Chapter 79
“The Real Heidi Eliana”
“Delphian-nim!”
Delphian was taken aback as Heidi suddenly embraced him.
“Ha, Heidi?”
“I’ve missed you so much,” Heidi said, looking up at him with a sincere expression.
Delphian, surprised by her sudden confession, furrowed his brow.
He grabbed Heidi’s shoulders, gently pulling her away from him, and asked, “Is something wrong?”
Heidi shook her head, assuring him that nothing was wrong.
Delphian spoke kindly, his voice softening. “Heidi, if something’s bothering you, you can tell me.”
Heidi hesitated, noticing the worried expression on Delphian’s face. After a moment, she spoke, “…I was worried about some things, but now everything’s okay.”
“You were worried?” Delphian asked, his expression more curious now.
“Yes, but now I think I no longer have to worry, so I’m happy,” Heidi smiled, looking relieved.
Her face clearly showed relief, and while it should have been a moment of happiness, Delphian couldn’t shake the strange feeling of unease that grew inside him. Something about this felt off.
Meanwhile, with Lafer and Calliere
“….”
Lafer awkwardly forced a smile as he met Calliere’s cold gaze, a sword aimed directly at his throat.
To be honest, Lafer understood why Calliere was so angry with him.
‘Seeing the blood from the Lady on the carpet, it was understandable why Calliere would jump to conclusions about me.’
Given the suspicion that Lafer might have kidnapped or killed the Lady, Lafer found it somewhat impressive that Calliere didn’t immediately strike him down, showing some restraint.
But still, Lafer couldn’t help but wonder why he wasn’t attacking him right away.
“What the hell have you been doing?” Calliere snapped.
“What’s with you, Allen?” Lafer asked, turning his confusion toward Allen Petric, who had stood by Calliere’s side. Despite three changes in Tower Lords, Allen had remained as the second-in-command of the Mage Tower, showing absolute loyalty to the Tower.
Lafer couldn’t understand why Allen was glaring at him with Calliere now. He didn’t even seem to have loyalty to the Tower Lord, so why was he on Calliere’s side, eyeing Lafer like this?
Lafer looked at him, truly baffled, while Allen let out a dry laugh, responding sarcastically, “Don’t you know? I’ve told you countless times, haven’t I? I asked you to follow the few rules we have!”
“And?” Lafer responded, curious where this was going.
“’And’? Did you just say ‘and’?” Allen frowned at Lafer’s words. “I told you, follow the rules, but now you’re standing there with a sword, acting like you don’t care. You’ve been slacking off, making jokes, and—”
“Ah…?” Lafer was taken aback by the sudden retort.
Allen seized the opportunity, his anger building. “The Tower Lord disappears, leaving no contact, and the Duke comes to the Tower, saying the Lord kidnapped his guest!”
“W-what?” Lafer stuttered, taken aback.
Allen continued, anger rising. “And I’ve confirmed that the teleportation stone found in the room still had your magic on it!”
With his complaints spilling out like an overflowing dam, Lafer found himself caught off guard. He hadn’t planned for this.
“Allen, calm down—” Lafer started, but Allen cut him off, shouting, “Am I supposed to calm down?!”
Before the argument could escalate further, Calliere stepped in.
“Enough.” Calliere’s voice was cold and final, cutting through the tension.
“I’ll stop supplying Lemstone to the Tower if I see any more incompetence here,” he threatened, his voice laced with power.
Allen, now silent, stared at Calliere in shock, while Lafer shrugged, slightly amused.
“Where is Heidi?” Calliere asked, looking directly at Lafer.
“Lafer, are you talking about Heidi Eliana?” Calliere pressed, his patience thinning.
“Stop repeating yourself. If you say it again, I’ll destroy this room,” Calliere threatened, his voice low but fierce.
Lafer smirked. “I’ll tell you where Heidi is. Just calm down.”
Lafer snapped his fingers, and a magical orb appeared in the air.
“This is what Heidi Eliana looks like now,” Lafer said, gesturing toward the orb.
Calliere’s eyes locked onto the orb, and his expression darkened immediately. The image showed Heidi tightly embracing Delphian Xeros, which made Calliere’s face harden.
For a moment, Calliere simply stared at the image. His grip on the sword tightened, and he pointed it at Lafer’s neck once again.
“Why are you testing my patience, Lafer Wizard?” Calliere growled.
Lafer, raising his hands in mock innocence, responded, “I don’t know why you’re so angry. I gave you exactly what you wanted—where Heidi Eliana is.”
Calliere’s knuckles turned white, and he snapped, “This woman isn’t Heidi! Show me the real Heidi Eliana!”
Lafer’s smile faded slightly as he responded, “Sorry, but this is Heidi Eliana.”
“This is my final warning,” Calliere threatened, his voice sharp.
Lafer raised an eyebrow. “Really? Fine, if you say so, Calliere.”
Calliere’s anger flared, but Lafer continued, “If you want to deny that this woman is Heidi, then I suppose you won’t mind who she’s with, will you?”
Calliere’s gaze shifted back to the orb, focusing on the man beside Heidi.
Delphian Xeros.
Without needing to say it aloud, Lafer continued, “Calliere, do you really think Delphian didn’t recognize Heidi Eliana?”
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in a man who meets with another woman right after kidnapping Heidi. And I certainly don’t care about the woman he’s with.”
Lafer chuckled at Calliere’s response. “Well, that’s awkward. I’m not really one for eavesdropping on lovers, but I guess I’ll have to this time.”
Calliere’s anger reached its peak. “Where is Heidi?”
Calliere’s frustration was almost overwhelming as he tried to make sense of everything, but the voice of Delphian from the orb stopped him in his tracks.
‘Heidi, if something is bothering you, tell me.’
That voice. It was unmistakable. Delphian Xeros.
Calliere’s face twisted as he tried to comprehend the situation. The voice was definitely Delphian’s, but then, the woman’s voice—‘I’m no longer worried. Everything’s fine now.’
That voice was completely unfamiliar.
Lafer’s calm voice cut through the confusion. “I think our plan might’ve had some flaws, Calliere.”
“What do you mean?” Calliere asked, confused.
“That woman isn’t Heidi.”
Calliere’s confusion deepened, his mind racing. “If she isn’t Heidi, then who is she?”
Lafer simply shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter, Lafer?” Calliere snapped.
“Our goal was always Heidi Eliana, Calliere,” Lafer explained. “And who we mistakenly took as a hostage doesn’t concern us anymore.”
Calliere couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He was left speechless, unable to process the information.
His gaze fell back to the orb, where Heidi Eliana’s face stared back at him, looking like someone he thought he knew, yet somehow different.
