CHAPTER 94……………………..
The moment the arm holding the sword traced a curve through the air—
Bang!
The door burst open, and a woman wearing a white dress studded with countless diamonds entered.
“Your Majesty!”
The Empress Dowager called urgently to the Emperor.
Relief flashed across Duke Penelope’s face when he saw her.
With hurried steps, the Empress Dowager stood before the Duke and spoke.
“Your Majesty, what in the world is going on here? Rohan, explain yourself.”
At her words, Duke Penelope opened his mouth with a grim expression.
Of course, what came out were words protesting his innocence.
After hearing his explanation, the Empress Dowager said,
“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be best to withhold judgment on the Duke until the truth has been revealed?”
The Emperor sighed and shook his head.
“Mother, the truth has already been revealed.”
“A divine beast lives longer than ordinary humans—surely it must be more cunning as well. If you choose to believe a divine beast over your own mother, then there’s nothing I can do.”
The Empress Dowager, who had been blocking the Duke’s path, stepped aside.
Then she bowed her head gracefully.
“I will abide by the Sun’s decision.”
The Emperor closed his mouth, discomfort flickering across his face.
A suffocating silence filled the air. Duke Penelope swallowed dryly.
Then the sword was slowly lowered.
“—Hah!”
At the same time, Duke Penelope let out a ragged breath.
His face was already drenched in cold sweat.
“You will not regret this decision, Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager said.
“If something like this ever happens again…”
The Emperor’s gaze turned to her.
“You will be held accountable for those words.”
The murderous intent faded from his eyes, leaving only a chilling coldness behind.
“For the time being, the Marquis will take care of the divine beasts.”
On the road from the imperial palace to Duke Penelope’s estate—
Inside the Blake family’s carriage—
Mion, who had expended much of her energy maintaining a human form, had reverted to her small beast form and let out a sigh of relief while nestled in Deborah’s arms.
“It really went exactly as Clemence predicted.”
When she first heard the plan, Mion had objected, worried that the remaining divine beasts might end up bound to the imperial palace as well.
But Clemence had assured her otherwise.
“The Emperor won’t be able to kill the Duke. He’ll hand his power over to Len.”
Her confident eyes had made it impossible to doubt her.
“If the Duke really has committed treason, the Emperor will need another right-hand man to keep him in check.”
And just as she had said, everything had unfolded that way.
The events of the day still felt unreal—like a dream.
A nightmare disguised as a lucky omen.
“……”
As Mion cracked open her eyes, she met Lennox’s gaze head-on and flinched.
Because she could read people’s memories through physical contact, he was extremely wary of touching her.
But when she had been taken from Countess Jacqueline’s estate, curiosity got the better of her and she read his memories—only to be horrified.
“He’s even crazier than he was five years ago.”
He wasn’t just a normal stalker.
Through a man named Enzo, he had been gathering every bit of information about Clemence, scheming only about how to stay by her side.
His obsession with her was chilling.
“I shouldn’t have read that.”
It had been a long time since Mion had so deeply regretted reading someone’s memories.
“Shouldn’t I warn her?”
It felt like a disaster from five years ago was returning tenfold.
If that man harbored even a speck of filthy intent toward Clemence, Mion would go straight to her and expose him.
Snorting softly, she turned her gaze to the window.
“How can you even snort in such an adorable way? You’re sooo cute, Mion!”
Deborah, who had joined them at Clemence’s request, couldn’t stop fawning over her.
“Ugh… just leave me alone.”
Humans really couldn’t resist cute things, could they?
Annoyed, Mion wriggled out of Deborah’s arms.
Deborah let out a small whine and pouted.
Before long, Duke Penelope’s estate came into view.
When they stepped out of the carriage, a man was waiting at the entrance.
A young man with short blue hair.
Mion froze the instant she saw him.
Why is that bastard… here?
“No way… Dominic Penelope?!”
Deborah’s eyes sparkled when she recognized him.
“I’m such a huge fan!”
“To receive the favor of such a beautiful lady—what an honor,” Dominic said smoothly.
But just as he was about to kiss her hand, he paused, sensing an unusual flow of mana.
“A mage?”
“Yup! I’ve heard all about your brilliance, Senior Dominic!”
Who in the Tower hadn’t heard of Dominic Penelope?
Until he left, he’d been the leading candidate to become the next Tower Master.
His spells using low-grade mana stones rivaled the power of other mages’ high-grade ones.
Apprentice mages idolized him—and Deborah, who had been one herself, was no exception.
She had always regretted never meeting him before he left the Tower.
But… why did the boss tell me to be careful of Dominic Penelope?
It had been an ordinary day, after she’d returned from a peaceful flight.
Then came a message—from the one who had introduced her to the world of flying.
Clemence had asked her to assist the Marquis Blake with a visit to Duke Penelope’s estate.
And she had specifically warned her to be cautious of Dominic Penelope.
What could be the reason?
Since Deborah didn’t read newspapers, she knew nothing about the Jaeger raid and only tilted her head in confusion.
But Clemence’s voice had sounded unusually tense.
“I see. And your name?” Dominic asked.
“…Jessie!”
It pained her not to use her real name before such a legendary mage, but remembering Clemence’s warning, she gave a fake one.
I just want to finish this fast and go back to flying.
Meeting Dominic was thrilling—but all she wanted was to wrap this up and return to the airfield.
If her mentor Elihu found out, he would probably weep in despair.
Dominic fell silent for a moment, then approached Marquis Lennox.
“I’ve been briefed on the situation.”
Smiling faintly, he extended his hand to Lennox.
Mion tensed. That smiling face concealed far too much cruelty.
Lennox glanced at the hand briefly—then ignored it.
“Where is the divine beast?”
“Heh. Straight to business, I see. Very well.”
Dominic chuckled and turned around.
But in that brief moment, Mion felt his gaze brush over her, and every hair on her body stood on end.
She considered returning to her true form, but Dominic specialized in curse magic.
Her body hadn’t fully recovered yet—she couldn’t afford to take the risk.
Physical or magical, the wider the attack range, the higher the chance she’d be hit.
Should I really not warn them about that stalker…?
She glanced at Lennox, who seemed completely unguarded—so unguarded he could casually take that devil’s hand.
Dominic had once used divine beasts—creatures with far greater durability and regeneration than humans—as test subjects for his attack and curse spells.
He had experimented on himself as well.
Recalling those memories filled Mion with fury and dread.
Still smiling, Dominic spoke.
“All of this… doesn’t seem like the Marquis’s own idea.”
Lennox didn’t reply. His silence made it clear the question wasn’t worth answering.
Even so, Dominic continued in a flat tone.
“The little lynx couldn’t have come up with this either… then perhaps Jacqueline?”
Lennox’s green eyes flicked toward him, and Dominic smiled faintly.
“She was always an unusual young lady, even back in the Academy.”
He briefly recalled the red-haired woman.
Humans are weak to appearances.
He’d always been charming—handsome, affable, smiling. Few women ever regarded him with suspicion.
But Clemence Jacqueline had been different.
Her short, wavy red hair and golden eyes had shimmered with confidence.
Yet when their eyes met, her sun-like gaze had filled with disgust.
And she had turned away as if fleeing—
—as if she somehow knew what he really was.
That look had thrilled him.
