It was a scenario that couldn’t be easily imagined. I argued that such a thing had never happened before, but he spoke with quite a serious face.

“This is the first time the timing has been pushed up this much. It’s also the first time that there are more beasts moving in packs than solitary ones.”

“That means it’s become that much more dangerous.”

“Because it’s unpredictable.”

The Duke and I silently stared into space. It was truly a frustrating situation.

“Even if Rublion has excellent qualities as the head of the family, he’s still a child. Someone needs to guide him on the right path and protect him.”

The Duke lowered his posture slightly. With his elbows resting on his knees and fingers interlocked, he looked as if he was praying.

“It may be selfish, but that’s why Rublion and I need you. It’s also why we can’t postpone the wedding.”

I felt a chilling thrill at his words of needing me. Although I like being someone others can rely on, this was… joyful to a dangerous degree.

It wasn’t that there were no options at all. It was just an option I didn’t prefer.

“Alright. Then how about we do this?”

He looked at me as I spoke.

“Let’s just postpone the ceremony. We’ll make a simple marriage declaration in the chapel and send the oath to the imperial family first. That way, we’ll be legally married.”

“Wouldn’t that tarnish your reputation?”

“It’s fine. I don’t really have much of a reputation to tarnish anyway.”

He pondered seriously with an expressionless face. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he opened his mouth.

“Let me ask again. Are you really sure about this? If you’re pushing yourself for my sake…”

I raised my hand to cut off his concern.

“What about you, Duke? I’m used to being pointed at, so I’m fine, but won’t there be a lot of people criticizing a high noble for making a marriage oath first without a ceremony?”

“If they value their lives, they’ll watch their mouths.”

It sounded like he was saying he’d kill anyone who spoke ill of it.

“Then can I take it that you agree, and we’ll just postpone the wedding ceremony?”

“Are you really alright with this, my lady?”

Father might be a bit concerned, but wouldn’t he say to do as I wish if I say I want to do it this way?

“Yes, it’s fine. The subjugation will take about two weeks, and you’ll return alive, right?”

The Duke’s face froze subtly.

Somehow, it felt like I should say something encouraging.

“I’ll be waiting. So leave Rublion to me and do your best for the people of Artenbach.”

“…Thank you, my lady.”

“It’s nothing.”

The Duke smiled smoothly.

‘You look even better when you smile.’

My heart tingled, and I smiled along with him. For just a brief moment, I wanted to hold his hand and caress his shoulder.

Anna and I headed to the port with the family knights. When I told Anna first that the wedding would be postponed, she showed a rather displeased reaction.

“By the way, do you think Ranson will be at the port?”

“Maybe?”

As we exchanged various conversations, we soon arrived at our destination. The nighttime port had quite a desolate atmosphere.

People gathering to board ships and travel to distant lands, people busy loading cargo, and among them, people begging for money and food.

The benches under the streetlights were already occupied by homeless people. It was a scene markedly different from daytime.

“Miss, that ship over there looks like it.”

Anna pointed with her hand. The flag of the Artenbach ducal family was fluttering on the bow of that ship.

“So you were here.”

Hearing a familiar voice, I turned around to see Ranson approaching us.

“The atmosphere is unusually unpleasant today.”

He said, looking around.

“It’s not usually this quiet. Maybe it’s because there’s no large passenger ship.”

Ranson stuck close, saying it was quite strange. The knights also agreed with his words and added that we shouldn’t stray too far.

“I’ve never been to the port at such a late hour… Oh? Didn’t the lights just flicker?”

The streetlights at the port flickered. We all looked up simultaneously.

“That happens often. There are many places trying to use electricity, but production is insufficient.”

“Still, you’d think they’d pay more attention to places like ports.”

No sooner had the words ended than it flickered again. Then it went out completely.

“Wow, I can’t see anything.”

Just as Anna exclaimed in surprise, the streetlights quickly came back on. Of course, they were still flickering.

“We should have brought a lamp. Or maybe even a torch.”

“We can probably find torches nearby.”

I went to find the captain who had finished preparations to depart. He recognized Anna and me and greeted us cheerfully.

After wishing them a safe journey, I disembarked. A sailor untied the rope fastened to the dock and saluted with his hand to his forehead. I waved my arm vigorously, praying for their safe return.

“Shall we head back now?”

There was no reason to linger at the port now that the ship had left. Ranson, who had been following like a shadow, smiled slightly, saying his uneasiness was just a feeling. That’s when it happened.

Crackle.

A burning smell came from somewhere. At the same time, all the streetlights at the port went out. The homeless people around cursed.

“I should suggest to the Duke about setting up a dedicated generator for the port.”

“Right? At least before the late-night departure ships leave… Oh, ah, kyaak!”

Anna, who had been speaking casually, suddenly screamed. Startled, I reached out in her direction. But my hand grasping at the air caught nothing.

“Anna? What’s wrong?”

Could she have slipped and fallen into the sea? But there was no splash sound.

“Mmph, mmph.”

“Anna?”

With my vision blocked, my auditory senses became acutely aware. Amidst the knights drawing their swords, I began to see the movement of someone struggling.

“Anna! Anna, what’s wrong!”

My hands trembled. I could see shadows moving back and forth in the darkness.

“Stay close. We will protect you.”

It was the voice of an Artenbach knight. Reaching out and feeling around, I found that two knights were surrounding me.

“What about Anna? Ranson!”

It felt like all the blood was draining from my body. Neither Anna nor Ranson answered my calls.

At that moment, the streetlights that had gone out completely came back on with a pop. The sudden brightness was blinding, but that wasn’t important right now.

I frantically looked around. Anna must have been subdued by someone.

“Anna… Anna is gone!”

I grabbed the two knights standing on either side of me and shouted.

“Anna has disappeared! Ranson… Ranson is gone too!”

My legs were shaking. I was terrified, not knowing what had happened in that brief moment when the streetlights went out.

“Other knights are tracking them. It’s a dangerous situation, so you must return to the mansion immediately, my lady.”

“You want me to go back alone? Do you think that makes sense?”

I couldn’t think rationally. I didn’t know who these people were who suddenly appeared, or why they took Anna and Ranson.

I pulled on the knight’s arm, insisting that we needed to find them. But they didn’t budge. Without realizing it, I burst out shouting.

“I said we need to go find them!”

“Yes, we will go look for them. But we are under orders to protect you, my lady. So you must first move to a safe place.”

“…Don’t tell me.”

A chill ran down my spine. I realized too late that the protection range of the Artenbach knights, whom I thought would protect me, Anna, and possibly Ranson, only included me.

“…I’ll go look for them myself.”

Reason returned in an instant. Looking at the ground, I saw traces of someone being dragged among dozens of footprints around me. Of course, there was only one such trace, likely made by Ranson being dragged away.

Terrible thoughts filled my mind. I could barely breathe.

I started running, following the traces. The knights shouted from the side that I needed to return to the mansion.

“Anna… Anna, I’m sorry.”

It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked her to come to the port together. If I had come alone, the knights would have protected her.

Tears welled up. What sin did Ranson commit by just following along?

I ran with all my might, but I couldn’t outrun the trained knights. I felt my breath catching in my throat as I stumbled along, and finally collapsed.

“My lady, I’m truly sorry.”

I looked up at him with tear-stained eyes. A large hand flew quickly towards me.

I felt a sharp pain as if I had been struck, and my mind became hazy. The words that I needed to find Anna and Ranson rose to the tip of my tongue, but in the end, I couldn’t utter them.

Baron Arche was trembling all over. If it was discovered that he, who belonged to Duke Rumps’ faction, had come to see Duke Artenbach, he would surely be ruined.

But he couldn’t just sit idly by. This was the only way to avoid falling victim to Duke Rumps’ cruel and harsh nature.

“What brings you to see me?”

It was Askal, who had just finished work late and was about to leave. He was not in a good mood due to Baron Arche’s sudden request for a private audience.

“Your Grace, I believe you will save me and my family from the brink of extinction.”

Askal wondered what he meant. He urged the baron to explain in detail.

“My daughter will kidnap the maid of your fiancée, Lady Deli, on Duke Rumps’ orders.”

“What are you talking about?”

Askal’s golden eyes flashed coldly. Baron Arche bit his lower lip hard before speaking.

“Please help my daughter and me. If we don’t follow the order, we’ll die by Duke Rumps’ hand, and if we do follow it, the innocent maid and your fiancée will suffer.”

Baron Arche hurriedly explained what had happened. The blood drained from Askal’s face.