Chapter 17 - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Ruwellin disguised himself.

Quite a few people recognized him even outside the Dukeundefineds castle, so he couldnundefinedt walk around without any disguise.

Though he felt sorry for his vassals who would be anxiously pacing the Dukeundefineds castle, Ruwellin had absolutely no intention of revealing his whereabouts.

He planned to keep all routes completely secret and spend a perfect three days.

For that reason, Ruwellin Rashiane was now disguised as a girl, tying his wavy long hair with a ribbon and wearing a neat dress. Of course, the hair was a wig.

It was a little awkward to take on the appearance of an unfamiliar gender, but once he got used to it, it was fine. It was also quite fun.

Ruwellin chuckled, surprised at himself for committing such a deviation and even enjoying it.

undefinedSometimes, crazy things like this arenundefinedt so bad.undefined

He had arrived at Ives Station, in the southern part of the Rashiane Duchy.

He had flown to Ives in an instant using a magical tool containing teleportation magic. It was the best way to avoid being caught.

Ruwellin boarded a train that had just arrived at the platform where he stood, without any thought. He got on without even knowing where this train was headed.

Then he sat on an uncomfortable seat he had never experienced before and dozed off, nodding his head.

About three or four hours later, the place he got off was the trainundefineds terminal station.

Again without any thought, Ruwellin got off the train.

Perhaps because it was a train running on mana stones, it was indeed fast. It had brought him to the southern tip in just three or four hours.

Leaving the station and walking slowly, Ruwellin pondered one problem.

This place was a region under the control of the Hill family.

* * *

The fact that this region was under the Hill familyundefineds control surprisingly did not cause Ruwellin much concern.

Since he had come out without any plan, the boy decided to continue acting without a plan. In truth, he also had confidence in his own abilities. Even if the Hill familyundefineds mages tried something against him, he believed he could easily fight them off.

Ruwellin knew he was a genius. That wasnundefinedt his delusion but an open fact.

Anyone who had seen the young Duke of Rashianeundefineds sword skills thought he was a genius.

undefinedJust in case, I also brought a few holy relics.undefined

Holy relics imbued with divine power were fatal to mages. Because mana originated from demons.

undefinedWell... I probably wonundefinedt need to use the relics.undefined

The Hill familyundefineds mages wouldnundefinedt try to hurt or kill Ruwellin. Thatundefineds because...

undefinedThose bastards will think of His Grace as a precious experimental sample.undefined

The fact that Ruwellin Rashiane was a special case born with both divine power and mana would be known to the high-ranking mages of the Magic Tower.

So, rather than harming him, the mages would try to capture him. To take him as a precious experimental subject.

undefinedCrazy bastards.undefined

Ruwellin sneered with contempt for the mages. People of the Rashiane Duchy generally hated mages. Ruwellin Rashiane was no different.

The mages of the Magic Tower, who went mad pursuing truth while forgetting ethics, the trash of the Hill family, were Ruwellinundefineds enemies.

undefinedIundefinedm not afraid of the Hill familyundefineds trash.undefined

Thinking proudly, Ruwellin headed towards the beach. As he leisurely admired the beautiful seaside scenery, he suddenly noticed a villa in his field of vision.

The villa was not far from the beach. That villa would surely also belong to the Hill family, but just looking around briefly shouldnundefinedt be dangerous.

Thinking that, Ruwellin walked closer. As he approached, the beautiful scenery of the villa became more detailed. It was a villa too good for the Hill family to own.

Moreover, a faint scent of roses wafted from the villa on the wind. Pretending to be a village girl out for a walk, Ruwellin examined the villaundefineds garden.

Through the firmly closed black iron gate, he could glimpse the garden. Pinkish-red summer roses were in full bloom everywhere.

* * *

Ruwellin lingered near the villa for a while, then, unable to overcome his curiosity, climbed over the fence.

Because he wondered what kind of romance the mages could possibly have to prepare such a beautiful villa.

In Ruwellinundefineds prejudice, mages were eccentric, evil, and heartless people.

Of course, he knew there were mages who werenundefinedt like that. But the mages of the Hill family probably were. Even though he had never seen a Hill family mage in person, Ruwellin thought so.

undefinedThey decorate the outside so prettily, but arenundefinedt they committing crimes inside?undefined

It was a sudden thought, but quite a plausible guess. If the mages really were doing bad things here, then as the Duke of Rashiane, he should rightfully punish them. Ruwellin boldly entered deeper into the garden.

The deeper he went, the stronger the rose scent became. Regardless of whose taste the roses were, they werenundefinedt a dark, purplish color but a soft hue.

Lighter than red, darker than cherry blossom. Exactly that color. Moreover, the scent was very strong, as if it wasnundefinedt a common variety.

The sweetness was intoxicating, so Ruwellin frowned and covered his nose. Perhaps the roses filling this garden were also a trap set by the mages. To capture a sacrificial victim caught in their snare...

"......?"

At the sight that suddenly entered his vision, Ruwellin stopped, frozen.

A girl was sitting demurely in the middle of the rose garden.

A clearing surrounded in a circle by particularly tall rose bushes, with a white bench and a purple fountain in the center.

The girl was wearing blue clothes and sitting on the white bench, fast asleep.

Her hair was a deep pink, just like the roses surrounding her, and her small, white hand was precariously holding a thin book, as if she might drop it.

A small table was placed beside the bench, where the girlundefineds half-eaten fruit and lemonade sparkled in the sunlight.

Having not expected this kind of encounter, Ruwellin was quite flustered. He had thought he might run into dark-robed mages, but what appeared before him was a pretty girl, like a doll made of sugar.

undefined...That girl, could she be imprisoned here?undefined

Otherwise, no matter how he thought about it, it didnundefinedt make sense. Why would such a girl be in a den of mages...

"......"

Ruwellin looked silently at the sleeping girl, then slowly took a step. If she was a prisoner, he would save her. If not... who are you.

The boy stopped in front of the girl. Up close, her face was even prettier. Her eyelashes were darker than her hair color, with a slight golden tint.

A blue ribbon was tied in her wavy, flowing pinkish-red hair. She wore a similarly bluish dress and silver shoes.

The toe of her shoes had precious crystal decorations, so Ruwellin could tell that this girl was of quite high status.

undefinedDid the head of the Hill family have a daughter?undefined

Come to think of it, he might have heard rumors. That the Magic Tower Lord had obtained a youngest daughter, but he treasured her so much he wouldnundefinedt let a single hair of hers be shown to the world.

undefinedIs she that daughter?undefined

Thinking this girl was the Magic Tower Lordundefineds daughter made his blood run cold for some reason. Ruwellin stared at the girl, then subtly took the book her small hand was holding tightly.

He was just curious about what book it was. Did the Magic Tower Lordundefineds daughter learn dangerous dark attribute magic from a young age? Thinking nonchalantly, Ruwellin opened the book.

And he was shocked in a way he hadnundefinedt expected.

"......"

The book was full of dessert pictures. There were hardly any letters. Flustered, Ruwellin checked the cover. . When that title entered his vision, a sigh of disbelief naturally escaped his lips.

"Heh."

Dumbfounded, Ruwellin carefully placed the book back on the seat beside the girl. He felt like a fool for being wary, thinking she was the Magic Tower Lordundefineds daughter.

Shaking his head, he wondered whether to wake the girl. At that moment, the girl slowly opened her eyes.

Her jewel-like transparent eyes were fully revealed.

Ruwellin recalled a pale ruby he had seen once. The girlundefineds eyes were like that ruby. Clear eyes, as if you could see through to the other side.

"......"

Captivated, Ruwellin couldnundefinedt move a muscle.

As he blinked blankly, the girl also slowly closed and opened her eyes.

Then, as if coming to her senses, she made a surprised face, covered her mouth with her hand, and yawned widely.

She even jumped up, stretched, and started doing stretching exercises! Ruwellin was dumbfounded. He had only ever seen noble young ladies who always behaved demurely, so this was a first for him.

The girl, still doing her exercises, asked Ruwellin.

"Who are you? Are you the daughter of one of the servants who came this time? Anyway, youundefinedre really pretty."

"I..."

The girlundefineds voice was high and clear. A soft, tickling voice like butterfly wings.

Perhaps that was why. Ruwellin felt a strange sensation, as if his insides were tingling and churning. Even though he wasnundefinedt embarrassed, his face flushed hot, and for some reason, he felt overwhelmed being here.

Stammering, he finally turned his back and started running. The girlundefineds flustered voice came from behind.

"Huh? Wait! Where are you going so suddenly?!"

Ignoring her shout, Ruwellin ran hard. Not knowing what he was running from, just to shake off this unfamiliar feeling, forgetting the dignity of the Duke of Rashiane.

How long did he run?

Before he knew it, Ruwellin had arrived at the station.

His aides and knights were standing there with slightly angry expressions, having somehow pinpointed his location.

"......"

Ruwellin stood there silently, facing them with the appearance of having run wildly in the wind, even dressed as a girl.

His heart was still pounding hard.

Probably because he had run here at full speed.

Thinking that, he tried to shake off the afterimage of the girl in that rose garden.

"Let us return now, Your Grace."

"......"

At his aideundefineds words as he approached, Ruwellin simply nodded slightly in reply.

The young duke boarded the train with his vassals.

The train sped back as fast as it had come.

It would soon arrive at the Rashiane Duchy. So forgetting what happened in that rose garden, forgetting the girl who seemed like a rose turned human, was a very easy thing to do.

undefined...It should have been easy.undefined

The early summer deviation before his birthday ended like that. But Ruwellin still had the illusion that the scent of roses from that time was embedded in his body.

That the color of those summer roses occasionally flickered before his eyes was probably because that color was so unique and vivid.