I Adopt The Male Lead - Chapter 27

“Mrs. Bloe.”

Karina’s eyes wandered through the air for a moment, then narrowly focused on Claude

Her golden green eyes were filled with tears.

A voice so calm that it did not look like a person who nearly lost her life a moment ago struck Claude’s ear.

“How did you get here without being late?”

“No, I’m late.”

Claude clenched his teeth.

It was not long after riding a horse out of the city.

A huge flow of magic was felt from the direction he went a while ago.

Goosebumps crept down the back of his neck.

At one time, there was a talented wizard among the vassals of the duke family, but they left and moved to the capital at the call of the imperial family immediately after Claude’s accession.

“It’s the enemy.”

It must have been the place his enemies would aim for in the city.

Claude immediately turned the horse’s head. The image of Mrs. Bloe did not leave his mind.

Although Mrs. Bloe refused her proposal twice, there were plenty of opportunities ahead.

Nothing was as terrible as a precious candidate getting hurt

‘Please, I hope it’s not too late.’

However, as soon as he arrived at the jewelry store, Mrs. Bloe, who collapsed on the floor after struggling, caught his eyes.

He struggled to say a word to Mrs. Bloe, who was staring at him blankly.

“I’m too late…”

After a few minutes, Karina barely came to her senses.

She swept her hair wet with sweat and tears with a puzzled face.

Perhaps because she kept suffering from the vibrations, her whole body ached and she couldn’t put any strength in it.

“What……what is all this……”

“It’s because we let our guard down. Wilder and I too.”

Karina blinked.

It was not surprising at all that Claude blamed Wilder.

Nobles blame all the problems on the easy subordinate.

However, it was quite surprising that Claude himself was included in the cause.

“It’s okay. I work with mana stones. I have to bear with it.”

Of course, Karina was not okay.

How can she be okay when she almost died a while ago?

However, Karina felt the need to reassure the man who acknowledged his own responsibilities and errors despite his high status.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Claude had a face that looked really frustrated.

“This is an attack aimed at the Wilder.”

“Attack…?”

Karina just stared blankly at Claude. Her head turned white, her mouth twitched, and no words came out of it.

“That’s right. This is an attack!”

Realization struck her a little later.

Getting entangled in a rampaging mana stone is enough.

However, it was impossible for the entire store to vibrate like an earthquake without someone using artificial tricks.

“As Wilder is away from the store…… Mrs. Bloe, who had nothing to do with it, got involved. I’m really sorry.”

“Will these things continue to happen in the future?”

Karina asked hastily.

No matter how good the treatment was, she could not continue to work in a life-threatening job.

I’m sorry Wilder, but I think I need to find a new job.

With an ambiguous expression that neither affirms nor denies, Claude picked up Mana stone, which seemed to have exhausted all its strength.

“This magic……. I haven’t seen it in years. It is pretending to be a rampaging Mana stone to fascinate and control people at will.”

“Yeah. It felt a lot more frightening than the vibrations of the house.”

If Claude had not returned a while ago, she might have been crushed to death by the collapsed house.

On the contrary, after she succeeded in resisting the rampaging Mana Stone, she gained quite a bit of confidence.

‘Next time, I will not be helpless.’

However, in contrast to Karina, who calmly recalled the moment before, Claude looked very nervous.

“If I arrived even a little later, this magic would have drained out your vitality.”

“What…”

Karina doubted her ears for a moment. She was just trapped in an endless vibrating house.

What do you mean vitality?

“If I did not arrive you would have died.”

“…that’s ridiculous, no way.”

Karina shook her head. She didn’t want to believe that she was in such a dangerous situation a while ago.

Unfortunately, Claude’s words are not over yet.

“It’s not over yet. You can be targeted again anytime.”

Claude quickly continued before Karina could reply.

“In case the assassination fails, the mana stone left a mark on your heart. No place is safe for you.”

Silence passed.

Karina barely came to her senses.

For a moment, her eyes were dizzy, but she had to endure somehow and grasp the situation.

“What do you mean mark? I’ve never heard of anything like that!”

“Of course, you have never heard of it. It’s a forbidden magic that no wizard with a straight mind would use.”

Of course, Sir Renke was not a wizard with a straight mind, he used to demonstrate prohibited magic without hesitation.

However, Karina did not intend to tell Claude about it.

“What kind of mark is it?”

Karina quickly accepted the situation. The accident already happened. She had no choice but to do her best to respond.

“The mark itself will not harm you. But the caster can know your location wherever you are at any time. Even at this moment… ….”

“…….”

Karina bit her lip.

“Wilder was originally their target.”

“Okay.”

“Because they have a grudge against Wilder……”

“Grudge?”

Claude snorted.

“For me, Wilder is a precious legacy my parents left me. If he disappears, it would certainly be a huge blow. That’s all.”

“Just to inflict damage on the duke……?”

“That’s correct.”

Her head was dizzy. Karina clenched her fist and opened it.

Even though he had been through a villain like Sir Renke all her life, people’s malice still surprised her.

“Anyway, you are now a target for my enemies.”

“…… Wouldn’t it be good if they could confirm that I’m not Mr. Wilder?”

“No way.”

Claude laughed bitterly.

“I’m sure they already figured out who you are. That you’re Wilder’s assistant and I’m trying to recruit you.”

“…….”

“Just because you’re not the person they’re aiming for, doesn’t mean it’s not bad to get rid of you.”

Karina shook her head.

At first, fear gripped her heart and wouldn’t let go, and then resentment filled her head.

But the emotion that came up from deep inside her heart was anger.

“Why? I haven’t been warned before?”

“That’s…”

Claude seemed to open his mouth to explain something, but he closed his mouth again at Karina’s continued words.

“I know it’s not Mr. Wilder’s fault that this happened. So, you don’t have to apologize, your excellency for that matter, whether I’m being targeted by your enemies or not.”

Claude neither hastily apologized nor made excuses.

He just listened carefully to Karina’s words.

“But I think you should have at least told me about the possibility that something like this could happen, so that I can prepare my mind.”

Karina swallowed her dry saliva.

The pain she experienced a while ago is still vivid.

However, what was more painful than physical pain was the helplessness of having to wait until someone rescues her.

“I just don’t want to wait crying defenselessly for Your Excellency to rescue me.”

Silence passed.

Claude looked at Karina speechless.

Karina waited patiently for his answer.

How dare a commoner dare to rush an answer to the duke who rules the South?

“……I thought it was best to prevent this kind of thing from happening from the beginning. But now that I see it, it was the worst decision.”

Claude smiled bitterly.

“I sincerely apologize. From now on, if there is a possibility of making Mrs. Bloe be in danger, I will let you know.”

“Thank you…”

Claude shook his head and cut off Karina’s words.

“You have nothing to be grateful for. As you said, it is information that should have been given to you sooner. After this work, you will receive the proper compensation.”

Karina’s eyes widened.

This man was really feeling sorry for her.

‘He’s not a bad person.’

Perhaps he might accept a desperate request that is absurd in the eyes of the Duke.

She slowly opened her mouth toward Claude.

“Can I get that reward now?”