HOFRS 22

Chapter 22

“This necklace?”

Vendia tilted the necklace in her hand back and forth, inspecting it closely.

The necklace, which looked like a choker, had a keyhole in the center that allowed it to be unlocked.

“Yup. You can’t leave a designated area while wearing it. If you try, a curse spell will activate and you’ll probably turn into a roasted chicken.”

Yulize held up a key no bigger than a fingernail and added her explanation.

“And without this key, the necklace can’t be removed. Even if someone steals it, it’s useless. Someone else has to unlock it for you.”

“Oooh…”

So it was a really amazing item.

Vendia’s eyes lit up after hearing the explanation. It finally felt like they had a proper solution.

They had been brainstorming how to deal with the intruder—calming down Yulize, who had been ready to knock him out again—when she suddenly exclaimed that she had an idea and left. A short while later, she returned with this choker in hand.

“If you can’t get rid of him, keeping him under control is the safest option.”

Yulize was right.

If they couldn’t kill him or release him, then keeping him confined was the best plan. And with a magical restraint device like this, it was perfect.

“But why do you have this, Lady Yulize…?”

“Oh, it’s my eldest brother’s. I stole it.”

When Vendia questioned her, Yulize responded casually.

No wonder she went herself instead of sending someone. And of course, the original owner turned out to be Baldini.

“Ugh…”

The moment Vendia heard that, she shuddered in disgust. The purpose of such an item was… suspicious.

Sitting on the drawing room sofa, Yulize nodded vigorously, as if she felt the same.

“Better you use it before my brother gets a chance to do something weird with it.”

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to use this?”

“Of course. I brought it for you. Now go on. I’ll wait here.”

“Thank you.”

Vendia accepted the key from Yulize and took the necklace with her.

“Aah~ I know nothing~ I saw nothing~”

As Vendia walked out of the drawing room, she heard Yulize sing aloud to herself in a very obvious voice.

What is she doing? Vendia wondered—then it hit her.

She was saying she’d keep today’s events a secret.

Yulize was pretending to speak to herself so Vendia wouldn’t feel indebted. It was a kind and thoughtful gesture.

A gentle smile naturally formed on Vendia’s lips. She was truly grateful to Yulize.

“I need to do my best.”

With renewed resolve to support Yulize wholeheartedly, Vendia left the drawing room.

“M-Mistress. I moved him to the guest room just as you ordered.”

Chris approached as she waited in the hallway.

Vendia, walking to the guest room with Chris, explained the necklace.

It was clearly a device made to prevent someone from escaping.

“I-I think this really is the best option.”

“Right? Still, I didn’t know the Magic Tower made items like this.”

“…”

For a brief moment, Chris’s shoulders flinched ever so slightly—but Vendia didn’t notice.

“Was this perhaps the Tower Master’s idea?”

“N-No, I don’t think so! It was probably made because someone needed it…”

Chris replied in a panic, almost like someone trying to cover up a secret.

“What kind of need?”

Vendia blinked in surprise. It wasn’t something you saw every day. Chris’s ears flushed red.

Ah… could it be?

“I respect that.”

“Wh-What are you even saying, Mistress?!”

Chris’s mind went blank for a moment. His face turned redder than an apple.

“I’m not that narrow-minded, you know.”

Vendia chuckled, still clearly misunderstanding.

Chris, utterly bewildered by her train of thought, simply stared at her.

She was smiling so prettily.

Her transparent blue eyes sparkled with warmth and understanding. He couldn’t make sense of her logic—but that made her all the more intriguing. Her and those blue eyes.

“I’ll go in alone. I have a few things I want to ask.”

“O-Okay. If anything dangerous happens, call for me right away. I’ll be right here.”

Leaving Chris behind in the hallway, Vendia entered the guest room alone.

Inside the sparse room with just a bed and a vanity, the intruder was still tied to a chair.

“Mm! Mmph!”

The intruder made muffled noises, either trying to acknowledge her or protest.

Vendia walked over and peeled off the tape covering his mouth.

“OW! Y-You savage brute! How dare you treat Sir Peter like this! I’m destined to be the vice guild leader of the White Guild!”

The man—Peter—shouted in outrage, eyes full of indignation. Then, he quickly licked his lips.

He had noticed that his lips were cracked and bleeding, and now he glared at Vendia like she’d committed a crime against humanity.

Apparently, he was more upset about the injuries to his face than being tied up this whole time.

A man with an overwhelming sense of self-love.

Vendia ignored his whining and gave him a cold stare.

He looked to be around her age, with deep green hair and matching green eyes.

The White Guild…

That name rang a bell.

Back when she was the duchess, attending her mother-in-law’s weekly tea parties, she often overheard the noblewomen gossiping.

The White Guild was like a private investigator’s guild—they specialized in finding people. They could even track down your husband’s mistress in no time.

“So my father actually hired a guild to capture me?”

“…Whew. Look.”

“Talk.”

“Catching just me isn’t going to stop anything. There’s already a bounty on your head. Of course, since I, Peter, am extremely capable and professional, I was the first to find you—but more bounty hunters will pick up the scent soon enough.”

Perhaps having accepted reality after being tied up for so long, Peter began spilling everything with surprising ease.

“Haah…”

Vendia bit her lip as she processed the situation.

As if hiring a guild wasn’t enough, her family had placed a bounty on her head too. Clearly, they had no intention of letting her go.

They were worse than beasts to the end.

Vendia stayed calm, thinking rationally despite knowing she was in danger.

Even if she tried to flee now, as long as there was a bounty, she’d always be a target.

Then it was better to stay here and build her strength—find a way to completely sever ties with her family.

“So if you let me go, I’ll help you avoid them! I swear it on my name!”

“Who even knows your name? That’s a lie even a five-year-old wouldn’t believe.”

“What?! There’s no one who doesn’t know Peter of the White Guild! Ask anyone on the street! I’m the future—”

“Future vice guild leader, right? Sorry, but that’s not happening anymore. You just got fired.”

“Fired?! By whose authority?!”

Peter looked confused as Vendia effortlessly fastened the necklace around his neck.

It would be a waste to let such a “talent” go.

Click.

With a crisp sound, the choker locked in place.

“H-Hey! What is this?! What did you put on me?!”

Sensing something ominous, Peter began squirming in his restraints and craned his neck to look down.

“You’ve just been reassigned.”

Vendia grinned wide.