Killing, suppressing, hiding, and refining emotions was not a particularly difficult task for Givnen, as he had been thoroughly trained in it since childhood.

However, at this moment, he was utterly unable to control his expression due to the impulse that suddenly shot up.

Just like when he first encountered Van Clav.

“…Why are you here?”

In response to Givnen’s question, Van rose while holding Riley and approached Givnen to hand her over. Givnen’s face momentarily filled with irritation as he received Riley unexpectedly.

“It just happened to turn out this way.”

“…”

“She seems to have fainted for a moment.”

“Fainted?”

“She used magic.”

She used magic?

According to Arpeggio, she was struggling because she couldn’t use magic no matter how much she practiced. But she fainted after using magic?

This was one of the common symptoms that occurred when the body was strained due to momentary mana consumption.

Does this mean Riley, who couldn’t even use basic simple magic, used magic to the extent that it strained her body? Givnen’s expression hardened coldly as he examined Riley’s condition.

Her condition, which was not clearly visible due to the darkness, was truly in tatters. Through the tattered clothes, torn and bleeding skin could be seen. She was a mess of blood and dust.

Moreover, perhaps due to the inflammatory response from the wounds, her body was like a boiling cauldron. Even to the eyes of a non-expert, it was a serious critical condition.

“It was an enormous scale of magic.”

“…”

“She couldn’t handle that power and collapsed, losing consciousness.”

She needs urgent treatment. Just as he was about to turn around hastily.

“Grrrr.”

The beast that had approached right in front of them spread its large wings, threatening Givnen and Van. Judging by how it buried its head on the ground, raised its tail high, and flapped its wings, it seemed about to attack.

At the moment Van, who had already consumed considerable stamina and mana from one battle, showed a troubled expression, Givnen extended his index finger towards the beast.

Ping-

The light fired from his finger penetrated the beast’s head, and the massive beast collapsed powerlessly with a thud.

“Let’s finish the conversation outside.”

The moment Givnen flicked his finger towards Van, Van’s figure disappeared.

Along with that, Givnen also used teleport while holding Riley to come outside. He could see Sack examining Van, who had been teleported first.

Whether from the tension being released or his body reaching its limit, Van sat down right there, and Hila carefully supported him as he breathed heavily. Givnen, who glanced at this scene, ordered Sack.

“Take him to the hospital and come back.”

“And the Master…”

“I’m going to take sister back to the hotel first.”

“Ah, I understand. I’ll check him in and follow shortly.”

It was too late to talk about anything. Riley had lost consciousness, Van Cliffe was in no condition to continue the conversation, and even Givnen, though he didn’t show it, was in a strained state from using magic several times with an unwell body.

Though he was full of curiosity, it was appropriate to set another date later.

Givnen stood there for a while, tightly holding Riley in his arms.

As the tension suddenly released, his strength drained. As the reason he had been stubbornly holding onto crumbled, relief exploded like a burst. It was terrible.

Had he ever had such a terrible experience? All day long, he had felt awful for no reason. With irritation, anxiety, and restlessness added on top, it was nothing short of a living hell.

Even when he nearly died from poison, it wasn’t this bad…

‘Ah, I’m tired.’

He didn’t know that keeping a subject to protect under his care would be this tiring and difficult.

When he heard his master’s last words, he thought it would be enough to be moderately kind and generous. Yes, he had thought it too easy.

He thought that if he just pretended to be nice as he did with others, showed a well-groomed appearance to gain favor, and gave appropriate gifts and such to make her love him, she wouldn’t think of breaking away or running away on her own.

If that happened, he thought she would play along obediently under his palm without much need for attention.

But what is this? What on earth is this situation?

An accident happened in the moment he took his eyes off. It’s always like this.

Before and now, she got into accidents without missing that fleeting moment. At this point, it seemed as if all the misfortune in the world was sticking to her like a magnet.

The previous incident could at least be understood rationally. Count Ermeints had ill feelings towards her, after all. Of course, he didn’t think the hatred was enough to want to kill her by hiring an assassin, but there was some sort of motive for the crime anyway.

But this time?

It’s not Riley’s enemy. It’s my enemy.

What can’t be certain is exactly whose doing it is among the many enemies. Everyone around him was an enemy. People involved with competing companies, people entangled with the family, and even people who held one-sided hostility without any connection.

There were countless people who disliked him for various reasons in their respective positions.

How many were there who pretended in front and looked for opportunities to stab in the back?

Such incidents will become more frequent in the future. Of course, this too was expected, but to be honest, he only now realized that he had been too confident that protecting one woman would be no big deal. If he takes his eyes off for even a moment, he’ll suffer like this again.

‘It’s cumbersome.’

Until now, it was interest in her existence, curiosity about the secret his master was hiding, using her as bait to draw out those who killed his master, and further, having offspring from a woman of superior bloodline inheriting the blood of a great magician.

He kept her by his side for various benefits, but if uncontrollable and swaying situations like this continue, wouldn’t it be easier to get rid of her?

Givnen stared intently at the sleeping Riley. Then he fiddled with her neck with one hand.

‘…Should I kill her?’

Didn’t you say to strangle her with these hands if you can’t take responsibility anyway? It seemed like you wanted her dead rather than keeping her from the beginning.

If things like today keep happening and I have to keep feeling eaten up by this damn emotion… Wouldn’t everything be easier if I just kill her? There would be no more annoyances, no more disturbances. I wouldn’t have to feel this parched feeling either.

Of course, she is a very valuable woman, but that value isn’t absolute either.

The hand gripping her neck tightened. But it was only for a moment.

Whether it was resisting his will, or the will to kill was too weak, the hand that tried to twist her neck lost strength on its own.

‘…Damn it.’

Givnen hugged Riley tightly.

If he could have killed her, he would have done so long ago. He should have dealt with her when there was no trace of affection left at all, but he had to accept the fact that from the moment he decided to keep her by his side, he could no longer kill this woman with his own hands.

No, if he hadn’t shown unintended kindness while she was fighting for her life from the poison, he might have been able to twist her neck right away.

If only those gentle hands that stayed by her side all day, lowering her body temperature with ice-cold towels, and that stupid face smiling contentedly while taking care of her without showing any sign of annoyance hadn’t lingered in his mind…

His temples grew hot from the emotions surging up sporadically.

It’s just an injury. She’s not dead. There’s absolutely no reason to react this strongly. He just couldn’t control his anger.

What’s the big deal about getting a little hurt? As long as she’s alive and well, that should be enough, just need to treat her well, so why is this anger surging up like this?

‘Ha.’

Givnen quietly looked around.

The main culprit of all these incidents seems to have already withdrawn, as no suspicious presence could be felt in the vicinity. It’s a pity. If they had been lurking around, he would have caught and punished them right away.

There was no reason to waste more time here, so he quickly moved to the hotel.

Not to the hotel where the Horizon Magic Department students were staying, but to the top-floor royal room where he had stayed with Riley alone when they visited here before.

As soon as he entered the room, he laid Riley, who had become a mess, on the bed and quickly called for the manager.

“You called, Lord Lianster?”

Givnen ordered the manager.

“Prepare warm bath water, and call a doctor immediately. Also, clothes to change into and warm water to wash my wife’s body.”

“Lord Reynald, are you alright?”

Reynald, who had been buried in the debris of dirt, was rescued by his subordinates who had been lying in ambush nearby.

He struggled to his feet, limping, with his entire body in tatters. Despite continuously casting healing magic to enhance his body’s recovery, his body creaked and refused to obey.

“What about the others?”

“Almost all of them are dead.”

“You mean you killed them?”

“Yes… we couldn’t bring ourselves to chase after them.”

The majority of those lying in ambush lost their lives, swept up in the magic.

Well, it was miraculous to survive in that chaos. It was magic of such a massive scale that the entire area turned into a wasteland, wasn’t it almost a natural disaster?

“In any case, it’s fortunate that you are safe, Lord Reynald.”

Instead of answering, Reynald stroked his head, drenched in blood.

“…If I had been a little late, I would have died.”

He instinctively activated a defensive magic. It was a reflexive action, independent of his will. His body had already reacted before his head recognized the danger. It was obvious that if he had been swept away like this, his body would have been penetrated and disappeared without a trace.

Fortunately, he avoided having his body pierced. However, that didn’t mean he could avoid fatal injuries.

His entire body was in tatters. Only his two legs and arms, which had been under healing magic all day, barely functioned as human limbs. The broken bones inside his body mercilessly stabbed at his flesh, and all parts except his legs and arms wouldn’t move as he willed.

Blood kept flowing from the torn skin, and his internal organs hurt as if they were being squeezed with all their might.

“Can you return immediately?”

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll prepare.”

While his subordinate prepared to open a portal, Reynald recalled the massive tree branches that had spread out like an explosion, breathing heavily.

It was mesmerizing. That magic that exploded so extensively was on a scale that could only be seen in large-scale beast subjugations.

The experience of witnessing magic that one might see only a few times in a lifetime, right in front of him, and with his bare body, was so thrilling that the moment kept lingering in his memory.

His entire body was in tatters, but it’s a good harvest.

“…She really could be Ryston’s daughter.”

“It was impressive magic, but we shouldn’t be certain that she’s Ryston’s daughter.”

“I know, but it doesn’t matter even if she’s not Ryston’s daughter. A great magician of that level? Who wouldn’t covet such talent?”

“…”

“However, that woman, her magic itself was unstable. It wasn’t properly activated magic. Now I understand why she was doing foolish things. She’s not in a state where she can control magic herself. Despite that, she showed that level of scale and power, isn’t it amazing?”

“Yes… it’s frankly terrifying.”

“It’s clear she can’t use magic skillfully. The recent magic seems to have been instinctively activated in a moment of crisis, and probably… it doesn’t seem like she’s in a state where she can freely use magic with some kind of determination.”

“Then shouldn’t we hurry to work as soon as possible?”

That’s right. Now, when she can’t handle magic skillfully, would be the most convenient time to deal with her.

“It’s no good for such a woman to be by Givnen’s side. We must seize her no matter what.”

It’s not just because of Count Ermeints’ request. That woman must be removed from Givnen’s side. Keeping such talent by Givnen’s side was too dangerous.

With the balance of power already disrupted as the legitimate heir of the Lianster family swallowed up the position of Horizon’s Tower Master, having such tremendous talent on his side would not be good in the long term.

‘Where did he bring such a raw gem from? It doesn’t matter if she’s not Ryston’s daughter, but if she really inherited Ryston’s blood… Her mother is most likely Emily! It must be her! If she really is a being that came into the world through Emily’s womb… I must! I must get my hands on her.’

Reynald’s eyes flashed brightly.

“The portal is open.”

The man who finished opening the portal supported Reynald.

Then they quickly disappeared into the portal.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Although it looked severe on the surface, the injury isn’t as serious as it seemed. The fractures are severe, but fortunately, there’s no damage to internal organs. Since bones can be reattached with magic anyway, she should be able to move around from tomorrow.”

Only after the doctor’s diagnosis was over could Givnen feel at ease.

After the doctor cast recovery magic and left, the hotel staff took Riley, who had become dirty, to the bathroom to wash her body. The bed sheets, soiled with dirt and blood, were also cleanly replaced with new ones.

Meanwhile, Givnen also used another bathroom to wash himself lightly. After finishing his bath and coming out, Riley was lying on the bed, changed into new clothes. Thanks to the magic tools equipped in the hotel, even though she had just come out of the bath, her hair was completely dry and fluffy without a trace of moisture.

Givnen also dried his hair using the magic tools provided by the hotel and lay down next to Riley, wearing a robe.

Her pale face looked even more pallid today. She didn’t usually have such a lifeless face. Although the doctor said there was no major problem, honestly speaking, her sleeping appearance was so believable it could be mistaken for a corpse.

Even normally, she had an image full of frailty and weakness, but seeing her lying there all limp made him feel uneasy.

“Elder sister.”

“……”

“Riley.”

“……”

After calling out to the unresponsive person for a while, Givnen slowly extended his arm and embraced Riley. The body that looked like a corpse on the outside was quite warm, and the transmitted warmth finally put him at ease.

The uncontrollable anger began to subside little by little. The low mood that seemed like it would last a lifetime was washed away in an instant.

‘Ha.’

What kind of unique experience is this?

This woman had him wrapped around her finger all day today. Isn’t it really amazing? The intense emotions he experienced for the first time since bringing her here were truly baffling even now. Had he developed some hidden affection during those few days when she stayed close to nurse him?

Of course, it’s not like he disliked her originally, and he rather quite liked her, but it wasn’t to the extent of being unable to control his emotions like this. Absolutely not.

This is really not a good sign. If he develops any more personal feelings towards her, it will become very troublesome in the future. Personal emotions towards someone who needs to be protected were a luxury. It was also a waste of unnecessary emotions.

However, even though he knew this in his head… he kept becoming interested.

‘…Just how far will she surprise me.’

What is this woman, really?

Givnen, who had been staring at Riley’s face for a long time, closed his eyes while tightly embracing her. Perhaps because the tension was released by the warm temperature, or because his heightened emotions had calmed down, fatigue hit him belatedly. It was natural that his body was strained after going through this ordeal with an unwell physical condition.

He closed his eyes to his fading consciousness.

It was truly one of the most exhausting nights he could count.