The Family's Crisis (1)
"It's been a while since we've had a taste of normal life."
"Yeah."
In the director's office of the Merbiss Magic Library, now returned to everyday routine after the holy sword's restoration, only the scratching of pens and brief exchanges between the two filled the air.
"The list of magic books scheduled for acquisition?"
"Almost done."
"Next month's too?"
"What I'm working on now is next month's. This month's is over there."
Iliana, who had been checking documents on the desk, frowned in irritation at the mountain of papers her finger pointed to.
"When the hell is this ever going to end?"
"Can't be helped. We have to clear everything up through next month's approvals. Otherwise, no wedding or honeymoon for us."
"Ugh, this is so fucking annoying. I'm regretting taking this position from the kingdom for the first time ever."
Normally, work wouldn't pile up like this, but Eunhyeon and Iliana had to review and process even the critical approval documents for next month's schedule.
Most things could be delegated to the secretary or the newly appointed deputy director, but the stacks had built up from Eunhyeon's firm insistence on handling all documents requiring Iliana's judgment as director in advance.
It had all started to free up time for their wedding preparations, and Iliana had shown unusual enthusiasm from the beginning.
"Just... let's rest a bit and then get back to it."
But that fire of motivation had flickered out after barely three hours—a major problem.
"Wanna eat first?"
"Yeah. Let's do that."
At Eunhyeon's suggestion, which felt like a lifeline from the heavens, Iliana lifted her head from where it was buried on the desk, her dead eyes suddenly brightening as she replied.
"Alright, I'll whip something up. Wait just a sec."
"Got it."
As Iliana nodded with an already expectant smile...
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion, Lady Iliana. A guest has arrived."
"...A guest?"
Of all the timings for a visitor, Iliana grumbled softly before asking the secretary who had entered.
"Send them in, Hyeon-a. I'll hear them out quick and send them off, so prep right away."
"Well..."
The secretary glanced not at Iliana, but at Eunhyeon before speaking.
"It's not for you, Lady Iliana. The guest is here for 'Mercury'."
"Hyeon?"
"Me?"
The term 'Mercury' the secretary mentioned referred to Eunhyeon, whose fame had spread as the Black Witch's lover and fiancé.
During the public trial, his silver hair gleaming white under the light and the vicious tirade he unleashed on the nobles had birthed the moniker.
Starting with the infamous 'Serpent of Mercury'—'a snake bearing silver poison'—it had become a common epithet among nobles to describe him.
Iliana hated the belittling connotation toward her man, but since Eunhyeon just chuckled and found the nickname amusing without a care, she had no choice but to let it slide.
"Yes..."
The library staff had always been somewhat standoffish toward Eunhyeon, but after the trial, they grew even more tense and fearful around him.
The secretary reporting the guest was no exception. Upon naturally catching sight of his red eyes, she instinctively shrank back, nodding faintly in response to his question.
"Send them in."
Eunhyeon gave a wry smile at her reaction and nodded, ready to receive the guest who had come for him.
Guided by the secretary, an elderly head butler entered the director's office, bowing deeply with formal courtesy to Eunhyeon and Iliana.
"...You're the head butler from Duke Armitas's mansion."
"Thank you for remembering."
After his greeting, the butler's face, now raised, was far from well—it betrayed urgency, panic, and desperation.
Sensing something amiss from his demeanor, Eunhyeon and Iliana frowned instinctively.
"The head butler himself...? Has something happened to the duke's family?"
"......"
The butler started to speak but glanced at the secretary waiting by the door and clamped his mouth shut.
Quick on the uptake—this wasn't her first time dealing with such matters—she bowed to Iliana and Eunhyeon and exited the room.
Most visitors for personal business involved kingdom or noble secrets best kept hidden, so the secretary withdrew cleanly.
"The duke urgently seeks you, sir. Could you come to the mansion at once?"
"May I ask what it's about?"
"The young lady..."
At those words, Eunhyeon and Iliana's expressions darkened instantly.
In the Armitas duke's household, the butler's 'young lady' could only refer to one person.
"This feels ominously shitty."
As if confirming Iliana's hunch, the butler spoke again.
"Lady Elenoa has been kidnapped."
"......"
Eunhyeon's silence was brief. He glanced at Iliana to gauge her thoughts.
"Go. Doesn't seem like the time to leisurely ponder lunch menus."
"Sorry."
"Fine. Just promise two things. Don't change the wedding prep schedule—finish quick and come back. And don't get hurt."
"I'll try."
"You never give a straight 'I absolutely won't get hurt.' Ever."
"I've already lied to you big once. And you still believe me?"
- You said you'd come back alive... You promised to listen to me!
After breaking a promise once before, could Iliana trust him again?
Eunhyeon couldn't help wondering.
Iliana narrowed her eyes, glared at him playfully, then stood, grabbed his collar, and pulled him close.
Mm.
In an instant, his face was drawn to hers, her lips pressing against his as her tongue slipped in.
She wanted a deeper kiss but held back, pulling away with a smile.
"Don't get hurt and come back alive. Then I'll forgive you even if you bring another woman."
"...You casually drop the scariest lines sometimes. What if I actually cheat?"
"It's fine. I'm confident you'll never get stolen away."
"......"
Where does that confidence even come from?
Eunhyeon shot a glance at the butler watching them, feeling a bit queasy.
Despite the urgency, the butler offered a wry smile, respecting their farewell, so Eunhyeon cleared his throat awkwardly.
"And no more surprise attacks in front of others. Not embarrassed?"
"You're the one acting all proper now, at your age. Strictly speaking, you're older than that butler over th—mmph."
"Enough."
He hastily covered her mouth to cut her off, then released.
"Anyway, got it? Come back safe and alive. Then all's forgiven. Okay?"
"...Yeah."
With that, Eunhyeon left Iliana behind and followed the butler out of the Merbiss Magic Library.
Boarding the carriage emblazoned with the duke's crest, the butler took the driver's seat and set off.
Inside, Eunhyeon mulled over possibilities.
Why kidnap Elenoa? Ransom? Vendetta against the duke? Or random pleasure-seeking crime?
With scant info and endless speculations, his mind raced without conclusion.
Amidst it, he reviewed his usable cards.
Finishing his thoughts, the carriage arrived at the mansion.
After the gates, it stopped before the entrance. Feeling apologetic at the butler's courteous welcome, Eunhyeon dismounted.
Knock knock.
"My lord duke. I've brought Eunhyeon."
"Enter."
Guided promptly to Abros's study, Eunhyeon entered upon permission.
At the central table sat Abros, his wife Duchess Lunes, and Alex, all in grim silence.
Eunhyeon placed his right hand lightly over his left chest and bowed to Lunes.
"Pleased to meet you, Duchess. I'm Eunhyeon, in a personal alliance with Duke Armitas."
"...I see. You look as young as I've heard."
"Sadly, this appearance invites unwanted misunderstandings often."
"I've heard plenty about you from my son and daughter. No room for misconceptions now. My daughter especially—I've heard she's received much aid from you and often spoke of repaying that grace."
"...Lady Elenoa said that?"
"Sit first."
"Understood."
No point standing forever—Abros gestured to the sofa at the right moment.
Eunhyeon nodded and sat, cutting straight to it.
"The butler only said Lady Elenoa was kidnapped. And that you sought me."
"Yes."
"...Why me?"
"Her two guards were taken out."
"...The two knights from Riod's expedition?"
"Yes."
"......"
Abros nodded curtly, but the tremor in his grip on the sofa armrest spoke volumes of his inner turmoil.
"Knight Reno, right?"
"Must've been an awkward connection for you."
When he'd previously tricked and lured Elenoa, Reno had tried to kill him—Eunhyeon had subdued him effortlessly. Not an unpleasant memory.
"Not unpleasant. I even looked forward to it. He vowed to challenge me again someday."
"I see... Straight to the point. Just past midnight, Reno and the other guard's bodies were sprawled in the road's center."
"Midnight?"
Abros nodded, continuing.
"Lately, she's been visiting the temple for training and prayer, returning late. I allowed evening masses for priestly growth on condition of two escorts. But she'd never been out past midnight before—not once, including yesterday."
Sensing wrongness, he'd dispatched family knights around 10 PM before noon to search. En route from mansion to temple, they found only the two guards' bodies.
"Both headless, just torsos. No heads or her traces anywhere."
"......"
Abros's strained voice carried fury, rage, sorrow.
"No body found means she might still be alive. The question is motive... No ransom notes or demands?"
"None."
"Why call me..."
"Two trusted knights down already. Among those with tracking skills or leads, you're the only one I can rely on."
He'd already poured gold into info guilds for her whereabouts.
In this desperate crisis, with all resources expended, Abros's final hope was Eunhyeon.
"Any price, name it. If you find Elenoa..."
- You can't enter!
- Silence!
The father's plea drowned in mansion clamor. The study door flew open without knock—a ruffian burst in, prompting Abros and Alex to rise.
"Insolent! Do you know where you are?!"
"Duke Armitas and young duke! You're under arrest!"
"...What?"
"What did you say?"
The knight who invaded without permission—Cracir Royal Guard captain Walter Orsius—unfurled a document from his breast and thrust it at Abros.
ARREST 'Abros Armitas', head of Armitas Ducal House,
'Alex Armitas', his heir,
as accomplices with former young duke 'Ashton Armitas' and Lenion Hersha in embezzlement and breach of trust.
Resistance will be deemed treason, subject to aggravated punishment.
Surrender immediately.
Stamped unmistakably with the royal seal, it was a genuine arrest warrant—rare authority to seize, interrogate, and execute nobles upon conviction.
"This... absurd..."
Abros, handed the warrant, verified the seal and trembled in rage.
Not just the Armitas folk were stunned.
What the actual fuck...
Eunhyeon cursed inwardly as the situation spiraled.