CH 33

“Have you ever been threatened by him?”

Lia asked her as soon as they set out of the gate.

Even this summer, she was cold. It was clear that she was mad about something.

“Why is my dear staying at that house?”

“Because I have work.”

Psychke didn’t feel the need to explain in detail to someone she wasn’t even close to. She had only seen Lia once. Besides, she didn’t understand why she was being so friendly.

When Psychke showed no sign of answering, Lia deeply exhaled.

“My dear, why does it has to be in Lestir… he’s hopeless. He must have a plan based on his cunning personality.”

– Kaaacck!

The crow sitting on Psychke’s shoulder roared dissatisfied at how Lia sees her master.

It wasn’t the crow that talked (?) to Verndia last night. That one had yellow eyes and this one has crimson eyes.

They looked alike so they must be twins.

‘Did he say this crow’s name is Croa?’

That was the name that was given by Verndia. Usually, these names were given to an escort Knight, so Psychke thought of it as a joke.

This crow unfortunately became a knight.

Psychke could say that this pitiful crow is used for surveillance.

“Aiyu, I am afraid I am not already a kid! Look, my voice is too big for a child’s.”

–  Kaaack! Kaaack! Kaack! 

“Hey, bird head. If you’re here to escort, shut your mouth and only escort.”

– Kaaack!

Psychke guesses that these two were talking but she doesn’t know how.

‘Noisy.’

She got a headache due to extreme noise near her ears. Psychke let out a painful groan.

“You’re not being threatened there in the Duke’s residence, right?”

“Yes, I’ll leave as soon as I found another place to stay.”

“Then will you come to my house?”

“Thanks for the suggestion, but that’s fine.”

Having Verndia wasn’t at all comfortable, but she needs to save face for the sake of Lestir, and she’d be better off staying in Lestir to end her breakup quickly. Lia frowned at her resolute refusal.

“Lestir is really a no-no though.”

“Where are we going?”

Psychke knew it too. That Verndia is someone impossible to ask her to stay in his residence with pure heart.

She shifted the topic as she didn’t want to continue conversing about the current one.

Lia explained to her while making a groaning, painful sound.

“I’m going to the bombed alleyway. I’m trying to find out who used the forbidden magic.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes. Every magic has its own unique wavelength.”

However, the waves usually disappear within half a day. In the case of today, Lia grumbled, saying that some might have remained there even after a lot of time had passed.

“By the way-“

Lia extended her ponytail and tilted her head slightly at her. She looked into Psychke’s eyes and asked.

“Why don’t you ask?”

“About what?”

“Why am I so interested in forbidden magic?”

Psychke slightly stuttered.

“I just thought it would be rude.”

Those who explored forbidden magic, who are also so-called worshipers of forbidden magic, were dangerous in a sense.

And Psychke didn’t want to associate with them. So, she pretended not to see nor hear them at all.

“What? No, no, no. If you ask me, I will definitely answer you. It’s simply suspicious. Don’t you agree?”

Lia softly laughed.

Psychke had no choice but to ask, as Lia’s tenacious and serious gaze seemed to have coerced her.

“Why do you know so well?”

“I studied.”

“That’s right.”

As expected.

She indeed said that she would answer but she never told that it would be in detail.

“Don’t make that face. Well, first of all, I’m not one of those so-called worshipers. I may not look like that, but I am not a kid anymore.”

“….”

“If you look at me like that, it hurts me. Think about it. Why would a person like me worship something like that?”

“…”

That makes sense. 

One saw the end of the freezing magic, the other the tip of the sword.

There was no reason to reach out to other fields just to gain new strength.

“And I am not really interested. That man is more interested than me.”

“The duke?”

Again, this was surprising. A person who is not a wizard is so interested in forbidden magic?

‘So what Aiden said was true.’

“Yes. I am also asking him to know what happened. So, there’s no need for you to report it to the Magic Association. Alright?”

It turned out that Lia is scared of being reported to the Magic Association.

There must be something wrong with being a great wizard.

As she looked into her eyes, Psychke laughed involuntarily.

“Yes, I won’t.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just because.”

Croa on her shoulder also clapped her beak and smirked.

Lia glared at the crow with a dreadful look.

“Oh, right, the auction house. I couldn’t get the necklace. And the Duke got the fake—”

“Ah, I know. This baby has been informed. I guess you haven’t heard, right?”

Psychke wondered when Lia went there to get information, but she felt that it was a relief.

She’ll just ask her about it once they get back.

As they continued their conversation, they ended up in the alleyway.

The unrecognizable ashes have long been cleaned up by someone.

A few onlookers who received the news late were looking at the charred fragments of the wall.

“Wow, geez, really. I heard it, but I can’t get the words out. If you want to catch it, you have to hold it finely. Why do you break the wall?”

“Wow, look, really. I’ve heard of what he did, but I am still speechless. If he wants to save you, why does he have to break the alley?”

The grumpy Lia stepped forward, grimacing the back of her nose and sniffling.

“There seems to be a little left. I don’t know for sure.”

To check, Lia put her hand on the shards on the floor and closed her eyes. She asked Psychke a favor before concentrating.

“If anything happens, shake me, and let me know. When I am focused, I am not aware of my surroundings.”

“Alright.”

Psychke agreed. Then, she turned her head to the gaze of the onlookers she felt from a distance.

“Oh, look over there.”

“Wizard ….”

“Princess…”

There were murmuring voices. Since they were far from her, she couldn’t hear what they were talking about in detail.

In the meantime, a whispered sentence reached her ear.

“Duke Lestir did that? Why did he do that near the Silkisia?”

She understands now.

Psychke immediately understood.

It wasn’t only for a day or two that Silkisia and Lestir had a bad relationship.

And for some reason, Verndia blew up an alley near Silkisia in the middle of the night.

It was the perfect condition to ignite more rumors.

‘Butler, you should really take a vacation.’

She was in the midst of mourning for Islet’s murderous work, guessing from the rumors that were circulating.

‘Those people, do they know that I am out of the house?’

She suddenly wondered.

Her brothers and her father, who obviously value the reputation of the family, would have not been the ones to spread the rumors.

Lillian and Lenox were different. Lilian has already told Hilvia a fake rumor.

Hilvia, who pursues dramatic things, will keep herself low-key and explode like a bomb on the Second Prince’s banquet day.

And Lenox,

“How are you?”

She thinks he has no brain in his head—

“Why are you here?”

Whatever happens, he still came here.

Lenox put his hands into his pockets and approached her.

Behind him were two soldiers who were very nervous when they saw Psychke.

“You go out on your own and come back. Are you waiting for me?”

Lenox was one of those who did not believe the rumors which said that Psychke had beaten Aiden.

He thinks that two soldiers are enough to defeat a weak sister, like Psychke.

He thought so. Which is why he couldn’t understand why his father was troubled.

“Why, after having a fight with the duke, you regained your senses?”

Psychke noticed that he misunderstood.

He seemed to think that the bombing last night started because of her.

‘Does he think I had a fight with the Duke?’

She then wondered what kind of intense fight would it be to even blow up the alleyways.

Unfortunately, if it was the crazy dog of the north, Verndia, he would be enough.

“You’re crazy, but the Duke’s crazy too. How were your eyes? I can’t believe he’s taking care of you. Well, it looks like you’re back to normal now.”

– Kkaack

The angry crow wept loudly at the reproach of its master. It flapped its wings menacingly as if it was about to run away.

But Lenox didn’t even pay attention.

“But what to do? There is no place for you in Silkisia anymore.”

Lenox, who touched his nose, slyly smiled, and touched her cheek.

Psychke slapped his hand with contempt.

“I do not need it.”

“You’re sitting pretty while lying, ha. Then why are you here?”

Lenox glanced at Psychke from top to bottom as if he was mocking her.

“I am a generous person. So I’ll let this slide for once.”

(TN: Bruh?)

“No need.”

“What-?”

Lenox, startled, widened his eyes. He stared at Psychke’s cold face, then raised the corners of his mouth.

“…. Haa. Things have been quiet because of you.”

Lenox raised his hand. As always, they use violence to deal with things.

Lenox couldn’t even fight against Verndia. Seeing that someone who looked weaker than her could easily raise his hand made her laugh.

‘Should I avoid it?’

It was an incredibly slow move.

He was so slow that she could easily avoid it by tilting her neck.

However, there were a lot of onlookers around them watching them.

My father must have told him to bring her quietly without attracting attention. Because there’s nothing good about being caught in a domestic dispute.

Psychke made up her mind.

As she confidently looked at Lenox, she murmured to the crow.

“Stay still.”

Lenox was stunned by his sister’s intense gaze. But he clenched his teeth to ignore it.

Pak!

A sharp palm slapped her cheek. Her head turned to one side. She felt a scratch on her cheek.

“Ugh!”

“Did you just see it?”

“Oh my gosh!”

The sound of onlookers gasping for breath seemed to be heard all the way up to here.

Not bad.

“Well done.”

“What are you talking about, you crazy—”

She straightened her head and slapped Lenox on the cheek.

(TN: You just met the underworld, Lenox. Welcome~)