Chapter 78

Since the former Grand Duke and Duchess passed away, Theodore closed his heart, interacted with no one, and lived alone in solitude.

The master did not smile. As the person they served did not smile, the servants working in the Grand Duke’s house were oppressed by the desolation. However, since Meia’s arrival, the desolation in the Grand Duke’s house disappeared.

So they were grateful.

“A carriage is coming, Hannah.”

Hannah turned her head in the direction Meia was looking and said,

“It seems Puring has arrived.”

“It won’t be Master, Hannah. Another guest was supposed to come today. It must be that person.”

If it were Puring, who had received the coordinates of the Grand Duke’s residence before, there would be no need to come by carriage.

He could arrive quickly by teleporting to the entrance of the mansion.

So the person coming by carriage could not be Puring.

Hannah smiled and said,

“If you say so, Lady Meia, it must be so.”

At Hannah’s words, which expressed unconditional trust, she turned to her and smiled.

“It’s good that you trust me, but don’t blame me if I’m wrong.”

“It’s the job of the subordinates to ensure that the master’s words are not wrong, Lady Meia.”

The door of the approaching carriage opened, and a man in his thirties with navy blue hair and a dignified charm stepped out.

*

Baron Lakia came to the Grand Duke’s house at Theodore’s sudden summons.

‘Why is he calling me? Could it be that I got caught?’

His secret businesses were as lucrative as they were dangerous. Especially human trafficking, which brought the greatest pleasure and money, was always operated with caution.

‘Why did I have to get caught!’

One of the human trafficking dens was discovered recently. Naturally, the captured slaves were freed, and the members were annihilated. After reading Theodore’s letter asking him to come to the Grand Duke’s house, his heart sank.

There were too many things he was guilty of.

Florence territory, surrounded on three sides by the sea, was a place where trade was actively developed. Many ships came and went, and 90% of them were owned by Florence. Baron Lakia managed a portion of these. And he used that for human trafficking and illegal activities.

‘Let’s think positively. Maybe because the ship sank, he’s going to give me a new one… Yeah, that could be it.’

Anyway, the secret ledgers he had were sunk with the ship.

Baron Lakia lifted one corner of his mouth and smiled.

There would be no way he could be caught. The foolish Grand Duke surely didn’t know he was engaged in human trafficking, so why should he scare himself unnecessarily?

And upon arriving at the Grand Duke’s mansion, Baron Lakia was surprised by the sight of a silver-haired beauty with a beautiful hibiscus ornament.

Gulp.

He swallowed dryly. He had seen many beautiful women before, but the beauty in front of him was out of this world. Baron Lakia took a deep breath and slowly looked at the beautiful woman before him.

Every time her long silver hair swayed in the wind, her hidden white neckline and wrists were revealed.

A fragrant lily scent tickled his nose. Her blue eyes under the sunlight were mysterious.

His heart pounded vigorously.

Thump thump.

‘Beautiful.’

He was glad to feel his heart race for a woman after a long time.

Above all, he felt destiny with her, who was wearing the hibiscus flower ornament he liked.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

Her voice was clear and pretty.

“I am Baron Lakia of the Hughes family. I would be grateful if you could tell me the name of the beautiful young lady.”

Hannah, who was standing behind Meia, glared at Baron Lakia with dagger eyes and said,

“This is Lady Hatzbellua from the Carpen Empire.”

“Aren’t you Head Maid Hannah? How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. Oh, by the way! I heard the news.”

“News?”

“I heard your third wife passed away recently.”

At Hannah’s words, Baron Lakia frowned. 

Why did she have to bring that up in front of the beautiful lady! Did she eat her sense with her soup?!

“Unfortunately, she had a chronic illness, haha.”

Baron Lakia gave a bitter laugh and glanced at Meia.

Their eyes met.

Baron Lakia’s face turned red in an instant at the sight of Meia, who gracefully folded her eyes and gave a serene smile. Meia, with a captivating expression, spoke softly to Baron Lakia.

“Nice to meet you. Baron Lakia, are you here to see Grand Duke Theodore?”

“Y-yes.”

Motherentarily losing his mind, Lakia stammered as he replied to Meia.

“Then please go up.”

Baron Lakia reluctantly took his eyes off Meia and walked into the mansion. And when Meia looked up at the familiar magical energy, Puring appeared before her. As expected, Puring had arrived by teleportation.

“Master!”

“Ah, Lady Meia.”

“Thank you for coming. You could have taken your time.”

“Did you come out to greet me?”

“Since Master is here, I should come out to greet you as a disciple.”

“The content of the letter was such that I couldn’t just sit still.”

“Then I have a place to take you.”

Meia headed to the underground prison with Puring.

The torturer and guards were startled by the sudden appearance of Meia and Puring.

“Hello! Lady Meia.”

“Bring Luinz.”

“Understood.”

Seated in a chair, Puring urgently began to ask questions.

“What on earth is going on? Dark magic, you say!”

“If what I felt was correct, it’s dark magic, Master.”

Meia briefly explained what had happened.

“Did such things happen?”

He was relieved that she was doing well at the Grand Duke’s house, but if it was a place related to dark magic, he didn’t want to leave Meia there.

Unlike before, Luinz was not dragged in. He, with a brighter complexion than before, politely bowed to Meia.

“Master, this is Luinz.”

With a bright appearance, Luinz wagged his tail like a puppy running to its owner and approached Meia.

The chains that were previously wrapped around his wrists and ankles were gone, and he seemed to be in good spirits, probably because he hadn’t been tortured and was eating well.

“Luinz, stick out your tongue.”

At her words, Luinz immediately stuck out his tongue.

Puring extended his hand and focused his power on Luinz’s tongue.

“Ugh!”

“What’s wrong, Master?”

A magical incantation flowed from Puring’s mouth. Meia recognized it as a sound-blocking spell.

“It’s dangerous.”

“Since you’re saying it’s dangerous, Master, it seems it really is dark magic.”

“I can feel dark energy from his tongue. He’s under the curse of dark magic.”

With a face devoid of any smile, Puring looked at Luinz.

“What does that mean?”

“If you say certain words, your tongue will explode, and you’ll lose your life.”

“Please explain, Master.”

“It’s a curse of sentences that dark mages use to hide their identities by casting it on others.”

Luinz’s eyes widened at Puring’s words.

Dark magic?

The reason for the tongue magic was to keep the secrets of the human trafficking group.

He had heard it that way and thought he was under a spell, but dark magic…

Luinz’s mind went blank.

“Can it be undone, Master?”

Puring looked into Luinz’s frightened eyes, moved his lips slightly, and then sighed as he spoke.

“There are two ways. The first is for the dark mage who cast the spell to undo it. The second way is to cut off the tongue.”

The person who cast the spell wouldn’t undo it. And if he cut off his tongue, he wouldn’t be able to speak anymore.

But to survive, do I have to cut off my tongue? 

Luinz lowered his head and began to shed tears.

“If it’s a curse of sentences, as long as you don’t say those sentences, it’s okay, right?”

If it’s the dark magic Luinz is under, he must not reveal information or locations about the human trafficking group.

“Yes. And for your information, even conveying meaning through writing will make it explode.”

“Luinz, you’re quick-witted, so listen carefully to what I’m saying and answer.”

“Yes.”

“Could there be a basement like the fabric shop at the wine shop too? I liked the various fabrics in the basement last time. Do you understand what I mean?”

She’s asking if the wine shop is also a human trafficking den. The various fabrics in the basement refer to the slaves in the basement.

“The wine shop is full of special and delicious wines.”

“Where is the wine shop?”

Luinz remained silent and shook his head from side to side.

It was confirmed that the wine shop was another human trafficking den. Now, they just needed to know the location.

“Baron Lakia visited the Grand Duke’s house today. I must go. Right, Luinz?”

She was asking if Baron Lakia was related to the human trafficking group.

Meia spoke with a pitiful and sympathetic look.

“Luinz, I know you’re a victim. If anyone had such magic on their tongue, they would have no choice but to follow orders. If you help with this, I’ll set you free. You’ll be free.”

‘I’ll free you from life itself.’

Luinz, unaware of this fact, was filled with hope in his eyes.

“If a guest has come, you should go quickly. Goodbye, Lady Meia!”

“If it’s Baron Lakia, he’ll guide me to a good wine shop, right?”

“Of course, Lady Meia.”

This confirmed that Baron Lakia was related to the human trafficking group.

Meia stood up to leave, but Puring did not move.

“I’ll greet Grand Duke later… There’s something I need to ask this person because the dark energy feels too familiar.”

Familiar dark energy…

“I’ll explain later, Lady Meia.”

“Understood.”

*

“Hello. I am Lakia of the Hughes family, Grand Duke.”

“Baron Lakia, have you been well?”

“Except for the funeral of my wife, who died of a chronic illness recently, I’ve been well.”

“So your third wife has died.”

Baron Lakia questioned Theodore, who spoke nonchalantly.

“Why did you call me?”

“I wanted you to tell me the location of the ship that sank recently.”

The report stated it sank due to a typhoon. 

Why was Theodore, who usually worked carelessly and appropriately, suddenly asking for the location of the ship?

‘There’s no way he can retrieve a ship sunk in the sea, so could there really be an issue?’

“Understood.”

“Join me for dinner.”

“Thank you for the dinner invitation.”

Knock knock.

Meia entered after knocking on the office door.

“Baron Lakia, we meet again.”

“Oh! Hello, Lady Meia.”

Watching the two greet each other, Theodore forced a smile as he spoke.

“Baron Lakia, you know Lady Meia.”

“I met her at the mansion door earlier…”