I had my dress fitted while receiving strange looks from the dress shop owner. The owner promised to have the party dress ready and delivered to Lily Palace by the date needed.

Roxiana did not realize that behind the shop owner’s offer to personally deliver it, despite saying they would send someone, lay a desire to see what Lily Palace was like firsthand.

Since they planned to walk a bit, they sent the carriage away, so Roxiana, Petria, and Robert slowly walked along the edge of the high-end shopping street. Several carriages passed by as they moved towards the shoe store.

“I’ve only come here to window shop before, this is my first time actually buying something here. It’s also my first time going inside the stores.”

Petria said as she looked around curiously. Only then did Roxiana remember that Petria was of common birth.

The shops on this street were only accessible to nobles or the wealthy. Anyone was free to walk the street, but they would be stopped at the entrance if they tried to enter a store.

‘I should have had a dress made for Petria too.’

Petria had received clothes from the grand ducal palace, and while they were too luxurious for commoners to wear, they weren’t as high-end as what could be purchased in these shops.

‘Yes, I should buy Petria some dresses too. While we’re at it, shoes and hats would be good as well.’

Just as Roxiana was turning to go back to the dress shop, a man running from afar with his hat pressed down bumped into Roxiana’s arm.

“Ah!”

Roxiana let out a short scream, but the man ran off without even looking back at her. Robert glanced briefly at the man, then said to Roxiana,

“It’s a pickpocket. I’ll go catch him.”

Only then did Roxiana realize that the wallet she had put in her skirt pocket was gone. Petria stared at Robert’s retreating back.

“Wow, how did he notice in that brief moment? Knights really do have extraordinary observation skills.”

There was no response from Roxiana. Petria turned around, finding it strange. The spot where Roxiana had been standing just moments ago was empty.

Petria blinked her eyes.

‘Where did she go? Did she enter a shop?’

As Petria peered into the shops looking for Roxiana, carriages continued to pass by behind her incessantly.

+++

“There’s no trace of the rift and no sign of it reappearing. The land is so perfect it’s as if it was never contaminated. The river is clean too. I drank from it and there was nothing wrong. The area that was forest is already full of growing plants, and animals that had left are starting to return one by one. It seems fine for people to live there now.”

Hexten, who had gone to inspect the area where the rift had been eliminated, reported. Arsen, who had gone with him, added,

“I received word from the knight bringing the immigrants. They will enter Selshar City in 2-3 days. As soon as they arrive, we plan to check their identities to make sure there are no suspicious individuals before sending them to the new land.”

“How many are coming?”

“This time it’s just over 300 people.”

“I see.”

Floyd meaninglessly stared down at the document he had just signed.

Usable land had been created and Torkan’s population was set to increase. Roxiana was perfectly accomplishing things that would benefit Torkan. At the cost of her own life.

That was the problem.

Risking her life.

She said she no longer wanted to die and truly seemed that way, but she didn’t hesitate to risk her life when necessary.

Watching her made him anxious, afraid of losing her completely, and his emotions exploded like a child’s.

What should I do with you, Roxiana? How can I make you understand this uneasy feeling?

Should I just say I love you? If I tell you I love you and can’t live without you, would it lessen your reckless disregard for your own wellbeing even a little?

Floyd smiled bitterly.

She probably wouldn’t. What would my love mean anyway?

He felt disgusted with himself for trying to shackle her ankles with love while loving her yet unable to love confidently.

Bang-!

Just then, the office door was roughly flung open. The knights who reflexively reached for their swords furrowed their brows upon seeing it was Petria who had entered.

Petria, out of breath as if she had run a long way, exclaimed while panting,

“The, the princess… huff. Huff. The princess…”

“What about the princess!”

Floyd stood up abruptly.

“Dis… disappeared… huff… Lord Chenare… is looking… huff. Huff. He said to inform Your Majesty…”

“Where?”

“At the high-end shopping street…”

The knight commanders also moved, following Floyd who was moving hastily. At first it was quick steps, but later they were running.

Disappeared? Where to? Did she run away? Because I’m terrible and dreadful? No, that can’t be. Was she kidnapped? By whom? Lucas? It can’t be. The empire or the temple? How dare they in my territory?

All sorts of thoughts arose and disappeared without taking shape. He pulled a horse out of the stable and mounted it, galloping off at the same time.

Not long after entering the bustling area, he saw Robert asking people if they had seen Roxiana. His anxious and bewildered eyes made Floyd’s heart sink once more.

Though it would have been faster to stay on horseback, Floyd leapt off the horse and ran to Robert.

“Robert, the princess disappeared?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We were coming out after fitting her dress when a pickpocket stole Her Highness’s wallet and ran off, so I chased after him to retrieve it, but when I returned…”

“How could you!”

Floyd grabbed Robert’s collar and lifted him up.

“How could you leave the princess alone!”

Unable to refute Floyd’s justified rebuke, Robert offered no excuses. He should have stayed by Roxiana’s side no matter what. It was a mistake to take his eyes off her and leave her side, even if Torkan seemed peaceful and safe.

Floyd also knew this knight filled with despair was not at fault. He was just blaming Roxiana’s guard out of a desire to blame someone.

Floyd released his grip and gritted his teeth before saying,

“If she’s not out of her mind wanting to die, she won’t stay in the city. She’ll try to get out of my sphere of influence first. Bear, Lion, search the city thoroughly. Eagle, stop and check all ships trying to leave port. The rest of you head outside the city.”

+++

Lion was sitting by a river flowing through the forest. A white otter was in the river water again today.

“Can you believe it? She eliminated the rift.”

“It’s not a good thing. It seems they’ve discovered Roti on the other side. Roti is afraid.”

“Of course she’d be afraid. The other side is gods after all…”

“I wish Roti wouldn’t do such dangerous things anymore.”

“I feel the same, you know? But she did well, didn’t she? Eliminating a rift… She’s really growing quickly.”

“Forget about that. Have you still not found Lanian Franche?”

The otter heaved a deep sigh.

“Not a trace. Mine is searching hard too, but can’t find her.”

“To not even be discovered by Mine… How is that possible?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But you kids couldn’t find her either. So I was thinking… Could she be alive?”

“…”

“If Lucas Pelur is using dark magic, he may have kept her alive and hidden her with dark magic.”

Under the protection of dark magic, the power of evil spirits, a hazy veil forms and spirits cannot recognize them. They pass by without seeing them even if they’re right in front of them.

The same goes for the evil spirit side, so they pass by those under the spirits’ protection without discovering them.

It’s because they are beings that shouldn’t be in the same place, and powers that shouldn’t be in the same place.

“What would be gained by keeping Lanian Franche alive?”

“Lanian has talent for magic. They could turn the heart full of magic power into a splendid dark mage by tainting it with evil magic.”

Just as Lion was frowning, a huge eagle flew over and perched next to Lion. The otter’s expression brightened.

“Mine! Did you see Roti?”

The eagle tilted its head to the side.

“She was being kidnapped.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know that either.”

The eagle leisurely preened its wing feathers. The otter also swam a lazy circle in the river.

“Why did Roti let herself be kidnapped so easily? Was it someone she knew?”

Lion got up with a deep sigh.

“Humans have drugs that can make you unconscious. Maybe they knocked her out and kidnapped her.”

“What? That’s terrible!”

“Mine, Floyd is probably going crazy by now, so let him know where Roti was taken.”

The eagle tilted its head.

“Can I speak human language?”

“Of course not. Just catch his attention. He’ll figure it out. I’m going to where Roti is.”

“What a bother.”

The eagle grumbled as it took flight. The otter clung to Lion’s tail.

“I want to go too!”

+++

As Floyd searched frantically for Roxiana like a madman, he noticed a black eagle circling in the air. The eagle circled above Floyd’s head several times as if wanting to catch his eye.

Watching this, Kirshan said,

“It reminds me of when Lion took our lord before. We followed that fellow and found the princess.”

Floyd had just been thinking the same thing.

“Where is she?”

Floyd shouted loudly toward the eagle. The eagle stopped circling and began flying off somewhere.

+++

The inside of the carriage reeked, as if it had been used to transport pigs.

Roxiana lay in the carriage, which was covered by a dark canvas, with her arms and legs bound, recalling what had just happened.

As soon as Robert moved away, they swiftly covered Roxiana’s mouth and choked her, dragging her into the carriage. Then they very quickly and skillfully tied her up and gagged her.

‘It was the work of professionals.’

Though it was dark, their movements were unhesitating.

‘Who could it be? Who would kidnap me at this point?’