Chapter 329
Chapter 329: That Night, the Princess Grew Up
Count Laurien stood outside the corridor, blocking Priscilla's path, his expression heavy with gravity.
The ornate walking cane had long since vanished, replaced by a slender blade—its hilt still adorned with precious, gleaming gemstones at the top.
He raised the longsword, standing amid the flames, cleaving apart every Fire Serpent that dared draw near.
"A misunderstanding?"
At the same time, Viktor stood with both hands in his pockets, his gaze falling upon the Count.
"Count Laurien, this is your domain."
"In your own home, a wandering ghost has appeared—and yet you tell me this is a misunderstanding?"
As he said this, Viktor tilted his head back slightly and glanced at the red HP bar hovering above Count Laurien's head.
The moment Laurien had appeared and cleaved apart the flames, the man had already entered combat state.
Once in combat state, his HP bar and level were clearly visible.
Lv45.
At that level, he stood at the standard of a powerful 4th-Tier Kingdom Warrior.
Compared to most, he was already formidable.
But……
Count Laurien's aura rose by a few degrees. He flicked the gemstone-tipped blade in his hand, sending the cluster of Fire Serpents scattering with the motion of his swing, trailing a shower of sparks.
Then, breathing slightly harder, he turned his head and glanced at the "young woman" leaning against the wall.
She appeared to still be frightened by the flames from moments ago—cowering against the wall, too afraid to move.
"Priscilla, you've caused trouble."
Laurien knew clearly that he stood no chance against Viktor.
The Council Member's power was unfathomably deep.
And so, he chose to apologize proactively.
Laurien voluntarily sheathed the longsword, sliding it back into his walking cane.
He then leaned upon the cane, bowing deeply toward Viktor.
"I apologize for my daughter's rudeness."
This had already surpassed the bounds of noble etiquette.
A Count of the Kingdom—bending his upright spine before someone from a foreign nation.
All to make amends for his daughter's mistake.
Viktor, naturally, had no intention of pressing the matter further.
"For your sake, Count Laurien."
His aura receded slightly, and the red stripes along the back of his Coat gradually faded.
The surrounding temperature finally dropped, giving Priscilla the chance to lift her head.
She raised that face—pale to the point of near bloodlessness—and looked at her father's back.
At last, she 'struggled to her feet.'
Her shattered gown seemed beyond all repair, no longer able to conceal her empty, hollow lower half.
She lowered her head and bowed deeply toward Viktor.
Her voice carried a faint tremor, on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry……Mr. Viktor."
With that, she did not linger for a single moment longer. Following the corridor around her, she hurried away from the scene.
At the corner, Auréliane happened to witness her departure.
The sight of that hollow, empty lower half sent a full-body shudder through her.
Her complexion immediately turned even paler than Priscilla's had been.
"Auréliane."
A reassuring voice sounded nearby. Auréliane snapped back to her senses entirely.
Professor Viktor's gaze had already shifted toward her.
"Come here."
Like someone who had seized a lifeline with both hands, she hurried over to Viktor's side.
"Professor!"
Auréliane grabbed the hem of Viktor's Coat and, upon feeling that familiar, steadying presence, finally let herself relax.
That was truly too uncanny! How could something like a wandering ghost even exist?
As though he could read Auréliane's fear, Count Laurien bowed toward her as well.
"I sincerely apologize, Your Highness the Princess. My daughter must have frightened you."
"As you likely noticed, she is not a living being—merely a wandering ghost, unable to leave this manor by so much as a single step."
"But please be assured, she has never done anything to harm anyone."
Hearing this, Auréliane blinked.
The fear in her heart eased by a few degrees.
In its place came curiosity—and a faint pang of sympathy for that girl.
"Unable to leave this manor?"
Why?
She gradually found herself thinking of her own past.
There had been a time when she, too, had never left the Imperial Palace.
But Auréliane's reasons had been timidity—not knowing how to get along with others.
And a total ignorance of the world's richness beyond those walls.
If she had never met Professor Viktor, she could hardly imagine it.
That she would one day be the way she was now—having left even the Empire she had long called home, and traveled to a foreign land.
The situation of Count Laurien's daughter and her own were not the same.
Perhaps the other girl wanted to leave.
But she was unable to.
Thinking of it this way, she couldn't help but feel that the other girl was, in some sense, pitiable.
But before she could think much further, Viktor's voice sounded beside her ear.
"Auréliane, go back to the room and rest."
Auréliane startled:
"B-but……"
She had assumed Professor Viktor meant for her to return to the room originally prepared for her.
She had worked hard enough just to find her way here.
The thought of making that journey back through the long corridor—so far away—was already exhausting.
And on top of that, Count Laurien's daughter could drift out from anywhere at any moment.
The fear she had only just managed to suppress surged back up in Auréliane's chest.
She quickly grabbed Viktor's coat hem, her voice soft, carrying a faint gentle lilt.
"Don't……don't leave me……"
"I mean for you to rest in my room."
Viktor glanced at the slightly ajar door behind him and indicated it toward Auréliane.
Auréliane's words cut short. She looked up and met Viktor's gaze—cold, yet carrying a trace of warmth.
"Master Gwen is still inside. Go rest with her."
Master Gwen!
She realized Viktor was trying to send her away first. Clearly, Professor Viktor had things he wanted to discuss with Count Laurien.
And so Auréliane nodded obediently and slipped through the door behind her.
As she left, she couldn't help but glance back at Viktor with a lingering, reluctant look.
Clack.
The door closed.
Count Laurien watched Auréliane go, then finally spoke.
"The Princess truly does rely on you deeply, Council Member Clavena."
"But that isn't the kind of attachment she should have. She should be more independent."
Viktor said calmly, turning his gaze back to Count Laurien.
"And now, Count."
"I believe we ought to talk."
***
Back in Viktor's room, Auréliane finally felt a measure of relief.
Though the room was smaller than the one Count Laurien had originally prepared for her.
The atmosphere here felt far warmer than that one.
Warm enough, even, that it carried a faint heat.
Auréliane didn't think much of it—only that this place had a very familiar scent.
Perhaps it was the mingled presence of Professor Viktor and Master Gwen together, making her feel an uncommon sense of calm.
But for some reason she couldn't quite explain, the thought of the two of them spending the night together made her feel distinctly unsettled.
The room was rather quiet, broken only by the soft, steady rhythm of breathing.
Master Gwen must have fallen asleep.
Auréliane couldn't help but marvel at how good the room's soundproofing was.
Even with all the noise outside just moments ago, Master Gwen had managed to sleep this soundly.
She slowed her steps and walked carefully toward the bedside.
One glance was all it took—she found Professor Gwen lying face-down, fast asleep.
Auréliane leaned down and studied her.
Silver-white silken hair spilled loose, partially veiling her face.
Though such a sleeping position looked far from comfortable, Master Gwen seemed to be sleeping soundly all the same.
Hmm? Something wasn't quite right.
Auréliane frowned. As a Mage, she sensed the faint stirring of a Magic Power fluctuation.
It was as though someone had cast a spell inside the room.
She looked left and right. Finally, her attention returned to Gwen.
"Hypnosis!?"
Auréliane exclaimed aloud, then instantly realized her voice had been far too loud.
But it was clear she had sensed correctly.
Because Gwen hadn't woken.
Even at that volume, Master Gwen continued sleeping soundly.
This sent Auréliane's mind racing.
Obviously, the only Mage here who could hypnotize a 3rd-Tier Knight this effortlessly was one person.
What on earth could have happened to make Professor Viktor use Hypnosis?
In the next instant, her gaze drifted involuntarily to the blanket covering Gwen.
She blinked. Took a deep breath. Reached out her hand. And slowly pulled back Master Gwen's blanket.
"Professor, forgive my presumption."
With that said, the blanket was pulled fully aside, revealing the Bathrobe Gwen had on.
Finding nothing of what Auréliane had half-expected to see, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
But soon, she noticed something—an unusual ripple of Magic Power.
Auréliane's gaze shifted toward Gwen's back.
There, a mark was visible—the kind only a Mage's eye could discern.
Driven by curiosity, Auréliane channeled a small amount of Magic Power, reached out her hand, and traced her fingers along the mark.
The next second.
Swish—
That previously closed mark, disturbed by the movement of Magic Power, split open once more.
Revealing a stretch of Gwen's pale, white back.
In that instant, Auréliane froze entirely.
She remained exactly as she was—hand still outstretched—her mind a complete blank.
Professor Viktor.
Just what exactly did you do!!!
***
"This is a specialty tea from our Kingdom—please, help yourself."
Count Laurien sat on the sofa, facing Viktor, extending a teacup toward him.
Viktor gave a slight nod. The teacup floated over on its own.
He reached out, took the cup, and took a simple sip.
Then he set the teacup down and spoke plainly:
"Count, let us speak directly."
"You deliberately sent your daughter into my room, then used escorting Auréliane as your pretext to come find me."
Viktor's deep gaze fixed on Laurien.
Alongside the Crow's watchful eyes, it was a look that seemed to see through everything.
"This is about the Lady who killed your daughter, isn't it."