A blatant killing intent rose, so obvious that there was no mistaking it.
Nox’s sleek smile looked as if it had been painted on a canvas. That only made it feel even more foreign and unsettling.
He was simultaneously looking at me with a polite smile and a gaze utterly devoid of interest, all while harboring the genuine desire to end my life. And he meant it—quite sincerely.
As if to prove my ominous premonition correct, Nox spoke.
“I have no particular taste for riding an unbridled horse. Should I just kill you now and take you with me?”
Uh, excuse me? That sounds like an even worse taste.
But before I could say anything, Kyle stood up and answered.
“Yeah. That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said. Killing him now would be best.”
Then, in an instant, he drew his sword and aimed it at Nox.
Clang.
The chilling sound of metal rang through the air, making the atmosphere even colder. Nox, who had been lounging arrogantly with his legs crossed, casually summoned several pure-white daggers, floating them around himself as if forming a protective barrier.
It was a moment of imminent explosion. Both of them stared at each other with chilling intensity, as if they would never get a better opportunity than this.
Nox was always unpredictable, so that was expected—but Kyle? What the hell was up with him?
“…Wait a moment, Your Highness. If this happens, what was the point of setting up this meeting for negotiation?”
“Negotiation?”
Kyle laughed, lighthearted yet laced with deadly malice.
“Negotiating with those magician bastards is ridiculous in itself. The only negotiation is putting that bastard’s head on the table.”
Wow. He’s really going off the rails.
But honestly, having seen how those magician bastards operate, his words didn’t sound entirely unreasonable… Maybe I’ve been too influenced by my lover?
Meanwhile, Nox spun his white daggers idly, as if contemplating his next move, before he flicked his hand lightly through the air. A burst of cold, pale light flared, and those eerily sharp weapons vanished without a trace.
I didn’t even have time to be impressed by the sight before a wave of cold gripped my shoulder.
“…Kh.”
A chilling, unpleasant sensation crawled through my veins, scraping against everything it touched.
As I hunched over and swallowed hard, Kyle quickly moved closer, supporting my shoulders.
“Shu, what’s wrong?”
“…”
A frigid force coiled around my entire body, rendering me incapable of responding. My teeth chattered involuntarily, my vision blurred.
‘Frost Poisoning.’ And the one who had left that brand on me was standing right in front of me.
Nox, as if finding this development intriguing, flicked his fingers in the air. Each time he did, the cold that had settled into my right arm wriggled, tormenting me further.
No matter how hard I tried to endure it, it was impossible. In the end, a pained groan escaped through my clenched lips.
Kyle, seeing my condition, hesitated, unable to even touch my arm. But judging from the sheer tension in the air, he was undoubtedly making a terrifying expression right now.
“My arm…”
He didn’t need me to say anything more—he already knew. Kyle gritted his teeth and glared at Nox.
“Put your sword away, Grand Duke,” Nox said smoothly.
“I expected the brand to remain since none of the half-baked people here would be able to treat it… but I didn’t expect it to be this useful. I’ve never been the type to let things live for long, but now that I see it, this is an opportunity to conduct a new experiment.”
Cold sweat dripped down my forehead as I curled in on myself. Sliding off my chair, I slumped onto the floor, gritting my teeth. Internally, I screamed at the system.
‘Do something! Do I really have to sit here trembling like some damn hostage?!’
[((((o(≧口≦)o;;;]
The system flailed anxiously.
Of course, nothing changed. My arm still hurt as if it were about to be torn off, Kyle looked like he was seconds away from ripping Nox to pieces, and that bastard was smiling as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Kyle’s hand, gripping his sword, trembled. He wanted to charge forward, but with the brand still on my arm, he knew he couldn’t act so recklessly.
[Currently unable to interfere with Nox’s magic.]
[To interfere with the extraordinary force known as ‘Deviation,’ the following requirements must be met.]
[To interfere with ‘Deviation,’ a certain amount of knowledge must be collected.]
[Current Deviation Interference Rate: 0%]
At that moment, the system pulled up a notification window. But Deviation Interference or whatever—none of that mattered when it was utterly useless in this situation.
As I began to struggle in Kyle’s arms, he barked in a seething voice, “Stop this at once!”
Nox tilted his head slightly.
“If you want me to stop, put away your sword, Grand Duke. It’s a simple matter.”
Kyle gritted his teeth but didn’t hesitate for long. He shoved his sword back into its scabbard, still radiating murderous intent. But regardless, he had followed Nox’s command.
“As if it matters—you’ll just end up losing an arm anyway.”
“……”
“Are you protecting him because you love him? How touching. A love story worthy of tears.”
Only then did the pain begin to subside. I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, clearing my blurry vision, and looked up.
“…Cut the crap. Get rid of this damn brand.”
At my words, Nox rose from his seat and slowly approached. As his footsteps grew closer, Kyle immediately stepped in front of me. They were roughly the same height, but Kyle had the broader frame.
Hiding awkwardly behind Kyle’s back, I peeked over his shoulder and met Nox’s gaze. His blue eyes were still fixed on me, digging into me as if trying to peel away my layers. It seemed he was just as interested in my relationship with Kyle as he was in me.
“Do you want to ‘cure your Frost Poisoning’?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Then come with me.”
Nox’s voice was light, almost cheerful.
“If you come to my Mage Tower, I’ll treat you. No side effects, completely clean.”
Before I could respond, Kyle let out a low growl. He was so furious that the blood vessels in the whites of his eyes had burst, making them look red.
“How the hell am I supposed to believe that?”
“I’ve kept my word. Quite sincerely, at that. Your Highness, the one who needs to show some sincerity right now isn’t me—it’s that small, lovely little lover of yours behind you.”
…Small what? Lovely who?
Goosebumps shot up all over my body, and I shouted furiously, “Don’t say creepy shit like that!”
I yelled, but that was all I could do.
If I didn’t get rid of this brand, it would be a major hassle. I wouldn’t be able to use one of my arms properly, which would obviously restrict my movements. And if Nox kept using this to toy with me, it was only a matter of time before I became Kyle’s biggest weakness.
But if I went with him and dealt with this poisoning, I could also raise my ‘Deviation’ stat… Then, when the inevitable war between the Northern Territories and the Mage Corps broke out, I might be able to interfere with their magic and help Kyle.
“Your Highness.”
I pressed myself against Kyle’s back and whispered, “I should—”
“No.”
I hadn’t even finished my sentence, but Kyle had already seen right through me.
“I want to grant your every request, but I cannot allow this.”
“……”
“You expect me to send you away right in front of my eyes? To him, of all people? And what, I’ll just sit here, helpless and ignorant, drowning in my own powerlessness until you return? All I’ll be able to do is pray for your safety.”
Kyle slowly turned around to face me. Placing a hand on my left shoulder, he frowned slightly.
“Don’t you think that’s too cruel to me?”
“…Your Highness.”
Guilt constricted my chest like a noose.
Feeling guilty, I hesitated for a moment before slightly raising my gaze and calling the system.
‘System, what happens when the Deviation Interference Rate reaches 100%? Can I dispel Nox’s Frost Magic?’
A system window popped up between us, as if physically cutting through our conversation.
[It is possible.]
‘What about blocking those dagger-like things of his? Can I stop him from using them?’
[It is possible, but additional Luck points are required.]
So it’s not impossible.
If I raise my Luck, Deviation, and Miracle stats, I’ll have a way to take Nox down.
‘Alright. That’s all I need.’
Kyle is by no means weak. But no matter how strong he is—no matter how much he supports the North—he isn’t invincible. Especially now, when Nox is a constant, looming threat to both his life and the North’s survival.
[Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Estimated time until death: approximately 0 days remaining.]
I swallowed down the anxiety rising in my chest.
If this negotiation breaks down, Kyle will die—at Nox’s hands.
That means I have to follow Nox again. I’ll play along with him for now, infiltrate the Mage Tower, gather information, and increase my Deviation stat to buy time. Then, when it seems like they’re preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the North, I’ll return.
I called the system once more to confirm.
‘Even if I stay somewhere else for a few more days, I’ll still be able to return here, right? As long as I disable “Recall”?’
I had done it before—when I fell off a cliff, when I escaped from Nox’s grasp, and even when I was more than ten meters away from my room in the North.
‘It’s a bit of a loophole, but I did it twice already. There’s no reason I can’t do it a third time.’
[(￣︿￣)=3]
‘It’s possible, right? It is possible!’
The blue light flickered, almost as if sighing.
[It is possible.]
Good. That means I have a way back.
With a determined expression, I turned to face Kyle. He had been watching me intently the whole time, observing every slight shift in my expression as I communicated with the system.
“No matter how much you think about it, the answer is still no, Shu.”
Was it just my imagination? Kyle looked like he was about to cry.
“I will be fine, Your Highness.”
“Did you already forget what just happened to your arm?”
I glared at Nox over Kyle’s shoulder. That bastard. Seriously, he’s so unhelpful.
“I don’t always know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re sharp, and sometimes, you’re several steps ahead of me. I know that your judgment is usually sound and rational. So…”
“……”
“If you say you have to go, then it must truly be the only option.”
At least he understands.
Feeling guilty, I gave him a small smile. But that smile instantly froze at his next words.
“In that case, I’ll go with you.”
