“Don’t let a single one escape! Find ‘Bella’ first!”
Randall, unusually, opened the door before he could hear an answer. He strode in but stopped abruptly when he saw Sylvia sitting on the sofa. Sylvia greeted him, closing her book with a leisurely gesture.
“You’re dressed for the outdoors at this hour. Where are you going?”
“...”
“Randall?”
Randall stared silently at Sylvia, who was wearing a robe over her nightgown, and then suddenly lowered his gaze. The thin, white ankles revealed under the robe.
"All right!"
At Randall's command, the knights moved in unison. Randall lifted the goblet on the table that had lost its owner with a cold, hard face. As he brought the goblet close to his nose, a sweet scent rose up, as if he would get drunk at any moment. His green eyes sank even darker.
'Have you been selling alcohol mixed with addictive drugs to outside customers as well?'
'A store without a sign'?
A few days ago. Randall, who was handing over the identity report of those who had recently entered the Marquis of Saicrine, which he had instructed Auston to do, furrowed his brow when he found a familiar word. If it was a 'store without a sign', wasn't it the place Sylvia had stopped by when she suddenly disappeared from the market?
At Randall's command, the knights moved in unison. Randall lifted the goblet on the table that had lost its owner with a cold, hard face. As he brought the goblet close to his nose, a sweet scent rose up, as if he would get drunk at any moment. His green eyes sank even darker.
'Have you been selling alcohol mixed with addictive drugs to outside customers as well?'
'A store without a sign'?
A few days ago. Randall, who was handing over the identity report of those who had recently entered the Marquis of Saicrine, which he had instructed Auston to do, furrowed his brow when he found a familiar word. If it was a 'store without a sign', wasn't it the place Sylvia had stopped by when she suddenly disappeared from the market?
He checked the contents again, running the tip of his quill over the report. Tavern, store without a sign. The owner's name was... Pink.
'But the boss here is definitely...'
Wasn't it a woman named 'Bella'?
'But the boss here is definitely...'
Wasn't it a woman named 'Bella'?
A sense of wonder and instinctive realization came to him.
"...Auston."
"Yes."
"Search this place. Don't miss anything, look carefully. There's definitely something there."
As soon as Randall realized that the name of the president on the documents was different from the one he had seen, he sensed something was wrong and started to investigate secretly. He found out that the store was related to illegal gambling, drug distribution, etc., in addition to the work of the Marquis of Seicrine, and he planned a surprise attack.
“The casino?”
“I found it. There was a device installed under the table over there. But the boss..."
So far, nothing has gone wrong with the plan. Except for not being able to catch the boss, Bella. While Randall and his knights were thoroughly searching the gambling house and tavern, one of the knights came running up and shouted.
“Master! I have discovered what appears to be the exit to a secret passage in the forest!”
“Go straight there.”
Outside, the knights of Belfort were stationed in case the customers of the illegal gambling house and the employees of the store escaped. Randall heard the report and headed straight for the forest. As the knights cleared away the unusually thick undergrowth, a dark cave-like passage was revealed inside. The direction was toward the store without a sign.
“Enter. Don’t let your guard down.”
Randall drew his sword and began to cross the passage with the knights in reverse. As he was walking without making any noise, Randall raised one hand to stop the knights and listened when he felt a presence around the corner. A dry voice echoed faintly through the walls.
“...Go for it. Not the Duke."
'...Two?'
The sound of two people escaping with the staff, one or two of them, was the same as the one in the passage. Whether they were one or two, they must catch them first. Randall quickly shook off his thoughts and made a quiet gesture. At his signal, the knights all kicked the ground at once, and suddenly a strong wind blew from inside the passage.
“Ugh!”
"Be careful...!"
The wind was strong enough to easily blow away even the strongest knights, and the knights barely managed to keep their feet on the ground, holding each other's hands. Randall raised his arm to protect his eyes and shouted.
“Auston!”
Upon hearing his name, Auston made a painful hand gesture, dispersing the magical power around Randall. Thanks to that, Randall took advantage of the weak wind to move his feet around the corner. Immediately afterwards, he was confronted by the light of movement magic shining in the air, and a figure standing before him, his body and face covered by a black cloak, and his eyes widened.
“...!”
The unidentified man stopped drawing a water sign for a movement spell and turned his back as if startled by Randall's presence. The hem of his long cloak fluttered with the movement, revealing his slender ankles beneath it for a moment. At that moment, the feeling of those thin, white ankles seemed somehow familiar. He finished drawing the water sign and disappeared into the air with the light. The wind that seemed to tear apart the passageway immediately died down.
“...”
“My lord! Are you alright?”
While Randall narrowed his eyes in a subtle sense of foreboding and stared at the spot where he had disappeared, the knights and Auston came running as soon as the wind died down. Auston stood next to Randall and bowed his head awkwardly.
“I’m sorry, my lord. Originally, I was trying to get rid of the wind itself, but since my opponent was not an ordinary magician, it was not easy to destroy it... My lord?”
Austin tilted his head in puzzlement as Randall froze like a statue, staring intently at a single spot. At his call, Randall opened his mouth in a low voice.
“...Did you catch everyone except Bella?”
“As far as I know, it will be like that.”
“Then let’s go back to the castle.”
"... Yes?"
Auston was taken aback by the sudden order and asked, but Randall turned around without saying anything. He looked back at the knight and asked with an unreadable expression.
“Sylvia... Where is my wife now?”
"...Auston."
"Yes."
"Search this place. Don't miss anything, look carefully. There's definitely something there."
As soon as Randall realized that the name of the president on the documents was different from the one he had seen, he sensed something was wrong and started to investigate secretly. He found out that the store was related to illegal gambling, drug distribution, etc., in addition to the work of the Marquis of Seicrine, and he planned a surprise attack.
“The casino?”
“I found it. There was a device installed under the table over there. But the boss..."
So far, nothing has gone wrong with the plan. Except for not being able to catch the boss, Bella. While Randall and his knights were thoroughly searching the gambling house and tavern, one of the knights came running up and shouted.
“Master! I have discovered what appears to be the exit to a secret passage in the forest!”
“Go straight there.”
Outside, the knights of Belfort were stationed in case the customers of the illegal gambling house and the employees of the store escaped. Randall heard the report and headed straight for the forest. As the knights cleared away the unusually thick undergrowth, a dark cave-like passage was revealed inside. The direction was toward the store without a sign.
“Enter. Don’t let your guard down.”
Randall drew his sword and began to cross the passage with the knights in reverse. As he was walking without making any noise, Randall raised one hand to stop the knights and listened when he felt a presence around the corner. A dry voice echoed faintly through the walls.
“...Go for it. Not the Duke."
'...Two?'
The sound of two people escaping with the staff, one or two of them, was the same as the one in the passage. Whether they were one or two, they must catch them first. Randall quickly shook off his thoughts and made a quiet gesture. At his signal, the knights all kicked the ground at once, and suddenly a strong wind blew from inside the passage.
“Ugh!”
"Be careful...!"
The wind was strong enough to easily blow away even the strongest knights, and the knights barely managed to keep their feet on the ground, holding each other's hands. Randall raised his arm to protect his eyes and shouted.
“Auston!”
Upon hearing his name, Auston made a painful hand gesture, dispersing the magical power around Randall. Thanks to that, Randall took advantage of the weak wind to move his feet around the corner. Immediately afterwards, he was confronted by the light of movement magic shining in the air, and a figure standing before him, his body and face covered by a black cloak, and his eyes widened.
“...!”
The unidentified man stopped drawing a water sign for a movement spell and turned his back as if startled by Randall's presence. The hem of his long cloak fluttered with the movement, revealing his slender ankles beneath it for a moment. At that moment, the feeling of those thin, white ankles seemed somehow familiar. He finished drawing the water sign and disappeared into the air with the light. The wind that seemed to tear apart the passageway immediately died down.
“...”
“My lord! Are you alright?”
While Randall narrowed his eyes in a subtle sense of foreboding and stared at the spot where he had disappeared, the knights and Auston came running as soon as the wind died down. Auston stood next to Randall and bowed his head awkwardly.
“I’m sorry, my lord. Originally, I was trying to get rid of the wind itself, but since my opponent was not an ordinary magician, it was not easy to destroy it... My lord?”
Austin tilted his head in puzzlement as Randall froze like a statue, staring intently at a single spot. At his call, Randall opened his mouth in a low voice.
“...Did you catch everyone except Bella?”
“As far as I know, it will be like that.”
“Then let’s go back to the castle.”
"... Yes?"
Auston was taken aback by the sudden order and asked, but Randall turned around without saying anything. He looked back at the knight and asked with an unreadable expression.
“Sylvia... Where is my wife now?”
***
Sylvia appeared in front of Bella just before she attacked the knights with darkness. Bella was startled as she instinctively withdrew her hand at the sight of her appearing as if she had suddenly fallen from thin air.
"What...!"
“Be quiet. I’m here to help.”
Sylvia warned in a low, hushed voice. At those words, Bella twisted her lips with a face that still did not let down its guard.
“...What the. I thought you were going to help me, but you’re a human? Why would a human help me?”
“I guess you are still in contact with the dark bugs within the Belfort estate.”
Bella's shoulders flinched as she realized she had unknowingly leaked information.
'She's not that smart.'
Sylvia, who had decided so, spoke low and quickly.
“You can’t be caught here now. I’ll just drop you off on the outskirts of the territory, so after that, you can run away on your own.”
“What nonsense is that...”
Bella opened her mouth in absurdity and muttered, but Sylvia ignored her words and blurted out the words out of an impulse she could not explain.
“...And if you’re going to aim, aim for the Duchess. Not the Duke.”
After finishing her speech, Sylvia felt the presence of the knights who had arrived within arm's reach and moved her magic. What her light gesture, like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, brought forth was a strong wind like a typhoon.
“Ugh!”
"Be careful...!"
Sylvia, who saw that the knights were flustered and caught in the strong wind, immediately summoned a magic circle behind Bella. Then, she extended her right hand and pushed Bella's shoulder.
"You...!"
Bella's eyes widened fiercely as she tried to say something, but her new form soon turned into light and dispersed. As soon as Sylvia confirmed that Bella was completely out of this place, she drew a new moving magic circle to return to the castle.
“Auston!”
It was then that a sharp call was heard, and a familiar figure approached from behind.
“...!”
Surprised, Sylvia turned around reflexively. She never thought that Auston could dispel her magic even for a moment. It was understandable since all she had seen so far were things that did not fit the name of 'Great Wizard'. However, Sylvia quickly regained her composure and quickly used a teleportation spell to return to the castle.
"What...!"
“Be quiet. I’m here to help.”
Sylvia warned in a low, hushed voice. At those words, Bella twisted her lips with a face that still did not let down its guard.
“...What the. I thought you were going to help me, but you’re a human? Why would a human help me?”
“I guess you are still in contact with the dark bugs within the Belfort estate.”
Bella's shoulders flinched as she realized she had unknowingly leaked information.
'She's not that smart.'
Sylvia, who had decided so, spoke low and quickly.
“You can’t be caught here now. I’ll just drop you off on the outskirts of the territory, so after that, you can run away on your own.”
“What nonsense is that...”
Bella opened her mouth in absurdity and muttered, but Sylvia ignored her words and blurted out the words out of an impulse she could not explain.
“...And if you’re going to aim, aim for the Duchess. Not the Duke.”
After finishing her speech, Sylvia felt the presence of the knights who had arrived within arm's reach and moved her magic. What her light gesture, like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, brought forth was a strong wind like a typhoon.
“Ugh!”
"Be careful...!"
Sylvia, who saw that the knights were flustered and caught in the strong wind, immediately summoned a magic circle behind Bella. Then, she extended her right hand and pushed Bella's shoulder.
"You...!"
Bella's eyes widened fiercely as she tried to say something, but her new form soon turned into light and dispersed. As soon as Sylvia confirmed that Bella was completely out of this place, she drew a new moving magic circle to return to the castle.
“Auston!”
It was then that a sharp call was heard, and a familiar figure approached from behind.
“...!”
Surprised, Sylvia turned around reflexively. She never thought that Auston could dispel her magic even for a moment. It was understandable since all she had seen so far were things that did not fit the name of 'Great Wizard'. However, Sylvia quickly regained her composure and quickly used a teleportation spell to return to the castle.
As soon as she returned to her empty room, she released the magic on her face, sent her cloak to a corner of the castle's storage room, sat down on the sofa with a calm look, and opened a book. Not long after she caught her breath, Thelma knocked on the door.
“Madam. The Master...”
“Sylvia, I’ll go in for a moment.”
“Madam. The Master...”
“Sylvia, I’ll go in for a moment.”
Randall, unusually, opened the door before he could hear an answer. He strode in but stopped abruptly when he saw Sylvia sitting on the sofa. Sylvia greeted him, closing her book with a leisurely gesture.
“You’re dressed for the outdoors at this hour. Where are you going?”
“...”
“Randall?”
Randall stared silently at Sylvia, who was wearing a robe over her nightgown, and then suddenly lowered his gaze. The thin, white ankles revealed under the robe.
Was it just his imagination that they looked like the unidentified wizard he had seen a little while ago?
‘...That can’t be.’
Randall raised the corners of his mouth, trying to push away the anxiety that was rushing in like an instinct.
“No. I just got back, and I thought my wife might have fallen asleep after I washed up.”
Randall took off his gloves and gently took hold of Sylvia's hand with his bare hand. He lowered his lips to the white back of her hand, kissed it lightly, and straightened his posture.
“Good night, Ma’am.”
“...You too.”
Sylvia nodded, holding the hand he had kissed with her other hand, feeling that her hand was ticklish. The reason her mind was in turmoil right now was because she almost got caught by Randall.
‘...That can’t be.’
Randall raised the corners of his mouth, trying to push away the anxiety that was rushing in like an instinct.
“No. I just got back, and I thought my wife might have fallen asleep after I washed up.”
Randall took off his gloves and gently took hold of Sylvia's hand with his bare hand. He lowered his lips to the white back of her hand, kissed it lightly, and straightened his posture.
“Good night, Ma’am.”
“...You too.”
Sylvia nodded, holding the hand he had kissed with her other hand, feeling that her hand was ticklish. The reason her mind was in turmoil right now was because she almost got caught by Randall.
Yes, that must be all.
She cut off her thoughts, turning her gaze away from Randall’s back as he left the room.
***
After dawn. It was revealed that the “store without a sign” was operating an illegal gambling house and that it was also selling alcohol mixed with addictive drugs.
Those who frequented the illegal gambling house as if it were their own home, as well as the employees, could not avoid punishment. A large-scale search was put out to find the owner of the store, Bella. In addition, with Bella’s disappearance, the symptoms of the Marquis of Seicrine, such as memory loss and headaches, completely disappeared, and the stigma that had been placed on him was also completely removed.
“I will serve you, Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Sir Cedars.”
It was already the end of the social season, but Randall was busy with Bella-related matters, so Sylvia attended the party with her escort, Jeffrey, as her partner.
“I will serve you, Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Sir Cedars.”
It was already the end of the social season, but Randall was busy with Bella-related matters, so Sylvia attended the party with her escort, Jeffrey, as her partner.
Today's party was held at the Countess of Sereid's residence. Since it was a party hosted by the Countess of Sereid, who was famous for being the most talkative and sociable in the North, the banquet hall was packed with people.
Philia, who had been falsely accused along with the Marquis, also attended the party with a refreshed face. However, her refreshing face crumpled as soon as she saw Sylvia and Jeffrey standing next to each other.
'That kid's laughing again. Why don't you just pin the corners of his mouth shut?'
Philia, whose cheeks twisted at the sight of Jeffrey smiling at Sylvia, strode forward. She deliberately raised her voice and made large gestures to greet him.
“Philia Seicrine sends greetings to the Duchess. I hope you have been well and you look very well.”
Philia flashed a sharp smile, as if to say, 'Do you like flirting with my man?' Sylvia noticed that Philia was picking a fight with her and wrinkled her nose slightly.
'Here she goes again.'
She had just heard an unexpected story from Rubia, who had visited the Duke's castle a while ago.
"The Lady of Marquis Seicrine?"
"Yes. In some ways, she seemed to be more enthusiastic than me in shutting the mouths of the nobles."
Rubia answered, lifting her teacup gracefully. Not only did she dismiss the nobles’ words in the lounge, but Philia also defended herself at every party. This was embarrassing news for Sylvia, who knew that Philia liked Randall.
"...Do she have any feelings for me?"
"Lady Seicrine, Madam?"
"Would she please stop looking at me like I'm talking nonsense, Countess?"
Sylvia thought about that too, but Philia, whom she met today, looked as if she was in a bad mood as usual. However, the reason was unclear.
‘Why isn’t there any Randall today...’
Sylvia tilted her head in puzzlement, then realized that Philia’s gaze was strangely avoiding her. When she turned her eyes, what was at the end of Philia’s gaze was...
'...Jeffrey?'
Jeffrey Cedars. He was her escort. Jeffrey was cleverly avoiding Philia's gaze and pretending not to know.
'That kid's laughing again. Why don't you just pin the corners of his mouth shut?'
Philia, whose cheeks twisted at the sight of Jeffrey smiling at Sylvia, strode forward. She deliberately raised her voice and made large gestures to greet him.
“Philia Seicrine sends greetings to the Duchess. I hope you have been well and you look very well.”
Philia flashed a sharp smile, as if to say, 'Do you like flirting with my man?' Sylvia noticed that Philia was picking a fight with her and wrinkled her nose slightly.
'Here she goes again.'
She had just heard an unexpected story from Rubia, who had visited the Duke's castle a while ago.
"The Lady of Marquis Seicrine?"
"Yes. In some ways, she seemed to be more enthusiastic than me in shutting the mouths of the nobles."
Rubia answered, lifting her teacup gracefully. Not only did she dismiss the nobles’ words in the lounge, but Philia also defended herself at every party. This was embarrassing news for Sylvia, who knew that Philia liked Randall.
"...Do she have any feelings for me?"
"Lady Seicrine, Madam?"
"Would she please stop looking at me like I'm talking nonsense, Countess?"
Sylvia thought about that too, but Philia, whom she met today, looked as if she was in a bad mood as usual. However, the reason was unclear.
‘Why isn’t there any Randall today...’
Sylvia tilted her head in puzzlement, then realized that Philia’s gaze was strangely avoiding her. When she turned her eyes, what was at the end of Philia’s gaze was...
'...Jeffrey?'
Jeffrey Cedars. He was her escort. Jeffrey was cleverly avoiding Philia's gaze and pretending not to know.
As Sylvia watched him, a thought flashed through her mind.
'No way.'
...Are you trying to play both sides? Are you trying to have both the ruler of the North and the rising star at the same time?
‘No matter how young you are, this is a bit...’
Sylvia now looked at Philia with somewhat pitiful eyes. As someone who had lived for a very long time, Sylvia felt the need to at least advise her that two-timing was a very bad thing, even if the other person was a rival. Sylvia also thanked her for stopping the rumors at the party, and she began to speak.
“Lady Seicrine. If it’s okay, would you like to have a private tea? I have something to tell you.”
'No way.'
...Are you trying to play both sides? Are you trying to have both the ruler of the North and the rising star at the same time?
‘No matter how young you are, this is a bit...’
Sylvia now looked at Philia with somewhat pitiful eyes. As someone who had lived for a very long time, Sylvia felt the need to at least advise her that two-timing was a very bad thing, even if the other person was a rival. Sylvia also thanked her for stopping the rumors at the party, and she began to speak.
“Lady Seicrine. If it’s okay, would you like to have a private tea? I have something to tell you.”
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