The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

“If only I could find that fox…”

Ort’s voice was filled with unmistakable greed.

Smirking, he resumed walking. After a while, the sound of the door closing could be heard, and the surroundings fell silent.

Left alone, Laria remained seated on the floor.

She had obtained too much information, and her head throbbed. Marquis Harshir was the one who had brainwashed the Krassium Mansion, and his subordinate was the one who had targeted the fox orb and infiltrated the mansion.

Laria’s thoughts were in turmoil, and she raised her head.

‘For now, let’s go home.’

Laria cast teleportation magic, and when she arrived in her bedroom, her suppressed breath finally burst out.

About to take off her stuffy hood, Laria stopped when she felt a presence from the door.

She made eye contact with Theo, who had just opened the door and came in.

“…Laria?”

Frozen in place, Laria couldn’t even open her mouth.

Startled, Theodore hurriedly entered and examined Laria anxiously.

“Laria, where have you been?”

The worry in his voice was palpable, and Laria bit her lip.

She could no longer resort to lies to cover her actions, as she had done in the past. She had already told too many lies to the people around her.

Eventually, Laria gave an honest answer.

“To be honest… I’ve been going out secretly from time to time. I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d worry.”

Laria lowered her head.

Although she knew better than anyone why her family was overprotective, and her secret outings were undoubtedly her fault.

“Today, I went to the Sorcery Office for a while.”

Theodore’s eyes widened considerably.

He sat down in the chair like a statue and stared blankly at Laria.

“You went to the Sorcery Office…?”

“I went there in secret and came back without any problems.”

Laria quickly added.

Theodore, who had been absentmindedly staring, finally sat down heavily in the chair.

“In fact, while I was there… I heard some information about Father.”

Theodore’s eyes shook noticeably. He started shivering as if feeling a chill, and his shoulders trembled.

Theodore seemed like he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t summon the courage, so his lips remained sealed. Even recalling the memories seemed painful for him, and his face twisted in agony.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Laria reassured him.

“…”

Theodore remained silent.

“I’ll wait.”

Laria placed her hand on Theodore’s back.

When he felt the warmth, Theodore’s trembling stopped. After a while, with a soft sound, a tear fell from his cheek.

In response to Laria’s words, Theodore finally found the courage to speak.

“It’s going to be a long story, will you listen?”

Laria nodded slowly.

Soon, Theodore’s story, which had been buried for a long time, began.

* * *

Theodore Rohan.

Born as the eldest son of the Rohan family, a white fox clan, he showed innate talent in magic from before he could even speak.

He proposed his enrollment at the Sorcery Office at an early age and eventually became a sorcerer affiliated with the bureau at a young age.

Theodore, affiliated with the Sorcery Office, soared like a bird with wings.

His instructors marveled at Theodore’s talent, and his achievements multiplied like stars in the night sky. Moreover, he had a kind and caring nature, so many people always gathered around him.

However, not everyone embraced him.

At that time, the Sorcery Office was divided into two major groups: an elite group that studied practical and traditional sorcery and an eccentric group that researched creative and innovative sorcery, even if it lacked practicality.

Leading the elite group was Banesion, the heir of the prestigious Marquis Hashir family, known for their sorcery lineage.

Naturally, Theodore Rohan was appointed as the representative of the eccentric group.

Banesion was the same age as Theodore but had entered the Sorcery Office a year earlier, making him Theodore’s senior.

Banesion, who always boasted that he was the best, didn’t welcome Theodore’s arrival. In fact, he rejected it.

-What are you going to use such research for?

Banesion constantly argued with Theodore, treating his own research as superior.

-Shouldn’t you be conducting research that benefits the Sorcery Office like me?

At that time, Theodore had no particular thoughts on the matter. He was just grateful to be able to conduct research he loved.

However, as time passed, Theodore began to clash more and more with Banesion.

Banesion had never been able to defeat Theodore in research presentations or duels. A label of ‘eternal second’ was attached to him. No matter what he did, Banesion couldn’t win, so he eventually ridiculed Theodore, accusing him of using unethical methods.

-You changed your appearance with elixirs and took the test in my place?

-I’ve never done such a thing…

-I’ve already obtained testimony from three people! Theodore, I’m disappointed in you.

The investigation quickly swept through the Sorcery Office. Those who had initially believed in Theodore began to distance themselves as such incidents continued to occur.

-He stole other people’s research results.

-They say he had an affair with a higher-ranked sorcerer. Is that how his research paper got approved?

-Dirty scumbag. Do you really want to live like that?

-It’s a disgrace to the Sorcery Office.

Before he knew it, Theodore had become isolated within the Sorcery Office.

Even if he denied it, no one believed him. Even his close friends received criticism and cold glares, which was painful for Theodore, but he held his head high.

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

Isolated from others, Theodore devoted himself to his research, locked in his laboratory.

However, due to his habit of not speaking, he developed a fear of conversation and began to stutter. He lived like a hermit for several years, and during that time, an announcement was made that the next head of the Sorcery Office would be selected.

Since it was a position based solely on skill, Theodore and Banesion naturally became competitors.

Theodore feared Banesion. He didn’t dare to compete with him, not knowing what he might lose this time.

-I, I concede.

-There’s no conceding. You have to participate.

However, he couldn’t concede.

Forced into the position of a candidate for the head, Theodore faced Banesion after several years.

Banesion greeted him as if he had met a long-lost friend, but then he grabbed Theodore’s shoulders and whispered, mocking him.

-You coward. You’re still alive.

Theodore’s entire body tingled at the malicious words.

-…Why do you, why do you dislike me so much… I don’t, I don’t understand.

When Theodore asked in a trembling voice, Banesion, who had been silent for a moment, laughed as if it was absurd.

-Would you intentionally turn back when there is an obstacle blocking your path?

-…No.

-Of course, you wouldn’t.

Banesion lightly patted Theodore’s shoulder.

-Sometimes, you should come out and enjoy the sunlight.

Theodore stood frozen in place for a long time.

To Theodore, Banesion wasn’t a competitor or someone he disliked; he was just an obstacle that needed to be overcome.

As the competition for the head of the Sorcery Office approached, Banesion displayed his confidence. Unlike Theodore, who had spent years confined to a room, Banesion had accumulated vast knowledge and received guidance.

No matter how talented Theodore was, he couldn’t bridge the gap in just a few years.

However, Banesion’s confidence crumbled during the first competition.

-Theodore Rohan, wins.

The announcement from the judges resounded.

Seeing Theodore, who looked troubled, Banesion completely lost his composure. Theodore had intentionally lost, yet he had defeated Banesion. Theodore had made a breakthrough that Banesion couldn’t ignore.

For the second competition, Banesion had thoroughly prepared, but he tasted a bitter defeat.

Before the final competition, Banesion wasn’t in his right mind. At this rate, Theodore would become the head of the Sorcery Office.

However, merely mocking Theodore wouldn’t drive him away.

Anxious, Banesion decided to use the forbidden magic he had secretly researched.