Volume IV

Chapter 6. The Hidden Mastermind Reveals Their Face. And Love?

Lucian carried Adelia out of the banquet hall.

People watched them, enchanted.

Everyone except Adelia, who had her eyes tightly shut from embarrassment, saw Lucian’s gentle gaze. After seeing his honey-dripping gaze that seemed unable to contain how lovable she was, no one would claim their marriage was contractual anymore.

“It’s love……”

Someone in the banquet hall muttered.

People agreed with those words. To anyone looking, Lucian appeared deeply in love.

After the couple left the banquet hall, the atmosphere turned awkward.

The only ones excited by this situation were those who enjoyed looking down on and mocking others.

“By the way…… how do we clean up this trash?”

People ridiculed Count Vita who remained alone in the center of the banquet hall.

Thanks to the spotlight that had been illuminating Lucian and Adelia remaining on, the Count was receiving people’s gazes under the bright light.

‘This can’t be happening……”

Count Vita had no more strings to pull.

From when Adelia became Crown Princess until now, during this very short time, the only string he had been holding was Adelia alone. Using the excuse that his daughter was close to the Guild Master, he borrowed money from everywhere and acted arrogant.

But as of today, his connection to Adelia was completely severed.

Though blood ties were important, no one thought blood ties with family who beat and abused them were important.

“His Highness the Crown Prince will handle it appropriately. Though he’s been quiet lately, his nature hasn’t changed.”

“Not just the Crown Prince. I heard His Majesty also cherishes Her Highness tremendously.”

“He won’t survive this. It seems nothing happened until now because the Crown Princess was stopping it…… But now there’s no one to stop them.”

People didn’t sympathize with Count Vita. They merely watched with interest to see what would happen next.

* * *

“…I don’t think I asked for those lines.”

“Isn’t this the picture you wanted? I matched it to that.”

“Since it’s true, I can’t say anything.”

Adelia narrowed her eyes as she remained in Lucian’s arms.

The final words from the banquet hall echoed in her ears. Though she knew they were words that matched her plan, her heart felt unsettled for no reason.

‘Of all places to hear such words, while being carried……”

Lucian’s body, which had increased exercise to shake off thoughts of Adelia filling his head, was even better than before.

His arms had become firmer and thicker, and his upper body was so muscular that even the thick uniform couldn’t hide it. Being in his embrace that was firm yet comfortable seemed to calm her heart.

Lucian only set Adelia down after entering the carriage. The carriage that left the banquet hall headed straight for the palace.

“What will you do now?”

“We’ll send the carriage to the palace like this. We’ll go to the guild.”

After boarding the carriage, Adelia locked all doors and first spread a barrier.

As the carriage left the townhouse and passed through the plaza, Adelia created two human figures from light.

“What is this?”

“If there’s a presence inside a carriage carrying a couple, and they don’t come out, everyone will wait appropriately.”

Adelia spoke casually while refining the figures. She stretched one to match Lucian’s height and reduced the other to match her own size.

While Adelia concentrated, Lucian had to fight the thoughts dominating his mind while pressing his lips tightly.

“Hmm done. Your Highness, where is the holy sword?”

“Ah…… Here it is.”

Lucian tapped the chair he was sitting on.

He stood up and lifted the chair. As the cushion part came off, a small space inside the chair was revealed.

Inside was a rough box that looked like it was carved from stone.

When Lucian opened the box, a noisy voice poured out like a flood.

『Ugh! Can’t you hear my voice? I told you a hundred times to let me out!』

“The box works well.”

“Right? As expected, the stone that held the holy sword couldn’t be ordinary.”

Though it looked like an ordinary stone box, it was actually a stone box carved by Lucian using sword energy.

Since it was the stone that held the holy sword, they didn’t think it would be ordinary. Wanting to use it somehow, she had people secretly bring it. But since ordinary tools couldn’t even scratch it, she received a little help from Lucian.

『You two must be the only humans who would make a box from the stone that held the holy sword!』

“Really? Maybe we can sell it at an auction later.”

『Ugh…… The Guardian of Light chose such a person as its master.』

The holy sword trembled while looking at Adelia. The two still bickered whenever they met.

Lucian seemed used to the situation as he took out the holy sword and closed the chair again.

“Shall we go now?”

Adelia extended her hand to Lucian. Their destination was the guild. When Lucian took her outstretched hand and blinked, the scenery changed instantly.

“Teleporting is certainly fast.”

“Right? You’ll feel less dizzy too.”

The scenery before their eyes changed from the narrow carriage to the spacious top floor of the guild.

Instead of the artificial fragrance in the carriage, the subtle scent of books and ink tickled their noses.

“You’re here.”

“Did you guard the house well?”

“Master…… I decline being treated like a dog.”

“I’m just kidding. First, I’ll go change clothes. This is too uncomfortable. Your Highness, please sit for a moment.”

Adelia sat Lucian in a chair and entered a small room. She threw off the flowing, thin dress and changed into lighter clothes.

The casual wear consisting of a white blouse and navy skirt was comfortable to move in.

Adelia plopped down across from Lucian and threw a glance at Kai.

“Kai, what have you felt so far?”

“Though not strong, I sense unfavorable energy. Our prediction is confirmed.”

“Then there’s no need to hesitate. Let’s do it now.”

Adelia pulled out a notebook with magic formulas written in it from this space. The large, thick notebook was difficult to hold with one hand. The densely written magic formulas showed how difficult and challenging this task was.

Adelia stood up and smiled at Lucian.

“I’ll show you something good. Please stay seated and watch.”

Adelia went to the rug while twisting her long hair into one bundle. Her long hair tied back swayed with each movement.

Adelia lifted the rug in the middle of the room. The pure white magic circle engraved there was in a form even Lucian had never seen before.

Adelia knelt down on one knee on the floor. She placed her hand on the magic circle and slowly swept the floor. Light sparkled from the floor, and small sand-like clusters of light flew through the air. The light clusters gathered again to create the same form as the magic circle.

“Wow……”

Lucian couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

There was a large window in front of Adelia. The round full moon visible through the window was beautiful, and the clusters of light filling the dark room looked like the Milky Way.

And Adelia standing at the center looked like a goddess manipulating the world.

“Shall we change it now?”

Changing the magic circle spread throughout the guild required considerable concentration. She had to overlay a new magic circle without destroying the existing one, and plant attack magic in between.

To the hidden mastermind’s eyes, it needed to look like just another layer added to the guild’s barrier.

Adelia’s hands moved dazzlingly through the clusters of light. She erased characters that looked like squirming worms, rewrote them, moved them here and there.

Even Adelia, who rarely sweated, was dripping with sweat.

‘As expected…… She’s amazing.’

Though it took longer than expected, Lucian didn’t feel bored. In fact, this time felt incredibly precious. 

The sight of Adelia, fully immersed in her work, seemed like a masterpiece. Her dedication, pouring both passion and effort, only made her more beautiful. 

Lucian watched her with a calm gaze, taking pleasure in the way her vibrant energy filled the space, imprinting every moment in his mind.

Even then, no one knew what would happen next. Not Adelia, not Lucian, not even Kai and the holy sword.

“Your Highness, please give me the holy sword.”

After quite some time passed, Adelia spoke while extending her hand. Lucian immediately stood up and placed the holy sword in Adelia’s hand.

All work was completed as she planted the holy sword in the clusters of light. The clusters of light disappeared into the magic circle with the holy sword.

The pure white magic circle engraved on the floor had become more complex than before. The original rug could no longer cover it completely.

“Please drink some water.”

“Ah, thank you. It was harder than I thought.”

Lucian handed water to Adelia from somewhere. As her throat had been parched, Adelia gulped it down.

Working with powers of a warm nature often caused her body to heat up when surrounded by lots of magical power.

“Is it finished now?”

“It will be when the magic circle activates. I’ll stay here to check, Your Highness should stay here.”

“I will go too.”

“Ah…… It won’t be a pleasant sight.”

“I’ve seen many harsh sights, don’t worry.”

Adelia groaned and pondered for a moment.

She imagined how horrific the dark mage’s appearance would be after being struck by the holy sword. Since black magic and white magic were opposing forces, she wasn’t confident the body would remain intact after being attacked.

But because it was Lucian, Adelia nodded.

“It should be fine if it’s Your Highness. But you must be absolutely quiet. If you make loud noises even while using magic, we might be seen.”

“I’m confident in that.”

“Then wear this robe. It would be terrible if someone saw us.”

After warning him several times, Adelia took Lucian outside. Kai decided to wait at the guild in case anything happened.

They concealed themselves with black robes. Adelia held his hand tightly and entered somewhere filled with trees and grass. Though it was in the busy downtown commercial district, there was a park on the guild building’s grounds. It was perfect for hiding.

There was a spot where the King of Silentium always came to use magic. Though it was a space hidden by bushes, it was easily visible if one sat in a tall tree.

Adelia sat on a sturdy branch with a relaxed appearance.

“Be careful. You’ll fall.”

“I’m not that clumsy. Ah, shh.”

In the middle of their small conversation, Adelia sensed a presence. She raised her index finger and gently pressed it against Lucian’s lips.

Though it was a signal to be quiet, Lucian smiled faintly, enjoying the warm touch on his lips.

Adelia, focusing all her attention on where she sensed the presence, didn’t see that beautiful smile.

Shortly after, someone approached the guild. As a person in a black robe with a small, thin build approached, Adelia wrinkled her face and covered her nose.

‘The stench is terrible.’

Seeing the dark mage full of death energy, Adelia shot a contemptuous look. With this much death energy, countless people must have been sacrificed.

‘Just die without creating more karma. I pray you won’t find peace even in death.’

Adelia internally hurled curse-like words at the King of Silentium.

If the future Adelia had seen this, she would have said:

Run away quickly, without doing anything unnecessary.

* * *