“Oh, then I’m relieved.”

Suppressing a smirk, Theos felt a heavy gaze on the back of his head. A large and handsome man was staring at him.

“Oh, this is my bodyguard, Balter. This person is Theos, the magician who helped us before.”

“Nice to meet you, Balter.”

“For what reason did you collapse, Mr. Magician, please tell us.”

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Balter questioned. Theos, glancing at the threatening gaze, wrinkled his forehead as if he found it difficult to recall the unpleasant memories.

“Well, I was kidnapped this morning, to be honest.”

From the start, Edit and Balter listened attentively.

“They blindfolded me, took me to a damp room, and tied me to a chair. It seemed like those people were somewhat accustomed to such actions.”

“…….”
“There was a man who seemed like a ringleader; he seemed to know that I had visited this place a few days ago. He interrogated me frantically, asking about the number and locations of the employees in the Fortrian Lady’s mansion, the location of Madam’s room, who accompanies her, and how the maids look.”

Balter ground his teeth.

“He also inquired about Madam. Details like how many guards she has indoors, what magic she requested that day, and such.”

It was evident that he was collecting information to break through Edit’s defenses. Concerned about Balter’s intensity, Edit comfortingly stroked Theo’s hand.

“You must have been shocked. Where are you injured?”

“Uh, it wasn’t that severe. I’m a magician, you know. They asked me about myself as well. Since they received the request a few days ago, they thought I’d be in a weakened state without magic.”

The fact that the enemy conducted such thorough investigations, including preliminary probing, indicated their meticulous planning. Balter had been cautious not to emit chilling magic.

“But thanks to Madam’s request for a simple magic, there was some magic left, and I managed to temporarily stun them and escape. Then I got exhausted.”

Examining the detailed questions about the Fortrian Lady, it seemed they might have intended to kill him. If they had thought of sparing him, they wouldn’t have interrogated him in such detail.

Realizing this, Theo judged that he should come here without even knowing why. Edit, who used to give him meat pie and herb oil, would protect him.

Looking at Theo, who gazed at Edit with somewhat tender eyes, Balter asked, “If they asked what kind of magic Madam wanted, what did you say?”

“Well, that…”

Theo, with large pupils, looked at Edit to gauge her reaction and then spoke.

“I said it was a magic commonly requested by noble ladies. A magic that makes their hair soft and skin beautiful.”

Edit was surprised as she didn’t even know such magic existed.

“It seems I had to tell convincing lies that those guys would believe. Because Madam… is beautiful.”

“Oh, thank you. You did well to ask for the soup.”

While Edit smiled as if relieved, she surprised Theo. After expressing her gratitude, she suggested he eat the soup deliciously and rest well until he left the bedroom.

However, until Theo left, Balter, who sensed the boy’s gaze at Edit with affection, felt uncomfortable being alone.

“That brat has some guts.”

Balter, glaring at Theo with a piercing gaze, used the excuse of checking for magic detected in his room to send Edit out first.

Then Balter extended his hand, creating a bit of magic.

“Hey, did you know that magicians can distinguish the magic of famous families?”

“Well, yes. If it’s the magic of a prominent family within the capital—”

Speaking confidently, Theo received Balter’s magic and was so surprised that he gasped, swallowing hard. There was no need to go up to ten fingers.
“This is Rek, Lexion…”

“He’s keeping his mouth shut and sleeping. We’ll keep an eye on him, so don’t have any foolish thoughts.”

Theos nodded as if to say, ‘How can I entertain such thoughts in front of this magic?’

‘No matter how I think about it, the enemy is too tactically precise.’

After Balter brought Edit into the room and cast several layers of barriers, the fundamental unease did not dissipate.

With a child, Edit became even more vulnerable to many people’s appetites. If he couldn’t find a place to perfectly protect her, his blood might dry up first.

Ultimately, after confirming his lineage using Theos, Balter, with a determined expression, headed straight for Reinhardt. Wearing a black ceremonial robe and armed with a sword, he found that Reinhardt’s gaze became more stern.

“I have a brief errand to run, so please take care of Edit. Apply a spell on the magician.”

“Where are you going just before dinner?”

Surprised, Cacius asked, but unlike him, Reinhardt responded with a relaxed voice.

“Yeah. If the lady asks, what should I say?”

After thinking for a moment, Balter replied with a small smile.

“You can say that I went to see a more comfortable place to accommodate the lady.”