I Stole The Duke - Chapter 65
Where on earth can I get something like that?
Until now, portable timepieces had always been pocket watches—practical accessories for convenience. Though finely crafted pocket watches could be worn on a chain around the neck, they didn’t exactly pair well with a gentleman’s formal attire.
But this… this is a perfect match.
Joel’s full-body photo, printed across an entire newspaper page, had made it clear: a watch was no longer just a tool—it was fashion. And the way Joel styled it? It was the epitome of “complete men’s fashion.”
“Tch…”
Every time the Emperor looked at the photo, he had to fight the sudden, irrational urge to own that watch himself.
Hmm, the Marquess of Rancelloti and the House of Terius…
Despite Joel’s blatant insult to the imperial family, the Emperor was holding back his fury. That was thanks to the Marquess of Rancelloti, who had visited early in the morning with a rather convincing argument.
If I can pull him in and make him loyal to the Empire…
It wouldn’t be a bad deal. From a long-term perspective, gaining a loyal subject would be far more beneficial than gaining a well-mannered daughter-in-law.
Duke Ascher may be annoyed, but oh well.
He was the kind of man the Emperor wanted to steal away from the Duke. That’s why he hadn’t hesitated to stamp the marriage approval the Marquess had submitted.
This guy… he’s built for politics. Letting him rot as a knight under Duke Ascher is a waste.
The Terius family had always hidden behind their “neutral” stance while leaning more toward House Ascher—an annoying trait.
The Marquess of Rancelloti, born from the House of Terius. This will be interesting.
If the marriage went through, it would drag the politically-detached Terius family right into the heart of central politics.
The real question is: will Duke Ascher react like the Marquess predicted?
The Emperor’s thoughts grew more complicated. Ending ties with House Espensen simply because of slander against his wife? It sounded more like wishful thinking than anything realistic.
Knock, knock.
“What is it?”
The knock interrupted his brief moment of rest, and the Emperor scowled, setting the now-crumpled newspaper aside.
“Your Majesty, a request for urgent audience.”
A chamberlain approached quietly, lowering his voice.
“From whom?”
It was right after dinner—hardly a welcome time for visitors.
“Duke Ascher is here, Your Majesty.”
Well now, that changes things.
As expected, the real Duke had arrived.
20:45
After nearly 50 minutes of travel, the rental carriage came to a stop in a quiet alley within Wespera’s commercial district.
Creak.
Freya pushed open the door to what looked like an ordinary tavern and walked up to the bar, shaped like a narrow ‘L’.
What is this… an assassin guild straight out of a movie or novel?
It was far too quiet for a normal bar, and all the patrons were dressed in dark, matching clothes. The whole place looked like a scene from a film.
“May I take your order?”
“What’s good today?”
“I recommend the mead and the liqueur. Which would you prefer?”
“A shot of liqueur… with a spoonful of honey.”
It sounded like a casual order, but the phrasing had the ring of a password.
“I’ll prepare that for you. Please proceed to the second floor.”
The staff member who took her order rang a small bell.
“Very well.”
Freya stepped lightly up the wooden stairs. Eliana followed her, careful not to make a sound.
Beep—!
Halfway down a long hallway, Freya triggered something.
Beep! Beep—!
A series of faint alarm beeps echoed, like a metal detector catching something at airport security.
“From here onward, magic devices are prohibited.”
A man who had been waiting halfway down the hall suddenly held out his hand.
“Tch.”
Freya pulled her hood low, then removed the transformation ring and placed it in the man’s hand.
“……”
The moment the ring came off, the young man standing in the hallway reverted into Freya’s original form—a young woman. The man’s eyes widened slightly but said nothing.
If I had gone ahead of her, I would’ve been in big trouble.
She hadn’t expected magic detectors. Following Freya any further would be too risky.
Looks like this really is an assassin guild… and I’m probably their target.
Freya had clearly crossed a line.
Does that mean I need to watch my back even in the mansion now?
Eliana didn’t know how dangerous assassins were in this world, but the thought gave her chills.
Still, if I can capture one of them and trace it back to whoever’s behind this…
The risk might be worth it. The fight could end sooner than expected.
Michalis just left the palace.
Eliana checked the navigation window and quickly turned around.
“Imperial Teleport.”
She carefully opened her crossbody bag, pulled out a magic card, and whispered the spell.
It was already close to 9 p.m. She had to get back to Freya’s room and destroy the regression spell before it was too late.
Thump.
Ugh!
Landing on Freya’s bedroom balcony, Eliana steadied herself while fighting off a wave of nausea.
Michalis was already on the move. She had to hurry.
Dream, activate real-time image search function.
[Starting real-time search. For safety, the system will automatically shut down in one hour.]
“Imperial Search Magic.”
A spell to detect magic. The moment she finished the incantation, red beams of light shot out from beneath her feet.
Let’s see… One on the desk.
On top of Freya’s desk, she spotted a cute little cactus in a flower pot. Eliana’s eyes widened.
Wh-What is this?!
Image Search Result
Name: Potted Plant-Type Listening Device
Function: Surveillance
Grade: B+
Material: Cactus, soil, ceramic pot, high-grade mana stone
Price: 95,000,000 RM
Effect: Real-time voice transmission
Creator: Voice Lupin (undisclosed)
Special Notes: None
So even when casting magic in Freya’s room, I need to be cautious…
Did Freya place this here herself? Or is she being watched?
It was hard to say just from the popup alone. Eliana decided to leave the listening device untouched for now.
Alarm clock, portable heat-retention device, voice modifier…
She’d already found three magical items on the desk alone.
This one’s a sleep aid. And this… is poison?
Thanks to the real-time image search, she was seeing all kinds of things—some she’d rather not. Feeling like a thief, Eliana quietly closed the desk drawers to avoid making noise.
Next most suspicious spot after the desk…
Eliana took a step back. Her eyes shifted toward a sunflower painting hanging on the wall—a simple decorative frame. But behind it, she could sense magical energy.
Thud.
She carefully removed the frame, which was heavier than it looked. Behind it was just a blank wall.
I’ve seen Karahan’s tricks before.
Eliana reached into her crossbody bag and pulled out a Magic Nullification card.
“Imperial Dispel Magic.”
Mindful of the listening device nearby, she whispered the activation phrase so softly it was barely audible.
Fzzzz…
As expected, a previously invisible magic circle shimmered into view.
Image Search Result
Name: Magic Circle (Lock)
Function: Locking
Grade: C+
Creator: Karahan Espensen
Special Notes: Lock is active. A specific condition must be met to unlock.
If I can unlock this, there’s bound to be something behind it…
This is it. Behind this circle—either the regression spell itself, or an artifact that enables it—must be hidden.
Her instincts were clear. Eliana’s expression lit up.
It’s only a simple locking spell. Let’s try an unlock spell first.
Fortunately, she had prepared for this exact situation. She pulled out the appropriate magic card.
“Imperial Unlock.”
Eliana whispered the activation word casually.
In an instant, the black lines of the magic circle flared, turning bright red like a searing-hot iron plate.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A blaring alarm, like a fire alert gone mad, rang through the room.
Flick.
The popup display updated immediately.
Image Search Result
Name: Magic Circle (Perfect Lock)
Function: Locking
Grade: S
Creator: Karahan Espensen
Special Notes: Anomaly detected. Switching to alert mode.
What the—?! It upgraded from a C+ to an S-rank lock?! This is cheating! How is that even fair?!
“Imperial Dispel Magic!”
She quickly used the Dispel card still in her other hand.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
But the magic was too advanced—the dispel didn’t work at all.
No, it only made things worse.
CLAAAANG! CLAAAANG! CLAAAANG!
My eardrums are going to burst!
The deafening alarm echoed through the entire estate. Eliana’s stomach dropped.
I’m… doomed!
She hastily grabbed the picture frame she’d taken down and slammed it back into place on the wall. She didn’t even have time to re-cast invisibility on the exposed magic circle.
“Freya!”
The door burst open the moment the frame was back in place. It was Freya’s second brother, who’d come running from just two rooms away.
“What’s going on?!”
Apparently, all the siblings’ rooms were on the fourth floor. Within seconds, even Freya’s eldest brother arrived. Karl Espensen—the eldest—had been described in the original story as a top-tier Sword Expert and imperial guard.
CLAAAANG! CLAAAANG! CLAAAANG!
Yep… those brothers are seriously dangerous.
If they sensed even a flicker of presence, their swords might fly first and ask questions later. Eliana started slowly backing away, using the blaring alarm as cover.
“Freya! She’s gone…!”
Karl paled when he saw the empty bed.
“Freya’s been kidnapped!”
Uh, excuse me—no, she hasn’t.
“What?! Kidnapped?!”
Martin, the third brother, arrived late and dropped the book he was carrying in shock.
“Martin, go downstairs and call everyone, now!”
The overprotective brothers went into full panic mode.
Sorry, Freya… looks like you’re doomed too now.
And in moments like this, what’s the number one rule?
Run. Run like hell.
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