Lionel guessed that it was the same as when the incident in the north. He suspected Niken was currently time-traveling to the past, so they could not trace nor track her whereabouts.
It's just that, since the incident Niken was injured in the past, Lionel could not stop worrying about the girl.
What if this time Niken was severely injured and couldn't return safely? What if this time Niken died in the past without no one know?
Lionel was anxious about Niken, but Kazuto's current condition was much more worrying.
For the past few days, Kazuto was screaming in pain until he almost lost control and turned into a beast. Could not see his inamorata's face for a long time took a toll on him. Luckily Hokuto and Izzy were there to help to calm Kazuto.
For an Elementalist knight who had met his inamorata, he would be stuck with uncomfortable feelings and pain in his chest if he didn't see his inamorata's face for up to a month.
However, it had only been two weeks, but Kazuto was already feeling the pain as if his inamorata was in danger.
Could it be something happen to Niken?
If Niken died, it was the same as giving the death penalty to Kazuto. The black knight only had two choices to face the death of his inamorata. Either he would become an evil knight like the white knight, or he would become a zombie waiting for his death.
Lionel entered Kazuto's room, where Izzy tried to manipulate Kazuto's mind to make the black knight fall asleep.
Even though it seemed that Kazuto's pair of eyes were closed, they all knew that Kazuto wasn't sleeping at all. Right now, his movements were restrained, and Kazuto couldn't control his body because Izzy was forcing his muscles to freeze and restricting his movements.
"Will he be all right?"
"For now. But, he won't last long if Niken doesn't come back soon. "
"This is so weird." opined Hokuto. "The energy flow in his body is unstable."
"You feel it too?" Izzy did not think that Hokuto also felt something strange about the flow of energy in Kazuto's body. "I thought it's only my imagination."
"Lionel, do you know what this means?"
"…" Lionel didn't immediately give an answer, but his expression became tense and dark. "Either Niken is in danger, or someone is trying to get rid of the black knight's mark."
Izzy gasped in shock when she heard this. "We can't let that happen. If the mark of the inamorata is forcibly removed, Kazuto will lose half of his strength."
"Not only that, his lifespan will decrease every time he uses his sword."
"We have to find Niken."
It's just, what power does he have? If Niken was currently in a different era, how will they find Niken this year?
The truth was, Niken was not in a different year than them. Niken was lying in a crystal coffin and was forced to sleep. To be precise, she was dreaming while someone was trying to brainwash her.
Not only brainwashing, but this person was also trying to erase the black knight's inamorata mark on Niken's neck.
It's just that this person was underestimating Niken's will power.
The more this person tried to remove the inamorata mark on her neck forcefully, the more restless Niken became.
In the world of illusions, Xiao Yue had become more reserved and less cheerful than usual. Even when she was going out with the crown prince Yang Shuo, Xiao Yue only answered modestly and had no intention of opening up any new subject for conversation.
Xiao Yue seemed to be daydreaming more, and sometimes, the people around her would feel, the young princess they saw was not their usual beloved princess.
One day, Xiao Yang decided to take his younger sister on a picnic by the lake. After telling the servants to prepare picnic utensils and food supplies, Xiao Yang walked towards his sister's chamber.
"Yue'er, you don't have any ethics lesson schedule from a royal mentor. Shall we go on a picnic?"
"Now?"
"Isn't today the perfect day for a picnic?"
"Okay." Without thinking twice, Xiao Yue accepted her brother's invitation and together set off for their destination.
As Xiao Yang said, today was an unexceptional bright day. The wind was not too strong, and many birds chirped to greet them.
Arriving at the shore of the lake, the maid helped them spread out a cloth mat so that the two could sit on it. Today they dressed casually, and the king was not wearing his crown because he wanted to enjoy the day with his dear sister as a commoner.
Well, they couldn't be commoners, as there were still a few soldiers ready to protect them for twenty-four hours.
"Yue'er, mother and father are really worried about you."
"Why?"
"You've been quiet lately. Did something happen to Yang Shuo? Are you fighting?"
Xiao Yue laughed at her brother's casually accusing his own best friend. She did not know why Xiao Yang always charges Yang Shuo whenever there was something wrong with her.
"Big brother, Crown Prince Yang Shuo, has been very good to me. And again, he is your friend. Why are you just accusing him like he's your sworn enemy?"
"People who hurt my sister will always be my enemy."
Xiao Yue laughed cheerfully at her brother's absurd confession. If Xiao Yang claimed anyone as his enemy because of hurting his sister, what about an older brother who always upsets her?
It would be funny if the King of Nishian claimed himself as his enemy. Xiao Yue giggled, thinking this.
"Yue'er, I have something to discuss with you today." suddenly, her brother's voice became more serious than usual.
"Okay. I'm listening."
"To be honest, the king from the floating island has come to ask your hand to marry the crown prince. I have not accepted nor rejected it. I want to hear your opinion first. What do you think about Yang Shuo? Do you like him?"
"..."