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Yustaf slowly flipped through some documents. There was no one in the study. In the middle of the stillness, only the fireplace burned with occasional crackling sounds. At that time, a low but distinct voice was heard from a dark corner.
“Lord.”
Yustaf put down the documents and turned around. He could easily see a man hiding in the dark.
“Where’s Ran?”
“She’s safely making her way back.”
“Okay, what about the Elf?”
“I’m sorry to say this, but I lost him.”
“I see”, Yustaf replied briefly. Even if you’re a trained human being, it’s hard to keep up with the Elves in the woods.
Yustaf exhaled slowly.
Perhaps it sounded like a rebuke, but the man said, lowering himself further.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, he’s an Elf.”
Yustaf shook his hand slightly. Rather than that, Yustaf had been thinking about why Ran was so insensitive to safety.
‘If you’re an ordinary noblewoman it’s normal.’
That’s a given.
It’s strange that a young noble lady, who grew up as precious as a flower in a greenhouse, has a sense of danger.
However, Ran’s behavior didn’t add up.
Sometimes she seems like a person who is used to politics, but sometimes she is like an infinitely innocent girl.
‘And how did she really find out about the Mana Stones? What about the Count’s daughter being sick?’
There were many unanswered questions, so Yustaf grabbed the Blue Flame. The Blue Flame chose her.
That was a tremendous feat. The Blue Flame, who has been with the Lachian family, has never chosen anyone who is not of Lachian blood since the beginning until now.
But it let Ran go?
‘You know something.’
While touching the cold surface of the Blue Flame, Yustaf exhaled briefly and said.
“Find out what the Count is doing after Ran leaves.”
“Yes.”
With that answer, the man disappeared into the shadow as if he were melting.
Originally, the Green Shadows, Lachia’s intelligence group, belonged to the head. They were supposed to be known only to the head through introducing the leader of the Green Shadow’s – called the Leader – to her.
But Ran is in an unusual position.
Yustaf knew the Leader. Because his mother told him. Naturally, Ran was never introduced. Nevertheless, the head was Ran, but the Leader came to Yustaf without embarrassment, and he did not inform Ran of this fact.
‘Cause she’s only a temporary head anyway.’
He felt that way, and thought he didn’t have to expose his power. And he’s still using it very well.
‘If it weren’t for Ran, the Green Shadows would have been disbanded.’
Maintaining a secret group does not only require loyalty but also a huge amount of money. The money to hide, the money to hide the bodies, and other such funds were much more expensive than that of the general knighthood.
Sometimes Yustaf thought about Ran not saying anything about his allowance.
‘Is she pretending not to know?’
Or does she really not care? Yustaf laughed as he remembered her insisting on her allowance.
‘While worrying about the debt.’
She doesn’t say anything about Yustaf spending all his money.
‘Thanks to you, it’s easy.’
It was too easy to seduce Robbie with gambling so that they could kill him in the back alley, and threaten Yustaf’s uncle.
Yustaf laughed as he remembered Baron Lindbergh’s face when he threatened him.
‘Yeah, there’s no need for Ran to know about this.’
He pulled out the papers, thinking so.
It was not until late in the evening that Ran returned. Yustaf said there was still time before dinner, and Ran opened her eyes wide and laughed.
“You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?”
“That’s right.”
Ran paused and laughed again at Yustaf’s innocent words.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The cook made a late dinner quickly and set it up. As it was late, it was not dinner, but a simple meal.
While having some tea with toast layered with cinnamon powder, butter and honey, Ran simply explained what happened with the Count.
Except for Lumiere’s story, of course.
“Then the Count’s daughter will be treated.”
“Yes.”
“The Count is difficult to deal with, so it’s best to be gracious towards him. Anyway, the Elf said he’d be back?”
“Yeah, but when will he be coming?”
“He’ll probably come at dawn again, tomorrow.”
“Hey, really?”
“Do you really think he won’t or are you just hoping that?”
“Well, I’m just hoping that.”
“I see.”
Yustaf nodded, reducing his portion of toast with a fork and knife and placing it on Ran’s plate. The neatly cut toast was cut in precise angles.
“Thanks for your hard work, have some more.”
“Oh? It’s okay.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be okay. Judging from the speed at which you’re eating.”
Having said that, Yustaf folded his napkin and picked up a teacup.
Ran peeked at him and stabbed a fork through the toast. Actually, she was a little hungry. It’s only natural since she went out and worked!
Justifying herself, Ran enjoyed the toast to her heart’s content.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the window. Yustaf jumped up from his seat.
“The Elf doesn’t know how to get in through the front door?”
He answered his sharp words with, “It’s bothersome.” Yustaf walked to the window and opened the door with a face showing that he didn’t want to open it.
“The security is weak here.”
“I can’t afford to worry about anyone coming in through a third-floor window that doesn’t even have a balcony. Keep that in mind.”
Yustaf spoke sharply. Despite such a response, Haresch shook his shoulder and walked confidently inside.
He reached out his hand to Ran.
“Payment.”
“Wait a minute.”
Ran said so and got up from her seat. The red Ice Crystal was handled under strict secrecy, so Ran could not ask anyone else to bring it.
Ran told Haresch to wait, and then she went to her room and brought a lead box, the size of two fists put together.
Since it was lead, the mana from the Mana Stone did not flow out.
Haresch opened the box, checked the Mana Stone, and nodded.
“Well then.”
“I’ll see you again with good news.”
“Good news for whom?”
“For everyone.”
With a grin, Ran gave Haresch an Elf-styled greeting. It was a way of greeting by clenching their fists and tapping their forehead and chest lightly. Haresch greeted her with a strange look and left through the window.
‘Elves.’
Ran sighed.
“With this, I hope we can trade properly. How do you intend to contact the Dwarfs?”
“Through the Wizard Association. They’re interacting with Dwarfs because of exchanges with minerals. I think I’ll contact them tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, let’s see the president of the Wizard Association. No, since they can’t be near the Ice Wall, maybe the day after tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
When Ran looked back at him in surprise, Yustaf said.
“Let’s go together this time.”
“Do you think they’ll get back to you so soon?”
“It’s a matter of life or death for a Wizard.”
“Huh?”
“You haven’t told them about the Mana Stones yet.”
“Yes.”
“Did you think the Wizards would be willing to connect us with the Dwarfs?”
“Uh- Wouldn’t they?”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Why? Because we produce Ice Crystals, it’s good for the Wizards to get along with us, right?”
“Yes, but connecting us to the Dwarfs is a separate matter.”
What a noble race the Wizards are.
Yustaf thought so and snorted inwardly. They took large Ice Crystals as samples and didn’t thank them even with empty words.
He couldn’t think that such people would be innocent.
“Make sure you write about the blue Ice Crystals in your letter.”
Ran nodded at Yustaf’s words.
“Okay.”
“You’re a good sister.”
Yustaf said teasingly, making Ran pout. A slight smile flitted across his mouth.
Yustaf’s prophecy came true.
As soon as Ran contacted the Wizard’s Association, a messenger arrived that evening. It was not until the middle of the night that the Wizard’s envoy, who had exhausted himself completely by using space-moving magic several times, arrived at the Sky Mansion.
It was said that members of the Wizards Association Council had already arrived nearby, saying that they must meet Lachia’s head.
There was no reason to refuse, so Ran said that she understood. She advised the envoy to stay overnight, but he insisted on going back with an answer.
After he went back, Ran told Yustaf.
“I didn’t expect it to come this fast.”
“Because their lives are at stake.”
“True.”
Ran nodded. She felt her mouth dry.
The day of the showdown came faster than she had thought. It goes without saying that the agreement with the Wizards was more important than anything else.
Besides, they’re all old wizards, so they might look down on kids like them.
“We’re going together this time.”
Yustaf said again, making Ran’s shoulders grow weak in defeat.
“Yes, I’ll go with you.”
At Ran’s words, Yustaf smiled, unfastened his necklace, took out the Blue Flame and held it out.
“……?”
With a curious look on her face, Ran put her hand on his hand, and Yustaf said, putting the Blue Flame on her finger.
“You don’t have to worry.”
Ran looked at him with her eyes wide open in surprise, but his blue eyes were still calm and without any agitation.
“Because Wizards are of a different race from swordsmen. It would be better to wear the Blue Flame.”
Even if they’re attacked, the Blue Flame will protect her.
“What about Yus?”
“I’m fine.”
He raised her hand and kissed the blue jewel of the Blue Flame.
“May the blessings of the Blue Flame be with you.”
His blue eyes, which seemed to be one with the Blue Flame, instantly had Ran at a loss for words. When she thought she had to answer, Yustaf had already let go of her hand.
‘Wow, wow.’
Ran swallowed her breath and clenched her fists.
As expected of the male lead.
She pushed aside the thoughts of her racing heart from her mind.
‘He can’t be seen as a kid.’
Is it his destiny to make people’s heart flutter?
Opening her eyes, Ran thought so, and rolled the Blue Flame slightly with her fingers.
Somehow she felt courageous.
‘Okay.’
You can do it. Ran thought so and relaxed her shoulders.
* * *
Kara lifted her hand with a tense face. As a senior maid, she was a faithful maid who survived a frightening decline in the number of maids.
The downside of a decrease in the number of maids was that the number of maids serving the Lord was too small. Fortunately, Ran doesn’t like being decorated{1}, so until now she had had nothing to worry about.”
Today is different.
Ran couldn’t wear fancy clothes because it’d been less than six months since her parents’ funeral, but she couldn’t wear casual clothes when meeting the Wizards.
“How do you feel, my Lord?”
When Kara asked, Ran looked in the mirror. A black funeral dress and a pearl brooch. She braided her hair as splendidly as she could, and put a black headband with black pearls on top of it.
It is too colorful for mourning, but it would be better to have this than much glamour.
“I like it.”
When Ran smiled, Soda, who was helping next to her, sighed without realizing it. Perhaps because of the black color, Ran’s skin seemed to glow more white, and her slightly painted lips looked bewitching.
She looked completely different from her pale appearance at the funeral recently.
‘Cause appearance is important.’
Ran doesn’t want to make a fool of herself. Ran thought so and praised Kara then left the room.
“Yus?”
The waiting Yustaf got up from his seat. Ran looked up and down at him.
“Your clothes…?”
Yustaf was wearing a knight’s uniform. The sword hanging from the belt caught my eye.
“Because I’m going as your escort today.”
Yustaf said so and looked at Ran. Ran said, touching her headband slightly.
“Is it too fancy?”
She’s still in mourning.
When he glanced at her, Yustaf shook his head.
“No, I think you look beautiful like this.”
“Ek.”
What? Why? What kind of compliment is that?
Yustaf’s eyebrows rose in response to Ran’s reaction. But without saying much, he gave her a robe and extended his arm to escort her. Ran gently laid her hand on his arm. The cool metal gauntlet (a piece of armor that wraps the hands and wrists together) felt pleasant to touch.
“Sister.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t have any other intentions when I compliment you.”
At his words, Ran blinked and nodded.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Yustaf said so and escorted her to the carriage.
The carriage’s roof was folded back because the weather was nice.. A landau carriage was Ran’s favourite kind of carriage because of the roof that opened and folded like a convertible car. She had learnt that there were many kinds of carriages here.
As the two people climbed in side by side, the carriage soon began to move.
At first, Ran thought that she shouldn’t have opened the roof of the carriage, but when they went down the mountain and started traveling on flat land, she thought it was a good idea to open it.
‘I don’t think it’s that high, but it’s colder up there because of the mountain air.’
The carriage’s speed increased as it came down to the flat land. A forest, 10 kilometers away from the Ice Wall, was the meeting place prepared by the Wizards.
The reason was that she wanted to contact them secretly.
When they arrived near the forest, a Wizard came to meet them.
“Are you the Lord of Lachia?”
“Yes, sir.”
When Ran answered while still in the carriage, the Wizard bowed and greeted her.
“May you overcome the Blue Flame.”
“May the flames protect you. Are we meeting around here?”
“Yes, you can follow me. I put a spell on it so that it’s invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.”
“Then please guide me.”
The Wizard paused at Ran’s words and carefully continued.
“If possible, we’d prefer if you came alone.”
“That’s not possible.”
Blaine, who followed as an escort, spoke out strongly.
“Are we going to hurt the Lord?”
The wizard made an unpleasant face. Ran slightly clenched her fist then opened it and said.
“I won’t go alone. I’ll go with Yus. What do you think?”
“Lord.”
Blaine frowned. Ran smiled.
“It’s okay. Isn’t it?”
When Ran asked Yustaf, he nodded lightly.
“That’s the limit to which I can concede. I hope you understand just how much I am granting you.”
When Ran told the Wizard, the Wizard bowed his head.
“Okay.”
The two, who got off the carriage, told the knights to wait and followed the Wizard.
Not long after, a white tent appeared in front of their eyes.
As they approached, the tents flaps spontaneously lifted on both sides. Upon entering, they saw the Wizards sitting at a roundtable.
‘Okay.’
Ran smiled and took off her robe as if advertising. Her beauty, combined with her elegant black dress, drew attention for a moment. Some were visibly shaken by Ran. Ran smiled more deeply and sat on the chair that Yustaf pulled out without exchanging any words.
“Hello, Wizards.”
Ran crossed her legs and buried herself deeply into the chair.
Let’s start the game.
{1} Dressed up