I Ran Away To Evil: Book 2 & 3 - A Cozy LitRPG RomCom

It took over an hour to round up the mercenaries and meet back at the Port Gate. Julian oversaw tracking each individual that remained this side of the Arc Warden, and without abilities to boost their base speed, his higher stats gave him plenty of advantage.

Unfortunately, Chloe arrived back at the Port Gate with nothing but a dark mood. The only silver lining was the message from John’s shadow that Julia had been found alive and well. The Grand Duchess Calisto, Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep, Dark Magician King Keith of Nilheim, Witch Agatha of Winters End and Master Thomas of Servalt were powering the Arc Warden and would continue to do so until their search came to a close.

As soon as she heard the news, the necromancer immediately headed out for the palace. With everyone except the missing celestial accounted for, Chloe pulled out an enchanted necklace and informed the palace they could release the Arc Warden.

That was around the time John found them. Since the rogue couldn’t portal through his shadows at the time, Julian had asked he join them the old fashioned way.

“Report.”

“Protector Rufus and Minstrel Bronwynn helped the Black Brigade Knights detain the merchants outside the city and have retired to an inn half hour down the road. They will return in the morning in time for the wedding.”

Julian nodded, good to know they were safe.

John continued, “Julia was found on the bridge to the West Wing with no memory of how she got there. She informed Her Grace that she was ambushed with [Sleep] shortly after she flew off from the wedding rehearsal.”

“This side of the Palace wall?” Julian’s voice was stone cold.

“Yes.”

His fists were clenched at his side. Julian turned to face his friend. “What would you do?”

“I would interrogate these.” John waved a hand at the captured merchants. “Discover that they and every other are simple hired hands. Find out where they were headed, the schedule and any useful passwords... but nothing much else.”

Julian cursed.

"Then," John added, “Considering the fact that the mercenary and assassin guilds have played a major part in this operation, I would send over a ruthless auditor to make me feel better– ”

That had Julian fighting a small smile.

“--and then prepare for the worst tomorrow.” He concluded.

Julian sighed. "How."

There wasn't anyone more qualified to ask then his own rogue.

John was silent for a ”moment, but his eyes were focused elsewhere and he seemed deep in thought. Finally he said, “A game.”

That was not at all what Julian thought he was going to hear and he frowned. “A game?”

“Yes.” John, his otherwise stalwart and emotionless shadow, suddenly gave Julian a vicious smile. His teeth flashed white in a rare show of amusement. “A game. You have almost every high level elite on the continent attending this wedding?”

“They have over two hundred guests.” An outrageous amount. Julian couldn’t imagine more than twenty at his own ceremony. Not that he planned to get married any time soon. Still, filling the entire Sanctuary made him uncomfortable.

That was without an elusive army out to get him and his family.

“Well,” John reasoned, “Thanks to Madame Potts, the entire continent knows that [Blackfog] spies are going to be stirring up trouble during the festival – why not start the day off with an invitation to the entire wedding guest list that whoever catches a [Blackfog] will get a prize. Maybe the person who subdues the most can have one of your esteemed mother’s inventions.”

“John.” Julian lifted a hand and placed it firmly on his rogue's shoulder, “You’re a genius.”

“True.”

It was Julian’s turn to smile at his friend. “Let’s finish up here, and then go discuss this back at the palace.”

…

“Duke Julian has arrived.” The attendant informed everyone before he could burst into the same parlor unannounced twice in one day.

His mother was standing with Their Royal Highness. She knew instantly that John was attached to his shadow, and acknowledged the rogue with a simple nod at Julian's feet before addressing her son. “There you are.”

“We just finished up our investigation at the Port Gate.” Julian said. “The caravan leader, Greyson, admitted to knowing about Julia’s kidnapping and will be brought before the council.”

“I can’t believe they managed to get me that far.” His sister said, frowning.

"At least you weren't going much farther than that." Julian added, "Apparently, they'd planned to release you before the wedding".

The sight of his sister, relaxing back in an armchair, was a welcome relief. Julian hadn’t realized how tense he’d been even after hearing the news that his sister had been found, until he saw her safe and sound for himself.

"That makes sense," His mother said. She looked better than could be expected from having most of her mana drained by a legendary grade enchanted device. "Since Madame Potts did say the wedding was going to happen."

"Hm." His sister was distracted by the tiny blond woman sitting in her lap, arms wrapped around her neck.

Chloe shot Julian a look, “You were there before us, and you still couldn’t capture the Void Mage?”

“Neither could you.” Julian pointed out. It sounded defensive even to his own ears, and he took a deep breath to calm himself. Chloe was a pricklebush sometimes, but she loved his sister and that was what mattered. The benefits of his [Natural Poise] perk held firm and he continued, “Still, we did capture everyone else... and we found others.”

“What?” Julia asked, noticing his hesitation.

“Barry, the swordsman spy, found a warehouse down by the docks and released six others who'd been captured.”

“What?” Grand Duchess Calisto cut in sharply. Julian could understand his mother’s fury, knowing that others were kept against their will in her domain.

“Who?” Their Highness Rowen inquired. The fox was still in their guise from the wedding rehearsal, and stroked their beard, curious.

“One of the castle servants, Lily Montgomery.” Julian replied, “Duke–”

“Lily isn’t here?” Julia interrupted. “I saw her hanging the linens while I was flying earlier.”

Julian nodded, “There is no Lily in the palace right now, so it must have been a fake.”

“Impossible.” His mother Calisto said, “No one can pass through the palace shield under disguise without setting off an alarm informing the head of the knights.”

“Nobility can.” Their Royal Highness offered. “I myself am almost never questioned when travelling… It used to be fun, getting pulled aside for questioning.”

“You are always traveling with your entourage these days.” Calisto waved her hand as if Rowen was being silly. “If only one member of your group is under disguise every time you visit, then it’s not much of a stretch to assume it’s you.”

That brought a wide smile to Rowen’s face, and Julian had a feeling that the fox was going to use that information to pull new pranks on upcoming visits. But that was his mother’s problem.

“The others,” Julian continued, “were Wyldon of Servalt, Sir Phineas of Drendil, Lady Cassandra Cress of North Sumbria, and Trevor Malory of Drendil, and your son, Prince Malakai.”

That got the ruler’s attention, and suddenly Rowen was exuding a dark aura even as their face remained impassive. “My son?”

Julian didn’t budge. “Yes. The prince is currently enroute to greet you, though he requested a stop by the kitchen first.”

“I see.” Rowen’s power settled slightly, and they turned to Grand Duchess Calista with a too bright smile. “It’s a good thing everyone was rescued then.”

The implied threat was understandable.

“We will have to ask for a report from each captive for the council.” His mother looked Rowen in the eye.

There was a second before the fox ruler agreed. It wasn’t going to be torture, it was just going to be simple questions.

“As you say.” Rowen nodded, then their eyes swept the gathering.

“What are you doing with the other captives?” Chloe asked from her seat on Julia. "The palace is pretty full."

“Dear.” His sister poked Chloe’s cheek for interrupting what was an otherwise tense moment before continental leaders.

The necromancer wasn’t deterred. “They are also suspects."

“Their respective embassies are finding those who wish to leave, a way home. And any who wished to stay I have provided full room and board in the city so they might enjoy the festival as an apology for their inconvenience at this time.” Julian explained.

“So what next?” Chloe demanded. “We know what happened and that there is at least one spy running around the palace as we speak! Why are we sitting here and not summoning every palace staff for a test? Why–”

“The staff have rights.” Julian stated before anyone else. “They are people, and they deserve security and protection, not harassment and suspicion.”

“Is it simple suspicion,” Their Highness asked, cocking their head, “If we know that one of them is a disguised spy?”

“There are ways,” Calisto summoned a bell and rang it once. Knight Commander Lex Toring of the Grey Hawk Knights walked into the room. The ogre filled the door, equipped with silver plate armor engraved with a hawk. He was the leader of Calisto’s personal knight squadron in the palace.

“You summoned, Your Grace?” Sir Lex bowed perfectly, the serious and loyal knight. Julian remembered climbing onto the ogre as a young boy and riding on his shoulders. Back when his father was still alive.

“One of the servants is using a disguise. They were walking around as Miss Lily earlier today.” She informed the knight. “Send out all of my knights to each of the servants wing accompany the heads of house while they review everyone's quality of work. Say it's in preparation for the wedding, but if anyone isn't competent in a field they were previously, have them brought to my office.”

“... all of the knights?” Sir Lex asked, hesitant.

“You may return to my side.” His mother said, which didn’t seem to satisfy the knight, but he bowed and did as he was told.

“That’s it?” Chloe asked, “Another search around the palace? What if nothing turns up?”

Julian coughed, “Actually, there is another plan I would like to broach.”

All eyes turned to him.