The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Marquis Banesion Hashir scoffed in disbelief.

“Of course not. I merely thought it would be a pity if you didn’t show up.”

Uttering insincere words, he appraised Laria from head to toe.

“You must have come from nearby.”

The Rohan estate and the Sorcery Office were quite a distance apart. Presuming she had cast a teleportation spell from a nearby location, the Marquis shifted his gaze to Theodore.

“It seems your skills haven’t rusted either.”

His attitude clearly assumed Theodore, not Laria, had performed the magic.

In contrast to his demeanor at the palace banquet, Theodore didn’t tremble like a frightened hare before its nemesis, nor did he avert his eyes.

Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Marquis Hashir let out a brief tsk of displeasure.

Though he wished to provoke Theodore, the presence of many onlookers forced him to hold back, turning his head away instead.

‘Zenox hasn’t arrived yet?’

Scanning the surroundings, Zenox was nowhere to be seen.

He must be running a bit late.

As Laria searched for Zenox, she spotted Solike, surrounded by people.

Though he appeared gloomy on the surface, Laria recognized his true joy. This presented an opportunity to significantly expand his wealth, not to mention the abundance of circulating information.

Solike was likely the happiest person here.

Turning her head, Laria’s gaze met Ishel’s.

“Lady Ro-“

Ishel began addressing Laria cheerfully but abruptly fell silent.

Belatedly seeming flustered, Laria recalled a forgotten incident.

Ishel had witnessed the intimate situation between her and Zenox right before they were about to consummate their relationship at the palace. That had been the last time she saw Ishel.

He must have assumed Laria and Zenox had parted ways.

Rather than offer a lengthy explanation, Laria subtly raised her left hand to show her ring.

“!”

Seeing the ring on her finger, Ishel’s eyes widened in surprise.

He then opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, as if at a loss for words.

Laria’s ring didn’t only elicit a reaction from Ishel.

Those around them also stirred noticeably.

“That’s a ring I haven’t seen before…”

“So the rumors of their breakup were unfounded, it seems.”

“Does this mean the Grand Duke will be attending as well?”

Judging by the widespread gossip, her ring had garnered considerable interest.

Even Solike stared intently at Laria, his gaze demanding she divulge everything later during a private meeting.

As all attention shifted to Laria, Marquis Hashir let out a disgruntled cough, though no one paid him any heed.

‘Why did he gather them here?’

They were outside, not even within the Sorcery Office building.

‘Is it appropriate to hold the duel with the guests simply standing here?’

Laria’s doubts were soon resolved.

“As the time has arrived, let us proceed inside.”

When the Sorcery Office sorcerers appeared, Marquis Hashir clapped to draw attention.

He then cast a spell.

Centered around the Marquis, the sorcerers simultaneously released their magic power, causing a flash of light beneath everyone’s feet.

Brief screams erupted from various locations.

As the light dissipated, they found themselves inside the building.

The screams transformed into gasps of wonder.

“The Sorcery Office truly is something else.”

“To teleport so many people at once.”

Basks in the showered praise with a satisfied smile, Marquis Hashir turned his gaze toward Laria, his eyes narrowing in a subtle taunt.

An incredulous chuckle escaped her lips.

It was unclear why he preened when he had relied on the assistance of other sorcerers.

‘I could probably do that much on my own.’

While there were many people, the distance wasn’t excessively far.

Laria surveyed her surroundings.

They had arrived in an immense space spanning an entire floor, shaped like a circular arena. Thousands of seats were densely packed around the central area.

Over half the seats were already occupied by Sorcery Office sorcerers.

“Dear.”

At Semela’s voice, Laria reflexively turned toward Theodore.

His condition had instantly deteriorated, as if recalling some harrowing memory.

‘Could it be…’

This seemed to be the place where Theodore and Marquis Hashir had competed for the position of Sorcery Office Head.

Theodore’s blue eyes had swiftly turned frosty.

A man who appeared to be a Sorcery Office official beckoned Laria.

“Participants, this way.”

“…I’ll be back. Please find good seats with a clear view.”

As Laria made to leave, Herdin casually inquired:

“Nervous?”

“Me?”

Responding with a mocking tone, Laria prompted a smile from Herdin.

“Just like my sister.”

Buoyed by her family’s encouragement, Laria followed the official inside.

‘How will Zenox arrive?’

She had never entered through the Sorcery Office’s main gate before.

Did they inspect one’s identification badge and grant entry at the main entrance?

For some reason, she could envision Zenox simply forcing his way in.

‘But as a sensible person, he surely wouldn’t do that.’

After all, this was the Sorcery Office building, not just any place…

Without a shred of tension, her mind wandered until she abruptly halted her steps. Inside, an early guest was already present.

Sensing her presence, Sienna slowly turned her head.

Their gazes met with precision, as if audibly clashing.

Neither averted their eyes, silently regarding each other.

Shattering the stillness, Sienna’s soft voice flowed forth.

“You cannot defeat me.”

It wasn’t arrogance, but a statement of utmost certainty.

Sienna was convinced her abilities surpassed Laria’s.

“Why?”

Laria’s query gave Sienna a momentary pause.

Letting out a derisive chuckle, Sienna’s expression hardened to frost.

“Why, you ask? Surely you don’t think someone who couldn’t even gain admission to the Sorcery Office could defeat me?”

“I didn’t fail to gain admission, I simply chose not to apply.”

Surveying the Sorcery Office interior, Laria added:

“There seemed nothing here worth learning.”

As if subjected to a grave insult, Sienna’s lips quivered with the hostility radiating from her entire being.

Laria responded with a sluggish blink, undaunted.

Her attitude was markedly different from when they had met while she was Liri.

Laria had heard Sienna frequented Solike’s information store to meet Liri. However, after their commission ended, Laria had ignored all of Sienna’s attempts at contact.

She would eventually learn the truth – that Laria was Liri.

-Still, I hate Laria Rohan.

-I should hate her.

Occasionally, Sienna’s words resurfaced in her mind. Each time, she wondered what circumstances compelled Sienna to harbor such animosity toward her.

How would Sienna react upon learning Laria’s true identity as Liri?

At the very least, she would no longer gaze at Laria with sparkling eyes.

“Are you both ready? It’s time to begin.”

An official abruptly entered to announce the start.

Taking the lead, Sienna brushed past Laria and exited to the arena.

Following her out, Laria found the seats densely packed with spectators – too numerous to count.

She immediately sought out her family, easily spotting them in the front row with an unobstructed view.

However, no matter how thoroughly she scanned the audience, Zenox was nowhere to be seen.

A profound unease gripped her heart.

‘Could something have happened?’

What if Rubenta had returned and done something to Zenox…?

As anxiety gnawed at her mind, a man who seemed to be a Sorcery Office official spoke up.

“This duel will be conducted in three parts.”

His voice snapped Laria’s attention back.

The man proceeded to explain the duel format.

The first round would be illusion magic, the second spellcasting, and the final round, direct combat.

Upon mentioning that senior Sorcery Office sorcerers would evaluate their performance, some furrowed their brows.

The rules undoubtedly favored Sienna.

As if anticipating such reactions, the judges seated in the front row vowed:

“We swear before the gods to judge without any bias.”

Laria cared little whether the rules advantaged Sienna or not. All she needed to do was demonstrate an overwhelming gap, one that precluded taking sides.

‘I should end this as quickly as possible.’

Afterward, she planned to immediately return to the North and ensure Zenox’s safety.

Like Laria, Sienna was preoccupied scanning the audience.

She had sent Liri multiple invitations, though received no response. Still, she had inwardly hoped Liri would attend to watch her.

After repeatedly searching for Liri’s face, Sienna’s eyes drooped in dejection.

Perhaps the crowd was too dense, for she couldn’t locate them.

“You didn’t come.”

Crestfallen, Sienna muttered under her breath, unaware that the very Liri she had sought stood right beside her.

“Now, we shall commence the first round of the duel.”