Could it be that Rosemary, who almost drowned in the Haran’s toxic waters, regained her sanity? And did Rosemary, with her newfound clarity, fall in love with Sid?
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
On the way back from the party, while riding in the carriage, Scarlet cautiously asked Lisal.
“Ah, I saw something I shouldn’t have seen, something grotesque.”
“Ah, it seems the courtly circles are still filled with scandals, I presume?”
Lisal, who always valued one-on-one relationships, always criticized the courtly circles, so Scarlet smiled and pretended to understand.
“No, I didn’t even bother with such things.”
There were things that held such an intense grip on her attention that she didn’t even notice her surroundings. Lisal shook her head in frustration.
The carriage traveled along the dark night road and stopped at a countryside estate. The carriage door opened, and Scarlet cautiously extended her hand to Lisal. Lisal received the escort from Scarlet, stepped down from the carriage, and furrowed her brows as soon as she got off.
“I can’t walk around here in my high heels, Ross.”
How could they possibly glide across the dirt floor in high heels? In response to Lisal’s plea, the burly attendant, Ross, cautiously lifted her into his arms. Scarlet occasionally walked ahead of them and arrived at the door, overtaking Ross. She knocked on the door quickly, following the agreed-upon signal. The door opened without a word.
“Wh-who are you people?!”
Inside the farmhouse, there was nothing except for a single chair and a bound person sitting in it, shivering with a leather sack covering their face, rendering them completely unrecognizable. The rest were all soldiers, and the place lacked any semblance of furniture. The room was brightly lit as if it were midday, thanks to the torches illuminating everything.
“Don’t you even ask who I am? You’re causing a big problem by not knowing who I am! If you think you can get away with this kind of behavior without any consequences…”
Ross set Lisal down, and she confidently walked forward, removing the sack.
“Usya Elaine.”
Lisal smiled mischievously as she looked down at the unassuming man.
“I know you quite well, you bastard.”
While Elaine Rosi was the most famous disciple of the Master of Magic Tower, Iris Elaine, the one who held the official position of apprentice was this man, Usya. Of course, he received the title of Usya Ilein after receiving his master’s name.
Upon learning of Rosemary’s rebellion, Sidrain investigated the situation from all angles. The list provided by Duke Geness was obviously false. However, it was undeniably based on some underlying truth. The question was what that truth was, and Sidrain eventually discovered it.
The list provided by Duke Geness was based on Rosemary’s testimony. And in reality, Rosemary had exaggerated and inflated her claims of betrayal to Duke Geness, fabricating the existence of her rebellious members. It was all a bluff. Duke Geness had no intention of delving deeper into the matter, so he simply withdrew, thinking, “Well, that’s how it is.” And that was why the list had become so vast and grandiose.
For example, on that list, Elaine Rosi was actually the apprentice, Usya. If Usya, the apprentice, was on their side, then Elynn was practically on their side too! That was Rosemary’s perception.
“Y-you. You mentioned the Master. Who are you?”
“Someone you, a lowly bastard, should never dare to open your eyes and look at.”
Smack.
Lisal’s hand landed squarely on Usya’s jaw. If she hadn’t held back her strength, his jaw would have been shattered with that one blow.
“Whatever promises Rosemary made you? The position of the Master of Magic Tower?”
Lisal asked with a sneer, her eyes narrowing. When she made such an expression, she was incredibly beautiful, but those who had been with her knew that when she looked like this, she was in battle mode.
“Nonsense! Stop with the nonsense and release me!”
Smack.
This time, Scarlet’s hand struck Usya’s head.
“Disrespectful to Her Highness.”
To demand courtesy from a person who had been kidnapped was truly a cruel request. However, Scarlet was a woman who believed her master was the greatest in the world. Even if Usya was on the verge of death, she was the type of person to swing her fists without giving him a title.
Y-Your Highness?
Usya Elaine was taken aback. Your Highness? That meant she was noble. A woman whom soldiers referred to as “Your Highness.” How many of those were there? If she were your highness, she couldn’t be a wife, but she must be a person who holds a title herself and be a high-ranking military official at the same time. That meant…
The Mad Duchess
“D-Duchess Lisal, Your Grace?”
“Why? Does seeing me in the flesh make you fall for me?”
“Please don’t fall for me. It’s a headache.”
Her nonsensical babbling made the subordinates chuckle. The fact that they genuinely laughed at such silly remarks was a testament to the deep respect they held for Lisal. However, as Usya, who had betrayed his mentor and joined the ranks of the rebels, couldn’t understand true loyalty, he blinked, not knowing what was funny.
I don’t see anything funny. Why are they laughing?
“Sure, I don’t even care why you betrayed us. It’s exhausting to know every single episode of your pathetic life. So let’s get straight to the point. Where can I find evidence that Rosemary offered you a betrayal?”
Usya Elaine had no interest in whatever happened in his life. How could her mouth open and speak like this? He sealed his lips shut.
Lisal knew this would happen. She was a veteran of war and had experience toying with the minds of prisoners. She could have tried to persuade Usya, but firstly, witnessing such a pitiful sight didn’t sit well with her, and secondly, it would be problematic if Usya agreed to a deal. Lisal had no intention of making a deal. And if there was Elaine in the Magic Tower, then Lisal was in the army. Lisal had a knack for understanding people. Usya couldn’t commit suicide. Against someone who couldn’t do it voluntarily, she could extract any information she wanted. She wasn’t just a conqueror of hobbies in war for no reason.
There are said to be four primary elements in magic. Torture also had four primary elements.
Shall we start with water?
While Lisal was briefly lost in thought, she raised her head.
“Someone bring me a basin of Harans River water.”
Harans River?
The subordinates looked at Lisal with confusion. If she meant Sky River, it would make sense, but Harans River?
“They say it’s really effective in making people kind. Hmm?”
Lisal laughed sarcastically. The moment her bright red lips drew a sinister line, Usya realized the mad duchess in front of him was really going to turn him into something twisted.
A chill ran down his spine. The woman in front of him didn’t see him as human. She saw him as a mere piece of meat. No matter how much he was dissected, it didn’t matter. A piece of meat that could be disassembled or seasoned without any problem.
What would happen to him with the water?
The moment he realized that, Usya’s mouth opened. It was truly a cheap mouth.
“I-I’ll, I’ll tell you anything. Please, just stop!”
Usya screamed in agony. And then Lisal shrugged her shoulders.
“See? Harans River has quite the reputation for making people kind.”
Oh, Harans River. Be praised.
Lisal said, and the subordinates laughed again. They didn’t understand what they were talking about, but when the commander made a joke, it was the duty of the subordinates to laugh.
Could it be that Rosemary, who almost drowned in the Haran’s toxic waters, regained her sanity? And did Rosemary, with her newfound clarity, fall in love with Sid?
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
On the way back from the party, while riding in the carriage, Scarlet cautiously asked Lisal.
“Ah, I saw something I shouldn’t have seen, something grotesque.”
“Ah, it seems the courtly circles are still filled with scandals, I presume?”
Lisal, who always valued one-on-one relationships, always criticized the courtly circles, so Scarlet smiled and pretended to understand.
“No, I didn’t even bother with such things.”
There were things that held such an intense grip on her attention that she didn’t even notice her surroundings. Lisal shook her head in frustration.
The carriage traveled along the dark night road and stopped at a countryside estate. The carriage door opened, and Scarlet cautiously extended her hand to Lisal. Lisal received the escort from Scarlet, stepped down from the carriage, and furrowed her brows as soon as she got off.
“I can’t walk around here in my high heels, Ross.”
How could they possibly glide across the dirt floor in high heels? In response to Lisal’s plea, the burly attendant, Ross, cautiously lifted her into his arms. Scarlet occasionally walked ahead of them and arrived at the door, overtaking Ross. She knocked on the door quickly, following the agreed-upon signal. The door opened without a word.
“Wh-who are you people?!”
Inside the farmhouse, there was nothing except for a single chair and a bound person sitting in it, shivering with a leather sack covering their face, rendering them completely unrecognizable. The rest were all soldiers, and the place lacked any semblance of furniture. The room was brightly lit as if it were midday, thanks to the torches illuminating everything.
“Don’t you even ask who I am? You’re causing a big problem by not knowing who I am! If you think you can get away with this kind of behavior without any consequences…”
Ross set Lisal down, and she confidently walked forward, removing the sack.
“Usya Elaine.”
Lisal smiled mischievously as she looked down at the unassuming man.
“I know you quite well, you bastard.”
While Elaine Rosi was the most famous disciple of the Master of Magic Tower, Iris Elaine, the one who held the official position of apprentice was this man, Usya. Of course, he received the title of Usya Ilein after receiving his master’s name.
Upon learning of Rosemary’s rebellion, Sidrain investigated the situation from all angles. The list provided by Duke Geness was obviously false. However, it was undeniably based on some underlying truth. The question was what that truth was, and Sidrain eventually discovered it.
The list provided by Duke Geness was based on Rosemary’s testimony. And in reality, Rosemary had exaggerated and inflated her claims of betrayal to Duke Geness, fabricating the existence of her rebellious members. It was all a bluff. Duke Geness had no intention of delving deeper into the matter, so he simply withdrew, thinking, “Well, that’s how it is.” And that was why the list had become so vast and grandiose.
For example, on that list, Elaine Rosi was actually the apprentice, Usya. If Usya, the apprentice, was on their side, then Elynn was practically on their side too! That was Rosemary’s perception.
“Y-you. You mentioned the Master. Who are you?”
“Someone you, a lowly bastard, should never dare to open your eyes and look at.”
Smack.
Lisal’s hand landed squarely on Usya’s jaw. If she hadn’t held back her strength, his jaw would have been shattered with that one blow.
“Whatever promises Rosemary made you? The position of the Master of Magic Tower?”
Lisal asked with a sneer, her eyes narrowing. When she made such an expression, she was incredibly beautiful, but those who had been with her knew that when she looked like this, she was in battle mode.
“Nonsense! Stop with the nonsense and release me!”
Smack.
This time, Scarlet’s hand struck Usya’s head.
“Disrespectful to Her Highness.”
To demand courtesy from a person who had been kidnapped was truly a cruel request. However, Scarlet was a woman who believed her master was the greatest in the world. Even if Usya was on the verge of death, she was the type of person to swing her fists without giving him a title.
Y-Your Highness?
Usya Elaine was taken aback. Your Highness? That meant she was noble. A woman whom soldiers referred to as “Your Highness.” How many of those were there? If she were your highness, she couldn’t be a wife, but she must be a person who holds a title herself and be a high-ranking military official at the same time. That meant…
The Mad Duchess
“D-Duchess Lisal, Your Grace?”
“Why? Does seeing me in the flesh make you fall for me?”
“Please don’t fall for me. It’s a headache.”
Her nonsensical babbling made the subordinates chuckle. The fact that they genuinely laughed at such silly remarks was a testament to the deep respect they held for Lisal. However, as Usya, who had betrayed his mentor and joined the ranks of the rebels, couldn’t understand true loyalty, he blinked, not knowing what was funny.
I don’t see anything funny. Why are they laughing?
“Sure, I don’t even care why you betrayed us. It’s exhausting to know every single episode of your pathetic life. So let’s get straight to the point. Where can I find evidence that Rosemary offered you a betrayal?”
Usya Elaine had no interest in whatever happened in his life. How could her mouth open and speak like this? He sealed his lips shut.
Lisal knew this would happen. She was a veteran of war and had experience toying with the minds of prisoners. She could have tried to persuade Usya, but firstly, witnessing such a pitiful sight didn’t sit well with her, and secondly, it would be problematic if Usya agreed to a deal. Lisal had no intention of making a deal. And if there was Elaine in the Magic Tower, then Lisal was in the army. Lisal had a knack for understanding people. Usya couldn’t commit suicide. Against someone who couldn’t do it voluntarily, she could extract any information she wanted. She wasn’t just a conqueror of hobbies in war for no reason.
There are said to be four primary elements in magic. Torture also had four primary elements.
Shall we start with water?
While Lisal was briefly lost in thought, she raised her head.
“Someone bring me a basin of Harans River water.”
Harans River?
The subordinates looked at Lisal with confusion. If she meant Sky River, it would make sense, but Harans River?
“They say it’s really effective in making people kind. Hmm?”
Lisal laughed sarcastically. The moment her bright red lips drew a sinister line, Usya realized the mad duchess in front of him was really going to turn him into something twisted.
A chill ran down his spine. The woman in front of him didn’t see him as human. She saw him as a mere piece of meat. No matter how much he was dissected, it didn’t matter. A piece of meat that could be disassembled or seasoned without any problem.
What would happen to him with the water?
The moment he realized that, Usya’s mouth opened. It was truly a cheap mouth.
“I-I’ll, I’ll tell you anything. Please, just stop!”
Usya screamed in agony. And then Lisal shrugged her shoulders.
“See? Harans River has quite the reputation for making people kind.”
Oh, Harans River. Be praised.
Lisal said, and the subordinates laughed again. They didn’t understand what they were talking about, but when the commander made a joke, it was the duty of the subordinates to laugh.
