The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

The sound of a quill scratching paper quietly echoed.

After Zenox departed for the North, Laria secluded herself in her workroom and began her research.

‘There must be a way to handle magic without using gems.’

She started researching in earnest because it felt wasteful to use gems every time she cast a spell.

After forming various hypotheses, she arrived at one plausible theory.

‘I need compensation when releasing the magical power inside me.’

Since releasing enormous magical power strains the body, gems are used as a substitute.

Therefore, the gem must be in physical contact with oneself.

So in terms of spell formulas…

Laria, who had been filling her research journal intensely, let out a long sigh.

“Should I stop here for today?”

Zenox had told her not to overdo it.

Laria, putting down her pen, glanced at the wolf doll placed on her desk.

It was a doll Zenox had given her to keep by her side in his place.

-But don’t get too attached to it.

Remembering his displeased face as he gave her the doll, she couldn’t help but smile.

To think he would be jealous even of a doll.

Since officially starting their relationship, Zenox no longer hid his jealousy.

No, he hadn’t really hidden it before, but it had gotten worse.

“I miss you.”

Laria murmured to herself as she stroked the doll with her fingertips.

A week had already passed since Zenox left for the North.

The North had fallen into chaos with Rubenta’s death, and he had to step in personally to quell it.

Through this incident, the elders realized they had been swayed by Rubenta’s Power of Words. Shocked by Rubenta’s evil deeds and the revealed truth, some even fell ill.

The elders, who had been out of sight for a while, recently asked Zenox for forgiveness. Zenox forgave them, and it became an opportunity for the Krassium family’s unity to become even stronger.

The only problem was that there were still clan heads swayed by the Power of Words.

These were the ones who had sided with Rubenta and tried to incite rebellion.

Even after Rubenta’s death, they hadn’t disbanded and were causing numerous problems. Conscripting ordinary domain residents or imposing excessive taxes.

Because they were disrupting the peace, the Krassium family, which could be considered the center of the North, had to step in.

‘I should endure.’

Though she wanted to use spatial movement magic to go see Zenox, she held back, worried she might interfere.

He had already been delayed staying by her side when she was a fox.

‘Somehow it feels like I see him less now that we’ve officially started dating.’

Maybe she should suggest going on a date once this is over.

What should they do on a date?

As she was pondering this, Laria realized it was time for her appointment with Solike and hurriedly cast a spatial movement spell.

The scenery changed instantly.

“You’re here?”

Solike, who had been checking documents, welcomed Laria.

At the same time, he habitually looked behind Laria.

“The Grand Duke didn’t come with you?”

“He went to the North.”

Despite her slightly gloomy response, Solike openly let out a sigh of relief.

Every time he tried to talk with Laria, Zenox would glare at him.

At first, he thought Laria was pitiable for getting involved with the Grand Duke, but now he thinks they’re well-matched.

As Laria sat down, Solike served warm tea and said:

“I’m gathering as much physical evidence as possible. But I think it might be a bit lacking.”

Solike had also agreed to testify at Marquis Hashir’s trial.

He had collected quite a lot of evidence while tracking Marquis Hashir with Laria.

However, unfortunately, there was no decisive physical evidence that the Marquis had dealt with forbidden magic.

He had passed most of the incriminating tasks onto his subordinates.

Laria, taking a sip of tea, replied:

“It’ll be fine since we have witnesses.”

A few days ago, Laria had met with Ort.

She had told him to testify at the trial and promised to spare him from execution.

Anyway, if Laria presented the magic circle as evidence, he would be executed, so following Laria’s words was his only lifeline.

Though he didn’t know that execution would be a much better outcome.

-It seems Sienna Hashir is helping the Marquis.

Laria pondered the words Ort had left as he departed.

Though it was difficult to fully trust Ort’s words, they couldn’t be ignored either.

Above all, Sienna had appeared with Marquis Hashir at the hunting competition.

But she didn’t know Sienna would stay even after the Marquis was imprisoned.

If she turned her back on the Marquis now and pretended to know nothing, she could still save her family.

‘Is it still because he’s her father?’

In any case, despite Laria’s warning, Sienna chose to remain by the Marquis’s side.

As she tried to shake off her uneasiness, Solike shrugged lightly.

“The trial will draw a huge crowd.”

“It’s understandable. It’s not often a high-ranking noble stands trial.”

Moreover, with the charge of the Sorcery Office Head dealing with forbidden magic, how sensational it was.

Solike let out a hollow laugh, as if to say ‘what are you talking about?’

“It’s because of you that they’re gathering.”

“Me? Why?”

As Laria looked puzzled, not understanding, Solike furrowed his brow.

“Were you perhaps locked up somewhere?”

Laria inwardly flinched.

It wasn’t exactly confinement, but she had lived almost like that.

She had been a fox for days, and this was her first outing.

“You should have been more active during the hunting competition.”

At the hunting competition, Marquis Hashir had used forbidden magic to start a fire.

Those attending the competition tried to flee, but the flames were so fierce that they were trapped in the forest.

Just as they thought they were going to die helplessly, a pure white rain began to fall. The rain quelled the endlessly rising flames and cleared away the smoke.

As the people trapped in the forest safely evacuated, the sky began to turn dark red.

It was a scene as if the end of the world had come.

Everyone was frozen, not knowing what to do, when a light so white it seemed holy burst forth from the middle of the forest.

The pouring light drove away the darkness and brightly illuminated the world.

Everyone could only stare blankly at the sky, lost in the unforgettable sight.

Later, the truth was revealed.

That it was Laria Rohan who had stopped Marquis Hashir’s evil deeds.

“I didn’t really do anything special…”

Laria just scratched her cheek sheepishly.

Seeing this, Solike smiled faintly. Thinking to himself ‘this is just like Laria Rohan’, Solike asked:

“What will you do after the trial is over? Why don’t you aim for the Sorcery Office Head position?”

“You’re joking, right?”

As Laria grimaced, Solike just shrugged.

The Sorcery Office sorcerers were clamoring to make connections with Laria, but judging by her reaction, it seemed unlikely that Laria would join the Sorcery Office.

The two talked for a long time, catching up.

Though they had finished their business, Laria lingered, not returning home.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…Have you ever dated?”

Suddenly?

At the unexpected question, Solike tilted his head.

Laria, her expression brightening, asked:

“What should I do on a date?”

“Haven’t you done a lot with the Grand Duke?”

“Huh? Oh, right.”

As Laria averted her gaze, Solike narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

In the past, he would have excitedly pried, but now he had no desire whatsoever to get involved in their love life.

“Well, in my case, I often go to see plays or operas.”

“That’s good!”

It was a simple answer, but Laria’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Feeling a chill down his spine, Solike looked around. If Zenox saw this, he might drag Solike into a back alley.

Realizing there were no watching eyes, Solike let out a sigh of relief.

Even a man crazy with jealousy wouldn’t pick a fight over something like this.

“Don’t tell him I said this…”

At his added words, Laria looked puzzled but nodded.

And time flew by, finally bringing the day of Marquis Hashir’s trial.