NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
The lounge on the second floor of the party hall. A man and a woman face each other.
The air between them felt heavy and tense.
“What happened to the plan?”
In the oppressive atmosphere, Kasys Lenokhnen spoke up. His murky violet eyes fixed on Violet.
“I did everything I could. Honestly, I didn’t expect them to resist after all this. Was the embrace of Princess Ferbache really that comforting?”
“Mind your words.”
“Am I wrong? It’s obvious the two are already…”
Bam! Kasys smacked the table between them lightly. His gaze burned with intensity.
“Fine. I won’t say anything more about it.”
Violet slyly scanned the room before continuing.
“Hmm. I don’t think my charm was lacking. It was just that Johan Harsen’s walls were too high. It’s rather admirable how he completely considers his lover until the end. I envy Princess Ferbache.”
Their plan worked like this.
First, Violet would ensnare Johan. This involved using the pre-broken heel of her shoe.
Next, she would get the drunken Johan to spend the night with her, while Kasys would lure Princess Ferbache into witnessing the scene of infidelity.
This was the plan.
“I already knew he was weak to alcohol, but even drunk, he couldn’t forget Princess Ferbache. Should I have fed him one more drink? I should have made him completely lose his senses.”
Although clumsy, it was a plan they could execute because they knew Johan Harsen was extremely weak to alcohol.
They had obtained this information from the public affairs officer’s welcome party.
Seeing Johan Harsen, who built that sturdy wall, allow women to touch him with glassy eyes was revealing enough.
“Sigh, nothing seems to be going right.”
Kasys pinched the bridge of his nose and squinted, while Violet narrowed her eyes.
“And what about you? You didn’t even get a proper start. Can you blame me?”
“………”
“This plan was bound to fail anyway. From the beginning, it was impossible to threaten the Ferbache line or take his family hostage with the Ferbache House backing it. We shouldn’t dwell on the past, alright?”
Violet smiled lightly and raised an eyebrow.
“…True. I do have plans prepared for situations like this.”
“What are they?”
“………”
Kasys donned his outer garment and rose from the lounge chair. Violet furrowed her brow, questioning him.
“What preparations? You’re not thinking of killing Johan Harsen, are you?”
“………”
“You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you do that. Just try touching my man.”
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Watching Kasys leave without a proper answer, Violet bit her nails.
‘That man is surely targeting his life.’
That won’t do. He was the one she had set her sights on; she couldn’t let him die here.
The reason she showed strong affection toward Johan Harsen was for her own self-esteem.
The strong loyalty and perfect looks he exuded were the best combination to satisfy Violet’s self-esteem.
And Johan Harsen was a well-known social trophy, someone Violet had heard of long before, even though they had no relation.
If she acquired such a trophy, she would feel satisfaction beyond simple pleasure, accompanied by many envious glances from those around her.
Everyone would envy her. The jealous gazes sent her way would only heighten Violet’s self-esteem.
Though being the third son of a low-ranking noble was a flaw, that issue wasn’t particularly crucial.
Had he not already proven his genius as a wizard?
The issue of his title could be covered by the name of House Ratalen. Just change it to Johan Ratallet, and it would be fine.
‘I need to let him know.’
Violet stood and strode out of the lounge, heading down to the first floor.
She searched around the party hall but saw no sign of Johan Harsen.
‘Has he already left…?’
She couldn’t hide her dismay.
*
As the party was nearing its end.
Johan and Fransia were riding in a carriage, returning to the Ferbache Royal Mansion.
“Was everything alright while I was gone?”
“Nothing in particular happened.”
Johan averted his gaze as he spoke. Sensing suspicion, Fransia narrowed her eyes.
“Really?”
She moved from her seat opposite him to sit beside him.
“Hmm.”
She nestled against Johan, inhaling his scent, before gazing at him with a sinking look.
“Then why do I smell another woman on you?”
“………”
“It’s not just a matter of merely being touched by another woman, is it? It’s quite strong.”
Fransia took Johan’s cheeks in her hands and turned his head.
“It’s especially strong right here. The smell of alcohol and a woman.”
“………”
How does she know? Cold sweat trickled down Johan’s back.
“Well, I didn’t mention it because I thought Fransia would get upset.”
“What is it? I won’t be mad, just tell me.”
“Lady Ratalen got drunk and…”
“Did you kiss her?”
“………”
“Hmm.”
The air inside the carriage turned icy. A chilling sensation crawled up Johan’s neck.
“Well, it’s okay. Johan wouldn’t betray me. That Lady Ratalen probably took advantage of Johan being drunk to force herself on him. And Johan must have reacted furiously, right?”
Her accurate deduction made Johan’s eyes widen slightly.
“You’re spot on.”
“You can’t dismiss a woman’s intuition.”
Fransia laughed lightly before kissing Johan. She wrapped her arms around his neck, invading his mouth with her tongue.
As their passionate kiss ended, a transparent thread hung between their lips.
Fransia stared at Johan with hazy eyes, gently caressing his lips.
“Hehe. I covered it with my scent now.”
“Haha…”
“Hmm. Anyway, I need to have a separate talk with Lady Ratalen. How dare she touch my man.”
Fransia’s expression turned frosty. Johan could feel the cold aura emanating from her.
At that moment.
“I’m sorry. It’s an emergency.”
Suddenly, the carriage window was thrown open, and one of the guards announced.
“Wild dogs have surrounded us.”
“Wild dogs?”
Fransia tilted her head. Johan’s expression hardened as he questioned.
“They’re not just common bandits, are they?”
“Correct.”
“………”
Johan rubbed his chin, lost in thought. Had the shadows approached due to angering the Crown Prince? That seemed unlikely.
‘The Crown Prince is likely keeping a low profile right now.’
If he acted hastily, he’d end up leaving evidence that would severely damage the image of the perfect Crown Prince. That possibility seemed negligible.
‘Then there’s only one left.’
Someone who could track the carriage of the Ferbache Duke House in the Royal Capital and have a separate group to stir trouble from behind.
‘Kasys Lenokhnen.’
Whatever his reasons for moving so soon, one thing was certain.
‘They’re targeting me.’
The rumors of their lovers had already spread in the public affairs office, and with Johan attending the social party alongside Fransia, he had been confirmed.
He likely thought that Johan Harsen would become a hindrance to his plans, wanting to deal with him here.
‘It’s four of us capable of fighting, including me.’
Three knights from the Ferbache Duke House plus himself.
Fransia could represent the group, but she wasn’t a combatant. Though she was an archmage, her focus lay on enhancing or restoring others’ physical abilities.
‘In that case, it’s better to send Fransia away first and handle this alone. I should avoid unnecessary casualties.’
Johan declared.
“Stop the carriage.”
“Stop the carriage? What do you mean?”
The knight’s eyebrows twisted in confusion. It seemed he didn’t fully comprehend Johan’s words.
“I’ll handle them. You all summon reinforcements.”
“That’s absurd! There are quite a few of them. It would be better to keep fleeing here…”
“They’re brazen enough to target the carriage of the Ferbache Duke House. It could end up harming the princess.”
As Johan straightened his clothes, Fransia gripped his arm with worry in her eyes.
“Johan, please don’t. Wouldn’t it be better to flee together? It’s a better idea to send one knight to summon reinforcements.”
Johan shook his head.
“No. Didn’t you say there were quite a few? It could expose you to danger.”
“But…”
At this moment, it was plain that they aimed for him specifically. They wouldn’t want to abduct Fransia.
Otherwise, it could turn into a war between the powerful dukes and the duke houses never seen again in the Empire.
But the possibility of ‘what if’ always existed.
Johan intended to eliminate all variables.
“Don’t worry. I’m stronger than you think.”
Smiling reassuringly while holding Fransia’s shoulders, Johan shouted once more to the knight.
“Stop the carriage! I’ll get down and face them.”
“Johan!”
“Yes, yes!”
Clunk! The carriage came to a halt. Johan quickly disembarked, gathering his magical power.
“Go ahead. Make sure the princess is safe.”
“Yes!”
The carriage receded into the distance. Johan heightened his magical power to the extreme and sharpened his senses.
‘Their numbers… Over twenty.’
While he hadn’t learned detection magic, he could tell there were more than twenty. They were emitting energy comparable to that of a level two public officer.
Even for an archmage like Johan, facing a group of that size came close to impossible. A magician without a vanguard was as easy to catch as anything.
But.
Vroooom!!
He was far from an ordinary magician.
Crackle!
The aura of mana swirled around Johan as if it were an electric current.
Waves rippled through the air, as if lightning circled him holding its breath.
“Come out. I know you’re watching.”
As Johan nodded, shadows started to appear with soft sounds.
Wearing black ragged robes and holding long, curved scythes.
‘Hyenas, huh?’
He’d expected knights, but instead, it was the hyenas who took on all the dirty jobs.
‘They’re genuinely here to kill me. This isn’t just a warning.’
Their combat abilities shouldn’t be underestimated. Individuals might not be powerful, but when gathered, they could be quite troublesome.
Of course, that didn’t mean that the hyena individuals were weak. They were capable of the strength of a level two knight.
Some of them could likely manifest Mana Blades.
‘Still.’
He didn’t think he would lose.
“Noble sir, are you fine being alone? I heard you’re an archmage surrounded by knights, so I was keeping an eye on you but you chose to be solo.”
The hyena standing at the front spoke. His face hidden by the black ragged robe, but his tone was unmistakably mocking.
“I have my reasons.”
Johan summoned his magical power.
“It’s best you withdraw now, or I won’t hesitate to kill.”
“Cough, do we take orders from you, noble sir?”
The hyena raised his sharply honed scythe, taking slow steps forward.
“Are you saying you’ll just walk away after coming this far? Noble sir’s arrogance is fit to make even the emperor blush.”
As he infused his scythe with aura, he called out.
“Guys!”
Only then did the previously unseen hyenas reveal themselves. More than thirty of them. Johan frowned.
‘They really prepared this level of ambush, huh?’
They were determined to get the job done.
Johan grinned.
“This will likely be the first time I take a life.”
Whoosh!!
Blue mana swirled around him, forming a massive storm.
The flow wasn’t held back and exploded outward. Even the surrounding air seemed to tremble.
“I’ll leave only the one who will deliver the news to your lord.”