* * *
Duke Reshaniel repeated to himself, as if trying to brainwash himself. I didn’t run away from that place. He kept muttering it like an excuse, yet the rigid expression on his face refused to soften.
With hurried steps, Duke Reshaniel reached the place where the small crystal orb was. It was an inheritance his parents had left him before they passed away.
“If a crack appears in the lucky stone, it means a stronger lucky stone has appeared.”
“What should I do then? You said I was special because I had the lucky stone.”
“You either kill the one who has it, or take everything from them. My son has the fate of a victor, so of course you can do it, right?”
“I don’t know how.”
“In that case, child, break this crystal orb. Then chaos will descend upon the world along with all manner of monsters. Isn’t it that heroes are born from chaos?”
Recalling his parents’ words, he threw the crystal orb to the floor. Crash! With a loud shattering sound, the pitch-black glass rolled across the floor. As he repeated the words ‘the fate of a victor’ and ‘the birth of a hero’ over and over, he gritted his teeth.
Duke Reshaniel had always been rational, always able to maintain a gentle expression. That was because his environment had allowed it. But now, stripped of that environment, he found himself anxious and unsettled by a situation he could no longer control. Still, there was some good news. When he left the room where the broken crystal orb lay, he received a message from one of his subordinates.
“The North has finished all preparations as well. It looks like the monsters will start rampaging soon.”
At those words, his expression changed. I can’t afford to show any sign of instability at such a crucial moment. Erasing every trace of anxiety and restlessness from his face, Duke Reshaniel whispered, feigning gentleness. “Everything’s proceeding according to plan. Ah, come to think of it, I heard the Magic Tower sent someone.”
“Yes, that’s correct, Your Grace.”
“Bring them down to the basement.”
“Pardon?”
“Tie them up and extract their mana.”
“I-Is that really alright? Won’t we be making an enemy of the master of Magic Tower…?”
Watching his subordinate’s eyes dart nervously, he smiled softly. Now was not the time to worry about such trivial matters. Since I failed to take what belonged to Giselle, I’m in a position where I need even low-grade mana.
Duke Reshaniel didn’t hesitate. He called in the other mages and repeatedly took their mana by force. Listening to their bewildered cries and screams, he felt the mana coursing through his own body with cold detachment. Still, it’s nowhere near enough…
About two days passed like that. Though it wasn’t quite satisfactory, he managed to extract a decent amount of mana. As he left the underground chamber where the mages were imprisoned, he asked his most trusted subordinate, “Tell me. What’s happening in the North?”
“All kinds of monsters are rampaging completely out of control. Knights can’t handle them at all. The news of the monster outbreak has even reached the Kalinos family.”
A satisfied smile crept across his lips. Yes, that’s how it’s supposed to be. No matter how smooth the road of fate may seem, every hero’s tale must have its trials. Even if some insignificant speck tries to throw obstacles in his way…
“Let the monsters run wild. Something interesting is bound to happen.”
Duke Reshaniel had studied Duke Kalinos with almost obsessive intensity. From what he was most vulnerable to, to which monsters he was at least somewhat weak against. He studied it all.
“If someone ends up dead, I suppose we’ll have to throw a delightful carnival.”
None of this was a trial. It was simply the beginning of the dazzling second act of his life.
* * *
Meanwhile, the capital was still buzzing with festive excitement, unaware of the monster rampage in the northern territories. The famed healer Wot and Duchess Giselle Kalinos are the same person! The world was ablaze with gossip and excessive interest in me. How can people change their attitudes this quickly?
Only Cordelia seemed to quietly understand what had happened so far. Meanwhile, the other ladies and noblewomen were desperate to strike up a conversation with me.
Stories about people hiding their power are always a hit, no matter the time or pace. I hadn’t meant for it to happen, but it seemed to be working out perfectly. So to maintain my air of mystery, I’d been staying indoors, avoiding the public eye…
“Did you hear, Giselle?”
“Oh, it’s been a while, Madam Yuliana.”
“Even though it’s been revealed that you’re Wot, no one seems surprised. Not Neslan, not Father-in-law, not even Riwes.”
“Eek.”
“So I was the only one in the family who didn’t know you were Wot until now.”
…Facing Juliana’s icy expression, my knees went weak and I froze on the spot. “I-I guess so.” For some reason, I felt so guilty I could hardly meet her eyes. “Right. It just ended up that way somehow…”
“I don’t even know what I should call you anymore.” My mother-in-law, who had been cold as ice, suddenly softened her gaze and gently squeezed my hand, whispering quietly. “…Maybe I should call you my savior. Thank you.”
“Ah…”
“What? I do know how to say thank you, you know. Haven’t I said it before?” Her warm hand gently stroked mine, filling it with warmth.
Just then, Duke Kalinos entered through the doorway, dressed in full uniform. “May I hold my wife’s hand, too?”
…Seriously, what is with this straightforward man?
* * *
We returned to the bedroom.
“Why are you dressed in uniform? Are you going somewhere?”
“I heard the news that <Demon Seed> are running wild in the north. I’ll need to stay in the northern territory for a while.”
The moment I heard that, my face stiffened uncontrollably. I’d suspected as much, but now it was finally happening. That b*stard’s plan is finally in motion. Smiling sweetly, I took Duke Kalinos’s arm.
The day I stole Duke Reshaniel’s divine power, I had warned Duke Kalinos in advance that mosquito had scattered the <Demon Seed>. Maybe because of that, he didn’t seem particularly surprised either.
“It must have been Duke Reshaniel’s doing.”
“I believe so.”
“That b*stard must be feeling pretty anxious and desperate by now. People like him always have one thing in common. They leave behind a lot of evidence when they commit evil deeds.”
Bit by bit, I’d been taking things away from Duke Reshaniel. His honor, his mana, even his divine power. Clenching my fists, I thought that this time would really be the final blow.
Just then, Duke Kalinos spoke up. “Yes. I’ll gather the evidence, slay the monsters, and come back safely.” There was something strangely off about what he said.
“Come back safely? I’m coming with you. I’ll go and smash all those monsters myself!”
“No, Giselle. You need to stay in the capital, gather information, and keep watch. You can’t put yourself in danger.”
“Ah, right! Someone has to keep tabs on things in the capital. Then, I’ll just beat up that Duke Reshaniel b*stard right here, and you make sure to return saf—”
“That’s not allowed, either.”
“What?”
“Don’t face Duke Reshaniel alone. I’d hate for you to get hurt when I’m not there to protect you.”
“But—”
“Of course, I know you’re strong, Giselle. But it’s still dangerous.”
I stared at him. Normally, I would have shaken my head, but the sincerity in his expression made it impossible to argue. “…I’ll try. But you have to promise me. Come back safe.”
“Yes. Of course I’ll come back safe. Promise.” He held out his pinky, as if asking me to seal it with a promise.
I hooked my pinky around his and said, “Yes, promise.”
With everything settled, I thought for sure he’d be leaving for the North now. But then…
“Ah, and…” Duke Kalinos, lingering instead of leaving, hesitated for a moment before whispering to me, “When I come back, I’ll confess to you properly.”
…Hadn’t he already confessed?
“So, what were all those confessions before, then? Were you threatening me or something?”
He stroked his chin, lost in thought. “That might be the case. In any case, I mean that I’ll confess properly and do my best to win your heart, Giselle.”
Hold on. Now that I think about it, that line sounded oddly familiar… My face went pale. Survive the battlefield and confess to the one you love afterward? Isn’t that a complete death flag?!
And Duke Kalinos didn’t even stop there. From inside his neatly pressed uniform, he pulled out a portrait of me, who knows he even had it painted.
“That, why are you bringing my portrait?”
“Ah. I plan to look at it whenever I get the chance during the battle. For encouragement. I heard everyone does that.”
The moment he said that, my face went completely white. Damn, I’m totally fixated on this now. The death flag…!
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