The game of hide-and-seek was over.
[I'll let you out!]
She moved forward, passing through the child blocking her way.
[I'm not lying! I'll let you out!]
Diana stopped at the child's words, which sounded almost desperate.
The child grinned at her reaction. Of course. They knew she'd be tempted by the promise of being let out. People were inherently selfish creatures. However, Diana's next words were unexpected.
"You. You messed with my man, didn't you?"
It wasn't clear since when Rodrick had become "her man," but the child's expression turned sheepish.
"Now that my body has recovered. Not only can I see magic, but I can feel it very well too."
Her body had become especially sensitive to Rodrick's magic, which she had absorbed once before.
For the past few hours, his magic had been unstable and erratic.
[Th-that's because that mister who wasn't surprised is bad!]
"Are you done playing house?"
The child puffed up their cheeks in apparent annoyance and turned their head away sharply.
Not cute at all. Maybe if it was our Noel, but...
"Bring Rodrick here right now."
[Hmph, I don't know anyone by that name~]
"Naughty children need to be disciplined to come to their senses."
[Don't be ridiculous. There are no adults who can discipline me!]
"This is why parental roles are important."
[There aren't any! None! Where are you going anyway?]
She ignored the child and started walking again.
When she first searched this castle, there was a ghost chasing her with melting skin and disheveled hair.
At first, she ran away in fear as it frantically chased her, but thinking about it now, that ghost was looking for something.
As she approached the places where ghosts appeared, her thoughts turned into certainty.
The magic emanating from the children's belongings was faintly connected to a certain point.
The ghost that couldn't cross over from a certain point. More precisely, it couldn't cross over to the west corridor where the children were. She didn't know who or why, but that was the case.
Diana stepped on the magic circle that was blatantly rising in the eerie corridor.
With a woman's scream and the sound of bones cracking, a grotesquely distorted woman appeared.
Diana swallowed hard. That's not a ghost. It's not a ghost. Whew, she closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, trying to calm herself.
A chill ran down her spine as bloodshot eyes rolled wildly, staring down at her.
Diana quickly held out the children's belongings before the woman could harm her.
"I've brought the children!"
The woman's movements came to an abrupt halt. Even her wailing screams could no longer be heard.
In the suffocating silence, Diana carefully placed the items she had been holding onto the magic circle.
May they be together and able to leave this place. Children need adults to guide them.
The children following Diana seemed to recognize the woman. Despite her grotesque appearance, they leapt into her arms.
[[[Waaah! We were so scared!]]]
As the children burst into tears, the woman's appearance changed to her beautiful living form. The woman in a maid's uniform embraced the children with both arms.
The chilling space was no longer cold. Diana spoke as she watched the moment of reunion.
"Why aren't you going? Are you afraid of being scolded?"
[Wh-what did I...]
"So you do know what you did wrong?"
She probably wasn't the first person to enter the castle. Each time, the child might have played tricks using the escape route as bait. The child was about to burst out in anger, annoyed.
[Eek!]
The woman in the maid's uniform reached out her hand to the child. As if beckoning them to come.
The child, who had been hesitating, took one step, then another, before flying into the woman's arms.
They were unmistakably a child throwing a tantrum. Although they had been scary when raging like an evil spirit.
As she was watching the scene fondly, her eyes met the woman's.
[Thank you for finding the children.]
The woman stood up, bowing deeply while pressing her hand firmly on the head of the most mischievous child.
"What happens now?"
Diana's question was implicit. It encompassed both what would happen to them now and whether she could escape from here.
The woman's expression was not good. Diana felt a wave of unease as the woman furrowed her brow.
[Unfortunately, we are not the masters of this castle.]
Ah, that's right. One could only leave this castle with the master's permission. The barrier was too strong.
[But we can open the way!]
The child said, clutching tightly to the woman's skirt. But their expression immediately hardened.
[Oh. That mister is in danger.]
"What?"
[Th-the master has appeared.]
The master of this castle has appeared? Diana's face contorted. The one who created such a bizarre space would certainly not be friendly to them.
"Where?"
[I've been stripped of my power. But I can open the way for you. Run straight ahead. I'll open the door at the end of the corridor.]
Diana started running with all her might, ignoring the child's words.
[That mister is trapped in a dream right now, unconscious.]
Hearing that Rodrick was in an unconscious state made her even more anxious.
Despite the child's claim of losing power, all the magic circles had stopped functioning and cleared the way for her.
[We can leave after fulfilling the conditions set by the master.]
The child's voice followed Diana as she ran.
[I'm sorry. I got upset because no one ever came to find us before.]
As she reached the end of the corridor, a black door came into view. She grasped the gold-decorated handle.
[Thank you. Please be careful.]
Goodbye. With those final words, the voice dissipated like scattering mist. Diana didn't hesitate to fling open the door.
And she was shocked.
"Rodrick!"
The man with the large build was suspended in mid-air, his neck gripped by someone wearing a deep hood.
Diana wanted to approach but couldn't move any further.
Beyond the doorframe was a cliff. Below, the water's surface shimmered blue, filled to the brim.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.