Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 124: The Mage’s Request

Chapter 124: The Mage’s Request

Tillian winced as he realized his body was once again succumbing to the persistent clutches of exhaustion. Gently stroking his wife’s hands with his thumbs, he could not shake off the fear that his touch might cause her pain, despite the cuts on her fingers having already healed with Ahspid’s magic.

An entire day had passed since the ritual’s conclusion, and though Ahspid had assured the Duke of the princess’s physical well-being, the extensive use of her innate powers had left her incredibly weak, necessitating ample rest to rouse her from the grip of slumber.

Throughout this time, Tillian had not left Aideen’s side for even a moment, steadfastly remaining beside her, tenderly clasping her hands, and silently praying for her to awaken.

Having watched his mentor for some time, King Yuraon finally decided to approach and offer friendly advice.

"Your Grace, I believe you should rest. As the mage stated, the lady will recover once she awakens; her body simply requires time. She possesses great strength and will overcome this."

Duke Valentine’s tired eyes remained fixed on his unconscious wife, his mind weighed down by negative thoughts. Eventually, he parted his lips and spoke in an unexpectedly weak and quiet tone,

"I regret that I cannot see you off, Your Majesty. May your journey to the Capital be safe, and may your time there be filled with joy. Now that you are freed from your curse, seize the opportunity to embrace life to its fullest."

Furrowing his thick black eyebrows in utter distress, Yuraon placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, offering that subtle sign of support he believed conveyed his intentions clearly.

"Your wife is truly remarkable, Duke Tillian. I can understand completely why you are so devoted to her; your connection is truly admirable. Even the fire witch herself acknowledged it. I aspire to have what you two share, Your Grace. And it goes without saying, but I fully intend to repay all that you’ve done for me. Whatever may come, Davoor stands by your side. I promise you that."

With his red eyes still firmly fixed on Aideen, Tillian covered the young King’s hand with his own, accepting his kind and supportive words. He nodded, then finally replied,

"Thank you."

Yuraon could not help but sigh.

"Please convey my deepest gratitude to Lady Valentine. I will never forget this."

With no response from the Duke, Yuraon patted him on the shoulder once more before turning away and exiting the bedroom. Once his footsteps had faded into the hallway’s walls, Tillian pressed his cold forehead against his wife’s hands, his broken whisper drowned out by the hot tears streaming down his cheeks.

"You are strong... You are simply incredible, Aideen. And I am unbelievably fortunate that you chose to give your love to me."

***

King Yuraon’s men signaled to their lord that the preparations for departure were complete and they were ready to set off. As he approached his horse, ready to mount it, he noticed Ahspid rushing towards him with a look of urgency on his face.

Standing before the King, the mage scrutinized him with a curious gaze before finally speaking, his voice trembling slightly as he struggled to draw in the air,

"You look much more regal now, Your Majesty. You finally resemble a king rather than a traveling bandit."

Yuraon also assessed his new appearance, a wide grin spreading across his lips as he replied,

"Well, now that my curse is lifted, I feel the cold just like everyone else. I have no choice but to clothe myself properly. I would not want something as mundane as the cold to end me."

Ahspid scoffed; the young man’s words struck him as strangely amusing.

Yuraon stared at the mage for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and finally asked,

"What is it, Ahspid? I can see it in your eyes. You want to ask me something. Go ahead, ask. You’ve helped me too, so I’m willing to listen."

The mage sighed, then met the young man’s gaze and spoke, his voice unusually serious and subdued,

"Bjarna, the necromancer witch... Something seemed off about her during her time here. I can’t shake the feeling, and it is unsettling."

"What do you mean?"

The King arched his eyebrows, while Ahspid shook his head, his expression turning somewhat darker.

"She left as soon as the fire witch disappeared, and I don’t believe she returned to her forest. I suspect she is headed to the Capital... To the Holy Church, to be exact."

Yuraon could not hide his confusion.

"The Holy Church? A witch?! Why do you think that?"

The mage hesitated to answer. He still was not certain about Bjarna, but the anxious feeling her presence left behind persisted. And he was determined to ensure Aideen’s secret remained safe, no matter what.

"I believe I detected traces of someone else’s mana on her, and I have suspicions about who it belongs to... If my suspicions are correct, we could find ourselves in trouble. A trouble that could end in tragedy."

"Hmm... I see. So, you want me to keep an eye on her if she is indeed in the Capital?"

Ahspid nodded.

"Very well. I will dispatch one of my men ahead to confirm her destination, and if she is indeed headed to the Capital, he will tail her."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. That would be greatly appreciated."

"No problem at all. After everything you all have done for me, this is the least I can do to repay your efforts," Yuraon replied gratefully.

Stretching his reddish lips into a light smile, Ahspid nodded once more in appreciation of the King’s cooperation.

"I wish you a safe journey, Your Majesty. May fate guard you wherever you go."

As the mage watched King Yuraon depart the castle with his loyal men, a strange and unpleasant feeling crept into his heart, leaving a lingering sense of unease within his throbbing chest.

’Bjarna... You were never a trustworthy companion, but... What have you gotten yourself into this time?’