Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Monster of the North (7)

Aurora slightly blushed as she thought about the excuse she used. She would have claimed there was a fire or someone in her room, but what if she called for help? It would have drawn unnecessary attention.

Tanya, as the eldest twin, was serious and strict. She wouldn’t have allowed Aurora to stay back alone in her room. That's why when Aurora found out that the twins slept separately, she was glad.

Aurora quickly searched for what she needed. It didn’t take her long to find it in the closet.

Duke Rizar’s servant token. When a servant needed to leave the City, they’d show this to the guards.

Aurora undressed and changed into Anya’s maid clothes. Just as she finished, her foresight warned her that Anya was a few seconds away from returning.

She picked up the pace and put her clothes on over the maid outfit. Just as she hid the token under her dress, the door opened.

Anya entered the room with a smile. “Miss, I didn’t see the spider at all. Maybe it ran away when you left?”

“R-really?” She asked, pretending to be troubled.

“Yes! You can sleep soundly without any worries.”

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank…you…” She declined Anya's request to send her back to her room and left after saying goodnight.

She was able to perfectly sneak past the Knights and enter the stables where the horses were. Aurora didn’t have to take her time to pick a horse, as it wasn’t her first time coming here. It was her eighth time. This was so she could get along with her partner, who’d help her escape this place she saw as nothing but a cage.

“Hey there, Efil. What do you think…about going on an……adventure with me?” Aurora patted the female horse with lovely black hair. The horse responded by licking her hand.

She was able to do some digging around and the Duke's personal horse and its name. With that, she was able to quickly build a relationship with Efil.

Aurora took off the clothes over the maid’s outfit and tightened her hair into a bun. She covered her bun with the scarf worn by the maids, giving her a completely different appearance. After grabbing the two bags she concealed underneath the large haystack, she gracefully climbed on the horse. One could tell it wasn’t her first time riding a horse.

Aurora left the mansion without looking back.

--:::------::-------------------・ω・--------------------::------:::---

On the third floor in the hallway, the silhouette of a figure stood in front of the window and watched the young lady riding his horse. He straightened his tall frame and sharply narrowed his sapphire colored eyes.

Anya and Tanya, the twin maids quietly stood behind the figure. "Efil usually doesn't like strangers. To think she'd able to win her trust in just a few days." He tapped his finger on the window panel.

“Are you sure about letting her leave, Your Grace?” Tanya asked.

Anya was even more worried for the Miss’ safety. Earlier, she had to obey her Master's orders and put on an act. But she really cared for the Miss and didn’t want to see her get hurt.

Lucius lowered his eyes in deep thought. “She’ll leave the City through the back gate and head towards the forest.”

Anya felt a jolt run through her. “That forest is called the death forest for a reason! Your Grace, please let me go bring her back!”

Inside the death forest was the entrance to the Corrupted Region. Although the forest appeared ordinary on the outside, the deeper one went, the darker it became. Even when the sun was at its highest point during the day, no light reached that place. Once a person reaches there, they will lose their way for days or even weeks. Most died due to starvation. It was easy to enter but difficult to leave.

Aurora had no idea that the place she was heading towards, was the one place everyone avoided like the plague.

Lucius glanced at Anya, making her flinch back. “Did you forget about the barrier? While it’s true the outer layer of the region is covered by black fog, there’s nothing there that will cause humans harm.”

“But…!” Anya wanted to refute the Duke, but her elder sister grabbed her shoulder and shook her head. Anya closed her mouth, dejected. What made her think the Duke would treat the Miss any differently? The coldness had already seeped deep into his heart.

Tanya wasn't angry at all at her sister. Although a punishment was certain, she was relieved to see Anya open up to someone other than her. Tanya smiled at her softhearted sister and explained. “The Duke has already sent Captain Raya to follow her. With a protection rune, the Captain won’t lose his way. He’s also good at tracking and finding people."

You are reading story Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch at novel35.com

Anya clasped her hands in joy. A protection rune can protect the person who uses it from outside forces besides physical attacks.

Ignoring Anya’s sparkling eyes towards him, Lucius turned his attention back to the window. He knew well that Aurora wouldn’t come to harm. Especially if he guessed her ability correctly.

However, the next morning, his theory proved to be wrong.

Two of his Knights had returned with bad news.

It was regarding the former Marquess, Alexander Peruka. That day Lucius had the two escort him to the Holy Temple to have his Rune erased as ordered by His Majesty. But who would have thought they’d be ambushed right after?

According to the two knights, they were ambushed by more than twenty bandits. The Knights of Duke Rizar were highly trained and can hold their own against that many people, even fifty if needed. These two Knights were also special. Given the name Lyle and Cain by Lucius himself, they were known as Shadow Knights that protected him in the dark. With dark hair and eyes, they blended with the night. Unless given different orders, they usually stayed by his side.

Shadow Knights were trained since young and were very loyal to their Master. These two specialized in using two short daggers as their main weapons. They were the strongest of their kind in this generation.

However, this time, what they didn’t account for was a rank 2 green wyvern Familiar.

A wyvern of that rank didn’t have strong scales, making them vulnerable. However, not only were wyverns fast, they viciously killed their prey by using poison breath.

The wyvern grabbed Alexander Peruka in its claws and flew off, leaving the other bandits behind. Cain and Lyle apprehended the bandits who were lucky enough to survive its position. By the time the Duke finished with them, they'd wish they hadn't.

“We’ve confirmed that the bandits do not know anything, Your Grace.” Cain reported first. “They were approached by a hooded figure who promised them wealth if they succeed. They were only pawns to distract us while the wyvern rescued Peruka.”

Halon, who stood by the Duke’s side shrugged his shoulder. “To think the two strongest Knights behind the Captain and Vice-Captain were defeated so soundly.”

Lyle glared at Halon. “You try fighting against twenty bandits while guarding that bastard against a wyvern!!” That one sentence was enough to convey Lyle’s anguish. Yes, it was a tough battle, but he felt so ashamed for losing that pot-bellied noble.

Halon turned his head and whistled, pretending he didn’t hear anything. Lyle nearly growled in irritation.

“Lyle and Cain did their best. The fault lies in me.” Lucius didn’t expect someone was backing the Peruka household. Because of his mistake in thinking he finished cleaning out the Rizar Dukedom of those who abused their power, he allowed for this to happen.

Cain shook his head. “No, Your Grace. As your Knights, we should have been better prepared. Please punish us for our failure.”

“It’s fine. I need you two to do something else for me.” The Duke read the letter in his hand. Thanks to his informant, he knew what step to take next. “Find out which noble has summoned a wyvern for a familiar and investigate their background."

"Lyle will go, I will stay by your side." Cain didn't like that idea of leaving the Duke's side. As a Shadow Knight, he shouldn't leave unless it was imperative. Besides, Lyle was the best when it came to blending in with others and gathering information.

"You both go. It might be difficult if the person intentionally hid it. Look for someone who has the potential to summon a high ranked Familiar but claims to not have one.”

Cain obeyed, although reluctantly.

While the Head of each noble family must summon a Familiar based on their rank, it didn't mean the other family members could not do the same. Only the Head was required to present his Familiar to the public. However, nobles were arrogant and prideful in nature. They’d rarely hide the fact they summoned a rank 2 green wyvern unless...

Lucius wanted to tell them to also be cautious, but before he could, the door to the study room slammed open.

The Captain of the Rizar Knights, Raya Blakesley, ran inside. While sweating profusely, he knelt on one knee to show his loyalty. This was something a Knight had to do when interrupting their Master without warning. “I apologize for my behavior, Your Grace.”

“It’s fine. Since it’s you, I know it must be something important.”

“Yes.” Raya quickly stood up. “Please forgive me for my incompetence. The Miss has passed through the barrier and entered the Corrupted Region!”

You can find story with these keywords: Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch, Read Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch, Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch novel, Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch book, Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch story, Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch full, Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch Latest Chapter