After sending Cameron away, Rex slumped down heavily. The tension that had built up had finally been released.
In Rex’s blurred vision, a white palm suddenly appeared. When he lifted his gaze, he saw the owner of that palm smiling.
“Are you going to stay like that?”
It seemed like Rex had momentarily lost himself while looking at Demimore’s charming smile.
As Demimore shook his hand urgingly, Rex let out a sigh-like laugh and grabbed his hand. With a strong force, he lifted Rex up from the ground.
“Did you watch the whole thing?”
“I was so curious to see what you were going to do.”
Demimore shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t want to miss the scene where Cameron begged Rex for his life.
When will he ever see Cameron begging like that in his life? At that moment, he wondered if there was some kind of magic that could make that scene play repeatedly in front of his eyes.
Even without a response from Rex, Demimore spoke cheerfully.
Behind Rex, the monsters were still standing. They were obviously dead, but the majesty they exuded was greater than he had expected.
There was an unearthly grimness to Rex’s face as he summoned them. It seemed even more so in the moonlight.
Demimore noticed a resemblance between Rex’s face and Mary’s.
Finding the resemblance between Mary and Rex was something Demimore had been doing a lot lately.
Since the first time he noticed Rex fidgeting his fingers when he was in trouble, Demimore has felt a strange pleasure every time he discovers traces of Mary in Rex.
He decided to gather and collect them one by one, thinking that he would tell Mary when she returns in the future.
‘Maybe because they are cousins.’
Demimore had heard bits and pieces about Rex’s ability. It was a well-known story even within the Empire.
The story of the Duke’s illegitimate child who possessed the power to control corpses and eventually summoned the corpse of his deceased mother out of longing. It was a story that people would certainly find intriguing.
It was moderately provocative and also mixed with melodrama.
There was even a rumor that an audacious author expressed interest in turning that story into a fairy tale and ended up being dragged away to the Grand Duchy of Conler without anyone noticing.
How could he use that power to his own mother like that? Then he was kicked out of his house.
As a result, Rex’s ability became nothing more than a legendary tale passed down by word of mouth.
Even Mary claimed she had never seen Rex use his ability. To see such an ability firsthand…
“Should I consider this an honor?”
“What?”
“To be able to witness Rex’s ability directly.”
At Demimore’s words, Rex blinked his eyes in surprise for a moment. Finally, the monsters standing behind Rex began to collapse one by one.
As they fell, a cloud of dust settled. It seemed Rex hadn’t realized he was still using his power. He scratched his cheek with a sheepish look
“Good work.”
“Thanks to you.”
The reason Rex was able to summon Cameron to this place was thanks to Demimore, who helped him engrave a magic spell on Cameron’s pajamas after hearing his plan.
“To think of engraving a spell on fabric…”
“Actually, I was looking for a way to carve it in a person.”
After much contemplation and research with Logan, Rex discovered that the most effective method for summoning a person was through the clothes they were wearing.
They had originally planned to engrave a spell on each of Mary’s clothes, but they realized late.
Rex’s rage at himself for Mary’s disappearance shifted to Cameron.
Mary wouldn’t have felt guilty toward her family if he hadn’t asked her to participate in the hunting bet.
The thought continued to branch out, reminding him of how rude Cameron had been to Mary since the beginning. In addition, he went so far as to be associated with a man named X.
Could it be that he conspired with X to kidnap Mary?
As the thought reached that point, Rex couldn’t bear it any longer. As a way to vent his anger. He engraved a spell on Cameron’s pajamas and summoned him here to get rid of him.
However, that would only complicate matters further, and there was a chance he could learn news about X through him. So, Rex nodded at Demimore’s suggestion to keep him alive for now.
And Mary would be disappointed if she came back; that was the biggest reason.
“But that’s……. I think it would hurt too much.”
“Really?”
“Apparently it’s supposed to be like carving a scar with a knife.”
Rex’s expression was grim as he said that. Demimore gently stroked his head. It was like a pat on the back for a job well done.
Rex had intended to use that method on Mary.
He probably wouldn’t consider the pain if it wasn’t Mary. Anyway, it was truly fortunate that he didn’t engage in such unethical actions in the name of protecting Mary.
“But was it something that had to be done?”
Demimore awkwardly patted Rex’s shoulder.
In Rex’s determined gaze, it seemed to convey that if Mary returned, he would engrave the summoning spell on her body without hesitation.
Could he wish for Mary Conler’s safe return with peace of mind?
“Well, even though Mary tends to act impulsively, this time it wasn’t a thoughtless action.”
“Yes…”
“And it seems like that would be too painful. You wouldn’t want Mary to be hurt, right?”
Demimore nudged Rex gently. In response, Rex nodded with a gloomy expression.
Demimore, who had never had a younger brother, wondered if this was what it would be like to have one. Well, he’s a little scary, but…
“I hate it when my sister gets hurt too…….”
“Right?”
“I didn’t expect her to leave behind the bracelet I gave her.”
It was clear that it had been intentionally left behind because it could be used to track her location.
Demimore also felt a bit of disappointment at Mary, who left the ring, but he tried to be understanding.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
“Since I gave Cameron a good scolding, everything should be fine.”
“If you scold him twice, will I be the only prince left in this empire?”
“If you want me to, I can do it.”
Rex said with innocence in his eyes. Looking at Rex like that, Demimore felt a chill run down his spine. He thought it was a good thing that he got close to Rex through this incident.
When Rex had first approached him with this plan, Demimore hesitated.
Not because he was afraid of repercussions, but because he was afraid that Mary would come back and find out what Rex had done and blame herself.
But he realized that it was better to let Rex release some of his pent-up frustration than to try to control him and have him explode, so he agreed to help with the plan.
Demimore ran a hand through his fine hair. His red eyes, which seemed to contain a bonfire, shone sharply.
Even if Rex considered this a debt, it was fine.
***
“FINALLY FOUND YOU.”
A man approached Arsene from behind as he fiddled with apples at the market. He stood silently next to him, walking steadily and swiftly, with calm movements.
“You didn’t spill it on purpose, did you?”
Despite the man’s insinuations, Arsene remained focused on the apples.
Not much good here, Arsene muttered to himself, and he straightened his slouched upper body and took a step forward. The man followed Arsene like a shadow.
“Let’s talk.”
“Mary said she wanted some bread…….”
He muttered to himself, but it was loud enough for the man to hear. The man grabbed Arsene by the scruff of the neck, and a small commotion erupted around him.
“Where did you hide Mary Conler?”
“Well, should I tell you?”
“I want my Mary Conler back.”
“Hmm, in a way, I could be considered the kidnapper, but is that what you want to say?”
At Arsene’s words, the man’s grip on his throat loosened.
Before he could release his grip, the man grabbed him once more and dragged him down a dark alleyway.
As they entered the deserted alley, the man let go of Arsene’s collar with force, causing Arsene’s body to stagger.
“Ugh, you still have a temper.”
Arsene, who was reeling, leaned against the wall. He complained, “Why are you treating a person who hasn’t fully recovered with such harshness?” but his expression was too relaxed.
The man’s chest heaved, and he slammed his fist against the wall near where Arsene was leaning.
“What do you want?”
“If I tell you, will you listen?”
“Tell me what you want?”
“What do you want?”
Is this kid playing around? The man’s left eyebrow arched in annoyance.
“I’m curious about what you want. What are you trying to obtain through Mary Conler?”
The man dropped his grip on the wall, turned around, and looked down at his hands. Hands that had never held what he wanted.
“It’s her.”
Arsene crossed his arms in response.
“All I want is her.”
