Chapter 107
As the Count hurried, Gray lifted Anne into his arms again.
“Why is Anne Ferro here?”
Miss Mighty, who hadn’t noticed Anne until now, asked Gray sharply. He responded nonchalantly.
“I need to settle something with the witch together with Anne.”
“Together? It seems like you just brought her along without her consent.”
Seeing Anne still unconscious despite the commotion, Gray replied sulkily.
“Once the conversation with the witch is over, it won’t be one-sided anymore. Let’s go.”
“…….”
Though not pleased, Miss Mighty reluctantly followed Gray after the Count, who had already started walking ahead, taking cautious steps.
“Ugh… it’s eerie even coming back here.”
The Count shivered as he walked, brushing away goosebumps on his arms. The dense green forest was oddly silent, with no sound or smell at all.
No insects, birds, or animals followed them as they walked. Even after a long time, the path seemed endless, with the scenery remaining unchanged.
“Last time, we reached the witch’s altar quickly, but today the path feels unusually long.”
Out of breath, Count Arthur paused.
“Huff… huff… how long is this path?”
Gray, carrying Anne on his shoulder, was drenched in sweat. Eventually, the group decided to take a short rest.
Gray set Anne down on the ground and sat himself. Even for a slim woman, carrying her on his shoulders for so long would naturally be exhausting.
“She’s still unconscious… did they use a strong drug?”
Gray coughed awkwardly at Miss Mighty’s comment and defended himself.
“No, she’ll wake up soon.”
Miss Mighty scolded him with a look of disdain.
“If you’re trying to win Anne Ferro’s favor, this is the worst way to do it.”
“You don’t know anything—”
Exhaustion made Gray frown, veins bulging on his forehead.
But facing a larger, more threatening, and magically intimidating figure, his aggression quickly dwindled.
“Tch, never mind.”
Miss Mighty watched Gray for a moment, then sighed and stood up.
Seeing her approach Anne, Gray shouted in surprise.
“What are you doing?!”
But the mage didn’t answer and used magic to lift Anne’s body. Slowly, her body floated in the air and gently descended to the ground.
“What are you doing, Miss Mighty!”
“I will leave your sins here for now.”
At the Grand Mage’s final gesture, Anne, now standing on her own feet, slowly opened her eyes.
After losing consciousness in the greenhouse, Anne’s first sight upon waking was a forest densely packed with trees under a darkened twilight.
“Gasp—!”
Anne took a deep, staggering breath. Regaining her balance, she looked around and realized she was standing in the middle of a strange, quiet, and scentless path.
“Are you awake, Anne Ferro?”
“Miss Mighty?”
The mage seemed to retract the hand she had extended.
A short distance away stood Count Arthur and, just one step beside him, Gray… Benton!
“You bastard! Where’s my brother?”
Anne immediately showed her anger and rushed at Gray.
“Anne, calm down. Your brother is safe in Tegenes, I swear—”
Gray held her arms and tried to stop her, awkwardly explaining himself. Excuses poured out: he had no choice but to meet her, and he needed her to negotiate with the witch—nothing of real value.
“Cut the nonsense. You kidnapped me all the way to the witch’s forest—what are you planning?”
“I’m going to demand that the witch properly fulfill the contract. Anne, you’re my woman. You love me and should be happy with me. If you risked your life for me, the least you can do is this!”
“You’ve really lost your mind—”
Anne stepped back to avoid Gray’s advancing form. She bit her lip, letting a stream of curses escape, when she noticed a figure approaching from the edge of the forest.
“……!”
Recalling that very few could enter this forest, Anne inhaled deeply and ran toward the figure.
“Damn it—!”
Thinking Anne was trying to escape, Gray turned sharply and reached to grab her. But a tall, lean man appeared just in time, blocking him.
Seeing the enraged face, Gray paused, and Anne swiftly dodged his reach, running toward the man.
“Hannibal!”
Recognizing him up close, Anne shouted his name in relief.
“Anne—”
Hannibal, seeing she was safe, sighed in relief and called her name. Without a word, they embraced tightly, letting the warmth and solidity of his body reassure Anne. Hannibal Clyde had returned to her side.
“Anne, are you hurt anywhere?”
Hannibal inspected her from head to toe, checking her hair, face, shoulders, and down to her feet.
“I’m fine.”
Her hair was messy and her clothes dusty, but Anne quickly brushed off the dirt and smiled.
“That’s not fine! The Duke Benton kidnapped you to the witch’s forest. We need to punish him—!”
Hannibal pulled Anne close and shifted his gaze back. Standing before them was a large woman who blocked their view of the Duke and her father. Hannibal recognized her and looked surprised.
“Miss Mighty?”
Unexpectedly appearing, she caught Hannibal off guard. He recalled the memories of when he had once doubted her intentions.
“…Was the negotiation a trick?”
“No.”
Miss Mighty displayed Asad’s ring as she spoke.
“I had to meet the witch. I apologize for what I did for needing your ring, but I didn’t expect Anne Ferro to be dragged here.”
“So you didn’t conspire with my father and the Duke?”
Even so, Hannibal remained skeptical.
“They only offered me a proposal. They promised to bring me to the witch’s forest if I unlocked the box containing the golden key.”
Hannibal frowned at the mention of the golden key, recalling his earlier request to go to the witch’s forest. He also remembered Miss Mighty demanding the key in the middle of the battlefield.
“You were the first to request the golden key from Clyde, weren’t you?”
“I thought it would let me meet the witch. But now I’m more curious why Count Clyde would conspire with the Duke to steal a family relic.”
Miss Mighty naturally shifted her gaze to the others.
“The Duke probably conspired to take your fiancée, but why the Count?”
“I… I—!”
Count Arthur hesitated under everyone’s gaze. Miss Mighty’s sharp eyes then focused on his pocket, where the golden key was hidden.
“Do you know what the golden key is, Count Arthur Clyde?”
“It’s the relic that promises the prosperity of Clyde. I will return it to the witch!”
Though he spoke confidently, his lips trembled in fear and guilt.
“Father?”
Why would he return a relic that ensures the family’s prosperity? Hannibal couldn’t believe it—he hoped his father wouldn’t betray Clyde.
“Don’t look at me like that! Clyde abandoned me first! I’ll use this golden key to achieve my wish!”
With that, Count Arthur turned and ran off.
“Father—!”
Hannibal immediately chased after the Count with Anne, while Miss Mighty and Gray followed.
“Ugh!”
The seemingly endless path finally ended. The area was filled with colorful flowers, shrubs, and trees, with a wide clearing in the center where the witch’s altar stood, decorated with torches.
“Witch! Witch! Show yourself! I’m here! I’ve brought the golden key!”
Count Arthur held the key aloft, shouting. Torches, appearing alone in the empty clearing, flickered violently. Shadows from the flames stretched over the gray altar, forming the shape of a person.
Clink-clink.
Silver hair fell over the witch’s tombstone like moonlight. A tall, pale woman with a vivid violet aura—Moira, the witch.
“You’ve really kept your promise, descendant?”
Her cheerful voice carried a playful tone, yet her presence was overwhelmingly powerful, commanding everyone’s attention.
“Now, give me the golden key.”
She perched on the altar and reached for it. Strangely, the light seemed to shine only around her, making her vividly stand out in the dark, silent forest.
Entranced, Count Arthur stepped forward.
“Father!”
But Hannibal grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around.
“Why are you going this far? What is your father’s wish?!”
Count Arthur laughed faintly, eyes unfocused. Before he could answer, Gray’s voice came from behind Hannibal.
“The Count’s wish is for Clyde to fall.”
Gray chuckled as he passed Anne and approached Hannibal.
“To wish for the family’s ruin… how would the people of Clyde feel if they knew?”
Then Gray turned to Anne.
“Anne, soon being Clyde’s fiancée won’t mean anything. You don’t want to live as the duchess, do you, only to become a woman from a ruined family?”
“No.”
Anne answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Gray Benton, I’d rather be a woman from a ruined family than your wife.”
“Anne Ferro, you really—!”
Gray, enraged, was about to rush at her, when—
“Silence!”
The furious witch cast a spell at Gray, sending him flying with tremendous force. No one dared approach him; Moira’s terrifying gaze kept everyone at bay.
“Hand over the golden key immediately!”
Moira shouted at Count Arthur, extending her hand without leaving the altar.
“Yes… yes…”
Terrified, the Count slowly extended the key.
At that moment, the small key darted like the wind between Moira and the Count—landing in Miss Mighty’s palm.
“How dare you!”
The witch’s furious voice shook the entire forest.
“Argh—!”
Count Arthur fell to the ground in shock, and Hannibal held Anne for support.
But Miss Mighty, seemingly unafraid of the witch’s wrath, raised her hand with the golden key, protected by her magic.
“Is this all you’re bound by, great witch?”
