That fleeting glimpse when she lifted her veil was simply too stunning. Bortuli felt an urge to possess her unlike anything he had ever felt toward any woman. He prided himself on his discerning eye. Though this woman did not seem to come from an ordinary family, she was traveling alone with a child and did not even have guards at her side. She could not be anyone truly important. Even if he had to use force, it would not be much of a problem.
In Dragonhorn City, with just the five words "My father is the city lord," there was nothing Bortuli Rakne wanted that he could not obtain.
What was more, Lord Lavdino, the newly risen noble of the Imperial Capital and royal mage, wanted the necklace on that little girl. Even for that alone, his father Wayolon would give him his full support... Right—if he took the little girl hostage, he could definitely make this beauty submit obediently.
Just then, the woman's words, "You don't know whether you live or die," reached his ears. His whole body felt as though he had plunged naked into an ice cellar, or fallen into a bottomless abyss. A terrifying force tore him apart inch by inch, from body to soul.
To the onlookers, Bortuli merely stood there in a daze. Then he shuddered and began trembling all over. Sweat, snot, and tears streamed down uncontrollably, and a faint, foul stench drifted from inside his trousers.
The royal mage Lavdino was startled. Seeing the mysterious woman already leaving with the little girl, he knew something was wrong. They had most likely kicked an iron plate.
Bortuli was the city lord's son and had accompanied him on this outing. If anything happened to him, not only would Lavdino lose face, he would