‘Isn’t this more serious than I thought?’

On her way back from a charity bazaar, Leah was deep in thought inside the carriage.

The war of roses and lilies – at first, she thought it was just another malicious social circle rumor targeting her. But the rumors were more persistent than expected, and after Lady Seigan and Baron Durford went missing, they more tenaciously pointed to her as the culprit.

The fur muffler that was once a simple act of kindness had transformed into evidence, and her older brother Ruyan hadn’t even been attending social events lately, yet he had long been misunderstood because of her.

She had thought it would blow over, but…

‘I put up sapphire earrings at half price at today’s bazaar, and no one made a bid!’

Usually, anything that Peirlily had worn would have sold for several times its worth with a premium. Her instincts from her past life in a capitalist society told her so.

‘This is dangerous. It means my reputation is damaged enough that they won’t even buy this.’

Just as Leah decided she needed to come up with a plan quickly, it happened.

Thud.

She felt an unusual vibration from the driver’s seat. There was a sound of something heavy falling against the wall. As she swallowed, the carriage door opened silently.

A person wearing a black mask lunged at Leah.

“Disapp…!”

Her body was pinned down before she could scream.

She could see the masked person’s eyes as they covered her mouth and pressed down. The pitch-black eyes curved into a smile as they looked at Leah.

Black hair, black eyes.

It was that man from the inn.

“You, you’re…!”

“Archaik.”

Leah’s eyes widened at the man’s words.

‘Why would a kidnapper reveal their name?’

Wouldn’t they usually try to hide their identity? Leah froze with an ominous feeling. Did it not matter if he revealed his name? Because she would die soon?

Archaik’s smile deepened. How cute that his mage was clearly thinking hard while looking at him even in her terror.

How adorable indeed. Archaik licked his dry lips. He felt satisfied and relaxed, like a successful hunt. He kindly informed Leah.

“Remember it well. From now on, this is the only name you’ll be calling.”

“What?”

As Leah questioned, Archaik pressed his palm against her lips. He whispered.

“You’re going to run away like this.”

Her blue eyes trembled. Archaik liked that expression.

“A childish lady who couldn’t handle her crimes and punishment – that’s how we’ll play it. Once we reach the border and change to a different carriage, your identity will be changed. No longer Lady Leah Piert of Peiren, but a new identity befitting my mage.”

Leah understood the situation.

She now knew why Lady Seigan’s unrelated disappearance had been tied to her. It was all orchestrated for this kidnapping.

Just as the blood-stained fur muffler was found after Lady Seigan disappeared, Baron Durford and Lady Seigan’s clothes and handkerchiefs would be found in this carriage after her kidnapping.

And whoever planned all this would obviously manipulate public opinion in social circles.

‘So Lady Seigan and Baron Durford’s disappearances were indeed connected to Leah Piert! After committing such crimes, she ran across the border because she couldn’t face the consequences!’

She never imagined she had fallen so deeply into a trap she knew nothing about. Leah felt wronged, angry, and scared.

She was terrified that everything might go exactly as this man and his conspirators wanted. Tears fell from her eyes as she glared at Archaik.

His hand loosened. Leah shook her head and asked.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

“You’re the one.”

Archaik stared at her persistently. When she flinched, his brows furrowed.

“Why do you reject me?”

His voice was full of incomprehension.

“What do you mean why?”

Leah asked back in disbelief.

“Is that something you should say while kidnapping someone?”

“Are you really arguing with me right now?”

His expression showed genuine surprise.

“You’re mine anyway. My mage, created with my mana.”

She stared blankly at Archaik. A golden flame flickered briefly in his black eyes.

‘Helix said golden eyes are the eyes of a Dragon.’

She now understood what Helix had meant back then.

‘Leah, Dragons have an exceptional possessiveness over what’s theirs, especially their mana. If the Dragon who originally owned the Dragon mana you received is alive, he will surely become obsessed with you.’

This man was that crazy Dragon Helix had warned about.

‘What should I do? Helix!’

Leah bit her lip while calling for him internally.

‘This guy seems even crazier than you said.’

***

Archaik stared greedily at Leah biting her lip. She was indeed different.

‘Mage.’

Archaik found time spent with other humans horrific.

It felt tedious and stifling, like time was being stretched out unnecessarily, and everything felt trivial.

It was like a talented student meant for the academy being stuck in a rural school, or someone destined to be a Swordmaster being tied down to farming with just a rake in hand – he always felt trapped in a world that didn’t suit him.

But Leah Piert was different.

‘A mage created with my mana.’

In a colorless world, she alone seemed to radiate light, emanating vitality and mana.

She was obviously meant to follow him, and yet.

Archaik thought about why she showed hostility toward him. His black eyes narrowed.

“…Is it because of that silver-haired bastard?”

Leah shrank back, startled by the low growl.

‘So I’m right.’

Now certain, Archaik gripped Leah’s shoulder.

“I am your master. You need to… understand that more clearly.”

The Dragon’s overwhelming presence bore down on her.

As she froze like a frog before a snake, Leah clutched her contractor’s ring tightly and called out internally.

‘Helix!’

Whoosh…

At that moment, the wind tilted the carriage backward.

Crash!

A large tree fell, blocking the carriage’s path, making the horses neigh loudly. Inside the carriage that rocked violently back and forth, Leah panted in confusion.

An enraged Archaik reached out.

“Did you do this?”

“How would I know?”

“You insolent…!”

As Archaik tried to intimidate Leah again, he scratched his own throat with the hand that had been reaching for her. Though he was clearly trying to speak, no voice came out.

“Your Highness!”

The masked person who hurriedly opened the carriage door collapsed. Outside the stopped carriage, three or four masked figures could be seen lying fallen.

‘Now!’

Her instincts screamed that this was the moment to escape. Leah tried to stand up. However, she couldn’t move an inch, as if all her energy had been completely drained.

Archaik, who had been scratching the floor while clutching his throat, reached for Leah’s ankle.

Pop.

Suddenly, familiar mana poured into her body, and strong arms pulled her away.

“Helix?”

“I can only maintain this briefly, so we need to hurry.”

The arms holding Leah were tense with urgency. She was carried out of the carriage in Helix’s embrace. The horses and masked figures were all foaming at the mouth and twitching as they lay fallen.

“Ca… catch…”

Archaik’s voice came from inside the carriage. Even as they lost consciousness, the masked figures reached out toward Leah in response to that command.

‘What’s with these people? They’re like zombies…!’

She shuddered at their blind obedience. As Leah backed away hesitantly, Helix untied one of the fallen horses from the carriage and infused it with mana to bring it over.

“Leah, quickly!”

He placed Leah on the mana-revived horse and swiftly mounted behind her.

Neigh. The horse, alone among the living, galloped away rapidly. Leah’s hands holding the reins trembled. Helix gently covered them with his own.

“Helix, how did you do that?”

“I absorbed his and the surrounding mana.”

He had mentioned that absorbing mana was one of a guardian’s abilities. Experiencing it firsthand showed how terrifying that power was.

“So that’s what it feels like… to have mana absorbed.”

“With my current strength, I can only maintain it briefly, so we need to get far away quickly.”

***

Night in the capital.

While the Piert Ducal Family was in turmoil, other nobles were enjoying their entertainment.

“Heh…”

Lord Trow, drinking at a party, let out a small laugh.

He was in a very good mood these days.

‘You handled that well.’

It was because he had received praise from Count Trow for the first time in a while.

‘Who knew that foolish Baron Durford would be this useful.’

Lord Trow had disliked Baron Durford.

Everything about him was irritating – the way he acted high and mighty about being part of the royal family despite being a bastard, his confident attitude as if he still had his former handsome looks, and how he shamelessly kept begging Grand Duke Calosi for favors.

Yet he had put up with him because his father told him to keep a close watch on the man.

‘How refreshing that I don’t have to grovel to that bastard anymore!’

As his mood lightened and he became excited, his attention turned elsewhere.

‘Should I visit the secret club after so long?’

It had been quite a while since he’d properly enjoyed himself, always having to mind his father and social circles. The madam must have plenty of new girls lined up to his taste.

‘That girl from last time was no good at all. What’s the use of being pretty? With such a strong personality.’

He preferred docile women. Scared women were fine, women who looked up to him were fine, women desperate to please him were fine too. And if he could easily discard them afterward, that was even better.

The new prostitutes flowing into the secret club, country girls or slum dwellers who turned to selling their bodies out of desperation.

He enjoyed how those women desperately tried to please him with their clumsy movements and desperate expressions.

It was amusing to see their obvious vain hopes of improving their fate by catching the eye of a count’s eldest son after he visited them a few times.

It was funny how they would quickly become scared and back down when he educated them about knowing their place.

And when he got bored, he would use them as test subjects.

Lord Trow chuckled as he recalled the pleasant memories. Was there anything sweeter than drinking wine while watching faces begging for their lives?

“…”

Feeling somewhat thirsty, he scratched his neck over his clothes. Noticing Lord Trow’s unconscious gesture, his guard asked in a low voice.

“Shall I contact the regular club?”