~Chapter 90~
The Duke spoke quietly to his son.
“Rubellot’s master has given permission. Do you still see a problem?”
“……”
“Lady Shariette came all the way to support you as your physician, yet your attitude is poor.”
“……”
A silence colder than the eternal snows of the mountaintops fell.
Noxian’s gaze turned to his father, then slowly to Shariette.
He let out a short, cold laugh. The corners of his lips curved sharply.
Shariette swallowed hard.
He was angry.
Very angry.
Yet she didn’t understand why.
‘He said it was dangerous because of the curse in the sanctuary, so I asked for permission before entering. What’s wrong with that?’
It wasn’t like she ignored his word — she got permission from the head of the family himself, the Duke.
The story went back to earlier that morning.
Four hours earlier — Rubellot Castle
Unable to sleep all night, Shariette went to find the Duke.
He was preparing to depart for the sanctuary.
“Your Grace. I have a request.”
“…!”
The Duke almost dropped the hilt of his sword, eyes wide in shock as he turned toward her.
Even his aide, who stood calmly nearby, now lifted his head with interest.
“Lady Verdette? A request? Please, tell me anything… anything at all!”
His expression remained serious, but his voice was filled with excitement.
She had made a request!
And she came to him first — not to his son!
He wanted to run and tell his wife immediately.
“Doesn’t it seem she finds me the most difficult to approach?”
“Of course, when you keep calling her ‘Lady Verdette’ so stiffly. That creates distance.”
“But if someone hard to approach comes too close, it might scare her.”
“Don’t worry. Once she gets used to you, Shariette will open her heart too.”
Finally — finally he had helped ease her difficulties!
The Duke looked at her expectantly.
“Today’s ceremony is at the sanctuary. I’d like to accompany you. I heard only those with permission may enter, so… if Your Grace allows, could I come?”
Shariette’s reasoning was simple.
For now, the true master of Rubellot was Ereve Rubellot, the current Duke.
No matter what Noxian said, the Duke’s permission was final.
She didn’t understand complex politics or diplomacy, but she was quick to grasp a simple hierarchy.
Within the household, Marian held great influence, but the one with ultimate authority inside and outside the family was the Duke.
Especially in families like Rubellot — like Argen — where guardians, blessings, and secret magic were inherited by blood.
“For something like this? Of course, I’ll allow it.”
The Duke, not knowing she carried Argen blood or Latium’s blessing, nodded easily.
“There may not be much to see, but with someone as skilled as you, we’ll feel secure if anything happens.”
“Thank you.”
She bowed deeply. But before she could leave, the Duke called her back.
“By the way… may I also call you Shariette, like Marian does?”
So it came to be that:
Shariette achieved her goal of entering the sanctuary, and the Duke was delighted to be free from his feelings of exclusion.
The only unhappy person was Noxian, who had opposed it firmly — only to be outmaneuvered by both of them.
As the silence grew heavy, Shariette rolled her eyes.
Look at that. She had entered without any problem.
But even she knew — this wasn’t the moment to speak.
And Noxian’s aura only grew harsher, as if he could see right through her thoughts.
“Noxian Rubellot. If there’s no issue, return to your place.”
At last the Duke broke the silence.
“You’re the one who insisted we compress a month’s schedule into two weeks. Every second is precious — what are you doing now?”
“…I’ll prepare.”
With a dry reply, Noxian turned and walked toward the entrance.
It was built of stone pillars and arches, open without doors.
He left without looking back.
‘At this size, even if they built doors, they’d be impossible to open and close.’
Shariette forced herself to think of something else.
“Lady Shariette, don’t take it to heart.”
The Duke patted her shoulder twice.
“He’s upset that his task was taken away — by his father, the Duke himself.”
Maybe that was it.
‘But still, he wouldn’t have given me permission.’
Shariette rubbed the ache in her chest and followed after the Duke.
“When we reach the altar, stay with the knights and retainers. Noxian and I will each light the sacred fire. Once we wait a little, the flames will rise at the center too.”
He explained the ceremony simply.
“After that, it’s rather boring. The consecration spreads across the land through the ley lines, but you won’t see much from here. Once outside though, it’ll be quite the sight.”
Shariette summarized in her head.
‘So basically… light the fire and wait.’
The Sanctuary
A massive cave carved from the cliff.
At its heart stood an ancient stone altar.
The uneven ridges along the walls looked like a dragon’s spine.
Light streamed down through holes in the ceiling.
Dust floated within the beams.
Centuries of time layered upon these stones.
It felt like a place where time itself flowed separately, sealed off from the world.
Shariette thought it might be a giant coffin where a god slept.
The Duke and Noxian stood on opposite ends of the altar.
“Let’s begin.”
With no grand chants, the Duke’s single command began the ritual.
“…!”
Shariette gasped.
‘Light the fire and wait, he said.’
He hadn’t said the fire would be lit with blood!
Without a torch, they cut their palms and let the blood drip down.
From there, the flames burst upward.
Other than that, the ritual was simple, steady — almost dull.
Until a low, humming voice cut through the silence, like the wind itself.
「After a thousand years, you bring me something amusing.」
At first, people thought they had misheard. Or that it was a joke.
But then a rumbling laugh echoed through the ground.
In an instant, tension spread.
The Pendragon knights snapped into formation.
Shariette looked to Noxian.
He frowned and gripped the hilt of his sword with his free hand.
「Of all the offerings I’ve received, this one pleases me most.」
“…!”
It all happened in an instant.
“Young Duke!”
The white flame of one sacred fire roared upward — and Noxian vanished.
He disappeared like smoke, gone in the blink of an eye.
“My lord!”
The knights rushed forward, but something invisible exploded outward.
They were all flung back at once.
Dust rose like mist.
“What is this…? The trial isn’t supposed to begin yet…?!”
Trial?
Shariette turned to the one person who seemed to understand.
The Duke of Rubellot, standing by the red flames.
For the first time, she saw fear on his face.
The fear of loss.
Her eyes met his — like mirrors.
And she realized her face must look the same.
No.
“Your Grace, please give me permission.”
She didn’t want to lose him.
“What? Lady Shariette, suddenly—”
“Hurry. Please. Give me permission to do anything — anything at all.”
The Duke drew his sword before answering.
Dark steel shone with rising red aura.
He didn’t know why Shariette kept asking for permission since morning, but now wasn’t the time to question it.
“I permit it. I grant permission — but stand back for now—”
The words weren’t even finished before Shariette acted.
Her ring was burning hot against her skin.
She refused to lose him.
Her mind blazed white.
Without hesitation, she leapt through the white flames where Noxian had disappeared, shouting like a scream:
“Noxian Rubellot!”
A blinding red flash exploded.
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