The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Silence fell in the conference room.

The elders, who had not immediately understood what was being said, belatedly resisted and stood up.

“What is this supposed to mean?”

“To make such a unilateral decision so suddenly!”

As Zenox remained silent, the voices of the elders grew louder. They thought of him as a mere fledgling with no practical experience, despite his status as the head of the family.

It didn’t take long for them to realize that it was a misunderstanding.

Thud!

The marble round table resounded loudly, instantly silencing the previously noisy assembly.

“Do you think I’m asking for your opinions right now?”

In Zenox’s tone, politeness had been completely discarded, and the elders swallowed their saliva. As everyone fell silent, Zenox continued.

“Rubenta Krassium, as the representative, has forgotten his duty and handed over a village belonging to the Krassium territory to others without permission.”

The elders’ eyes widened in shock. They found it difficult to believe the unbelievable words.

“We also have evidence of his intention to sacrifice residents as forbidden magic offerings.”

“Forbidden magic offerings…!”

The elders, who had been speechless, eventually shifted their stance and pleaded with Zenox.

“There must be some misunderstanding.”

“It’s undoubtedly the result of someone’s conspiracy!”

“Lord Rubenta would never do such a thing.”

The elders blindly believed in Rubenta.

Zenox clicked his tongue.

From a long time ago, people around Rubenta blindly trusted him without being able to distinguish between what was right and wrong.

Who would have thought that even the elders would act like idiots.

“Does my uncle have anything to say?”

“Hmm.”

Rubenta rubbed his chin as if he was troubled.

“Even if it’s a misunderstanding, you probably won’t believe it.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Although the questioning voice sounded like mockery, Rubenta immediately recognized that Zenox’s anger had reached its limit.

Standing up, Rubenta spoke obediently:

“I am lacking, which has led to misunderstandings. I will step down from the position of representative.”

The elders gasped in shock.

Rubenta conveyed the end of the meeting to the frozen elders.

“The meeting will conclude here.”

In the face of Rubenta’s gentle dismissal, the elders hesitated before eventually standing up and leaving. They all seemed to have much to say, but their bodies didn’t disobey Rubenta’s words.

Zenox didn’t stop the elders from leaving the meeting room. From the beginning, his target had been Rubenta.

When only the two men remained in the room, Rubenta spoke affectionately, like a kind uncle looking at his beloved nephew.

“Yes, Zenox. How much did you find out?”

Rubenta didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it anymore.

“As far as the fact that you joined hands with Marquis Hashir to brainwash me.”

“You’re so heartless to your uncle.”

Zenox furrowed his eyebrows at his relaxed attitude without even understanding the situation.

He glanced at the knights standing behind Rubenta.

Each one of them was a talented person who would serve as the leader if they went to the battlefield.

He laughed out loud, wondering if the people Rubenta trusted were the authors.

No matter how many talented people he brought, it won’t be enough to deal with Zenox.

He looked away from them and slowly stood up.

Rubenta, standing facing Zenox, smiled slightly.

“You know, Zenox, do you remember who was the happiest when you were born?”

“…”

“It was me.”

The light brown eyes had an ecstatic look, as if looking at a perfect creature.

“Now that the one who can fulfill my wish is born, I can’t help but be delighted.”

Rubenta’s tone was affectionate, but it was not love but rather an undisguised desire that overflowed.

Zenox’s gaze remained unwavering as he listened to Rubenta’s words.

“Wolves don’t bow their heads to anyone.”

Rubenta, who had raised his head, looked up at the wolf head hanging high on the wall as if it was a real creature.

The stuffed head appeared so vivid that it seemed like it could howl at any moment.

“With you by my side, we can look down on the world from the highest place.”

It was an open suggestion of rebellion, but Zenox wasn’t surprised. He had some idea of how far Rubenta’s plans extended.

“Surely you’re responsible for the incident with the palace poison as well.”

Rubenta burst into laughter. His laughter was as cheerful as if he were celebrating his nephew’s growth.

“You’ve finally realized it, just as I thought.”

Unlike the raised corners of his mouth, there was no trace of a smile in his eyes.

“Although your fiance’s family interfered.”

As soon as Rubenta mentioned Laria, the sharpness in his golden eyes became as keen as a well-honed blade. It was intense enough to make the skin tingle.

The knights who had been waiting behind Rubenta reflexively put their hands on their sword hilts.

Rubenta, raising his hand toward the knights, spoke.

“It seems you’ve kept a quite competent sorcerer by your side.”

Rubenta’s usually gentle face contorted.

“This time, it must have been that sorcerer who messed up Brioschel. Thanks to that, it’s a complete mess.”

Zenox clenched his teeth.

The man in front of him didn’t seem like the uncle he knew.

After his parents passed away, young Zenox blindly followed Rubenta. Part of it was because he was the only family left, but there was also an incident that made him emotionally dependent on Rubenta.

When his parents had passed away in an accident, some people blamed Zenox.

-“I heard that the Grand Duke and his wife died because of the young master.

-They rushed back just for their son’s birthday and got into an accident.

-So young, what a tragedy. What kind of birthday is that?

The day Zenox’s parents passed away happened to be his birthday.

The Grand Duke and his wife had rushed back home to spend his birthday with him but had ended up in an accident.

Zenox had been tormented by the thought that his parents died because of him.

It was Rubenta who consoled him at that time.

-Zenox, it’s not your fault. Ignore what they say.

The person who had said that to him had conspired with Hashir Marquis and tried to brainwash him behind his back, all to satisfy his desires.

“Anyway, you’ve come at last. Quite unexpected.”

“…”

“I thought you’d come running as soon as you received my gift.”

Zenox’s fingertips twitched.

“It seems the ones I sent as a warning were quite weak.”

As his words ended, an uncontrollable presence surged forth.

He needed to kill Rubenta immediately.

Before his magic could extend its tentacles once again.

Zenox raised his arm to strike without thinking about the consequences. His sharp claws, part of his partial transformation, were about to reach Rubenta’s neck.

‘Is it okay to kill my uncle…?’

A momentary hesitation stopped Zenox in his tracks.

Zenox frowned.

He couldn’t make such a casual statement when Laria’s safety was at stake. If he didn’t kill Rubenta right now, he would undoubtedly regret it later.

However, before he could move again, another thought suddenly crossed his mind.

‘He’s the only family I have left.’

Zenox’s resolve stiffened to a terrifying degree.

It wasn’t a decision he had made for himself. It was as if someone was whispering commands directly into his mind.

“Why are you hesitating, Zenox?”

Rubenta asked leisurely, not befitting someone whose life was being threatened right before their eyes.

Rubenta gently held Zenox’s raised arm and whispered softly.

“By doing that, how do you plan to kill someone?”

Rubenta held his throat out to Zenox as if to say, ‘Go ahead, try it.’

But Zenox couldn’t move a finger. He realized the suspicion he had harbored for so long had suddenly resurfaced.

Although Laria had broken the forbidden magic cast on Krassium Mansion, was that really the first time? Was he truly unaffected by any magic?

It was only now that he realized he had been under some form of enchantment all along.

He was already ensnared by sorcery.

“You won’t be able to kill me.”

A stubborn curse that prevented Rubenta Krassium’s death.