Chapter 7

Enria lifted her heavy eyelids and realized she was lying on a bed.

‘Ah… I must have fainted.’

It seemed she had lost consciousness after using up all the holy energy in her body to heal Undy.

‘So I shouldn’t have used it all.’

She blinked slowly, as if understanding something anew.

“You’re awake.”

At that familiar voice coming from her left, Enria turned her head.

“…Lahar.”

“How do you feel?”

“I’m all right.”

“You seem to have lost consciousness after exhausting your divine power to heal Undy.”

Enria nodded slightly.

‘As I thought.’

“You’ve been asleep for about ten days. You probably can’t move your body well yet.”

“…Ah.”

Her expression stiffened with surprise.

She hadn’t imagined that using all her holy power would have such an effect.

“But I heard you summoned Undy and Silri.”

“…Ah.”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone who isn’t a summoner—or who hasn’t formed a contract with a spirit—call their names.”

“…”

“Normally, you must have a contract to call a spirit’s name. When you do, the spirit appears before you.”

“I see…”

“And to think you could call Silri, a high-ranking spirit—astonishing.”

Oh, she was high-ranking?

Enria found this new piece of information rather curious, since she hadn’t even known spirits had ranks.

“But if you can summon them, why aren’t they appearing now when you call them?”

“Ah, because as a summoner, I can distinguish clearly between when I need to call them and when I don’t.”

“…”

“But in your case, the link between you and them is one-sided. Every time you speak their names, they’re summoned whether you want it or not.”

“…Ah.”

So that’s why Silri said she’d sew my mouth shut.

The memory made Enria bite her lower lip.

“In any case, the fact that you could even heal a spirit’s wounds is remarkable. You truly are full of surprises.”

“…”

“Perhaps the Grand Duke knew of your abilities in advance—and kept you hidden away in the Grand Duke’s castle for that very reason.”

No, that’s not it…

At Lahar’s mention of Caldeon, Enria turned her gaze toward the window, unsure how to respond.

The reason Caldeon had kept her close was singular—her ability to quell his mana rages.

In the original story, the heroine must have already created the potion that calmed his rampages through magical formulas.

Now that such a cure existed, he had no more need for Enria.

His so-called “love” for her had been nothing more than her own foolish delusion.

A dull ache spread through her chest as she bit the inside of her cheek.

Then a thought crossed her mind—she wondered what had become of the people at the mansion.

“Could you tell me if anyone survived the fire that burned down the estate?”

“Ah… unfortunately, no one did.”

Lahar’s face tightened as he continued, already knowing how she’d react.

“And your two closest attendants—Dale and Chavel—were briefly kidnapped by Groen.”

“What? Kidnapped?!”

Enria’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Yes. They were released unharmed soon after, but all their memories from their time in Endelie’s mansion were erased. Likely because someone forcibly read them with magic.”

“That’s horrible…!”

Her face fRosee.

The idea that someone could kill her servants so easily, and then forcefully read others’ memories, filled her with outrage.

“How can anyone treat human lives so carelessly? And to force your way into someone’s mind—that’s unforgivable!”

“People like those at the Mage Tower think power gives them the right to do anything.”

Lahar’s tone was grim.

Enria trembled with anger, unable to comprehend such cruelty.

But despite everything, a part of her felt relief—if Dale and Chavel’s memories had been erased, then Caldeon would never learn about her pregnancy.

It was selfish, but it was the truth.

Still, she couldn’t forgive Groen for murdering her staff and violating her attendants’ minds.

“At least… they’re alive,” she murmured, quietly relieved.

Lahar looked at her intently.

He didn’t tell her that Caldeon was still searching desperately for her—that he had abandoned everything else just to find her.

He couldn’t reveal her location yet.

Not when his own sister was about to marry the Grand Duke.

He only hoped Enria would stop thinking about Caldeon and live her own life—especially since she’d already said the child she carried had nothing to do with him.

“The wedding date between my sister and the Grand Duke has been set,” he said finally.

Enria’s face went rigid.

“…I see.”

She nodded slowly.

She’d already known, yet hearing it aloud made her throat tighten painfully.

She’d kept telling herself it was fine—that no matter how much the story changed, the fates of the male and female leads would remain the same.

But it was a lie.

For the first time since she had possessed this body—no, perhaps for the first time in both lives—she had truly loved someone.

And now that man had abandoned her, leaving her to flee for her life.

“Therefore, Enria,” Lahar continued softly, “you must never see the Grand Duke again.”

Enria lifted her head, struggling to steady her breath.

In her field of vision, Lahar’s golden eyes gleamed with unwavering sincerity.

“I will protect you—and your child—in his stead.”

Her eyes widened.

‘What? Why…?’

She couldn’t understand.

In the original story, this was the man who had killed her for the sake of his sister.

Even if the plot had shifted, for him to vow to protect her now—it made no sense.

But his expression was too solemn for her to question.

“So please,” he said, “rely on me.”

‘Rely on him…?’

She’d never intended to rely on anyone.

Even if she had been fated to die, she had no intention of surrendering to it—she had plans to survive.

And relying on the brother of the woman who had once killed her? Impossible.

‘Still… it’s not as though I can handle everything on my own right now either.’

Then she remembered—she could summon spirits.

‘Right. I’ll ask them for help.’

She didn’t know how she’d gained that power, but she could call on them if her life were in danger.

Of course, after seeing Undy injured by Groen’s fire magic, she knew she couldn’t depend on them alone.

She had to become stronger herself.

My powers—purification, healing… both come from my divine energy. If I can use that energy for other purposes… could I perhaps create new abilities? But what kind?

Her mind filled with thoughts of divine power.

She needed to master every possible way to use it—anything that could help her survive.

Enria met Lahar’s gaze and said firmly, “I’ll protect myself—and my child.”

Lahar’s face stiffened.

“Enria—”

“I know I’ll still need your help for a while,” she cut him off gently. “And I am grateful. I’ll repay you someday.”

“There’s no need for that. I only wish to—”

“You don’t need to protect me. Just… help me.”

She placed both hands over her stomach.

“I can’t just sit here doing nothing. The Tower Lord and that man who attacked us—they’ll still be after me.”

“…”

“Is there any way to fight using divine power? Or to borrow a spirit’s strength beyond simply summoning them?”

Her words made Lahar’s eyes widen slightly.

***

“Haa… Haa… Haa…”

Caldeon’s rough breaths echoed in the silent field.

Even covered in the blood of slain monsters, his sharp, cold beauty remained striking.

His black hair clung to his face; his equally dark eyes scanned the carnage.

Though visibly exhausted, the fire in his gaze hadn’t dimmed.

He looked down at the sword in his hand—his palm was numb.

The blade, once black with his magic, had faded back to silver.

He was nearly out of power.

‘Still no sign of her today.’

Caldeon raised his head, staring at the crimson sunset that painted his eyes in red.

‘Enria…’

He closed his eyes and whispered her name in his mind.

Just then, the communicator in his pocket began to vibrate.

It was Fyoren, head of the guild.

[We’ve searched the entire Empire, but she’s nowhere to be found.]

Caldeon’s jaw clenched.

Even the Empire’s best guild couldn’t locate her.

When he’d lost sight of her that day, he hadn’t thought it would come to this.

He’d stormed the Mage Tower as soon as he saw her companion use magic, yet no trace of her had appeared. That should’ve been the first sign something was wrong.

‘Where are you, Enria?’

His black eyes darkened.

“There’s nowhere left to search,” Fyoren had said.

If that were true—then the only remaining places were beyond the human world.

‘Then I have no choice but to turn to them.’

He would have to ask the spirits for help—his last resort.

Though he could command them as an equal, he wasn’t a true summoner.

To gain their aid, he would first have to win them over.

Fortunately, they’re obsessed with my black magic. I can use that.

It would take time, but there was no other way.

He took out a teleportation stone—one that would return him to the Grand Duke’s castle.

‘I’ll find you.’

Never before had something he considered his slipped out of his grasp.

He wouldn’t let it go.

Enria had vanished right before his eyes—and he had watched her disappear with another man.

He would do whatever it took to find her again.

She was his.

Entirely, irrevocably his.

And he would reclaim her—

no matter what it cost.