Chapter 676: Frozen North 7.5

Watching the prince’s figure slowly melt into the crowd, Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed for a brief moment—

sharp, radiant, almost predatory—

before quietly darkening.

…Was I mistaken?

It had only lasted an instant, but he was certain of what he felt then.

That disgusting, crawling presence that clung to the prince the moment his hand touched Janica.

A sensation Lucas knew all too well.

“U-um… Lucas?”

Janica’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

He turned immediately and, without hesitation, gently took her hand. His gaze dropped to her wrist, brows knitting together in concern.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she replied quickly.

“…Is that so,” he muttered. “Still—just in case.”

Before she could protest, his other hand joined the first, carefully cradling her wrist and palm.

A soft warmth spread from his touch as faint divine energy flowed through her.

Janica felt her face heat up.

He was always like this—

completely natural, utterly unaware of how intimate his actions felt.

A trait she sometimes wished he’d realize.

…No.

Maybe it was better if he didn’t.

She shook her head, chasing away the pointless thoughts, then looked up at him.

“That prince,” she said quietly. “Did you notice something?”

Lucas paused.

“Yes… but it isn’t something you should worry about.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought I sensed something off,” he answered honestly. “But it seems I was probably mistaken.”

Janica frowned slightly.

She knew something had happened. That strange warmth, the dizziness, the instinctive warning screaming at her the moment he touched her—

Yet for some reason, the details refused to take shape in her mind.

Whatever it was, that prince was dangerous.

“…I see,” she said softly.

She glanced at Lucas, then smiled.

Honestly, she was really glad he had arrived when he did.

Even if he was a troublesome, muscle-brained idiot who solved most problems with force—

When it truly mattered, he was the most reliable person she could rely on.

“Alright… that should do it for now.”

Lucas finally pulled his hands away, looking satisfied as he examined Janica’s wrist.

The faint marks left by the prince’s grip were completely gone, and more importantly, that lingering, unpleasant sensation he had felt earlier had vanished as well.

“If you feel anything strange,” he added calmly, “tell me immediately.”

Janica rotated her wrist, opening and closing her hand a few times.

“Don’t worry, everything feels fine,” she said. “Though… when that prince touched me earlier, I did feel something unpleasant. Kind of disgusting, actually. But it’s probably just because I didn’t want him touching me in the first place.”

“Disgusting…?” Lucas echoed.

“Yes.”

“…”

Lucas fell silent, his expression turning serious as his gaze drifted slightly downward, clearly lost in thought.

Seeing him like that, Janica couldn’t help herself.

She smiled and leaned in just a little.

“What’s with that face? After leaving me out of almost everything lately, don’t tell me you’re suddenly worried about me now? Fufu. Don’t worry—even if that suspicious prince did try something, I could’ve handled it myself.”

Her teasing smile froze almost instantly.

Because Lucas was staring straight at her.

Not flustered. Not embarrassed.

Just serious.

“What are you talking about, Janica?”

“Eh…?”

“Of course I’d be worried about you,” he said plainly. “That’s only natural. You’re someone important to me.”

“L-Lucas…?”

“So don’t say things like that,” he continued, his tone firm but gentle. “You’re the most precious person to me.”

Does this idiot even realize what he’s saying…?

Janica’s face burned.

She felt like she’d just been scolded—and confessed to—at the same time.

“…You really are unfair,” she muttered, looking away as she tried, and failed, to calm her racing heart.

…

Meanwhile, Prince Alain melted back into the luxurious crowd of the grand hall, moving smoothly as if nothing had happened.

He avoided unnecessary conversations, slipping between nobles and merchants with practiced ease.

…That was dangerous.

His expression darkened as Lucas’s intense gaze replayed in his mind.

I should’ve been more careful.

He had planned for interference, but not like that.

Not from someone who could cross the entire hall in an instant and crush his arm so effortlessly.

At the very least, he should have prepared something to keep Lucas occupied.

It only lasted a moment, yet standing under those golden eyes made him feel unbearably small.

Weak.

Under normal circumstances, he would never have tolerated such humiliation.

But instinct told him clearly—if he pushed further, things would have ended far worse.

Retreating was the right choice.

Still…

It was frustrating to abandon such a promising candidate.

Janica Mortelina was ideal.

Her compatibility, her soul, her potential—she would have made an excellent vessel for his queen.

Everything about her fit the requirements almost too perfectly.

If not for that annoying obstacle beside her.

That boy… no, that thing.

He had already been warned, but seeing it firsthand confirmed the truth.

So, the rumors were real.

Lucas was the Child of Light.

A being that stood in direct opposition to his queen’s existence.

Alain’s fingers slowly clenched as he exhaled through his nose.

“…Then the plan changes.”

For now, he would withdraw.

Reassess.

Redirect his efforts elsewhere.

There was no need to rush.

After all, as long as the Child of Light remained alive…

Any move made without preparation would only invite ruin.

Of course, eliminating threats was part of his duties.

But knowing what needed to be done and actually having the means to do it were two entirely different matters.

For now… he lacked both power and certainty.

Tch.

Then he would simply have to seek another vessel.

Once my queen descends, dealing with that wretched boy will be effortless.

The thought steadied him, restoring a measure of confidence.

Expanding his mana, Alain let his perception spread outward, slipping through the senses of the few followers he had brought with him.

Their eyes became his own, scanning the hall from different angles.

It didn’t take long.

There—another suitable vessel.

Not as perfect as Janica, but still acceptable.

Of course, as if the world enjoyed mocking him, an irritating presence lingered nearby on the other vessel as well.

Still, as long as it wasn’t someone blessed by divinity, it posed no real issue.

He moved immediately.

Since he had already drawn Lucas’s attention, he avoided drawing more eyes, slipping through the crowd with practiced ease, keeping his mana tightly restrained.

No unnecessary risks.

No surprises.

But then—

Thud.

“Ugh—?!”

His vision spun as his body was abruptly halted, his legs giving out as he fell backward, landing hard on the polished floor. A sharp pain shot up his spine, his face contorting as the impact rattled his bones.

…Did I hit a wall?

No.

That resistance was far too dense.

Too alive.

Frowning, Alain lifted his gaze—

And froze.

Piercing blue eyes stared down at him, cold and bottomless, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

Golden hair, sharp features, and an overwhelming presence that pressed down on him like the weight of the world itself.

There was no mistaking him.

“…Riley Hell?”

Riley simply looked at him in silence for a few seconds, as if examining an insect beneath his shoe. Then, in a low voice devoid of emotion, he muttered:

“A mid-boss… that’s right. You were supposed to be here as well…”

“Huh?”

Before Alain could process the words, Riley extended a hand and pulled him up with alarming ease, his grip firm yet controlled.

Riley made no attempt to explain further.

And for the first time that night, Alain felt a chill far colder than Lucas’s gaze.

This wasn’t a threat he could miscalculate.

“Thank you…”

“It’s fine,” Riley replied casually. “But why are you in such a hurry?”

Alain paused for half a beat, then smiled lightly. “It’s rather personal. That’s right, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is—”

“There’s no need.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll probably forget it anyway,” Riley said plainly. “So there’s no need to tell me.”

…Is this man serious?

For a split second, irritation flared inside Alain.

Being dismissed so casually—no, erased—was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

But the feeling vanished just as quickly, buried beneath a polite smile.

“Haha, is that so?” Alain laughed lightly. “Then I’ll excuse myself. Once again, thank you for the help—and sorry for bumping into you.”

“It’s fine,” Riley said.

Still unsettled by Riley’s unreadable gaze, Alain turned and began walking away, forcing himself not to look back.

Every instinct screamed at him to leave this place quickly.

Then—

“Whatever it is you’re planning…”

Riley’s voice reached him.

Alain stopped.

“…make sure my beloved doesn’t get involved, alright?”

Slowly, Alain turned around, a question forming on his lips—

And then—

FOOOOSHHH.

An overwhelming pressure slammed into him.

It wasn’t mana.

It wasn’t killing intent.

It was something far worse.

His breath caught, his limbs stiffened, and for a terrifying moment, it felt as if his very soul had been frozen in place.

“Or I’ll pay your queen a personal visit,” Riley continued calmly.

“Okay?”

Alain looked up.

The blue eyes from before were gone.

In their place were dark, void-like eyes—endless, empty, and absolute.

A gaze that made one thing painfully clear.

This wasn’t a warning.

It was a promise.

Alain trembled, cold sweat running down his back, his mouth dry as he forced a nod.

“…Understood.”

Only when the pressure vanished did he realize how close he had come to collapsing.

Without another word, Alain turned away and disappeared into the crowd—

his confidence shattered, his thoughts in chaos.

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