After considering it over and over, Rob still agreed to meet Ian.
He knew Ian was the Olivier Family's young master, and he knew there was something suspicious about his arrival on the eve of war. Even so, he chose to see him.
Although war ultimately came down to a head-on clash of strength, he was more than willing to consider any way to reduce casualties and losses.
When he saw Ian and his mother, his gaze lingered on the latter for a moment, and his expression changed dramatically.
"You're Princess Moira?"
Rob immediately recognized her as a princess of the Sethen Royal House whom he had once met. Such beauty was truly unforgettable.
When a country fell, a beautiful woman like her was little different from a trophy of war. No one would show her any pity.
There would only be naked desire and the satisfaction of conquest. Wars between nations had never been a place for tender love at first sight.
Moira looked at the man she had met once before. Fully aware of her position, she spoke with utter sincerity. "I remember you, Mr. Rob."
She took an object from her son beside her, knelt down without hesitation, and offered it with both hands. "This is the Anti-Magic Iron Chain crafted by Duke Olivier, along with the Alchemy Formula required to make it."
An Anti-Magic Iron Chain?
Rob's attention was drawn to the ancient-looking chain in her hands. It looked utterly unremarkable, with patches of rust. No one would have noticed it if it had been tossed by the roadside.
On closer inspection, however, those rusty patches were evenly distributed in a strange, thornlike pattern.
He could not have been more familiar with those thorn patterns.
"...You supplied him with the Alchemy Formula?" Rob's tone was certain.