Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 312
Chapter 312
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time. My name is Ronian McLain.”
“I am Luisa von Aserian. Delighted to make your acquaintance, Count.”
Luisa greeted Ronian with a calm smile.
Her simple clothing and composed manner emphasized her smile, catching Ronian’s eye.
“I apologize for my tardiness. I regret keeping you waiting.”
“No problem. I was in a hurry. I hope it didn’t bother you?”
A curious response to the apology.
“Pardon?”
Seeing Ronian’s puzzled look, Luisa smirked.
“It seems like an older woman is playfully approaching a young Count.”
As she spoke, Luisa lifted her teacup and casually crossed her legs, captivating Ronian’s gaze with a glimpse of her flawless leg through her dress slit.
“Why would you say such a thing? I feel inferior compared to the empire’s princess.”
Blushing, Ronian struggled to look away as Luisa, her lips curved into a seductive smile, gazed at him.
“Would you agree with me if I weren’t the empire’s princess?”
Her tone laced with amusement instead of confrontation.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant… I’m sorry.”
A flustered Ronian apologized and bowed quickly.
Luisa chuckled silently, covering her mouth as she watched.
“I may have teased you too much. Despite being famous as a prodigy knight, you seem surprisingly innocent.”
“I… apologize.”
With a flushed face, Ronian continued apologizing as Luisa looked on with a smile.
“Even though we can’t fully control marriage, I hope we can get along during my visit, Count.”
“Of course…”
Using marriage as an excuse, an envoy who had personally arrived.
Rumors circulated when Count Ronian McLain was tasked with escorting the Princess, the King’s sister.
The empire’s princess and the king’s brother.
A beautiful lady entwined with a prodigy knight, sparking curiosity as if they were characters in a love story.
“I heard Count Ronian has a lover he met while on duty.”
“Really? Did he come all this way searching for his lover?”
“Exactly. Why else would the empire’s princess come here herself?”
Such gossip spread in the market.
As Ronian and Princess Luisa were seen together harmoniously within the castle walls, the rumors grew stronger.
Their wedding was imminent.
An alliance between the empire and the kingdom seemed likely.
Those in the know dismissed such speculations.
“How was your day?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. We simply exchanged stories.”
Ronian’s brother, Logan, was puzzled by his sibling’s serious demeanor.
“For the past three days? Didn’t she want to visit places like the mage tower?”
“No, not at all.”
“That’s odd. Didn’t she ask you for anything?”
“Well, there was one thing. But, it was…”
As Logan inquired with a tilted head, Ronian hesitated before reluctantly speaking.
“She… she wants to watch a duel between you and me. She’s curious about the famous siblings in action.”
Even as a brother, it was a strange request to entertain the king with a mere spectacle.
He understood his brother’s hesitance, but it was the kind of curiosity any typical royal lady might have.
‘What could be her motive?’
Luisa had only been at the castle for three days.
Yet, both her arrival and actions had been unusual, with conversations revolving around trivial topics, adding to the frustration.
But Logan couldn’t let his guard down because…
“Is she still flirting boldly?”
“Yes. She’s getting bolder. It’s tough to push her away after having to keep her close for so long.”
With a wry smile, Ronian raised his hand, and a grey aura emanated from his fingertips.
Before meeting Luisa, he had been complacent.
He thought as an Aura User, he only needed to watch those with lesser power, like Damian or Dwayne.
– A magic that affects the mind? It might be possible if it interferes with the brain…
– It would be challenging for a magician or Aura User. It’d be easier to eliminate them than trying to disrupt the will and abilities of an exceptional being.
Assured by Clayton’s assertions and his experiences in battles, he believed the Black Snake’s magic couldn’t affect Aura Users.
But after encountering Luisa, his sense of urgency grew.
High-level concealment magic that he barely detected after using his special abilities. The enemy used unknown magic, so confining himself to common sense was a mistake.
Only then did a troubling thought arise.
‘They used magic knowing I, that Gail, am an Aura User. I don’t know why it was easily disrupted, but there must be mental magic affecting Aura Users.’
After cautioning his brother to be vigilant, he faced this challenge.
“It’s hard to detect the faint magical power that enters the mind without any signs, even though this is the third time.”
A discreet mental magic that could even affect the mind of an Aura User.
Since the first day they met, Luisa had been discreetly casting magic.
That day, for the first time, Ronian went against Logan’s advice.
– She’s just an uninformed royal lady. You’re overly sensitive, brother.
Aware she was a mage, Logan didn’t expect such a surprising response.
Only then did he notice the grey tint in his brother’s eyes, and Logan forcefully flooded Ronian’s mind with Force.
“I sensed being influenced once, but it’s hard to purge. How could you do it so effortlessly, brother? It’s more than a matter of level…”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
The recent event had also surprised Logan.
Merely intending to assess the situation, which turned out more serious than expected. Planning to inform Clayton immediately since it involved magic, the grey magic dissolved against his probing Force.
Shocked by how easily the magic dispelled, he memorized the dispersal pattern and taught it to Victor, Burdel, and others, but their results were mediocre. His brother, who could wield Force with great sensitivity, struggled to drive it away despite his expertise.
The only basis for speculation was the unique colors of Force mentioned by the Black Snakes to Victor.
Was the planted information about causing disruption really accurate?
With only that misleading clue, there was no room for deeper contemplation.
As Logan felt overwhelmed by these thoughts, his mind wandered.
“Perhaps it was a blessing that the princess used magic.”
His brother’s unexpected remark caught his attention.
“What?”
“If we had only conversed normally, she would have been quite charming. If she hadn’t used magic and been caught, I might not have believed she was a spy.”
Logan couldn’t tell if the slight blush on his brother’s face was due to embarrassment or something else.
“Well, well, it’s a good thing she resorted to magic. Otherwise, you might have fallen for the empire’s princess completely.”
“No, brother! It wasn’t that extreme…!”
A chuckle escaped as Ronian’s flustered state amused Logan, yet a sense of concern lingered in his heart.
His brother, now mastering the secretive ‘Galactic Sword’, was undoubtedly more skilled than in his past life.
But was he as mentally resilient as the brother who grew up alone in a shattered family and became an Aura User?
Did he possess the same determination?
‘I doubt it.’
The brother before him was indeed an exceptional genius but also carried the emotions of a typical young man in his twenties.
The realization left Logan troubled.
As a brother, he didn’t wish for his sibling to be labeled ‘The Demonic Sword of Grandia’ or ‘The Cold Flame’. Yet as a ruler facing war, he needed ‘The Cold Flame’s Demonic Sword’ more than a brilliant young genius.
Just as he pondered this, Logan slapped himself on the cheek.
“What a fool I am…!”
Smack!
He had struck himself quite hard, tasting blood in his mouth.
“Brother?!”
Ronian’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden self-inflicted pain, but Logan waved it off with a sigh.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just unnecessary thoughts bothering me.”
“What thoughts?”
Despite Ronian’s puzzled look, Logan smiled wistfully.
He aimed to protect his family when he reincarnated, even if he couldn’t save his country.
And he had been successful.
The fact that his brother, who carried all the family burdens from their past life, now displayed normal emotions of his age was proof enough.
‘How joyful this is!’
Yet, he couldn’t help but feel regret.
“Ugh!”
With the metallic taste of blood, Logan reaffirmed his determination.
‘I mustn’t lose sight of the ultimate goal by fixating on the process. Never.’
Indeed.
Not every change brought only positive outcomes.
He understood that.
He was ready for it.
So he needed to find better ways to leverage it or compensate for any losses.
‘I shouldn’t focus solely on surface changes. I must reevaluate if anything has been overlooked.’
With this delayed realization, Logan refocused his thoughts.
Unaware of Logan’s inner tumult, Ronian couldn’t shake off his worried expression.
“Are you alright, brother? Is something wrong?”
“Stop with the nonsense. There’s no reason, but that woman’s magic has no effect on me.”
“I know, but you’re acting strangely all of a sudden.”
“It’s just introspection. Don’t worry.”
“But there’s blood on your lips…”
“It’ll heal fast. Don’t concern yourself.”
Logan dismissed his brother’s concern and changed the subject.
“If that woman starts demanding things in a commanding manner, inform me immediately. She probably thinks you’re under a spell.”
“Really? Well, today she did make a request in a commanding tone. She seemed convinced I was enchanted.”
“What?”
“The request for a duel with you, brother.”
“That playful act isn’t likely her main goal. She might be testing if you’re truly under a spell.”
“That does make sense.”
“Yes. Her true intentions will surface once she believes you’re ensnared.”
“Uh… So, will you really duel me in front of her?”
“Why? We could simply decline…”
“Didn’t you say we need to make her believe I’m under her spell?”
“Ah…”
It appeared he had to play along, whether he liked it or not.
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