Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 92

He looked like he was grinding his teeth, but Calliope couldn’t have cared less.

Would he be happy about this land? she wondered.

Of course, her choice of territory wasn’t random. Soon, demonic beasts would start appearing near the northern mountain range where the Demon King’s castle was said to be. That land positioned right at the foothills would become a strategic hub for mercenaries. Rumor had it that monster hides, bones, and other materials would become valuable trade goods.

Erben didn’t know any of that. But she did.

To Calliope, this was a very satisfying deal.

“Well then, see you on the day of the birthday party, dear brother-in-law.”

“If I just send someone on my behalf…”

“Try that and see what happens.”

“…I’ll be there.”

“Good. He’s your younger brother, after all. You should boost his spirits. The family name’s yours anyway—surely you can do at least that much? Don’t act so small-minded.”

“…Right.”

Erben replied with the blank expression of someone who genuinely wished he could be small-minded. But he gave in. And with that, Calliope left the count’s estate wearing a calm, satisfied smile.

Somehow, every time she visited this house, it felt like a hurricane had passed through.

Back at her estate, Calliope focused on planning Isaac’s birthday party, squeezing preparations into a very tight schedule. That was when an unexpected letter arrived.

It was from Duke Glenn Glayderth.

His letter opened with an absurdly casual suggestion—Let’s have tea sometime. Not exactly what a noble from the royalist faction usually said to someone in the imperial loyalist camp. That alone told her: this wasn’t just a friendly invitation.

Calliope temporarily handed her tasks over to one of Circe’s maids and made her way to House Glayderth.

To no one’s surprise, Duke Glayderth himself greeted her at the door. Of course he did.

So this is the kind of hospitality he offers now? He’s clearly up to something.

Calliope smiled politely but refused his offer of an escort, just to show she wasn’t amused. The duke put on a mock-sad expression, then led her into the drawing room.

As soon as she sat down on the sofa, she spoke.

“Don’t try anything strange. I’m engaged, you know.”

“You never know what life might bring.”

“I do. I’m marrying him. End of story.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

“I told you before—I’ve seen the future.”

She said it with a joking tone, sinking comfortably into the cushions. The duke gave a casual shrug and finally got to the point. If nothing else, he was good at skipping the small talk when it mattered.

“I’ve been sitting on this since your birthday. I figured it’s time you knew.”

Since my birthday?

Calliope’s brow furrowed. That was the day of the assassination attempt. Her instincts told her this would be related. What irritated her was that he had known since then and only now chose to speak.

“I’m not going to ask why you waited.”

“Good. Pressing me too hard might’ve made me lose the mood to share.”

“Duly noted. Though this just proves Otis would be miserable if our families ever joined by marriage.”

“Hah. You’re not wrong.”

Calliope crossed her arms.

“Enough with the banter. What do you know?”

“The assassins who attacked you—both the last time and this time—had something in common.”

“Something in common?”

“Comparing the info you pulled from those guilds with what I already had, I started to see a pattern.”

“Oh, you mean the assassins who started disappearing?”

“Yes. At first, I assumed they’d failed a mission and taken their own lives. Then you came in and, well… took care of the rest.”

“Yes, that happened… somehow.”

“We examined the bodies using magic. What we found was traces of extremely powerful mental control spells in their brains.”

Her face darkened immediately.

“Mind control?”

“Exactly. The kind that implants a command—and if the command isn’t carried out, the magic sends a signal that stops the heart. It’s highly delicate and complex. Even my lieutenant isn’t sure he could pull it off.”

And that meant something. His lieutenant was known to be an incredibly skilled mage. If even he wasn’t confident, the spell had to be advanced.

Calliope lowered her gaze, resting her chin in one hand.

Only one name came to mind when she thought about people capable of magic.

Gillan Andres.

He was young. Didn’t seem all that exceptional either. He didn’t look dangerous.

Her eyes darkened slightly.

If I snatch him up and shake him hard enough, maybe he’ll confess to something…

But if he turned out to be innocent, that would be a huge mess. She shook her head. No—that was far too extreme.

Besides, Gillan hadn’t shown signs of any remarkable magical ability yet. Magic required precise control. Like swordsmanship, its strength often grew with age and experience.

“…Thank you for telling me. That’s important information.”

“Don’t mention it. The first favor you asked me for was so easy, I figured I owed you a little extra.”

“Even so. I still appreciate it.”

“Oh? Planning to return the favor, then?”

“Yes, I’m simply passing along my gratitude,” Calliope said with a polite smile.

“Oh dear, and here I was hoping you’d at least invite me to your fiancé’s birthday party,” Duke Glayderth replied with mock disappointment.

Calliope flinched.

“Absolutely not. What kind of scandal are you trying to stir up by showing up at my fiancé’s party? You’ll scare him!”

“You’re the first noble lady I’ve met who calls her fiancé my boy.”

“There’s a reason for everything.”

She stood up, not forgetting to take the documents he had prepared for her. The Duke handed them over with a gracious smile.

“You should know, Lady Calliope—I’m so generous with you because I believe one day, you’ll become part of our family.”

As she carefully placed the papers into her bag, she replied,

“I truly appreciate the confidence, but it’s not going to happen. Still, I suppose anyone is free to try.”

“You never lose a single word in battle.”

“And isn’t that what you enjoy most?”

He grinned. “Exactly.”

They exchanged smiles—eerily alike for two people with no blood ties and no real bond.

“Well then, until next time.”

“Sure, I’ll see you when your next request comes in.”

Calliope left the Glayderth estate and climbed into her carriage. As it began to roll forward, she sat in thoughtful silence.

Assassins under mind control magic…?

In her previous life and this one, she’d never had any real entanglement with mages. The only one who came to mind now was Gillan Andres.

“That man just keeps adding to my list of questions,” she muttered.

But there was a major issue with the theory that Gillan was behind this: he had absolutely no reason to harm her or Isaac. And even more confusing—why were the assassins targeting both her and Isaac this time?

The original attempts had only targeted Isaac.

What changed? What exactly… changed?

She leaned her head against the carriage window, the pale winter afternoon sunlight falling gently across her face.

Isaac Esteban had found himself facing an enormous challenge.

Tucked neatly into the inner pocket of his uniform were ten thick, gold-trimmed invitations. All lovingly printed and hand-prepared by none other than his very determined fiancée.

She had placed them into his coat herself and said:

“You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you? Not more, not less—just ten knights. Personally invited.”

She never once considered the possibility that anyone might refuse. Given Isaac’s reputation as a brilliant swordsman—and the fact that his fiancée was Calliope Anastas—it was a reasonable assumption.

After a deep breath, Isaac made his way to the office of Kelvin, vice-captain of the royal knights, to officially report his return from medical leave.

When he knocked, a crisp voice called out, “Come in.”

“Isaac Esteban, returning from leave due to injury.”

“Ah, welcome back. You’ve done well.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“….”

“….”

Isaac usually came in, made a report, and left right away. So when he didn’t move, Kelvin gave him a curious look.

Isaac seemed unusually hesitant—his sharp eyes giving off such an intense glare that it felt like he might devour someone whole. Kelvin swallowed hard under the pressure of that pale gaze.

“Is… there something else?”

“Not exactly, sir…”

Isaac slowly reached into his coat. His movement was so deliberate, it looked like he was about to pull out a combat scroll. Instinctively, Kelvin gripped the handle of his sword—only to blink in confusion when Isaac instead pulled out a piece of fine paper.

“A… party invitation?”

“Pardon?”

“A birthday invitation…?”

Kelvin coughed awkwardly and hastily released his grip on his sword, pretending nothing had happened. Then he took a closer look at the paper.

It was indeed an invitation—beautifully gilded, finely embossed, and very official-looking.

“For my birthday…?”

“Yes, sir. My fiancée has given me a special mission. I’m to personally deliver ten invitations to fellow knights.”

“A… mission?”

“Yes.”

Isaac didn’t hesitate at all. The man who barely socialized, now handing out invitations like a soldier obeying orders. It was the clearest sign of how thoroughly this genius young knight was wrapped around his fiancée’s little finger.

Kelvin accepted the invitation with a nod.

“Well… thank you. It’s thoughtful of you. I’ll make sure to attend.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Isaac bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, then turned crisply on his heel and left the office without another word.

After the door closed, Kelvin pulled the invitation back out and studied it more carefully. The handwriting wasn’t Isaac’s—clearly, it had been written by the famous young lady herself.

“The Anastas heiress… come to think of it, I’ve never met her.”

House Anastas was rising fast in influence these days. A visit to that estate wouldn’t be a bad idea. He had a feeling the young lady knew that full well—knew how valuable this kind of contact was—and that’s why she’d insisted Isaac deliver the invitations personally.

And really, who would have the nerve to refuse?

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