Clean as New

Horn thought he must have gone mad.

He had taken Miss Anna to Fireplace Bay and even prepared himself to bear the head of the household's wrath. In the end, they had only bought twelve basic Elemental Shaping Magic scrolls.

Nine Ice Arrow scrolls and three Fireball Spell scrolls.

But there was no one else who could help them.

By the time they returned to the manor, dawn was almost breaking. He crept to the door and pushed it open, poking his head out to look around. Seeing no one nearby, he quietly urged Miss Anna to hurry back to her room.

This was their only chance. The master had been summoned by the Pope and would be staying in the holy city for the next few days.

He watched Miss Anna run upstairs from the doorway. Only when she disappeared around the landing did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Then a man's mocking voice came from behind him. "Well? Did you enjoy your trip to Fireplace Bay? Did you find a Magus willing to help you deal with me?"

As a figure slowly emerged from the shadows, Horn's heart leaped into his throat.

The man stroked his mustache, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "As it happens, one of the Magi you found was once my student. He told me all about Miss Anna's wish. 'An evil mage'? That's the first time anyone's described me that way."

"Miss Anna is still young. She doesn't know any better."

"But, Mr. Horn, you're no child. Am I to understand that you intend to openly defy the head of the household?"

"I have no objection to the master's orders."

Horn took a deep breath. This time, he met the man's gaze without backing down. "But that child has been loyal to the family since he was little. His father gave his life for the family. This expedition is a one-way trip. Forbidding him even one last meeting is a little too..."

"Miss Anna is to marry Young Master Aisok. The marriage was arranged the moment she was born."

A glint of anger flashed in Horn's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

Everyone in the Imperial Capital knew of Aisok's terrible reputation. He frequented brothels and had once tortured three dancers to death. Once the scandal had died down, he hadn't reformed—in fact, he'd become even worse. Just a month ago, another death had occurred. Horn still remembered the way Aisok had looked at Anna during his last visit, as though he were openly admiring a pretty toy.

Who would willingly give their daughter to a beast like that?

But Anna's father was just such a man.

Aisok's father had founded Imperial Military Industry, and this marriage alliance would bring him countless political connections.

In truth, they didn't care about Anna's future. All they wanted was for her to become an obedient commodity to trade for influence.

"Young Master Aisok wants his fiancée to be pure—not only in body, but in reputation as well."

The mustachioed man spoke coldly. "If word gets out that Miss Anna met in secret with some unknown young man, what will Young Master Aisok and his family think?"

Horn said nothing.

The man before him was a Grand Magus of the Astrology Society, granted the title of "Silver Fox" by the Empire. It marked his prominent position within the Astrology Society, but in truth, he had been sent by Imperial Military Industry to "educate" Anna.

Aisok had become fascinated with magic tricks and wanted his fiancée to become a magician. And the master had actually allowed this man to come to the manor and manage Anna's life.

"It seems you have nothing more to say. When the head of the household returns, I'll tell him everything you've done."

A malicious smile appeared on Silver Fox's face. "As for Miss Anna, I'll educate her into becoming a good wife."

The sound of shattering glass cut off their conversation.

It came from upstairs, from the direction of Anna's bedroom.

The noise sounded especially clear in the stillness of the night. Silver Fox's expression changed; he could also feel a powerful surge of magic.

But... how was that possible?

His student had reported that every expert in Fireplace Bay had refused the commission as soon as they heard his name. That was only to be expected. So when he received the news, he hadn't even bothered to go and bring the two of them back to the manor himself.

In Silver Fox's opinion, sometimes being left alone brought an even deeper sense of despair.

Even if Anna had secretly fled to Fireplace Bay, she wouldn't find anyone to help her. That would teach her a lesson and make her more obedient in the years to come.

After all, Aisok liked good, obedient girls.

With a dull thud, Silver Fox's figure turned into a trail of black smoke, and he swept into Anna's bedroom like a wraith.

The room was empty. Only the shattered window remained, with cold air pouring in through it.

Horn arrived a moment later. By the time he rushed into the room, panting, he too had nearly frozen in place at the sight by the window.

Heisenberg had said the magic drawn into the scroll was the most basic Ice Arrow, but the ice sculpture by the window had nothing to do with an Ice Arrow. Horn didn't know what to call this spell. The magic within the scroll had formed a spiral slide dozens of meters long. By the time he reached the window, Anna had already slid a fair distance. She clutched the hem of her white lace dress and shouted with excitement.

It was as if this were a slide leading to the fairy-tale world from a storybook.

Horn noticed Silver Fox's face turn pale and then flush. Clearly, even he had been stunned by this ingenious Ice Element spell.

But Silver Fox soon revealed his true nature as an "evil mage." A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. His body turned into black smoke once more, shot out the window, and sped straight after Anna.

He couldn't tell what kind of spell this was at a glance, but this wasn't a fairy-tale world.

In the real world, a sheltered young lady who ran away to elope would never succeed.

Silver Fox caught up with Anna.

The young lady in distress saw him and grew frightened.

"Miss Anna, you're getting naughtier by the day."

Silver Fox looked down at Anna. After behaving in such an improper manner, she ought to be frightened.

In truth, Anna had always been afraid of him. He knew many ways to cause people pain without leaving a scar on their bodies.

Aisok had said he didn't like defective goods. His fiancée had to be pure as new before she was sent to him.

He continued, "Have you forgotten what the Heart Devouring Curse feels like?"

Sure enough, Anna's face turned deathly pale. She backed away several steps, fear and wariness in her eyes.

Silver Fox was quite pleased with her reaction. He believed pain was the best teacher, especially for children Anna's age. He continued to coax her. "If you don't want to feel that again, hand me the scroll you're holding."

His words seemed to remind Anna of something.

Her gaze shifted back and forth between the scroll and Silver Fox for a long while. Then she suddenly made up her mind, clenched her teeth, and tore open three magic scrolls under Silver Fox's astonished gaze.