CH 74

“Erin Spilet, you will write your will now, handing over the magic stone mine to your husband, Rupert, as soon as you return. And kill yourself on the spot.”

I had already heard the same words over and over again, but nothing happened to me.

I soon noticed that the smell they gave off was the burnt scent I smelled in the Duke’s Castle.

‘Black magic.’

These were black magicians. As I heard earlier, they seemed to be casting brainwashing magic on me.

Assuming they’re definitely black wizards, it probably didn’t work because I had a special ability to purify.

What would they do with me if I didn’t get brainwashed? The so-called King casting a spell on me muttered in annoyance, “What the, why aren’t you responding?”

“Didn’t I tell you, milord? Just kill her. That way we can get the magic stone cave.”

I was startled by the woman’s words and almost hiccuped. Kill me?

“If we kill her now, things will get more complicated. Now that she’s in the palace, if the Crown Prince finds out she’s gone, he’ll look for her soon.”

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“But I’m afraid that the King’s energy will be wasted for nothing…”

Jjaak–.

Suddenly, a shrill sound echoed through the warehouse. The King slapped the woman hard on the cheek.

“What the h*ll are you talking about?”

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

The warehouse was already tense before, but now the atmosphere was arctic.

Anyway, based on their exchange, I could really die. I had to think. How could I get out of here?

“Try one last time. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to find another way.”

Again, a hand went up over my head. An eerie sensation pierced through me, forming a light headache. And then he ordered me to commit suicide after writing a will to hand over the magic stone mine. There was nothing I could do but play along with it.

“…Yes.” I opened my eyes and answered weakly. Was this right?

“Oh, it seems to have worked.”

I guess it worked. The person who was chanting exclaimed with joy. 

Then the man called King lowered his hand and sighed. “Okay, good. It was a bit tricky, but I’m glad I succeeded.”

“As expected, you are amazing.”

“As expected of a descendant of Samael, the king of demons!”

Samael? As I tried to recall the name, I looked around a little more while maintaining my dazed look as much as possible.

The King bowed his head and looked straight at me. He said, “Tell me what I made you do.”

It was a familiar voice. Green eyes slowly appeared in the darkness but disappeared again.

“…Magic stone mine… Hand over to Rupert… Kill myself…”

I tried my best to act as if I wasn’t myself. I was terrified that I couldn’t fool them, but the King smiled and straightened.

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“Alright.”

Really? That’s all they’re going to do to confirm it? Were these people this clumsy? 

“The brainwashing seems to have been successful, but we’ll see if it holds up. I’d rather keep her a little longer.”

“Right.”

One of them walked out the door, and the rest followed. Would no one keep watch inside?

Well, it was a relief I didn’t have to act anymore.

“Whew…”

My blindfold was lifted, and I could see, but I still couldn’t see Lia, who had been lying on one side. 

“Li…a?”

Tuk–.

Then suddenly, the rope that bound my wrists broke, and my hands were freed. When I turned around, Lia stood there with a dagger in her hand.

“Lia!”

“Shh, Madam. We have to get out of here.”

“Yes, but I think they’ll return soon and set me free. Wouldn’t it be better to stay still?”

Leah dragged her chair under the small window and lowered her voice, “You’re doing fine now, but they might tell you to bring some medication and swallow it soon to be safe. It makes the body die slowly, and it’s used in conjunction with the brainwashing magic.”

“Uh… Lia, how do you know that?”

“… I will tell you later.”

Lia climbed up on the chair, opened the window, looked at me, and motioned for me to go up.

“It’s not very high, I’ll catch you from below, so go out there.”

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I was flustered to see a very different Lia from the one I knew, but I decided to listen to her and get out of here for now.

The window was on the small side, but it was big enough for a woman to barely get out. I got up on the chair, grabbed the window sill, and pushed myself out.

“L-Lia…! Is the sea down there?”

We seemed to be in a building at the end of the coastline.

“Yes! Jump!”

Leah grabbed my feet as they floated in the air and pushed me up.

“Lia, how about you!”

“I can go out alone!”

When I was fully on the window sill, I took a deep breath and looked around. Then I saw a man riding a horse over the hill.

I immediately knew who he was.

“…Rupert?”

The moment I saw him, the scene I had seen and heard a while ago made sense. The female voice I heard must have been Chloe.

And at that moment, I threw myself into the sea without hesitation.

I thought Rupert might have nothing to do with this, but I was mistaken. Well, it didn’t matter.

Splash–.

I thought I would faint at the shock of the cold seawater, but somehow I swam and came to the surface.

“Haa, haa, Lia…!”

I turned around to see a beach nearby.

As soon as I saw Lia jump, I swam desperately towards the beach. Then, without even thinking about whether I could swim or not, I instinctively floundered and moved forward.

When I was almost at the shore, my vision darkened. I swam with all my might with Erin’s weak body, and all my strength was gone.

I gritted my teeth and crawled, and when I reached a certain point, I collapsed. Then, a moment later, I lost consciousness.

Chloe and Prince Breiman sat on the terrace on the villa’s first floor by the seafront, relaxing and drinking tea.

As they watched Rupert dismount his horse, Chloe waved her hand and shouted, “Rupert! Over here!”

Breiman smiled brightly as he glanced at him. “Long time no see, Rupert.”

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“Hello, Your Highness,” Rupert greeted him lightly and looked at Chloe. “You said you were going to the capital first, but you’re here? Why did you call me here?”

Chloe stood up, intertwined her arm with his, and said in a charming voice, “Because I missed you, Rupert.”

“…I have a lot of work to do.”

Rupert pulled away his arm and glanced at Prince Breiman, who then pulled the chair next to him to make him sit. 

“I called you, Rupert. Come sit over here.”

At Briman’s friendly smile, Rupert sat with a frown on his face.

“What’s going on?”

“I was saddened to hear of your father, Duke Clifford’s passing. But now that you’ve become Duke, congratulations.”

“…”

Rupert looked like he had a lot to say but kept his mouth shut. Chloe poured tea into his cup, the dark liquid exuding a fragrant scent. It was the tea Chloe often made for Rupert.

Rupert silently took the cup and placed it in his mouth. Breiman and Chloe stared at the scene.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“Ah, right.” Prince Breiman coughed and said something out of the ordinary. “It’s been a while since we’ve met often.”

Breiman would often call out Rupert with excuses of one kind or another. He talked briefly about personal security and asked about strategic tactics and aristocratic trends.

Then, he suddenly revealed his inferiority complex towards Prince Enoch.

Rupert wondered why at first, but he related and felt strangely sympathetic whenever Prince Breiman expressed his dislike for Enoch. So he agreed to his invitation. Of course, it was also because of Chloe’s request.

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Still, he didn’t know why the Prince called for him this time.

However, he was the heir to the Clifford family, and their family supported the Crown Prince.

He had his doubts about what to do.

Chloe started the conversation on behalf of Rupert, who remained silent.

“Prince Breiman saved me from a crisis. He’s like a lifesaver.”

“…So I’ve heard.”

It would be disappointing if he tried to appeal to Rupert through his relationship with Chloe.

Just because Rupert’s predecessor, Duke Clifford, died, didn’t mean he didn’t have thoughts about it.

But he must refuse unless there was a reasonable cause and method. Otherwise, he would walk down the path of downfall with them.

In addition, Erin Spilet was on his mind. The Spilets, along with the Cliffords, supported the Crown Prince.

Now that his relationship with her was not what it used to be, what would Erin’s reaction be if she found out he had betrayed the Crown Prince? Would she resent him?

That was what bothered Rupert the most. Even though he hated Enoch, who was close with Erin, with every fiber of his being, he feared Erin’s accusations and disregard even more.

At Rupert’s lukewarm reaction, Prince Breiman finally spoke in a serious tone. “I won’t say it again, Duke Rupert Clifford. I want you to help me.”

And the Prince silently extended his hand to grasp Rupert’s.