“Elisia!”

Illeon instinctively felt his waist, but thinking it was a ‘date,’ he didn’t have a sword today.

Geez.

As he pulled Elisia into his arms and swung his arm, the black flames that had coiled around her like a snake disappeared.

“Elisia, are you okay?”

“Yes, yes.”

Elisia, who had turned pale, felt her body trembling slightly.

A familiar fear engraved on her body.

Elisia seemed to know what the identity of these flames was.

But asking would have to wait.

“Huk.”

When the surprised Elisia shivered and sniffled softly, Illeon comforted her.

I’ll protect you.

So now, relax.

He embraced her thin body so tightly that he couldn’t breathe, pressed his cheek against hers, and comforted her.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

It was when he was consoling her.

Whoosh.

Earlier, Emily, who had tied the messy ribbon to Elisia’s head, had finally given strength, and the blue ribbon that brought the map alive started to burn from one end. Instead of flames, gray ashes flew into the air.

Illeon grabbed it as if tearing it off with his hands and threw it to the ground.

Whoosh.

With that momentum, as if reacting to a living creature, the black flames on the remaining ribbon flared up. After the flames licked and burned the ribbon, the ashes scattered into the air in an instant.

“Il, Illeon.”

Illeon, holding Elisia, stared at the spot where the black flames had disappeared.

The reception room of the late-night Grand Manor was brightly lit.

Lev, Mariella, Julian. Plus Illeon and Elisia were all gathered in one place.

“Something strange happened.”

Illeon spoke after taking a deep breath.

“It was black flames. It wasn’t the kind of fire with mixed explosives from the Imjin tribe. It started burning in the air without an ignition point.”

In response, Mariella answered with a puzzled look.

“It seems like the compulsion has started to work.”

“Compulsion? What is that?”

Lev asked.

“A modified original work receives the power to happen as it is. Because Sonatek changed the story to make it look like Elisia’s ship sank, the ship that was actually heading to the Nanku continent sank. So…”

Mariella’s gaze towards Elisia revealed a painful expression.

“…Elisia became a person who should die and disappear. So, probably because of that, the compulsion is trying to eliminate Elisia.”

Illeon’s face stiffened.

To try to remove her, what an absurd statement.

Are they determined to burn a living person?

“That’s because it’s the force that compels this world; we can’t stop it. There’s no trace of it, and we don’t know when it will start.”

The power that burned a small ribbon might soon burn Elisia’s entire body.

“Isn’t there any way?”
“I made the flames disappear by waving my hands.”

“That’s because you are the protagonist. In this world, there’s nothing that can harm you.”

“Isn’t compulsion the power that appears when it opposes the prophecy?”

“Yes, but we can’t remove you. There’s nothing that can replace your existence. Where would a man with the power of Oder suddenly appear?”

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

“So, what do you think? It’s only been half a day since Duke Clevendt and Lady Yutel’s marriage was decided.”

“Marriage?”

Illeon was surprised, and Lev frowned with displeasure.

“You chased Elisia Lady to the port yesterday and are seeing your mother’s face for the first time now, it seems.”

“…I’m sorry. But wouldn’t the person attached to me have seen where I went?”

“You should show respect. And I can’t overlook rudeness. It’s not the place to discuss the marriage here…”

Illeon corrected his posture at Lev’s words.

“My marriage is at the discretion of my master.”

“If you borrow the emperor’s name, there’s nothing we can’t prevent.”

Illeon briefly recalled the letter he had received from the emperor someday, allowing him to approve the marriage he wanted. However, he decided not to provoke Lev, who was strong-willed, thinking there was no need to stimulate him unnecessarily.

“If the compulsion doesn’t affect you. Then Elisia should continue to stay in the Grand Manor.”

“What?”

Elisia’s eyes widened suddenly at the arrow that came back to her.

“The Duke can’t stay in the Duchy of Yutel.”

“Your Highness. But there’s a tradition of major events and customs in marriage.”

When Julian spoke with a bewildered expression, Lev immediately interrupted his words.

“Lord Yutel. Did I say something wrong? Isn’t it trying to save your daughter? If we don’t know when the compulsion will swallow Elisia or when the prophecy will be corrected, Illeon should be as close to Elisia as possible until we can come up with a plan.”

“But…”

As if he would react again, Mariella objected to Julian, the father with a daughter.

“Princess, everything you say is right. Since we don’t know how to stop it and don’t have a plan yet.”

“Yeah. Then until we come up with a proper plan, let Elisia stay here with Illeon.”

Lev smiled satisfactorily as if something went according to his plan.

“You guys should leave now. The adults have more to talk about.”