Since the situation turned out as if another major seat was taken by this side, I can understand why they are anxious.
“But…….”
Even if he didn’t ignore me openly like before, Neser still looked displeased.
“Then, Sir Neser. Could you go to the Count?”
I spoke in a deliberate, leisurely tone.
Then I leaned my body against the back of the chair.
As if wanting to show off that we are a sweet couple, Klen lightly stroked Aren and poked at the dust near there and on the opposite shoulder for no reason.
Everyone watched that scene silently.
And their eyes fixed on the cute bird on my shoulder as if they had just discovered it.
“By Count, do you mean Count Caldrich?”
“What are you talking about? Of course it’s Count Valuncio.”
He’s talking nonsense, unlike himself.
Does he know how many days it takes for a normal horse to run from here to Caldrich?
Sending him there is no different from telling him to shut up and stay out of this matter.
He blinked his eyes and tilted his head slightly.
“You can just say that I sent you.”
“Huh? Ah…… I understand.”
Unless Brother Fabian opposed it, he, being a knight, could not disobey my command.
No, if it were before, he might have poked and prodded asking why he should do that.
But as expected, losers have no words.
He quietly left his seat.
“What’s going on?”
Klen asked quietly so only I could hear.
“You will find out soon.”
It’s no fun if you know in advance.
There is a reason why I am sitting here now with my back straightened confidently.
No, though it does hurt to straighten my back.
“Then, let’s start the meeting immediately.”
Brother Fabian adjusted his posture with an attitude of whatever.
Since Klen and I said it was fine, he didn’t even bring up words of opposition.
“May I speak first?”
Elliot, who looked clearly tired, jumped up from his seat.
When Brother Fabian’s head moved slightly up and down, he placed a certain object on the table.
A small stone statue in the shape of a person. It’s a strange object.
[Oho! I feel strong magical power.]
If someone else had brought it out, I would have considered it a simple ornament, but he is at least a mage.
It was clearly a magic tool.
“Master Adrian wouldn’t know well since you weren’t here during the last meeting…….”
His tone, mixed with fatigue and annoyance, was a bit drawn out.
“This is a magic tool used when chasing the aura of magical power, and it is said to be an item passed down in Sir Willoy’s family. First of all, as requested, we succeeded in making it recognize Rodney’s magical power.”
And as if exhausted, he sat back down in his chair.
Like a punishment for his laziness until now, he seemed to have suffered all night.
“Fearing that this item might be misused in a bad direction, it is made so that only one person in the family can use it. And as a result of investigating with the mage of the west tower…….”
The one who opened his mouth following Elliot’s words was Willoy.
He added in a displeased tone.
“No one can use it except for my daughter, Madeline.”
“…….”
Only then could I know why Madeline was here.
The thing she personally brought before must have been this magic tool.
An item that can quickly chase a mage who has hidden so thoroughly that not even a single strand of hair can be found.
It was an important thing, but Willoy probably had greater expectations of letting Madeline and Klen face each other even for a moment.
But it seems even he didn’t expect things to flow like this.
Hasn’t a situation arisen where his daughter might be exposed to danger because of his greed?
His eyes, shaking with anxiety, are a bit pitiful.
“So I am telling you this, since we don’t know what danger might be waiting ahead, I would like Master Klen to go with my daughter.”
“……!”
No, I should cancel my previous thought.
He was a seasoned person who knew how to turn a crisis into an opportunity.
At Willoy’s words, everyone’s eyes widened.
“Of all people?”
“I knew Sir Willoy evaluated Master Klen highly, but.”
The reason the surroundings were surprised was a bit different from me.
Since they don’t know Klen’s skills, they were flustered because he asked to attach a person who couldn’t even take care of himself as an escort.
Moreover, wasn’t it his daughter whom he cherished so dearly?
Of course, there would be no one who didn’t notice that sinister purpose, but they probably thought the risk was too high for that.
“Sir Willoy. Have you forgotten that my wife, who suffered a terrible thing yesterday, is right next to me now?”
[That’s right! It’s rude, rude!]
Klen spoke in a cold tone, rarely even forgetting to act.
His hand approached over the chairs that were placed closer than other seats.
And he softly wrapped his hand around my waist as if to soothe me.
“……?!”
No, he’s not soothing me.
The tips of his wrapped fingers suggestively fumbled around and stroked.
The moment his hand passed, a dull heat bloomed along that spot, and my body flinched.
I immediately turned my head and looked at him.
But unlike his hand that was sensually fumbling my waistline, his face wore an innocent smile.
‘Wait, could it be.’
By “terrible thing”…… he wasn’t talking about the kidnapping?
As if blood had drained from my body that held the heat all at once, a chill filled that spot.
What is this person saying in a place like this?
“Sir Willoy. Please speak carefully.”
I can see Brother Fabian glancing at me.
The more worry shows in his eyes, the heavier my conscience feels.
To him, I probably look like I am shaking and pale, struggling to endure a great insult.
‘No, Brother. It’s not that. This is all because of Klen.’
Even if I said that, it wouldn’t matter.
I was the only one who understood Klen’s words perfectly, but it seems my reaction was taken differently by everyone else.
Expressions filled with strange pity appear and disappear all around the room.
“What is the information on the kidnappers we captured?”
When the air became uncomfortable, Brother Fabian smoothly changed the subject.
“They were from the guild. On top of that, they are high-ranked members known for their very high commission fees.”
“They keep insisting they don’t know Rodney’s location.”
“A mere knight shouldn’t be able to hire people like that…”
“This matter seems unusual.”
As expected, the two of them spoke easily.
The information they gathered was similar to what we heard.
It must be true that they don’t know where Rodney is.
Even when their lives were in danger, they only dropped hints about the client but never revealed a location.
‘Rodney wouldn’t be that careless either.’
He might have even considered the possibility of them getting caught.
“But can we trust that information?”
“According to my subordinates… they begged us not to feed them that medicine.”
“Medicine? Not poison?”
“…”
“…”
“…Medicine?”
I turned my head at the faint sound.
While everyone else had questions in their minds, Elliot’s reaction was different.
His face was pale, and he was shaking.
Then, as if an old memory had suddenly surfaced, he hurriedly covered his mouth.
‘Did he actually try it?’
Now that I think about it, the reason that guy ended up dancing with the healer was because he took the most bitter medicine.
Was it that one?
If so, I can understand why no one could beat him.
Tap, tap.
In the meantime, the sound of someone tapping the table echoed faintly.
I carefully rolled my eyes toward the sound and saw Brother Fabian’s finger creating a small rhythm on the table.
His eyes were deep and sunken, as if he were acting unconsciously.
“Then doesn’t that mean we have to catch this Rodney fellow even more?”
“There is a way, so I don’t think we should hesitate.”
“Hmm. But that is…”
“Does Klen really have to go?”
“It is simply to ensure my daughter’s safety; there is no other meaning.”
“…”
There is no change in Klen’s expression.
His face still looks relaxed, lacking any sharp edges.
However, a cold energy he couldn’t quite hide pricked my skin.
The reason Willoy can be so confident is that Madeline is the only one who can use that magic tool.
If we had a lot of time, we would look for other ways, but didn’t this involve high-ranking guild members?
Everyone must have sensed that there was no time to spare.
This time, I placed my hand over his hand on my waist to soothe him.
I patted him slowly.
