“Once the experiment is over and you’re left alone, take this pill.”
“…What are these?”
“The red pill is for when you’re exhausted, and your mana is completely depleted while the purple one is for when your mana is out of control. It will alleviate thirst or pain. I’ll come by as often as I can to give them to you, since it’ll be difficult to hide them if I give you several at once.”
“…….”
Clyde hesitated as he received the pills and asked,
“Who are you? Why are you helping me?”
“Sorry, I can’t tell you that.”
“…….”
‘Well, I’m actually the daughter of the man who captured you, and you’ll seek revenge later and kill me. I can’t say that.’
“What about your name? Is that a secret too?”
I hesitated for a moment.
Then I saw my reflection in his red, clear, jewel-like eyes.
“Ruby.”
I said the name that came to me on impulse.
“My name is Ruby.”
***
Leaving my father’s laboratory, I took the path that led to the underground prison in the Imperial palace. This is where Hena, Clyde’s mother, was imprisoned.
I cast an invisibility spell, making myself invisible to anyone.
In addition, I had carefully researched the patrol routes and shifts of the guards beforehand, so I was able to sneak in unnoticed.
Of course, the security of the imperial palace was not so lax that it could be easily penetrated. The invisible spell is was useless.
The area around the palace and prisons was especially densely populated with crystals that detected and blocked magic.
The only reason I could use magic within the barrier without being detected was because I was wearing my father’s bracelet.
A few people, including my father, the chief court mage, were authorized to use magic within the imperial castle.
It was this special imperial tool that made it possible. I secretly stole it from my father’s workshop.
I sneaked into the underground prison and found the cell where Hena was being held.
It was early in the morning, but she wasn’t sleeping. She sat there absentmindedly with a vacant expression on her face
I unlocked the cell door with the key I’d stolen from the jailer’s office. Hena looked around, startled by the creaking sound.
I walked over and clamped my hand over her mouth.
Hena’s eyes widened. Although she couldn’t see anything, she could feel my touch, so it was natural for her to be surprised.
“Don’t scream.”
I whispered softly into her ear.
“I came to rescue you, madam. I’m going to get you out of here, so don’t make any noise and stay still. Do you understand?”
“…….”
Hena blinked in fear, then slowly nodded her head.
“I’m going to put a spell on you that will make you invisible to everyone else, and when I tell you to go, you’re going to follow me slowly wherever I lead, and you’re never going to let go of my hand, do you understand?”
Hena nodded again.
“Okay.”
I gathered the blanket to make it look like Hena was still sleeping, then I held her hand and cast the invisibility spell. As long as she was in direct contact with me, we could share the bracelet’s magic-blocking and nullifying effect.
“Now, let’s go. Slowly and quietly and be careful not to make footsteps sound.”
Together we made our way out of the underground prison.
Once we were far enough away from the palace, I released the invisibility spell in a deserted area. Then I climbed into the carriage that had been waiting for us.
“Where are we going?”
Henna asked in an anxious voice.
She still couldn’t see my face because I had my hood pulled down so low.
“You’re going to Luana Harbor, and when we get there, you can catch a boat to Gosanjer.”
Luana Harbor was the closest port, an overnight trip from here.
I handed Hena a pouch, a letter, and a brooch.
“This brooch nullifies tracking magic. Keep it with you at all times. The pouch contains money for traveling expenses. The letter is for you to open when you reach Gosanjer, and it will tell you what to do from then on.”
The letter details how to cross the southern border of the Empire via land in Gosanjer.
Once Hena got out of the country safely, I plan to let Clyde follow her later.
“…….”
Hena fiddled with the package with a confused look on her face, then spoke with difficulty.
“Look, you saved my life, and you might think it’s insensitive of me to say this, but…, I’m a person with nothing. I don’t know who you are or why you saved me, but there’s no way I can repay the favor….”
“I don’t need anything in return. As long as you and your son are safe and well, that’s enough.”
Hena’s eyes widened at my words.
“What did you just say, Clyde…, is he alive?”
“Yes, he’s fine. He’s still trapped somewhere but he’s unhurt and fine.”
“Oh… Thank God…”
Hena covered her face and burst into tears.
“It may take some time to rescue him, but we will reunite soon. Please have faith and be safe.”
Hena gripped my hand tightly with her tear-stained hands.
“Thank you. Thank you so much… I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”
Her desperate voice touched my heart.
I thought of my two mothers, whom I will never meet again. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
“…I told you, as long as you two are okay, it’s enough.”
Hena nodded and thanked me several times after that.
After a while, I pulled the carriage to a stop and got out alone.
Hena hesitated, then asked.
“May I at least know the name of my benefactor?”
“Ask your son.”
Before closing the door, Hena bowed deeply to me once more. With that last look, I gave the signal for the carriage to depart.
***
The next day, Hena’s disappearance caused an uproar in the Imperial palace.
Speculations ran wild.
There was no way she could have escaped the city’s tight security on her own. There must be a traitor within the palace walls aiding the demons.
That’s unlikely. The woman must be a witch. Perhaps she became a demon herself after mixing her body with a demon.
While opinions were divided, the good news amidst all the speculation was that no one had a clue where Hena had gone. Of course, so was my presence behind it.
I’d spent years meticulously planning for this day, validating it over and over again.
“Anyway, things have gotten out of hand. They made a big deal about executing a woman who committed adultery with a demon, so this will surely damage the reputation of the royal family. I’m sure some of the people in charge will be fired.”
Nita said, shaking his head.
“That’s a big deal. Is my second older brother okay?”
(T/N: She called her “작은 오라버니는” which means second older brother..)
“Me? Of course, I’m fine. I’m not in charge of the prison guards.”
Nita, my second older brother, was a knight in the Imperial Guard.
He was an anomaly, rarely produced in the prestigious Rohasis Duchy, known for generations as a lineage of powerful wizards.
Unlike the rest of our family, whose personalities were cold-hearted at best and sly at worst, Nita was naturally cheerful and trusting.
Even now, I have only slightly hinted at provoking a discussion, but it seems like he was revealing internal matters that are close to being classified.
Of course, I didn’t feel guilty about taking advantage of such a nice brother.
Because in the end, it was all for Nita’s own good.
“If we fail to rescue Clyde, not only our family but the entire Empire will be doomed…”
I smiled, hiding my true feelings.
“I see. Well, that’s a relief. For me, the safety of my second oldest brother is much more important than hearing scary stories.”
Nita’s handsome face crumpled into a silly grin at my words.
The family’s unique sparkling platinum blonde hair shining like the sky, and a bright smile that not everyone can get.
It was for this reason that Nita was nicknamed the ‘Sunshine Knight’ by the maids in the palace.
“Of course. If anything happens to me, who’s going to protect you?”
Nita said with a proud look.
