Givnen, who arrived at Soboster using the teleporter, could not meet Riley right away.

The only teleportation device supplied to Soboster, a relatively large city, was just one. There were no magical tools using magic to be found, and transportation methods like carriages and rickshaws were used, making it a backward environment compared to Blestige.

There was quite a distance from Soboster to Lufla, where Riley lived.

For Givnen, who had been living enjoying the conveniences of civilization achieved through magic, there were more than one or two inconvenient points.

Of course, Givnen could freely use movement magic, but due to the sheer size of the land here, it was impossible to move all at once by magic, and since it was his first time coming here, he was unfamiliar with the geography, so it was not a suitable situation to use magic.

“If we take a carriage now, we should arrive in Lufla in about half a day.”

“…Half a day.”

“If you’re thinking of using magic, you’ll need to get permission from the Magic Department now, but it might take about half a day just to get a response to the request here.”

“…”

“Or you could just remove the control needle. Of course, as soon as you remove it, those dispatched from the Magic Department will come to audit… that is.”

Control needles are not implanted in ordinary magicians. Although unauthorized use of magic is stated to be illegal, there was generally an atmosphere of turning a blind eye to most magicians using magic simply for their own convenience.

However, this magic control was strongly applied to a minority of magicians. The minority of elites. Those talented enough to perform not just magic for convenience, but more advanced and dangerous magic.

The country set an example by controlling and regulating this minority. It was a method devised because they couldn’t control every single magician one by one, but the magicians who had this control needle implanted were subjected to excessively severe control.

Every time magic was used, magic power data was transmitted to the Magic Department and monitored, and while the use of simple magic for convenience was overlooked a few times, if it was judged that magic above a certain standard was used, they would come out for an audit, grill people, investigate, and impose huge fines.

The fines were not a problem, but the act of coming out for an audit and grilling people was stressful.

“…Let’s get a carriage.”

Feeling disillusioned with this ironic world where the use of magic by magicians is controlled in an era where the convenience of magic has been maximized, Givnen had no choice but to get on a carriage.

·

·

·

It was almost dawn when he arrived at Lufla, that is, Riley’s house.

Sack went to secure a room at the best hotel in Lufla, and Givnen headed to the Eardalin baronial house to check if Riley was safe and sound.

He lightly jumped up onto a tree and then used X-ray magic from outside.

Riley was not visible in any room. However, there was one room that bothered him.

‘…Signs of an intruder.’

A messy room, a wide-open window. Dirt and leaf debris scattered on the floor.

The out-of-place appearance of the room, Earl Ermeints’ movements. Riley’s unseen figure. With the situations fitting together so well, Givnen was convinced that danger had befallen Riley.

Givnen pulled out the control needle in his ear with all his might and expanded his magic power to widen the X-ray range.

Then he hurriedly began to move to find Riley. As he did so, he sent a telepathy to Sack.

A dramatic figure appearing at a dramatic moment.

Earl Ermeints, perhaps too shocked, stepped back and gaped like a goldfish. Regardless, Givnen calmly walked through the floating assassins and stopped in front of Riley.

A chilling coldness swept over his face as he confronted her messy appearance, tied up with ropes and covered in dust. He carefully untied the ropes and brushed off her clothes. Then he gently embraced her small, trembling body.

“Are you alright?”

“…”

Of course, she wasn’t alright. Riley was too shocked to give any answer.

“W-What brings you here?”

Instead of answering, Givnen held Riley in his arms and looked at those floating in the sky. With a slight movement of his finger, the bodies floating in the air suddenly flew and crashed into trees.

All the assassins fainted, unable to withstand the tremendous impact on their bodies.

“I came all the way to a distant land longing to see my wife.”

“…”

“But my lovely wife is nowhere to be found, and there are only trash who kidnapped her in the dead of night.”

“…Wife?”

“Didn’t you know? I thought you would. Wasn’t it you who wrote an article linking our marriage to a love triangle drama?”

Earl Ermeints was at a loss for words.

Marriage? Wife?

“Is it true that he’s really marrying that woman?”

“No, that’s impossible. That was just exaggerated for sensational reporting.”

The bribed reporter clearly said it was made up for sensational reporting, but…

“You’re saying you married that wench?”

“That’s right.”

“…Why?”

Earl Ermeints truly could not understand their marriage.

“What could you possibly lack?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business who I marry.”

“…I truly don’t understand. Why would someone like you, who lacks nothing? Marry the daughter of a lowly baronial family? Does Alton know about this?”

“Since when were you close enough to call my father by name so casually?”

“…”

“And you, what could you possibly lack that you committed such a stupid act? What a disgrace, coming all the way out here with your frail body.”

“T-That’s…”

Earl Ermeints stammered in embarrassment. He was so flustered that his face, which had been turning yellow, flushed bright red as if about to burst.

“If you’ve gone senile, you should just stay quietly holed up at home.”

Givnen sneered, twisting the corner of his mouth to mock Earl Ermeints. The usual neat and tidy appearance of a gentleman was nowhere to be seen.

“A man once hailed as a hero who saved the country, now hiring professional assassins to take the life of a frail lady. You look truly pathetic, sir.”

“…”

“At this rate, even the masses will have to understand why I ‘stole another man’s woman’.”

Givnen gestured somewhere. Sack, who had been hiding, appeared along with a group of people. Most of them were armed knights. A few held pens, notebooks, and cameras in their hands.

Reporters!

Earl Ermeints’ complexion turned as white as a sheet.

‘Oh no.’

A barrage of flashes burst towards him. Givnen smiled leisurely.

“Sir, dirty media warfare isn’t your specialty alone.”

“…”

“It’s my specialty too.”

“You… Do you really intend to make an enemy of our family?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“…”

“Either shut up and accept this situation, or become a complete enemy. I wonder which option will cause more bleeding. Your son is still competing for the position of Tower Master, isn’t he?”

“…”

“I heard the competition among Tower Master successors is fierce… Is it possible with that level of skill?”

Earl Ermeints’ expression twisted hideously. But that was all. Given the situation, he couldn’t even make a peep at the rude words spewing from this young man’s mouth.

Rather, those watching their conversation glanced around nervously. They wondered if this was too harsh a treatment towards someone who was once hailed as a hero who saved the country, no matter how successful a Tower Master he might be these days.

“What are you waiting for, hurry up and take him away.”

At Givnen’s words, the knights Sack had brought hurriedly lifted him up.

Earl Ermeints struggled in confusion, struck dumb. However, his struggles, barely able to move, were as pitiful as the fluttering of a butterfly with torn wings.

He belatedly cried out as if in desperation.

“Why are you only arresting me! That guy used magic against people! This is clearly illegal too, so why are you only arresting me!”

The knights hesitated at this. Then Givnen shrugged and said,

“I’ll turn myself in voluntarily. There are plenty of witnesses here.”

The momentarily hesitant knights arrested Earl Ermeints’ group along with all the unconscious assassins and dragged them away.

Only after they had left did Givnen release Riley from his arms. At that moment, Riley tightly grasped his collar. Her thin, pale fingers trembled pitifully.

Seeing her terrified appearance, Givnen hugged her and patted her back.

“You must have been scared.”

“…”

“It’s okay now.”

Already a mess of dirt and blood, she looked even more frail and precarious wearing only a thin nightgown in the cold weather. Givnen took off the coat he was wearing and wrapped it around her body.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“…”

“Let’s move for now.”

As he stretched out his hand, a blue portal was created. It was a portal connected to the hotel room Sack had hastily reserved.

Before entering the portal, Givnen turned and ordered Sack.

“Catch all those bastards.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, Givnen disappeared into the portal, holding Riley.

·

·

·

Held in Givnen’s arms, Riley looked around.

“…Where is this?”

“The hotel where I was staying temporarily.”

“…Why here?”

“Because that house didn’t seem like a comfortable place for you.”

Riley simply nodded slightly at his words. Indeed, the Eardalin mansion was not a comfortable place.

“It’s late, so I’ll take you back when dawn breaks.”

“…Okay.”

“First, drink this.”

He handed her a warm cup of tea. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it had a very fragrant aroma. The pleasant scent helped relax her tense body a little.

“But how did you…”

“Earl Ermeints was showing suspicious movements, so I came to check on him and see you at the same time.”

“…”

“I came just in case, but who would have thought that senile old man would go this far.”

“…Thank you for saving me. I don’t know how I can ever repay this debt.”

“Debt? Protecting my future wife is only natural for a husband.”

“…”

“Anyway, it’s good to see you again like this.”

He chuckled and tucked Riley’s hair behind her ear.

“How long has it been? Almost a month and a half?”

He’s handsome.

Seeing him after a long time, he seemed even more handsome than before.

“…Have you lost some weight?”

“Have I? I’ve been quite busy lately.”

“…”

“Didn’t you miss me?”

“…”

“I’m hurt.”

He pouted uncharacteristically, easing the tense atmosphere.

Staring intently at him, Riley impulsively hugged his neck. Momentarily startled by the unexpected action, Givnen chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Are you being clingy?”

“…Stay by my side.”

Riley whined like a child and buried her face in his neck. Givnen didn’t push her away but sat still, letting her.

The body heat felt from their close contact was hot. Just a while ago, she had been so cold she thought she might die, but now a heat beyond warmth enveloped her entire body.

His broad embrace was as comfortable as if it had been custom-made for her.

It seemed no soft bed or blanket could be warmer or cozier than this.

“…I thought I was going to die.”

“…”

“…I was really scared.”

An extreme fear she had never experienced before in her life.

Beyond her hazy consciousness, all the years she had lived flashed by like a panorama. So she realized death and let go of her will to live. She had heard that the panorama of one’s life is only seen by those on the brink of death.

In the midst of all that, the last face that came to mind was Givnen’s.

Not her father, not the uncle’s family she had lived with for 10 years, but the beautiful face of a man she had only spent 3 days with. Just 3 days.

“At the end, it wasn’t my father but your face that came to mind… I wanted to see you desperately.”

“…”

“I guess I was unknowingly depending on you. Even though we barely know each other. Even though we’ve only shared kindness once, no, twice. Even though that’s the extent of our relationship, it was so ridiculous that your face, not my father’s, kept flickering in my mind.”

“…”

“…But you really came.”

Her weak murmuring voice sounded like a baby’s babbling. Whether due to lack of strength or being out of her mind, her pronunciation was slurred, but Givnen pondered over the meaning of each word conveyed.

He pulled Riley away from his embrace and met her eyes. Seeing her terrified face, Givnen smiled gently as if pitying her and smudged her blood-stained lips with his thumb.

“Poor thing.”

“…”

“You have nowhere else to turn your heart to but me.”

For some reason, he looked very pleased. For a moment, his sparkling eyes seemed a bit creepy, but the touch of his hand smudging her lips was very gentle.

“Yes, keep relying on me.”

“…”

“Look only at me.”

“…”

“Trust only me.”

“…”

“Love only me.”

Live only for me.

A soft voice as if soothing a child. But those words were as firm as an oath. At first glance, it might sound like a childish whining, but if you looked a little deeper, it was clearly his selfishness and obsession.

“Then I’ll protect you.”

“…”

“For life.”

In an instant, their lips met.