I Stole The Duke - Chapter 82

Thud.

Freya collapsed toward Eliana, unconscious from the shock. Caught off guard, Eliana ended up holding her in an awkward embrace.

“Haa… haa…”

Activating the defense spell on her pendant ahead of time, in case of an assassination attempt, had been the right call.

“There’s no reasoning with her, clearly.”

Both of Eliana’s cheeks burned and throbbed from the blows Freya had landed.

‘It would’ve been nice if we could’ve talked it out…’

Catching her breath, Eliana gently moved Freya’s body off her.

Thud.

As she shifted Freya, the girl’s hand brushed lightly against the wall.

Whirr…

The magic circle behind Eliana suddenly changed shape.

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened. The light shimmered—and the circle turned pink. Apparently, Karahan had a real fondness for the color.

‘Dream, run an image scan.’

[Image scan complete.]

Image Scan Result

• • Name: Magic Circle (Conditional Storage)

 

• • Purpose: Access to subspace with conditions

 

• • Grade: S

 

• • Creator: Karahan Espensen

 

• • Note: Can only be accessed by the owner of the jewel box.

‘The owner of the jewel box? Don’t tell me… Freya?’

So it was a magic lock that opened with a simple touch… but the truth was, only Freya could unlock it to begin with.

“Alright, up you go.”

Eliana hoisted Freya up and guided her hand toward the circle.

Whoosh.

Freya’s hand slipped smoothly into the subspace.

Tap.

Eliana stirred her arm inside. The space wasn’t particularly large—about the size of a small safe.

Tap, tap…

Sure enough, something brushed against Freya’s fingertips.

‘Please…’

Cold sweat began to bead on Eliana’s forehead. Freya was taller, and weighed nearly 10kg more—holding that position was already pushing her strength to its limit.

Thunk!

After several seconds of struggle, using Freya’s arm like a tool, a small box tumbled out of the subspace.

‘This is…’

It was a gold jewel box—something only a noble lady might own.

Click.

Eliana gently laid Freya down and opened the box.

‘Whoa… how much is this worth?’

Inside the lid, it was lined with top-grade mana stones—each worth over 400 million rium. And where jewels were supposed to be stored, there was a mound of shattered mana crystal dust.

‘Dream, scan the object.’

[Image scan complete.]

Image Scan Result

• • Name: Jewel Box

 

• • Purpose: Reverses time upon owner’s death

 

• • Grade: SS

 

• • Material: Gold, top-grade mana crystals, etc.

 

• • Market Value: No transaction records

 

• • Function: Time Regression Spell

 

• • Creator: Karahan Espensen

 

• • Time Setting: 1 year

 

• • Special Setting: Returns to a critical turning point within the set time

 

• • Registered Owner: Freya Espensen

 

• • Uses Remaining: 4 out of 5

 

• • Note: Linked with an amplification magic circle. Effect is multiplied by 10.
    (Adjusted regression period: 10 years)

‘I finally found it… So, there’s a limit to how many times it can be used?’

Seeing the shattered mana stone remains explained it. Even with Karahan’s magic as the core, the supplemental mana from the crystals must’ve been overwhelming.

After staring at the jewel box for a moment, Eliana opened her crossbody bag and pulled out a magic card. She didn’t have time to admire anything. The goal was right in front of her.

“Imperial Dispel Magic.”

She had to neutralize the regression spell.

‘Dream, scan again.’

[Image scan complete.]

After reviewing the scan results, Eliana went pale.

‘It… it can’t be dispelled.’

She had feared this possibility but forced herself to stay optimistic. But this SS-grade magic—she couldn’t undo it with a simple dispel spell.

‘Dream, show me page 3 of the grimoire Black Lock. Next page… next…’

As she flipped through the pop-up pages, her expression grew increasingly grim.

‘There’s no cancel spell other than Dispel Magic…’

In truth, time regression magic couldn’t be undone.

WAAAAAH!

Suddenly, a faint roar echoed from outside.

“……”

Eliana slowly turned her gaze to the window.

“No…”

The duel had begun.

By now, the morning dew had almost completely dried.

“If you’re ready, let’s begin.”

Michalis moved to start the duel without delay. He wanted it over before Eliana had the chance to wake up.

“As you wish…”

The Count responded calmly. No matter how desperate the situation, the Espensen family was still a house with a long tradition of swordsmanship. A three-on-three representative duel didn’t mean they had no chance.

“Will the chosen representatives step forward.”

With both sides lined up in a long single-file formation, the selected duelists took one step forward.

“The first duelists, please take your places in the center.”

Step. Step.

The heavy sound of footsteps echoed between the two lines, thick with tension.

“Sir Henriksen. Show them why the House of Espensen is known as a family of master swordsmen.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The sturdy knight representing House Espensen answered with a booming voice.

“Sir Puelini. Prove your strength through the weight of your blue uniform.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The sword in Puelini’s hand lit up in a vivid blue aura, thick and powerful.

WAAAH!

As the two knights faced each other from a distance, the rest of the soldiers behind them cheered loudly in support.

“We shall now begin.”

Clang! Clang!

Everyone held their breath as the sound of blades crashing echoed sharply. With neither of them wearing heavy armor, the duel was fierce and dangerous—every strike was potentially lethal.

“……”

Eliana pulled her gaze away from the window and grabbed the jewel box.

‘Think, Eliana. Think.’

She had finally come face-to-face with the regression spell. She couldn’t stop here.

‘There has to be a clue—anything I can use.’

As she turned the jewel box upside down, the crushed dust of broken mana crystals spilled onto the bedroom floor.

‘Please…’

Her wide eyes scanned every inch of the jewel box. She ran her fingers along the ornate engraved patterns, pressing and feeling carefully.

Click.

Her fingertip caught on something—an incredibly small wind-up key, like one you’d find on a pocket watch.

“Ah!”

A clue—finally.

“Dream, activate real-time image scan.”

Without wasting a second, Eliana launched the command.

[Initiating real-time scan. User safety system engaged. Auto shutdown in 1 hour.]

Watching the pop-up, Eliana turned the wind-up key.

[Time setting: 1 year… 11 months… 10 months…]

Just as she suspected—it worked exactly like a timepiece.

‘The Broken Wind-Up Doll…’

Just like the title of the original novel—Freya had been trapped within time set by this very key.

“……”

Click.

The tiny key wound tightly until it could turn no more.

[Time set: 1 minute]
[Adjusted Regression Time: 10 minutes]

If Freya were to die, she would return just once—to a turning point within the next 10 minutes.

“Dream, end real-time image scan.”

[Real-time image scan ending. Time remaining: 57 minutes.]

“Alright, let’s do this.”

Eliana’s legs shook as she struggled to lift Freya’s limp body.

‘I should’ve made a strength-enhancing card…’

Regret was always too late.

Tap.

With great effort, Eliana guided Freya’s hand back onto the magic circle. Her clothes were soaked with sweat.

“Imperial Invisibility.”

Karahan’s lock spell couldn’t be broken, but thankfully it didn’t resist invisibility magic. The circle disappeared from view.

Click.

As soon as she put the sunflower painting back in place, Eliana rushed to the window.

‘Now I have to stop Michalis from wiping out the Espensen family!’

There was still more to be done.

“Urgh!”

Sir Henriksen grunted in pain. With every clash, Puelini’s immense strength sent shockwaves up his arms and into his bones.

‘Damn it…’

Despite his rough, aggressive style, Puelini left no opening.

“……”

Soon, the difference in real battle experience became painfully clear.

Thud!

Unable to withstand the force, the Espensen knight fell to the ground. Puelini’s blade pressed to his neck.

“…I surrender.”

Skill alone wasn’t enough to defeat someone like Puelini, who had fought and survived countless life-and-death battles against pirates.

“The first round goes to House Ascher.”

Iadis announced the outcome in a calm and composed voice.

“……”

‘Just as expected.’

They had never considered the possibility of Puelini losing this match.

“The second duelists, step forward.”

When Karl, the eldest son of House Espensen, moved into position, Michalis stepped forward as well.

‘Leave no room for mercy.’

As Michalis stood opposite Karl, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. He had spared the knight earlier—but he had no intention of sparing Espensen blood.

“No! Michalis!”

From the window, Eliana turned pale and tore through her crossbody bag in panic.

‘Please… just anything strong—anything!’

She needed something powerful—something that could stop the duel, even if she had to strike the field with lightning.

‘This one… looks decent.’

There was no time to think. Eliana grabbed the first card her hand touched and checked the activation word.

“Imperial Illusion!”

With her eyes fixed on the balcony, Eliana shouted the command.

“Kyaaah!”

The illusion spell triggered instantly—projecting a vivid, three-dimensional hologram from Freya’s balcony.

“Die!”

It showed Eliana and Freya fighting viciously—throwing punches, grappling, struggling violently.

“Kh!”

In truth, it was a perfect reenactment of what had happened earlier, with Eliana being completely overpowered.

“Just die already!”

As expected of an imperial-class spell—it even came with dramatic, high-quality voice effects.