"Step back."

My voice came out colder than I intended, cutting cleanly through the tension in the courtyard.

Ruby paused mid-step, eyes narrowing as she turned toward me. The faint hum of magic still lingered in the air from her earlier attack, and I could feel the wards trembling beneath the surface of the estate, reacting to my presence like an irritated hive.

"This is the last time I will say this-I'm not here to deal with you. I came to meet Duchess Isabella Lilly. You have no authority over me, and you have no reason to stand in my way."

I continued.

For a heartbeat, she stared at me in disbelief.

Then she laughed.

"You really think you can walk into this estate, break our defenses, and demand an audience? You're either arrogant… or suicidal."

She asked.

"I am neither."

I replied.

Her expression hardened.

"Then let me make this simple."

She raised her hand.

The air changed instantly.

I felt it before I saw it-the wards flaring to life, layers upon layers of ancient magic snapping into place like teeth closing around prey. The ground beneath my feet vibrated as sigils burned into existence, their light blinding as they activated in unison.

Fenrir snarled beside me, stepping closer.

"Shopkeeper-"

"I've got it."

The wards surged.

Pressure slammed into my body from all sides, an overwhelming force meant to crush, repel, and erase anything deemed a threat.

I planted my feet.

The force hit.

And stopped.

The air screamed as magic collided with something it couldn't overpower. I felt the resistance shudder, ripple, then splinter apart as I pushed back without even thinking about it.

The wards shattered like glass.

Light exploded outward, scattering fragments of magic across the courtyard. The ground cracked beneath me, but I didn't move.

Ruby staggered back a step, eyes wide.

"…Impossible."

I exhaled slowly, irritation curling in my chest.

"Enough. You're wasting both our time."

I said and her shock turned into fury.

"You think that was everything? I will show you the difference between you and me right now."

She snarled.

Before I could respond, she drew in power.

Fenrir growled, stepping in front of me instinctively.

"She's overdoing it. She won't be able to handle it all."

I muttered.

Ruby raised both hands.

"I don't care what you are. You don't belong here. I will erase you."

She said, voice shaking with strain.

The spell detonated.

A torrent of energy surged forward, swallowing everything in its path. The world blurred as light and force crashed into me, strong enough to level buildings, strong enough to tear a normal person apart atom by atom.

I didn't even raise my hands.

The power washed over me.

And vanished.

When the light faded, I was still standing and the courtyard was silent.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone, smoke drifting lazily through the air. Ruby stood frozen, arms still raised, staring at me as though she were looking at something that shouldn't exist.

"…No…That's not possible."

She whispered and I sighed.

"I told you-It wouldn't work."

I said quietly.

Her hands trembled as she lowered them.

"Why? Why didn't it work?!"

She demanded, voice breaking.

I met her gaze.

"Because you're too weak."

Her face twisted in fury.

"That's a lie-!"

"You lack faith."

I continued calmly.

She stared at me, breathing uneven.

Before she could speak, a new voice cut through the tension.

"Ruby."

The single word carried authority.

We both turned.

A woman stood at the edge of the courtyard, framed by the broken wards. A powerful and influential presence had stepped into our sight.

Duchess Isabella Lilly.

Ruby stiffened instantly.

"Grandmother…I was about to handle the intruder."

She said, lowering her head.

The Duchess's gaze flicked to me, then back to Ruby.

"Ruby, head back to your room. This is not something you should meddle in."

She said quietly.

Ruby flinched.

"This is beyond you. Step back."

Isabella continued.

"But-"

"That is an order."

Ruby clenched her fists, jaw tight, but she bowed.

"…Yes, Grandmother."

She turned and walked away, casting me one last glare before disappearing into the estate.

Silence settled again.

Isabella exhaled slowly, then turned fully toward me.

And to my surprise-

She bowed.

Deeply.

"My deepest apologies for the disrespect you were shown. For the actions of my granddaughter. And for the disturbance you endured."

She said.

I blinked.

"That's… not necessary. I wasn't offended."

I said awkwardly.

She straightened, studying me with eyes far older than her appearance.

"You should have been. And yet you were patient. That tells me a lot."

She replied.

She hesitated, then added softly.

"I am ashamed of what happened."

I scratched the back of my neck.

"Really, it's fine. I've dealt with worse."

Her lips curved faintly.

"I imagine you have."

A pause followed.

Then she spoke again, carefully.

"You came for the children, didn't you?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

Her expression softened.

"They are safe," she assured me. "I took them in only because they had nowhere else to go. I intended to return them once you came back."

"I appreciate that."

She studied me for a long moment, then sighed.

I met her gaze.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she stepped aside, gesturing toward the path leading deeper into the estate.

"Come, let's talk properly this time."

She said.

I hesitated only a second before nodding.

As I stepped forward, I felt Fenrir brush against my leg, his presence steady and reassuring.

The Duchess led me through a long corridor lined with polished marble and softly glowing crystals embedded into the walls. Every step echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the sheer scale of the place.

When she finally stopped and pushed open a pair of tall doors, I was greeted by a room that could only be described as excessive.

Silk curtains draped over tall windows, shifting gently despite the lack of wind. The furniture was carved from dark wood and inlaid with gold.

A wide bed sat at the center, its canopy embroidered with patterns it was beautiful but not enough to captivate me.

I barely glanced at any of it.

Instead, I turned to her.

"Where are the others?"

The Duchess paused just inside the doorway, her expression unreadable.

"They'll be back soon. They're safe."

She replied calmly.

"That's not what I asked."

She studied me for a moment before closing the door behind us. The click echoed louder than it should have.

"I thought you might say that. But before anything else, there's something I want to know."

She said.

I folded my arms.

"This better be quick."

Her gaze sharpened.

"You vanished…Left without a word. You abandoned responsibilities you took upon yourself. People were worried. Some were angry. And now you return as if nothing happened."

She said.

I said nothing.

She took a step closer.

"Where did you go? What were you doing all this time?"

She asked.

The silence stretched.

I could feel Fenrir shift behind me, alert but quiet. The air in the room felt heavier, like it was waiting for my answer.

"That's not something I can tell you."

I said finally.

Her expression hardened instantly.

"I see."

"I'm not hiding anything for selfish reasons. But some things aren't meant to be shared. Not yet."

I added.

She turned away, walking toward the window. Her reflection stared back at us through the glass, looking older than her youthful face suggested.

"You must understand how that sounds. You disappear without explanation. It caused quite a lot of problems and the children also felt lonely. And now you refuse to explain yourself. This is quite concerning for me."

She said.

I met her gaze in the reflection.

"I didn't come here to argue."

She turned back sharply.

"And I didn't bring you here to indulge secrets."

There was a pause.

Then she spoke again, slower this time.

"If you cannot tell me where you went… then I cannot hand the children over to you."

The words hit harder than any spell.

I stiffened.

"…What does that mean?"

"I can't take that risk. Not with how irresponsible you have been. As you know, the temple handed these kids over to me to look after. I am their primary guardian and I will raise them from here on."

She said firmly.

My jaw tightened.

"You think I'd hurt them?"

"No. But I think you might not be able to protect them anymore."

She replied immediately.

Silence filled the room.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm.

"I came back for them. It is their choice if they want to come back or not. You cannot make that decision for them."

I told the duchess and she sighed.

"You are right. I cannot make a decision for them. But I can make it such that they do not have to make this decision. They won't know you are here, shopkeeper. So please, return now and we do not have to talk about this ever again."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.