SWRD 30

Chapter 30

Of course, if it’s someone I can beat, then I’ll beat them.

But what if someone shows up whom I can’t do anything about, even if I die and come back to life?

What if, from the start, the enemy isn’t just one person, but many?

…I hadn’t worried about things like that before.

At least, not until exactly two weeks ago.

Back then, I thought once I ran away from Craforth, that mysterious group wouldn’t be able to target me anymore.

‘Because I planned to change my appearance and name as soon as I escaped.’

The “me” that the unknown group knows is Elissa Craforth—with silver hair.

But the version of me running away from here will be neither. I’ll change my hair color, my appearance, and even my name to something ordinary. How would those unknown bastards ever recognize me?

Even if they keep targeting “me,” they’ll never actually find me.

At least, that’s what I believed…

‘Who knew Bellah actually had a real special ability? That changes everything.’

It doesn’t just change things—a lot changes.

Things like name, identity, and appearance are no longer important.

The mysterious group will target anyone with an ability, no matter what.

No matter what I look like or where I hide… I’ll still be a target.

‘This is truly the worst-case scenario.’

I bit my lip with my front teeth, then quickly released it.

I couldn’t reveal my worry or pain. Kaiden wouldn’t understand.

‘And if he did, that would be an even bigger problem.’

No one can know about my plan to escape until the very moment I leave this place.

I took a deep breath to calm myself as much as possible, then looked at Kaiden and spoke.

“Yes. I’m happy. I was just… a little surprised, that’s all.”

“…”

“Your Highness, remember I told you there was another intruder?”

“Yes.”

“That intruder… was alive until just yesterday.”

It wasn’t a suicide. Nor was he killed by an outsider.

The second intruder simply died early this morning after enduring an intense interrogation.

…Well, “interrogation” is a gentle word for it. Anyway.

Kaiden seemed to catch on instantly to what I was trying to say.

“You must’ve learned something.”

“That’s right.”

In truth, calling Kaiden here was mostly just so I could tell him this.

“There’s someone they refer to as the ‘cult leader.’”

“Cult leader? …So it’s a religious group?”

“Most likely.”

“Did you find out anything about this leader?”

“I don’t know their identity. Not their face, name, age, or gender… But they say the one who distributes the orbs to followers is the cult leader.”

“Did the cult leader create the orb?”

Instead of answering, I slowly shook my head.

I don’t know.

The second intruder who targeted me had a normal face and average patience.

And they didn’t know much.

They confessed everything they knew on the first day they were captured, and honestly, what they said was embarrassingly shallow.

Craforth subjected the intruder to nearly two weeks of… “tempering.”

That’s a metaphor. Truthfully, I don’t know what exactly happened to the intruder in the underground cellar of the estate. No one told me.

Not that I wanted to ask…

Anyway, even after squeezing him until he died, Craforth wasn’t able to extract anything useful.

“I admit it. We didn’t find out much. But…”

I looked Kaiden directly in his green eyes. I hoped my desperation would be easy to read on my face.

“Please catch them.”

“…”

“I’m begging you.”

Now, I only have one thing to rely on.

That the mysterious organization will be completely destroyed before I leave Craforth.

Of course, Kaiden Eos would try to eliminate this shady cult group even without my plea.

My request probably means nothing at all. I know that.

So instead…

“I’ll make you one promise—on my name and my house.”

This was what I truly prepared for Kaiden.

“Once the group with the orbs is taken down, Your Highness will be free.”

“…Free?”

“From me.”

Kaiden’s eyes widened slightly, then quickly returned to normal.

I thought he’d be more pleased.

Then again, someone of royal blood probably can’t show emotions so easily…

Maybe there’s even a class in imperial etiquette for maintaining a poker face.

As I looked at Kaiden—his face calm and unreadable—I continued.

“If you wish, I can put it in writing.”

“Is the group with the orbs really that much of a threat to you, Lady Craforth?”

I almost laughed at what Kaiden’s question implied.

Right, of course. A broken engagement would be a monumental event.

For Bellah, that is.

There’s no need to correct this misunderstanding. Saying, “Actually, I don’t care at all about breaking off our engagement,” wouldn’t help in this situation.

I dropped my gaze and answered softly.

“Yes…”

“…”

“I’m scared of them. There’s nothing more important than life itself, right?”

In other words, breaking off our engagement would be painful for me, but I’m willing to endure that pain… if it means I get to survive.

After saying that, I waited. Soon, Kaiden spoke.

“I’ll do my best.”

I glanced up slightly. His expression was still unreadable, hiding his feelings.

“So that both you and I can get what we want.”

People wearing white robes that concealed their faces sat around a long table.

The person seated at the head of the table was the first to speak.

“Report.”

A voice responded from the seat immediately to the left.

“Kaiden Eos has been in steady contact with the Magic Tower. It appears he’s discovered something about the treasure.”

“I see… But at most, it’s probably just about the treasure’s abilities. Next?”

As soon as the word “next” was spoken, someone seated to the right of the head began to speak.

“Evil has died in Craforth.”

“Oh no…”

“So it happened…”

Sighs echoed around the room. The one who had begun the report continued.

“He was loose-lipped, but knew very little, so there should be no further complications.”

“Yes, that’s exactly why we sent Evil in the first place.”

“And…”

It seemed the report wasn’t finished yet. The person on the right resumed speaking after a brief hesitation.

“It’s confirmed that the Lady of Craforth truly has an abnormal ability.”

“What did you say?”

“Is that…”

“Yes. The lady is unaffected by the treasure. And if she touches someone who possesses the treasure, she can destroy it.”

“Ha!”

“So our suspicions were correct…”

“This is a crisis! We must eliminate the Craforth lady!”

“But how? We’ve already failed twice…”

The final report caused immediate uproar.

The person at the head of the table let the commotion go for a moment, then finally spoke.

“Calm yourselves.”

“Grand Elder!”

Someone rose to their feet, calling the person at the head “Grand Elder.” They were seated relatively far away.

“This can’t be left unchecked. The Lady of Craforth is dangerous. She must be eliminated.”

“Come now, Elder Eleven. Who here doesn’t know that? The problem is how we eliminate her.”

“What if we tried this?”

“Elder Eight? Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

While the Grand Elder remained silent again, the others exchanged brief discussions. Then the one called Elder Eight began to speak.

“Let’s use the treasure to eliminate everyone except the Lady of Craforth first.”

“Everyone else?”

“The Duke of Craforth, Ethan Craforth, and Killid Craforth.”

“You’re suggesting we kill those three using the power of the treasure?”

“Wait, that might actually be possible. The Lady is the only one immune to the treasure’s effects.”

“And aside from her special ability, she’s just an ordinary woman.”

“Ah…! So we get rid of those protecting her first?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“If we’d done that from the beginning… Grand Elder, isn’t this a good idea? What do you think?”