Chapter 70: Finding the Perpetrator (2)

In the courtyard of the mansion, Orlan stood tall, with Jisha on his left and Alicia on his right.

Behind them, hundreds of soldiers in white armor stood at the ready, weapons in hand.

"Jisha, is Prince Nolan still alright?" Orlan asked, a note of concern in his voice.

Jisha glanced at her right palm, where a magic circle slowly appeared. At its center, a heart-shaped green light pulsed steadily—a sign that Nolan was still safe.

"He’s still fine, Marquis Orlan," she replied calmly. Then, turning her head slightly, she asked with a hint of hesitation, "Do you really think this will work? Will the perpetrator actually show up?"

Orlan took a deep breath, his expression growing serious.

"Don’t worry. I have full confidence in Prince Nolan," he said firmly.

Jisha let out a quiet sigh and shook her head slightly, but her thoughts kept returning to their conversation from earlier that afternoon.

***

Six hours ago...

"Are you serious, Prince Nolan? You want to use yourself as bait to lure out the perpetrator?" Orlan stared at Nolan, eyes wide in disbelief.

Nolan gave a small nod, crossing one leg over the other. He smiled casually and replied, "Yes. I’ll use myself as bait."

Orlan fell silent, doubt flashing across his face. Then, clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and shook his head.

"No, we can’t allow that," he said firmly. "If you get hurt, it would be a tremendous loss. You’re a prince—your position is far too important. If anything happens to you, His Majesty will have my head."

"Besides, you saved Alicia—that makes you my savior. How could I possibly let you get hurt or even die? It’s out of the question."

Beside him, Jisha gave a small nod, arms folded across her ample chest.

"What Lord Orlan said is true, Nolan," she added solemnly. "Your plan is clever, but have you considered the consequences? If you were a commoner, maybe it would be acceptable. But you’re a prince. One small mistake, and Emperor Ragan will make the entire Caltheron family pay the price."

Although she despised Nolan, her hatred hadn’t reached the point where she wanted him dead.

After all, that man had somehow broken the curse inside Alicia’s body—an extraordinary feat.

Wouldn’t it be a waste if a great man—ahem, that is, a jerk like him—just died?

When Nolan heard their rejection, he didn’t show the slightest trace of anger. He understood perfectly how reckless his plan sounded—it could easily be seen as a suicide mission.

Even so, he didn’t flinch.

"I understand your concerns, and I appreciate them," he said in a calm, slightly gentle tone.

But his expression quickly hardened, now set with resolve and unyielding determination.

"But like I said before, this is the only way to draw the perpetrator out. If we don’t act, they’ll stay hidden in the shadows—waiting for the chance to destroy you and your family, Marquis Orlan. Are you really willing to let that happen? To let them continue spreading this suffering?"

His words struck Orlan speechless. He couldn’t respond right away, his face clouded with turmoil and anxiety.

Of course, if asked whether he was willing, the answer was a definite no.

No one in this world wanted their family to be haunted by an enemy hiding in the shadows—least of all one who had tormented him, his daughter, and his wife for the past six years.

If there were even the slightest chance, he wouldn’t hesitate. He would hunt down the perpetrator and kill them with his hands—without mercy.

But if that chance came at the cost of Nolan’s life, he couldn’t accept it.

Not just because of the punishment he would face from His Majesty, but because Nolan was an exceptional man—brilliant, capable, and far too valuable to be lost.

It would be a grave sin to let a man like him die just for the sake of catching the perpetrator.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Orlan reaffirmed his stance. "No. I still can’t agree, Prince Nolan. The cost is too high—it’s simply not worth it."

Hearing that response, Nolan fell silent for a moment, then broke into a wide smile.

Orlan Caltheron... this man is truly loyal,

he thought with satisfaction.

Truth be told, those words had been a test.

If Orlan had agreed without hesitation, ignoring the risk to his life, Nolan would’ve been disappointed.

Their cooperation might have continued, but his trust would have faltered. He would have remained cautious of the man.

But now, Orlan had proven himself. And Nolan was completely satisfied.

His trust in Orlan had deepened—fully and without reservation.

"It doesn’t matter whether you agree or not—this plan is already in motion," Nolan said casually, rising slowly to his feet. "Don’t worry. I have my own way of staying safe. So, trust me."

Orlan opened his mouth to protest again, but Jisha gently tapped his shoulder.

Startled, he turned to her, only to find her shaking her head slightly.

"If he’s made up his mind, let’s trust him," Jisha said softly.

Orlan hesitated, then slowly closed his mouth. Finally, he let out a long breath and said quietly, "You’re right..."

***

"Jisha, is Prince Nolan still alright?"

Orlan’s strained voice snapped Jisha out of her thoughts. She immediately turned her gaze to her palm—and her eyes widened.

"Prince Nolan... he’s in danger!"

"What!?" Orlan’s eyes went wide with horror. "That means the perpetrator has shown up! Let’s move—now!"

Jisha nodded without hesitation, not daring to waste even a second.

Orlan then turned to the beautiful maid standing beside him.

She was slender and graceful, with long dark brown hair and captivating almond-shaped eyes.

Her name was Melissa—second only to Alex in diligence and reliability.

"Melissa, you’re coming with us. But make sure Alicia is safe. Understood?"

Melissa clenched her fists and responded firmly, "Don’t worry, my Lord. I’ll protect Young Lady Alicia with my life."

Without another word, she grasped Alicia’s left hand tightly.

"Good!" Orlan nodded with satisfaction, then turned to the soldiers behind him and shouted, "We move in and surround the perpetrator now!"

"As ordered!" the soldiers replied in unison.

...

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Nolan coughed harshly, clutching his chest as his body trembled and stiffened. His face had turned pale, and his breath came in ragged gasps.

"Hahaha! Prince Nolan, I never imagined you could be this foolish. How utterly pathetic." Nina’s laughter rang out, sharp and piercing, as if it shattered the air around her.

She walked slowly toward him, then crouched and lifted his chin with her fingertips—a gesture laced with dominance and mockery.

"Your face... it’s far too handsome to ignore. I want to keep it—make it mine," she whispered, her eyes wild with lust and madness.

Nolan clenched his teeth, doing his best to suppress both the pain and his growing fury. "So... you’re the one behind the hidden magic formations in this mansion? And the curse on Alicia—that was you too?"

Nina let out a low chuckle, her eyes gleaming with wicked pride. "That’s right. It was all me. I didn’t expect you to catch on so quickly. As expected of a prince..."

She leaned in closer, her smile twisting into a sinister grin. "For someone with a reputation as a fool, you’re surprisingly sharp. Tell me... did you craft that image deliberately just to deceive everyone around you?"

Nolan clenched his jaw and remained silent, but to Nina, that silence said everything.

"Pfft! Prince Nolan, you’re truly dangerous," she said, licking her upper lip with a seductive glint in her eyes. "And that’s exactly why I’m drawn to you. Now, I’m going to enjoy every inch of you... and then I’ll kill you."

Her hands reached for the buttons of Nolan’s robe, but before she could go further—

Braak!

Footsteps thundered from outside, followed by the door slamming open with force.

Orlan burst in first, followed by Jisha, Melissa, Alicia, and a squad of heavily armed soldiers. Their eyes were sharp—filled with fury and alertness.

"So it really was you... Nina!" Orlan shouted, his voice laced with rage.