Chapter 10 – The Master of the Northern Social Circle (Part 7)

Reubellina examined the map intently. She recalled her previous experiences. Having managed the trade guild and visited mines before, she racked her brain.

‘Think. What did the miners say before?’

Such accidents were common in mines. The supports often weakened and collapsed, so miners always feared being trapped.

“Although it appears like this on the map, there might be another exit.”

Tartenon nodded at Reubellina’s muttering.

“That’s true. If they worked in the mine, they might have created another path.”

“Ha… Then we should go back the way we came earlier?”

A white hand pointed to a part of the map. It was a path with a particularly protruding section even in the long corridor.

“There’s usually something in such paths.”

“Then we should go this way.”

“Let’s go!”

Reubellina stood up energetically. Although the shock from earlier hadn’t completely subsided, she couldn’t show weakness. She didn’t want to cause more worry to Tartenon, who was already concerned about her.

“Be careful there.”

“Ah…!”

Tartenon caught her waist as she nearly tripped over a stone. Reubellina, who was flailing her arms in the air, barely managed to hold on to his arm.

“Th-thank you.”

Her heart pounded. Reubellina brushed off her skirt, pretending nothing was wrong. It was already a mess, but she felt she had to do something to endure the awkwardness.

“There are many broken stones, so be careful.”

“More importantly, we need to find a way out of here.”

“Is there anything in the pouch Sandy packed?”

“Ah, this isn’t something to use at a time like this.”

The pouch Sandy had given Reubellina was a magic pouch. She had bought it for a high price to store blue and red stones in the subspace, but it had become useless.

Reubellina took out the pouch she had hidden in her bosom.

“This is just a storage pouch.”

“It looks quite expensive.”

“I did pay a lot for it.”

“Because there was something in this mine?”

“Ah, yes.”

Reubellina didn’t deny it. There was no need to hide it from Tartenon.

“It’s not something precious, just some stones I wanted to put in.”

“Stones?”

“Yes.”

Tartenon picked up a rolling stone.

“Like this?”

“No, not like that. Blue and red stones.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Shall we look for them on the way?”

“If that’s what you want.”

Tartenon elegantly bent his waist and extended his hand. His gesture, as if asking for an escort, made Reubellina chuckle.

‘To think I can laugh in this situation.’

Reubellina, thinking she might not be in her right mind, extended her hand toward Tartenon. Despite being in a collapsing mine, she wasn’t afraid.

Holding Tartenon’s hand, Reubellina couldn’t help but smile at the warmth she felt.

“Let’s go!”

Reubellina’s bright voice showed no trace of fear. Tartenon lightly kissed her cheek as she smiled brightly at him.

“Why, all of a sudden…?”

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Reubellina stopped dead in her tracks, forgetting to breathe.

She knew she had to find a way out quickly, but her feet wouldn’t move. It felt like she was held captive by Tartenon’s blue eyes staring at her.

The soft touch on her cheek moved to her lips, and he licked her lower lip. Reubellina couldn’t resist Tartenon.

“Y-you’re crazy…”

“Isn’t that phrase a bit worn out by now?”

His whisper, while still on her lips, was sweet. The fragrant breath passed from his mouth to hers, causing her to involuntarily part her lips slightly. Tartenon’s tongue seized the opportunity and captured her lips.

“Mm!”

The hand on her waist was hot, and the heat rising from inside made it hard to breathe. Tartenon’s blue eyes never left Reubellina’s closed eyes. His gaze swept over her face as if licking it.

Tartenon, trying to control his deepening emotions, lightly bit her lower lip and let go.

“Shall we go now?”

“You’re really…!”

“More later…”

“Just wait a moment.”

Reubellina’s eyes turned serious. She felt she had to speak now. Gathering her thoughts, she opened her mouth.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Tartenon couldn’t help but stop in his tracks at Reubellina’s unwavering gaze.

“Why do you keep doing this to me?”

“You should know by now.”

“You have to say it for me to understand.”

‘Even if I know, I’ll pretend I don’t.’

After all she had been through, she wouldn’t fall for his kindness without a word.

Reubellina steeled herself. She had wanted to ask several times but never had the chance to speak properly. Tartenon was always busy, and whenever they were together, Bruelin or Heather would interrupt.

This was her chance. She didn’t know when she’d be alone with him again.

‘Strangely, whenever we’re together, incidents keep happening.’

She couldn’t ask properly, always swept away by Tartenon’s atmosphere and words. It was ridiculous to ask such questions while trapped here, but Reubellina was calm.

“We started this relationship as a contract, but I want to keep seeing you.”

“Is that all?”

“I want to keep touching you.”

“Don’t say things like that…!”

“I want to keep holding you and kissing you.”

“Stop it!”

Reubellina took a step back from him, waving her hand.

“I think I’ve conveyed my feelings enough. Now, what about you?”

“Well, that’s…”

Reubellina swallowed dryly.

‘How can he come on so strong all of a sudden!’

She wasn’t ready to answer yet.

‘I don’t even know my own feelings, what am I supposed to say.’

Unable to answer immediately, Reubellina remained silent. Tartenon didn’t force her to answer either. He just looked at her with slightly sad eyes.

‘This feels a bit heartbreaking.’

It was the feeling she got whenever Tartenon’s blue eyes were on her. Feeling a sudden guilt, Reubellina cleared her throat unnecessarily.

Sensing the awkwardness, Tartenon spoke first.

“You don’t have to answer right away. Just give me your answer when you’re ready.”

His small voice echoed loudly in the passageway with only the two of them.

“…Shall we go?”

Reubellina repeated what she had said earlier and walked past Tartenon. He quickly followed her. As the torchlight flickered in the dark passage, their shadows flickered along with it.

***

“Is everything sorted out?”

“Yes, sir!”

When Bruelin stepped forward, the knights each responded. The dead remained silent. They had intended to leave at least one alive, but the last one was killed by Neon’s sword. Hemil noticed this but did not intervene. After all, Neon’s death was already determined.

“For now, clear the stones and open the entrance!”

“It will take a long time.”

“Do you suggest we leave those inside as they are?”

Bruelin’s sharp remark was directed at the knights. Startled, they hurriedly moved, and Bruelin did not take his eyes off Neon. Neon, who was moving around and clearing stones, glanced around nervously and then slipped away, saying he would scout the surroundings.

As Neon disappeared beyond the bushes, Hemil approached Bruelin.

“Do we leave him like this?”

“Since His Highness has not given the final order yet, we will wait and see.”

“He will probably try to relay the news outside. The northern nobles might be shaken.”

“His Highness is surely alive, so let’s wait for now.”

With the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess absent, the highest authority here was Bruelin. Hemil bowed to Bruelin.

The fact that the nobles of the North might be shaken didn’t matter. Once Tartenon showed himself, their attitudes would change. The problem was if Tartenon died in there.

Although it was unlikely that someone as skilled as he would lose his life, even the greatest swordsman couldn’t survive if the rescue took too long. Without food, they couldn’t last for days.

This made Bruelin anxious. He tried to steady his mind and urged the knights. By tomorrow, miners would come here, and they could ask them if there were any other passages.

‘Please be safe, Your Grace.’

Meanwhile, Neon, who had slipped away, was tying a letter to the leg of a carrier pigeon. This pigeon was headed for Viverna.

If Viverna learned of this, the plan was for him to go straight to Speraum Castle and seize the Grand Duke’s position. As long as Tartenon did not return alive, this plan could succeed.

Even if only Reubellina died in there, it wouldn’t matter. They could kill the knights who hadn’t bowed to Viverna for failing to protect the precious lady from the capital and weaken Tartenon’s power.

“Everything according to Lady Viverna’s will.”

A faint smile appeared on Neon’s face as he watched the pigeon fly away.

***

The sound of a torch crackling could be heard. Occasionally, the sound of water dripping was also audible. The diminishing flame was a problem, but so was their labored breathing. It indicated that the air in the mine’s passage was decreasing.

“If this continues, we’re in big trouble.”

“We need to find a way.”

Reubellina lowered her body. Tartenon followed suit and walked slowly.

“How much farther do we have to go?”

“Not much left. From here, turn left…”

At that moment, a breeze blew, ruffling Tartenon’s hair. This meant that air was coming in from somewhere. His keen senses didn’t miss the slight breeze. Reubellina blinked, noticing Tartenon’s hair moving.

“It seems to be that way.”

Tartenon moved in the direction Reubellina pointed. There was a small hole where they headed. Small, but noticeable. The mine had dug deep into the mountains, but this area seemed to have been neglected due to the lack of valuable gems.

‘In a way, it’s fortunate.’

It seemed possible to get out by digging around, but the solid stone wall would require considerable effort.

Reubellina felt around the cracked rock wall.

“Do you think we can get out if we break this?”

“We’ll only know if we try.”

Tartenon stood in front of the wall that Reubellina had felt. While he carefully examined the wall, Reubellina looked around. It didn’t make sense that there would be no reason for choosing this direction.

As she scrutinized the area, she picked up a small stone rolling on the ground.

‘A red stone.’

She finally found the reason they had entered the mine.