As soon as we left the room, I cast a soundproof spell on my conversation with Blake, so that no will hear us.

The maid's spell was clumsy and her mana was weak.

She wouldn't notice even if I used a soundproof spell.

I told Blake about the situation. He called Edon and the imperial knights, who were waiting near the marquis's residence in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Blake was worried about me and told me to go back first, but I stood my ground and promised him that I'll stay behind the knights instead.

I'm the only one that can deal with the black mage right now.

Blake had mana of light, but he did not master that power yet.

The knights wanted to barge in and capture Richard right away, but I dissuaded them.

"If we enter the room now, Lady Westin will stop us. Let us wait until they get out first."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"The woman in maid's clothing is a black mage. Be careful."

"We'll keep that in mind."

After a while, Richard opened the door with a confident look. Blake pointed his sword to Richard's neck.

Richard froze. However, he promptly raised his head with a relaxed expression.

"Your Highness, what are you doing? I know you're the crown prince, but I think you're going overboard."

He pretended to be innocent even in this situation. No, he even looked upset.

Several imperial knights, who were on alert, approached Sophia to protect her.

"No! Why are you trying to separate us? Don't take Richard away! He didn't do anything wrong!"

He was still using black magic under these circumstances.

I looked at the maid. She continued to control Sophia even though she was being overwhelmed by the knights.

Her loyalty was admirable.

I walked towards Sophia, which surprised Jayden.

"It's dangerous, Your Highness."

"It's okay, everyone's guarding me."

Five knights escorted me.

Besides, I'm the best person to use light mana against the black mage.

Of course, I promised Blake that I'll stay still under the knights' protection, but I can't just stand around when I can help him.

"Ancia."

I approached Sophia. Blake was surprised and immediately called my name.

"It's alright."

I held Sophia's hand.

The spell to manipulate her body was stronger than before, but it was still clumsy. I cut off the black magic that bound her with a single touch.

Sophia's body collapsed.

"Are you alright, Lady Sophia?"

Instead of answering, she raised a trembling arm, pointed at Richard, and shouted.

"It's all his fault! He killed my father!"

The Marquis of Westin was already dead.

To be honest, I guessed to some extent by watching his obstinate attempts to prevent people from meeting the marquis, but it was still a terrible thing to do.

"Richard Cassil, I will ask for the details of your crimes in the imperial palace."

Blake spoke coldly.

He murdered the Marquis of Westin, manipulated his only daughter with black magic, and forced her to marry him as he tried to acquire the marquis's wealth and status.

That was more than enough reason for Richard to receive the death penalty.

Even though his sins were exposed, Richard only stared at Blake as if he was going to kill him.

I couldn't see any signs of regret on his face until the end.

Richard's misdeeds have been fully revealed now.

At that moment, thick smoke suddenly rose and covered the hallway.

Is this magic? No, I can't feel the mana at all.

The knights yelled to each other,

"It will make you hallucinate! Cover your nose!"

But it was already too late. The knights stumbled and swung their swords to Blake.

"Blake!"

Blake dodged their attacks with ease, but Richard didn't miss the opportunity and hid in the smoke.

The knights tried to catch him, but they were stopped by the attacks of the hallucinating knights.

Blake didn't go after Richard and came to my side first.

"Ancia, are you okay?"

"Yes. You're not hurt either, are you?"

"I'm fine too."

Fortunately, he seemed to be uninjured. However, this wasn't the time to feel relieved.

The hall turned into a mess shortly.

"You're crazy! Do you know whom you're pointing your sword at?"

"Protect Their Highnesses!

"Ahhh!"

The shouts and the clanging of swords were all mixed up as people struggled against each other.

It was strange to think that they were simply hallucinating.

Furthermore, the knights pointed their swords at Blake first.

I concentrated, then I saw black mana coursing through the air.

It was black magic.

He made people hallucinate first, then he manipulated them using black magic.

Was it the maid before? No, it was much stronger and better than the maid's magic.

"Be careful! There's another black mage!"

I quickly cut off the black mana that was connected to the knights.

When the black mana was separated from their bodies, most of the knights fell on the floor.

The knights who kept swinging their swords were soon suppressed.

"Break all the windows!"

"Yes."

Under Blake's order, the knights who did not hallucinate broke all the windows around them.

The thick smoke flowed out.

However, Richard and the maid had already disappeared.

The other black mage was also nowhere to be found.

***

Just as Sophia said, the Marquis of Westin was dead.

Richard was furious when he was informed of the breakup and killed the marquis, but Sophia caught him.

He tried to coax Sophia to prevent her from telling anyone and to make her an accomplice. However, she refused and tried to call the knights, so he knocked her out to stop her.

Sophia couldn't remember what happened after that because of the effects of drugs and black magic.

From her point of view, those events were better off forgotten.

To become a marquis, Richard tried to force Sophia to marry him, even going as far as using black magic.

He was a trashy human being, both a thousand years ago and now.

Sophia clearly remembered a few things even with her blurred memories.

Richard's black mages were a man and a woman.

Both of them had the same black hair like Richard.

It must have been the male black mage who used hallucination and black magic to give Richard a chance to escape.

However, it mustn't be that easy for Richard and the two black mages to put the entire marquis's residence under their control in such a short time.

When the marquis's butler and knights were questioned, they admitted that they were bribed by Richard.

Until Richard gets caught, Sophia Westin will be under the imperial knights' protection.

There were four women who became miserable in 'The Beast and the Lady' because they were used by Richard.

Joanna, Camilla, Chelsea, and Sophia Westin.

Unlike in the original story, the first three had no contact with Richard, but Sophia could not avoid his schemes.

In the past, Sophia prayed for Blake's death.

She was 17 years old then.

It was not that young of an age.

I couldn't bring myself to forgive her, but I felt bad when I remembered her crying in her wedding dress.

"Don't do anything dangerous from now on."

"Okay."

I turned my head when I heard Blake's voice.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."

He held my hand tightly. It seemed that my expression revealed my thoughts. I felt worried again.

I intentionally smiled broadly.

"I couldn't give them the strawberries."

It was already late in the evening when we finally settled the situation and investigated the marquis. Sir Ron's wedding must be over.

"Let's eat them all."

"Shall we?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll just eat strawberries all day."

"That's a great idea too."

Blake smiled and sat next to me.

I naturally leaned my head on his shoulder.

"Ancia."

"Yes."

"Don't do anything dangerous from now on."

Blake spoke in a soft yet firm voice.

Earlier, I broke my promise to stay under the knights' protection and stepped in front of them.

"It wasn't that dangerous. I'm much stronger."

Although the male black mage's ability was outstanding, it was nothing compared to mine.

I was quite famous as a light mage a thousand years ago.

It was a very logical answer, but Blake burst out laughing.

"I'm telling the truth. I would've never come forward if it was even just a bit dangerous."

I don't have the slightest intention of making the people around me worry.

"I know. You're my teacher who lifted my curse and taught me magic."

Blake hugged my shoulders tightly.

"So just trust me and rest comfortably. I'm quite strong."

He spoke softly and with consideration, but I can imagine how worried he must've been all day.

"I already trust you."

I trust Blake a lot.

"But I'll be more careful next time."

"Promise me."

"Alright."

I didn't want to worry Blake. Besides, there will be no more dangerous situations in the future.

Once Richard gets caught, all of these will be over.