Loganâs expression was depressing as he said that. His confession made Lucas, who seemed to dislike him, serious.
âShe is someone Lucas and the Grand Duke are familiar with.â
ââŠâŠ.â
âBaroness Bruno is my sister.â
Maria Hale, who later changed her name to Maria Bruno, was a kind person. She was kind to his half-brother, who was born to a lowly mother. She was so kind that she couldnât kill a bug.
He found it hard to believe that such a kind person would go to such lengths to save her daughter. He described everything as though he were confessingâŠ
The underworld king was someone he wanted to torn apart and killed.
âI tried to help that idiot, so I worked as Baron Brunoâs assistant, but I found Master Rex to be more fascinating.â
Even after telling such an amazing story, Loganâs eyes remained unwavering. Estin looked at Logan and reminded him that he had been blessed by the demon. He has such a strong will that even Conlerâs powerful energy could not shake him.
âIf there is a weak and desperate man in the empire, they will find him.â
âThatâs just a probability.â
âIt has a pretty high hit rate.â
Logan said arrogantly. With a smile on his face, Estin asked sharply while listening.
âHow are you planning to tear down and kill the Underworld King?â
âFirst and foremost, I want to develop Master Rexâs power, and I must now discover the Missâ secret.â
Lucas wanted to applaud as he responded without hesitation to the unexpected question. He took back what he thought was offensive to him. Lucas was confident that he and Logan would get along well.
âSo, am I to believe that I share the Grand Princeâs predicament?â
âOf course.â
Logan sighed as he stared into Estinâs dark eyes. He at last had a capable captain. Even though it will be challenging for this ship to navigate, it will still pass directly through the waves.
âIâm confident Iâll succeed in my goals, so allow me to share what I know with you.â
Loganâs voice became hushed and covert.
Right now, strange things are taking place in the capital.
âWhatâs happening?â
âThere are some young girls who have been reported missing.â
âDo you mean to say that there have been kidnapping incidents in Britania?â
âIf such things had occurred, the emperor would have reacted, but instead it is this quiet.â
Estin and Lucas responded as though Loganâs remarks were absurd. The emperor would have asked the imperialâs marionette to look into the matter if there are multiple ladies involved.
Even Lucas, who is generally well-informed, had never heard of this before. It was impossible for Lucas to remain unaware of these rumors. However, Logan continued to speak anyway.
âWhat if the story isnât interesting enough for the emperor to listen to?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âTheyâre not noble children.â
With Loganâs meaningful words, Estin immediately caught a clue. A story of darkness that the emperor doesnât need to know.
âThe missing girls were orphanage children, and they assumed the girls simply ran away because they suddenly vanished.â
âThat explains why the rumor was delayed.â
âYes. Now, about three girls have been abducted, and because they have no connections, you might not have heard about it yet. I hid a spy in an orphanage in the capital just in case, so I was able to find out.â
Lucas gave a convincing nod as well. When Logan discussed this troubling incident, he felt better. He couldnât believe he was speaking to individuals who have this level of comprehension. Was it once or twice when he was working as Baron Brunoâs assistant that he wanted to bite his tongue because of that bald head? He was baffled as to why his lovely and wise sister would choose to wed such a person.
âHow wonderful it would have been if it had been like Grand Duke Estin.â
Maria would not have had to travel to the underworld if this had happened. a rapacious man who is powerless to take action with his own hands. A nobleman shouldnât have taken that route, even if his wife had brought such a plan.
Maria was overjoyed when he decided to conceal his identity and work as Baron Brunoâs assistant. If someone as intelligent as him can help the Baron, he will be able to climb higher.
But he fell to the ground.
Maria was staring at Bruno in a way that made him wonder what she was thinking. Maria became upset with him and declared she would never want to see him again when he said he would work as a tutor at the Grand Duchy.
What a silly woman.
âIs that it then?â
Logan, who was preoccupied with thoughts of Maria, regained consciousness at Estinâs prodding.
âNo, I havenât said the most crucial thing yet,â
Logan, who was chatting freely, paused for the first time. Instead of drawing closer, Estin waited until he was ready to speak. Silence filled the office. Everything sounded loud, no matter how small.
âThe girls have dark-colored hair and eyes.â
Bang~
Estin punched the mahogany desk when Logan managed to bring it up. He had a dispassionate expression, and even his movements suggested that he was upset. He is, in fact, Britinaâs ice flower.
âAre they looking for Miss Mary? No, everyone in the Britina Empire knows she returned to the Grand Duchy.â
Lucas appeared perplexed. Why do parentsless girls with dark eyes and dark hair get abducted?
âDo you know what matters most in dark magic?â
âWhat is it?â
âWhat is it?â
âThe similarity.â
ââŠâ
âSofia Bruno was saved at the cost of Jessica Bruno. Their father was the same age when they were born. Their eyes are both dark green, and they share the same blood in their veins. If I may say so, itâs a very lucky case.â
âThatâs why humans in the underworld kidnap girls who resemble Mary.â
ââŠâŠYes.â
âWhat you said was unclear.â
âItâs because of the age group; itâs not just a girl of Maryâs age who is kidnapped; the kidnapped girls are 12, 15, and 18 years old, and I canât tell you the age range.â
âDo you mean they donât go beyond 20?â
âSince Miss Maryâs case is so unique, perhaps they want to target as many girls as possible?â
âThatâs a really intriguing point,â
Logan, who was paying attention, pulled out a parchment from his jacket pocket and a pen to take notes as Lucas continued. It was an angle he hadnât thought of. The degree and type of similarity.
âI canât allow the sacrifice to rise. Send aid to the orphanage in the empire. But first, we need to figure out where the girls are.â
âI understand.â
âWe must find it. As the father of that child, I have sinned.â
Before leaving the office, Lucas asked in a serious tone after responding.
âBut what the hellâŠâŠ What is their purpose?â
âWe must now work with Miss Mary to find an answer.â
âDemimore!â
âSister?â
âI heard you refused the engagement.â
With great surprise, Lausanne ran to Demimore. Whatâs going on with a princess of a country? Demimore grinned even though he had that impression. She is the only person in this dark palace who gives him brightness besides his mother and Jasper.
She told Mary that he had a crush on her because of this. Though he was aware of her playful nature, there were times when he was unable to handle her.
As a side note, how did Lausanne know what he had just told His Majesty in the morning?
âI didnât refuse; I simply asked him to push it back a little.â
Lausanne, however, was unable to understand. He gave the impression that he liked her. Isnât it time for him to get engaged and tie her up so she is unable to leave?
âI didnât want to pressure her into getting married because sheâs still a young child and doesnât understand emotions.â
âArenât you the same age?â
âMary is still somewhat immature.â
Demimore said with a shrug.
âAnd I want to stand next to her after I become stronger.â
âCanât you get stronger while youâre standing next to her?â
âWhat does someone who falls in love with a powerful dragon know?â
âDonât insult my work.â
As soon as Lausanne realized Demimore was making fun of her, she spoke in a shaky tone. Demimore grinned broadly and thought it was quite adorable. He hadnât laughed this hard since Maryâs birthday celebration.
But shortly after, he turned serious and continued.
âMary and I donât share the same sentiments, and I donât want to be involved in an engagement based on adult interests; Mary and I are still young, and I donât want her to feel burdened by my presence.â
âDemimore.â
âMary is also a person who gets scared when it comes to having a relationship.â
Oh, my.
Lausanne was unaware that Demimore was treating Mary with such gravity. His deep, unshakeable eyes were filled with pure love for Mary.
However, there was one more question. Lausanne and Mary were exchanging letters. She apologized for missing the birthday celebration in a letter to Mary, who cautiously inquired about Demimore and so she learned that he had turned down the engagement.
Why did Demimore decline the engagement on Maryâs birthday?
âNo, but why did you say that you didnât want to go to be engaged to Mary on her birthday?â
âHow did you find out about that?â
âAh, I know everything. Why did you do that?â
Demimore laughed playfully when Lausanne asked with her eyes twinkling. They are, after all, siblings because his playful smile resembles Lausanneâs exactly.
âThat way, Mary will be shocked.â
âWhat?â
âMary needs to think about me more often because I feel like such a very insignificant person in her busy life.â
âDemimore, youâre such a jerk.â
Lausanne thought it was obvious here that Demimore was still young.
But when she thinks of Maryâs letter, and as Demimore intended, Mary seems to be more conscious of Demimore now.
Demimore, who replied with a casual expression, recalled Maryâs birthday and immersed himself in sword practice again as if he were filled with emotions. Looking at it, Lausanne wrote it down carefully.
It would be fun to write Demimoreâs words in the novels.
[T/N: Sorry for the late updates. Iâm a little busy lately.]