DLRV 8

Samuel’s mind was filled with a vivid image of Annelie. He furrowed his brow and took a determined step forward, his clenched fist refusing to loosen. He could still recall the look in her eyes the last time they had made eye contact—those indifferent and cold eyes.

This wasn’t a kidnapping. She hadn’t been surprised by the wyvern’s appearance, nor had she tried to escape. Instead, she had climbed to a prominent place to attract attention. At that moment, she hadn’t looked like a saint about to sacrifice herself. She had been more like a villain who didn’t care about causing chaos. Samuel was certain of it.

She had called the wyvern from the beginning—to use it as her escape.

***

“Have you heard?” a sharp voice echoed through the office.

“Sit down, Frizian.”

“We have to find her first.”

“Sit.”

“Father!”

Despite his daughter’s impatient expression, Duke Roam remained silent with a stern look. Frizian reluctantly sat down, biting her lip. The Duchess, who had arrived earlier, rested her forehead on her hand with a tired expression.

“What in the world is going on?”

“Those stupid temple people! If they couldn’t protect her properly, they should have handed her over to us long ago.”

Frizian leaned back in her chair, angrily muttering through clenched teeth. Duke Roam stood with his hands behind his back, lost in thought. He hadn’t been able to sleep properly for several days due to recent events.

The fact that their outcast daughter had been chosen by the gods and resurrected was already hard to believe. And now, they had received news of her disappearance before they could even meet her.

“Have you seen the footage?”

“Yes.”

Someone had managed to capture Annelie on a video orb just before she was abducted by a monster. The distance was far, but the fluttering silver hair was unmistakably Annelie’s.

The Roam family, who had harbored some doubts until then, could no longer deny it. Annelie Roam had truly become the Resurrected One—the girl they had abandoned and led to the executioner’s block.

Duke Roam glanced at Frizian.

“What about the family registry?”

“I’ve had it restored. Although there was some noise, the overwhelming opinion was that we couldn’t let the Resurrected One remain outside the family.”

After an emergency meeting with all their vassals, Annelie Roam’s name had been reinstated in the family registry. Those who had once unanimously demanded that the shameful name of the villainess be erased were now united in their desire to prevent the Resurrected One from being taken by others.

Frizian agreed with them. Her sister had been the one who best inherited the Roam name, and even after being abandoned by the crown prince, had managed to find a new path. Since it was the Roams who had raised her, she should rightfully return to the Roams.

“I’ll form a search party from the family knights.”

Duke Roam sighed in response to Frizian’s words. Then he slowly asked, “What does Lilia say?”

“…She hasn’t been seen.”

Duke Roam frowned. The reason they had abandoned Annelie and chosen Lilia was not simply because Annelie was terminally ill. Lilia had the ability to foresee the future. Compared to the usefulness of a daughter who was terminally ill and could no longer be the crown prince’s fiancée, this was an incomparably higher value.

“It’s incredible that she couldn’t use her ability when it was actually needed.”

“What about the imperial family?”

“The Empress still wants Lilia. But His Majesty…”

The Duchess shook her head, looking troubled. It was obvious what the Emperor was thinking. He was probably trying to seize the Resurrected One before the Roams could. Although they had reinstated Annelie Roam’s name in the family registry, if the imperial family managed to secure Annelie first, they would never give her up.

“I wonder if she didn’t know about the gods’ plan before she died?”

The Duchess muttered to herself. She had actually fainted when she heard the news of Annelie’s resurrection. While it wasn’t as sentimental or tear-jerking as it was portrayed to the public, she had felt a sense of joy that the child she had given birth to had come back to life.

However, as time passed and she thought about it rationally, she began to resent her daughter somewhat. Did she really not have any inkling that she would be resurrected?

“There’s no way she wouldn’t have had any signs. Annelie would probably have kept her mouth shut.”

Frizian had the same suspicion. The Duke, who had been silently listening to his wife and daughter, sighed deeply and said, “What’s the point of dwelling on the past? We need to form a search party first.”

Running his hand over his tired face, Duke Roam muttered in a cold voice, “As always, what belongs to the Roams belongs to the Roam.”

***

“This is our chance!”

The Emperor slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair and exclaimed. Maxell, who had calmly read the temple’s official document, nodded.

“I will send a reply saying that we will actively participate in the search.”

“I was so worried when her corpse was stolen. Thank the gods they haven’t abandoned the imperial family.”

Maxell watched the Emperor’s satisfied smile and carefully examined the official document. It contained a brief account of how the Resurrected One had been kidnapped by a wyvern, followed by a request for the entire empire to help find her. Throughout the document, the term Resurrected One was used to refer to the subject. It was likely a deliberate choice. They wanted to emphasize that she was no longer a citizen of the empire but an existence solely dedicated to carrying out the will of the gods.

“Annelie.” 

The name, spoken after so long, felt rough on his tongue, like a thorn.

“I will do my best to serve Your Majesty without fail in the future.”

 His former fiancée had always been so upright.

“As someone who will become a monarch in the future, you must maintain a clear attitude when dealing with your subordinates.”

She was a woman who was always cold and rational, no matter the situation.

“She is a noblewoman from a fallen family. Do you wish to bring her into the rule?”

Even with a terminal diagnosis and a weakening body, she had been merciless.

“…Maxell, although our relationship didn’t start with love, I believed we could have cultivated it.”

By the time she revealed those feelings, Lilia was already by Maxell’s side. So he didn’t find her cold love regrettable or impressive.

“She seemed to like you quite a bit. She would surely be happy if you went to save her.” 

The Emperor encouraged Maxell with a smile. After a moment of silence, Maxell put down the document and looked down.

“I have a new fiancée.”

“Ah, Lilia Roam, is it?”

The Emperor clicked his tongue, his tone displeased. “Didn’t you always say she seemed too weak? Even though she carries the Roam name, her origins are different.”

The Emperor used to enjoy Lilia’s sweet smiles and affectionate demeanor, often making time for tea with her. But now, he was focused on Annelie.

“Annelie is a woman resurrected by divine blessing. If we bring someone bestowed by the gods into the imperial family, our empire will become even stronger. Even if she doesn’t become the crown princess, there must be a way to entice her. Do your best.”

Perhaps he could even make her an adopted daughter of the imperial family. Maxell easily understood the implication. He bowed his head to his father.

“Yes.”

***

Shortly after my successful escape, I heard absurd news. There were rumors that the Resurrected One had volunteered as bait in front of a wyvern to save people and had been kidnapped.

It had been on my mind ever since I was resurrected, but the world was truly going mad. Moreover, since a video orb of me had been circulating everywhere, I would have to hide my silver hair wherever I went. Having discarded the temple’s treasures, I tried to hide my hair color with a clumsy dye job. I wanted it to be brown, but my hair ended up strangely mottled. It was still better than silver, though.

I don’t know who took the video, but I’ll make them pay.

I heard that search parties were being formed everywhere based on the video orb. People were constantly marveling at the Resurrected One’s courage in facing the monster and praying for her safe return. Everyone was going crazy. This was undoubtedly what it meant for evil to run rampant.

[Annelie, my brother said thank you!]

“No, it’s nothing. I just happened to become a kidnapper’s target.”

I could no longer stay with the wyvern, which was too conspicuous. Instead, as a reward, I told the wyvern about a small monster habitat—a place where rat-like creatures lived. Since the wyvern was a carnivorous monster that ate small prey, I thought it was a suitable reward and offered it. According to the eagle, the wyvern seemed content with the arrangement. I suppose it’s better for it to feast in its own territory than to make a meal of me.

Thanks to the wyvern, I reached a remote rural area far from the old city. Finding a secluded spot large enough for a giant wyvern to land was no easy task, but I eventually succeeded. Honestly, I wished it had taken me even farther, but clinging to it had been exhausting.

Luckily, no one here knew me. I tried to disguise myself with a dye job, but it was poorly done. Even with my hood pulled low, Samuel recognized me instantly. It seems there’s something about me that gives me away.

The search party will soon be tracking the wyvern, and compared to them, I’m moving at a snail’s pace. At this rate, I’ll just end up wandering around aimlessly.

Is there anything else I can do?

“Eagle, do you know any other creatures we could ask for help?”

“Nope, not one!”