“Oh, demon….”
The old black magician was bowed on the floor.
Before Yermondi, there was a massive darkness of an unidentifiable shape. In the midst of it, only two gleaming eyes could be recognized.
“Are you the most powerful demon?
[Demon?]
The demon laughed, much like Yermondi.
[Didn’t you just call my existence with your own mouth?]
Yermondi furrowed her brow and said,
“Your existence is irrelevant. Can you make me the strongest black magician?”
[Of course. Do you desire me?]
“I do.”
[Then so be it.]
Yermondi furrowed her brow again.
“That easily?”
[I do not refuse those who desire me.]
It laughed with Yermondi’s voice. Yermondi felt disgusted by the vulgar laughter.
“Don’t laugh like that using my voice.”
[Thus, humans repeat history once more.]
“What do you mean?”
Yermondi asked, but it began to inflate its body. Yermondi involuntarily took a step back, retreating one step from the center of the magic circle.
[Do not fear. You are my fertilizer.]
It extended its massive, black hand and enveloped Yermondi.
[Your power will be the greatest.]
And when that darkness completely enveloped Yermondi.
[I will take everything from you.]
That whisper was the last thing that was heard.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Carlothian looked at me with a stunned expression, as if he couldn’t believe I had not only stayed out overnight but had also brought along a whole entourage.
Next to me were the maid Stelle, her mother, and her younger sister.
Sir Tarn, the knight of Princess Dorothea, nodded to Carlothian before driving away with the carriage. I chuckled and wiggled my fingers.
“So, here’s what happened…”
As I tried to explain subtly, Carlothian raised his hand.
“First of all, I remember that that woman was involved in the poisoning incident back then.”
“Our duke is indeed smart.”
“Don’t tease me.”
“I’m not teasing.”
I approached Carlothian to whisper in his ear, and he naturally leaned in.
“That maid confessed to me that it was Princess Yermondi who ordered her to do it.”
Carlothian’s eyebrows shot up. I giggled and stepped back, saying,
“Maybe I can even clear up the fact that I didn’t curse Princess Dorothea.”
To be honest, expecting that revealing this incident would also uncover the curse incident involving Dorothea was quite a stretch. Still, having something in my hands definitely gave me a bit of confidence.
Before, I had felt like there was nothing I could do, but now I felt like I might be able to accomplish something.
“Anyway, I thought it would be best to protect Stelle and her family here, so I brought them along.”
Carlothian nodded.
“I understand that. And…”
Carlothian lifted me up suddenly.
“Eek! What is happening?!”
He held me in his arms and commanded the servants.
“Show them to their rooms. I’ll be back shortly.”
What’s going on? Why are you taking me away?
I wanted to ask, but I had to keep my mouth shut for a moment as Carlothian strode up the stairs toward a room.
Is this… what I think it is?
In an instant, I was dropped onto the bed, looking at him with cold, wide eyes.
“Is this why you brought me here?”
“…”
Then Carlothian almost playfully rubbed his nose against my chest. The ticklish sensation made me shrink my shoulders, and I gently stroked his hair.
“They say late-learned thievery is frightening…”
Just like this, abandoning everything in broad daylight. I clicked my tongue and tugged at his hair a bit. Ah, a sound escaped his lips.
“Take it easy. You’ll really end up not getting married.”
At those words, Carlothian flinched. Then he began to glare at me with a terrifying look again. No, what’s with this? Again!
“You…”
“Uh, yes?”
“You’ve been saying strange things since last time.”
His hand slowly lifted my dress and began to creep inside. I gasped, feeling the tickling sensation on the inside of my thigh, and I instinctively closed my legs.
But Carlothian forced his hand into the narrowing space and began to tease a certain part, saying to me,
“Why do you think I would marry another woman?”
“Ah, no…! Eek!”
As my body jolted, Carlothian pressed his fingers deeper, rubbing them while whispering against my ear.
“Let’s see how long that sound comes from your mouth.”
Carlothian gritted his teeth and growled. W-What did I do wrong?
Ugh, my whole body creaks. After washing up, I collapsed onto the neatly made bed by the servants. Carlothian sat next to me, drying his hair with a cloth.
“Why did you even stay out?”
“I didn’t go anywhere strange! It was the palace!”
But my words didn’t reach Carlothian at all. I huffed and kicked him in the side. Of course, I was the one who almost fell off the bed.
He quickly grabbed my side, clicked his tongue, and pushed me down in the middle of the bed.
“You must be tired, so sleep a bit.”
“You always tell me to sleep when you see me.”
“You need to rest to have some energy at night.”
“You beast.”
At my words, Carlothian squinted one eye in a peculiar way and then pinched my nose.
“Ah!”
As I covered my nose and turned away, I caught a glimpse of him smiling. I stared at his face and mumbled,
“Do you think it’s okay just because you’re smiling?”
“Well…”
“Do you think it’s okay just because you’re handsome?”
“…”
“Do you think it’s okay just because you’re pretty?”
“…”
Carlothian looked down at me with a bewildered expression, then kissed my forehead and said,
“What will you do about the maid Stelle?”
“For now, I plan to take her with me.”
“As a personal maid?”
“Yes.”
At that, Carlothian frowned.
“Are you planning to use her as bait?”
“Well, if you put it that way, I suppose so. But if we just sit still, nothing will happen, so isn’t it better to take some action?”
“That’s true, but…”
Carlothian seemed to think for a moment, then spoke as if he wasn’t entirely pleased.
“I’ll have to assign a knight to protect you.”
“A knight?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Is there really a knight in the Danaves Order who’s that free?”
Honestly, having a knight assigned to guard a criminal seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? But Carlothian just scoffed and patted my head.
“There will be plenty of those who are willing anyway, especially after what happened last time.”
“Ah.”
I recalled the people who had praised me back then, frothing at the mouth. Ugh… that’s a bit unpleasant.
Seeing my distressed expression, Carlothian looked concerned. Well, considering the curse incident, it made sense that he couldn’t be with me all the time, so having a guard was appropriate.
“Um, please assign someone who’s not too… enthusiastic.”
“I will.”
Carlothian nodded and, as if telling me to rest, left the room alone. I sank into the bed and closed my eyes for a moment.
‘I am a bit tired…’
I started to doze off. I must have slept for a little while.
Knock, knock, knock—
“Miss Ariadeline.”
Someone knocked on the door. I shook off my drowsiness, grabbed the sheet, and sat up. It was one of my maids.
“Uh, come in.”
The maid entered the room holding a dress, as if she had just come from the dressing room. Look at that sly smile. I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“The Duke has selected your guards and asked you to come see them for a moment.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, I’ll help you get dressed, so please hurry and go meet them.”
“Ah, thank you.”
With the maid’s help, I put on the dress and left the room. I headed straight to Carlothian’s office, but encountered someone on the way.
“Ah! Sir Maicher!”
It was indeed Sir Maicher.
“Hello, Miss Ariadeline.”
I was happy to see a familiar face after such a long time, but behind him was an unfamiliar one.
“Um, who is that?”
“Oh, he’s one of the guards selected to protect you this time. Say hello.”
“Hello, Miss Ariadeline! I’m Deron Index! You look beautiful today!”
That’s strange; I asked for someone quiet.
As I looked at him with a reluctant smile, Maicher spoke.
“There are two escort knights, me and this guy.”
Ah, Sir Maicher is indeed quiet.
“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. Are you on your way to Carlothian’s office now?”
“Yes. He personally chose me to be Miss Ariadeline’s guard.”
“Oh, how long have you been with the Order, Sir Index?”
“Ah, it’s been fifteen years.”
“Fifteen years?”
The three of us chatted as we headed to the office. When the three of us entered the office, Carlothian raised his eyebrows, wondering why we were together.
“We ran into each other on the way.”
“Did you introduce yourselves?”
“Ah, yes.”
“From today, the two of them will be guarding you.”
“Um, it’s not a shift system?”
Carlothian answered as if stating the obvious.
“I’ll be here at night.”
“Ah.”
I’m sorry, but aren’t you the one who poses the greatest threat to me? As I smiled subtly, he seemed to read my thoughts and cleared his throat.
“Anyway, you’ll be accompanied by them starting today.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve also assigned Stelle as your maid, and I’ve prepared a separate room for her family in the annex, so just so you know.”
“Got it.”
“Well then, come here.”
At that, I tilted my head in confusion.
“You’re not telling me to go outside, are you?”
“I said come here.”
