Chapter 105: Duchess, We’re Even

This statement carried a hint of desperation, as Brutus still held onto a slim hope that this cursed bane wouldn’t know the location of his phylactery, the core of his soul. But his hope was dashed.

Raine pointed northwest. “Head that way, over two mountains. At the peak shaped like an eagle’s beak, follow the shadow of the first morning light, and you’ll find a cave. His phylactery is there. Of course, he’s likely left some guards.”

Brutus fell into despair. “You… how do you know this?”

Ha! In this world, souls are visible, and if they’re a form of visible light, the spectral analyzer in my system would be the one to expose it!

But of course, only the dead can keep secrets—or wait, even in this broken world, the dead can’t keep secrets! If I told you, every undead would know.

Raine’s avatar wore a smug grin. “Guess.”

The look didn’t provoke resentment in Brutus but instead a kind of relief. “I knew it; someone with the title ‘Lich Bane’ can’t be a decent person.”

At that moment, the duchess seemed hesitant. “Might I ask the Archmage for another favor for Marino…?”

Before she could finish, Raine replied sharply, “No!”

Implied meaning: it would cost extra, and they couldn’t afford it.

Sofia almost felt offended for a moment—was her duchess’s prestige so worthless?

Then again, it was normal for him to refuse to deliver the lich’s final blow.

Lich treasures were tempting but likely troublesome, and the impoverished Duchy of Marino had nothing to offer that could entice Archmage Tesla.

Looking at his clear eyes, it seemed he had never even cared about that pink letter?

Sofia recalled the tale of how King Cervantes had offered his royal treasury, only for this archmage to take a single, inconspicuous trinket.

She thought she’d understood it all: the archmage was above riches and beauties. He sought only one thing—prestige. He could refuse what was offered, but it had to be offered.

From start to finish, he valued only something called reputation.

With fame, he could take on more disciples, and spread his magical theories far and wide.

Sigh.

I may pride myself on being beautiful, thinking my beauty swayed this legendary archmage, but to him, I was just a stepping stone.

Still, my loved ones are safe, and my people have survived.

So I’ll gladly play this part.

With that thought, Sofia felt a sense of ease wash over her.

She stepped back lightly with her right foot and, despite her armor, performed a perfectly elegant curtsy.

“My apologies, Archmage. I overstepped. I’ll seek another to handle Brutus’s phylactery. As for your reward… the city is still in turmoil. Perhaps you might rest a day and then, later tonight, I could invite you for a private drink.”

Ah, noble phrasing indeed.

Like how one king might invite another to a “hunt”—not to hunt but to see the other’s army as prey.

Here, “a drink” was all pretext; the focus was on “tonight” and “private.”

As Sofia finished speaking, murmurs spread among the knights and adventurers who had fought beside her. Silent dissatisfaction rippled through the crowd.

But what could they do?

Without the duchess’s sacrifice, their nation would have been lost long ago.

Even though they felt a bit of reluctance, they tacitly accepted what was about to happen—the duchess who had led them against evil and toward victory was now about to become the young archmage’s prize.

Countless eyes fell upon Sofia’s back, and she lowered her head as soon as she finished speaking. It was clear how much shame and embarrassment she felt as she voiced her invitation to him publicly. Her heart was pounding with anxiety.

She feared Raine would come to claim his reward but feared even more that he wouldn’t, leaving her humiliated. After all, if even a young archmage was indifferent, wouldn’t that be the ultimate rejection of her beauty? Sofia was in utter mortification.

In fact, Raine was just about to say, “See you tonight.”

Unfortunately, at this historic moment, his two nosy apprentices shuffled over, eyes wide with excitement.

This was their master’s big romantic moment! And with a duchess, no less! Such gossip was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

We’re definitely witnessing this, they thought gleefully.

Raine was fuming. These two meddling brats were really testing his patience. They weren’t even his biological kids, but even if they were, he’d still wish he had “left them on the wall” that day.

So, you’re really gonna ruin my big moment? Raine was exasperated.

If they’d been equals, Raine might’ve been able to get even with them somehow, or maybe just joke around. But as their master, he couldn’t lead them down this path—it’d just set a bad example for future foolishness.

With a smile masking his frustration, Raine waved his hand, making his phantom vanish, and then stepped through a portal himself, revealing his true form.

He gestured for the duchess to come closer. “Why wait till tonight for a drink? I’ve heard Marino’s red wine is superb. I’d like a taste right now.”

“What? Now?” Sofia gasped.

It seemed totally out of place. Bodies lay scattered around as the battlefield was cleaned, and the stench was awful. Even though they were in the ducal hall, she hadn’t even removed her armor or tidied herself up. It was hardly the setting for a drink.

Sofia’s face held a hint of embarrassment, but she still did as he asked and signaled for a servant to bring the wine.

Then Raine’s audacious move came into play.

As he pulled her through the portal, the clasps of her armor and leather under-layer froze and snapped open, so that by the time she was held in his arms, she was left wearing just her inner shirt.

“Ah!” This time, it wasn’t only her who gasped—the hall full of Marino’s knights and adventurers did as well.

Holding her by her slender yet resilient waist, Raine smiled. “I find your collarbone rather… elegant, Duchess. Mind if I borrow it for a moment?”

Borrow?

How exactly?

Sofia hadn’t encountered this particular tactic before. She’d already gone as far as to give him that pink envelope and had resigned herself to whatever might happen. The main thing was, she didn’t believe Raine would truly take things further right in front of everyone.

With a grin, Raine poured a small sip of crimson wine onto the little hollow of Sofia’s left collarbone.

For a moment, Sofia’s mind went completely blank, and she let him hold her as he leaned in.

In a posture reminiscent of the classic “Victory Kiss” photo from Earth’s World War II, Raine didn’t kiss her but instead lightly sipped the small sip of wine from her collarbone.

Sofia felt her mind float away, lost in a daze of blissful lightheadedness. By the time she regained her senses, he’d already set her back down.

Under the watchful eyes of the hall, Raine lifted the pink envelope and, with a flick, summoned a flame that consumed it entirely.

Raine raised his brows with a teasing smile. “Alright, dear Duchess. We’re even.”