Chapter 60
“…There’s another one?”
Violetti asked in a puzzled tone.
The man flinched and quickly turned to look at Harnen.
“T-that can’t be true.”
Despite his eyes trembling wildly with fear, the man insisted.
Harnen sneered.
“I haven’t even said what the second spell is yet, and you’re already nervous.”
“What is the second spell?”
At Violetti’s question, Harnen shrugged.
“A spell very fitting for him. To put it simply…”
His gaze landed on the prisoner’s back, where the runes were engraved.
“It’s a spell that makes your heart explode after a certain period if the magic is suppressed. Most likely carved in, in case he ever got captured.”
A curse designed for when escape became impossible—so the victim would just die.
Now that the man had been caught by Elberk, only two fates awaited him:
First, to endure torture, try to spill secrets, and have his heart burst.
Second, to hold out against torture but still die when time ran out and his heart exploded.
“…So there is nothing more we can extract from him.”
Violetti muttered matter-of-factly, organizing his papers as he turned to leave.
“Thanks to you, Lord Harnen, we’ve learned that the culprit behind the Saxon County arson case was none other than Duke Cervante. We are grateful.”
“No, I should be thanking you. I discovered something rather interesting.”
That Duke Cervante had sent spies to his homeland—despite all the heavy security.
“N-no, that’s impossible… His Grace would never abandon me…”
The man trembled violently in terror, muttering to himself.
Harnen gave him a passing glance, then followed Violetti out of the torture chamber.
Not long after, a short, strangled scream rang out, followed by a dull thud.
It seemed the set time had finally run out.
After a quick wash, I returned to my bedroom.
It was empty.
I already knew it would be.
Before I went to wash up, As told me he was busy today and had to go to his office, so I should go to bed first.
I knew… and yet—
“…”
I blinked blankly in the middle of the room, then let out a hollow laugh.
“…I’m ridiculous.”
I’ve been living alone all this time.
But after not even a month of falling asleep beside Akes, the room feels unbearably huge without him.
“Get a grip, Einra. You’re an adult.”
Adults shouldn’t act spoiled.
Spoiling is cute only when babies do it. That’s when you want to coo and fuss over them.
Nodding firmly to myself, I crawled under the blanket.
But the moment my body touched the sheets, any loneliness vanished, and I drifted off without realizing.
“Mmm…”
I had been deeply asleep when a faint glow woke me.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked up to see something shimmering in violet right beside my bed.
“What the… a magic circle?”
My mouth dropped open.
Filled with geometric markings, it looked exactly like the kind of “magic circle” you’d only ever see in a fantasy novel.
Well, since I was in a fantasy novel, I guessed it really was one.
“A violet circle, huh…”
Folding my arms, I stared hard at the glimmering sigil.
“Magic… sorcery… I think I heard Dante’s mana was violet.”
I hopped down from the bed and circled around it.
From what I memorized during those boring academy lectures…
That symbol meant spatial transfer. The one next to it marked the target. The one below indicated the destination.
I couldn’t interpret the encrypted parts, of course.
As I went over the markings, trying to recall details, the truth hit me.
“…This is a summoning circle.”
One targeted at me.
So they were trying to kidnap me, huh.
Normally, it should have activated right under me, but thanks to the grand defensive barrier covering Serenia’s ducal estate, it must have been displaced and appeared here instead.
“Those damn pests again…!”
My fists trembled with fury—then I froze.
“…Wait.”
Couldn’t I use this against them?
Right now, there’s no spy inside the Baharman Duchy.
But if I let myself get “kidnapped,” I’d have the perfect chance to act as a spy.
“Then I can find out if Baharman really is tied to Belzesti.”
And if the two powers were indeed allied, this might be my one chance to uncover Belzesti’s hidden schemes.
To learn Belzesti’s plans, it’s better to go through the weaker link—Baharman.
With Eliae’s blessing strengthening my affinity, I had nothing to fear.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the circle.
It was only afterward that it hit me—I hadn’t told Akes.
“Einra—!”
The door slammed open with a crash.
As’s shocked eyes met mine.
He sprinted toward me, arm outstretched.
I instinctively reached back—but my vision warped.
In the next instant, an entirely different place spread before my eyes.
…Crap.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
The excitement I’d felt about playing spy evaporated instantly.
I-I need to contact As right away!
I was just about to summon Quiel when—
“Einra.”
A man’s voice sounded behind me.
I jolted and hurriedly scattered my affinity.
Turning my head, I saw him—approaching with a bright smile.
The Baharman heir, Lloyd.
“It’s been such a long time, Einra.”
“…”
“I told you to wait for me, didn’t I?”
A large hand reached gently toward me.
I reflexively stepped back.
“Lord Baharman, what on earth do you think you’re doing?”
I asked calmly.
Inside, I was tense—since I hadn’t managed to contact As yet—but I couldn’t let that show.
Lloyd matched my steps, lowering his head in a sulky way.
“I didn’t want to bring you here so suddenly, either…”
“…What?”
Was that really something a kidnapper should say?
Staring at him in disbelief, I saw Lloyd fumble, avoiding my gaze.
“I originally planned to invite you slowly, through letters…”
That wasn’t any better, but I held my tongue.
“But you never answered my love letters.”
“…Love letters?”
Blinking at the unfamiliar word, I quickly pieced things together.
No doubt the Emperor’s doing…
Officially, I was staying at a hotel in the capital.
And who oversaw that hotel room? The Emperor.
So Lloyd’s so-called “letters” must have gone straight into the fire by imperial order.
“When you refused to meet me, I had no choice but to bring you here like this.”
“…”
So his solution was… kidnapping.
I didn’t even know where to start criticizing that. And anyway, why waste words on someone doomed to be erased from this world?
Just focus on gathering information…
That would be better for my sanity.
Lloyd’s nonsense went on and on.
How could I have such an unrefined friend (probably meaning Harnen), how he misinterpreted my surprise at his status as dislike, and other absurdities. Then he brightened.
“Oh! I decorated a room beautifully, just for you.”
He stretched out his hand.
“Would you like to come see it?”
“…Fine.”
Since I’d come here deliberately, there was no need to cause unnecessary friction.
I placed my hand in his.
Einra had vanished before his eyes.
“…”
Scarlet eyes stared quietly at the space where the violet circle had glimmered only moments before.
Violetti, who had followed in, carefully opened his mouth after gauging his liege’s mood.
“Your Highness.”
“…”
“There are defensive wards covering the entire estate. From this, it seems Lady Einra was not kidnapped but chose to step into the circle herself…”
“If she was going to leave…”
A low, slow voice spilled out.
“She was supposed to tell me first.”
Sensing the ominous shift in that flat murmur, Violetti shut his mouth at once.
When his liege went off the rails, giving advice was the worst move.
“Count Chevila.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Summon the knights.”
“…Which knights, sire?”
“To punish a traitor.”
Clink!
The chilling sound of glass shattering rang out.
From the platinum light fading over the room, the man who had looked like a child only moments ago tilted his head slowly.
“A mere handful won’t be enough.”
