~Chapter 93~
“It would only expose our location if we attack. That woman is still searching this area every night.”
The magic was clinging to her annoyingly.
Renia muttered to herself.
“….”
“And you, Your Highness, must be cautious of both Regiana Troxia and the Emperor.”
Renia said, tossing her hair impatiently.
“So, you’re hiding from Regiana Troxia?”
At his words, Renia showed obvious displeasure.
Adrian found it amusing that she was burning with unnecessary rivalry toward Regiana Troxia. The woman probably didn’t care about a common maid like her.
He wouldn’t say that to Renia, though.
Besides,
“Watching is the most fun.”
In the city, the tallest building would be the massive bell tower in the center. Anyone would point to it without hesitation. Standing next to the temple, the tower was so tall and massive that from the top, you could see the entire city.
At that moment, a figure was clinging to the tower’s outer wall.
It was the middle of the night. Everyone was asleep. A woman was climbing up the tower without a rope. Every time the moonlight peeked through the clouds, her red hair was briefly visible.
She moved up the tower as though gravity had no effect on her.
It was as if her shoes had some kind of powerful glue, or perhaps she wasn’t even alive.
She moved slowly, step by step, as if walking on solid ground. In reality, she was lying in midair, her feet just pressing against the wall.
If anyone saw this, they would surely faint from shock, but it was the middle of the night, and no one would be watching the bell tower.
The woman was calm, taking her time as she climbed the tower, like she was on a morning walk. Despite her body hanging at a right angle, she moved as if nothing was unusual.
Soon, she reached the top of the tower and removed the hood she had been wearing. Her coral-colored hair, so beloved by Calix Axel Hertorio, blew in the wind.
“This should be enough.”
She muttered to herself and lightly stepped onto the side of the bell. The bell didn’t work after sunset, so she could relax here.
“I can stay here comfortably.”
No one would come up here.
Renia, satisfied, began her work.
She sat with her back to the ground and closed her eyes. This was the preparation for what she was about to do. She connected herself to the natural magic in the world and heightened her senses.
Soon, the sounds of the entire city filled her ears.
The wind, snoring, children fighting in their beds, creaking floors, turning pages, blowing out candles, slurping drinks, cats fighting in alleys, the sounds of moving mice, and more.
But the sound she was looking for wasn’t there.
Renia opened her eyes, frowning.
She quickly got up and leaned over the edge of the tower, looking down at the entire city. She moved her hand, and soon, a magical web only visible to her began to spread across the night sky.
The magic flowed from the bell tower, weaving like a spider’s web, or a chessboard, or a fisherman’s net, spreading towards the edge of the city.
The huge flow of magic shook the night sky.
But despite wielding such vast magic, Renia’s face remained calm, as if she were simply admiring the night view.
Soon, when she was satisfied with the extent of the magic, a massive golden web covered the entire city sky.
“I should’ve done this earlier. I wasted time coming back.”
Satisfied, Renia sat on the edge, dangling her legs and humming.
“Hide well, or your hair will show, hide well.”
Her hands moved in the air, weaving patterns in the air that looked irregular but had a clear rhythm to them, as if she were caressing the air.
“Where could it have hidden?”
The wait wasn’t long. Soon, from a corner of the tightly connected magical web, she detected a suspicious movement.
“There.”
Renia immediately reached out. Her body stayed on the bell tower, but once she connected to the magic, her consciousness soared through the night sky, hovering over the magic net covering the city.
“Hmm.”
There was a hole in the magical web she had created.
“Who did this?”
Finding the answer was simple. As she stepped forward, a shock ran through her body, from her toes up to her head. It was the backlash from the magic.
“You were hiding there?”
Renia bent down, peering at the world beneath her feet.
A small mansion came into view. She noticed that the entire mansion seemed to be rejecting her magic, as if some kind of barrier had been set up.
To repel Renia’s natural magic meant someone was controlling the flow of magic.
“And there’s only one person in this city who would want to block my magic.”
Renia’s smile widened as she realized who it must be.
She decided to sever the magical connection.
Her senses quickly returned to the bell tower, though it felt as though she had been soaring through the sky. The dizziness that followed was almost too much to handle.
“I need to work on my stamina. At this rate, I won’t live long.”
With a sigh, Renia rubbed her stomach, thinking about what to do next. She could either wait a little longer or throw out some bait.
“What should I do?”
Whichever she chose, she had nothing to lose.
“But…”
It wasn’t time yet. Not yet.
At least tonight, her goal had been accomplished. She had climbed the tower, checked what she needed, and found what she was looking for.
She could act on it right away, but for now, she simply relaxed, admiring the night sky.
“Ah, the stars are beautiful.”
Her long hair fluttered in the wind.
“…Maybe I should’ve brought Calix.”
One week later.
The Emperor started moving.
The Emperor left the villa dressed as if going hunting. By the time she left the forest, only a few of her closest attendants remained.
Seeing this, Amil and Melren immediately contacted their master, who began preparing for the Emperor’s arrival.
“Did you grab the gun?”
“Yeah.”
“The sword?”
“I’ve got it.”
“The scarf?”
“The scarf?”
“It’s cold outside. You need a scarf.”
I rushed across the room and brought a fluffy scarf. Calix silently watched me wrap it around his neck.
“Rena.”
“Hmm? Don’t talk to me, I need to focus.”
I glanced at him, then returned to tying the scarf neatly. Calix sighed, then grabbed my hands.
“Rena.”
“…Yeah…?”
He lowered his head and looked into my eyes.
“If you’re nervous, we don’t have to do this.”
“I’m not. Not at all nervous.”
I quickly pulled my hands away from his.
“I’m completely confident. Don’t worry about me.”
Calix looked at me silently, as if to say he knew my feelings without me speaking. I avoided his gaze, then, unable to hold back, threw myself at him.
Calix accepted my embrace quietly, and I held him tightly.
Today was the day the Emperor and I were supposed to meet in Troxia. Reports had said the Emperor left the villa in the morning. He would arrive here in a few hours.
I buried my face in his shoulder, cuddling him.
“If the Emperor says anything to you…”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
“If Prenia and Adrian the Emperor come…”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
Even though Calix and I had made plans for days, I still felt uneasy. There were always variables.
Sensing my anxiety, Calix placed his hand on my cheek. When I looked up, his deep blue eyes met mine. His eyes were full of reassurance, as always.
“We’ll take a vacation at the beach villa next week.”
“…Okay.”
“Once today’s over, everything will be fine.”
Hearing his decisive words made me feel like everything would go as he said.
Calix bent down and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and accepted his kiss.
“But still, just in case.”
It would be good to prepare for any unexpected situations.
