Subliminal Wayfarer

—My strength, it’s surging.

A voice, grating like claws against the throat, emerged from between gritted teeth. Though it was in human language, it sounded almost monstrous.

“How do you feel? A bit more alive?”

—Yes. Absolutely fantastic.

“Then, hand her over to me. I’ll take good care of her and return her later.”

Daniel’s words, accompanied by a flick of his fingers, made Leo’s dark eyes look over and scan Alicia.

Eventually, he grabbed Alicia with one hand and threw her towards where Daniel was.

“Kyaaah!”

“Alicia!”

Rosetta’s call followed Alicia’s scream.

“Goodness.”

Daniel barely caught Alicia as she flew towards him.

“Isn’t that a bit rough for handling a lady you fancy?”

—Ah, I’m still getting used to controlling this strength.

“That makes sense. Your life is about to change completely. But first, we need to eliminate all these witnesses, don’t we?”

—Witnesses?

“Yes. If not for these eyewitnesses, who would know of your connection with me? Then everything can return to how it was. You could become a duke, or perhaps even something higher. You could have this empire in the palm of your hand.”

—This empire… in my hand.

Leo murmured as if enchanted.

Rosetta bit her lip.

‘Shrewd bastard.’

If only Urien had no tongue, the world would have been a more peaceful place.

Rosetta assessed the situation.

‘There’s a chance.’

The knights of the imperial guard and House Valentine had already surrounded Leo and Daniel. Damian and the duke were there, and despite the side effects of the poison weakening her, Rosetta was ready to fight.

On the other hand, Daniel was drained of power.

Even if he tried to summon monsters, in such a state, he wouldn’t be able to yield many numbers.

‘He must have known that, which is why he asked for Alicia to be handed over.’

Daniel smirked, pressing a dagger close to Alicia’s throat, clearly intending to use her as a shield.

“Rosetta, how are you? No injuries? There— There’s blood on your clothes…”

Damian, who had been quietly watching Leo and Daniel, finally noticed the bloodstains on Rosetta’s clothes. It was the blood Rosetta had vomited after ingesting poison.

“Are you okay? Where did you get hurt?”

The duke asked belatedly, but Rosetta shook her head.

“Is my condition really what matters now, with a monster right in front of us?”

“Even if there are generations-worth of a monster in front of me, you’re more important,” the duke stated firmly.

Rosetta paused for a moment, then nodded.

“I’m okay. But Alicia is being held hostage, and… Besides.”

She glanced briefly over her shoulder at Cassion, who was now on her back, then looked away.

Sensing her gaze, Cassion gave a dry laugh.

“Let… Let me down. I can’t be of help, but I don’t want to be a hindrance.”

“…You’re too cold.”

“That’s just how my body is. So… let me down.”

Rosetta clenched her fist.

The warmth from Cassion’s body on her back was noticeably cooling.

Leaving him alone in this state could lead to him being attacked…

‘He’ll die.’

She couldn’t let that happen.

But fighting with him on her back also had its limits, especially with Alicia also taken as a hostage, doubling the concerns.

Her condition wasn’t great either after losing so much blood.

Caught in indecision, Leo began to soar into the air.

“Everyone, attack!”

As he rose into the air, the tense atmosphere snapped, and a full-blown battle began.

Spears and arrows sliced through the air from all directions.

However, flames poured down from above.

“It’s difficult to attack since the opponent is a mage, and he’s airborne!”

Leo, having turned into a monster, was stronger than anticipated.

Blue flames burst from his mouth, and his hands released giant hailstones.

Seeing this, the duke looked back at Damian and Rosetta.

“I need to go.”

A brief silence followed.

Damian nodded at his father.

“…Please be careful. I’ll join you shortly.”

“Be careful, Father.”

Behind the children’s voices, the duke cracked a smile, uncharacteristic of him.

“Yes, I will. You too.”

With that, the duke plunged into the midst of the battle. Once the swordmaster joined in, the tide began to turn more favorably.

That’s when it happened.

“Milady!”

A familiar voice came from behind. Rosetta, who had been anxiously checking on Alicia, quickly turned around.

“Diana?!”

“Milady! I’m sorry. I took my eyes off her for a moment and lost Lady… Lady Alicia?!”

Diana, panting from her run, was shocked to see Alicia held captive by Daniel. Then, she clenched her fists tightly.

“You took Lady Alicia?!”

“Took her? I’d say I brought her back.”

“Don’t twist my words! Give Lady Alicia back!”

“That’s a bit difficult. As you see, Alicia is…”

Daniel smiled slyly, moving the knife in his hand closer to Alicia’s throat.

“Hicc.”

As Alicia swallowed dryly in fear, a single drop of blood trickled down her neck.

“Alicia is my hostage.”

Diana gritted her teeth, hesitating at Daniel’s laughter-filled voice.

“Diana, why did you come all this way? I told you not to come.”

“You said I don’t need to listen to Your Ladyship’s words anymore! So, I just ignored what you said and came!”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Diana hastily rummaged through her belongings.

“Here!”

She then handed something to Rosetta, who blinked in surprise at what was now in her hand.

“What’s this?”

Diana replied in a lowered voice.

“It’s the rapid development pill.”

“The pill?”

“I contacted Madam Blanca earlier. I told her that you were captured, and the mansion was filled with monsters. I asked her to contact the Imperial Palace about the situation, and she said I should go to Mister Logan’s medical room and check the drawer.”

“And you found this in the drawer?”

“Yes! It’s not entirely finished, so they were holding off on reporting it. But it’s almost perfect.”

“What is it?”

“It’s made using the recipe that you gave before, Milady… Ah, I don’t know the details. Anyway, it’s supposed to be given to someone injured? It’s supposed to help, right?”

Their eyes simultaneously turned to one place.

Cassion, who was carried on Rosetta’s back.

Hearing this, Damian, not fully understanding but catching on, discreetly moved to Rosetta’s side.

“If you’re going to put the Ducal Lord down, I’ll help.”

“Oh, please. Brother.”

Damian nodded and, together with Diana, helped Cassion down.

“I’ll take care of this side, so Milady, please go to Lady Alicia.”

“Diana.”

“Don’t worry. This time, I’ll protect you no matter what.”

Rosetta nodded at the determined voice.

“I trust you. Be careful.”

“You too, Milady.”

After checking on the three, Rosetta walked alone towards Daniel. The knights and Daniel were in a standoff, hesitant to approach because of the hostage.

“It’s dangerous, Your Ladyship!”

“Step back!”

Despite the knights’ protests, Rosetta ignored their warnings and walked determinedly towards Daniel.

Daniel welcomed her with a smile.

“So, have you decided to come to me? You don’t want to see your sister die like this, do you?”

“Sister, don’t worry about me…!”

“Hush now.”

At Alicia’s outcry, Daniel’s knife pressed deeper beneath her throat. Alicia’s lips, pale with fear, shut tightly without realizing it.

“Take one more step and I will kill her.”

“Ahaha. Well, unfortunately, my hand might move faster than you can.”

Daniel laughed weakly in response.

Rosetta kept her mouth shut because his words were true.

“Rosetta. You have no choice. Listen to me. Let’s not waste our energy, hm?”

His tone, cajoling like one might soothe a child, was nauseating.

Yet, Rosetta hesitantly moved towards Daniel.

Honestly, as long as Alicia was so close to Daniel, there was nothing she could do from this side.

‘Let’s do as he says for now.’

There would be another opportunity.

Using poison had worked this time, but it wouldn’t work again.

Still, there had to be a way.

Unlike when she was Rita, she had too many reasons now to survive and continue living.

“Fine. I’ll do as you wish. So, lower the knife from Alicia’s neck.”

 

* * *

 

Seeing Rosetta approaching, Alicia bit her lip. Tears welled up.

‘Ah, why am I always like this…?’

Unable to be of any help to her sister. Always the same.

Yet, her sister continued to sacrifice herself for her.

It was… atrocious.

The fact that she could only receive, never give.

Worse than being useless, she was a hostage, a burden to her sister.

Without the hostage, her sister could easily take down a man like him.

Yes, she could.

If there was no hostage.

If the hostage disappeared.

If the hostage… is dead?

Realization dawned in Alicia’s unfocused eyes.

With tears in her eyes, she slowly looked down at the knife aimed at her throat.

“Alicia?”

Rosetta murmured her name quietly, sensing something, but Alicia did not respond.

Instead.

Suddenly, she raised her hands and grabbed Daniel’s arm, pulling it down.

There was no battle cry, no preparation. Her movement was devoid of any hesitation.

“?!”

Caught off guard by Alicia’s unexpected action, Daniel was unprepared. Thus, led by the slender arms, the knife moved as they directed.

And then.

Shuunk.

“ALICIA!!!!”

The horrific scream belonged to Rosetta.

Following that, Alicia, with a faint smile, collapsed powerlessly to the ground.