chapter 12 – “Caught in a Spell”
“Wait a moment.”
Bella couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped her lips.
When she turned around, weary and on edge, she saw a man cloaked entirely in black—from head to toe, even his face shrouded by his robe.
Unlike the previous man who had worn a similar robe but left his face visible, this one clearly had no intention of leaving any trace behind.
Just like the masked man on the rooftop who had stolen the box earlier.
Or… perhaps the first man, who exposed his face so carelessly, was the strange one?
“Who are you?”
Sir Roim swiftly moved in front of her again, shielding her as he had before. Bella stepped out from behind him and pushed his arm aside.
“Right, what business do you have here? Are you after the same thing as the others?”
“I am.”
“What a troublesome little trinket this auction brought me. Unfortunately for you, someone already ran off with the goods.”
“…”
She motioned toward the direction the two men had disappeared, but the robed man simply shook his head.
“Madam, I have no interest in cheap decoys.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I know you swapped the item inside the box.”
He knew.
He knew she had switched the real ring inside the auction box with the fake one she had prepared. His unwavering gaze never once flicked to the direction she had pointed—his eyes were locked solely on her.
“I want the real one.”
“The box was already taken by—”
“I said I’m not interested in those fools. I know it was a trick.”
“…”
He already knew. There was no point denying it further. Bella gave a small, silent nod.
Whether he saw it or not, hidden behind Sir Roim as she was, remained unclear.
“Who the hell are you?”
“We don’t have time. Stay quiet.”
“What nonsense is this?!”
Swish—
“Urgh—what the…?!”
The man waved his hand, and Roim suddenly stiffened, groaning in confusion.
“Sir Roim? What’s wrong?”
“Madam! Run!! That bastard’s using magic!!”
“…What? Magic?”
‘No way.’
Bella’s eyes widened in shock as she turned toward the robed figure. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of a magician.
Sir Roim’s face was contorted with effort, straining to move as though fighting invisible chains—but not a single finger budged.
“Run!! Now!!”
He shouted again, and Bella finally snapped out of her daze, instinctively stepping back. The man raised his hand toward her.
“No!!”
Roim bellowed with all his might, even though he couldn’t move.
“Don’t move, Madam. One more step, and you’ll end up like that knight.”
Gulp—
Her foot froze mid-step. Trapped, like a butterfly in a spider’s web. She swallowed hard.
“What do you want?”
“As I said… the real one. The one you have.”
“…This?”
Bella clutched the left side of her cape with both hands. The man’s eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the exact spot.
“It’s there, isn’t it.”
“Ah!”
“Madam!!”
He murmured something under his breath and swept his hand again. Bella’s feet left the ground slightly, and her hands were forced open.
She tried to reach out again, but some unseen force surrounded the cape like a barrier, keeping her from touching it.
His fingers began to move in a strange, precise pattern—and something stirred inside her cape.
“Don’t touch her!”
The man whispered something.
“Slot.”
Bella heard it clearly this time.
‘Slot?’
Now that she thought about it, before he cast the spell on Roim, he had murmured something too…
Then, with a swift pulling motion, he dragged something through the air—a small black leather pouch flew from inside her cape directly into his outstretched hand.
“So this is where you hid it.”
“H-How did you…?”
He opened the pouch, inspected the contents, and nodded. Then he tied it shut again with practiced care.
“I’ll be taking this.”
With those parting words, he muttered once more—and vanished. It was as if some unseen force yanked him out of the air, pulling him into the distance.
Only after he disappeared did the magic break.
Bella and Roim both dropped to the ground, their feet finally touching earth again.
“What in the world… Madam! Are you all right?!”
“Sir Roim. Let’s get out of here. Now.”
She checked her limbs and made sure everything still worked. Then she called to the coachman, who had been hiding behind the carriage in terror.
Roim and Bella climbed inside, and the coachman, clearly rattled, cracked the reins.
The carriage sped away, jolting violently as it gained speed.
Inside, Roim looked deeply ashamed.
“I’m sorry, Madam. I failed to protect you.”
“Don’t say that. It wasn’t your fault. Anyone would’ve been caught off guard.”
“But still—”
“And a magician? That’s not someone a knight can handle easily. I was expecting mercenaries or thieves, not this.”
“The Mage Tower…”
“Roim. As I said before we left—this entire incident stays secret. Especially the magician.”
“…Understood. But Madam… If you knew someone might come after the ring, why didn’t you take more guards? If you’d moved officially, none of this would’ve happened.”
“I couldn’t obtain that ring through official channels. If I showed up with an escort, they’d know who I am. And besides… we’re both safe. That’s all that matters.”
“You took a reckless risk, though.”
“Perhaps. But it paid off, didn’t it?”
Roim grumbled, but Bella could tell his frustration came from genuine concern. It made her smile rather than feel offended.
Then his eyes fell on her disheveled cape, and his face turned serious again.
“That man… How did he know the ring had been switched?”
“He must’ve had help. Probably that auction hall attendant.”
“The employee?”
“The first one was real. But the second—after we switched the ring—he wasn’t the same person. The face matched, but his wrist was too pale, and his clothes were slightly off. Especially the perfume.”
“…That’s incredible. I never noticed.”
“I’ve studied that ring. Of course I’d be extra cautious. Don’t blame yourself. They must’ve overheard us and used magic to impersonate the staff. I was sure when I handed him a silver coin and he didn’t react.”
“Silver coin?”
Bella nodded and pointed toward her ear—but before she could explain further, the carriage jolted violently.
“Ah—!”
“Madam, are you all right?! Another attack?!”
Startled by the sudden lurch, both Bella and Roim tensed up.
But then the coachman shouted back.
“Apologies! I didn’t see the ridge on the left. That was my fault!”
“…It’s all right.”
Bella exhaled, tension easing. But Roim kept watching the surroundings, wary.
“You can relax now, Roim.”
“They might attack again.”
“No… I don’t think they will.”
She couldn’t bring herself to explain the reasoning. That she’d already fought off three mysterious pursuers—just as many as there were competitors for the ring.
Roim eyed her curiously but said nothing.
Finally, he asked, “Madam… May I ask one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you choose me? Out of all the knights of the duchy… I heard you picked me personally.”
“Well…”
She couldn’t tell him the truth.
Before she returned in time, when no one else volunteered to escort her, only Roim had stepped up.
When the silence in the hall had become unbearable, when it seemed like no one would raise a hand—Roim had.
She never forgot that moment.
“Maybe because you seemed the most dependable. And even if I hadn’t chosen you, I have a feeling you would’ve volunteered anyway, wouldn’t you?”
“…I…”
He had.
Everyone else hesitated, but Roim had already decided—if no one else volunteered, he would.
“Because no one else would have.”
“Madam…”
“It looks like we’re almost at the transfer point.”
The carriage slowed.
When it stopped completely, Roim stepped out first and offered his hand, escorting her with careful grace.
They watched as the rental carriage disappeared down the road, then waited as the duchy’s own carriage approached.
“Let’s go home, Madam.”
“Yes. The butler’s probably waiting.”
Once aboard the duchy’s carriage, they finally removed the stifling masks they’d worn.
The duchy had a discreet side gate for covert movements. Since Bella had only taken a single knight with her, she’d opted for secrecy.
Naturally, the butler had objected.
[Absolutely not! The duchess, escorted by just one knight and sneaking out a side door?!]
[Butler…]
[You need at least five knights, preferably ten.]
[Even the Duke only takes two or three when he goes out.]
[That’s because the Duke is capable of defending himself! You, Madam, cannot protect yourself!]
The butler had been unyielding—until Bella invoked her title as Duchess and overruled him.
As she snuck out with Roim, she could already imagine the butler anxiously waiting for her return.
“Madam…!”
Sure enough.
“Butler, I’m fine. No need to worry.”
“Thank goodness. Please, come inside.”
“Yes.”
Back through the side door. The butler’s face looked more worn than ever. He must’ve suffered a lot while she was out.
She felt a pang of guilt.
[Sorry, butler. Whether before or after I returned in time, you’ve always seemed so tired.]
“Come, Madam. I’ll have the maids prepare a bath.”
“Good idea. I look nothing like a Duchess right now.”
Without her handmaids to help tidy up, she was a mess.
When she gave a sheepish smile, the butler’s frown deepened.
Only after reaching her room did Bella finally let her guard down.
She collapsed into her favorite window-side chair, bathed in golden light, and sighed deeply.
It was finally over.
“Madam, let me assist with your bath.”
“One moment. Everyone else, leave the room. I’m too tired for fuss.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Once the maids exited, Bella turned to Karen, who was about to help her undress.
“Karen, before anything else, could you bring me a cup of Langron tea?”
“Right away, Madam.”
Karen left, and not long after, there was a knock at the door.
Knock knock—
“Come in.”
It was Roim.
Bella greeted him warmly and extended her hand. He stepped forward and placed something in her palm—a pendant, shaped like a knight’s crest.
When she pulled on the center, a soft click echoed—and it opened, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside was the real Oksana’s Ring.
She smiled, deeply satisfied.
The game wasn’t over yet.
