Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Though he looked as if he was marching onwards to the tower, Adrian was frozen in place. Albert sauntered towards the man.

His sword touched Adrian’s chin, and the thin ice surrounding Adrian’s body melted in an instant. The vision before his eyes melted as well, then he let out a rugged exhale.

“Huuk…”

Albert recited in a clear voice.

“Please watch.”

It was obviously a threat towards Rosteratu. In his perspective, the prince seemed like the emissary pronouncing a death sentence.

“You bastard!”

Adrian wasn’t too much in a daze that he would miss an opening in the other man’s defenses. He swung his sword at Albert’s throat, however, Albert sidestepped the attack in an instant.

Adrian’s sword was too slow for him. Even as an opponent in the battlefield, he couldn’t land a single strike. There’s one reason as to why Albert had undone the spell, and this was to maximize Rosteratu’s fear.

In one fluid, circular motion, Albert’s sword slashed down Adrian’s body. Seeing this, Rosteratu backed away.

“W-What is this…”

Rosteratu fell backwards. Only then did he realize that he could move again. He didn’t know what that devil was doing, but it didn’t seem to be working on him.

“Ah, no. I’m purposely allowing you to move.”

As if he read Rosteratu’s thoughts, Albert murmured indifferently.

He leaned his head over at an angle, and at this, a deep shadow was cast upon his face. And in that shadow, which resembled the dark night sky, two red gleaming orbs could be seen. Albert smiled languidly.

“Is this not like the hunt that you like so much?”

His cruel smile was enough to freeze Rosteratu.

“…Y-You…”

“Run away. You never know—you just might be able to escape and survive.”

And immediately after that, Rosteratu fled, running between the frozen soldiers. Wiping the blood that splattered on his face, Albert slowly followed after him. His sword was flung through the air.

Mercy’s spell made it so that they were seeing something else along that trajectory. To those under the influence of her spell, Rosteratu and Albert would look completely different.

When Rosteratu could run no more, he stopped and gasped for air, looking back at Albert while trembling.

“Uh, uuuh…”

“It would be much too boring if the hunt ends this soon, right? This, too, is something you’ve taught me before.”

Albert’s eyes curved beautifully.

“Come, now. Run.”

Albert crooned delightedly to the older man. Rosteratu further sank down on the floor on his knees, clasping his hands together as he begged.

“P-Please spare me. I’ll let you be the king. Just, please, spare my life. Please! I’ll give you everything you want!”

“I didn’t know I’d have to personally perform this spell as well.”

As Albert whispered something under his breath, Rosteratu’s feet suddenly moved by themselves.

“U-Uaaahh!”

He turned away from Albert and began to run through the crowd once more. However, all he could see were frozen soldiers.

“You know, what I was worried about was how I might kill you as soon as I saw that face of yours. But I guess we don’t have to worry about that.”

With his eyelashes lowered as he murmured gracefully, Albert smiled brightly.

Oh, how long has he been waiting for this moment.

He would savor this very, very thoroughly. Until Rosteratu would be trampled under his feet while the older man would cry and cry until he lost his voice—that he’d rather die than go on.

Albert’s fingers moved. Then, he completely disappeared from that spot.

While he watched Rosteratu run wildly away, at the back of his mind, he thought that he didn’t want any marks left on himself.

‘What if Rosé sees a mark later.’

Once again, Rosé was quick-witted in that regard.

The staggering Rosteratu continued to run. Following the path that Albert had created, it’s clear that he was heading away from the tower and towards the forest.

To a place where no other human being was around.

Albert stared at the tower for a moment. He didn’t realize it, but the tower’s door was closed now. Mercy was obeying his orders as expected. Rosé wouldn’t even be able to come out.

Rosé said that she also knew how to use magic, and that’s why she also offered her own help. But in the first place, in a game like this, Rosteratu already didn’t have any chances of winning.

And Albert knew that Rosé would be afraid of him if she saw him like this. That’s why he made sure that she would never witness this.

Confirming that Rosé didn’t come out of the tower, Albert gave Mercy the signal to dispose of Adrian’s body. This was so that Rosé wouldn’t be surprised when she’d come out later.

His languid gaze now grew sharp. The image of a pure man of God suddenly turned into that of a monster.

Albert tore off his cravat. Letting out a low breath, he soon followed leisurely after Rosteratu.

From the very start, it’s clear who the winner was.

* * *

“There’s really nothing to worry about though?”

“But why aren’t you even letting me look out the window?”

“It’s because…”

Mercy trailed off. I glanced sideways at her, then soon sighed. Right now, I’m just here in the bedroom with Mercy while waiting for Albert’s signal.

I know he’s strong, but there’s just no way he could take on that many people alone. Sure, he might not get hurt badly, but he certainly might get injured here and there. And I felt guilty about this because the coup started earlier because of me.

“Prince, please let me go out with you so that I can help you.”

After breakfast inside the tower with Mercy, this was what I told Albert. While staying inside the tower for the remaining time, I started studying magic very diligently for this reason.

“No. Just stay inside.”

But Albert was adamant.

“It’ll be better for you to stay here.”

I wanted to help him, but it was also important to heed his words.

“Yeah, and I also want to look around the tower a little.”

Mercy chimed in and further added that there’s so much here for her to see. It’s clear that Mercy, who perked up like that as though she’d been waiting to speak, was following Albert’s orders. In any case, it was difficult to insist on going out after I heard what Mercy said.

Above all, I knew that I could just be a burden to him, so I couldn’t force him to let me go outside. To be honest, this was my biggest concern.

Because I knew my place very well.

In the end, I couldn’t stop Albert from going out all by himself.

“It’s thanks to you that I’ve become this strong.”

Sighing deeply as he looked into my eyes, Albert said this in a way that was rather encouraging. He said that it’s thanks to me that he was able to come this far as a mage. Of course, I didn’t believe a word of it.

“O-Oh. Wait a second.”

Mercy was looking out the window to see the state of things outside, then she was suddenly on the move.

“There’s something I have to do. Don’t ever open the curtains!”

Mercy urgently left while saying she had to do something. While watching her retreating figure, I patted Blanc’s head.

“Blanc, we’re leaving the tower for real this time.”

“…When we go out, I gotta study mooore…”

Blanc replied quite seriously. In response, I nodded. That’s right, I have to study, too.

“Still though, this time, I can cook whatever I want and we can eat whatever we wish. We can buy desserts and clothes, meet people and talk to them and return to being a member of society.”

“Rosé, you look excited…”

“…How can I not be excited about this.”

Right. I’m very, very excited.

I feel relieved just thinking about how we can finally go out after this long confinement is over. No matter how much I liked staying in, it’s difficult to be a homebody by force. It’s essential to maintain the freedom to go out whenever I want.

…But before that, there’s work to be done.

I recalled what Albert told me.

“Rosé, you have an important role this time.”

Holding my hand tightly, Albert spoke with a tender expression.

“I have to go after Rosteratu. In the meantime, you have to deal with the people left behind.”

I needed to present myself as his faithful maid who’s become a supporter of this rebellion. For that, I had to make those people surrender.

Instead of Mercy, I was tasked to do this. It’s important for me to appear as though I’m making a contribution to the rebellion. During the celebrations later, my actions would reduce the gossip and noise that would surely come about.

I could read his thoughts on this. And rather than revealing that we had a transactional contract, this was better. I couldn’t go against this plan because it’s much better for the sake of Albert’s dignity and status.

“I will make those people kneel before you.”

As I thought of Albert, who whispered this in a low voice, my brows furrowed.

…How on earth could I possibly handle that many people? It’s still difficult for me to even memorize magic circles. And I’ve never really wielded magic before.

It feels like I’ve become a new employee again! And it’s terrible! Clutching my hair as I agonized over this, I gasped when I felt a sudden pang.

“Ugh…”

It felt like the same headache that Albert had treated not long ago. While wrapping both hands over my head, I crouched down.

“A-Are you okaayy? Rosé? Rosé?”

From beside me, Blanc tried to look at my condition.

What’s this? But Albert healed me already. There’s no reason for this headache to come back.

Was it a normal headache? Was this only from fatigue?

Then, Mercy grabbed my shoulder.

“You must’ve waited a long time! You can come out now.”

The moment I heard Mercy’s cheerful voice, the headache disappeared. Blanc was still looking at me with wide, worried eyes, so I comforted him.

“I’m fine, Blanc. Let’s get ready to go out.”

I fetched my luggage at the kitchen, then I stood in front of the door with Mercy.

“Ah, it’s better to put on your cloak now.”

Mercy advised me before we went out. We weren’t even in the northern region where Liam’s castle was, so I wondered why it was necessary, but…

“I guess I really do need it.”

I realized what she meant the moment we stepped outside.

I stared in amazement at the frozen people around us. Connected one after another, it looked as if they’d become one huge lump of a statue.

Mercy clapped once.

“Now then, it’s time for you to use magic to knock those people out. Just leave a few witnesses here.”

“…All these people? Me?”

“Yes.”

…Mercy nodded as though it was obvious. And I was left speechless.

Do I look like I’m some kind of magic prodigy to you?

——