76. To the Longed-For Home

He remembered the words the Grand Duke of Vellaus had spoken with a broad smile on his face. Soon, he would go to the new medicine workshop the Grand Duke was building and oversee all the production processes there. This matter was to be kept strictly secret.

But then, the sudden attacks by unknown assailants began, and now the Empress Consort knew about the existence of the cure. The trust he had barely managed to hold onto for the Grand Duke of Vellaus crumbled in an instant.

“Did you trust the Grand Duke of Vellaus?”

At Larael’s subtly mocking words, Hobbs removed his hands from his face.

Not long ago, Larael Hedway had been the woman of the Grand Duke of Vellaus. That was something everyone in the empire knew. It wouldn’t have been strange if she was still exchanging information with the Grand Duke.

But her expression and tone were not at all favorable toward him.

“Do you think it was the Grand Duke of Vellaus who tried to harm me, Your Highness?”

Hobbs asked, unable to hide the hostility in his trembling voice.

“Just because I heard about the cure from the Grand Duke doesn’t mean I share his intentions. Tell me what you discussed with him. I can protect you.”

“Your Highness, do you know why the assailants first ransacked my hospital and home, and then tried to kidnap me? It’s because the formula for the cure exists only in my head.”

Hobbs tapped his forehead with his finger as he spoke, a warning implied in his words. If he was harmed, the formula would disappear with him.

“I thought as much,” Larael said, nodding.

“I told the Grand Duke that I had developed the cure, and he was overjoyed, saying he would build a workshop for its production. Once it was completed, I was to manage it.”

“Is that all?”

At Larael’s question, Hobbs swallowed hard.

“In truth, he asked me one more thing. It keeps bothering me.”

Larael watched as his lips trembled.

“He asked if Krauf disease could spread throughout the empire. And he said that if it did, I would have accomplished something that saved the whole empire.”

Larael’s body stiffened at Hobbs’s words. A deep tremor rose from within her.

“Is it possible for it to spread across the entire empire?”

“It’s unlikely, but since it’s a highly contagious disease, if someone deliberately spread it, it would be possible. But patients with Krauf disease are forbidden to travel, so there’s no need to worry.”

From deep within, despair and hatred clawed at Larael’s heart.

‘I never even considered that Herwen might have deliberately spread the disease. That’s what I missed. Why didn’t I think of it?’

Larael, who had always assumed that disease was beyond human control, felt as if she had been struck from behind.

“If it’s him, it’s more than possible.”

She muttered these words in hatred, and both Kali and Hobbs stared at her in surprise.

“Ah… I was just talking to myself.”

Realizing their eyes were on her, Larael made an excuse and continued.

“Are you really the only one who knows the formula?”

“In fact, I did tell the Grand Duke of Vellaus the formula. We even signed a magical contract that he would never reveal it.”

Hobbs spoke hesitantly.

Larael frowned. Hobbs must not have known how dark Herwen’s heart was. For a moment, she resented Hobbs for telling him, but he must have trusted Herwen.

Now, Larael was truly certain. In her previous life, he must have spread Krauf disease throughout the empire. If Hobbs disappeared and Herwen made the cure, it wouldn’t violate the magical contract, so there would be no consequences. Making the cure wasn’t the same as divulging the formula.

It was clear that the reason for trying to kidnap Hobbs was not because they needed the formula, but to monopolize it. If Hobbs had written it down or if someone else knew the formula, they couldn’t just kidnap him, so they searched his surroundings and kept watch.

‘And the reason they didn’t kill him right away was probably because there was a chance the formula was fake. But why didn’t Hobbs ask the Grand Duke for protection?’

“Why didn’t you ask the Grand Duke for protection?”

He couldn’t say it, but Hobbs had a gut feeling that he shouldn’t. Something about it felt off—he remembered the chilling look in the Grand Duke’s eyes when he asked if the disease could spread across the empire.

“….”

Hobbs couldn’t bring himself to answer.

“If I was on the Grand Duke’s side, it wouldn’t be strange if I killed you right now. A magical contract ends if one party dies.”

Despite the chilling content, Larael’s calm tone strangely reassured Hobbs. He even felt certain that she wouldn’t harm him.

Larael let out a deep sigh and fell into thought. She wondered what she would have done if she were Herwen.

‘If I were Herwen, killing Hobbs would be as easy as stepping on an ant. As long as he’s in Kalia, he’s like a rat in a trap.’

But if Herwen found out Hobbs had disappeared, he would surely search for him with everything he had.

“For now, you should hide somewhere safe. We’ll talk about the cure again later.”

***

“To be honest, I wish I could go with you.”

Edward whispered in Larael’s ear. Larael shivered slightly as his breath brushed her ear.

“I’ll miss you too, Your Majesty.”

Their eyes were filled with longing for each other. Edward couldn’t let go of Larael’s hand until the moment she climbed into the carriage. As Larael got in, she quickly leaned out the window.

As soon as she entered the carriage, Nora, without hesitation, began chanting a teleportation spell.

“She’s only going to be gone for a week, isn’t she? There have been times when His Majesty didn’t visit Abella Palace for over a week.”

Marquis Argen spoke to Edward, who stared blankly for a long time at the spot where Larael’s carriage had vanished. Edward glanced down at Marquis Argen.

“It’s completely different when she’s not in the palace.”

“Then just think of her as being at Abella Palace right now.”

“No, how can I pretend she’s here when she’s not? She’s not here!!”

“Then why don’t you just follow Her Highness?”

Edward let out a hollow laugh at Marquis Argen’s words. He had actually tried to go. But the person who had opposed it most fiercely was none other than Marquis Argen, and Edward looked at him with a resentful gaze.

Apparently, it wasn’t easy to become the Tower Master’s disciple, as Nora instantly transported them all to the Hedway estate, much to Larael’s amazement.

“Nora, you’re amazing!!”

At Larael’s words, Nora beamed. She had been able to transport Larael, her two maids, and the escort knights all at once thanks to the magic stones recently mined from the Kayaneuman mine. The stones hadn’t been distributed yet, but a small amount had been given to the Tower for special use. That was why the Tower Master had been in such a good mood lately.

Larael looked around, her eyes growing misty. It had been so long since she’d been home. It hadn’t even been a year since she left the Hedway estate, but for Larael, who had lived through another life, it felt like a very long time. As the familiar scenery she thought she had forgotten spread out before her, memories of her time there came vividly back.

At last, the slowly moving carriage arrived at the Hedway Count’s manor.

The Count and Countess, having been notified in advance, were waiting out front.

As soon as Larael saw them, she hurried down from the carriage and rushed into the Countess’s arms. The Countess had already started to cry, thinking of Larael even before she arrived.

“Father.”

Larael smiled and looked at the Count, who was opening his arms to her. Holding back her overflowing emotions, Larael pressed her lips together and embraced him.