Chapter 92…

“……”

Meterio answered with silence. Hayden’s brow creased irritably.

“Didn’t we all listen to Mikhail’s report yesterday? It’s obvious the Empress is plotting something at the spring, yet you’re saying you’ll walk right into it yourself?”

“Even if we move Ariel to Lafas, it’s not like we have any better solution. There’s something about the effects of the Nepirion spring water that keeps bothering me. Perhaps what the Empress said isn’t a lie.”

Everyone was shocked by their father’s words.

Even though I knew no one could hear me, I desperately shouted to stop him.

‘Father!! Please!! That’s not the answer!!!’

“Duke! You can’t do that! Lady Ariel wouldn’t want that either!”

‘That’s right! Mikhail, nice!’

Mikhail, as if he had read my mind, firmly tried to stop Father. But Father was more stubborn than expected.

Meterio’s blue-gray eyes trembled as they were swallowed by fear. His pale skin turned bluish, and his expression grew so vicious he almost looked like a demon.

It seemed Father had lost his sanity from the anxiety of possibly losing the eldest daughter he had barely managed to save.

Besides, when it came to family matters, his judgment had always tended to falter.

Noticing Father’s state, Mikhail exchanged a glance with Hayden, signaling that they should work together to persuade him.

But Father looked like he had no intention of listening to anyone.

“If you try to stop me from going to the Nepirion spring, I’ll go directly to see the Empress myself.”

“Duke!!”

“I’ll go and give the Empress whatever she wants and have Ariel treated. If she really used a deadly poison, then I must at least bring back the antidote.”

“You can’t! We don’t know what she might demand in return!”

My gaze drifted toward Liri, who was hiding in the corner.

Liri watched the situation from the shadows as if she were barely there.

The Empress’s condition for trading the Nepirion spring water had been Richard’s life. Fortunately, no one else knew that.

At Mikhail’s cold remark, the veins in Meterio’s neck bulged as if they might burst.

He took several ragged breaths, then shouted as though he might devour someone.

“What do you think I would hesitate to give up! If it were possible, I would even offer my own life to save Ariel!!”

“Duke, please regain your reason!”

That’s right!! Damn it, Father!

Even if you love your child and want to save her, how can you treat your own life so lightly?!

If Father dies, Valienor will collapse!! What about my younger siblings?!

If my life is in danger, at least you should stay alive and raise them properly!

You have to watch over Jeremiah and Davina so they don’t grow up twisted! This is driving me crazy.

Wait… could it be that in the original story, child-obsessed Meterio sacrificed his life to save his child?

I had wondered why the strongest person in this world died so young—turns out he considers his life less valuable than a fly’s if it’s for his children.

Father! Please think rationally! Your thoughts and actions right now are too impulsive!!

Anger flared inside me because my voice couldn’t reach them.

Watching my foolish father made it feel as if my burning frustration was turning into physical pain.

But unlike me, Hayden and Mikhail could not forcefully restrain him.

After exchanging silent looks for a long time, they shook their heads and tried to calm him.

“Duke, we would also give anything to save Lady Ariel. So please calm down just a little.”

“Hmm… You were like this when the Duchess passed away too. Duke, how about this? I have an idea.”

The duke’s unfocused eyes turned toward Hayden.

Carefully lifting me in his arms, Hayden said,

“For now, Mikhail can’t even approach the forest where the Nepirion spring is, so he’ll go with me.”

He glanced at Mikhail with a strange look before continuing.

“Instead, Duke, you stay near the forest but don’t go inside. I’ll approach the spring.”

The duke’s expression calmed slightly at Hayden’s compromise.

Speaking more gently than usual so the emotionally unstable duke could understand, Hayden continued slowly.

“I’ll analyze the spring water right away. If it seems to have beneficial properties, I’ll give it to the young lady. If not, we’ll immediately take her to Lafas. What do you think of my proposal?”

Everyone looked toward Meterio.

He took a slow breath and eventually nodded.

“Phew… that’s a relief.”

I also let out a silent sigh of relief.

The situation was still uneasy, but at least Father’s impulsiveness had been stopped for now.

“Then let’s move by magic for now. Mikhail will stay here and guard—”

“Meow!”

Suddenly, Liri leapt out from hiding and disappeared through the window.

Watching the direction Liri ran, Mikhail said to Meterio,

“I’ll go after her.”

“Alright. We’ll move by magic.”

Hayden loosened his fingers to cast the spell, then suddenly shouted into the air.

“Lady! If you’re awake in your soul form, listen carefully!”

‘Yes!!’

Hearing someone call me made my nonexistent heart feel like it was pounding.

I focused more intensely than ever and listened to Hayden.

“Your soul and body are connected even if they’re not physically together. So even if you’re separated, after some time your soul will be pulled to wherever your body is.”

…What? What does that mean?

The magic professor paused for a moment to steady his breathing, then added something even more confusing.

“So even if we disappear through spatial magic with your body, don’t worry. Your soul will follow soon after.”

Before I could even process his explanation, Hayden vanished without a trace.

Meterio and Ariel’s body disappeared as well.

The only thing left in the hotel room was me—just a soul.

“…Ah!”

Hayden must have kindly explained it so I wouldn’t panic being left alone.

If what he said is true, I’ll soon be drawn to wherever my body is.

Should I just wait quietly here until then?

But more importantly, where did that cat Liri go in the middle of all this chaos…?

With troubled eyes, I looked toward the corner of the bed where Liri had been.

And there I noticed Ricardo’s note lying there.

“Even so, I’ll always wait for you at the same time, in the same place.”

“…Damn.”

No way. Right?

So that stupid cat ran off to meet Ricardo?

Seriously, why do both Father and the cat treat their lives as if they’re worthless!

It wasn’t even 8 a.m. yet.

Without even checking, I could already guess Richard’s destination.

He must have gone to meet his brother at their secret meeting place.

Unable to even clutch my frustrated chest, I flew out the window.

I planned to follow that disobedient cat as far as time allowed.

Perhaps because I was in soul form, my movement speed was surprisingly fast.

Following my memories, I quickly headed to the rocky mountains north of the capital.

The only place where grass grew in that steep rocky mountain.

That had to be Ricardo and Richard’s meeting place.

After searching through the valley, I finally found a place where someone was present.

Soon a familiar voice echoed in the wind.

“Brother, Ariel’s condition is serious. Do you know anything? Please, just this once help me!!”

I immediately approached when I saw Richard with red, tear-filled eyes and Ricardo looking pale.

“What? Meterio went to the Nepirion spring?”

“Brother, what exactly is the Empress trying to do?”

“Ariel Valienor didn’t go there too, did she? Don’t tell me they went there alone?”

“Th-they probably didn’t go alone.”

“Ha… this is driving me insane. How am I supposed to fix this immediately…?”

“What happens if Ariel goes there? Is the situation very dangerous?”

“What should I do? Should I go there now? I don’t think things will be solved just because I show up…”

The brothers’ conversation scattered and crossed like chaotic winds.

The only thing they shared was that both looked desperate and anxious.

And Ricardo showed not even the slightest intention of harming Richard.

Just as Richard had expected.

“Brother!! Are you even listening to me right now?!!”

“I understand the situation, so just be quiet for a moment.”

“Could you at least tell me what the situation is?”

“Richard! Please!”

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll go to the spring right now.”

At Richard’s shout, anger and confusion appeared in Ricardo’s eyes.

He shouted harshly as if threatening him.

“No!! Are you crazy going there? Don’t you know that’s Nepirion’s territory? People there are obsessed with killing you!”

“But my sister is in danger! I have to help somehow!”

“You idiot! Do you know how I saved your life? And you’re just going to throw it away like that! For just one woman!”

“You just called Ariel ‘just one woman’?”

“Yes! Just one woman! Are you going to lose your reason over some foolish first love?”

“You don’t know anything! If Ariel isn’t there, I have no reason to live!”

“You shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly! Why would you have no reason to live, you fool!”

“I’m a fool? Am I wrong? Even Father wants me dead—he abandoned me. Who in this world even needs me?!”

“I do!!”

“Even so, you can’t defy Father or the Empress. You can’t even protect me until they die!”

“Are you done talking?”

The wounded brothers glared at each other with identical eyes, as if clawing at each other.

…Wow, why is the relationship between these brothers so intense?

From a third-party perspective, it looked nothing more than a dramatic lovers’ quarrel.

While I awkwardly glanced between them, Richard spoke with a deeply hurt voice.

“I’ve said everything. Anyway, I’m going to save Ariel, so don’t try to stop me.”