Chapter 47

“Even before I hypnotized him, he was already brainwashed. The difference was that his condition was due to a magic potion, not because of dark magic.”

“What … you’re trying to do that.”

“Well, there’s no evidence, only my speculations, but if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you. Of course, in order to do so, I need to hear your vow to help me with my work and make sure that you’re worthy.”

“Apart from the vow, what do you want to confirm?”

Sir Aaron Claymore.

Nocton Edgar almost reached for his hand.

The fingers, which were exceptionally white in darkness,, headed toward the neck of Terrops Andante, a man who sat without any resistance. The flesh goes right down the chin silently. Right now, he’s just pressing the skin, but it was obvious that the bones in his neck would break right away if the grip was tightened.

His mouth was dry and Aaron swallowed his saliva. Without looking at him, the Duke asked in a quiet voice.

“Can you kill a man, Sir?”

It was a weighty remark. Aaron’s neck was slowly rising and falling.

“Did you ask me to do a murder?”

“If that’s the case, I would have called a professional. I do not intend to commit indirect murder. It’s difficult to face an opponent with the constraint that I can’t kill them, so I just need it in case of an emergency.”

“A sword that can kill a man.”

“If you don’t like it, you can go back. It would be good for you not to talk about what happened today.”

“I can kill. A knight is a sword in the end, if you say appropriately.”

But,

“I can’t trust you. If you want me to take a vow, I need an additional explanation.”

“I’m afraid it’s the same here that I can’t be trusted. I have nothing more to say.”

Aaron frowned and stared at the Duke, but the silence flowed heavily, and Nocton Edgar said nothing.

He alternated between Terrops Andante, the man who had been brainwashed by potion, and the Duke, then gave a long sigh.

He just came to find out the Duke’s intentions, but he was bound by something unexpected.

Since the person who brainwashed the young man targeted the heir of Marquis Valrose, it would be hard for Roa to be unrelated.

“Is this related to Roa’s safety?”

“I would have said no more. And in the midst of breaking off the engagement, why is her name constantly being mentioned?”

“Why do you think I’m here?”

“It must be because of Alice Limorand’s safety. After hearing that I’m a black wizard, you wondered if you could dig something out of me. If you want to do it, feel free to search after you’ve taken your vow.”

“Once again, I’m aware that Your Grace can’t touch the esteemed daughter of Limorand.”

Speaking of it, Aaron thought he was a man who didn’t trust others.

“I’m here not to catch your weaknesses, but because there’s something I want to understand. I would like to confirm something.”

“Confirm?”

“Do you love Roa?”

For the first time, his face, which had been insensitive throughout, changed. His twisted face, filled with unpleasant look, was more humane.

“No matter what I think of her, there is no reason for me to tell you, Sir.”

“Your Grace have no reason to tell me, but I’m sure you don’t have the courage to tell Roa. If you are sincere, I would like to try mediate between the two of you.”

“Mediate? How do you mediate? If you persuade her to love me and soothe her, would she change her mind?”

The Duke laughed at him in a cold voice.

“Don’t be cheeky, Sir. It’s not a light quarrel that can be turned back in a few words.”

“Then, can you give up like this? with Roa, the relationship you have with Roa.”

“You keep on making excuses for her, but you should be honest. It’s not really about Valrose.”

This time, Aaron’s eyes shook greatly. The Duke turned his back on Terrops Andante and approached Aaron.

“For Valrose, you’re approaching her and waving your tail to see if you can get a piece of your heart around Alice Limorand, why are you talking so grand.”

Nocton Edgar moved. Before he could even react, his hand stretched out and tore off the white crystal necklace on Aaron’s neck. Aaron was embarrassed and tried to hit the hand, but somehow he couldn’t move his body for a moment.

The Duke looked down at the white crystal of the necklace he had torn off.

“It must be the same necklace, but I can touch it.”

Only then was he able to move her body, Aaron twisted his face.

“What is this, please return it!”

“I don’t want to steal it, so don’t be a nuisance. It was just annoying that I couldn’t feel your feelings.”

“What do you mean feelings?”

“Sir, really, do you think of Valrose as a friend?”

He took his necklace out of nowhere, and the subject they shared a little while ago was brought back.

Does he think of Roa as a friend?

Reflexively, Aaron thought of a woman with rosy hair.

Roa Valrose, his friend, his beloved friend. The face of the person who made him here by the light of heart.

But the thoughts were fleeting, and Aaron’s mind quickly returned to reality. Not even thinking of answering, he glared at the necklace in the other person’s hand with a heavy gaze.

All he could think about was that he should get that one back.

Soon, the Duke’s eyes thinned with smile.

“What an ugly heart. But surprisingly, you didn’t lie.”

Before he could even ask what he meant, the young man threw the necklace at Aaron with a sign of loss of interest. He grabbed the necklace in a hurry, in case it got damaged.

When he saw the Duke’s mouth twisted, the displeasure crossed his heart.

“You didn’t answer anything.”

“It’s rather unbelievable to talk about. I don’t think you want to deceive her, so yes, I’ll answer. Valrose’s safety is at stake.”

“Did you mean that they were trying to send him into that house for Roa?”

“It’s going to be a long story, so I’ll put it off until later. Sir, I have kindly answered your additional question, so you must also give me an answer.”

Nocton Edgar tapped his fingertips. At the same time, a black chain-like figure emerged around Aaron’s neck. It was a magic that he saw for the first time, but the mana he felt from the chain alone was so sinister that Aaron immediately realized it was a curse.

Looking at Aaron like that, Nocton slowly stretched his lips.

“Would you take a vow to help me, or would you be cursed to silence?”

***

About three weeks have passed since the Imperial Ball was canceled. I had no motivation and no energy, but I lived a busy life in my own way.

Mostly … trying to stop Alroy.

I hated the idea of being a family with Roziks Elford.

As time went by, I was getting far from marriage.

Since unmarried aristocrats, who aren’t the heir apparent, lives in their home without a special position, I am also more likely to sit down with Alroy’s successor.

But what a terrible future is that Roziks Elford will be in the same mansion.

But since Alroy didn’t care no matter how hard I protested, I went after tea parties, evening parties, and exhibitions where Bornaine or Elford appeared, and stabbed them hard.

Don’t attach Roziks to our Alroy, please just see each other!

Although the results were insignificant, it did yield fruit in other fields.

“

Yeah, I know for sure. It is clear that Lady Roa, the estemeed daughter of Marquis Valrose, did not pursue Lord Edgar. Just like a flower plant next to the Duke, you’re just as fine as a decoration. If you were really after him, you’d have been sued or assassinated. I apologize for saying that then. So, please stop showing your face

!”

Sheryl Bornaine apologized to me, it was an unthinkable achievement.

But what I wanted to say was….

“Roziks? I don’t have any interest in Roziks, so you can take him, it doesn’t matter whether it’s you or the Marquis Valrose’s heir. Don’t bother me with such a thing!”

It was too much, I didn’t want to have him at all.

Fortunately, Roziks Elford wasn’t there, but it seemed like a backfire, so I decided to memorize it a little.

Only then did I realize that I hadn’t seen Aaron and Alice in a while.

When I sent a letter, I received a reply,  but they only briefly delivered a message, and there was no time to talk properly.

Given that there’s no word that Aaron showed up at social events such as tea parties, it seems that he is in his mansion, but is he looking for a way to check on Nocton?

I was beginning to worry.

“Hi, Roa.”

Only today was Alice showing her face. She looked a little gaunt.

“What happened, Alice?”

“I was on probation. I’m ashamed to say this, but I couldn’t send a letter until it was reviewed by Kantana or Arhan.”

“Examine, no, it was reviewed? Um, I think I know what I look like to the people of Limorand. It must be the same as a bunch of evil who condemns their good kid….”

“I solved the misunderstanding somehow.”

It must have been real. I was slightly hurt.

It’s not like I have a bad personality just because my eyes are sharp, and it’s not as bad-looking as it was when I was a kid!

“I tried to get some holy water, but it was only a little. I couldn’t find a better holy relic, and I was thinking about what to do, then I heard that there’s a treasure in Limorand.”

“It’s nothing special for a Duke.”

“I thought it would help, so I begged Kantana to see it, but I was refused because there were a lot of dangerous things. So … I sneaked in.”

“Sneaked in? How?”

“There’s no security if you go through the magic device. There are also magical items in the safe that ease the pain, which are used when giving birth. Thus, a trusted nanny could pass by. While I was trying to bring Arhan’s nanny, I found out that if I have the blood of the direct line, it will pass right away, so I just went in.”

“That’s a strange system. Did you get caught trying to take the nanny down?”

“Exactly, but it got a little bigger.”

Alice sighed and lowered her voice.

“The spider mirror is gone.”

“Oh my goodness, spider mirror?”

I widened my eyes and opened my mouth.

It looked like it couldn’t be more surprising, but Alice simply said,

‘Don’t pretend to be surprised

.’.

She’s not fooled.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know too well, but it’s a mirror where a spider that predicts the future lives.”

“It’s something I’ve never heard of, but it’s just become the most coveted item.”

“It’s been a while since it disappeared, so I wasn’t suspected, but I was put on probation for entering a dangerous place.”

“That’s a big deal. You’ve never been in trouble, Alice.”

“It’s a treasure of the devil. It’s said that everyone who used it becomes unhappy. I think they’re very sensitive because of the seriousness of the words.”

It was incomprehensible to be unhappy with showing the future. Is it because you’ve had an unfortunate fate from the beginning?

When I thought about that, I was reminded of the original Roa Valrose. I felt a little bit overwhelmed.

I’m not going to get burned in the end, right?

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To shake off the sinister thoughts, I shook my head greatly.

“Old treasure has a ghost story in it. The owner of a necklace dies within 7 years, something like that. It must have been invented to prevent thieves.”

“I think so, too. Anyway, there was nothing in the safe that could help. It was only symbolic, so I was scolded for nothing. That’s why.”

Alice, who smiled, quietly pointed to something.

Entering the drawing room, it was a pile of books that her escort brought.