Chapter 7 – Part 4

Since it was a dangerous place, Ricardo took the lead. Before becoming the head butler, he was also a well-trained knight, making him perfect for this kind of task as Marsden’s close aide.

Marsden followed Ricardo up the steep path. Despite the chilly air, he thought of Olivia’s face. And why he had orchestrated this situation.

“Lady Bertram, shall we make a deal?”

A few days ago, as soon as Olivia granted him an unofficial leave, Marsden made contact with Ronae in secret. Although Gael’s surveillance was strict, it wasn’t too difficult for Marsden to meet with Ronae. After all, it was just Gael.

“When we spoke before, you mentioned that you wanted to escape from Gael Abyss, right?”

“Yes, Duke.”

Olivia didn’t know, but Marsden had a relationship with Ronae that was neither entirely friendly nor entirely hostile, making it convenient for them to use each other.

Marsden was convinced that the sorcerer who received Harry Palmer’s commission was residing in the castle Ricard mentioned.

However, instead of informing Olivia about it, he created a fake hideout. It wasn’t easy, but he managed it with meticulous planning.

“Find an opportunity to meet Olivia. And in exchange for this, ask her to help you escape. Tell her you secretly stole the map from Count Abyss. If you can shed some tears to disrupt Olivia’s thoughts, even better.”

At any rate, the current Olivia openly expressed her hatred and disgust towards Gael, so if she found evidence to pressure him further, she wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

And if it wasn’t just a misconception, she was worried about him. She wanted the curse commissioned by Harry Palmer to be lifted quickly, probably not because of Gael Abyss but to protect him.

“……Understood. But, if I may, why are you doing this?”

That was why Marsden was certain Olivia would fall into the trap.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I don’t want the Marchioness to be in danger.”

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, Ronae was concerned about Olivia despite their rather uncomfortable relationship.

It must have been Ronae’s timid and normal nature that caused cracks in her relationship with Gael. For Marsden, there was no reason not to exploit that situation.

“I don’t like Buddy being anxious because of me. But what I hate even more is…”

Marsden let out a low, twisted laugh.

“I hate the idea of Olivia getting hurt more than dying. If it’s because of me, I’ll kill myself.”

Despite resembling the Gael he despised so much, Marsden was willing to become a worm.

To protect Buddy, he was willing to crush his own life like a worm.

Of course, once this matter was over, he could foresee what kind of treatment he would receive from Olivia. She might tell him she never wanted to see him again. And she had every reason to say so.

He had never really thought about what to do after that. Seeing the scar on Olivia’s neck had driven him mad, and he hadn’t formulated any plan.

‘What should I do now?’

As he moved toward the remote castle like an assassin, Marsden fell into contemplation. If she were as clever as he believed, it wouldn’t take long for her to realize the cave was fake and who had set it up. As Ricardo had discussed, Buddy would be furious.

She would be angry not just because she missed the evidence to further pressure Gael Abyss, but because Marsden had deceived her in this manner. He could not predict how Olivia would retaliate, but he knew it might be better to be hit than to face her wrath now.

‘She wouldn’t have been shocked by the corpse, right?’

Since she had lost her memory, it would essentially feel like seeing a dead body for the first time.

The corpse had belonged to a sorcerer who was originally sentenced to death by a novice executioner’s axe in the imperial prison. However, Marsden used him for his plan and ended his life swiftly with his sword. In a way, it was merciful, and the sorcerer accepted Marsden’ blade without resistance.

“I’ll handle it, Duke.”

“Alright.”

Marsden gathered his thoughts and followed Ricardo into the castle with swift and precise movements. The thorns wrapped around the castle walls were nothing.

Whether the sorcerer was colluding with Gael Abyss and staying in the Abyss territory, or if he was unrelated to Gael, was something they needed to determine through proper interrogation. Naturally, the former would be more beneficial.

‘What a filthy smell.’

Marsden’s face slightly contorted as he reached the main building. The stench of decaying magic was pervasive.

‘So, you tormented Olivia with this garbage.’

Vowing to break his limbs while keeping him alive, Marsden followed Ricardo into the main building.

Though trained swordsmen stood guard here and there, they couldn’t defeat Marsden and Ricardo, who were practically assassins. The scent of blood gradually filled the corridor. They soon reached the third floor.

“……Who’s there?”

Perhaps he had smelled the blood mixed with the scent of magic. A man with his hood pulled down deeply stood at the door of what seemed to be a workshop, aiming a gun.

‘A gun.’

Seeing that he had a small pistol, which was hard to acquire, it was clear he had strong backing. This too was something Marsden needed to find out.

“Who are you…… Ugh!”

Even if this sorcerer wasn’t human, he couldn’t defeat the two men known as the Empire’s greatest monsters. Ricardo instantly knocked the gun out of the man’s hand with his sword and slammed him to the ground.

“Ugh……”

Due to the side effects of the magic, the man groaned as the pain seemed to be more intense. Ricardo removed the man’s hood with an indifferent expression. Underneath, the man was wrapped in bandages all over his body.

“This isn’t our first meeting, is it?”

“…!”

When Marsden smiled, the man flinched around his eyes. It seemed that the man also recognized Marsden, who was famous as a magic hunter. Marsden’s smile deepened.

“How fortunate to meet someone I’ve only seen on wanted posters. Should I thank Harry Palmer for this?”

“Ha… Harry must have… given away my hideout… ugh!”

Marsden gently stepped on the trembling man’s wrist. The man’s face, already full of wrinkles and liver spots, looked even more corpse-like. He seemed more like a living dead than he did in his wanted poster.

“Harry isn’t that smart. He didn’t even know what you looked like. You were just destined to die by my hands. Isn’t that right?”

Marsden applied more pressure to the wrist he was stepping on. The sorcerer clung to Marsden’s ankle as if begging.

“Please, spare me. I only accepted the deal because it wasn’t a complicated spell. I’ve only succeeded in magic a few times in my life…”

The sorcerer couldn’t finish his sentence. Marsden, having lifted his foot, kicked him in the abdomen.

“I know. I killed all those who were as good as me, so there’s no way your curse would work properly. I’m just angry that people like you made her suffer.”

Marsden knelt on one knee and picked up the gun that had fallen to the floor.

“Who gave you this? No, you’re not in a state to talk, so just nod if it’s true. Did Gael Abyss give you this?”

The sorcerer’s face contorted as if he was about to foam at the mouth. Marsden pulled the hammer of the gun and aimed it at the sorcerer’s temple with a practiced hand. The sorcerer’s eyes bulged in fear.

“One last question. Is Gael Abyss the one behind you?”

Though a short question, it implied whether Gael Abyss was aware of the dealings between them.

The sorcerer nodded. He clung desperately to any possibility of survival.

“Haha!”

The laughter was so hearty and clear that it made the sorcerer’s knees go weak.

“Thanks for answering… but that’s that.”

Marsden pressed the gun barrel closer to the sorcerer’s head.

“Anyway, we’ll find out when we search this place, so there’s no reason to let you live.”

“Please… spare me…”

That was not possible. Marsden felt that seeing this man’s blood would bring him some relief. He slowly squeezed the trigger.

At that moment, a strange presence was felt. It was oddly familiar and friendly, yet fierce and threatening…

‘Fierce?’

Just as Marsden was about to rise.

“Yaaaah!”

The window shattered with a crash, and glass shards scattered across the floor.

“You insane bastard, I’ll kill you first!”

“Stop, Marchioness! Let this task fall to me, Sir Glenn!”

“Rather, if you command me, I’ll gladly cut off the Duke’s head and present it to you, Marchioness!”

“…”

Marsden looked at the beautiful woman who was charging at him like a bull and the two knights trying to restrain her. Marsden hid the gun behind his back, trying to gauge the situation.

“Give me the gun! You rotten bastard. I’ll kill you first.”

Olivia growled, emanating murderous intent towards Marsden.

“You ungrateful wretch. I won’t close my eyes until I crush your head.”

“Marchioness, please calm down and listen to us first!”

Ricardo waved his arms and stood in front of Marsden to block her.

“This man just confessed that Gael Abyss is his master. This proves that Count Abyss is deeply involved in magic!”

Olivia, who was about to tear Marsden apart, finally calmed down at those words. Glenn and Bay also loosened their grip on Olivia with relief.

“It’s natural for you to be angry. But for now, how about we take this man into custody and interrogate him thoroughly? He might be the one who tried to kill you. Therefore, it is only right that you, Marchioness, oversee his questioning. Right, Duke?”

Ricardo desperately signaled Marsden to agree. Marsden stood up.

“Of course.”

Marsden and Olivia’s gazes clashed fiercely in the air.

It was the beginning of a war without any concessions.