020. Distortion (1)
“Indeed.”
Kyle nodded with a furrowed brow at Owen’s words.
He had dismissed the habitat changes of the monsters they had seen earlier as mere coincidence, but if this was the case, the story had changed.
Habitat changes without a clear cause could be considered mere coincidences, but changes with a clear cause had a significantly lower chance of being accidental.
That could lead to very dangerous consequences.
The hunting competition was structured in a way that groups of knights and mages of similar levels were assigned to places where monsters they could handle were located.
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If a distortion occurred and a large monster appeared in the central region….
It would have brought about irreversible consequences.
“If what you’re saying is true, several knights and mages might have already been injured due to the distortion.”
Owen sighed softly and then spoke, meeting Kyle’s gaze.
“You take them safely back to headquarters. If that side is indeed where the saintess is, we need to take good care of her.”
“Got it. What about you?”
“I’ll head back to headquarters first. If the distortion has already occurred, we need to stop the hunting competition immediately.”
Kyle nodded at Owen’s low and serious voice.
There was no mistake in Owen’s words, and this was an urgent matter.
“I’ll go first.”
“Alright.”
With a brief farewell, Owen moved on.
Although all three were heading in the same direction, Kyle couldn’t ride as fast, as Bella was not accustomed to riding.
Therefore, only Owen could swiftly head towards headquarters.
Owen untied the horse he had left in the central area and mounted it.
Then, he rode at full speed towards headquarters.
Unlike the slow journey he had made in sync with Richard’s pace, this time it didn’t take long at all.
“Your Grace Verdin. Have you returned already?”
When he arrived at headquarters, the soldiers waiting there greeted him.
They were all soldiers of Viscount Keres, not participants in the hunting competition but personnel responsible for ensuring the smooth progress of the competition.
For instance, they would transport injured individuals or manage the overall situation of the hunting competition.
“I have something to check.”
“To check, you say?”
The puzzled soldiers’ voices made Owen also puzzled.
If Bella had indeed used her power, then a distortion should have occurred.
What was the meaning of this indifferent response?
“Have there been any casualties?”
“Casualties? Like what…?”
“If a large monster appeared in the central area or a medium-sized one at the entrance. That sort of thing.”
“No, there have been no such reports….”
Frowning at the soldiers’ completely clueless attitude, Owen narrowed his eyes.
If Bella had awakened her power, she would undoubtedly have used that power.
But if no distortion had occurred, it was hard to believe.
It was even more difficult to believe because he had encountered a medium-sized monster in the wrong place before.
‘Was that just a simple coincidence? Or…’
Owen sighed softly and pushed his hair back.
His mind was too tangled.
The sudden appearance of Bella, the much earlier beginning of the original work, and many parts of the original work that had already been twisted.
And-
Even the heavy responsibility he had suddenly shouldered overnight.
He was no longer just an ordinary college student.
He had to take care of not only himself but also his people.
He was the head of a family, a figure highly regarded for his strength across the continent.
He was in a position where he had to take responsibility for everything that happened, not just the situation itself but also all his people.
‘…My head hurts.’
As his complex thoughts intertwined, his head throbbed.
He thought he had become accustomed to being Owen for a month.
And indeed, he had.
The mountain of documents, businesses, and contracts he had to deal with.
After doing all of them, he became accustomed to it.
He could handle things at a decent level where even the butler could nod in approval.
The same applied to swordsmanship and moments of helplessness.
As he experienced them, he became accustomed, and as he became accustomed, he could handle them easily.
However, this was different.
It involved a person’s life.
“Could it be that there’s no contact because it’s a situation where reports can’t be made?”
Just thinking of the worst-case scenario made his fingertips tremble.
But he knew that if he let fear take over and neglected the situation, the outcome would only get worse.
“…It seems we need to organize a search party.”
When Owen muttered softly, a soldier threw a question.
“A search party, you say? Why…?”
“It seems there has been a deviation. The saint has awakened in the forest.”
“…!”
Upon Owen’s words, the soldiers initially showed faces of astonishment, then quickly nodded with solemn expressions.
“Understood. I will gather all remaining troops here to organize a search party.”
With his words, all decisions and actions were set in motion.
Owen couldn’t help but feel the weight of responsibility he carried.
Under Owen’s command, a search party was organized.
The search party consisted of the knights and mages who had stayed in the camp for protection, as well as the minimal forces left at the Keres Viscount’s mansion.
They were divided into ten groups, each assigned to search a specific area.
“If you find any casualties, report immediately through the communication device. And if you encounter any unbeatable monsters, make use of the provided teleportation scrolls.”
Although teleportation magic was generally illegal under imperial law, a few teleportation scrolls were available for emergency situations during the hunt.
Naturally, all designated teleportation points led back to the headquarters.
“Understood.”
As Owen’s instructions concluded, the search party dispersed into the forest.
Unlike the groups that had entered for hunting, they were prepared for the worst with the possession of teleportation scrolls.
As Owen finished his temporary preparations and let out a sigh, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
“Your Highness.”
At the voice calling him, Owen turned around to see the person.
“…Lady.”
With ruby-like shining red eyes and radiant hair, and even a voice as beautiful as his.
It was Lucia.
“Have you returned already?”
Lucia asked Owen, her eyes twinkling gently.
For some reason, Owen felt like he could breathe a little easier just by looking at her.
He almost wanted to embrace her tightly as if he could.
Strangely, he thought that would bring some peace.
Although he couldn’t do something that would clearly surprise Lucia.
Instead, he took a step towards her.
And slowly, he took her hand and lifted it, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand.
“Yes.”
It was a sudden gesture.
Owen felt it himself, and Lucia felt it even more.
From the perspective of the attendants and servants standing behind her, it was a shocking act.
“…I am glad.”
Lucia, though surprised, managed to put on a composed expression.
Her faintly curved lips and twinkling eyes were incredibly natural.
“Did my ribbon help you, Your Highness?”
She mentioned the red ribbon tied to Owen’s sword, lowering her eyelids shyly.
All the eyes of those standing behind her were directed towards that spot.
Owen briefly glanced down at the ribbon tied to his sword hilt, then met Lucia’s eyes, his lips curling into a smile.
“It seems so.”
With a clear and affirmative answer, those who had just been gossiping with Lucia a moment ago were now astonished.
Realizing that all the stories they had heard at the tea party were indeed true.
“But why have you come all the way out here?”
It was strange to see Lucia appearing in a place other than the greenhouse where the tea party was being held.
Owen threw a question at Lucia.
To which Lucia replied with a smile, “The atmosphere seemed a bit noisy, so I thought perhaps Your Highness had arrived and came out to see.”
“I see. Then these people here…”
Upon hearing Lucia’s response, Owen nodded and gestured towards the people behind Lucia.
Lucia graciously introduced them, “These are the ones who enjoyed the tea party with me. They are kind and wonderful people.”
With praises added to the introduction, their reactions were naturally positive.
“Oh, the Lady is indeed kind and wonderful.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Owen quietly observed their interactions with admiration.
The sight of tearing a page from “The Flower of the Empire” and bringing it to life was always fresh and exhilarating.
It was enough to momentarily forget the worries that had plagued his mind until now.
“Your Highness, do you recall the favor I asked of you?”
As Owen was lost in a brief contemplation.
Lucia grabbed his arm and inquired.
Taken aback by the sudden touch, Owen looked down at his arm, then let out a faint sound.
“I must have forgotten.”
Though he couldn’t fathom why she was behaving this way…
One thing was clear; she wanted to show this side to them.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly mustered the courage, feeling awkward even around me.
“I told you, I remember everything you say.”
Whatever the reason, if Lucia wished.
Owen could fulfill her desires.
“Then, would you accompany me to the riding field now?”
“…”
At Lucia’s question, Owen hesitated for a moment.
He had no choice.
In the current situation, amidst the confusion, he couldn’t leisurely go horseback riding.
Regardless, he had to take charge as a commander and lead the situation.
Of course, if something happened, he would be contacted through the communication device.
Sending knights for reconnaissance and going to the riding field would undoubtedly spread unfavorable rumors.
“…Not now.”
Certainly, Lucia was more important than those mere rumors.
But because of those rumors, she might suffer too.
Owen had no choice but to politely decline.
“I have a place I’d like to ride with you later.”
However, he didn’t express this fact straightforwardly.
It seemed Lucia wanted to show that I held her in esteem.
If I simply refused here, it might ruin the situation she desired.
“After the hunting competition, I’d like to go there together.”
Deliberately holding Lucia’s hand that reached out with the expectation of what was to come, Owen met her gaze.
“As long as you’re okay with it.”
Naturally seeking permission through physical contact, their demeanor made anyone think they shared a special relationship.
Although it was all for show, it didn’t matter.
As the attendants watched, they concluded that the rumors were true.
Just by exchanging surprised glances, it was evident.
Lucia subtly curled her lips upon seeing them.
After today, the words that had followed her, ‘Even the Lady Edelte, who has everything, cannot resist the Duke of Verdin,’ would disappear.
Instead, a new epithet would emerge, ‘The Lady who even took the Duke of Verdin.’
As this thought crossed her mind, the desire that had been harbored since their first meeting ignited like a flame.
She had always been someone to possess, someone she had tried to acquire by any means.
But she hadn’t been able to get close, let alone possess him.
Now that an opportunity had arisen, everyone began to misunderstand.
That he belonged to her.
Perhaps because of that.
She genuinely hoped that the misconception would become reality.
“If I could truly have him completely.”
Not just appearing to have won him over, but him showing a bit of favor towards me.
His everything became his own, enabling him to easily give away anything.
If only she wished it, she would willingly kneel and beg, wanting to possess him perfectly.
Such a grand desire had arisen.