The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Tigur couldn’t say anything for a while.

Though he wanted to ask why, Laria’s expression looked desperate, so he eventually nodded his head.

“I will guide you.”

Tigur added timidly:

“But it seems like His Excellency will scold me later.”

“I’ll take the blame.”

Assuring him that she would make sure nothing bad happened, Tigur pounded his chest.

“It’s okay. What do you think of me!.”

Laria breathed a sigh of relief at the generous answer.

“It’s okay. I just wanted to know since I couldn’t reach him either.”

Tigur’s mission was to guard the Rohan family.

Although he was worried about the situation in the North, he couldn’t leave the vicinity of Rohan Mansion.

‘Thank goodness Tigur is willing to come with me.’

If she had gone to the North without a guide, she would have struggled a lot.

Even though a companion had been found, the biggest problem awaited them.

The North wasn’t a place one could visit and return from in a few hours. If they took a carriage, it would take a month. Riding on horses at full speed would still take about two weeks.

It would be much shorter if she used a spell, but the problem was that it was Laria’s first time in the North as well.

‘Because there are only four days left until the duel.’

She had to return before that.

Laria immediately entered the mansion and found Semela and Theodore.

“…You’re going to the North now?”

Semela asked, as if confirming what she had heard.

“I’ll be back before the duel.”

“No, just a moment.”

Semela waved her hand and furrowed her brow in apparent incomprehension.

“What on earth is happening?”

“It seems something has come up for His Excellency.”

Semela and Theodore fell silent for a moment.

Until recently, they had seen Laria crying over the breakup with Zenox… It was unclear what was going on.

In any case, as the North was too far and challenging, Semela naturally tried to oppose the decision. At that moment, Theodore held Semela’s hand, his gaze fixed on Laria.

“Then let’s go together.”

“Honey.”

Semela called him as if trying to dissuade him, but Theodore didn’t back down.

“You’ll definitely regret opposing Laria. We’ll go with her.”

Semela’s lips closed silently.

Turning her head again, she looked at Laria. In her clear blue eyes, Laria read a determined resolution. It was a determination that wouldn’t waver no matter what opposition or adversity they faced.

“Really…”

Muttering to herself, resembling her past self, Semela suggested:

“Alright, is it okay if we go together?”

Laria blinked her eyes.

She had prepared persuasive words, expecting resistance, but she didn’t anticipate such an easy agreement.

Regardless of the reason, if her parents accompanied her, it would undoubtedly be helpful.

“I’m fine with it. What about my brother?”

“He has work tomorrow.”

The unfortunate working man hadn’t yet finished work.

Waiting for Herdin and explaining the situation seemed urgent, so the three of them quickly made preparations to depart.

“Since the North is cold, please bring warm clothes.”

Upon Tigur’s advice, they hurriedly packed their belongings. When they gathered again shortly after, all three of them had brought many of Laria’s clothes.

“…I have more than a dozen sets of my clothes.”

“One thick outfit should be enough.”

Semela, originally from the North Sea, and Theodore, who had already dressed warmly, were ready.

After the hasty preparations, Laria mentioned:

“I’ll use teleportation magic, but I’ve never been to the North.”

She intended to say that they should move as close as possible and then ride horses, but Theodore quickly raised his hand.

“I’ve been to the North!”

Laria hesitated, then looked at Theodore with worried eyes.

She knew her father’s skills better than anyone. Once a candidate for the head of the Sorcery Office, he was an excellent sorcerer.

However, Theodore had lost nearly half of his magical power due to past events.

Casting a long-distance teleportation spell with this many people would definitely take a toll on his body.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

Theodore reassured Laria and asked Tigur:

“Can you guide us to where we need to go?”

“Ah, the location of the Grand Duke’s residence is…”

Fortunately, Theodore had visited the vicinity of the Grand Duke’s residence before.

The four of them gathered around him.

When he cast the spell, a pure white magical power spread from his fingertips. Like a torch being extinguished, the magical power scattered in all directions.

Soon, a cold crystal touched Laria’s cheek. When she raised her head, she saw a clear sky without a cloud and snowflakes falling like flower petals.

Admiring the rare white landscape not seen in the capital, Tigur, looking surprised, exclaimed:

“My god. We’re already in the North!”

The teleportation spell was occasionally used, but even if it was fast, it took more than a day.

He wanted to share this excitement, but Tigur was the only one excited. What kind of people are they? Tigur became curious about the people of the Rohan family. It was unusual that such individuals weren’t known to the public.

“Father, are you okay?”

Laria looked at Theodore, whose complexion noticeably worsened. Perhaps due to the depletion of magical power, he staggered.

“Uh, I’ll be fine after some rest. But I won’t be able to use magic for a while.”

It seemed to be another strain on him.

Semela made Theodore lean on her shoulder.

“You rest a bit.”

Theodore nodded quietly, responding to Semela’s concerned eyes.

Looking at Theodore with worry, Laria asked Tigur:

“How do we get to the Grand Duchy?”

“Let’s rent a carriage first.”

The three followed Tigur.

Despite wearing clothes twice their usual thickness, it was still a bit cold.

‘Even though it’s early summer, it’s colder than the depths of winter in the capital…’

Laria, with a fur hat pressed down, looked around.

Neatly maintained roads were lined with pale-colored buildings. Most had pointed roofs, perhaps due to the heavy snowfall.

It felt like a foreign country, even though it was within the Empire.

‘So, this is Zenox’s hometown.’

Finally, the realization of arriving in the North, where Zenox was, hit Laria. Knowing that she would soon meet him made her heart flutter.

On the other hand, worries suddenly crowded into her mind.

After proposing to end the contract, she came here unexpectedly.

Would he agree to see her?

Asking Solique instead of herself about how to lift the curse also bothered her. It shouldn’t be a trivial matter…

“One thing to be aware of.”

Tigur interrupted her thoughts.

“Because there are many wolf beastmen in the North… It might be better to hide the fact that you’re from a fox clan.”

Foxes and wolves didn’t get along.

The relationship had remained strained since an ancient war, but what had sparked the conflict wasn’t known.

‘As long as I don’t partially transform, it should be fine.’

It wasn’t easy to discern one’s race just by appearance. Shortly after, they arrived at a carriage rental shop.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Grand Duchy of Krassium.”

When Tigur answered, the merchant’s tone suddenly turned cold.

“Show me your status plates.”

Tigur handed over the status plate with the crest of the Grand Duke family. The merchant reluctantly nodded.

“There are no carriages to lend, so get out.”

Despite the numerous carriages, it was an inexplicable refusal. Confused, they blinked, but the merchant pushed them away as if chasing away peddlers, then promptly closed the shop door.

“…What on earth.”

Tigur stood there, staring fixedly at the firmly closed door. His status plate, proving him to be a knight directly serving the Grand Duke, held significant influence in the North.

Everyone was at a loss; it was the first time they had faced such a situation.

Tigur, concealing his bewilderment, turned to Laria.

“I’m sorry, but it seems we need to try elsewhere.”

They visited several shops, but no one was willing to rent them a carriage.

‘Something’s strange…’

The sudden change in expression when mentioning the Grand Duchy hinted at an underlying issue. Laria took the initiative.

“Let me handle it this time.”

In the last shop, Laria approached the merchant in place of Tigur.

“Hello, we’re looking to rent a carriage.”

“Where are you headed?”

“To the Grand Duchy of Krassium.”

Just like before, the merchant’s gaze turned sharp in an instant.

“We’re herbal merchants traveling nationwide, and due to some issues, we couldn’t secure a carriage.”

“I see.”

As outsiders, their presence seemed to lower the guard.

“Show me your status plates.”

Laria signaled to Semela.

Since Semela was the only one unrelated to the Grand Duke and not a fox beastman, her status plate was required. The merchant, after confirming Semela’s status plate, nodded.

Fortunately, the merchant was unaware of the Rohan family being foxes.

“But the atmosphere has been ominous lately. Did something happen?”

“Please, don’t speak of it.”

The merchant, lowering his voice, looked around before continuing.

“People are discontent with the Grand Duke’s actions.”

What did Grand Duke do?

Laria barely kept her composure and asked the reason.

“But why?”

“He cast away his uncle who raised him since childhood.”