The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 148

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

Just as a strong shadow is cast when a strong light shines, the imperial capital had a slum, like filth stuck to the bottom, called Herick Street.

Home to the city’s poor, the area had a reputation for poor security, and if Erika went there alone, dangerous situations could arise. A weak woman who didn’t know the laws of that world would be easy prey.

But whether Veronica knew this or not, Erika knew a certain amount about the laws of that world. So, she wasn’t reluctant to go there. However, she couldn’t help but wonder if this might be an opportunity to learn about Veronica’s secrets, which were so different from before.

Erika briefly stroked the letter with hesitant hands, then moved to the table and carefully cut open the wax seal with a letter opener and opened it. Her plan was to read the letter and then reseal it so it wouldn’t be noticeable.

There was only one letter inside the envelope.

{ Did you successfully take what I told you to take?}

“Then, give me what you promised as payment. Also, don’t even think about monopolizing it. Because I’ll come for it again. Don’t forget that it’s only temporarily entrusted to you. You’re good at hiding, so try hiding it well. Only until he dies.”

It was a strange letter with no direct mentions. Nothing could be discerned from this alone. It seemed she was given this because it was content she could see. Erika bit her lip tightly.

Erika put the letter back in the envelope, singed the bottom of the wax seal with a candle, and reattached it perfectly. She tucked it back into her skirt pocket, patted it, and smoothed out the wrinkles. Then, she took out the travel clothes and a drab gray robe that she often wore when sneaking out.

As expected, there’s no other way but to go in person.

“What are you talking about?”

A cold fury descended. The archmage with black long hair, golden eyes, and delicately placed features was angrier than ever before.

“Roina, disappeared?”

A chilling murderous intent filled the space. Yoseph felt suffocated. This was the scene as soon as he conveyed the news to Lutan, who had come to the Marquis’ residence. Because it was an expected situation, he could cover his neck and answer without trembling.

“To be precise, it’s a kidnapping. That envoy from Ryeo used a d**g. On both Roina and me. It was a trap. We are currently investigating in every possible way, but we can’t find anything. Your power is needed.”

As soon as Lutan heard those words, he expanded his senses, which he had been deliberately suppressing, and searched for Roina’s location. Because he had intermittently implanted his energy in her, this was not a difficult task for him.

However, her energy could not be felt anywhere—not in the Marquis’ residence, the surrounding streets, or the entire imperial capital. Even the mana he had implanted had disappeared as if it had evaporated.

“Damn it…….”

Lutan muttered a curse and stormed out of the place. Yoseph’s expression darkened as he saw Lutan’s agitation for the first time. Does this mean even the archmage has no way?

He had already visited the Ryeo envoys with the single thought of finding Roina, but they remained stubbornly silent. They even pretended not to know someone named Ryuhyeon. It wasn’t just that that was frustrating.

Although he had clearly shown his face as a Ryeo envoy, no one remembered him. It was as if he had simply vanished like a mirage.

‘Just, just how can I…… find Roina?’

He had lost her, who had become his light and hope, perhaps even his dream, right before his eyes. Josef hung his head in despair.