“I didn’t think so, Angelina’s descendant. I’m disappointed. Is that child more important to you than me?”

“Enough. Hurry up and come out of Rodrick’s body. How long are you going to occupy someone else’s body?”

“I won’t leave until I find Angelina’s tombstone…”

“Don’t even dream about it. If you don’t return Rodrick to normal, there will be no cooperation.”

The man had no choice but to close his mouth at her sharp words.

Faced with Diana’s resolute attitude, the man changed his approach and began to act pitifully. He lowered his gaze and put on a miserable expression.

His lips were bleeding and his cheeks, which were starting to bruise, were swollen, making him look even more pitiful.

“You’re too cold-hearted. Don’t you know the saying ‘respect your elders’?”

Diana laughed at his nonsense and retorted.

“Are all elders the same? It’s already rotten of you to expect to be treated based on your age. Ancestor.”

Noel, who was held by Diana, nodded his head in agreement with her words and made direct eye contact with the man.

Noel snickered and stuck out his tongue. The man’s temples bulged with veins at that cheeky sight.

“No matter what you say, I have nothing to say to you, ancestor. Give Rodrick back. The negotiation starts after that.”

The drainage of her magic power from her body was always inconsistent.

Sometimes it would drain out little by little several times a day, and on other days, it wouldn’t drain at all.

Even while absorbing Rodrick’s curse, she thought.

Will this get better? Absorbing the curse was only a temporary measure to reduce the pain.

If they didn’t find the fundamental cause, it seemed like it wouldn’t be cured.

What if she completely absorbed and eliminated Rodrick’s curse?

If her body still didn’t heal then, wouldn’t she have to look for another cure?

Amidst such concerns, the one who provided the answer was Rodrick’s ancestor.

‘Eliminate the mastermind who put the curse on you. Or deal with those connected to you.’

Rodrick’s ancestor said that there were those who were using her magic power as they pleased.

He said that if they used up her magic power as they wished and it was exhausted, she would die.

She understood that much. She was becoming someone’s battery. But let’s put that aside for now.

“Why aren’t you answering? Rodrick. Quickly hand him over.”

She was also shocked to find out that there were unknown wounds and patterns engraved on her back. But that was it. She quickly got over the shock.

If you face a problem, you just have to solve it. Let’s solve the issues in front of us one by one for now.

“Ha, do I really have to go this far?”

“Who’s the one going too far? Even when entering an empty house, you knock first. Did you get permission before entering?”

The man avoided her gaze, sweating profusely. His arrogant attitude from before was nowhere to be seen as he stammered.

Under Diana’s persistent gaze, the man raised both hands as if admitting defeat.

“Alright. Alright. I’ll leave. But in exchange, I’ll have to stay with you.”

What does that mean?

“Don’t tell me, you’re going to enter my body this time?!”

Diana took a step back, holding Noel as if she was disgusted.

“…”

The man looked at Diana with a disgruntled expression.

“Descendant, you really have a unique taste in people.”

Rodrick remained silent. He had been quiet for a while now.

He must have a lot on his mind after seeing so much. The man didn’t think much of it and led Diana to the treasury.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Well, let’s go in.”

Inside the treasury that housed a vast amount of treasures, there was another secret door. She didn’t even know there was something like this. Well, if there was a secret passage, there must be hidden things too.

The man proceeded forward without hesitation.

“This is where the family heirlooms are kept.”

They stood in front of a glass case that took the innermost position among the heirlooms.

“So you’re saying you’re going in there now, right?”

“Yes.”

It was a ring with a sapphire darker in color than Rodrick’s eyes.

The ring holding the sapphire was filled with countless diamonds, shining like stars. Overall, it exuded an antique atmosphere.

“This ring has been passed down through generations in our family. Only the lady of the house can wear it. Now, you take this.”

“But I’m not the lady of the house.”

The man spoke as if that wasn’t a problem.

“You’re going to marry this guy, aren’t you?”

Whether it’s the ancestor or the descendant, they’re the same. Why do they speak as if it’s a given?

In the first place, Rodrick wasn’t even the duke’s heir, and even if she married him, she had no intention of becoming the lady of the ducal house.

Why would she do that troublesome thing? Once her body was healthy, she would live a wealthy, unemployed life, sprawled in her room. She already had a lot of wealth. She just needed to get healthy.

“What about the duke’s permission?”

“I’m the one giving permission, aren’t I?”

Look at this ancestor. Why is he so brazen?

“If a person who died several generations ago suddenly says they’re allowing the symbol of the lady, do you think people will believe it and say, ‘Ah, I see.’?”

“It’ll be fine. Everyone seems to be afraid of this guy anyway. They’ll just accept it.”

“…”

She was at a loss for words. This ancestor was hopeless. The man removed the glass case surrounding the ring.

“Now, put on the ring.”

“No. The order has changed. You go in first. Then I’ll put it on.”

Diana was thorough in this aspect. Rodrick hadn’t even returned yet, so she had no obligation to do as she was told.

“…”

It wasn’t easy. Once Diana said something, she had no intention of backing down. The man fell silent for a moment and then spoke.

“You really don’t give in even once.”

He muttered softly that this personality was different from Angelina’s. The man closed his eyes and placed his hand on the ring.

Both Diana and Noel followed the black shadow rippling on Rodrick’s body with their eyes.

The black shadow was instantly sucked into the ring through Rodrick’s hand as if being absorbed.

“Rodrick?”

A silence fell, without even the sound of breathing. Beneath the eyelashes long enough to cast shadows, blue eyes were revealed.

“…”

The silent blue eyes were piercingly cold.

[This is the timeline separator]

At a time when everyone was asleep except for those on patrol.

“Your Grace.”

Nathan, who had been scolded by Diana for not even greeting the duke, the owner of the house, was standing in the duke’s secret study.

He stood with his shoulders squared and his hands behind his back, befitting a knight leading a single division.

His usually sloppy appearance was nowhere to be seen. He had a serious expression that he rarely showed.

Nathan only lowered his gaze to look at Duke Schwartz, who was sitting comfortably on a single-person sofa.

“Debir Beatus.”

Nathan handed his brother’s letter to the duke. The duke tapped the letter placed on the armrest of the sofa.

“Debir Beatus’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Do you know anything about that?”

“It’s classified information, so I can’t tell you.”

Nathan spoke firmly, but he too had not been able to locate Debir’s whereabouts. He would find out if he went to the capital.

Even without Diana’s request, he was planning to go. He had a feeling that something had gone wrong.

Rodrick had said that he had cut ties with Debir Beatus long ago, but it was a lie. They had to appear that way on the surface for what they were going to do in the future.

He wanted to confront his brother when he met him. Diana is in a safe place, you crazy bastard. Is that the Schwartz?

Although he had to come to the Schwartz due to Debir Beatus’s errand, he didn’t like it. It was too suspicious to be a coincidence.

“I don’t know what kind of things your brothers are up to, but I don’t understand why you’re dragging us into it.”

Even after confirming the contents of the letter, the duke calmly expressed that he didn’t know what was going on.

“Don’t forget that I lent my strength to exterminate the demonic creatures.”

The duke rested his chin crookedly and looked at Nathan. The blue eyes, deepened by years of experience, gained more weight.

“You’re just like your brother.”

Very naive.

It was an old story. When Rodrick was absent, Nathan, who was wandering around the north, had once exterminated the demonic creatures that had invaded a village.

You’re going to milk that? Nathan had already been rewarded for that at the time.

“…”

Nathan stood without answering, his head held high and his posture unfaltering, brazenly.

The duke lowered his gaze again to look at the letter. The duke began to weigh the options. What was a gain and what was a loss. The decision didn’t take long.

“Alright. Our northern army will remain silent before the emperor. We will not participate in the central affairs and will not take any sides. Also, make sure to prioritize protecting Diana Beatus.”

“Thank you.”

“But does that child know about this?”

“She probably doesn’t. And I don’t want her to know either.”

“You’re overprotective.”

It wouldn’t be surprising if Diana led the army and barged in if need be.

That’s how capable she was. Yes, he liked Diana enough to feel reassured about entrusting the north to her.

Nathan grimaced at the smile that slyly rose.

“No way!”

“I didn’t say much.”

“I will never send Diana to marry here!”

His serious attitude was nowhere to be seen. The heavy atmosphere surrounding Nathan completely disappeared.

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see about that.”

Nathan gritted his teeth. His spirit was threatening enough. However, the duke remained relaxed as if looking at a puppy.

“I’ll be going then.”

He had lost the battle of wills with the duke.

“Please take good care of Diana.”

Nathan sighed and just bowed his head, then turned around.

“Sir Nathan.”

The duke stopped Nathan, who was about to leave. Nathan was already armed and ready to depart.

“Yes, please speak.”

“If you meet Debir Beatus, tell him this.”

Nathan’s expression as he quietly listened to the duke’s words was a sight to behold. The habit of smiling more the angrier he got unwittingly popped out.

“There’s nothing as certain as a marriage alliance.”

Bang! Nathan closed the door and left without even answering.

If Diana had been there, she would have scolded him for his lack of manners. Nathan cursed as if spitting out vulgar words, emphasizing his accent.

“That damn Schwartz!”

A marriage alliance can freeze to death. Absolutely not giving her. Can’t give her! Nathan stomped through the empty corridor where no one was present.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Hey, Rodrick.”

His expression was so cold that it felt like they had returned to when they first met. His eyes, filled with coldness, looked as if they were seeing something worthless.

“You’re really back, right?”

Rodrick, who was rolling the ring in his hand, threw the ring to Noel. Noel easily caught the ring and enclosed it in his small hand.

His gaze, meeting Noel’s red eyes, was cold and emotionless to the point where his thoughts could not be read.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Wait, Rodrick!”

However, Rodrick’s large hand, holding Diana’s wrist and leaving the treasury, was hotter than ever.

[The descendant seems very angry, doesn’t he?]

Noel looked at the ring and then at the black shadow floating in the air. Noel clicked his tongue in a way that was not childlike.

“He must be angry at you. Who would be happy if you arbitrarily took over their body?”

[Haha.]

It was an undeniable acknowledgment. The black shadow didn’t say anything more and had to leave the treasury, caught in Noel’s small hand.