Rose promised her beloved brother that none of their current unfortunate predicaments were caused by his actions.
But Wells never once stopped apologizing to Rose. It was clear to everyone that he was overcome with self-blame for bringing trouble to their doorstep.
"It was me who pushed you into that hell, no one else."
"Brother, what do you mean? Why do you say that? I'm fine. My older brother has never harmed me."
As their conversation grew, it became clear to Rose that there was something wrong with what her brother was saying.
It was the first time she'd seen him break down, and she couldn't help but feel complicated.
"Brother, what are you talking about?"
Is there something I don't know?
Wells felt the urge to tell his sister everything. She called out to him, but Russell, who had been watching from behind, intervened between them.
"Lady Honeywell, there are more important things than that now, such as the whereabouts of Ilya Titonsser."
Rose then realized why they rushed back to the manor from the Imperial Palace.
"That's right, brother! Where is she now? I met the butler on the first floor earlier and heard that you called her to your office."
Rose raised her head and looked around.
The office was spacious, with no towering structures blocking the view in the center, making it easy to look around the interior at a glance.
Rose turned and looked around the office, but the baron's daughter was nowhere to be seen.
"Ilya Titonsser... she..."
Wells' lips opened, spilling out the name of the woman Rose was in search of.
Rose focused on his voice, but the words were unable to be spoken.
Seeing him hesitating with his mouth open, she was convinced.
Ilya Titonsser, whom she had assumed would only want to put herself in danger, had tried to do something to Wells as well.
"Weren't you talking to her earlier? What did Ilya do before we arrived?"
Rose was upset.
We have to catch Ilya before she does any more damage, but why won't Wells tell us her whereabouts?
As she felt the urgency weighing down on her shoulders, her breathing became steeper.
It was Elliot, who had been quietly observing the situation from the side, who answered Rose's question.
"Ilya Titonsser ran away."
"Ran away...? What happened here?"
While Rose urgently questioned the duke, Russell, who was beside her, became colder as the seriousness of the situation took precedence.
Furrowing his brows, Russell crossed his arms over his broad chest.
"Tell me in detail, Duke Proud."
Elliot explained what just happened to Russell and Rose.
Now that Wells, who witnessed the same thing in the same room, was right beside him, he told the truth this time without adding a single lie.
After Eliot's story, Russell turned his gaze to Wells, who staggered to his feet.
It took a glance to confirm, once again, whether what Elliot had just said was true.
Wells, who read the question in Russell's eyes, nodded with tired eyes.
"It's true. I witnessed Ilya Titonsser jump out the window with my own eyes, but... There was nothing below. She shouldn't have survived the fall. I've never heard of anyone knowing how to use magic, but..."
"It's magic."
Russell, who quickly organized the sequence of events in his head, gave an order to Elliot before he could conclude the case.
"Duke Proud, order your knights to find Ilya Titonsser with due haste. Send a knight to Baron Titonsser to keep an eye on him."
"As you command, I will go to the Imperial Palace first."
After bowing to Russell, Elliot left the office after he gave permission.
Russell didn't take his eyes off Elliot until the moment the door closed behind him.
Looking at the firmly closed door for the last time, Russell straightened his head and approached Wells.
There were only three of them left in the room: Wells, Rose, and Russell, but Russell lowered his voice as if someone else were present.
"Wells. Why is Duke Proud coming to this manor all of a sudden?"
"Ah! I called for him because of Ilya Titonsser. I had something I needed to check with him directly."
"Check?"
"Yes, I received a report that Ilya Titonsser went to the Proud Mansion, and I wanted to confirm the truth."
"Hmm... So, what is the conclusion?"
"Ilya Titonsser claimed that Duke Proud met with her to help him with his estranged relationship with Rose, but Duke Proud replied that he never did."
Russell unknowingly raised one corner of his mouth and let out a sneer.
Elliot and Rose weren't close in the first place, so what could they need for a friend of the fiancee and the fiance to meet up secretly?
Russell gave a small snort and waited for Wells to complete his report.
But when Wells didn't say anything more after waiting for a considerable amount of time, Russell decided to find out what he needed to know first.
"Then Ilya Titonsser went to Duke Proud's mansion without just cause? The report must have been from a knight employed at Honeywell Manor? If so, then he would have no reason to lie to you."
"I was going to ask Lady Titonsser about that too, but the atmosphere around her had suddenly changed, and after, I couldn't ask. However, the knight who reported to me was someone who has served under me for 10 years, so I believe he did not lie."
"Then it is very likely that it is true that Ilya Titonsser went to Duke Proud's mansion, and we don't know what the two of them talked about."
Wells nodded. Taking a deep breath, Russell changed the topic.
"Wells, is it true that Ilya Titonsser used magic?"
"I'm not sure if it's magic, but I assumed it was because she disappeared the moment she jumped out the window."
It was extremely rare for a person to be born with magical powers and become a wizard.
Those who were born with the constitution to use magic were highly valued, and the Imperial Palace managed and distributed their identities directly.
[TL/N: given a new or higher-titled identity directly from the Imperial Palace. Meaning that they would be highly valued and protected because of their magical talents.]
Currently, there are about 50 people in the empire who have been named in the Imperial Palace for the position of mage.
Among those 50 names, Russell had never seen anyone with the surname Titonsser, let alone Ilya.
Those who know how to handle magic must put their names under the order of the Imperial Palace. Some people don't, but no one would make such a reckless decision while holding the title of nobleman.
That's why the probability that Ilya Titonsser is a wizard is extremely small---no, it is not an exaggeration to say that there is none at all.
Russell rolled his eyes in frustration and looked at Rose.
The story of Ilya's magic must have shocked her, as she appeared a little bewildered.
He kept his eyes focused on her and thought of Elliot.
As Rose and Wells talked, Elliot's eyes were fixated on Rose.
It wasn't just watching. It was a gaze with something very tenacious. It was the gaze that searched for something in Rose.
...Rose and Wells don't notice, but... Even though I was by her side, he still stared at Rose so openly.
Russell was convinced by Elliot's gaze.
Elliot Proud knows that Rose Honeywell has Abaddon's soul inside her body.
And I'm sure that you're aiming for it, Elliot.
...The question I should ask is, "How long have you known?
Russell's face grew serious.
While thinking about the monster that slumbered beneath the Empire, he was drawn back to his senses by Rose's voice.
"Brother, are you hiding something from me?"
Rose interrogated her brother with such confidence, confident in the fact that she had guessed correctly.
In an instant, the gazes of men met in a clash of wills and then diverged.
"Hiding from you...? Rose, I don't have anything to hide."
She would have believed it, but...
Wells seemed quite flustered, turning his head and denying it, his gaze nervous.
I should say that his unnatural behavior was rather true to his heart, as his words speak of lies.
"Do not lie, Brother. Let me know if it has anything to do with me. I have a right to know too. I am---I don't want to be protected by my older brother without knowing anything."
What Rose said was right. She is an important entity with Abaddon's soul in her body.
It was Rose who stood at the center of the misfortune that might happen one day, and it was her who held the key to whether or not to extinguish the fire.
I hate to see Rose get hurt. I hate seeing her get sick or injured.
Russell wanted to take Rose to a peaceful place, forgetting the pains and trails of the world, whether it be Abaddon's seal or whatever, and give her a comfortable life.
But I can't. Didn't I directly confirm that Rose showed signs of assimilating with the monster?
Rose's help was needed more than anyone else's to solve this problem.
"Wells, you have to tell Lady Honeywell everything."
"But Your Majesty... that thing...!"
"She is no longer a child. Even now, she must be urging you because she senses the severity of the situation."
Russell stared at Rose quietly.
Those eyes, which were redder than roses and brighter than rubies, did not waver.
She must have sensed that from now on she and Wells would be facing a future more terrifying than she could ever imagine, and yet Rose shows no sign of fright.
What happened to her? The atmosphere around her is so different from last year.
Is this something that developed under Abaddon's influence?
Russell turned to Wells.
Wells stared at the floor blankly with his head slightly bowed. He could tell that he had decided to let Rose know without saying a word.
Russell looked at her again and slowly started confessing.
"Lady Honeywell, Wells, and I have hypothesized that Elliot Proud was after you."
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, Elliot marched straight to the head of the knights on duty.
"Send the knights to the Barony of Titonsser right now. It is the name of His Majesty, so leave with urgency. If Ilya Titonsser shows up in the barony, don't delay and immediately arrest her and bring her to the capital."
The commander of the Knights Templar placed a list of knights on the order of the commander-in-chief, Elliot, and withdrew.
Russell didn't say anything out loud, but if Ilya continued her disappearing act, she might soon be placed under a wanted order.
After trying to pluck Rose Honeywell, Wells and Russell wouldn't give up on Ilya easily.
Elliot clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"The plan has completely gone awry. It must be that the mirror did not even reach Rose."
Elliot folded his arms and closed his eyes in thought. He immediately shook his head after some time as his eyes snapped open.
"For now, Ilya Titonsser should be left behind, excluded entirely from my plans, and I should start planning a counterattack."
Elliot quickly left the Imperial Palace.
The mirror, entrusted to Ilya, filled his thoughts for the duration he rode the carriage to the Proud Mansion.
"Is that mirror still in the Honeywell Manor? It can't be traced back to the Proud family, so it doesn't matter who finds it... But how I wish I could just throw it away."
While he was thinking about this and that, his carriage arrived at Proud Mansion.
As soon as Elliot got off the carriage and entered the mansion, he headed straight into the depths of his domain.
After opening the numerous locks, a tall safe appeared in front of him.
It was a safe containing the mirror that sealed Abaddon's body.
Elliot reached out to open the lock enclosing the safe.
Before his hand touched the cold lock, Elliot withdrew his hand unhurriedly as he sensed the unconcealed presence nearby.
"Who are you?"
This is not an easy space to enter unless you break through the walls or doors forcibly.
Elliot walked towards the area where he could feel the presence of people in the dark.
Step by step, as he got closer to the person, he pulled out the sword that was strapped around his waist.
Seeing the figure of something unidentifiable hidden in the darkness, Elliot swung his sword without hesitation.
Whoever it is, just being here is enough reason to die.
A sword that is trimmed and sharpened every day will cut through the shadows smoothly.
Then, once you've been slain, I can verify who you are.
That was Elliot's plan. However, what his sword cut through was the air that weighed heavily around him.
Sling.
The sword that cut through nothing made a light sound.
Elliot's gaze toward the darkness narrowed dangerously.
I don't feel the presence.
Then, light footsteps sounded out from behind.
Each step brought them closer.