Chapter 92
The moon had risen high in the night sky, but Ring still had not returned. The villa was gradually sinking into unease. Unable to stay in one place, Eluana paced restlessly and eventually opened the door to Ring’s room.
Inside, only Eluana’s riding habit was hanging. On the chest was the Spes ducal crest embroidered in thick golden thread, and each sleeve of the jacket was adorned with three golden buttons. Ring had pressed it neatly for tomorrow.
“…Ring.”
“She’ll be fine. She probably just got lost on the way.”
Anne, who had followed after her, tried to comfort her, but Eluana closed the door weakly and turned back. Her uneasy steps carried her to the parlor.
Kazhar and Line, who were studying a map, lifted their heads. They noticed Eluana, but neither of them dared to speak first.
Unable to bear the heavy silence, Xing burst out:
“Hey, Weeds! Why haven’t we heard anything yet?”
Line snapped.
“Calling someone’s precious hair weeds? Do you know how much effort I put into grooming it every morning?”
“Groomed weeds.”
Thanks to the two of them, the stiff atmosphere loosened just a little, but Eluana’s anxiety did not ease.
Just then, two Edelweiss members who had gone out searching for Ring entered the parlor. But the one they had hoped to find was not with them.
“We found this on the back road to the Crystal Caverns.”
What they brought back was Ring’s hairpin.
Eluana felt as if her entire body froze. The hairpin, set with tiny emeralds, was one she herself had fastened into Ring’s hair.
First Sally disappeared, then Hans was kidnapped, and now Ring…
“She was taken?”
The air in the parlor turned suffocatingly heavy.
Eluana’s eyes drifted to the map lying on the table. Her gaze fell on the iron mine entrance sketched in the center, and for a moment her vision spun.
“It’s my fault. I brought her here…”
“They probably didn’t know she was your maid when they took her.”
If they realized Ring was Eluana’s maid, no one could predict what they might do. They might kill her to cover their tracks and dump the body, or use her as bait in a trap.
Kazhar picked up the sword lying at his side.
“Before they figure it out, we have to act first. Unless you’re willing to abandon your maid.”
The sound of insects and the rustle of wind in the branches echoed eerily in the night. Hiding within Waterberry vines, Eluana and Kazhar caught their breath.
Not far away, two soldiers passed on patrol. The closer they drew to the iron mine, the more often patrols appeared.
Once the soldiers’ presence faded completely, Eluana whispered in a small voice:
“Isn’t there an artifact for hiding while being able to see and talk to each other?”
“There is, but lower-grade ones are too easy to detect.”
Of course—if something that useful existed freely, the world would be overrun with thieves. Xing and Line emerged from the bushes behind them.
“Let’s keep moving.”
At Xing’s signal, the four of them crept quietly up the mountain path. The plan was unchanged, only moved up earlier than scheduled.
Kazhar glanced at Eluana walking beside him. She wore riding clothes instead of a gown, but the terrain was steep and rough.
“Not too hard?”
“I’m fine. I can keep walking.”
“If it gets difficult, tell me.”
She only nodded in reply.
The road grew harsher. Weeds that had brushed their knees now reached their waists. After walking some distance further—
“Down.”
At Kazhar’s low warning, they all crouched under the brush.
Flattened against the dirt, they rolled their eyes to track the movement. Soldiers in light armor, swords at their waists, were approaching slowly.
“Ugh, stiff all over.”
“Just one more round, then we get relieved. Let’s finish up.”
Talking idly, the two passed by. When they were gone, Kazhar rose first.
“From here on, we’ll need to be careful.”
Exchanging glances, the group advanced cautiously, avoiding any sound. They evaded patrols four more times before reaching a spot overlooking the mine.
The moment they saw it, they knew: this was the place. Nearly ten soldiers lounged around the entrance.
Snippets of their conversation drifted over.
“No reply from Flad yet.”
“Maybe you wrote the wrong address? Your handwriting’s terrible.”
“No way. I checked it several times.”
“Maybe I should just go home like Flad did. I’ve saved up a decent sum now. Pay’s good, but not being able to leave is suffocating.”
“Better stockpile while you can. Who knows when this job ends.”
“True. Still, why are we guarding this place anyway?”
“Who cares. Maybe they struck diamonds while digging iron ore. People like us just do what we’re told and take the money.”
“If I’d known the pay was this good, I would’ve dragged my friends here too.”
“They’d hate you for it. The food here is awful.”
The soldiers laughed, swapping stories about the worst meals they’d eaten.
After observing for a while, Kazhar gestured toward the rear. They backtracked and stopped far from the guards. Hidden in the shade, Kazhar confirmed no voices carried, then spoke:
“They’re here. Line and I will check the entrance first.”
As he rose, Line stepped back.
“I’ll go alone. You’re not exactly subtle, Your Highness.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“All I need to do is check for traps. That’s my specialty. If I move quietly, I won’t be noticed, and nothing will happen.”
Listening, Eluana asked Xing:
“Can you move quietly?”
“My other nickname is ‘Silent Xing.’ I’m very stealthy.”
“Then go with Line. I’ll stay here with Kazhar.”
Xing puffed up.
“As you command. Hear that, Weeds? You’re with me. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you.”
Line grimaced and quickly accepted a communication ring from Kazhar.
“I’ll just go alone.”
“No need to refuse. If something goes wrong, your pitiful aura won’t get you out alive.”
“I’ll manage.”
Just as Line was about to activate the ring, a whip coiled snugly around his arm. He grimaced—caught.
“We’ll be quick.”
Xing cheerfully twisted the ring stone, and the two vanished. Kazhar and Eluana shifted to sit more comfortably.
“You two seem close,” Eluana remarked.
Kazhar’s face clearly said In what way?, but he didn’t speak. Eluana kept her eyes fixed on the mine entrance lit by torches.
“Maybe it’s because of mana affinity,” Kazhar said.
“Hm?”
“Your maid—she had the qualities of a mage.”
He had once said Sally also seemed to have magical talent.
“So you think they’re kidnapping children with magical potential and gathering them here in the mine?”
“That’s the most likely case.”
He added, “The inside of the mine looks like an abandoned shaft. Line said he’d check deeper, and I told him to go ahead.”
“Huh?”
“Our communication artifact is linked to Line as well.”
That eased Eluana’s heart somewhat. At least they had a way to stay in contact if something went wrong.
“There’s no way it’s just an abandoned mine—”
“Shh!”
Kazhar pressed a finger to his lips and crouched lower. Eluana followed his lead. Then she heard it too.
That sound…
Hoofbeats.
A carriage was climbing the road to the mine entrance. The guards, who had been lounging idly, straightened at once. Some grabbed torches to receive the carriage.
Something was about to begin.
“Let’s get closer.”
At Kazhar’s words, Eluana nodded, activating her concealment artifact. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
Kazhar stiffened but didn’t resist. Holding hands, they crept forward. From the carriage, someone alighted.
Eluana gasped softly. Even in the flickering torchlight, the face was unmistakable.
Shavia?
The revealed face was indeed Shavia.
“That’s Lady Shavia, daughter of Marquis Pegimul,” Kazhar said immediately.
“So that’s why Fotio was here in this territory. He came with Shavia.”
“The Pegimul family has a villa in Tunya, too,” Eluana muttered, her face twisting. Taken together, it meant the mastermind behind these kidnappings was the Pegimul marquisate.
Once again—Pegimul.
“You’ve arrived, my lady.”
A soldier greeted Shavia.
“You’ve worked hard,” she replied with a graceful smile, then walked past the mine entrance and took another path.
“She’s going somewhere else?”
Eluana, who had expected her to enter the mine, looked baffled. Instinctively, she began to follow.
Kazhar glanced at the hand pulling him along.
She really has no sense…
Her grip was firm, not letting go. Dragged along helplessly, Kazhar could only follow as Eluana boldly trailed Shavia straight through the soldiers.
Fidgeting, Kazhar tried to wiggle his trapped hand free, but Eluana only tightened her hold. Even while rushing after their quarry, she knew if she let go, Kazhar’s concealment would fail.
The dew-laden night breeze brushed Eluana’s hair, carrying its scent over to Kazhar.
It smelled of lavender.
Fresh and vivid, enough to make his heart tremble.
