Episode 14
Laria, who had been watching everything unfold like someone else’s problem, suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
The fox marble, which was believed to have disappeared long ago, turned out to be in the Craseum estate.
After being kidnapped by Zenox, Laria came across the fox marble in the Craseum Grand Duchy’s mansion, and due to an intruder, she ended up swallowing it.
That’s why she had been avoiding Zenox all this time.
After all, she had swallowed the Craseum family’s treasured heirloom.
She wanted to return it desperately, but no matter what she tried, she couldn’t get it out.
It seemed it had already been digested.
‘Come to think of it, that’s when I started being able to use spells.’
Though unlike regular spellcasters, she had to use gemstones.
Judging by what the others were saying, if they found out she had swallowed the fox marble, they might not hesitate to cut open her stomach.
While everyone else continued chattering about the fox marble, Siena—who had been silent all along—set down her teacup and spoke.
“It’s been missing for quite a long time, hasn’t it? I wonder if it even still exists.”
But she didn’t look particularly curious.
Either she truly wasn’t interested in the marble, or… she already knew where it was.
“Well, Lady Siena doesn’t need something like that to be amazing,”
said Lunel, who had been fawning over Siena from the start, offering her praise as naturally as breathing.
As if Lunel were conducting an orchestra, the rest nodded in unison with her compliments.
The House of Marquis Hashur was certainly prestigious, but Laria couldn’t understand why they were all trying so hard to please Siena.
“She entered the Spellcasting Agency at the youngest age ever. A mere fox marble is nothing compared to that.”
The Spellcasting Agency was an elite organization of the most powerful spellcasters—so powerful that even the imperial family couldn’t interfere with them easily.
Entering it was considered the highest honor for a spellcaster.
Thinking she’d be ignored again, Laria muttered to herself.
“The Spellcasting Agency?”
“Oh my, you didn’t know?”
Lunel’s eyes lit up as if she had finally caught something worth mocking.
“It was all over the news three years ago. Were you living in the countryside for recovery or something?”
As Lunel ridiculed her for not knowing, Laria simply blinked.
Three years ago… she must’ve still been living at the Craseum estate.
She wasn’t exactly on medical leave, but her life had been more or less one of confinement.
Still, entering the Spellcasting Agency at the youngest age? Siena really must be incredibly skilled.
“That’s very impressive. You must have worked hard,”
Laria offered genuine praise.
Siena’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
“…I still have much to learn.”
At Siena’s modest reply, Lunel rushed to shower her with more compliments, emphasizing how she got into the agency without any help from her father, the Marquis of Hashur and its current leader.
‘Ah, so that’s why everyone’s trying to curry favor with her.’
Laria nodded to herself as the realization dawned.
As more compliments followed, Siena smiled slightly and changed the subject.
“How is everyone’s spell training going?”
At her prompt, the fox beastfolk burst into chatter as if they’d been waiting for the chance.
Finally, the part of the gathering Laria had been anticipating. She perked up and listened carefully.
She had been studying spells on her own and was curious how skilled the others were.
‘They must be talented if they’re attending a gathering like this, right?’
Excited, she listened closely—but the more she heard, the more confused she became.
“I’ve been practicing spatial movement spells. Yesterday, I managed to teleport to the next room.”
“That’s impressive! Spatial movement spells are tough.”
The man who claimed success nodded seriously.
“It takes me about ten minutes to cast it.”
Laria couldn’t help but blurt out:
“Ten minutes…?”
The man gave a shy smile in response to her stunned expression.
“You flatter me too much. I’m embarrassed.”
It wasn’t admiration. It was shock.
Ten minutes just to teleport to the next room?
Wouldn’t it be faster to just walk through the door?
Since gaining the ability to use spells, Laria had been freely using spatial teleportation.
It was especially handy when visiting information brokers.
“Well, spatial magic is a bit tricky, isn’t it?”
What’s tricky about it?
To use spells, one had to use spell formations.
It was like solving a math problem using formulas.
Each spell had a defined formation, which spellcasters often customized to their liking.
And Laria? She had already memorized all the basic formations even before swallowing the fox marble.
After all, memorization was just a matter of effort.
In the case of spatial teleportation, she’d even developed her own modified formation through frequent use—making her casting speed much faster.
“Lady Rohan, are you practicing any spells these days?”
Siena, who had been quiet, suddenly singled her out with a question.
It seemed like a generous gesture to prevent her from being left out.
Then, as if remembering something, Siena nodded slightly and added:
“Ah, but I suppose you must be busy with wedding preparations lately.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Laria.
Judging by their lack of surprise, it seemed everyone already knew.
‘So the rumors spread because of the emperor’s congratulatory letter.’
They began openly murmuring among themselves.
“She’s marrying a wolf beastman? And not just anyone—the Craseum Grand Duke…”
“No one in their right mind would choose a man like that.”
“Brutes with nothing but strength.”
“Wasn’t it the wolf tribe that kept starting wars?”
Prejudice-filled words poured out without restraint.
Lunel didn’t stop there. She practically branded Laria a traitor to the fox tribe.
“Marrying a wolf tribe member? Have you forgotten we even went to war with them?”
Long ago, there had been a war between the two tribes.
No one remembered why it started or who struck first, but their relationship had remained strained ever since.
Everyone stared at Laria with cold, accusatory eyes.
As things got heated, Siena tapped her fan lightly on the table in a call for composure.
“Let’s not be prejudiced against the wolf tribe, everyone.”
At her words, the murmuring ceased.
She glanced toward Laria, her eyes softening.
“But as a fellow fox beastwoman, I can’t help but worry.”
Her voice was gentle, as if she were sincerely concerned.
“Lady Rohan… Are you aware that the Grand Duke of Craseum suffers from madness?”
Laria sighed inwardly.
‘Yup, next time I see him, I’m telling him to clear up these rumors ASAP.’
At first, she too thought Zenox was insane. But later, she learned his situation.
With a tragic upbringing, constant sleep deprivation, and auditory hallucinations, who wouldn’t lose their mind?
By now, she felt like someone needed to defend him.
“I think he’s perfectly normal.”
“Madness can strike without warning.”
“I’ll overcome it with the power of love.”
Pfft! Someone spit out their tea.
Siena’s calm expression cracked.
She looked at Laria with disbelief, then quickly masked it.
“Why him, of all people?”
“What’s wrong with the Grand Duke?”
He was handsome, muscular, not crazy—but owned a mine.
A diamond mine that would be hers in the future.
There were hardly any beastfolk in this era as honest and dutiful as him.
“…”
Siena didn’t respond right away, just parted her lips slightly.
Laria smirked.
‘I guess she doesn’t want to criticize him directly.’
It was obvious by now.
Siena had repeatedly set the stage to bring attention to Laria while distancing herself and observing quietly.
She told Lunel to restrain herself, but also subtly encouraged the gossip.
Now, Siena was staring straight at Laria.
Gone was the concerned act—her gaze was outright aggressive.
Her eyes scanned Laria thoroughly, like she wanted to dissect every part of her.
In the middle of their strange standoff, a man came running in from a distance.
It was the butler who had escorted Laria to the garden entrance earlier.
“Lady! The Grand Duke of Craseum is here!”
Clatter!
The crash of a teacup echoed like thunder.
The fox beastfolk, now pale, buzzed with panic.
Even Siena, who had remained composed until now, shot to her feet.
“The Grand Duke? Why?”
“Well…”
The butler glanced toward Laria.
“He says he’s here to wait for Lady Laria Rohan…”
He added softly that the Grand Duke had parked his carriage at the mansion gate but hadn’t come in because the other guests looked too terrified.
That was more than enough to terrify the fox beastfolk.
As the others trembled, Laria tilted her head in mild curiosity.
‘Did he come to pick me up?’
She had sent him a letter through Rodit, saying she’d come visit the Craseum mansion today.
She didn’t expect him to come to her instead.
It was the perfect excuse to leave, so Laria stood up.
“I think I’ll be going now.”
She crushed one of the pearls in her pocket.
Casting a spell, she bid farewell to the fox beastfolk.
“My lover’s waiting. It’s been a lovely gathering. Goodbye.”
In an instant, Laria vanished before their eyes.
The remaining magical energy was so intense, it felt suffocating.
“…My goodness.”
Shock finally settled on the others’ faces.
As murmurs erupted around her, Siena bit her lower lip silently.
Her eyes gleamed sharply.
