Soon I arrived at the old castle. I got inside from the collapsed part of an outer wall and while examining my surroundings advanced deeper inside.

Lidi is unmistakably in this castle. That means the a.s.sa.s.sin of Black who kidnapped her is very likely in it too. I need to be vigilant.

"Strange, there are no presences…?"

The inside of the old castle was desolate. The furnis.h.i.+ngs in the corridors were broken, here and there rubble was piled up. I tried peeking inside a room with a broken door, and the bed and closet were battered. n.o.body must've visited it in a long time as dust gathered on the carpet and the paintings on the walls looked darkened.

The light coming in through the broken gla.s.s window made the sight even more miserable.

The curtains were torn and the gla.s.s shards fallen on the bed glittered.

It's a proper ruin. Thinking that Lidi is imprisoned in such a place, I hurried, wanting to quickly save her.

I can more or less tell where Lidi is. I was prepared for guards to be near near where she was imprisoned, but for some reason I couldn't sense any bloodl.u.s.t or presences of a.s.sa.s.sins.

Instead, who came was the man I'd never wanted to see again.

"Andre――."

"Freed. It's been a while since the victory celebration party."

Andre, who appeared with a triumphant face, had awful dark circles under his eyes.

At a glance I understood. He's in a state where uncontrolled magical power will burst and overflow at any moment.

Seeing that, I understood why there were no additional presences.

Even without knowing the truth of the Royal Flower, seeing Andre's current state you can tell it's unusual.

Not wanting to get involved, they must have evacuated until the swelling magical power calmed down.

"You were very fast. I thought it'd take you longer. Perhaps you came here abandoning your duty as the general? If so, that's an extraordinary obsession."

"It was you who kidnapped Lidi, right?"

When I ignored his ridiculing words and curtly asked a question, Andre smiled suggestively.

"That's right. I can't forgive you b.a.s.t.a.r.d have a mate while I don't. That's why I kidnapped her. That's all."

I scowled at Andre who easily affirmed.

"Was that all it took for you to sell out the country?"

When I reproved Andre, he shrugged his shoulders and said without any hesitation.

"Sell out is an exaggeration. I only accepted the cooperation offer because both sides would profit from it. The other party wanted your fiancée. I wanted to steal your mate from you. Since our interests were the same, there was no reason not to cooperate."

"The King of Sahaja wanted Lidi?"

"… Why do I need to tell you b.a.s.t.a.r.d that?"

Seeing Andre smile scornfully full of confidence, I guessed that he probably didn't know.

Andre has been like that since the old days. When he doesn't know something, he often acts like he's actually aware and starts talking arrogantly.

I realized that no matter what I said it'd be pointless and moved on to the main subject.

"What does he intend to do with Lidi?"

I know Lidi is close. I can't grasp the precise location, but she unmistakably feels close.

I want to leave this man alone and quickly pick up Lidi, but I can't disregard him. He's the culprit behind Lidi's kidnapping. There are many things I want to ask him. I must question Andre as concisely and quickly as possible and get Lidi back.

Perhaps Andre guessed I was impatient as he showed an unpleasant smirk.

"Who knows? They said they wanted her, so I'll give her to them. In exchange, I obtained people to be at my beck and call. I wanted to kill your mate, but if she can be used for such a transaction, it's not bad either. Besides, about now that woman is losing her mind being violated by slimes."

"What!?"

My eyes opened wide at the words Andre said.

Andre said delightfully.

"I summoned three slimes made for breaking women to the prison where that woman is. About now, she's started having fun for sure. Haha, serves you right. I wanted to see you make that face!"

"Andre!"

Unable to forgive Andre's words said with a loud laughter, I reflexively touched the sword on my waist.

I can't keep calm hearing things like Lidi was attacked by slimes.

I must go immediately. It's not a situation where I can afford to be held here.

I'll cut down Andre, and immediately go to Li…

"Wha!?"

Exactly when I was about to draw the sword, there was a loud bang from the ceiling between me and Andre.

Dust and pieces of debris fell down.

"No way…"

―― The ceiling is collapsing.

Sensing it, Andre hurriedly jumped back.

Left alone for a long time, the castle deteriorated. The ceiling collapsing must be a usual occurrence. I also tried to get back, but for some reason my body didn't move back, on the contrary it moved forward.

There was no reason. I just felt I have to do that.

"Hyaaaaaaa…!"

After a moment, together with the sound of a lot of rubble falling, I heard an extremely foolish voice.

I felt a presence of something big falling. Before I understood what that was, I caught the thing that fell in my hands.

I heard a thud and felt a comfortable weight. Next, I stared in wonder at the existence that violently coughed, raised her head, and looked at me.

"Lidi!?"

"Hyah!? Freed?"

It was Lidi who fell. The familiar violet eyes were wide open.

Her always tidy straight hair was completely covered with dust.

Why did Lidi fall from the ceiling? I didn't understand that well, but having my beloved existence back in my grasp, I put strength into my arms holding Lidi.

"Lidi… Lidi, I'm glad!"

"Eh, ah? Why… Err…"

Perhaps not understanding the situation well, Lidi was fl.u.s.tered.

But, her eyes moistened right away. She grasped my clothes and tightly clung to me.

"Freed…"

"Sorry, Lidi. I was late."

"No… I'm alright."

Lidi's dress and skin as she clung to me were somewhat dirty, but same as with the dirt on her hair, the reason seems to be that she had been in the ceiling. My beloved wrapped her arms around my neck and clung to me, then she raised her face and smiled through tears.

"Freed, I believed you'd surely come, so I was composed."

"Lidi."

"It's Freed… It's the real Freed… I'm happy."

To make sure, Lidi touched my cheek and throat. Seeing her smile at me while laughing, ehehe, I became convinced Lidi didn't suffer, and I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart.

"Lidi, did you go through something scary?"

"No, I'm alright."

Just in case I confirmed it with her, but I couldn't see any lies in her expression as she nodded. As the fact that I got back my beloved before anything happened sunk in, I felt so relieved a terrible weariness a.s.sailed me.

"I'm glad… I was wondering what to do if something happened to you, Lidi."

Burying her face in my neck, Lidi was unbelievably lovely.

I have no business here anymore. While I was thinking to quickly return to where everybody was waiting, at last my field of vision cleared up.

Seeing me and Lidi in my arms, Andre showed an astonished expression.

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d… Why…? What happened to slimes…?"

To be edited