"So, you conspired with Edgar to arrest me? I didn't kidnap her after all!" explained Tobias, trying to be defensive."No thief would ever confess. I'd rather do Edgar's bidding than let you go," replied the woman in the leaf-green dress, pointing rudely at Tobias."Are you a fool? Look at her! Did I do something bad to that girl?!" snapped Tobias.The woman turned around, looking at Felicia, who didn't seem to have suffered any violence from Tobias. Her body was in good condition. There were no bruises nor any traumatized look from the woman.She seemed to be walking toward Felicia, her delicate and graceful hands reaching out to grasp Felicia's arm. Terrified by what had happened, Felicia began to back away, approaching Tobias, who was frozen with his legs shackled by the tree roots."See, she's more afraid of you than me," Tobias snapped.The woman sensed the fear in Felicia's heart. She feared that just because the woman before her had brutally killed Tobias' troops, she would hat
"In the arrest warrant, it doesn't say that the person who arrested Tobias Archibald has the right to execute him," Jeremias replied, looking pointedly at Tobias."So, you won't be executed today or the next few days," Jeremias explained."That's pretty sad," Tobias complained.Jeremias began to look seriously into Tobias' eyes. He was about to start interrogating the young man about why Tobias had kidnapped Felicia. All members of the house of Adelard were required to witness the interrogation so there were enough witnesses to see and hear."We'll focus on your interrogation. Why did you kidnap Felicia?" Leonora asked, asking after she got a nod from Jeremias Adelard."I didn't kidnap her after all," Tobias insisted.Leonora's eyes continued to stare at Tobias while her father focused on sensing the magical pulse that emerged from each of Tobias' answers. The young man's answer would determine whether he was guilty or not, according to Jere
The chaos ensued in the city center, many Carlisle City soldiers began to prepare for the worst. The citizens, especially children, and women, began to be evacuated in turn to the bunkers provided by the city government.Leonora, her mother, and several high-class mages in the city began to gather, forming a circle in a magic research tower. They gathered to pool their mana to protect the city by creating a magical barrier.[Magic Skill: Nature's Protective Wall]Transforming the roots that spread out to form a dome required at least twenty people with high magic power to bring up the protective magic. Only 10 people with high magic power had been gathered; it was only a matter of waiting for the remaining 10 people to form the perfect protective dome.The relentless attack was launched by Tobias' troops. Liam led the attack, hoping Adelard could release Tobias and return the young man to them.Jeremias went out from his residence, stepping with th
Some of the soldiers saw Tobias' worried condition, carried by Liam's two hands with a face as pale as the sour milk that appeared on Tobias' face. Liam dashed, heading to the north gate, which was already fully controlled by Tobias' troops."What about Lady Felicia?" asked one of the soldiers.They all didn't see Felicia near Liam. That's because Liam didn't meet Felicia when he entered the Adelard residence."We will think about it. We should retreat before more Alderad troops arrive!" said Liam."Tobias' safety first. I'm sure Felicia is fine with them," Liam explained.Hearing the man's clear orders made the thousands of troops currently under his command begin to retreat from the front lines. All the soldiers, whether on the walls or inside the city, began to walk back to protect Tobias.Carlisle's troops began to stop their attack right after they all saw Tobias' thousands of soldiers retreating from the assault this time. Jeremias and
***Five hours later."His condition is getting better. I have closed the wound on his belly," explained the medical unit leader, explaining Tobias' treatment process to Liam."What on earth happened to him?" asked Liam, curious."I don't know, but my guess is that he's suffering from exhaustion and lack of blood," the woman replied.The two stood facing each other next to the bed where Tobias lay. His condition wasn't as severe as that of a soldier fighting on the front lines, but the accumulation of fatigue, stress, and wounds on Tobias' body worsened his condition."When will he wake up?" Liam asked."I don't know, maybe tomorrow or the day after; maybe sooner," said the woman.She said goodbye to Liam, going to another patient who needed her treatment. Liam alone was standing by Tobias' bed, waiting for the man to wake up. He pulled out a wooden chair and sat down as he continued to watch Tobias' face closely."What
"Wh-What?" asked Leonora, unable to believe what Tobias had said.But the red rose petals didn't fall, a sign that Tobias truly meant it. Hearing Tobias say that Felicia loved him made Liam smile broadly; his guess was never wrong."Has everything answered your doubts?" Liam asked.From the interrogation to this moment, there wasn't a single piece of evidence or statement confirming that Tobias had actually kidnapped Felicia. Many of the young man's explanations made Leonora and the others think Tobias had only taken her as an apprentice, not a kidnap victim.After all the proof is gathered, Margaret can't help but admit that Tobias is completely innocent. Jeremias Adelard's death was also caused by the House of Adelard's wrong response to an issue without further investigating the truth."The business here is done. I want nothing more to do with you, especially you, Archibald!" said Margaret, choosing to let her husband go without any reply from T
***Two weeks later.Tobias' army came to a crossroads in the forest, close to Rachdale and Valestria. Tobias rode at the front of the line, accompanied by Liam, who kept the young man company.Tobias took the northern route rather than the eastern one leading directly to Valestria. The cold temperature meant that Tobias, Liam, and the soldiers had arrived at the place Tobias was heading for.There were open-box carriages carrying vegetables and fruits to the nearest city. The horse driver looked amazed and surprised because the large troop walked neatly toward Leafvile.The forest passes, Tobias smiles as he returns home, as does Liam, who is stunned by the vast farmland and plantations in Leafvile. The truth about Tobias solving the food crisis cannot be denied anymore.From afar, Tobias and Liam look ahead, watching the welcome sign and the entrance to Leafvile. The farmers stopped what they were doing when they saw Tobias' arrival and th
Hearing Tobias' story about being charged as a kidnapper came as a shock to Elisa. She had never seen any traits of a criminal in Tobias, especially since he had helped her a lot in restoring Leafvile village to a better condition.Elisa gave her opinion on the issue several times. Most of them said that the people accusing Tobias had hatred for the young man."Is it possible that they just hate you so much that they dare to make such assumptions so that others will hate you too," Elisa said. Tobias cleared his throat softly as he leaned back, which could also be the reason why Tobias was always getting into trouble in the South."I guessed as much, considering the arrest warrant came from Edgar Ludwig. I have a bad relationship with that man," Tobias replied."What is it?" asked Elisa.Tobias took one long breath. The story he was about to tell might sound long and shocking to Elisa, but she needed to know since they labeled him a kidnapper.<