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nIn the pitch black sea, the waves surged sinisterly.

nThe raging waves were caused by a sea beast, vigilantly looking for any opportunity to swallow a boat.

nAlthough they were now close to the beast’s hideout, the exact location hasn’t yet been found.

nNonetheless, this was a tremendous achievement given the short period of time. It was all thanks to Adrian Hill’s driving force and talent.

nAdrian had left Rosenia at the villa, not willing to bring his precious sister to this dangerous sea. However, he knew the villa wasn’t completely safe either.

nIt was the threat of Llewellyn Rasiane. Adrian believed that crazy bastard was still after Rosenia.

n‘Has he forgotten who I am? That crazy bastard.’

nAdrian was willing to entertain the idea if a young noble who was good looking and had a good personality told him that he wanted to court Rosenia. Naturally, agreeing to it was a different matter.

nRegardless, it wasn’t just any guy. It was Llewellyn Rasiane. Even if the sky split in two, Adrian wouldn’t allow it. The Rasiane and Hill are incompatible. It was an unwritten rule from a long time ago.

n‘Also, the damn Lovicks…’

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nAdrian glared into the pitch black air with a grim look. He gritted his teeth when he thought about those sons of bitches Lovicks.

nThe Lovicks, who followed the Duke of Rasiane like dogs, would never accede to the Hills when it comes to the two sides.

nAdrian hoped his naive sister would never find out that those sons of bitches were the enemies of their family. He intends to destroy the Lovicks with his own hands if his father won’t.

n‘At least three more days. No, two days.’

nWith the way things are, Adrian plans to quickly deal with this annoying sea beast and then return to the villa.

nAdrian had placed a spell near the vicinity of the villa and left his familiar with Rosenia, but he still felt uneasy.

nStrangely enough, dangerous situations have often followed Rosenia since she was a child. So as not to risk anything, Adrian had kept her hidden safely in the Mage Tower.

nAdrian couldn’t let the innocent and naive Rosenia out of his sight.

n‘If he insists on seeing Rosenia, he’ll have to risk his life. I don’t need a bastard who can’t even give his life.’

nNot to mention, it was the Duke of Rasiane who had a lot to lose.

n‘In any case, it’s nothing more than a cheap crush. If he’s going to try and sway her with something like that, whether it’s Llewellyn Rasiane, or whoever, I’ll not let them live to see the light of day.’

nAdrian vowed to follow them to the end of hell and torture them to death.

nRosenia was dreaming of the past.

nIn her dream, she was four years old and Adrian was eight years old. Her mother was there with them.

nRose, look at your brother. Isn’t he really beautiful? Don’t you think he should have been born a girl?

nSaid her mother, pointing to Adrian dressed as a girl. She burrowed into her mother’s arms with a smile. His appearance was hilarious.

n“…”

nAdrian’s eyes staring at her seemed to be asking, ‘Are you enjoying this?’ and ‘Is this funny?’ She was certain that he’d educate her to death later if she laughed at him now.

nHowever, laughing at Adrian was one of the few pleasures in her life. She laughed merrily at him without a thought of the consequences.

nIt looks good on you, brother!

nAdrian was wearing a black dress and a black bonnet that their mother had carefully chosen.

nThe dress and bonnet were heavily laced, with a red ribbon that tied it altogether.

nThe shoes were a black and orange color with straps covering the back of the feet that matched the dress very well. In addition, Adrian wore black lace socks on his small feet.

nAdrian’s beautiful appearance was like Snow White from the fairy tale. However, this particular Snow White was glaring fiercely with his eyes and vowing revenge.

n“Hey, Rian. Take Rosenia around the tower in that outfit.”

nAdrian’s expression hardened at their mother’s words. His shoulders trembled, but he couldn’t bring himself to say no or rebel.

nLooking at his mother grudgingly, his eyes were much more boyish and innocent than usual. He also seemed a little tearful.

nMaybe their mother deliberately teased Adrian to see that kind of reaction. And truthfully, she would do that too if she was a mother, if only to make sure that her child was human. And above all, if that child was Adrian.

n“…Come here, Rose.”

n“Heup! Big sister!”

nRosenia ran away as she took another jab at Adrian by calling him big sister.

nAdrian’s emotionless face wrinkled that day, but he never got angry at her. She could read his mood through his red eyes.

n“Hehe.”

n“What are you laughing about? Don’t laugh.”

nRosenia was going to show this image of Adrian to their father, who she thought would surely laugh.

nImagining the scene playing out, Rosenia couldn’t stop laughing.

nIt was a blissful afternoon in the tower with her mother there.

n“…”

nWaking up from her dream, she stared blankly at the ceiling.

n‘Dreaming of the past, that’s new.’

nWhether it was because of a longing or loss, her heart was pounding irregularly and she felt a sense of emptiness.

nThe ceiling showed that it was already dawn. That fact made her sleepiness reverie completely disappear.

nIt was admiration that soon came to her mind.

n‘I woke up at dawn!’

nRosenia crept up in surprise. Turning carefully and looking beside her, Llewellyn was still sound asleep.

n‘I woke up earlier than this guy!’

nThe fact gave her a childish sense of triumph because up till now she had always overslept after a rough night with him. She wanted to get up before him at least once.

nLlewellyn’s stamina was simply monstrous, and he wasn’t tired at all after tiring her out.

nAnd yet, Llewellyn would say, ‘Rose’s stamina is really weak. I’m already holding back.’

n‘Oh my god. Does that make sense? Doing it over and over again, and that’s him holding back? Such a frightening existence.’

nSlowly getting out of bed, Rosenia was careful to not wake him up, afraid that he might try to coax her into being eaten again.

nRosenia picked up her gown from the dressing table chair and put it on. She approached the window and looked up at the sky and the coming light signaling the break of dawn.

nEven the roses in the garden were still asleep. The peaceful and picturesque scenery made her feel comfortable.

n“Let’s go to a sea cliff with Llewellyn today.’

nAt the natural thought that came to her mind, she paused. She couldn’t believe she was so calm in this situation where she didn’t know when Adrian would return.

n‘But…wouldn’t it be okay since I still have three days to spare? The sea beast isn’t something that can easily be defeated, even if it’s Adrian.’

nFor some reason, Rosenia felt like she was getting increasingly laid back, but thought it’d be okay to stay at ease for a few more days. She planned to contact the Duke of Rasiane’s family one of these days.

n‘Yeah, one of these days. Just not right now. Somehow, it feels like the days are getting shorter.’

nFor fear of waking up Llewellyn, Rosenia went to the bathroom in another room, washed herself, changed her clothes, and went out for a walk in the garden.

nToday’s outfit was a blue dress made of wavy material. It was short sleeved with a white lace neckline.

nRosenia liked the color blue, so she had many blue clothes.

nAdrian, on the other hand, always wore black clothes. Not only that, but he preferred dark places.

nAnyway, Rosenia couldn’t imagine Adrian dressed in white. She thought he’d probably rather be naked.

n‘I’ll take one walk around the garden then prepare breakfast.’

nRosenia didn’t want to leave it to Llewellyn every time, so she wanted to cook today. Her cooking skills were terrible, but it wasn’t so bad that it was impossible to eat.

n‘What should I make? I guess something easy and simple is better, right?’

nAs Rosenia stopped for a moment to think about the menu, suddenly, she felt another presence.

n“…?”

nA small flinch, Rosenia looked in the direction where she felt the presence. Walking through the rose vines and coming her way was someone. It was unthinkable for such relaxed steps to belong to an intruder.

nBut it wasn’t Llewellyn. The uninvited guest was shorter than him. And the hair color was different. His honey blond hair, which was as clear as freesia petals and slightly shoulder length, was tied neatly together.

n“Ah.”

nFinally stopping in front of her, the fairly beautiful blond boy sighed.

n“Rosenia Hill?”

n“…”

nInstead of answering, Rosenia watched the boy with vigilance. In any case, she couldn’t figure out how he broke into the villa without a sound when there were spells all around.

nIt was impossible to destroy the spells without recoil.

n“You’re really alone? Capturing you is this simple?”

n“…?”

nHer forehead creased at his remark. She didn’t think she was an easy person to capture.

nPeople were always paying attention to Adrian, the youngest master of the Mage Tower, so they didn’t know much about her. She was always shielded by Adrian’s glare.

nAlthough Rosenia wasn’t particularly dissatisfied with that, she knew that many people thought she was weak because she lived in Adrian’s shadow.

nJust like now.

n“You’re that crazy tower guy’s weakness?”

nDumbfounded at the blond boy’s words, Rosenia asked back.

n“Who told you that?”

nThe boy, with a tilt of his head as if it was no big deal telling her everything, answered back.

n“Who told me that? Isn’t it obvious? Aren’t you the Mage Tower master’s weak little sister?”

nCompletely at a loss for words, Rosenia unconsciously corrected the boy’s misconception.

n“My older brother has been shielding me, but I’m not his weakness.”

n“Ah, really?”

nRetorted the boy, smiling as if he didn’t believe her at all.

n‘He must really think I’m a pushover.’

nRosenia wondered if she should teach him a little lesson.

n‘Whoever this boy is, he’s trespassing on the Hill family property, so attacking him would be self-defense. But his dazzling blond hair, and those rare purple pupils like violets, and that beautiful face! That is that, and trespassing is trespassing. Also, he insulted me.’

nPay back as much as you’re insulted, that was the Hill family’s motto. Of course, in Adrian’s case, he always paid it back tenfold…

nStaring at the boy, Rosenia focused her mind on using magic. The use of magic was as easy as breathing for sorcerers in the Mage Tower.

nAnd since Rosenia was a sorcerer of the Mage Tower, magic was a part of her daily routine. Such that subduing one boy was easy.

n‘Okay, this will definitely be easy…’

n“…?”

nHer magic, it didn’t work.

n‘What?’

nTaken aback, Rosenia looked at the boy and blinked her eyes.

nThe magic Rosenia conjured was supposed to make the boy lose his sight briefly. However, the magic quickly dissipated when it reached him.

n‘No way.’

nAs Rosenia frowned and wondered how it was possible, the boy said in a mocking tone.

n“Princess. Magic doesn’t work on me.”

n“What…?”

n“I have a peculiar constitution. Haven’t you heard of it?”

n“…?”

n‘A peculiar constitution where magic doesn’t work?’

nAt that moment, a memory suddenly flashed across her mind.

nThree years ago, it wasn’t long after Adrian became the master of the Mage Tower.

nAdrian and her were told that there were sorcerers conducting inhumane experiments.

nWhat they found at a slum in the eastern part of the Empire was a narrow cavern artificially created by sorcerers. Trapped inside were pitiful test subjects.

n‘I’m pretty sure one of those experiments…’

nThere was such a case. A peculiar constitution and a boy with a dangerous ability to extinguish any mana that touches him.

n‘But, that boy…’

nThe sorcerers were able to discover the cavern and destroy it, and undoubtedly, the boy should have died…

n‘Is this boy from back then? Or is it someone else?’

nThe boy’s face from that time was so hazy in her memory that she couldn’t recall exactly. She looked at the blond boy with a confused expression.

nThen, Rosenia saw it. Indignation, anger, and hatred in the boy’s eyes.

n“I hate you sorcerers. And I hate that crazy master of the Mage Tower.”

nThe boy’s relaxed mood was completely gone, evident by his glistening violet pupils.

nRosenia was speechless at the hatred directed at her.

n“So, princess, you’ll surely be captured and brought to my doorsteps. I can’t wait to see you crying and begging for your big brother.”

n“What do you mean capture? What are you talking about…”

n“Well, I’ve got to get going now. I’ve confirmed that you’re really here, so that’s enough.”

nRosenia tried to catch the boy, but he disappeared in a flash. She thought it was probably a movement magic tool.

n‘…He hates sorcerers, but uses what they made?’

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nRosenia stared dumbfoundedly at the spot where the boy disappeared.

nThe sudden event disturbed her mind greatly. She kept recalling the boy’s words.

n‘Capture me? Brought to his doorsteps? If he’s not the one capturing me…’

nAt that moment, a family name crossed her mind.

nOf all things, a family name that she never wanted to think of.

n‘…The one that is going to capture me…’

nIn this villa right now, there was only one such person who could do that.

nBut, unable to imagine it could be that person, her body trembled and she became breathless.

nNevertheless, her thoughts steadily pointed to a person.

nLlewellyn Rasiane.

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