Was this truly the ability of a villain who disappeared before the start of the original work?
The fortress-like castle crumbled under the monstrous strength of the man with incredible physical abilities.
"Si-Sister!"
When everyone was frozen in place unable to move, Noel quickly sprang into action.
Noel, who had been sitting on the lap of a knight with a gentlemanly appearance, ran towards her as soon as he saw her.
"Noel!"
Glad to see him, Diana also tried to run over, but Rodrick grabbed her wrist.
Surprised by the sudden action, she looked up at him just as Noel bumped his head against an invisible barrier and fell backwards.
"Uwaah. Sister."
The collapsed wall was regenerating. Noel got up and pounded on the transparent barrier with his small fists.
"Sister! Sister!"
Those who had been distracted by the child's pitiful actions snapped to attention when they saw their master.
His blue eyes were cold enough to cut through flesh. The knights swallowed hard.
"Find where it connects to the castle."
At his brief command, the knights replied in unison.
"Yes sir!"
With the knights' response, the regenerating wall was fully restored, once again blocking the space between them.
"We'll have to look for an escape route."
Diana felt dejected as the momentary hope that had risen crumbled. Such powerful magic.
She nodded, drawing strength from the wrist Rodrick was holding.
"We'll have to play hide and seek after all, right?"
"Yes. The princess alone."
Me alone? Blinking in confusion, she bit her inner lip at his next words.
"From now on, we act separately. Princess, you do what you need to do. I'll look for an escape route on my own."
Right now she was charged up thanks to Rodrick, but who knew when her magic would suddenly drain again without warning.
It would be fortunate if only the magic drained. The pain was something only those who had experienced it could understand.
Rodrick's judgment was correct. Moving separately would be more efficient than staying together.
She understood logically, but hesitated to part from him. She feared the pain that would come.
"After keeping me by your side to prevent me from getting hurt."
"The fog has cleared. At least you won't fall and get hurt."
The axe he swung had even cleared away the fog. As the mist filling the entrance hall dissipated, visibility gradually improved.
The only things to watch out for now were teleportation magic circles or traps where monsters might pop out.
"What if we get lost and can't find each other?"
"I'll come find you."
When she looked up at him skeptically, Rodrick, who had been gazing at her indifferently, let out a short sigh and pulled something out from inside his coat.
"Keep this. It has a location tracking spell on it."
It was a pendant with a deep blue magic stone that resembled his eyes.
Diana quietly received it, and moved her dry lips, debating whether to speak or not.
"Well then."
As Rodrick turned to leave after saying his piece, Diana hurriedly grabbed him.
"Rodrick!"
He turned back as if asking if she had more to say, and she hesitantly continued.
"Um, before we part, could you give me a tight hug?"
One of his eyebrows raised crookedly, looking displeased.
"No, I don't mean clinging to you like some pervert. I'm sure many women have clung to a handsome man like you, but I'm not saying this with any indecent intentions."
Diana's voice gradually became smaller under his gaze that looked like he might kill someone.
"Sounds indecent to me."
"What?"
"Just a hug is fine?"
Huh? This easily? Her pink eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected response. Worried he might change his mind, she quickly replied.
"Yes! Just a hug is fine. If it's unpleasant, even just holding hands is okay."
As she extended her hand, Rodrick took it and pulled her towards him.
Diana was moved when he opened his broad embrace. She thought he was an iron wall, but he turned out to be a man who could be reasoned with.
Seeing this considerate side of him gave her hope. Since it had come to this, should she try proposing under the guise of a deal?
"Princess."
Feeling like absorbing even a thick concentration of curses wasn't enough, she took a deep breath. The heavy masculine scent eased her anxious heart.
"Nothing else to say?"
"About what?"
As she blinked, pondering if she had forgotten something, she belatedly remembered her manners.
"Ah, thank you. Rodrick."
"So you have nothing to say."
"Pardon?"
He cupped her cheek with one hand and looked down at her expressionlessly. His inscrutable blue eyes seemed to be piercing through Diana.
The pose looked like he was about to give a forceful kiss, but it wasn't romantic at all. This felt more like an interrogation.
"What are you doing?"
Her already slim cheeks were stretched out. Her pronunciation became muffled along with it.
"You're ugly."
"Huh."
Who? Me? Diana's beauty, as the sister of the villain with the greatest beauty in the empire, was outstanding enough to rival the female lead and the villain. So she was confident in her appearance.
"How rude. I'm not lacking anywhere, you know?"
"What impressive confidence."
"Because it's the truth."
Ignoring Diana's words, Rodrick turned and strode forward.
As she faded into the distance behind him, Rodrick looked down at his hand. The warmth he felt even through his black gloves was unfamiliar.
Strangely, touching her wasn't unpleasant.
Though he was always on edge, being with Diana seemed to gently calm his taut nerves, leaving him in a peaceful state he hadn't felt in a long time.
There were too many suspicious elements to consider this mere coincidence.
There's something here. His sharp intuition was telling him so. He could tell just by how Diana was trying to cling to him.
If she wouldn't reveal it directly, he would just have to uncover it himself. Whether that would be beneficial or detrimental remained to be seen.
'It's been a while since my madness subsided.'
His brother had run away claiming he would break the curse, but for Rodrick there were only two ways to break the curse.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.