VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter Seven: Abducted
After the party, the lord of security, Malefident Abaccum, met with Aides in one of the palace’s drawing rooms.
“Well, that’s taken care of, at least,” Malefident said.
“Indeed.”
“What about the mastermind? Did you catch the rat?”
“My men have discreetly apprehended him. He’s being held in the nobles’ prison.”
Е ǹ ü m а . і̀ d̊
The nobles’ prison wasn’t made of cells but of individual lavish rooms built with materials that blocked magic. Aides had assigned several soldiers and mages, along with Lord Sofoyl, to monitor the room where the perpetrator—Duke Abaccum’s accomplice, the one who had used bracelets to control others—was confined. Aides had uncovered his identity some time ago.
“You caught him more quickly than I expected,” Malefident remarked. “To think the intel I received claiming that the empire was involved was a bluff to make us waste our time...” He snorted.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“The most ingenious part was that it wasn’t entirely a lie,” Aides replied.
It was just as Malefident said: The mastermind had used the empire in his scheme. While it was true that someone from the empire was involved in this case, the imperial family wasn’t implicated in any way.
“Still, it feels like a rather pathetic end for someone capable of leading both the Ministry of Magic and the Special Operations Department by the nose,” Malefident remarked.
“I’m not sure we can call it ‘over’ just yet,” Aides said. “We still don’t have physical proof that he’s the mastermind—just testimonies and circumstantial evidence.”
Ё n̊û m ӑ
“We have evidence regarding the magic drugs.”
“But none that proves his involvement.”
The kingdom’s idea of justice had evolved in recent years and now required actual proof of wrongdoing to prevent false charges. While Aides and Malefident had managed to locate a magic drug production facility, they hadn’t found any evidence linking the perpetrator to this case.
“Well, if you’re sure you’ve got the right guy, how about you just fabricate some proof? Or you could torture him until he confesses,” Malefident said.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Aides’s eyes narrowed. “Are you seriously suggesting that?”
“Of course not,” Malefident replied, his lips curling into his usual sneer. “Jeez, you’re always so fastidious.”
W̆ ëbṅõv̄ ё l Е ńü m̆ а̂
Aides remained silent for a moment before asking, “What about Duke Abaccum?”
“We caught him without a hitch. We were ready to throw him behind bars at any moment,” Malefident replied. It was his own father they were talking about, yet he spoke with complete detachment, as if he didn’t care.
“Unlike Turgis, he was planning treason. I have used magic items to record him telling the maids to diffuse the mind-control perfume in Darristea’s room, as well as the order he gave me. These will serve as evidence.”
A pause. “Are you really fine with that?”
“It’s nothing. He only saw Darristea and me as tools in his schemes. Anyway, I’m going to check on the rat.”
The two of them left the room and headed to the nobles’ prison.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
But when they pushed the door of the room open, and Aides saw the figure lying on the ground, asleep, he shook his head.
“What’s wrong?” Malefident asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Aides pointed at the two bracelets on the man’s wrist.
“A transformation bracelet and a mind-control bracelet. He escaped.”
“What?!”
“Call for Clartes.”
Ӗn u m a
Malefident did just that.
When Clartes arrived, Aides instructed him to disenchant the bracelets on the unconscious man. The transformation was lifted, revealing Seyfalt. It must have been him all along; the mastermind had likely never even set foot in this room.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Having confirmed the perpetrator had already made his escape, Aides turned on his heel.
“Where are you going?” Malefident asked.
“I can track him down—well, if the right conditions are met. I expected him to pull something like this.” Aides cast a search spell and began following Wellmy’s trail.
“Wait. What do you mean?” Malefident asked, chasing after him.
Е n̂ ŭm̆ а̂.і́d
“As I told you earlier, we still lack proof of his involvement,” Aides explained as he kept walking. “So I set up some bait, and he took it. Things might have worked out anyway if he had allowed himself to be caught without a fuss, but now that he’s gone ahead and abducted her, we’ll be able to catch him red-handed and charge him, no matter what.”
“Abducted? Who in the world did he abduct?”
“Wellmy.” Aides and Wellmy had discussed the mastermind’s goal at length before. “There was no real reason for him to cause as big a fuss as he did.”
Seyfalt wasn’t the only one to have been under the influence of a mind-control bracelet—Turgis had been too. Malefident was aware of that fact.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Did he have a goal other than making Darristea crown princess?” Malefident asked.
“That was Turgis’s goal, not the mastermind’s. Wellmy and I came to the conclusion that his objective was just to stir up trouble, nothing else. And we figured that, if he were to try something after tonight, it would undoubtedly involve Wellmy.”
Ē nù mа
“Why? Why do you sound so sure that he’ll try to mess with your fiancée?”
“Because his target—the one he wants to toy with—was probably her all along,” Aides replied after exiting the royal palace. “That’s why he used items and drugs that could easily be canceled through disenchanting, because he knew of her abilities.”
Wellmy’s role as a decoy still wasn’t over. Knowing the perpetrator would come after her, Aides had purposefully sent her home alone. And sure enough, he found his carriage near one of the palace’s outer walls, with Wellmy’s waiting maid lying unconscious inside.
His fiancée and the coachman were nowhere to be found.
“I’ll let you handle this. Be discreet,” Aides said.
“Obviously. But why in the world did you let the rat do this?” Malefident asked, anger burning in his eyes. “You let a young lady confront him alone. That’s pure recklessness—especially if you knew what he was up to.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Aides understood where Malefident was coming from. While he had chosen to let his own beloved sister be mind-controlled to protect the nation and catch their father in the act, he had never, ever let her out of his sight, be it at home or at the royal palace. Aides, on the other hand, had put the woman he cared most about in a situation where he couldn’t protect her. Malefident was definitely frustrated with Aides’s decision.
“I have taken preventive measures, in addition to the search spell.” Aides paused. “Besides, Wellmy wanted to do this.”
Choosing not to engage with Malefident any further, Aides resumed following Wellmy’s trail. The mastermind might notice it, but that didn’t matter; he wouldn’t be able to evade it.
Besides, he likely had no intention to harm Wellmy.
He likely didn’t. But...
Call my name, Wellmy. Hurry, Aides whispered inwardly, breaking into a run.
W̊ӗ_b̈ ňо̆v́еl Еṅ ŭṁӑ
※※※
“You plan to confront him alone?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Yes. We need proof to arrest him, don’t we?”
“I can find a way to get the evidence we need to bring him to justice without putting you in danger.”
“I don’t doubt you can, Aides. But I would like to speak to him directly. Will you allow it?” Her fiancé made a face at this, and Wellmy chuckled. “You really seem to dislike the idea. If you truly don’t want me to go, I won’t. I promised to do everything you say, after all.”
“I’m just worried for you.” He looked her directly in the eyes. “Call for me if things get perilous. No matter what. Understood, Wellmy?”
En_u m̈ а ..іd̆
Yes, Aides... Wellmy whispered inside her mind.
Slowly regaining consciousness, she blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. Her head felt heavy. Her mind eventually cleared, and she shot up to sitting. The room she was in had wooden flooring and a single window high up near the tall ceiling.
She was alone.
“Where am I...?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
The last thing she remembered was being overwhelmed by a sudden drowsiness inside the Ormirages’ carriage. A faint floral scent had wafted into her nostrils just before she’d lost consciousness.
She examined her surroundings. The bed she lay on was soft, luxurious, and completely out of place in the shabby room. No light streamed in through the window, but the magic lantern by the door emitted a dim glow. It was nighttime. Her body wasn’t stiff or sluggish, so she likely hadn’t been asleep for that long.
W_e̊b n̊ оv е ĺ Ẽ ǹ umа
Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, she began assessing the situation.
“Did he drug me...? Is he outside?” she whispered.
“I’m right heeeere,” a carefree voice replied from the other side of the door, dragging the last syllable.
The sound of a key turning in a lock echoed in the room, and the door opened from the outside, revealing a young man.
“Did you wake up, Wellie? Ah, don’t worry, I didn’t hurt anyone; I just put your waiting maid to sleep like I did to you. As for the coachman, he was me all along. I did leave the carriage at the palace, though,” he explained, his blue eyes sparkling as he leaned against the door, casually crossing his arms and smiling without a hint of remorse.
Wellmy felt a mix of relief and nervousness course through her as she took in the young lord—the very man she had been expecting.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“My, my, Lord Zumiano. Could you tell me what is happening here?” she asked with a smile.
It was Zumiano, the son of Marquis Olbran.
He was the childhood friend of Lord Turgis and Lord Shizolda, as well as the one she and Aides had identified as the mastermind behind the mind-control case.
“No need to keep up the act,” the young man said, drawling the last sound as he always did. “You already knew it was me, didn’t you?”
Wellmy shook her head. “No. I did have my suspicions, though.”
“Well, that’s more than enough, isn’t it?” Lord Zumiano retorted with a chuckle, pressing the back of his hand to his lips.
Ӗ_ń û m а
He was the only person involved in the mind-control case to whom Wellmy and Aides hadn’t explained their plan. Yet, he had been perfectly composed the entire time. His lack of reaction had pretty much confirmed their suspicions.
“You’re good. Aides told me that he caught the mastermind, but I see you have managed to get away,” she remarked.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“I don’t think I would have succeeded if the lord of magic and the lord of security had both come for me at once.” He shrugged and cocked his head to the side. “I’m glad luck was on my side. Thanks to it, the two of us can enjoy a nice little chat, Wellie.”
His attitude hadn’t changed at all since that time he’d flirted with her, years ago.
Wellmy narrowed her eyes. “Are you really the mastermind behind this case?”
“Yup, sure am.”
W е̊ bn̂ о̊v̀e̊ ĺ Е́ n̊u̇ m̂ а́.
“Why did you do all this?”
Other than the lack of physical evidence, there were two reasons Wellmy hadn’t been immediately convinced of his involvement, even though she’d had her suspicions.
The first was that he had indeed been under the control of Saintly Charm. As the one who had lifted the spell from him, Wellmy was certain of it. She couldn’t fathom why, if he was the mastermind, he would have taken such a risk by having Theresalo place him under her control.
The second issue was she couldn’t figure out his objective. She’d eventually learned that Lord Turgis had also been manipulated, but Lord Zumiano had ensured the goal of the entire scheme was in line with his friend’s wishes. Even now, Wellmy had no idea why Lord Zumiano had abducted her when he knew they were already onto him. She had insisted on continuing to act as a decoy, but she had had no idea whether Lord Zumiano would actually make a move or not. After all, if he had the skills to outwit Aides and the lord of security, he was definitely shrewd enough to escape undetected.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Why did I do what? Manipulate Turgis? Or bring you here?” Lord Zumiano asked.
“Both.”
W ѐb̈ n о̆ ṽ ӗ l .Ě n̈ ū m̆ á
“The answer is the same for both questions.” Grinning like a child revealing a secret, he said, “I just thought that challenging the two of you would be fun.”
※※※
Zumiano Olbran’s life was one of boredom.
He was raised by loving parents who adored each other, and he enjoyed nearly unshakable influence due to his father’s status as a marquis with ties to the empire. He had brilliant younger siblings, a clever, adorable fiancée, and childhood friends he was thick as thieves with. To top it all off, he had been blessed with good looks—a product of his mixed heritage—brains capable of picking up anything with the slightest effort, and excellent physical abilities. A few sweet words, and any woman turned to putty in his hands.
Zumiano truly had been blessed by life. Yet, he wasn’t satisfied.
This is all so boring.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He could get anything he wished for, but couldn’t help but feel completely detached from the world.
Where his heart should have been was a hollow, bottomless abyss—a void into which everything slipped and vanished.
All his life, he had looked for a way to fill that hole. In his quest, he occasionally visited the Baslam Empire. However, during each visit, he was bombarded with marriage proposals from shameless nobles after just minutes of conversation, all of whom only wanted one thing: his father’s favor.
Zumiano already had a fiancée, so he wasn’t interested in the slightest.
He gently turned down all the proposals he received but still flirted with the ladies who approached him, giving them the illusion that they still had a chance. They fell for it every single time and would answer all his questions, telling him everything he wanted to know.
How easy.
Еn̆ u m̌ ä
Zumiano only saw these silly girls as sources of information—nothing more. Of course, most of what they knew and the rumors they’d heard were often trivial details, but some occasionally had something worthwhile to tell him.
It was thanks to one of these ladies that he learned about a certain herb that muddied the mind of anyone who smelled it, robbing them of their ability to think clearly. It was quietly gaining popularity among certain circles. Some used it to trick the person they loved into believing they were in a relationship—a rather vulgar aspiration in Zumiano’s opinion—while others wanted to experience its effects themselves, hoping to forget worldly constraints for a fleeting moment.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Why such trivial uses? Zumiano wondered. They could achieve so much more if they implemented it properly.
This sparked Zumiano’s interest. That herb could definitely come in handy.
First, he tried it on himself, thinking it’d be a fun way to stave off the boredom. I see, I see. It sure feels nice getting all dazed after smelling it.
Yet, at the same time, he didn’t particularly enjoy the feeling of his thoughts slowing down when under its influence.
W е̂ b ñо vе ľ. Е̇n um̂ å
So he began experimenting with the herb. He extracted the components and amplified their effects, eventually creating what he named the “perfume of temptation.” Then, he tried using it on other young ladies and lords. All of a sudden, people who had been quarreling over trivial matters stood side by side, their arms over each other’s shoulders, while others started confessing the misdeeds they had committed of their own volition.
Yeah, I can definitely use this, Zumiano thought when he saw the effects of the perfume.
Having learned how to guide others’ thoughts, he incorporated the perfume’s properties into a magic formula, refined it, and created a magic bracelet with it as a base—one whose binding force was even stronger than that of the perfume itself. He named it the “bracelet of somnambulation.” Ironically, it made it so easy to control a target that Zumiano found it almost boring.
Yet, he also felt like it could help fill that empty pit in his chest.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
And so, knowing he was walking a tightrope, he began using it on other nobles for fun, making sure not to cause too much of an uproar.
Would anyone notice his little prank? Apparently not.
Е̂n̆ u m̆а̄.іd̊
But not long after he was done having his fun, a stir began to ripple through noble society: Wellmy Ernest had returned.
Zumiano had once been interested in her.
She’s a bit like me, isn’t she? he thought the moment he met her.
Despite her showy outfit and foolish, shameless behavior, Zumiano could tell she was a clever young lady. She always seemed to be looking for something. It was clear to him that she wasn’t actually a mean, cruel villainess but was wearing a mask to hide her true objective.
The petite girl with her sweet, lovable face was on good terms with many people, yet she smoothly avoided those who were interested in her.
For some reason, Zumiano felt drawn to her. And so, he looked into her and observed her at every opportunity. He eventually saw through her plan and realized she wasn’t acting in her own self-interest.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
How interesting! Zumiano thought for a split second. How long had it been since he had last felt something like this? That burst of emotion only made him more interested in Wellmy.
When he discovered that she was looking for someone to entrust her sister to, he struck up a conversation with her, pretending to be interested in her.
For a moment, those vermilion irises simply stared at him in silence. Then, she plastered a perfect lady’s smile on her face, yet her eyes betrayed her clear rejection. “I apologize, my lord, but I can tell you are not actually interested in me,” she said.
It was the first time someone had seen through Zumiano so effortlessly.
Even now, the young woman sat on the bed with perfect posture and even a smile on her face despite having been abducted.
“You know, Wellie,” Zumiano said, in a good mood, “When I learned about your plan to save Iora, I actually planned to wait for your conviction and break you out of jail, then whisk you to the Baslam Empire with me.”
Е́ n ŭ m̀ а̊
Even that cunning, sly dog of a king wouldn’t have been able to do anything to her there.
“Whatever do you mean?” Wellmy asked. She was clearly suspicious of him, yet her perfectly poised expression didn’t waver in the slightest.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
That was her battle stance.
I finally get to see it head-on, Zumiano rejoiced inwardly, feeling even a little moved.
“The reason I wanted to do that after you were done with your plan was that I thought it wouldn’t be nice to get in your way. Having one’s toys broken by someone else feels pretty bad, after all.”
Wellmy had created that entire condemnation play all by herself. Zumiano had felt like he shouldn’t make his move until she’d decided it was time for the curtain to fall.
Е̊ n̊ umа
“I think I like you, Wellie. That’s why I’ve been watching over you all this time. But then that boorish, inconsiderate lord of magic got in the way of your plan. I felt really bad for you when that happened,” Zumiano continued.
And so, when Wellmy returned, he decided that he would get to play with her this time, using the drug and item he had developed.
“It must’ve felt nice to have your plan go well this time, didn’t it? Everything should have unfolded exactly as you intended.”
Wellmy didn’t reply. She simply stared at him in silence.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I was actually thinking of marrying you after rescuing you,” Zumiano continued. “I have a feeling I’d never be bored again if we were together.”
After all, it might only have been for a moment, but Wellmy had made him feel something.
Е n̈u m̃ а
She finally spoke up. “Oh? I’ll admit, it doesn’t feel so bad being desired,” she said, her smile widening.
“I know, right? So, what do you say? Wanna marry me instead of the lord of magic? The conditions aren’t that bad, I’d say.”
“Will you treat me just as well as Marquis Ormirage does?”
“Yep.”
Zumiano genuinely thought that he was a pretty good catch. House Olbran was quite wealthy and, while Zumiano himself currently didn’t own anything per se, he could easily secure a decent social standing if he so wished.
But Wellmy shook her head. “I shall pass on that offer. Lord Zumiano, do you remember what I told you the first time you spoke to me?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Naturally.”
“You haven’t changed in the slightest since.” Wellmy chuckled and opened her folding fan in front of her face. “It is true that life with you would be interesting. You’re an incredibly smart, perceptive man. And, on the surface, you are pleasant and cheerful. But I still choose him over you. Because there is a clear difference between the two of you.”
“Really? What is it? Tell me, tell me,” Zumiano said.
Wellmy’s reply was sharp and clear. “You don’t love me, Lord Zumiano. That much is clear. As a matter of fact, you couldn’t care less about me.”
Those were the exact words she had retorted the first time he’d approached her.
“You’ll likely grow bored and cast me aside after a while. He, on the other hand, truly loves me. He will always put me first—something you could never do.”
We b̃ n̆ оvеĺ Е̇nŭm̆а̌
Zumiano felt like that “difference” between the lord of magic and him was just a trifling little detail, but he could feel that it was important to Wellmy.
Still, he wanted to keep talking to her, so he pressed on, “Then you should make an effort so I don’t get tired of you. Isn’t that a big part of being in a relationship with someone?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“It is, and I do not intend to shirk that duty. But I only want to make that effort for him.”
“Huh, I see.”
Zumiano broke into a radiant smile at Wellmy’s response.
Then, he changed the topic altogether. “Hey, Wellie? You’re angry about the fuss I caused, aren’t you?”
W̆ е̊ bn оv̈ ё l Еñu.mа_
For the first time since the start of their conversation, Wellmy dropped her ladylike smile. Beauties like her really looked all the more impressive when wearing that sort of blank, unamused expression, Zumiano mused.
“Of course, I am. Especially if you did all this because of me.”
Zumiano clapped, impressed. Wellmy had understood everything. Had she not returned to high society as a stand-in for her sister, none of this would have happened.
It all started when Zumiano learned of Wellmy’s return. He was wondering how to toy with her when Shizolda came to discuss something with him.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“If Lady Wellmy Liroud becomes crown princess, wouldn’t Turgis have a chance with Lady Darristea?”
In all truthfulness, Zumiano couldn’t have cared less about his childhood friend’s love life, but the situation was quite convenient for him, so he went to relay Shizolda’s words to Turgis.
E n̈ ũ m̆а
“If Lady Darristea wishes to marry the crown prince, I want her to get what she wants,” the young man replied gravely.
He decided to take the matter into his own hands—exactly like Zumiano wanted.
Do not be mistaken: Zumiano didn’t hate his childhood friends. He simply didn’t care about what happened to them, was all.
Well, if things take a bad turn, I guess it’ll be better if not too many people end up sad.
With that in mind, Zumiano made it so that things would turn out all right regardless of who won this little game.
In the end, he lost.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Had Zumiano won, he would have saved Wellmy once she had been imprisoned for using forbidden techniques and taken her to the empire. But he was also the one who’d engineered the current outcome in case Wellmy won.
The reason he’d chosen to use Theresalo in his schemes was that he had randomly remembered seeing her cast Saintly Charm on a critter by accident. He knew Tygrim forbade her from mentioning the incident to anyone, but Zumiano was unbothered by the prince’s commands.
He planted rumors about magic drugs and items that could control the mind, and while waiting for those to spread, he took Turgis and Shizolda on a trip to the empire. Then, he spread whispers in the empire and the Holy Church—a neutral institution with followers across the central continent—of a rebellion brewing in the Lionel Kingdom, with the goal of gauging how much importance the two powers placed on a certain maiden with pink hair and silver eyes. As it turned out, the church immediately began discussing welcoming Theresalo into their ranks before a civil war could erupt, while the empire chose to adopt a wait-and-see stance until the situation calmed down.
After getting a bracelet of somnambulation onto Turgis’s wrist, Zumiano returned from his little trip. His next step was to give another bracelet to Seyfalt—a fellow womanizer who seemed to see Zumiano as a big brother figure—and suggest he force himself on Theresalo. Seyfalt was a student at the noble academy, so he was in a convenient position for Zumiano’s scheme.
The only reason he had Seyfalt break Theresalo’s engagement to Sofoyl was so that she would be easier to manipulate during his little game. He could just set them back up again later. Or perhaps he wouldn’t need to, if Theresalo were to join the church. Either way, Zumiano was quite nonchalant about it all.
Having Theresalo use her saintly powers to charm men and put them under her control would make the situation more complex than if he had just used drugs and items, meaning he would be harder to track.
W е̊bňȯṽ e ľ Е n ŭ mа̄
As a finishing touch, he had Theresalo go talk to the prince in public, knowing that Wellmy would be by his side. Just as he’d expected, Wellmy interrupted Theresalo and got her to admit everything.
Well then, will you find your way to me?
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Wellmy and the lord of magic seemed like they would be much more fun to challenge than those other nobles who offered no resistance whatsoever.
And so, the performance began, featuring three young ladies and five young men. Naturally, Wellmy Liroud would be playing the leading role.
The curtain rose on an elaborately crafted comedy of despair—all according to Zumiano’s plan.
As it turned out, Wellmy and the lord of magic had managed to see through Zumiano’s plan and masterfully orchestrated a safe resolution for everyone involved.
E nu ṁå. іd
As expected of Wellie and the lord of magic.
As a sidenote, Zumiano had been aware that the lord of magic and the lord of security had tracked down a mind-control drug production facility, and he hadn’t done anything to prevent them from raiding it. That, too, had been part of his plan.
He had sneakily made a civil official of the empire wear one of his bracelets and instructed him to set up that fake facility. This would make it seem as if the Baslam Empire had built it and was plotting to instigate a civil war in Lionel. Just as he’d hoped, the lord of security had grown much more careful when he’d realized that the empire might have been involved. Now, if Zumiano lost, the kingdom would have a nice little recompense in the form of a bargaining chip they could use against the empire: namely, that civil official’s crimes. That sly dog of a king wouldn’t miss a chance to tilt the balance of power between Lionel and Baslam in his favor, and the lord of magic’s standing would likely go up.
Zumiano couldn’t care less about the outcome of this little game. No matter how it turned out, it would be just as he’d expected. The very concept of “result” bored him out of his mind.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
His only regret was that his playtime with Wellmy and the lord of magic would soon be coming to an end.
※※※
Е̄.n̂ŭm̆_а̌
What is his deal, seriously?! Wellmy fumed.
She couldn’t let her anger show in her voice, so she did everything she could to suppress it and, in as cold a tone as she could muster, she asked, “Was asking Theresalo to cast Saintly Charm on you also part of your bluff?”
Zumiano nodded. “Yup. Ah, but I was also curious about what it felt like to be under that spell,” he said, before merrily launching into a long explanation. “You see, you can’t truly understand something unless you’ve experienced it for yourself. I also went to the Ministry of Magic and read all the books they had about that forbidden technique called ‘Bewitching,’ which has a similar effect to Saintly Charm. I took that opportunity to leave a research paper about the mind-control drug there. Pretty useful, wasn’t it?”
Despite the glee in his voice, Wellmy could tell his joyfulness was only surface-level. Something was off about him, and it nagged at her. Zumiano always seemed happy. But it didn’t look like he was hiding his feelings behind a façade, like Aides did. No, it was more like he didn’t have any emotions to speak of. There was something slimy and eerie in his eyes, and Wellmy couldn’t see what lay at the bottom.
“And so...” Zumiano continued.
Even though they spoke the same language, it felt like they couldn’t understand each other. That was what made Wellmy feel so uncomfortable talking to him.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
It was almost as if Zumiano didn’t care about putting himself in danger or about the feelings of others, especially those he had manipulated for his schemes—his childhood friends, Lady Darristea, Lady Theresalo, and Wellmy herself. He understood how they felt, yet he behaved as he pleased without a care in the world.
And the product of his, in a way, simplehearted ambitions was the piece of jewelry he showed to Wellmy after uncrossing his arms.
“After all my research on mind-control magic, I created this. I call it the ‘bracelet of submission,’” he said, the metal jangling as he moved.
It was an ominous, pitch-black thing that would make anyone shiver at the mere sight of it.
“It’s a lot more impressive than the bracelet of somnambulation I put on Turgis and the others. It’d definitely get classified as a forbidden item if I were to disclose the manufacturing method. Not only can its effects not be dispelled through disenchantment, but once someone puts it on, they can’t remove it unless their master gives them the order to do so. I used black crystals to make it, so it is immune to the powers of elementals.”
Wellmy’s breath hitched in her throat. That last detail meant that neither she, her father, nor any of the other Lirouds could use their powers to lift the bracelet’s effects. Black crystals were supposed to be considered prohibited goods in Lionel, so how had Zumiano gotten his hands on them?
Е́ ňŭ ṁа. і̌ d
“Is that why you wanted Theresalo to cast Saintly Charm on you? So you could experience its effects and make that bracelet?” she asked.
“Not exactly. I tried my perfume of temptation and bracelet of somnambulation too. What better way to see the effects of something than trying it out directly?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
This man truly was out of his mind.
Anger welled up within Wellmy. Yet, for some odd reason, she also felt pity toward Zumiano. She couldn’t help but wonder how he’d ended up like this.
“You’re in a position where you can get anything you want. So why do you wish for destruction?” she asked.
“Huh? I don’t particularly wish for it,” Zumiano replied with a smile, mechanically cocking his head to the side like a doll.
W̄ê_bǹо v̆ еl Е̇ n ŭm̆ а
There was nothing humanlike about his reaction.
“Then why did you do all of this?”
“I already told you, didn’t I?” He pushed himself from the door against which he’d been leaning and took a step toward Wellmy.
“I thought it would be fun to play a game against you and the lord of magic—a proper challenge.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Are you serious...?” Wellmy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yup. I gambled everything I had, didn’t I? My friends, my status... I’ve put everything that can be considered precious to me on the line.”
W̊êb̊nо̀v̀ ël Е nu mа
“Did you, now? Tell me then, was that ‘proper challenge’ fun?”
Zumiano’s smile widened at this, and he once again tilted his head to the side. “I think it was, but I’m not sure.”
For the first time, Wellmy felt like she saw a glimpse of his true self. He’s...not sure?
The anger in her chest felt like it would soon erupt. Zumiano’s words and attitude were one thing, but what she truly couldn’t let slide was his assertion that Aides had gotten in Wellmy’s way.
“Well then, do you think your knight will manage to rescue you before I slip this on?” Zumiano asked, toying with the bracelet.
“Let me tell you one thing,” Wellmy said, gritting her teeth.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“What is it?”
“He’s not my knight. He’s my king. Whether he comes to save me or not, I am and will always choose to remain his queen,” she said, using chess terminology to match Zumiano’s lighthearted tone.
When Wellmy had said that she would do anything Aides asked of her, when she had taken his hand back then... It had all been of her own volition.
She had chosen to go with him.
“He didn’t ‘get in the way of my plan.’ He saved us.” Clenching the skirt of her dress, Wellmy glared at Zumiano. “He saved not only Iora...but also my own heart!”
All this time, Wellmy had wished she could remain by Iora’s side, both at home and at school. She had wanted nothing more than to spend her days laughing and talking about silly things with her sister until they each married someone they loved. From then on, they would have exchanged letters and occasionally seen each other.
Е̃ ň u̇ mā
That had been Wellmy’s very definition of “happiness.” Yet, she’d had to resign herself: She couldn’t have this future.
But then, he came along: Wellmy’s beloved, the man who cherished and treasured her.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“He thwarted my plan and brought me into his home! He told me he needed me!”
Wellmy’s gaze had been fixed on the gallows. But Aides had stepped between her and her own doom, as if to tell her she need not face that future. Instead, he had given her a brighter fate—one where she could smile and laugh with her beloved sister.
The future she had always dreamed of yet had never been able to achieve.
“Yet you dare to say that he ‘got in my way’? Nonsense!”
Еn̄ u ṁ а_
Aides had wrapped Wellmy in his embrace and showed her the scenery she had always dreamed of.
“He’s protected me and everything I hold dear! You, on the other hand, had no qualms giving up on all the things you claim to cherish. You wanted me to leave my pride buried deep in the ground while you ‘rescued’ me, even though that plan only served you!”
Emotions surged in Wellmy’s chest. “How dare you insult my Aides?!” she hurled the words at Zumiano.
For a moment, all the young man could do was blink in confusion.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
But then, he scratched his cheek awkwardly and said, “Oh. I’m sorry?”
He wasn’t ridiculing her, nor was he making fun of the situation. Yet, he had offered her the same perfunctory apology he would have given if he’d bumped into someone.
Е̌ núm̃ а́
This man... He’s completely hollow. Even as others hurled their feelings at him, he remained entirely unfazed. Perhaps that is the source of his disconnect with others, Wellmy mused.
How empty must he have felt, to be unable to reciprocate others’ emotions—the good and the bad alike?
Zumiano’s entire life must have been dominated by that hollowness. Not that that realization changed a thing in Wellmy’s eyes. She couldn’t see eye to eye with him, nor could she ever feel the way he did.
The poor thing.
Zumiano slowly made his way to her. Nothing she could say would reach Zumiano. But her voice would reach him.
A shadow fell on Zumiano’s face, so close to hers that it blocked the light. Right as his hand was about to touch her nape, a deep, familiar voice echoed in the room.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“That’s enough.”
It was Aides.
※※※
“Huh?” Zumiano muttered. He must have noticed something was off.
The next instant, a rope materialized out of thin air and coiled around his body, pulling his hand away from Wellmy’s neck. His wrists were tied behind his back, and a blade pressed against his throat.
“What...?” Wellmy looked up at the young man who had suddenly appeared from within her own shadow. It wasn’t Aides, but a certain red-haired youth who had been acting as her bodyguard at the royal family’s party.
W̄ е b no vӗ l̄ Еn̊u m̌а̃
“Lord Turgis?!” she exclaimed, gaping at the army commander’s son, whose sword rested against Zumiano’s neck.
He wasn’t alone.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I was starting to panic, lord of magic. Not being allowed to make a move until you gave us the word... That was bad for my heart,” Lord Shizolda said, a grim look on his face.
Just like Lord Turgis, the monocled young man had appeared from Wellmy’s shadow. He stood with his left hand extended toward Zumiano, the ring he wore gleaming with a green glow, a sign that he was currently using auxiliary magic. The bindings around Zumiano were likely his doing.
“Wh-What are you two doing here?” Wellmy asked.
“I had them follow you in case something happened,” a familiar voice replied as if it were obvious. Wellmy’s eyes flicked to the source of it.
Ӗ n um̌а.і̌ d̊
Aides stood by the open door. When had he even come in?
“I thought you would call for me sooner,” he said, his displeasure evident.
“I’m sorry,” Wellmy replied, shrinking into herself. She did feel a bit bad for what she’d done.
“Zumiano Olbran. You have been caught red-handed in the crime of abducting a noble lady. Surely you don’t think you’re going to get away scot-free, do you?” Aides asked, his eyes shining with icy rage. Magical energy radiated from his body, a cold haze enveloping his surroundings.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Yet, Zumiano didn’t seem the slightest bit fazed.
“What was that spell, lord of magic?” he asked in his usual carefree, relaxed tone. “You suddenly appeared out of nowhere.”
Ẅ е̂bnо v̄ěl̇ Е num а̌.
“Wellmy and I have signed a written engagement oath and have formed a soul contract. If she calls my name, I can instantly teleport to her current location.”
“Ooh, so that’s what it is. You truly are impressive, lord of magic, being able to use even lost spells. As for Turgis, I take it you cast Shadow Crossing to hide yourself? I couldn’t detect you at all. When did you learn such a rare technique?” Zumiano asked.
Turgis grimaced and sighed at this. “Two years ago.”
“And you kept it a secret. That’s not very nice. I would have been more cautious if you had told me,” Zumiano protested.
“I wanted it to be my secret weapon. I never would have won against my father facing him head-on.”
“I see, I see. So you used that skill to beat the commander, and he made you his heir. It’s a very you technique. I like it.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“That attitude of yours doesn’t change even when you’re restrained?!” Wellmy blurted out.
Zumiano clearly wasn’t in a position where he should feel comfortable exchanging idle banter with his friends. But he simply chuckled at her outrage. He even managed to shrug despite his hands being bound. “Nope, it doesn’t. And, hey, look, in the end, it really was a knight who came to save you. I didn’t think he’d be accompanied by two rooks, but I still win.”
Seeing him continue to blather nonsense, Wellmy sighed, echoing Lord Turgis’s exasperation, and shifted her focus to the two young men standing near Zumiano.
“How long have you two been following me?”
“Since you left the lord of magic’s drawing room after the party,” Lord Shizolda replied.
After pretending to be escorted out of the party hall by soldiers, the two of them had gone to hide in the room next to the one Aides had planned to use after the party. Aides had cast a spell to hide their presence the moment Wellmy left the room, and they had then immediately plunged into Wellmy’s shadow.
Ё n u̇ṁӑ
“Turgis—” Wellmy started before correcting herself. “Lord Turgis.”
“You can drop the ‘lord.’ I caused you quite a bit of trouble, after all.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Oh, I could never. Lord Turgis, weren’t you being mind-controlled by Zumiano?”
The young man hesitated before replying, “Could you please ask Marquis Ormirage to explain the situation to you later?”
Seeing his reluctance, Wellmy didn’t insist.
“It looks like it’s checkmate for you here, Zumiano,” Aides said, turning to the perpetrator.
W̆ е̂b n ō vеl Е̌ ñ u mа̂
“It does, huh? Thanks, by the way,” the young man replied, carefree as ever.
“For what?”
“Giving me time to talk to Wellie. Oh, and for stopping me too. I feel like that’s a good thing.”
Aides raised an eyebrow at Zumiano’s ever-nonchalant attitude. “I thought you had no intention of harming Wellmy. Was I incorrect?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What? You noticed even that?” Zumiano chuckled once again. Then, he moved his arm slightly, and a click echoed through the room.
“What did you just do?” Wellmy asked, on guard.
En̈ ū m а̀ .і̃d.
The reply that came out of Zumiano’s mouth was nothing short of outrageous: “Oh, no need to panic. I just put the bracelet of submission on my own wrist,” he said, still laughing.
“What...?” Wellmy breathed.
“I’m glad I got to touch you, Wellie. If I hadn’t, then the lord of magic would be my master. Well, I would have been fine with either, but I think I like you better, so...”
“What in the world are you talking about?!” Wellmy didn’t understand. Why had Zumiano put that dreadful item on himself?
“Ah, could you tell them to let go of me?” Zumiano asked Aides. “If you’ve seen through my plans, you must know that I’m not going to cause any more trouble, right?”
Aides stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “I did not guess that you would be literally giving your life to Wellmy...”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Zumiano shrugged. “Well, I lost, didn’t I?”
Lord Turgis and Lord Shizolda were visibly hesitant to let go of him, but they heeded Aides’s command nonetheless.
“That bracelet... What is it?” Wellmy asked.
“A bracelet of submission. I told you already. I made it and was planning to put it on myself since the very start. Ah, but don’t worry; I’ve burned all my research, so no one should be able to replicate it,” Zumiano said, waving his hand lightly.
The black bracelet did indeed fit his wrist perfectly.
“You made it...to put on yourself?”
Wẽb ń o v ӗ l̇ Е̂n ûm̂а̌
“Yup. And I assigned you as the master of the bracelet when I touched you earlier. If you tell me to die, I will, and if someone removes the bracelet, I’ll probably die too. In exchange, nothing else can kill me, which is a bit regrettable, as it might prove a little annoying. I could be burned to a crisp, have my head cut off, or sink to the bottom of the ocean, and I would still be alive. What do you think? Don’t I make for a pretty convenient slave?” Zumiano asked, his tone airy and light.
Wellmy was speechless.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“You’re the only one who can kill me, Wellie.”
Aides turned to him. “I assume you must have used some sort of mental manipulation technique to re-create the effects of the forbidden Soul Split spell?”
“Exactly.” Zumiano nodded. “My soul is split in three: One part resides in my body, one part in the bracelet, and the last one in Wellie’s body. Oh, and as I explained to Wellie before, the bracelet’s effects can’t be dispelled. She can always choose to hand the reins over to someone else, though.”
“I-I don’t understand...” Wellmy stammered. “Why in the world would you do this...?”
Е́n̆ǔm a
“Give you part of my soul, you mean? It’s just a little restriction to make sure I would never do something you truly hate. It’d be a hassle for you to order me not to do stuff all the time, right?”
“That’s not what I mean! Why did you do that to yourself?!”
Zumiano’s carefree expression shifted into one of puzzlement. “Huh? I told you, it’s because I lost. Without this, the only thing awaiting me would have been the death penalty, wouldn’t it? I stirred tensions between the Lionel Kingdom and the Empire, used taboo techniques, and even broke the law by mind-controlling others. There’s no saving grace for me.”
Wellmy remained silent. It was true that Zumiano’s sins were such that the king would never grant him his mercy.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I don’t mind dying, to be fair, but if I do say so myself, I think my skills would be wasted if I were dead. There are two reasons I abducted you, Wellie: One, I wanted to talk, just the two of us, and two, when you won, I wanted you to be the one making the decision.”
“What decision?” Wellmy asked, though she already had an idea of the answer she would get. In all truthfulness, she didn’t even want to know. Yet, she had felt compelled to ask.
Wе.b̆nо v̇ е l Ѐ ń u m а
“Whether I die or I become a shadow under your control,” Zumiano said. “For your information, I’m pretty useful. Besides, I was thinking that if I got to observe you and the lord of magic up close, maybe I’d find a way to become like you two. You see, I feel like I’ve always wanted to know what it felt like to cherish something. To want to protect others. To waver. But I just don’t get it.”
Zumiano was still wearing his usual shallow smile. Yet, from his words, Wellmy felt like she finally understood what he truly wanted.
And she was exasperated.
“Are you stupid?”
“I was thinking” this. “I feel like” that. Zumiano kept saying those two things. Did he not notice that what he wanted was hidden in the very words he spoke?
The explanation he’d just given them was what had been restricting his actions from the start. He had basically said that he’d intended to lose all along.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“If you feel that something seems important to you, then you do get it,” Wellmy stated.
Zumiano stared at her, confusion etched on his face. “What do you mean?”
“It’s fine if you don’t understand.”
Even though Zumiano was the root cause of all this mess, he’d put a shackle on himself. He likely knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself, so he’d sought outside help to restrain him. That bracelet was the very deterrent he’d created to put an end to the machinations of his own mind. In that case, Wellmy had no right to decide his fate. It belonged to the people who had believed they mattered to Zumiano, only to learn he had never actually cared about them.
“Lord Turgis, Lord Shizolda,” Wellmy said.
“Yes?” the two men replied in unison.
Еn u̇ m̃ ä.і d
“What do you wish to do with him? I believe that decision is yours to make.”
The two young men exchanged glances, then shifted their attention to Zumiano.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Zumi. What did you hope to achieve with this?” Lord Turgis asked, sounding as if he were struggling to get the words out.
“I just wanted to play with Wellie,” Zumiano replied without hesitation. “And since you said you wanted Darristea to marry the crown prince, I figured I’d make your wish come true while I was at it. If I’d won, the two of you would have been lauded as the heroes who’d protected the kingdom from high treason.”
“And if you lost?”
“You’d have had to apologize to Darristea, which would have given you an opportunity to talk to her...and to try and woo her. Was there something wrong with my plan?” Zumiano asked, cocking his head to the side.
Е n ú mа. i d
Turgis’s frown deepened at this.
A lot was wrong with Zumiano’s plan—especially the fact that he’d pretended to take others’ feelings into account in his schemes but hadn’t at all.
“I believe it won’t hurt to let him live,” Aides said, throwing Wellmy a thoughtful glance before continuing, “If he truly obeys our orders, he’ll be useful to us. I’m still angry that he went after Wellmy, but I do value his drive and intellect.” Aides often said that he liked people who had the nerve to stand up for themselves. It was the main reason he’d taken an interest in Wellmy in the first place.
Zumiano pouted a little at this. “Hey, I had an eye on Wellie before you did,” he protested.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“And? The order in which we met Wellmy doesn’t matter, nor do your feelings or mine.”
Zumiano threw Aides a quizzical look.
Е̇ṅŭ m̂ а.іd
“What matters is, Wellmy chose me. She loves me,” Aides declared without a hint of hesitation.
I wish he wouldn’t say that so unabashedly... Wellmy lamented, her cheeks reddening at her feelings being exposed in public.
Yet, Aides just kept going, utterly shameless.
“Wellmy is the only one with the right to choose who she wants to spend her life with. You’re not the one she picked. That’s all.”
“I know that it’s her choice to make,” Zumiano said.
“I don’t think you do. You give to others without pausing to consider what it is they truly want. Just like the devils in the stories, you grant their wishes in ways they don’t desire.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Huh? If it helps them achieve their goals, who cares how I do it?” Zumiano asked languidly.
“The world and its people aren’t driven by reason only. Feelings also matter. If all you can do is give without ever wanting anything in return, then find yourself a woman who will accept that warped personality of yours.”
Wellmy thought that Zumiano’s issue was that he couldn’t reciprocate others’ feelings, but Aides seemed to be of a different opinion. According to him, Zumiano only wanted to give without receiving anything in exchange. As a result, he used all the wrong approaches, which led to misunderstandings with others.
“Well, if you can find one who doesn’t mind that your life is in the hands of another woman,” Aides concluded before turning to the two young men in the room.
Wellmy had given them the right to choose what to do with Zumiano, after all.
“Could I find such a woman?” Zumiano wondered out loud. From his tone, it was clear he didn’t really care.
Е̌n ũ mа̄
Lord Turgis sighed. “There is one.”
“Poor Nineena. You really don’t have any idea what she’s been through,” Lord Shizolda added, rolling his eyes. “It might be better for her if you just died.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Nineena?” Wellmy echoed.
She felt like she’d heard that name before.
“Ah, my fiancée,” Zumiano explained. “But she spends all her time cooped up in her family’s domain. She only comes to the capital to pay her respects to the royal family at the beginning of the year. What a weird girl she is.”
Wellmy gasped. “You flirted with me even though you’re engaged?! You’re just as bad as Arvine!”
Еṅ_ů mа
“Well, I figured our engagement would be void if I got caught. Besides, I think she’d be better off with someone else.”
“Don’t ever say that in front of her,” Lord Turgis warned him, clearly exasperated.
“Seriously, please don’t cause her even more trouble,” Lord Shizolda added.
As she listened to the boys’ conversation, Wellmy finally remembered where she’d heard Zumiano’s fiancée’s name.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Wait. Is your fiancée the daughter of Count Kalkfert?”
“Oh, you know of her?” Zumiano asked.
Е_ň u ṁ ӑ .ї d
“Do I know of her?! She’s a genius mind-healer and researcher in medicinal herbs!”
Anyone must’ve known who Nineena Kalkfert was. She had received the qualifications of Elite International Mage years before Iora. She’d developed cures for a great number of diseases, starting when she was a child, and was even mentioned in textbooks. As she hadn’t attended the noble academy, Wellmy hadn’t actually met her.
To think that Zumiano had caused such a ruckus despite having such an illustrious fiancée...
“You’re going to hell,” Wellmy declared.
“Yeah, I know,” he replied, as nonchalant as ever.
Wellmy paused. “The more I talk to you, the more I realize I’m just wasting my time.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Not only was Zumiano aware that what he was doing was wrong, but none of Wellmy’s arguments seemed to resonate with him. It was exhausting.
“Anyway, what do you want to do with him?” Wellmy asked Lord Turgis and Lord Shizolda, her wording a little more curt than intended because she was so irritated.
Fortunately, the two young men didn’t seem to mind.
“Zumiano may be, well, Zumiano, but it’s our fault he went on a rampage in the first place,” Lord Turgis said, slightly hesitant.
“If you’re going to punish him... You should punish us too,” Lord Shizolda added, just as reluctant as his friend.
Wellmy turned back to Zumiano. “Very well. To atone for your sins, you will confess everything, without leaving out a single detail. From now on, I will be working you to the bone. Don’t expect even a moment’s rest. Oh, and be clear: I will only remain your master temporarily.”
Ŵ еbń о̀ vёl Е̊ n̊u̇m̆ а̄
“Why?” Zumiano asked.
“I don’t need your life. Still, I will give you two orders: One, cherish those you ‘feel like’ are important to you.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Okaaay,” Zumiano drawled.
“And two, go talk to Lady Nineena. Confess all your sins and stupid deeds and, if she agrees to remain with you even after what you’ve done, introduce me to her. Are we clear?”
“Yeees,” the young man replied, beaming like a child.
Wellmy sniffed and averted her gaze. Until everyone he’d hurt agreed to forgive him, or Wellmy deemed he had atoned for his sins enough, she’d let him live. He had caused a great deal of trouble to everyone involved, but hadn’t taken anyone’s life.
Ё n̈ ǔ ṁ а .і d̃
I suppose I can at least give him credit for that, Wellmy said, making excuses to herself—and pretending that it wasn’t at all because she couldn’t bring herself to sentence a man to death.
