The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Surely this method would be able to push Theodore out.

Banesion drew a forbidden sorcery circle at the competition venue.

He then covered it with soil to hide the traces. The moment Theodore infused his sorcery power, the forbidden sorcery circle would activate.

Some parts of the tower might collapse, but it was better than Theodore becoming the head.

So, on the day of the competition, things went as Banesion had expected, except that Theodore noticed it earlier than he thought.

-The tower…!

-Run!!

Due to Theodore’s hurried withdrawal of his sorcery power, the tower didn’t collapse, but everyone present saw it.

The ominous sorcery power surrounding Theodore.

Theodore, caught as it was, spent several days in solitary confinement in the underground prison of the Sorcery Office.

Not only the actual offenses but also unfounded rumors were all counted as his crimes.

-Be thankful that you weren’t brought to trial.

Theodore was officially expelled from the Sorcery Office.

With his reputation tarnished, he was sent to live in a corner of the Count’s mansion, barely breathing. His hapless parents urged him to go on a journey…

“That’s where I met Semela.”

“…”

“My life began then. Because I left the Sorcery Office, you were born, more precious than my own life.”

He smiled as if nothing had happened, but Theodore hadn’t forgotten his past.

He had tried to forget it, that’s all.

Laria couldn’t speak for a long time.

She had vaguely sensed that her father and MArquis Hashir had a complicated relationship, but she had no idea that such events had taken place.

‘And yet… so shamelessly at the banquet…’

Her head grew cold.

She realized that extreme anger could sometimes bring cold clarity.

“Laria.”

Theodore looked at Laria with worried eyes.

Laria, who had suppressed her emotions, slowly stood up. Then she spread her arms and hugged him.

Hesitant at first, Theodore eventually pulled Laria into an embrace.

In his arms, Laria made a silent promise to herself. She would restore her father’s honor and… give Marquis Hashir the most terrible ending.

* * *

Zenox stood alone in a sunflower field that only reached his waist. The sunflowers hadn’t fully bloomed yet, but in a month or two, the field would be covered in yellow.

As he brushed the sunflower buds with his fingertips, he recalled a fragment of memory.

In the sweltering summer, a vivid image of Whitie, who often ran to him with a sunflower in her mouth, came to life.

Whitie, buried among the sunflowers, was unbelievably adorable.

Since then, this place had become Zenox’s favorite spot.

Zenox naturally thought of someone with eyes of the same color as Whitie’s.

-In the Krassium family, madness has been passed down from generation to generation.

Zenox had confided in Laria the secret known only to the direct descendants of the Krassium family.

-And there is an amulet that prevents madness.

When he mentioned it, Laria’s eyes shook as if a tidal wave had hit.

He had also felt her shock, unable to hide her bewilderment.

In order to prevent madness, the fox orb was indispensable…

If it were Whitie, she wouldn’t abandon him. Until Laria revealed the truth, all he had to do was wait.

Until he encountered his uncle at the banquet…

“…”

When he met Rubenta’s gaze, Zenox felt a sudden fear.

He might lose someone precious again.

It was even more terrifying than death.

Zenox instinctively hid Laria, but it was already too late.

‘Maybe my uncle was the one who poisoned the drink.’

No matter how much he thought about it, the only person who could openly administer poison in the palace was Rubenta.

It wasn’t just about ruining the prestige of the imperial family…

He also intended to create an excuse by selectively poisoning the wolf beastmen, making it look like a war had been provoked.

Moreover, there was a decisive reason for him to be convinced that the culprit was Rubenta.

The blue agaric mushroom that had been put into the poison was a highly toxic mushroom found only in a very limited area in the north. It wasn’t easy to obtain, but it was entirely possible for Rubenta, who knew the northern lands better than anyone else.

Above all, Zenox couldn’t forget the hallucinations caused by the poison that Rubenta had given him in the past.

It was still fresh in his mind.

He wondered if he should investigate now, but it was too late.

Rubenta was the person who left no evidence behind.

Zenox wiped his face with his palm.

Now that Rubenta knew Laria was his prospective fiance…

He would want Zenox to rely solely on him.

To protect Whitie and Laria, he had to push her away. Forget the engagement, act like everyone else, and make Rubenta lose interest.

But…

Shaaa-

Due to a gust of wind blowing from a distance, the sunflowers all leaned in one direction.

Amidst the noise of the wind, Zenox sensed a presence. As he stared at the source of the presence, two familiar men raised their hands in greeting towards Zenox.

“Lord, it’s good to see you.”

They were the subordinates who had followed Zenox on the battlefield.

“Let’s move to another place.”

At Zenox’s words, they followed him without a word of protest.

As we entered the mansion building, Verdo, who had been waiting at the entrance, guided us into the reception room.

Sitting on the sofa, Zenox observed the subordinates he hadn’t seen in years.

Other than the surprise on the faces of Tigur and Marcel, nothing had changed since the past.

“Why?”

Tigur, who had been hesitating, answered.

“Your face has improved quite a bit.”

The last time they had seen Zenox, he had always looked stern, never concealing his fierce energy, like an untamed beast.

But now, Zenox somehow… seemed like an ordinary person.

His gaze lacked that intense spark, and his energy had softened considerably compared to before.

“It seems you’ve fallen in love after all…”

“Don’t be so impudent!”

Marcel scolded Tigur immediately.

Realizing he had belatedly failed to maintain decorum, Tigur promptly apologized.

“I’m sorry…”

But instead of reprimanding him, Zenox responded with a faint smile.

“That might be true.”

“…Uh, what?”

The two of them were left dumbfounded by his smile, which they had never seen before.

There was much to talk about regarding the past, but there was no time for leisurely conversation. Zenox needed information immediately.

It was a priority to find out what Rubenta had been up to in the past few years.

“Let’s start with your reports.”

“I’ll go first.”

Marcel opened his mouth.

“Recently, the heads of wolf clans have been meeting with Rubenta Krassium frequently.”

As the representative of the Grand Duke, Rubenta held meetings, often summoning wolf clan heads.

It was a well-known fact that Zenox also had a close relationship with the wolf clan heads.

“But recently, the clan heads have become fiercely loyal to Rubenta Krassium, to the point of unwavering devotion.”

Zenox’s uncle had a talent for moving and controlling people’s hearts. In the past, Zenox had followed his uncle’s words as if they were unquestionably correct.

However, it was strange for the heads of one family to show absolute loyalty to another.

Zenox’s gaze deepened.

Although he was the head of the Krassium family, Rubenta was still actively serving as the Grand Duke’s representative.

Initially, he had entrusted real power to Rubenta due to his participation in the war, and later, he couldn’t leave the capital because of Whitie.

If Rubenta wanted to push him aside and become the head of the family, he would have sung that song, urging him to return to the North.

‘He used brainwashing magic….’

Zenox looked back with an uncomfortable feeling.

Although Laria had broken the forbidden spell cast on Krassium Mansion, there was no guarantee that he himself hadn’t been affected.

‘Was that her first time doing it?’

He couldn’t help but wonder if he was completely free from any spells now. Such suspicion had crossed his mind.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Zenox raised his head.

In any case, he needed to regain the power Rubenta had taken.

“I should visit the North soon.”

He would personally see what Rubenta was plotting.

“Marcel.”

“…Yes!”

Marcel replied a beat late when his name was called.

It was the first time he had been addressed by his name.

“Follow Rubenta Krassium closely.”

Marcel, a member of the owl clan, was skilled in espionage. Even late at night, he could secure his line of sight, and his hearing was sharp, making him suitable for espionage activities.

“Tigur.”

“Yeah!”

Tigur answered with nervousness and excitement, unable to conceal his tension.

“Laria Rohan…”

The name rolled off his tongue with a touch of bitterness.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zenox changed the scope of his command.

“No, protect the Rohan family members.”