CH 166

“I’m glad you follow me without resisting. I’ve even prepared to see blood, depending on the situation though.”

The moment I met her eyes I realized she had been hiding here while putting everything on line.

The situation would likely get worse if I screamed.

The blade of the dagger in my neck stung.

It seemed like I was scratched a bit.

“If you’re looking for the ledger, it’s not here.”

“I suppose.”

She looked like she wasn’t interested in what I said.

“Regardless of whether I get the ledger or not, it’s hard to take care of the problem as the investigation has been started. You brought that up because you know it, right?”

“It wasn’t me who made the case get so big that it couldn’t be taken care of.”

It was you.

In the first place, if she didn’t rush in as if putting an end to the Rocke Merchant Guild, she wouldn’t be hit by the headwind.

I just returned the favor.

“My incapacitated brother only lays on the bed and acts wickedly, and my mother does nothing except for shedding tears. Those who usually butter up to my father cut off all their ties. Everyone easily changes their attitude according to the situation.”

There was self-mocking in her tone.

As there was nothing in particular that Mago could do in that situation.

“My father was driven to the corner that he even said he will hand over me, who is praised as a genius in the Magic Department, to an old man with a lot of money.”

“. . .”

I suddenly remembered Rany.

The very girl, who was almost ‘sold-like’ betrothed by her father three years ago, just like Mago.

“This will solve nothing.”

“I know.”

She replied calmly.

Through the half-opened window came the voices of the people in the garden.

She remained calm throughout in a relaxed voice.

“I’ve thought about it.”

“. . .”

“About where all of this started.”

Her head tilted lightly.

Unlike the eyes that were folded into a half-moon and smiled broadly, the corners of her mouth did not move.

“If my brother didn’t foolishly pick a fight with Young Lady Miller in the broad daylight. And if he didn’t lose his hand to Young Duke Bolton. After thinking like that, I realized it.”

There was a slight strain in her voice.

“If the woman, who wasn’t the young lady of the Duchy from the start, didn’t have a mother with a good ability which led her to change her status and live well, then my brother wouldn’t pick a fight . . .”

I didn’t even bother to refute her unreasonable words.

My words wouldn’t reach her, after all. Why waste my breath?

“It is very unfair to me if this ends like this. I think at least someone has to be miserable as much as me.”

“And that is me?”

The cold voice continued.

“I heard that you even got the lady of the parade for your contribution in this case.”

That parade again.

As I was reminded of the torturous situation, sitting in the golden chair and dealing with gazes from all sorts of people, I was even more speechless.

“It’s fair that the person who benefited the most loses.”

Smiling widely, she gripped the dagger stronger.

She giggled at the same time I felt the stinging pain.

“I have to express my gratitude to the Crown Prince. No matter how great ‘they’ are, if this mansion was not distracted by the visit of the Crown Prince, I would . . .”

They?

While I was thinking over her words, I suddenly got a question: how could she, who was no more than an undergraduate mage, enter this mansion?

However, both my curiosity and her voice couldn’t continue on.

Because bits of mana with green light filled up the room.

As they gradually took shape as a person, I heard Mago’s voice before I could even turn my head to confirm who it was.

A voice that was very excited and its excitement couldn’t be hidden.

“Professor!”

Along with a sweet smell, a familiar face entered my sight.

“. . .”

Zen with an apathetic expression extended his hand and pulled Mago’s hand, which was holding the dagger,

She, who got farther from me, paid no more attention to me.

Clinging to his arm, she looked like she firmly believed Zen, who was in front of her eyes, was on her side.

The chattering voice got higher.

“Professor, after thinking about it, this one ease my anger better. Although there is nothing solved even if I harmed the Crown Prince. If I think about that lowly girl sitting in the chair and boasting . . .”

I have no plans to sit in that chair, you see.

I answered inwardly then looked up at Zen.

The gaze of the guy who was holding Mago’s wrist landed on my neck.

The bleeding had obviously stopped, but the mark surely remained.

The gaze looking at me slowly moved to Mago.

Looking at the slowly turning head, I shouted.

“Young Lady, run away now.”

He was out of his mind, now.

“Professor, are you coming here to save me because I’m in danger?”

My head spinned when I saw Mago’s face blushed lightly.

“Mago, you’d better leave through the window right now.”

Jumping from the second floor would be better than being caught by Zen’s hand.

The threatening gaze glared at Mago Philip.

“It, it hurts, Professor . . .”

Her crumpled expression was filled with questions.

The dagger in her hand fell with a loud sound.

The trembling hand turned pale white.

“It’s not like you promised.”

The first words that came out of the closed lips were like a riddle.

“It’s not here. The place you have to come to.”

“I-I think this one is better . . . Because their security is tighter than I thought.”

“You shouldn’t have acted as you please.”

Her hand began to bend.

She, who finally understood the situation, looked at me with her mouth gaping open.

You should have listened to me when I told you to run away.

How could she think he was an ‘ally’ when she saw that face?

The moment I was taking a step closer to Zen, I realized his mouth had already moved.

No.

Before Zen could complete the spell, I shouted first.

“There’s an intruder here!”

Zen turned his head to me when he heard the loud voice.

Mago Philip had already lost her soul.

The red mark stamped on her wrist could be seen clearly even in the dark places.

I heard the sound of people who heard my voice run through the hallway.

When I stared intently at Zen, he sighed and slowly let go of Mago.

He, who finally moved his body with an irritated expression, slowly stepped on Mago’s hand.

Leaving Mago, who let out a soundless groan at the pain, he escaped through the window.