Although Aria had been escorting her while remaining hidden with magic in case of an unexpected situation, it was merely a precaution—a countermeasure prepared for the worst-case scenario, where everything would have to be resolved through force.
Cain and Sarah resided in none other than the Duke of Decaraznan’s domain, one of the Empire’s four great ducal houses.
In a place that held such immense wealth and prestige, drawing a sword without the Duke’s permission was tantamount to directly challenging his authority.
Aria had only one purpose in secretly watching over Sarah—to quickly grasp the situation and report it to Cain if anything unfortunate happened beyond his sight.
Sarah’s discomfort was a personal matter, but Cain’s explicit request was something she could never ignore.
From the moment Sarah and her uncle came face to face, Aria had activated a magical tool capable of two-way transmission and relayed the entire conversation occurring in that room to Cain—
[…]
As a result, her one and only master seemed furious at that moment.
Truly furious.
No, absolutely enraged.
***
Kwadeuk—
As Aria had expected, Cain—who had heard every word exchanged in Sarah’s room—could only laugh.
He was angry.
So angry, in fact, that laughter was the only thing he could muster.
His fists clenched so tightly that blood seeped from between his fingers.
But the rage that surged through him was far stronger than the pain. He wanted to discard the dignity of the Duke of Decaraznan and the Duke of Estel altogether, storm Count Cernard’s estate, and personally slaughter those vile creatures that dared to call themselves nobility.
At the very least, he wanted to rip apart the jaw of the bastard who dared to call himself Sarah’s uncle.
He knew.
From the moment Sarah had been treated like that by someone claiming to be her uncle within the Duke of Decaraznan’s territory, he understood just how unimaginable the suffering she had endured must have been.
He also knew well that the Cernard family viewed Sarah as nothing more than a “commodity”—a tool to be packaged and handed off to another household.
He knew Count Cernard, the one who treated her that way, was nothing but scum.
…Yet there was a vast difference between merely knowing and actually witnessing their actions.
It was a gap that could never be bridged.
Never had he imagined that people who so proudly flaunted their noble blood could act in such a base and despicable manner.
Trying to suppress the fury that bubbled up inside him, Cain called Aria’s name with a slightly trembling voice.
“…Aria.”
[Yes, Young Lord.]
“I’m sorry, but can I borrow your strength?”
At Cain’s words, Aria responded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
[Everything I do is for the Young Lord. I will always be your strength. So please, don’t ask me that question…]
“No, that’s not what I meant. Aria.”
Cain spoke gently, but with a cold, sunken gaze Aria had never seen before.
“I am asking Aria, Carol’s sole disciple—not Aria, the exclusive mage of the Duchy of Estel.”
“I’m asking if you can use your full strength as Aria, the archmage who has touched the truth and gained insight.”
[ …]
There was no immediate answer from Aria.
In some ways, she seemed caught off guard; in others, she seemed embarrassed.
But Cain didn’t press her for a reply.
He already knew.
Contrary to how she appeared on the outside, it was well known that Aria concealed much of her power.
Still, he had never felt the need to call her out on it.
If she was hiding her power, he believed there was a reason—and that she would one day explain it to him.
He had no choice but to believe in her.
Hadn’t she made a promise? That she, Aria, would always be his strength?
Originally, Cain had never intended to ask Aria for overwhelming support. The plan to save Sarah had been set with Aria’s help as an essential piece, yes—but fundamentally, Cain had never intended to rely on anyone else.
This wasn’t a direct confrontation with the Duke of Decaraznan or Count Cernard.
It was merely a covert act of stealing away a powerless girl.
Of course, to them, Sarah was a valuable “commodity,” and so they would surely send their hounds after her. But Cain believed that, once she returned, they could fight back. He had the swordsmanship he had honed over the years—the Flowing Star style—and other hidden weapons yet to be revealed. He thought that would be enough to ensure victory.
…But it wasn’t. Simply rescuing Sarah wasn’t enough.
The nightmare she was trapped in wouldn’t end just by tearing apart the iron bars that confined her or by granting her freedom.
At the very least, Cain was desperate to strike down that bastard who called himself her uncle.
Call it sympathy.
Call it rage.
Cain had simply decided he would no longer hold back.
To make that decision a reality, he needed Aria’s help. Her magic—her knowledge and wisdom that transcended public understanding, and her skills that easily surpassed common sense—was essential.
[…Young Lord, do you remember what I told you before?]
After a long silence, Aria finally spoke.
[I will always be on your side. I belong to you alone. So do as you please. I will always stand by your side.]
It was a clear, unwavering affirmation.