The carriage arrived at the Viscount’s residence not long after.

I steeled my resolve and walked to the Viscount’s mansion. In one hand, I held a paper airplane diligently folded inside the carriage.

The content inside was brief.

Release Pablo, and I’ll willingly surrender.

“Sigh, I’m not a saintly figure.”

I muttered while eyeing the heavily guarded Viscount’s mansion behind tall iron bars.

“I am the most precious to myself.”

But as the image of a crying Matt came to mind, my legs involuntarily moved toward the Viscount’s mansion. No matter how much of a scoundrel Pablo was, he was the only family to Matt.

“Was the study around there?”

I estimated the distance with my eyes and sent the letter flying. Thanks to the flight magic, the letter soared high.

As the letter crossed the iron bars, with a jingle, the mansion’s iron bars opened.

“I’ve been waiting, Miss Reyna.”
Soft voices echoed from all directions. Then, through the open gate, Pablo, tied upside down to a tree, came into view.

I let out a small sigh.

“He’s always hanging upside down every time I see him.”

But unlike during the Madelaine Fah days, the situation seemed more dire now.

The tree happened to be right next to a deep well, and strangely enough, occasionally, a crocodile would emerge from the well with its mouth wide open.

“Ah!”

As Pablo’s hair was cut off by the crocodile’s teeth, he screamed in terror. Perhaps he twitched a bit, but he trembled, unable to move properly.

“Lord Viscount! Please have mercy!”

Pablo pleaded, his voice quivering.

“I did everything as instructed! I answered all the questions!”

His face involuntarily sank. Even though he came to rescue him, it seemed everything was already beyond saving.

“I never said I’d rescue a scumbag like him.”

As I grumbled again, Pablo, who had just noticed my presence, started whimpering.

“Matt is probably waiting for me. Oh, my son. I can’t even see your face before I die.”

I sighed.

“Viscount Madern, I’ve come to make a deal with you.”

“Hmm?”

With an intriguing tone, Viscount’s voice resonated once again.

“After all, what you want is me, right? If you release Pablo, I’ll willingly surrender.”

I took out the magical book from my pocket.

“I’ll give you this too, very willingly. Like a good lamb. I’ll stand still until you’re satisfied and have checked if there might be any spells. Viscount knows, right? Without the magic book, I can’t do anything.”

Despite intentionally avoiding the thought, cursing, grumbling, and complaining, when it came time to release my only lifeline, the things I had tried to ignore became terrifyingly vivid.

Without this magical book, I was nothing. I happened to play the role of the leader in the underworld of the other world, but I knew my true self too well.

A mere commoner with no strength, ability, or talent.

If I went in like this, I might never escape from the Viscount’s mansion.

However, it was not a reckless move without thought.

Even without the magical book, I had memorized the spell for teleportation.

As long as I avoided Viscount’s eyes, there were plenty of opportunities. A dusty-covered window, a thin wallpaper that could be scratched with fingernails, and if necessary, even biting my fingers to draw blood—all of these could be used as a means for teleportation.

Moreover, Viscount wouldn’t simply kill me. Now that he knew I could use magic, he seemed likely to try to figure out the true nature of my magic.

By delaying time adequately, I should be able to secure enough time to cast the teleportation spell.

“Fine.”

Viscount’s voice echoed again.

“If you burn the magical book, I’ll even return your subordinate to you.”

Pablo, still hanging upside down, looked at me with desperate eyes.

But I paid him no attention.

“Okay.”
Externally, I was smiling calmly, but when I tried to open the magical book, my fingertips trembled slightly. Annoying.

After selecting an appropriate spell, the magical book quickly caught fire. I stared blankly at the flames, and suddenly, the fire engulfed my palm.

“Ugh.”

As I dropped the burning book, a refreshing laughter echoed.

“As promised, I will release your subordinates.”

Immediately, the servants of the Viscount’s mansion poured in from all directions. Some closed the well entrance and released Pablo, but others grabbed me with strong hands.

As the servants firmly gripped both my arms, I couldn’t move a muscle. Helplessly, I was dragged away.

Viscount seemed satisfied, smiling.

“Take Lady Reyna inside.”

Dragging me through the complex corridors of the Viscount’s mansion, I wandered around and ended up confined in a secret room, tightly bound to a chair.

“There was no need to go this far.”

Muttering with a hand that wouldn’t move due to lack of blood flow, my words fell on deaf ears.

This was troublesome. To use the teleportation spell, my hands needed to be untied.

For now, I decided to observe the situation. They must have tied me up to interrogate me, so if I stalled, a gap would surely appear.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Welcome, Lady Reyna.”

At that moment, Viscount appeared.

Seated on the sofa in front of me, Lady Viscount, with a leisurely smile, crossed her legs.

“There’s no need to tie me to a chair. I can use magic, martial arts. Untie me a bit. I’ll behave.”

I clenched and unclenched my numb hands.

“If you just answer obediently, I might consider it.”

Lady Viscount kept laughing. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

“But you seemed quite talented in magic when I saw you yesterday.”

As expected, Viscount showed interest in magic.

I shrugged.

“Thanks to my innate magic power. Even though I look like this, I’m half noble, you know.”

Lady Viscount smirked.

“Not because of this?”

When Viscount flicked her finger, the door behind me opened, and someone stepped into the secret room.

“Did you call for me?”

I was startled by the familiar voice. It was Hiss.

“Bring the magical book here.”

With Lady Viscount’s command, Hiss approached with a stiff gait and handed over the magical book. The magical book I had given to Hiss.

Various thoughts crossed my mind in an instant. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I stared blankly at Hiss, who didn’t even glance in my direction.

Lady Viscount’s smile deepened.

“You have something quite interesting.”

And she opened the back cover of the magical book.

“If you want to spare your life, you’ll have to explain this.”