92. Warning (4)
While Bella was contemplating by the window, Owen was preoccupied with other worries.
Although he pretended to be relaxed with Bella, in reality, Owen was extremely anxious.
Owen knew very well that Lucía was a strong and remarkable person, but Count Celid Yeongsik was insane.
It was unknown what kind of scheme a murderer who committed various crimes had concocted.
It was unlikely that anyone would dare to touch the life of a noble family heir, but they could resort to other tricks besides killing or injuring, like black magic, for example.
Since black magic was mentioned in the setting of ＜Empire’s Flower＞, it was a possibility.
“Kyle.”
Owen decided to ask Kyle just in case.
Knights often assessed each other’s abilities.
They could tell by the opponent’s aura and demeanor.
Wouldn’t it be the same for sorcerers?
With this thought in mind, Owen asked Kyle.
“Can you immediately tell how many ranks other sorcerers are?”
“Huh? Just by looking at them?”
“Yeah.”
In the midst of a break during the meeting, Kyle, taken aback by the sudden question, responded with a puzzled look.
“Yeah, I can. I can sense the circle in front of their heart using magic.”
“Is that so?”
Fortunately, it seemed that sorcerers could sense each other’s circles.
“But I can only accurately perceive sorcerers with fewer circles than me. If they have more circles than me, it looks vague.”
Typically, there was one circle per class, a vessel for magic.
However, there were low-class sorcerers with a lot of magic power, and high-class sorcerers with little magic power.
“Hey… Do you know any sorcerer with more circles than you?”
Kyle was a sorcerer with many circles and a high class.
He was a 9th class sorcerer with 13 circles.
There was a joke going around that he had 13 circles in the heart of a dragon from ancient times, which made Kyle often teased about being a reincarnation of a dragon.
“No. So, what I mean is, I can usually tell whether the other person is a sorcerer or not. Except for black magic users.”
Owen narrowed his eyes at Kyle’s confident voice.
“Why not black magic users? Aren’t they sorcerers too?”
“Their magic structure is different from regular sorcerers.”
At Owen’s inquiry, Kyle shook his head.
He kindly added an explanation.
“Generally, only those born with magic inside them can become sorcerers. Like those who can only be awakened by the chosen ones.”
“Right.”
Following the explanation, Owen nodded his head.
Not everyone had the aura that Kyle mentioned.
It was not something that could be acquired through effort but rather an inborn talent.
Just like magic power.
“But black magic doesn’t have that magic power. They obtain magic power through a price, postnatally.”
“Compensation…?”
As soon as he mentioned ‘compensation,’ Owen suddenly had a hunch.
Thinking it couldn’t be true, Owen added a question, “Are you saying it’s a form of selling one’s soul to a demon or something?”
“Well, kind of. How did you know?”
“…It was like the dark magic in the novels I’ve read.”
Seeing Kyle’s surprised expression, Owen muttered softly.
To which Kyle replied, chuckling briefly before continuing his explanation, “They’re not demons, they’re demons in this world. You can make a contract by paying compensation to a demon, and in return, you receive magic. In other words, you draw on the magic of the demon you contracted with.”
“Do those demons continuously provide magic?”
After listening to the entire explanation, Owen became perplexed.
If they were demons, they must be talking about some kind of species living in the demon realm. It seemed unlikely that they would continue providing magic after a single payment.
“No. There’s a limit to how long you can use it. To extend that, you have to offer compensation again.”
“I see.”
“The reason demons live long is that they consume souls. So, the usual compensation is souls. That’s why those who have killed many people would easily get used to it.”
As Kyle finished his explanation, Owen became even more uneasy.
Those who have killed many people.
It was undoubtedly Lord Seled Hujak Yeongsik who fit that description.
Through his investigation, Owen had learned a lot about him.
He wasn’t someone who had killed a person or two.
“It’s also because demons consider humans the most appetizing prey.”
As Owen was lost in worry, Kyle shifted the conversation.
“Since demons originally come from the demon realm. They aim to consume souls with long lifespans to prolong their own lives.”
“…Is that so?”
The story Kyle added was something Owen had not known.
It wasn’t in ＜The Flower of the Empire＞, nor was it in his memory.
“Yeah. Oh, it’s top-secret research only done at the Demon Tower. Keep it a secret.”
“…And you’re telling me this so easily?”
“Because it’s you. You wouldn’t tell anyone anyway, right?”
Seeing Owen’s bewildered expression, Kyle casually responded.
Then, with a smile, he glanced at Bella.
“You asked because of the story the saint told, right?”
With a pointed question, Owen nodded.
Then, as if to reassure him, Kyle spoke, “Seled… was it? Anyway, even if that son of a b*tch is a dark mage, it shouldn’t be a big problem. The demons available for contracts are usually weak.”
“Do you think so…?”
“Yeah. Sometimes there are exceptions… But if he traded a lot of souls to make a contract with a powerful demon.”
Kyle continued speaking softly, still not taking his gaze off Bella.
“There will be evidence left. Somehow.”
His voice, full of life, turned cold.
Kyle was very sensitive to death.
Especially if it was an innocent death.
“Then he’ll be punishable. He won’t be able to do anything ever again.”
“…I see.”
With a firm voice, Owen responded slowly.
If Seled Hujak Yeongsik had traded souls to that extent, it meant he had committed a lot of murders.
In that case, he would surely have to leave traces and evidence in some form…
‘But what if something happens to Lucia before that?’
This was the worrying part.
Since Seled Hujak Yeongsik wanted Lucia, he wouldn’t kill her.
But if he used dark magic, hypnosis, or suggestion.
If she were to be harmed in that way…
‘Ah.’
His heart tightened.
It was a familiar sensation.
A feeling that arose every time trauma and memories resurfaced.
‘That can’t happen.’
Taking a deep breath, Owen cleared his dizzy mind.
He got up from his seat and walked back to the table where the meeting had been held.
“The snow seems like it will continue to fall, so let’s find another way for now.”
They had to return as soon as possible, no matter what it took.
***
“Lucia.”
Edward confirmed the activation of the magic circle and smiled as he called Lucia’s name.
In response, the crimson eyes turned to him.
“Please call me by my name, Lucia.”
“…Edward.”
Slowly, his name flowed from her crimson lips.
Edward, satisfied with the title that Lucia would have never uttered in the past, wore a content smile.
“In the future, I would prefer if you addressed me that way.”
Lucia nodded slightly.
Seeing Lucia’s docile response, Edward pursed his lips.
“I would like to keep Lucia here a bit longer… but it seems inconvenient today.”
After a moment of wearing a pleased expression, Edward’s voice quickly turned somber.
“Hannah may be disrespectful towards you. It can’t be helped, but it would be better to see you again tomorrow.”
Edward muttered with a voice filled with disappointment.
It seemed true that what he had said about his relationship with his younger brother was not good.
The rift that had formed after his divorce from Lucia was also evident.
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“I will send a carriage for you tomorrow. Since it’s not a family carriage, I cannot send you as the Duchess of Edelter. Therefore, I will arrange for someone to guide you as a duchess.”
“…”
Lucia remained silent.
Since using mental magic usually caused the other person’s mind to become foggy or required an adaptation period, Edward smoothly passed over Lucia’s reaction as usual.
“I would like you to come alone. Without any knights or maids, just Lucia.”
Although he had cast a quick hypnosis and implication, it wasn’t enough.
The magic was weak to reassure, and its duration was short.
It would unravel within a day.
He wanted to use a stronger mental magic, but he couldn’t.
He had almost used up the amount of magic power he was allowed.
It was known to the public that dark mages could borrow ‘time’ in exchange for souls, but in reality, it was different.
Dark mages received as much magic power as the soul had time from demons.
“I have a gift for you, which should be ready by tomorrow.”
Once he regained magic power tomorrow, Edward planned to create magical tools using dark magic.
If he made a bracelet or ring-shaped mental magic tool and gave it to Lucia, and she wore it…
Then she wouldn’t seek Owen anymore.
“Anyway, we must part ways today… I will escort you by carriage.”
With his thoughts organized, Edward reached out his hand.
Lucia raised her white hand over his hand adorned with white gloves.
It was the hand they used to hold at each banquet when they were engaged.
Though it had been a while, the white hand was still warm, and Edward smiled once again.
Yes, she was the one he should be holding hands with.
Not Owen Verdi, who had abandoned and ignored her for over four years.
Not the Verdi who feigned nobility with a demonic lineage, but Edward Selleed.
He was more fitting as the successor of the Selleed Marquis, who had firmly supported the empire from the first emperor.
He was far better at sacrificing for the greater good than any person, willingly bearing the burden of sacrifices.
Because Lucia was also that kind of person.
She was greedy and full of ambition and conceit.
In this world, only he could fully understand her.
That’s what Edward Selleed believed.
“I will see you tomorrow, Lucia.”
Exiting the bustling banquet hall, Edward led Lucia to the entrance of the mansion, helping her onto the carriage.
Then, holding her hand, he gently kissed the back of her hand.
Lucia remained silent as usual this time too.
But tomorrow, she would change.
Edward detached himself from her with a cold, satisfied expression, resembling that of a snake.
The coachman closed the carriage door and climbed onto the driver’s seat.
The red carriage quickly moved away.
Edward stood in place, looking back until the carriage disappeared.
He was looking forward to the imminent tomorrow.
The face of Owen Verdine, who would be shocked upon return, would be no different.