Crimson and Merchant 3
As Liliana’s figure vanished from inside the carriage, Riley, who had grabbed her arm in a panic, also disappeared suddenly. The attackers, leaving their comrades behind, fled the scene in unison. The guards, whose duty was to repel the enemies, did not pursue them. Especially since there were still enemies left behind, there would be ample opportunity for investigation.
However, Clyde, left alone in the carriage, stared blankly at the seat where his sister had been sitting. The disappearance of the crown prince was a serious issue, but what hit Clyde even harder was the shock of his beloved sister’s sudden vanishing. The seat he awkwardly touched was still warm, and he couldn’t grasp the reality of his dear sister Liliana being gone.
“—Lily…”
A hoarse voice escaped his lips.
—Will I forever be unable to rescue my beloved sister Liliana?
The taste of blood was on his bitten lips.
His tiny sister, ignored by their father and belittled by their mother. Despite his desire to help, Clyde had found himself powerless, living apart from Liliana. Despair over his own helplessness had driven him to struggle and seek a way to change things. Even when they had met again in the Fortia territory last year, he had vowed anew to save his sister. Yet despite all that, Clyde had done nothing to help Liliana.
Once again, Clyde had failed to rescue Liliana. Unlike Riley, he couldn’t even travel with her, and was left behind.
Given the circumstances, Clyde understood it might have been better not to have gone along. He knew he had to stay behind, handle the aftermath, and request support from the nearby Coiraud Viscountcy.
He couldn’t stay despondent forever, so he clenched his fists and tried to motivate himself. But his emotions were another matter.
—If only the barrier I had set was strong enough not to be breached.
If he had been able to subdue the enemies before Liliana was taken away by the transfer.
A storm of regret and anger assailed Clyde. Perhaps he had exerted too much force; his head throbbed painfully, and his vision turned red. He forced himself to take deep breaths and tried to maintain his composure.
It seemed the barrier around the carriage had disappeared, and the two guards assigned to Liliana roughly opened the carriage doors.
“Hey, where did the young lady go?!”
“Calm down, Gild. It’s likely she was taken away by teleportation.”
The beautiful woman in men’s clothing who admonished the guard named Gild had a look of anxiety in her eyes. Clyde fixed his gaze on the two of them and spoke.
“Can you report the situation? I will retrieve His Highness and Liliana.”
Though his voice was hoarse, it was filled with resolve.
******
Liliana suddenly woke up. The surroundings were dark, and her body ached. She furrowed her brow and strained her eyes. Gradually, her vision adjusted, and she began to understand where she was.
(This place is— a hut, I suppose.)
The smell indicated that there was a nearby stable. Straw and firewood were piled up in the corner of the hut, and tools used for dairy farming were haphazardly left around. The location of the attack was near the Coiraud territory. If it wasn’t too far, the animals kept here were likely goats or horses. The Coiraud region, known for its many valley villages, did not have a tradition of raising cattle or sheep.
From the memories just before she lost consciousness, it was highly likely that Liliana had been forcibly teleported by a curse. The purple mist was evidence that a curse had been activated. Moreover, the enemies had taken the trouble to bind Liliana with ropes. Whether they were unaware of her ability to use magic or simply didn’t care, the ropes were ordinary and not designed to prevent magic use.
“Liliana, are you okay?”
The familiar voice near her seemed to indicate that the speaker had noticed Liliana regaining consciousness. Liliana turned her gaze to see the face and was momentarily stunned.
(Riley, why are you here too?)
She briefly wondered if Riley was also a target of the kidnapping but quickly dismissed the thought. The purple mist had enveloped only Liliana. The most likely scenario was that Riley had been accidentally caught up in the teleportation when he touched Liliana at the moment she vanished.
<Yes, there’s no problem.>
Liliana replied casually. Fortunately, her communication bracelet had not been removed.
Hearing Liliana’s response, Riley’s relief was palpable. Liliana managed to sit up despite her struggles.
<When did you wake up?>
“A little while ago.”
Riley was already sitting up. He too was bound with his hands behind his back. Liliana sighed inwardly and apologized.
<I’m sorry. I dragged you into this.>
But Riley furrowed his perfectly shaped brows and looked at Liliana.
“Why are you apologizing, Liliana? You’re the victim here.”
<The enemies’ target was likely me from the start. You and my brother were simply caught up in this.>
“—Liliana,”
Riley’s voice had a hint of reproach, but Liliana stubbornly refused to listen. Riley’s expression tightened slightly, but concern for Liliana could be seen in his eyes. However, Liliana did not notice. Riley continued.
“There’s no need to blame yourself like that. This happened because I grabbed your arm in a panic.”
Liliana’s frustration only grew stronger, rather than feeling touched. It seemed that Riley had not been accidentally caught but had deliberately involved himself. To Liliana, it appeared to be an act lacking the awareness befitting a crown prince.
<With all due respect, Riley-sama, I appreciate your concern, but it seems rather reckless.>
“—Liliana, you’re my precious fiancée. I can’t just stand by and watch you being taken away alone.”
<I am still a fiancée candidate. While I am from a ducal family, you are the crown prince—soon to be king. The value of our lives is not comparable.>
Liliana implicitly warned against putting himself in danger to protect her life. Ignoring Riley’s astonished look, Liliana began to scan her surroundings and think about how to escape. Riley slightly opened his mouth but then closed it, seemingly resigned. With a small sigh, he whispered to Liliana.
“When I woke up, there was no sign of anyone around. It seems to be the same now—though I don’t know when someone will come. The teleportation circle on the wall was probably the mark that forced us to be teleported.”
Following Riley’s gaze, Liliana saw a pattern drawn on the wall of the hut. It was a shape she had never seen before. While written characters are commonly used in curse magic, this pattern was unfamiliar.
<Is that— a curse?>
“Yes. We perform teleportation with magic, but in the Eastern regions, it is done with curses. I’ve never seen that exact shape before, but I’ve seen similar ones in reports.”
In the Slibegrad Kingdom, those with abilities typically activate teleportation spells through incantations, while those without use magic-created teleportation circles. Liliana responded slightly to Riley’s explanation.
(Reports— which means you must have seen it recently in your work.)
Riley had only been involved in administrative work for less than a year, so it seemed unlikely he would have had the chance to review reports from before that time. It was understandable that Liliana did not recognize the pattern. Of course, she was not yet well-versed in all aspects of curse magic, and Petra and Ben Draco would likely say she was still in the introductory stages. Noticing Liliana’s silence, Riley smiled.
“That spell can’t be used for long-distance travel. We shouldn’t be too far from the attack site, so you can relax.”
<Is that so?>
“Yes. There’s a stable nearby and it seems there are horses, so once we get out, we can ride one back.”
Riley’s casual tone made it seem as if he did not fully grasp their predicament. Liliana hesitated. Using magic would make escaping possible, but she could not use magic in front of Riley.
(It’s unpleasant because it strains my joints, but it can’t be helped.)
During the special training with Kamakiri, the former assassin brought by Gild, there had been lessons on escaping from ropes. Liliana knew how to dislocate her joints to slip out of ropes, but it always caused her discomfort. Although magic would be more comfortable, she considered as she prepared to use her strength, Riley moved out of the corner of her vision.
<What—?>
Liliana blinked. Riley had somehow freed himself. The ropes binding his hands and feet had fallen to the floor. Riley smiled reassuringly at Liliana, stood up, and quickly untied her.
“I’ve learned a few tricks for dealing with captivity.”
Thanks to Riley’s help, Liliana was soon free as well. She took his outstretched hand and stood up, but her legs wobbled from poor circulation. Riley supported her with his steady, muscular frame despite only being two years older.
“Let’s go.”
Encouraged by Riley, Liliana began to walk on her own. However, both of them noticed the sound of hooves outside almost simultaneously. Riley quickly approached the door but found it barred from the outside. With no other option, Riley listened at the wall, and Liliana silently used magic.
[Search]
Outside the hut were three people— all on horseback. They were definitely headed towards the hut where Liliana and Riley were. It was highly likely they were related to the group that had kidnapped Liliana. Riley seemed to have reached the same conclusion at the same time. He stepped away from the wall, grabbed Liliana by the upper arm, and guided her towards the pile of straw in the corner of the hut.
“There are three enemies, probably on horseback. They’re likely aiming for this hut. Liliana, I’m sorry, but please hide behind the straw.”
<What about you, Riley-sama?>
If Liliana used magic, she could handle close combat or support without any problem. As she moved to hide behind the straw, she asked, and Riley, with a wry smile, revealed a dagger hidden in his shoe.
“I’ve trained for this. Three people should be manageable.”
Liliana blinked at Riley’s words. While she knew he practiced swordsmanship and martial arts as the crown prince, she had no idea how skilled he really was. In her previous life’s otome game, he was known as a skilled swordsman, but she questioned whether a nine-year-old could hold his own against grown men.
However, outright denial would be disrespectful and insulting to him.
(In a dangerous situation, I can also assist— let’s observe for now.)
Liliana decided to hide behind the straw and continued her search magic. It was crucial to notice the presence of the enemies before Riley did.
After confirming Liliana had crouched down, Riley moved to a spot where he would be out of sight when the door was opened. He steadied his breathing and waited for the enemies, who likely believed that Riley and Liliana were still bound by ropes, to enter.
Faintly, the voices of the men reached their ears.
“Wasn’t it supposed to be just the woman? Why did they transfer the man too? Are the mages in the capital really that useless? What a mess.”
“I don’t know. They said they’d make proper arrangements. But anyway, bro, the woman’s already got a buyer, right?”
“Yes, but if you guys want her, I won’t stop you. There wasn’t any instruction that she had to be a virgin. Though personally, I prefer someone a bit more sensual, so I don’t need her.”
The conversation was followed by crude laughter. Riley’s face twisted in disgust, while Liliana remained largely unaffected by the men’s words.
(This confirms that I am the target. It’s likely the work of someone who aims to remove me as a candidate for engagement.)
It was sad to think that her father could be the main culprit, but the next likely mastermind was the Tanner Marquis family. It was too early to be certain, but the sudden inspection suggested that Duke Clark, Liliana’s father, was almost certainly behind it.
“What about the brat? He’s quite a looker, right?”
“There are people who like boys too. We can sell him as well. Besides, even though the girl’s got a buyer, she’s still with us. If the price isn’t right, we can sell her along with the boy. We’ll manage somehow.”
The voices grew closer, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed as the men dismounted from their horses. Riley’s tension increased. Liliana focused her attention once more, ready to support Riley at any moment.
The door creaked open—this was the moment Riley had been waiting for.
Although shorter than the men, Riley’s flexibility and speed were his assets. He deliberately allowed the two men to enter the hut and then swiftly struck the third man under his right rib with a dagger.
“Ugh—”
The man groaned in pain as blood poured from the wound. As the other two men turned in response to the commotion, Riley was already preparing his next move. He struck the knee of the second man with the hilt of his dagger, shattering the patella and causing the man to collapse without a fight. The final man, cursing and drawing his sword, was met by Riley slipping past him and slicing the back of his elbow from behind. The man dropped his sword. As the man tried to attack with his left hand, Riley anticipated it and drove the hilt into his solar plexus. The man collapsed, unconscious.
(Well— that was quick.)
From her hiding spot, Liliana blinked in surprise at Riley’s skill. Though she was ready to assist at any moment, Riley’s attacks were as graceful as a dance and ruthless.
Since the ruffians were already subdued, they could have left the area. However, Riley quickly used the ropes left in the corner of the hut to bind the men. Liliana emerged from behind the straw and approached Riley. Riley looked up with a troubled expression.
“You probably don’t want to see this, do you? It’s better if you stay hidden.”
<It’s fine. More importantly, shouldn’t you tend to that person?>
The first man Riley had attacked was looking pale. Riley had targeted vital areas. Specifically, the first man was bleeding from his liver. If left untreated, he would die from blood loss, and even if treated, he would likely succumb to multiple organ failure. Liliana deliberately asked Riley about it.
(Considering their involvement in criminal activities, I have no intention of helping them.)
However, Liliana couldn't discern Riley's intentions. Would he show mercy here, or would he be ruthless? Liliana was determined to gauge Riley’s character.
The men had likely been involved in human trafficking for some time. Given their lack of hesitation in selling a seven-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy, they must have had ongoing clients. They clearly had no concern for what would happen to the children once sold. If they had any sense or compassion, they wouldn't engage in human trafficking at all—unless they believed themselves to be beyond such tragedies.
(How laughable.)
Liliana looked down at the men with a smile that could be interpreted as contemptuous.
Riley, having bound the men, stood up and looked at Liliana with an oddly calm expression.
“What do you want to do?”
<—Me?>
Riley was now asking Liliana for her input. Liliana tilted her head, blinked, and then looked back down at the men. To them, Liliana’s words were inaudible. It seemed that Riley was inquiring about how to deal with the three men.
Liliana’s smile deepened slightly.
<I will defer to your judgment, Riley-sama. You are the one who subdued these men, and you hold the higher position.>
Normally, the punishment for wrongdoers would be decided by the local lord. Of course, self-defense would be recognized in this case, but personal feelings should not influence the decision. However, as the Crown Prince, Riley had exceptional authority to determine the punishment. If Riley wished to avoid publicizing this kidnapping, it would be unwise to turn the men over to the local lord.
Riley’s face showed a hint of displeasure. It was unclear if Liliana’s response was not what he expected or if he was considering something else.
With a sigh, Riley sheathed his dagger and extended a handkerchief to Liliana, offering his hand.
“First, we’ll question the clients, then turn the men over to the lord, and finally, borrow horses to meet up with Clyde and the others. How does that sound?”
<Yes, that seems appropriate.>
Liliana accepted Riley’s hand with a satisfied smile, agreeing with his plan.
Chapter 66