‘The reason why, in the second half of the original story, Leviathan’s fate after the war was so unclear...’

Now, I finally understood.

I thought I just couldn’t remember what happened to him. That was partly true, but the real reason was—

‘He really couldn’t do anything. Just like Grandpa before.’

He had to hide away in Zelox, unable to go out, because of his injuries.

I held onto Dad’s clothes tightly.

Right now, Dad was the active Duke Zebert, appearing in public more than ever. If the story had gone like the original, he never would have even come to Ipsen.

‘Yes, things are different from the original story. Most of all... Dad isn’t even cursed now.’

He didn’t get caught in a black magician’s trap while chasing them, so he isn’t dying.

‘I never knew that glass bottle I gave him would help so much.’

Because of the hint I gave him in the glass bottle, he avoided the curse and finished the war without getting hurt.

All I wanted was to help the main character and resist the Magic King... I didn’t expect such a butterfly effect.

I truly felt relieved.

‘But there’s one thing that still bothers me.’

My hand went to my lower back.

“Here, miss. Drink this and calm down.”

Borbel came with the maids and handed me some warm tea. Under Dad’s watch, I took the mug.

The tears slowly stopped, and the warm tea went down my throat.

Everything around me settled down.

“Ugh, I really feel like I lost years off my life.”

Rosetta sank into her seat. She /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ sounded exhausted, like she’d aged ten years, rubbing her face.

“A father and daughter getting in trouble together in the middle of the night. Rubian, why did you go there?”

Dad looked at me. I played with my fingers and sniffed.

“Khal...”

“Khal?”

I glanced up at Dad.

“He said he saw you leaving on a horse. He said you were headed toward the magician’s house... I was worried you might go see the magician, so...”

“So you chased after me?”

“When I saw him at the party, he just felt really bad...”

As I mumbled, both Mom and Dad let out tired sighs.

“I’m going crazy.”

“If the base magician hadn’t been there, you could have been in real danger, Rubian.”

Mom tried to sound strict. I mumbled a small, “Sorry,” and peeked at Dad.

But Dad just stared at me.

‘Why isn’t he asking anything?’

Now that I was calmer, I started to remember using magic in the garden.

It was an emergency, but... What if Dad noticed something?

“Everyone, please leave.”

Just as I thought, Dad’s low voice ordered everyone out. Borbel and the staff quickly left.

Now, it was just me, Mom looking confused, and Dad, whose face I couldn’t read.

A long, heavy silence filled the room.

“What is it, dear?”

Mom finally asked.

“...Rubian.”

Dad licked his lips, hesitating.

“Earlier, in the garden...”

His rough voice didn’t last long.

“Leviathan?”

Mom tilted her head.

“...I just don’t know how to ask.”

He looked confused. But then, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke again.

“Ruby, back in the garden, you...”

Just then—

Knock, knock, knock.

A quick knock shattered the tension.

“What is it?”

Dad answered a little sharply, and the door burst open.

It was Butler Adolf.

“Excuse me, Your Grace. News just arrived from the palace...” 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“What is it?”

Adolf quickly whispered in Dad’s ear.

“It’s from the Magic Kingdom...”

I overheard, and my eyes widened.

At the same time, my ears grew hot.

[ Ruby. ]

“They... caught the escaped magician...”

“What?”

“...That’s what they said.”

I froze.

‘What did I just hear...?’

Was that real?

Right then, Dad and I accidentally made eye contact.

“The Magic Kingdom...”

Dad frowned deeply, repeating Adolf’s words.

zzzzzt

Khalid’s clear voice rang in my head.

[ The tracking magicians from the south— ]

“...caught the escaped magician?”

[ All of them have left. ]

Arcadia Royal Palace.

“Is it true? You found traces of black magic?!”

The Magic King’s eyes went wild.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Where?”

“At the Delkan ruins, beyond Eosia. A magician found a secret entrance there and sensed black magic coming from below.”

A snake-like smile crept across the Magic King’s smooth face. His legs gave out, and he slumped onto his throne.

“Haha...ha.”

So that continent had the answer.

He quickly gave an order.

“Send all high-level magicians there at once.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But then, what about Bamilon’s tracking magicians...”

His long, dry fingers gripped the throne.

Crumple. He crushed “the Fourth’s” letter in his hand.

“There was no one with magic power there.”

Then, the Magic King’s “Second” carefully stepped forward. He was the one who had delivered the letter.

“Yes. The Zebert young lady we were watching only had silver hair in common. The eye color and magic were different. Even the age and personality were not the same as the Seventh...”

Plus, the Emperor had officially approved the adoption papers.

No way that tricky Bamilon Emperor would accept a child with a sketchy background as a noble. Especially not so easily.

‘Who would go that far for that child?’

Then, while the Magic King was thinking, the “Second” hesitantly asked,

“Um, Father... About that magic item you gave the Fourth...”

The Magic King looked over. He understood even without being asked.

“Why did I lie and say it was a teleport item?”

“...”

He smirked.

“If he used it, it meant something went wrong and he had to escape quickly. If he caused trouble and came back... I’d be in trouble too.”

“...”

“It’s better to get rid of trouble early. I can’t let the people of the continent catch us yet.”

That actually worked out well.

He stroked his chin and muttered,

“I didn’t expect him to use it right after sending this letter, though. I wonder why he broke the item so suddenly...”

“Should we start tracking again in the empire?”

“No.”

The Magic King cut him off.

“Stop for now.”

“Pardon?”

Everyone looked up at the sudden order.

“For now, we have to keep the empire happy. We can’t afford to be excluded from the continental alliance.”

If he wanted to search for black magic, he couldn’t be banned from traveling.

The Fourth’s death was actually a useful card.

He could pretend to be angry about losing a magician abroad and pressure the Emperor, or act like a generous neighbor and say it was just an accident.

‘For now, it’s better to act friendly.’

He couldn’t lose his clue to black magic.

Of course, the Emperor of Bamilon might still try to attack him with excuses.

‘But there’s no proof. The important Fourth is dead.’

In the end, nothing would happen except complaints.

Plus...

“The Seventh only hides more if you chase her openly. I’ll change tactics.”

He’d return to the basics of hunting.

Quietly. Secretly.

He’d pretend not to look, but when that lovely silver head let its guard down for just a moment—

‘I’ll snatch her.’

His eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

“And since she has the mark, once it fully grows... she’ll naturally return to her father.”

He had carved the “Seventh’s” mark himself.

Because of black magic, he had tried to get her back right away... But now, slowly chasing her wasn’t so bad.

A creepy smile filled the room.

The Magic King brushed back his long hair and stroked his throne gracefully.

‘Still, don’t wander too long.’

My jewel. My bold little traitor.

His eyes shone with greedy ambition.