The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

“Enemy…”

Sienna murmured after a prolonged daze, as if struggling to process the shocking revelation.

Yet unlike before, she didn’t outright deny it.

It seemed there were inklings she couldn’t entirely dismiss.

Sienna rose slowly from her seat.

As Laria made to stand as well, intending to see her out, Sienna waved her off.

“I’ll go alone.”

Watching Sienna depart first, Laria remained alone in the receiving room, her gaze falling upon the teacup.

Her reflection in the tea appeared cold and aloof.

She had often been told that, resembling Semela, her countenance seemed frigid when she didn’t smile.

Viewing herself now, she couldn’t disagree.

Had she been too harsh?

Yet she shook her head, dismissing the notion.

Laria intended to utterly ruin Marquis Hashir.

In that process, the Hashir family wouldn’t emerge unscathed.

Whether Sienna, the Hashir heir, would abandon everything to escape or remain in silent endurance – that choice was hers alone.

‘Now is not the time.’

Rising abruptly, Laria opened the receiving room door.

Outside, Zenox turned his gaze upon her.

His forlorn demeanor, resembling a drenched wolf pup, unexpectedly tugged at her heartstrings.

As one of the duel’s participants, Sienna’s visit must have weighed heavily on his mind.

“Since Sienna has departed as well, you should come inside.”

Zenox immediately averted his eyes.

Seeing his mournful expression, she muttered:

“I thought she might need time alone to process her thoughts…”

His dejected air stirred a pang of sympathy within her.

Shaking his head as if to reassure her, Zenox stated:

“I didn’t wait long.”

“Still…”

Sensing Laria’s apologetic discomfort, Zenox offered a faint smile.

She remained unaware of how sorely he had debated barging in while awaiting her.

Today, Zenox had realized his patience extended no further than a fox’s fur – when it came to Laria.

Having secured this hard-won opportunity, he intended to monopolize the remainder of her afternoon, even feigning pitifulness if necessary.

The very thought filled him with delight, prompting an amused smile…

“Ah, that’s right. I was supposed to meet Solike this afternoon.”

“…In that case, I had business with him as well. Let’s go together.”

Zenox had also recently acquired a matter to discuss with Solike.

If Solike were to learn of it, he would undoubtedly blame Laria.

* * *

The pair used teleportation magic to arrive in Brioschel.

Standing at the village entrance, Laria took a moment to survey her surroundings.

The once quiet and melancholic village now brimmed with vibrant energy, as if transformed. Most notably, men could be seen among the previously female-dominated population.

Having returned after so long, the altered atmosphere made it feel like an entirely different place.

“Oh, Your Excellency the Grand Duke?”

Someone spotted Zenox, crying out in recognition as all eyes swiftly turned toward them.

Belatedly, Laria realized her oversight.

‘Perhaps we should have come in disguise?’

Most would either cower or flee upon encountering Zenox.

Though he seemed unfazed by their familiarity, observing their reactions discomfited her.

“Welcome, Your Excellency.”

However, the villagers didn’t shun Zenox, instead greeting him with due courtesy.

As Zenox gave a slow nod of acknowledgment, the people gradually gathered around him.

“Thanks to the knights safeguarding our village, we can sleep peacefully at night.”

“We will be able to enjoy a warm winter, thanks to your grace.”

“Just last week, you see…”

Being a small, remote village, they lacked formal etiquette in addressing nobility. Yet Zenox showed no signs of discomfort or disdain, patiently listening to their accounts.

“It is all due to Your Excellency’s efforts.”

“We are most grateful.”

Laria smiled faintly at their outpouring of gratitude.

Unlike others, these villagers regarded Zenox in a positive light.

While undoubtedly owing to his efforts, there were still those who recognized his inherent benevolence.

Above all, his bashful demeanor was endearingly adorable.

Suppressing her smile, Laria turned her gaze toward Zenox.

At some point, he had been silently observing her with an unwavering stare.

“What is it?”

Shaking his head as if entranced, Zenox joined Laria as they made their way toward the mines where Solike awaited, leaving the villagers behind.

Along the path, Laria initiated conversation.

“It seems the people place great reliance upon you.”

“It is a period of psychological unrest.”

Zenox abruptly inquired:

“Why were you smiling earlier?”

Caught off guard by his unexpected question, Laria could only blink in surprise.

In truth, until he had pointed it out, she had been unaware of her own smile.

Yet for some reason, providing an honest explanation felt strangely embarrassing.

“I was just smiling, that’s all…”

Seemingly unsatisfied with her response, Zenox’s brow furrowed slightly.

Fearing further probing, Laria swiftly changed the subject.

“By the way, when will you return to the North?”

“Would you prefer I leave sooner?”

The words caught in her throat, she wished to ask him to stay, yet…

Zenox was the ruler of the northern regions.

She couldn’t expect him to abandon his territory solely on her account.

Moreover…

‘Are such words appropriate when we are not truly lovers?’

A fact she had completely overlooked suddenly resurfaced.

Her relationship with Zenox had grown so intimate recently that she had nearly deluded herself into believing they were courting.

‘No, as a friend, I could still ask him to stay.’

But then, how should she treat him as a friend?

Unable to respond immediately, her hesitation prompted a slightly hardened tone from Zenox.

“I’ll return soon.”

He added that he would need to commute between the capital and North for the time being.

‘I suppose he must be busy.’

His extended residency in the capital had been the abnormality.

As his words trailed off, an awkward silence lingered. Even as they delved deeper into the mines, no further conversation ensued.

The peculiarly stifled atmosphere prompted contemplation within Laria.

‘Now that the duel is concluded, I should focus on finding a way to separate my magic power…’

She had been intermittently researching methods to transform her magic power into the fox orb.

Yet lacking any precedent, she had gained little insight beyond expanding her knowledge of the fox orb itself.

‘What if my obsession intensifies?’

She worried for Zenox’s well-being… no, perhaps she even feared it.

Their relationship would inevitably change after returning the fox orb and revealing her identity as Whitie.

Remaining friends would be a fortunate outcome.

As she envisioned the future she had temporarily deferred, her chest tightened, and a sense of suffocation gripped her.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Lifting her head at the familiar voice, Solike’s back came into view.

“One moment.”

Occupied with another task, Solike turned to face Laria.

Noting her somber expression, his initial surprise swiftly shifted to trepidation upon glimpsing Zenox behind her.

As Laria approached, Solike sidled up and whispered:

“You didn’t mention he’d be coming too.”

“I forgot. Sorry.”

“Is the Grand Duke keeping tabs on you or something?”

“No, he just said he had business with you.”

“With me…? Why? For what reason?”

Pelting her with questions, Solike stole a furtive glance at Zenox.

Catching sight of Zenox’s expression, he promptly averted his gaze.

“…Did I accidentally swipe some of the Grand Duke’s money or something?”

Murmuring to himself, that gaze screamed ‘payback.’

Studying Laria with concern, Solike asked:

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“You suddenly collapsed, I thought my heart would stop. Though consecutive duels were rather reckless.”

It seemed Solike presumed she had simply fainted from expending her power.

There was no need to clarify that her collapse had stemmed from pyrophobia.

“You look more fatigued than I do.”

“You have no idea how hectic it’s been for me. The moment the duel ended, my store was inundated.”

Visits from Laria’s admirers had brought his operations to a standstill.

As Solike prepared to launch into a full-blown tirade, Zenox, standing behind Laria, gave a subtle finger gesture.

Solike flinched, his shoulders jolting in a start.

“Wait… It seems the Grand Duke has something to say to me.”

“Attend to your business first.”

Failing to decipher Zenox’s signal for assistance, Laria instead prompted Solike to proceed.

Ultimately, Solike approached Zenox with trepidation.

“You wished to speak with me…?”

“I will purchase all information regarding Laria.”

“…Pardon?”

“On the condition that you don’t sell it to anyone else.”

To refrain from selling such a lucrative source of information, even at the Grand Duke’s behest, was an outrageous demand!

“Would this amount suffice?”

As Zenox extended a bank draft, Solike’s jaw dropped cavernously.

Breaking into a broad grin, Solike thumped his chest emphatically with his fist.

“Of course! I, Solike, have a tight-lipped beak like a crow.”

He vowed not to divulge even the ‘L’ in Laria’s name.

Satisfied with his response, Zenox allowed a fleeting smile.

“And from now on, ensure our meetings include the three of us, whenever possible.”

“…?”

A question mark momentarily flashed through Solike’s mind.

Yet with a lifetime of reading between the lines, he swiftly grasped the implication.

Zenox wished to be present whenever they met henceforth.

Naturally, concocting plausible pretexts would fall upon Solike’s shoulders.

“Let’s become better acquainted.”

Solike felt like weeping.

Reluctantly nodding his assent, Solike made his way back to Laria with a shuffling gait, his expression utterly crestfallen.

“I’ve completed the task you mentioned.”

Instantly adopting a solemn demeanor, Laria fixed Solike with an intense gaze.

Though inwardly flinching from her piercing stare, he didn’t let it show.

As fearsome as the Grand Duke was, Laria too was someone he wished to avoid antagonizing.

“Soon, rumors will spread that Marquis Hashir resorted to forbidden magic during the duel.”