was she caught by accident? She doesn¡¯t know anything else, but when she puts her mother in her mouth, she seems to understand why she is so obsessed with the Empress. ¡®She relied on my mother.¡¯ That¡¯s pretty deep too. What stimulated Cartal the other day may have been an expression of resentment. She, whom the Count¡¯s family failed to protect. For the arrogant Empress, it would have been nothing more or less the object of her dissatisfaction. When she thought this far, she got goosebumps. ¡®When the Empress finds out that I have the same foresight ability as my mother¡­¡¯ It is obvious that she will try to rely on her as she did on her mother. Shaking her head, Serdel turned her body. ¡°I have to go back now. Count Sollette¡¯s body¡­ please put it back in the abandoned place. Please take care of it.¡± ¡°I will.¡± The Lord of the Wizard Tower reached out to Serdel, who looked complicated. ¡°Hold it. I will take the Lord first.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you, as always.¡± His hands were still full of warmth. It felt as if the chilly sensation she had received from Count Sollette had disappeared at once. This time, the light came as she and the Lord of the Wizard Tower walked down the corridor full of manas. When she opened her eyes again, it was her office. Serdel looked around, feeling the heat of the glass in her hand. There was no the Lord of the Wizard Tower. [So many things happened today. It won¡¯t be easy because you have a lot on your mind, but it¡¯s late, so get some rest.] Instead, his voice echoed through her mind. ¡°Thank you.¡± [If you are so grateful¡­ Well, I can¡¯t ask you to go shopping with me. I can¡¯t be a purple person. I heard dessert cafes are popular. Let¡¯s go together] Pft, thanks to this situation, laughter came out of nowhere. Even though he knows that Serdel, who is always busy, can¡¯t afford it. He was considerate, suggesting in a light tone so that she wouldn¡¯t feel pressured. ¡°I will.¡± At the same time as the answer, the voice of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. Serdel trudged and stood in front of the desk. The bracelet appeared when she unfolded her handkerchief while holding something heavy. Count Sollette¡¯s last words echoed through Serdel¡¯s ears. ¡°¡­That day, before the Countess met¡­ not the Empress¡­ Queen Consort Debor.¡± Strength entered the hand holding the bracelet. The sharp part of the ornament pierced through the soft skin, causing a stinging pain. Why did her mother go to see Queen Consort Debor? Knowing that the Empress and Queen Consort Debor are not on good terms. Without realizing that the Empress might misunderstand her. Tok. After healing the scars on her palm with a potion from her drawer, she pulled out a fine piece of stationery interspersed with dried flowers. It was impossible to accept Queen Consort Debor¡¯s suggestion before the Empress¡¯s suggestion to have a cup of tea. If she does that, she may get caught up in a troublesome emotional fight. First of all, Serdel, who wrote a letter to the Empress to save her face and then met her at the Queen Consort¡¯s Palace while she was there, filled the letter paper with all kinds of rhetoric. When the ink is dry, she carefully folds it so that the press prints don¡¯t fall off, puts it in an envelope, and seals it. Serdel buried herself in the back of the chair as she was about to pull the string and realized it was dawn. She was tired but not sleepy. Her mind was still complicated. As if she had taken a step forward, dozens of questions came up like waves again and hit her. Life itself felt contradictory with so many facts mixed in with hundreds of lies. And she felt trapped in it. Serdel stood up with a tight chest and opened the door to the terrace wide. A cold wind blew. Her hair fluttered wildly. She roughly tied it together and looked down at her¡ª. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ Maybe he was out for a walk in the morning, which is why Blenn was there. ¡°It¡¯s too late. Lady.¡± Their eyes met each other. In the cold night sky, his silver hair shone brightly in the moonlight. ¡°If that¡¯s okay with you, would you like to walk for a while?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As Serdel answered by jumping without fear, he hugged her and landed on the floor again. Then, as she walked ahead, Blenn followed quietly from behind. The sinking silence wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. How could they have walked without a word like that? Serdel, who stopped in front of the annex she had arrived unknowingly, looked at the place for a moment and then turned around. No, she tried to turn around.