Chapter 89

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Lucas, a healing wizard, was Aitor’s first friend at the magic school. Lucas, who was weak and had little ability outside of healing magic, was bullied by other students. It was natural in a way that Aitor, who entered the school on the Emperor’s recommendation, and the lonely Lucas became friends.

“By the way, do you think that guy Tristan is a member of Inferna?”

“He might be. He’s got an uncanny sense for the smell of money.”

Lucas nodded in agreement.

“In that place, that ability might be even more important.”

After walking for a while, the two stopped. They had arrived at the casino, a famous attraction in Palterno.

“I’ve never been to a place like this…”

Standing in front of the casino’s flashy entrance, Lucas looked down at his attire.

“Did I dress too casually?”

Lucas, fiddling with his collar, glanced up and down at Aitor standing next to him.

“And you…”

“What about me?”

“What’s with your clothes?”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“I just came along with you on the spur of the moment, but you’re the one who planned to go to the casino today. What’s with those clothes?”

Aitor’s all-black outfit was crumpled. The ends of his pants were dirty, as if he had rolled around somewhere. It was an outfit that could make one believe he had slept on the streets.

“Let’s go.”

Ignoring Lucas’s look, Aitor stepped forward confidently.

Aitor and Lucas blended in with the other guests in their glamorous attire and entered the casino. They could feel the glances thrown at the two incongruous figures, but Aitor didn’t slow his pace.

“Where should we go?”

Lucas said, looking around at people with cigars in their mouths, people with beautiful women on their arms, and people watching dice roll with bloodshot eyes.

“I don’t know…”

They had boldly entered, but they had no idea where to go to find Tristan.

The casino was filled with a sweet air, a mix of revelry and madness. It was a scent that numbed the senses and held one’s feet in place. Aitor and Lucas frowned at the unpleasant atmosphere.

Then, someone tapped Aitor’s shoulder as they passed by.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

It was a middle-aged man with a friendly smile.

He lifted his hat to apologize and had his arm around a beautiful woman’s waist. He winked at Aitor and noisily took a seat at a card table where a game had just ended.

“Is that guy really here?”

Lucas muttered as he continued to look around.

“Lucas.”

Aitor called out to his friend, who was diligently scanning the surroundings despite being jostled by people.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

Aitor grabbed Lucas’s arm and started walking purposefully.

They arrived at a secluded corner where there were few people, behind a pillar. Aitor handed something to Lucas.

“Room 308.”

Lucas carefully examined the key Aitor handed him.

The second floor of the casino was used for VIP rooms and a restaurant, while the third floor was for guest rooms.

Holding the key to Room 308 on the third floor, Lucas blinked and asked Aitor when he had reserved a room.

“That man who bumped my shoulder earlier gave it to me.”

Lucas’s jaw dropped.

“When? How?”

Aitor glared at the stairs leading from the first-floor gaming area to the second and third floors.

“Did they know you were coming?”

Lucas shook the key to Room 308 at Aitor.

“They told me to come here, so they might have been waiting.”

“If that’s the case…”

Lucas and Aitor both stared at the stairs.

“We have no choice but to go.”

When Aitor nodded, Lucas headed for the stairs first.

“Lucas.”

Before he had taken even three steps, Aitor called out to Lucas.

“What?”

“If something dangerous happens, I’ll create an opening somehow, so you have to escape. Got it?”

Lucas frowned at Aitor’s words.

“Are you telling me to abandon my friend and run?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Lucas gave a bitter smile at Aitor’s words.

“I know. In this situation, I’m just a burden.”

“Lucas.”

Lucas quickly wiped the emotion from his face and took a deep breath in through his nose, then exhaled.

“If things go south, do that. I’ll find a way to get you out. So hang in there until then.”

Aitor nodded at Lucas’s words.

“Let’s go.”

Aitor patted Lucas on the back and started walking. With determined expressions, the two placed their feet on the first step of the stairs.

They passed people cheering over their winnings, people despairing with their heads in their hands, and people waiting for an opportunity next to those who smelled of money, heading for the third floor.

Room 308.

Lucas swallowed nervously as he looked at the number on the door. He glanced sideways at Aitor standing next to him.

Aitor’s tightly closed lips and tense jaw muscles were prominent.

After staring at the door for a moment, Aitor took the key he had received from the stranger in the first-floor gaming area out of his pocket.

The key fit perfectly into the door lock.

‘Click.’

Turning it, the lock released, and the door slid open. Lucas and Aitor looked at each other through the small opening.

When Lucas nodded with a determined expression, Aitor pushed the door open and stepped inside.

It was dark, with no lights on.

Lucas, moving cautiously inside, looked around tensely. The dim room was quite spacious.

“Why is no one here?”

Lucas, who had imagined Tristan waiting arrogantly with a bodyguard of rough-looking people, let out a deflated sigh.

Aitor, too, hadn’t expected no one to be there and frowned as he looked around the room.

“Let’s turn on the light and take a look.”

Lucas picked up what seemed to be a lighting device using a magic stone.

At that moment.

“A-Aitor!”

A flash of light appeared, and a teleportation magic circle spread rapidly across the floor. The light engulfed Aitor.

“Aitor…”

When the light disappeared, Aitor was gone too.

Lucas, staring blankly at the spot where Aitor had been, examined the lighting device in his hand. But it was just an ordinary magic stone lighting device, nothing special about it.

Breathing heavily, Lucas searched the room. But there was nothing suspicious. Even when he lifted the carpet to check the floor where the teleportation magic circle had appeared, it was just an ordinary floor.

“Damn it!”

Lucas’s back trembled as he pounded the floor with his fist.

After swallowing his anger for a moment, Lucas stood up and quickly left the room.

He knew he didn’t have the ability to find Aitor himself. He needed to ask someone for help.

That thought filled Lucas’s mind completely.

* * *

“Young Lady, are you going out dressed like that today?”

“I’m going to try doing what I can first.”

“What? I asked where you were going… Anyway, I don’t know where you’re going, but I’ll go with you.”

Tia slumped her shoulders as she watched her mistress shake her head.

Vivian was dressed in clothes that commoners would wear. It was clear she was heading to the bustling streets, but for some reason, Vivian intended to go out without Tia.

These days, the atmosphere at Duke Dinever’s residence was beyond words. With the wedding abruptly postponed, everyone except Duke Dinever, Vivian, and Ian seemed to have their shoulders drooped by a span.

“I want to go alone today…”

Tia was particularly attentive to Vivian’s mood. Despite expecting Vivian to be the most disappointed by the postponed wedding, she showed no signs of being shaken, which made Tia even more concerned.

“Going alone is dangerous!”

“I’m going with the knights, so it’s fine.”

Vivian firmly rejected Tia’s offer and hurriedly boarded the carriage. As Vivian got on, Elton, who was taking Rayden’s place as her escort, and the other knights mounted their horses.

“Let’s go.”

At Vivian’s words, the coachman skillfully flicked the whip against the horse’s flank.

Inside the rattling carriage, Vivian looked outside. She could feel spring approaching more and more.

Though she still had to wear thick clothes, the cold wind had eased, and the once rock-hard ground was thawing, ready to welcome the plants that would sprout in spring.

When Vivian opened the carriage window, a pleasant breeze mixed with the scent of spring blew in. Vivian closed her eyes and felt the wind.

After keeping her eyes closed for a while, Vivian slowly opened them.

As they left the affluent area where the nobles’ mansions were gathered, the daily lives of the people came vividly into view.

Vivian’s peridot-colored eyes grew more resolute as she carefully observed the scene.

A little distance from her destination, Vivian got off the carriage.

“I’ll walk from here.”

When she told Elton, he nodded and began walking a little behind her with the other knights.

Spring was coming to the Zenta River as well.

Gondolas, which hadn’t operated in winter, were being prepared for the guests they would soon welcome. The streets were also becoming noticeably busier.

Posters advocating for the protection of the Zenta River were put up at regular intervals. They were posted by the Zenta River Merchants Guild to prevent the nobles from taking over the street.

Vivian, standing still and looking at the poster, tightly gripped the strap of her shoulder bag and hurried her steps.

Vivian stopped in front of a familiar shop. Looking in through the window, she saw that there were quite a few customers.

A customer who had just paid and was leaving held the door open and asked if she was going in.

Vivian nodded and thanked the customer for holding the door as she cautiously entered.

“Oh my!”

The grandmother, holding a menu and returning to the bar, widened her eyes and approached Vivian.

“Hello. Do you remember me?”

“Of course! How could I forget such a beautiful customer?”

As Vivian smiled shyly at the excessive compliment, Daon approached her.

“Welcome.”

“How have you been?”

“Oh dear. I told you not to be so formal.”

“I’m just here as a customer today.”

At Vivian’s words, Daon laughed heartily.

“Oh, what am I thinking? I shouldn’t keep such a precious guest standing. Please, have a seat.”

The grandmother next to her offered an empty seat. Vivian, about to go to the seat the grandmother indicated, pointed to a spot at the bar.

“Can I sit there?”

“There? You can, but it might be uncomfortable…”

Daon adjusted his glasses with a concerned expression.

“It’s fine. I want to watch the tea being made.”

Daon smiled, wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes. Nodding, he pulled out a high chair at the bar for her.

As soon as Vivian sat down, another customer entered, and the grandmother left to take their order.

“There seem to be more customers than last time.”

When Vivian asked, glancing around the shop, Daon, who was filling a water kettle, looked up.

“Spring is coming soon. As the weather gets nicer, more customers are coming.”

Daon created a small smile as he watched the little brown-haired girl looking around the shop.

“By the way, you came here alone.”

“Oh, I’m not really alone.”

Vivian laughed awkwardly and glanced at the customers who had just come in.

They were the knights assigned to guard Vivian.

Daon placed the kettle of water on the stove and looked at the knights joking around with the grandmother.

Seeing the delighted grandmother with the handsome young men, Daon shook his head.

“What kind of tea should I serve today to make you want to come again?”

Daon scanned the jars filled with tea that decorated one wall. He examined each tea with a serious expression, stroking his chin.

“Um, actually, I’m not here for tea today…”

Vivian trailed off, watching Daon’s back as he seriously contemplated what to serve.