Chapter 13
While Erica was receiving an overwhelming welcome at the palace…
Didier sat alone on a luxurious sofa, his back stiff as a board. The only light in the room came from a candle on the table, heightening his tension.
‘If I leave, Lady Erica will be in trouble.’
This was the place where Erica had pleaded with one of her acquaintances to allow Didier to stay. So, Didier suppressed his urge to flee and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
Of course, the darkness made most things invisible.
But Didier could see.
The magic flowing from this massive trading guild.
Or rather, he could sense the magic. Since stepping into this place, Didier had instinctively used magic to explore it.
No matter how many times he closed and opened his eyes, nothing changed.
Ominous and sinister magical energies, completely different from his own.
In other words…
‘…It’s the energy of the Maro.’
The Maro.
Corrupted living beings that had lost their original forms, attacking all living things indiscriminately.
Or, in other terms, creatures whose core magical energy had turned impure, altering their original shapes. That’s how Didier understood them, at least.
He had been told that encountering a Maro was dangerous.
Warnings to flee immediately upon seeing one, as they were extremely perilous creatures.
He had never faced one directly, but the books repeatedly emphasized and warned of their extreme danger.
And yet, the Maro energy here wasn’t just one or two.
‘…It’s felt throughout the entire trading guild.’
And it was all from powerful Maro. The energy was so intense that Didier pressed his lips together tightly.
‘A place like this is so close to Lady Erica.’
Since parting with Erica, Didier had memorized every distance he traveled. Thus, he knew how close this guild was to the Guinevere palace.
He couldn’t gauge the guild’s size, but he knew its proximity to the palace.
‘This is too dangerous.’
And so, Didier developed an instinctive curiosity about the owner of this place, Adrian. Or rather, more caution than curiosity. But it was definitely curiosity.
At the very least, he knew Adrian could control all the Maro here and had a long-standing relationship with Erica. But this information wasn’t enough.
‘Is he Lady Erica’s ally, or someone dangerous to her? I need to find out. For Lady Erica’s sake.’
This was the only thing Didier could do now. With a sense of duty toward Erica, he awaited Adrian, who would soon arrive.
The candle flickered several times.
Didier heard a raven’s caw from afar, so he clasped his hands and placed them on his knees.
[Adrian! Hello!]
It was Kob’s voice, enthusiastically greeting from a distance.
What truly surprised Didier was that he had been hearing Kob’s voice from the start. Kob’s voice, which was supposedly audible only to Erica.
If you thought about it, it was natural.
How could a mage not hear a magical voice created by magic? But Didier hadn’t told Erica this.
Or rather, he had assumed everyone could hear Kob’s voice. But he realized during the descent from the snowy mountain.
‘Not everyone hears it.’
How could he be so ignorant of the world? Didier reflected on his life in the mountains, where he might have slept too much.
He thought about it, listened carefully to his companions’ conversations, and gained some basic knowledge.
‘And yet, why is there so much I don’t know?’
Didier gritted his teeth and looked at the person before him.
There was no presence. He couldn’t sense any magical energy. This was the first being Didier had seen since birth that was like this.
Didier couldn’t discern what Adrian was. Not human, not Maro. He swallowed hard and raised his guard to the maximum. Adrian was that dangerous.
But Kob, unaware of Adrian’s danger, was chattering enthusiastically beside him.
[Wow, you’re so dark today too!]
“Thanks for the compliment, Kob.”
[It wasn’t a compliment! But I like that you understand me.]
“Doesn’t Erica listen to you?”
[No, my lady always listens, but others don’t hear me. Boring!]
Kob was revealing things Didier didn’t want known. And Adrian, who could understand Kob, continued the conversation enthusiastically. Soon, they appeared before Didier.
Eyes gleaming with different colors even in the dim light. Long, dark green hair, a low and cold voice. Everything about him was sharp, making him seem frightening.
And the most troubling thing…
‘His threatening aura is unlike anything I’ve seen.’
Despite his caution and expectation that Adrian would be dangerous, this was the first thought that struck Didier upon seeing him.
Didier looked at Adrian silently. Noticing him, Adrian raised the corner of his mouth and smiled.
“Who’s this?”
[Oh, this is Didier, who’s going to marry my lady.]
“Really?”
[By the way, haven’t you prepared the magic stone yet?]
“The deal to hide you isn’t over yet.”
[I’ll be with my lady now. Heh!]
Kob grumbled petulantly and spoke noisily. Adrian, accustomed to this, didn’t bat an eye.
“So, you’re Erica’s future husband?”
He sat across from Didier, crossed one leg over the other, and spoke. Didier’s body tensed.
“…Yes, Lady Erica said she would marry me.”
Didier replied, and Adrian looked at him with golden and red eyes, then extended his hand toward him.
“I didn’t expect Erica to bring someone someday. The world is full of surprises.”
Didier knew he should shake his hand. But he didn’t want to touch him. However, ruining the relationship with this being could put Erica in trouble.
Reluctantly, Didier extended his hand. Adrian gripped it firmly.
“Just a lamb, so how did you catch her eye?”
“Maybe because I’m Lady Erica’s taste.”
“An obedient lamb like this?”
“If I weren’t, she wouldn’t have chosen me.”
“Isn’t it because Erica is young and doesn’t know better?”
“…Don’t deny Lady Erica’s choice.”
Didier responded sharply to each of Adrian’s words. Adrian looked at him with amusement.
Then he released his hand and placed it on his chin as if thinking.
“I don’t have a place to hide you now.”
[Hey? The place I was in is still there!]
“Kob.”
Unaware of the conversation’s tension, Kob interjected carelessly. Adrian glanced at him for a moment and sighed.
“That place is reserved for Erica.”
[Didier is Erica’s husband, so what’s the difference?]
Kob tilted his head ignorantly.
“Foolish raven.”
[What! Adrian, what did you say?!]
Adrian’s voice was like a breath, but Kob’s ears were sharp. He spread his wings threateningly, but Adrian ignored him.
“No choice. I’ll guide you there.”
“…Alright.”
“But don’t touch anything. It’s a very intriguing place for an innocent lamb.”
Didier frowned, and Adrian smiled lightly.
“Come on, I’ll guide you.”
“…Alright.”
“Oh, by the way, this place is like a maze. So stay quietly in your room.”
“…I will.”
Adrian laughed and gestured with his head for Didier to follow. His steps were completely silent, with no presence.
The room they arrived at was…
‘Full of dangerous items…?’
Didier discovered a lot with a quick sense. In a drawer by the bed, bottles containing various poisons; under the pillow, a sharp dagger; and on the wall, a long sword.
It was hard to believe this room was prepared for Erica.
Even the lighting was extremely dim.
The light was only enough to avoid bumping into furniture, which confused Didier.
Amid his confusion, he opened his eyes and turned toward the bookshelf.
The shelf was filled with magic, brimming with books of unknown titles. They seemed ordinary, but Didier felt this shelf was the most mysterious thing in the room.
He reached for it, but his hand stopped in mid-air.
It hit a transparent barrier. The moment his hand touched it, sparks repelled him.
“Oh… a barrier?”
‘It’s a barrier.’ Didier muttered as if realizing something, closed his eyes, then opened them. His red eyes gleamed eerily in the dark.
“…A very strong barrier.”
Didier stared at the shelf and muttered something quietly.
Click.
A loud sound came from the shelf, and it began to open slowly with a grating noise.
The shelf opened like a door.
Didier watched with wide eyes. The shelf opened slowly, revealing a black door.
Didier took a deep breath, grasped the handle of the black door, and opened it.
