I Kidnapped the Hero’s Women

Chapter 85 - The Best Method

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuria.”

“Something’s weird about your voice…”

“I’m Charlotte! But what’s with that mask?”

“...Don’t touch it.”

“Ah.”

Thwack.

Yuri’s body reacted instinctively, knocking away Charlotte’s hand.

Her bright expression instantly froze in surprise.

Seeing that reaction, Yuri felt his heart wrench with pain.

“...I’m wearing the mask to help me focus on the mission.”

“Why don’t you take it off? I’d like to get to know you.”

“My mission doesn’t include such things.”

“Charlotte, it seems like Yuria has a reason for wearing the mask. Let’s wait for now.”

“Hmm… okay.”

Reluctantly, Charlotte stepped back, sulking at Julia’s words.

Her face clearly showed her disappointment.

Behind the mask, Yuri bit his lip, letting out a silent groan.

‘Seeing them up close, they don’t seem all that different from before…’

But they had certainly changed.

Their outfits, while not extravagant, looked elegant and refined.

The lightweight armor they wore, though simple, exuded a clean and dignified aura.

Overall, they both had an air of confidence, a far cry from their days at the orphanage when they had been overly cautious and meek.

However, a person’s essence is not just defined by their appearance.

Yuri could see it.

Despite the external changes, the brief conversation made it clear that Charlotte and Julia hadn’t changed much on the inside.

Maybe they hadn’t been brainwashed.

Or perhaps the brainwashing had been temporarily lifted; he couldn’t be sure.

Yuri began to entertain the hope that maybe, just maybe, it would be okay to take off the mask and reveal himself now.

But at that moment...

“...!”

A subtle yet intense pressure enveloped him, and Yuri flinched, turning around.

Aslan Vermont.

The ever-menacing-looking noble was staring directly at him.

A palpable hostility radiated from his body, directed straight at Yuri.

Yuri’s instincts told him that Aslan Vermont was not a significant threat.

He didn’t appear to have great physical strength or exceptional magical abilities.

So there was no reason to feel afraid.

Yet strangely, Yuri’s entire body tensed up, his hands starting to tremble.

The aura wasn’t particularly strong, but it was enough to do this.

‘I’ve heard that the people of Vermont emit killing intent when they’re angry. If it’s this faint, it means he’s suppressing it with great effort.’

Aslan Vermont was angry.

But why?

When Aslan began striding toward him, Yuri’s mind went blank.

Ah! What do I do!

“...Ugh.”

Yuri instinctively dodged as Aslan reached out for the mask.

He hadn’t expected him to try to take it off so suddenly…!

Aslan kept insisting he take off the mask, saying something, but Yuri didn’t remember what he said or how he responded.

He had just babbled incoherently.

Exposed to Aslan Vermont’s unrefined killing intent, Yuri’s mind was teetering on the edge of collapse.

‘Aslan Vermont suspects me…!’

Has he already figured it out?

Does he suspect I know Charlotte and Julia?

Is that why he’s so desperate to remove my mask…!

Adjusting his mask, Yuri swallowed hard.

He couldn’t let it come off.

No matter what.

He adjusted the mask again and swallowed once more.

‘It’ll be the end if I’m exposed…!’

I’ve come too far to give up on Charlotte and Julia now.

No matter how much Aslan Vermont suspects me, I’ll push through…

Grinding his teeth, Yuri resolved himself once more.

.

.

.

“My lord, perhaps you should try to restrain your anger a little.”

“Anger? Do I look angry?”

“No. It didn’t show on your face, but… well, there’s the matter of killing intent.”

Killing intent?

Sylvia, who had approached cautiously, mentioned it in a subdued tone.

Is it some kind of metaphor?

It seems people like Sylvia have ways to detect if someone is angry beyond just their expressions.

If Sylvia could sense it, Yuri likely could too.

Maybe that’s why he had flinched a few times earlier.

No, that monster of a kid wouldn’t be scared of someone like me.

In any case, it seemed best to suppress my anger in front of Yuri.

“Fine. I’ll try to control it. I didn’t expect that damn kid to show up in a mask.”

“Should I force it off?”

“No. Don’t. There’s nothing uglier than using force against a child.”

“My lord…”

Sylvia looked at me with a tender expression, as if discovering an unexpected side of me.

There are plenty of ways to get that mask off.

I could have Sylvia rip it off, or use Julia and Charlotte as leverage to force him.

But doing that would only make Yuri harbor a deep resentment towards me.

If his current hostility was just vague suspicion, it would turn into a true, justified hatred.

‘If that happens, I’ll never get his blessing for the engagement.’

I can’t let that happen.

For Charlotte and Julia to be accepted as my wives in the future, I need Yuri’s support.

If I lose any chance of improving our relationship, that would be the worst possible outcome.

“Let’s go. We’ll figure out a way to get that bastard to take off the mask later.”

“...Did you just call him a bastard?”

“What? Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s just…”

Sylvia tilted her head, looking puzzled.

What’s wrong with her?

It’s not like she’s never heard me swear before.

Writing that letter had delayed our departure longer than expected.

I hurriedly put on my coat and stepped outside.

“…”

When I came out, I noticed Charlotte and Julia standing a bit away from the masked stranger.

At first, they had tried to approach and talk to him, but it seemed they had grown tired of the stone wall response and had given up.

How frustrating.

If he would just take off that mask, everything would be resolved.

But he was being overly cautious.

Or maybe my face just looks so suspicious and villainous that it makes him paranoid and confused...

It’s hard to say which one of us is more to blame.

“Coachman, head to the northern fortress city of Ester.”

“Yes, setting off—”

“W-Wait a moment! My lord! It’s Jacob!”

“...?”

Just then, rapid footsteps approached, and a frantic knocking came at the carriage door.

When Sylvia opened it slightly, a breathless Jacob appeared, carrying something large on his back.

Ah, is that what I think it is?

Sylvia’s face lit up, as if she had the same thought.

“The sword for Lady Sylvia is complete.”

“Really!?”

“Y-Yes, but you can’t unwrap it now! I used a special coating to let it cool gradually. If it’s exposed to sunlight, it will evaporate. So you must not remove the leather wrapping for at least 24 hours.”

Sylvia almost unwrapped it with her brute strength, but Jacob, having anticipated this, had wrapped it tightly like a cocoon, preventing her from opening it.

“What kind of sword is it? Just give me a brief description!”

“Well… I-I don’t really know! It was like I was possessed by my grandfather again, and I made the sword without even realizing it…! This is the first time something like this has happened, so I’m not sure how well it turned out! I’m sorry, my lord! I’ll repay the deposit as soon as possible!”

“No, you did well.”

“Ah…!”

I handed him an envelope containing a check.

It was half of the promised amount, which I always kept on me in case he showed up with the finished product.

Jacob’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.

Rather than looking touched...

He looked more terrified.

He must really not have much confidence in the sword.

I patted Jacob on the shoulder and offered a few words of encouragement.

“Don’t worry too much. If I don’t like it, you can just make another one, right?”

“Y-Yes?”

Jacob’s face turned pale, his pupils losing focus.

Endless revisions.

If anyone overheard, they might think I was tormenting him with endless demands for revisions.

But in reality, it was all to help him grow.

When else would he get a chance to practice like this?

I’m doing this for Jacob’s sake.

One day, he’ll understand.

Leaving the half-stunned Jacob behind, the carriage door closed, and we finally departed the estate.

‘This awkwardness is unbearable.’

Before I knew it, the carriage was filled with an oppressive silence.

Sylvia was clutching her leather-wrapped sword, wearing a lovestruck expression as if she were a maiden in love.

Charlotte and Julia kept glancing at Yuri across from them, hesitant to approach.

It was hard to believe these were the same kids who usually made a racket whenever we rode together.

‘Fine. It’s clear I can’t forcefully remove that mask.’

To be precise, ‘Aslan Vermont’ couldn’t remove that mask.

Whatever tactics I use, it would only make Yuri more suspicious and cautious.

Aslan Vermont couldn’t do it, but I knew someone who might be able to.

“Yuria.”

“Yes, Count Vermont?”

“I have a letter here that was addressed to you. I picked it up at the training grounds.”

“...!”

I saw Yuri flinch as I handed over the letter.

I’ll borrow the trust of the Dark Mister.

For now, this was the best method I had.