“What!? the head of the family lost?!”

Deia Verdi, who was engrossed in a book, stood up in surprise.

The chair fell backward, making a loud noise, but she didn’t have time to worry about it.

The sudden sad news brought by the maid was shocking.

Darius Verdi, the pride of the Verdi family and the last guardian, had fallen.

It was a major crisis for the Verdi family, and the most urgent emergency signal in all of North Whedon was ringing because of it.

“The Lord is on his way right now. I called the doctor immediately because the wound on his shoulder is serious.”

“Make the room warm and bring all the bandages and medicine. Don’t forget to make some warm stew.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And...”

The maid, who was about to move immediately after receiving the order, paused and hesitated as she tried to turn her steps back at Deia's word. 

Deia closed her open mouth and bit her lips.

“No, let’s continue as planned. If we proceed with treatment using magic, his body will become severely fatigued, so we must create an environment in which he can rest as comfortably as possible.”

“I understand.”

The peaceful daily life of the Verdi family was abruptly disrupted.

Her mind flashed back to the image of the head of the household sneering at the news that immigrants were approaching over the mountain range.

‘That’s why I told him not to let his guard down!’ 

'At the very least, he should have ascertained our adversary’s strength before proceeding. If he just makes casual preparations as usual, this kind of thing was bound to happen.'

‘Anyway, all the men in this family are like that and I hate it!’

Darius Verdi, who had come with an injury, and Deus Verdi, who pretended to be normal – both of them were not to Deia’s liking.

Deia put on the coat that was hanging on the coat hanger and stepped outside. 

Her footsteps grew louder, indicating the gravity of the situation.

She was heading to the first floor to meet Darius, who was being brought in. 

As she walked down the hallway, she noticed a tightly locked room.

It was Deus Verdi's room. 

Deia knew that the door would never open as she had locked it with magic, just as Darius had instructed.

“Hah.”

For a moment, Deia considered asking for help from Deus, the second son.

Right now, she was in a situation where she really could use some help.

But no...

“What would I ask from an as*h*le?”

Thinking so, Deia was able to pass Deus’s room without any hesitation.

After waiting for about 30 minutes at the entrance to the first floor, she saw soldiers riding a horse and driving a cart in a hurry from afar.

They looked dirty and unkempt, and their dark circles and drooping eyes showed they hadn't slept properly. Deia felt guilty for them.

“De-Deia! The lord--!”

“I know! Butler, hurry up and bring the Lord inside!”

The servants, who were waiting with Deia, rushed to the cart and carried Darius into the mansion. 

Deia approached the soldiers who were staring blankly and patted them on the shoulder.

"Come inside. We have prepared meals for you. Eat well and rest your bodies."

“Keuk, ugh... sorry!”

“If only we had worked harder--!”

The soldiers’ pent-up emotions erupted in response to Deia’s warm words.

“It’s all right. It’s all right. Come on in. You’ve worked hard enough, so I’ll take responsibility for it.”

Deia had made a firm decision and provided the soldiers, who had brought Darius, food and a place to rest before heading to Darius' room.

The warm room was filled with medicinal herbs and the mansion's servants expressed their concern and willingness to do anything they could to help.

All of these people were from the North, and they had families waiting for them outside the mansion in downtown North Whedon. 

The idea of immigrants taking over their land was unbearable, and they all hoped that the powerful warrior Darius would protect them.

"Doctor, how is the Lord doing?"

Deia asked the doctor with a tense voice.

"It seems that he will be unable to stand on the front lines for the time being." 

The doctor replied with a gloomy tone.

This diagnosis hit everyone in the room like a bolt of lightning.

"No, that's nonsense! Given the Lord's current state, it's just a stab wound on the shoulder----!" Deia exclaimed angrily

"Unfortunately, the opponent was not an ordinary person. The unique mana that remains inside continues to damage the wounds."

“---What?”

It was the first time she heard about it.

The opponent’s mana was still inside the family head’s body, causing damage?

“I’ve heard that there are such people in the Republic of Clark. They are masters of battle who neutralize the enemy with a single blow.”

Putting on his glasses, the doctor continued to speak, expressing his devastation.

“It looks like he was attacked by one of those people. As long as that person doesn’t collect mana, or is threatened to the point where that person can’t use mana...  ...the lord won’t get healed no matter how much treatment he receives.”

“Huh...”

Deia let out a deep sigh.

After securing the mountain ridge, the immigrants would soon attack the northern mountain path to breach the defenses there.

To enter the kingdom from the north, food or supplies were essential, so they would probably resort to plundering North Whedon.

If only she had a little more time, she might have made a better decision. But the situation was critical, and there was no time to hesitate.

“I will ask for support from other Margraves and surrounding nobles.”

Everyone in the room understood the gravity of her decision. 

She was giving up her pride as a member of the count family and humbled herself to ask for help from nearby nobles in order to protect North Whedon.

It was uncertain how the Verdi family would be affected by this. 

They might lose their position as the count, being deemed incompetent.

But she had to protect her people first.

“Gather all available soldiers and hold out as long as possible until the support arrives. I will take command.”

Deia was about to step forward with such determination…

“No way-!”

Darius, who seemed to have lost his mind, jumped up and shouted. 

There was a kind of madness in the swollen eyes.

“In the history of our Verdi family, we never begged anyone! We always ruled the North Whedon with pride no matter what! Are you trying to cut off the family’s roots!”

- Ugh.

Deia clenched her teeth, holding back the words she wanted to say, “Then what do you suggest? We can’t just sit here.”

“Leave it alone.”

“...What?”

It was shocking. 

It was a shock more powerful than when she heard the sad news that Darius was defeated.

"Just leave it be. It's enough to say that they didn't cross our mountain range."

“Ah, are you kidding me?”

"Tell the people of North Whedon to keep their mouths closed, and we will compensate them later for the immigrants' plundering acts--"

“Just shut up!”

Deia’s voice resonated strongly. Darius tried to reprimand his sister for saying something she shouldn’t have said to him, but Deia spoke faster.

“Abandoning people because of that history? Again? You’re going to repeat Verdi’s disgrace once more?”

“Stop talking, Deia!”

"If you didn't want to hear it, you shouldn't have come here like a beaten dog! How many times have I said that! Don’t be careless! Keep your guard up and prepare thoroughly!"

“They were out of our league. We couldn’t have stopped them anyway.”

“Is it comfortable to console yourself in this manner? But you, brother, are not in that position. You’re in a position where you have to take responsibility!”

They were going back and forth with each other. Meanwhile, the servants and the doctor stood motionless, unsure of what to do.

“Alright! I’ll go and stop them! I will immediately request support from Count Tolkien and Count Herameus! I will protect North Whedon!”

And that that movement, the image of a man appeared in Deia’s mind...

...Another one of her brothers.

“Call that useless younger brother of mine here too. Even if he’s just a bug, he’s still a Verdi, and he has to take responsibility together.”

Even though it was thanks to personal connections, he had been at the Robern Academy for three months as a professor.

Even if he hasn’t been able to give a lecture-

“-He must be able to at least cast a fireball.”

After waiting for a while, the door burst open.

And the air inside the room changed rapidly.

Deus Verdi stepped inside the room without hesitation, with his long, downcast black hair, fully buttoned coat, and confident shoulders.

To the point where she wondered if she had ever felt this way around this man before.

Just by his presence, he brought a cool yet ominous cold to the warmly heated room.

Just as frowning Deia was about to explain the situation, Deus Verdi, with a cold expression, raised his hand and declared:

"One hour..."

"Give me an hour, and I'll take care of everything."

He said as if he was a devil promising to grant a wish.