Chapter 45

The Marievel kidnapping case was finally resolved, and the tranquility of daily life returned to the Pencilnia mansion.

Fortunately, it seemed that Marievel had been mostly asleep during the incident. Although she was initially afraid and wouldn't leave Cynthia's side, she gradually regained her composure.

Daria and Lena's injuries were healed by Cynthia, who advised them to take some time off, but both firmly declined. They seemed more determined to serve with greater loyalty, as if their sense of duty had been ignited.

Even when explained that it was unavoidable, they remained steadfast, maintaining their pride as governesses.

With Lena's return, Marievel seemed even more stable.

Since Eidan was still under house arrest, she visited his room multiple times, slipping letters through the gap in the door.

Though the loneliness of not being able to see her beloved Eidan grew, she understood that the door would not open and managed to endure it.

Rias had several issues that needed to be resolved.

The surviving kidnappers were still alive.

"How is it?" Rias asked.

Dunker handed over a report and replied, "They are barely alive. However, without any magic, it's difficult to keep them alive. They are barely breathing right now."

"..."

The report contained no new information.

Three vagrants without a country.

They were persuaded by someone they met in a tavern to plan the attack on Pencilnia.

They knew nothing about dark magic.

They were only told to push the carriage off a cliff and kidnap the princess. They believed there were insiders among the coachmen and knights.

"They don't seem to be lying," Rias said.

"If we can get any information about the accomplices, that would be enough."

"How should we handle them?"

"Neither alive nor dead."

As long as the accomplices were not caught, they couldn't be killed, but they didn't want to keep them alive either.

By giving this instruction, they would be kept alive in agony.

Dunker acknowledged, "Understood."

"Any progress on the investigation of the accomplices?"

"From the knights' accounts, the ones who attacked them were the accomplices. They are believed to be two skilled individuals and a user of dark magic."

Occasionally, the knights' bodies would become immobilized, forcing them into a difficult battle. They were almost made to fight each other, but the effects would suddenly disappear, leading to a chaotic situation.

"Any leads?"

"None at all. They may have crossed the border."

"What did they want to do...?"

"Perhaps it was part of the original plan, or an unforeseen event occurred."

If they were skilled, they would have taken the golden-eyed Marievel and fled the country. Instead, they left her with the three vagrants and never came back.

The attack on the carriage was also half-hearted.

"If the dark power was unstable, it might explain it."

Even a highly skilled individual would have struggled against ten knights with magical abilities. Without dark power, it would have been impossible. That's why Rias had entrusted the carriage to them.

However, none of the knights claimed to have dealt the final blow. It was a heavy rain in the dark, and they couldn't even see their opponents.

"It's just speculation."

At this point, thinking about it wouldn't yield any answers.

The kingdom's knights were infiltrating the Shan country, but there were no changes in their reports. The country was still in chaos after the previous war, and the government was not functioning. It seemed unlikely that they had the resources to interfere with other countries.

The vagrants were waiting at the meeting place to sell Marievel to the accomplices, but there were no suspicious individuals in the area.

It was unclear whether it was a personal act or involved a country.

The target had disappeared, and the investigation had hit a snag.

"——What about Ayla from the Grape Pavilion?"

"We are keeping an eye on her from a distance. She goes to school and plays with children her age. She seems like a normal, energetic girl."

Is there anything that concerns you?

Dunker was asking this implicitly.

Rias also didn't understand why.

Cynthia had asked him to inform her if anything was discovered.

The fact that Ayla had pinpointed the location in the forest was considered a coincidence.

If Ayla had been with them and escaped, it would have been different. It felt strange, but Rias only felt a small sense of unease, so he hadn't told anyone.

Still, if Cynthia insisted, there might be something she sensed.

Originally, Cynthia seemed to always be concerned about Ayla, even though it was just because she liked her.

Rias thought that since Cynthia was an excellent woman, it wouldn't be surprising if she had clairvoyance or foresight.

In any case, the investigation had reached a conclusion.

Rias relayed what he knew to Cynthia.

In Rias's office, after hearing the report, Cynthia murmured, "Darkness, huh..."

It seemed that the mention of darkness caught her attention.

While offering her a cup of tea, Rias explained that it was not confirmed.

"There is almost no information on dark magic due to its rarity. All we know is that it can control the body."

Even with light magic, there is much that is not understood. This information dates back to the war before Rias was born.

Cynthia, in fact, knew nothing about dark magic.

When she heard about the dark magic of Shan, the first thing that came to mind was the existence of a demon king.

A novel she had read in her previous life.

A demon king appeared near the Shan border, creating a miasma that caused people to fall ill and animals to turn into monsters.

According to the novel, the demon king would appear when Eidan was 15.

At just 15, leading the demon king's army, what were they thinking?

What are the adults doing?

No matter how much Pencilnia was the head of the military and Eidan had the light attribute.

"Ultimately, we are not sure if it was dark magic. The three perpetrators were just vagrants. We will continue to investigate."

"Yes. If anything is discovered... Oh, about Ayla..."

"I heard she was there by coincidence... Do you know anything about it?"

There's nothing to know; Ayla is a saint.

According to the legends, she has no powers unless the demon king appears.

"Her parents seem to know something, but they desire a peaceful life."

Cynthia nodded, sensing Rias's desire to protect them.

"Have you heard anything about the saint?"

The appearance of a saint dates back to ancient times.

Like the demon king, it is found in old documents, owned by the royal family.

"Only that she is the one to destroy the demon king."

Rias's eyes widened.

"You don't mean... Ayla is that?"

"I don't know, but she might have some mysterious power that isn't attribute magic."

Cynthia was vague.

The saint is said to be blessed by the gods, manifesting power according to the will of the gods.

Thanks to the previous crown prince's love of books, she had been told such stories as bedtime tales.

The power of the saint only works where the will of the gods is present.

Unless the demon king appears, her powers should not manifest.

Cynthia felt conflicted.

In other words... if she saved Eidan and Marievel with a mysterious power, it means a hero is needed.

It might not be far-fetched to say that the demon king will appear.

Feeling Rias's gaze, Cynthia smiled faintly.

—Let it go.

Cynthia exhaled.

Worrying now when there is no information is pointless.

Even if the demon king appears when Eidan is 15, she won't let him go to war. She isn't raising him for that.

The only thing to do is to prepare little by little.

Cynthia hugged Rias tightly.

"Cynthia...?"

Rias called her name in confusion.

If she mentioned the saint's powers, it would lead to a discussion about the hero and the demon king.

Perhaps it's better not to say anything for now.

If anything happens, this husband will surely solve it. She felt reassured.

"——This trip was really enjoyable."

"..."

"Everything was new. The sights, the things I touched, even the air was different. I realized I had been living in a very narrow world for a long time."

Cynthia buried her face in Rias's chest, looking sad.

"Will those children have to live in such a confined world?"

Sensing her worry, Rias gently embraced her.

He bent down and whispered slowly in her ear.

"Don't worry. Eidan will learn to protect himself. We will also teach Marievel how to defend herself."

Rias kissed Cynthia's ear, making her shoulder twitch. He held her tightly.

"And I will protect you. So, don't be discouraged. Let's go out again. I promise to protect you next time."

Cynthia understood how difficult it was to protect them during travel.

It might require someone with Rias's level of skill.

She wanted Rias to enjoy himself, but it felt wrong for him to be on high alert during a family trip.

"I'm fine. But thank you."

"If you're fine, I might just lock you up."

Rias's fingers slid from Cynthia's cheek to her slender, white neck. Feeling the intensity in his eyes, Cynthia blushed slightly.

"Really... You always say that, Rias."

"Have you not noticed? How beautiful and lovely you are. Your charm only grows, and I struggle every day to keep you from leaving."

His words were ambiguous, but Cynthia laughed.

Probably serious.