Not long after he told him to get in, Rosenta had regrets.
In order to cut off the conversation, and because he thought it would be more convenient to have Enoch by his side, he invited him in the carriage, but...….
Such a powerful stare was too burdensome.
"Enoch."
"Yes."
"You'd better stop staring."
Enoch did not turn away from him, even though he would have definitely heard the order.
Sitting across from him, he just stared at Rosenta as if he would never take his eyes off him.
Those deep eyes felt like they were seeing through everything.
Rosenta felt strange.
Not only did no one stare at him like that, but he also felt such a dark gaze for the first time.
Eventually, he raised his hand.
Then he extended his palm to Enoch's face.
He could now only see the back of his own hand. No longer could he see Enoch's face.
"Don't look at me."
"I’m just looking ahead."
That was also true.
He could have appeared to be staring since he was sitting in front of him.
However, just casually looking would not bring out such a clinging stare.
"Then keep looking ahead."
Rosenta moved to the side. Then he lowered the hand he was holding up.
He could see Enoch's light green eyes moving along with him.
"You said you weren't looking at me."
"I thought that was the case, but I guess not."
"You're a fool.”
Even at his stark words, Enoch only raised the corners of his mouth.
Then he asked, "You don't like it?"
Rosenta answered firmly.
"No. It's not normal for a man to look at another man like that."
Enoch turned sharply at his words so that he could face Rosenta comfortably with a strange smile.
"Is that so?"
Then he stared at him with a slight tilt of his head.
It was quite arrogant for a butler to sit in front of a duke, but Rosenta didn't point it out to Enoch.
Enoch wasn't a real butler to begin with.
"But the duke...….”
Rosenta spat out Enoch’s name to caution him.
He couldn't tell if Enoch was trying to provoke or bully him.
Regardless, he was offended, and he had no intention of letting it go.
He recited a spell.
"Magical space."
A light lingered for a moment on the jewel of the ring that was won on Rosenta’s finger.
It was a new magical tool that Anna retrieved yesterday.
After a while, a black hole appeared in the air. It was full of darkness.
But he knew what was in it, and what abilities it could unleash.
"Skeleton."
As if a spring were releasing, a skeleton burst out of that dark place.
The skeleton protruded out to the waist and reached for Enoch. As if to intimidate him.
He didn’t block it.
It was only meant to warn Enoch in the first place.
"You sent Anna to receive this yesterday.”
However, Enoch showed no signs of surprise.
On the contrary, with an interested face, he pointed exactly at the magical ring on Rosenta’s finger.
Rosenta nodded slowly and put his index finger to his mouth, telling him to be quiet.
"Shh."
He didn't think Enoch would be easily frightened, but he didn't think it would be this ineffective.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue briefly and waved his hand once.
"Go back."
At his command, the skeleton disappeared immediately.
It was his command, but it was a very strange sight, even to him.
It all disappeared like dust in the wind.
Even the black hole that was floating in the air.
"Always remember that it's not just the two of us here."
"I know. So, I cast Silence magic on this space.”
Rosenta was dumbfounded, so he shook his head and turned to the window.
At this point, he’d come to expect as much from him and wasn’t even surprised anymore.
He turned his head completely and watched the scenery outside.
All he could see was the sky that had begun to glow red, but it was better than the awkwardness of facing Enoch.
***
It was a comfortable journey that was incomparable to the trip to Terrian.
There was no sandstorm swirling, nor was there sand flooding into his mouth.
He just rode in the carriage. The coachman would do the rest.
However, a problem broke out in an unexpected place.
The soldiers who were guarding the boundary outside the capital blocked the carriage.
"What are you doing?”
"Please, wait a moment."
The clattering sound of horses, the coachman, and the soldiers could be heard outside.
"Can’t you see the golden plaque? Yet you’re still blocking us.”
Ordinary people proved their identities with wooden plaques.
However, plaques of gold were different. Only marquises, dukes, and royalty could have one.
Naturally, the driver, who didn't know the reason for being stopped, deserved to be angry.
"I'm sorry. I have an order from above, too…….”
"No, what is the order!"
Rosenta couldn't just sit inside and listen.
Something was strange if they were doing this even though they were shown a golden plaque.
This couldn't have happened unless there was some misunderstanding, or someone forbade their exit.
That didn't mean that the soldiers didn’t have to provide a proper explanation.
Rosenta couldn't just listen from inside the carriage. He needed to go outside and sort this out.
But before he could get up, Enoch whipped open the door first and leapt out.
"Duke."
As the dark dawn had passed, the sun was shining so brightly that Rosenta’s eyes hurt.
"Come out carefully."
Enoch, wearing white gloves, reached out one hand to him.
Rosenta mobilized all his memories of etiquette.
It was normal for butlers to reach out to their masters like this.
Well, the attendant who usually accompanied him usually gave him his back or hand to assist him down high steps.
It’s not that an example didn’t exist. However, was it because, this time, it was Enoch?
He was on his guard.
"All right."
He glanced at Enoch but did not hold his extended hand.
He got out of the carriage himself.
Then, passing Enoch, he made his way toward the still-noisy coachman and soldier.
"It's……. Wait a minute, please wait a minute…….”
The soldier became more restless when he showed up.
They looked at the other soldiers for help, but they only avoided the situation.
Rosenta didn't say anything, but he already felt like he was scolding them.
He whispered to the soldier.
"I'll show you a personal plaque."
He took out the plaque he had put in his chest pocket.
It was a plaque bearing the symbol of the Estella family. There was only one person who could have this.
The present Duke of the Estella Duchy.
Only then did the soldier notice his identity and his face turned white.
"It would have been enough to be shown a gold plaque, but why did you block us?"
"Well, that's....”
Suddenly the soldier fell flat on his stomach. Then he stuck his head to the floor and stammered and continued to apologize.
"Sorry, I'm sorry! My superiors made me do it...….”
"Why?"
"Well... I have been ordered to stop anyone who presents a gold plaque...….”
He raised his head and pointed to one place.
There was a bird where the soldier pointed. A bird the size of a human forearm with golden feathers.
It was the only ancient bird in the world.
There was only one person who could order that bird.
"Don't tell me..."
The sound of horses' hooves gradually came closer and closer. Someone was approaching.
It started to get noisy around them.
"Gasp. Oh, he's here."
"You have to stand up...….”
Rosenta turned to look back at the sound of horse hoofs.
It was running so fast that hazy dust was flying around the white horse.
However, even in the dust, he could see a golden color that drew everyone's attention.
It was Theodore.
If things had gone as planned, Rosenta would have already left the outskirts of the capital.
No, he could have even reached the first village in Silva.
‘But why am I still here, and why is Theodore in front of me?’
He didn't understand it at all.
Not just Theodore's psychology, but the entire situation itself.
"All stand down."
At Theodore's words, the soldiers began to leave the guard post one by one.
However, Enoch remained firm by Rosenta’s side.
"Enoch, leave."
Enoch should have listened to him, but he didn't even think to move.
He called him again.
"Enoch."
Only then did Enoch begin to slowly move. Although his movement stopped in front of the guard post door.
"Leave."
The handle of the old door made an unpleasant high squeak. Then he opened it very slowly.
Enoch finally left the guard post.
Only the two of them were left, but they didn't talk right away.
Sitting around an old wooden table, the silence continued.
‘Should I speak first? Or should I wait until Theodore brings it up?’
But, as usual, Rosenta’s patience was short.
"Why are you here?"
It would be better to leave as soon as possible at this point.
‘Just ask the reason for this visit, and quickly...….’
"I'll accompany you."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I said I would accompany you to Silva."
For a moment, Rosenta forgot that the person in front of him was an emperor before he was a friend.
Without realizing it, Vivian's way of speaking naturally popped out.
"Are you crazy?"
He was surprised, but he couldn't stop himself.
He decided to just speak brazenly. He went on to question Theodore.
"Why do you want to follow me.”
"Well, what would be a good reason?"
"...Do you not know why?"
"Then let's just say that I am also going to meet the Duke of Cardia for personal reasons."
Theodore smiled and answered slyly.
The words 'You've gone insane' were at the tip of Rosenta’s tongue.
But looking at that brazen face, he noticed it at once. It would be hard to break Theodore's stubbornness.
Basically, Theodore was a man who would never bend.
Whether it was out of the blue or completely planned, once he made a decision, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw it through to the end.
"Ha. If Your Majesty says so…… I'll just take it that you want to visit for personal reasons."
Rosenta had given up on the idea of leaving Theodore behind early on. But giving up was giving up, and questions were questions.
There was still one more question he wanted to ask Theodore.
"Then why did you stop me from passing through?"
Theodore answered his question with ease. As if he was asking the obvious.
"Because I want to go with you.”
"What?"
"At this rate, isn't two better than one, and three better than two?"
Theodore's golden eyes stared straight at him.
"I'll be better than the butler and the coachman when it comes to protecting you."
Rosenta was speechless.
No, he felt like his pride was cracking.
‘Did he think that I wouldn’t be able to pass safely with my current ability?’
Besides curses, s....."
"S?"
"Oh, no."
He almost spat out the word ‘skeleton.’ He closed his mouth and shook his head.
Many people already said that curses were filthy, but if it were known that he knew how to control skeletons, he would have been taken to the Holy Land right away.
It was antithetical to the self-proclaimed holy ones who value light.
Furthermore, he couldn't risk further revealing that he had a wizard with him.
In the end, such things could not be revealed carelessly.
Rosenta raised the corners of his mouth awkwardly.
"Your Majesty is right."
Theodore laughed with satisfaction.
Then he sprang up from his seat and nodded at Rosenta.
"Let's go now."
Rosenta was somewhat dazed. Was this the real Theodore right in front of him? Doubts arose.
Because it was so unplanned and dangerous, it was something the usual Theodore would never do. Even showing up like this and being stubborn was out of character.
"Your Majesty... are you all right?”
Theodore made a blank face at that question. Then he smirked and burst into laughter.
His eyes glistened warmly at Rosenta.
"Why? Because I'm not like myself?"
He also seemed to know well that his behavior was strange.
Rosenta nodded.
Theodore then smiled little by little.
He spoke in a very slow but distinct voice.
"I am also unfamiliar with this side of myself."