Chapter 98

If Aitor could return within an hour, that would be ideal, but if not, he had to leave this cabin with the woman in front of him. Lucas didn’t know what had happened to Aitor, but it was certainly not a good thing. He had followed the suspicious Aitor lately, but he never imagined there would be a woman here.

The pretty woman with brown hair, who seemed to have a close relationship with Aitor, was not a mage, no matter how you looked at her. The thought of having to lead a regular woman out of the barrier in the worst-case scenario made Lucas’s pale face even paler.

“Your name is Vivian, right?”

As Vivian nodded, Lucas pointed to the sofa.

“Sit down for a moment. You look like you’re about to collapse at any moment.”

Vivian took heavy steps at the man’s suggestion, who seemed more likely to collapse than she did. She was anxious, but for now, she had no choice but to listen to Aitor’s friend.

“My name is Lucas. I don’t know my last name. Just call me Lucas.”

As Vivian nodded, Lucas rummaged through the cabin, pulled out paper and a pen, and placed them on the shabby wooden table. Quickly focusing, Lucas began to draw a magic circle on the paper. After drawing two magic circles, Lucas handed one to Vivian.

“Keep this with you. If you have this, even if we get separated in the barrier, I can find you quickly.”

Vivian clutched the magic circle Lucas handed her and stared at the cabin door. Lucas watched her, trembling his legs, before speaking.

“But, why are you here?”

“I was kidnapped.”

Vivian spoke while still fixing her gaze on the cabin door. At her words, Lucas’s trembling legs suddenly stopped.

“K-kidnapped?”

That guy really got himself into trouble.

Lucas finally started to scrutinize Vivian. Her clothes were made of cheap fabric that commoners wore, but her posture, voice, and accent indicated she was a noble.

Kidnapping a noble… What on earth was Aitor thinking?

On the day Lucas and Aitor stormed the headquarters of Inferna, Aitor had suddenly disappeared. When Lucas returned there with their master, Aitor walked out nonchalantly on his own two feet.

Since then, Aitor had been suspicious. It might not have been noticeable to others, but Lucas, who had spent many years with him, could tell. Lucas had asked Aitor several times about what had happened there, but he kept repeating that nothing had happened.

Lucas worried about what might have happened at Inferna, whether Aitor had gone down a bad path, or if he was in danger.

Lately, Aitor’s behavior had become even more suspicious. Eventually, Lucas followed Aitor and failed to get past a tremendous barrier on the first day.

But who was Lucas? The weakest in magic school, yet he had confidence in getting out of traps and barriers better than anyone.

He managed to break through the barrier, but… kidnapping?

Lucas cursed Aitor inwardly as he looked at the woman named Vivian. Her appearance was too intact for someone kidnapped, and her concern for her kidnapper made Lucas tilt his head.

“Are you… in a romantic relationship with Aitor?”

“Oh, no. We’re just friends. I have a fiancé.”

Then, is it unrequited love?

Lucas’s purple eyes trembled slightly.

“I think I know what you’re thinking, but it’s definitely not like that. My fiancé and Aitor know each other well.”

“Then, that guy is… with his friend’s fiancée…”

“No, it’s not like that!”

Vivian thumped her chest as she watched Lucas weave a story out of nothing.

“My fiancé is Luideos Lindez Tapeullon, and he’s been friends with Aitor since childhood. That’s how things ended up like this…”

The name that flowed from Vivian’s lips made Lucas’s jaw drop to the floor.

The fiancée of the Crown Prince of the Empire.

Lucas, who was dizzy from the spinning of his head, grabbed the back of the sofa to steady himself.

“That crazy guy…”

Kidnapping the fiancée of the Crown Prince in this situation.

Lucas, who was cursing Aitor under his breath, recalled what his friend had said before leaving the cabin with Vivian.

If Aitor didn’t return within an hour, Lucas had to meet their master and smuggle Vivian out of Palterno.

If they left Palterno, they would be easily exposed to those pursuing the kidnapped fiancée of the Crown Prince. That meant returning her to the Crown Prince’s arms.

If that were the case, the people Aitor had gone to face weren’t from the Empire, so who were they?

Lucas rolled his eyes to find Vivian. She still had her gaze fixed on the cabin door, looking extremely anxious.

“Lady Vivian.”

Lucas stood up and called Vivian.

“If Aitor is in danger, is this Crown Prince someone who would save him?”

Vivian’s peridot-colored eyes looked unwaveringly into Lucas’s purple eyes.

“Louis will definitely save Aitor.”

It might have seemed like a baseless statement.

For the Crown Prince of the Empire to venture out, risking much opposition and danger, to save a single mage seemed less realistic than a novel.

However, Lucas somehow felt that Vivian’s words might be true. This feeling was entirely unfounded, yet her expression and her eyes told him it was the truth.

Though he had never seen the Crown Prince himself, Lucas knew that Aitor trusted and followed him considerably.

Lucas slowly peeled himself away from the back of the sofa and took out a pocket watch.

Fifteen minutes remained.

Lucas stood up, took a deep breath, and shook his arms. Knowing how to get in, he had no problem knowing how to get out.

“Now, Young Lady, stand up and stretch your legs a bit.”

“Stretch my legs?”

“If Aitor resolves things and returns, that’s fine, but if not, we might have to run.”

Lucas rotated his thin wrists and ankles, stretching his body. Watching him blankly, Vivian saw Lucas force a smile, raising one corner of his mouth.

“If Aitor doesn’t return, I’ll take you out of here, meet our Master, and take you to the Crown Prince. And you and the Crown Prince…”

Lucas paused for a moment, then straightened up and bowed his head to Vivian.

“Please save my friend.”

* * *

On a dark night where even the moon hid behind the clouds, two horses galloped swiftly, cutting through the wind that carried the scent of a rather warm spring.

The men riding the black horses wore hooded cloaks and urged their horses forward, keeping low. As they reached the Dinever Ducal residence, the horses gradually slowed.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Perhaps due to the fast ride, even when the reins were pulled, the horses couldn’t calm down, so the man riding them patted their necks to soothe them.

Once the snorting horses calmed, the two men dismounted and headed for the back door of the Dinever Ducal residence.

The large ducal mansion was devoid of people, not even an ant could be seen. On this moonless night, the two men passed through the dark corridors and knocked on a large door.

“Yes.”

At the sound from inside, one man opened the door.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

The Duke stood up to greet them as if he had been expecting them.

“It’s been a while, Duke.”

The man who removed his hat greeted Duke Dinever.

“Yes, Your Highness. Please have a seat. Commander, you too.”

The people who secretly sought the Dinever Ducal residence in the dead of night were Louis and Rayden. Louis and Rayden removed their cloaks and sat on the sofa the Duke indicated.

“How is your body?”

“More importantly, is there any news from the other knights who headed to Palterno?”

As soon as he sat down, Louis brought up the matter at hand, his face looking haggard. One could tell just by looking at him that Louis was overworking himself. The Duke observed his face for a moment, then exhaled deeply through his nose.

The message sent by the Crown Prince as soon as he awoke was to send people to Palterno immediately to find the mage named Aitor.

The Duke, who had sent people to Palterno right away, hadn’t received any particularly satisfying news.

The unsettling atmosphere in Palterno and the heightened vigilance of the Empire’s people made it difficult to gather information about the mage Aitor.

Frustrated, the Duke had contacted the Crown Prince, who said he would come to meet him personally, so he opened the back door of the mansion and sent the servants away.

“Is it true that Aitor really kidnapped Vivian?”

Duke Dinever’s cold anger pricked Louis’s skin. Louis could barely nod, unable to speak.

“It should be called kidnapping… But I’m sure he won’t harm Vivian. That’s something I can guarantee, Duke.”

“Yes, he might not. Even though I only saw him briefly, he seemed like a pure and decent fellow. But the current situation doesn’t allow for any peace of mind. The Mage Tower’s actions are becoming more suspicious. And now, Palterno…”

The Duke didn’t finish his sentence, but Louis understood his meaning. The Duke wasn’t worried about Aitor; he was concerned about the place where Vivian was now.

One of the reports Louis received from Allen after he got up was that the Master of the Mage Tower might be changing.

It was not good news.

“Duke, what I’m about to tell you is something no one else should know. That’s why I’ve come to you at this late hour.”

At Louis’s words, the Duke’s eyebrows drew closer together.

Watching the Duke, Louis’s red lips moved. The Duke, who listened intently to Louis’s brief explanation, cautiously opened his mouth.

“In fact, a knight in Palterno reported seeing someone resembling Marquis Cloak there.”

At Duke Dinever’s lowered voice, Louis and Rayden exchanged glances. Just yesterday, a knight following Marquis Cloak had reported that he wasn’t leaving his mansion, using his health as an excuse.

Yet, he was in Palterno… Louis’s golden eyes began to shine sharply.

“Duke.”

Louis called softly, his voice filled with anxiety, impatience, and anger, as he looked into Duke Dinever’s brown eyes.

“I’m leaving for Palterno tomorrow night.”

Louis’s words hit Duke Dinever like a sledgehammer. The Duke frowned and blinked rapidly, opening his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it and shook his head, pressing his forehead.

“Officially, it will be announced that I’m still recovering at the Crown Prince’s palace. I’m going to Palterno to talk with Aitor and bring Vivian back.”

Duke Dinever raised his head, which had been slightly bowed, and looked at Louis.