Lily Rüdiger could only watch silently as Jared Murphy and Olivier Alway were taken away.
Perhaps it was understandable that she couldn’t do anything in a situation where hostages were taken and they were outnumbered. However, Lily couldn’t forgive herself.
“What good is being a Secretary Officer? I’m useless!”
The only ones left in the mansion were Lily, Hannelore Alway, Olivier’s mother, and Trane Glasler, the maid.
Fortunately, Olivier’s younger sister, Emilia Alway, had gone to her family’s home with Yeny Daum, Jared’s cousin, so they were not caught up in the incident.
Almeida, who was Jared’s master and the greatest force protecting this mansion, was also absent. She was reportedly not present due to errands, but if the enemy took advantage of this absence, they must have been monitoring the mansion closely.
Rosa Roen and Pfeil of Waalthe were also absent. The two were often not at the mansion during the day, so their absence this time was unavoidable.
It could not be helped but to say that everyone had been negligent.
Jared, who was to become a Court Mage at a young age, had people living in the mansion who could be called strong fighters. They believed without a doubt that as long as even one person remained, all the residents could be protected.
Since Rio, a dragon who was still a child, remained in the mansion, no one even felt uneasy.
However, they never dreamed that the mansion would be invaded the moment it was left vulnerable, and that even the dragon would be rendered powerless.
“Lily Rüdiger, Hannelore Alway, Trane Glasler, you are all targets. I will finish you here.”
The woman who claimed to be the daughter of the Commander of the Royal Mage Corps, her face contorted in a smile, was not here. Instead, her subordinates with little expression stood in a line. With a glance from their lifeless eyes, she spoke indifferently, as if she were a machine.
Hannelore felt her body stiffen.
Lily, thinking that she had to protect Olivier’s family for his sake, who had been taken from this place, opened her mouth without regard for her own safety.
“If you intend to do anything to these people… kill me first.”
But there was someone who spoke up first and offered herself as a sacrifice. It was Trane.
She looked directly at the magicians without fear.
“Stop it, Trane.”
“N-no, Trane-chan.”
“It is alright. I am a maid. Therefore, for the sake of my masters―― no, that is not right. I want to protect my family, Hannelore.”
She, who usually wore a poker face, said so and smiled clearly.
“Then, I will grant your wish. After I finish you, the next will be Lily Rüdiger. I will send you to the afterlife one by one.”
“Stop it!”
The magician reached out towards Trane. A strong magical power, discernible even to Lily, who was not a magician, gathered and became force.
Although Lily couldn’t discern what kind of attack it would be, even Trane, who could use magic, would be in danger if she received it at such close range.
“Someone, help me. Jared—!”
Lily, who could do nothing, felt like she was going insane and desperately called for help.
Even though she knew that no help would come, she had to cling to someone.
Instant—Thunder roared.
“—Huh?”
Whose voice was that?
As a light capable of covering their vision attacked with the roar, the magician, who was about to unleash magic, crashed into the wall and collapsed powerlessly.
Thunder roared again, and purple lightning raged.
The room was ravaged by someone at an incredible speed.
Without harming Lily and the others, the purple lightning attacked and took down the magicians one by one.
When the lightning-like presence subsided, a young man with blond hair stood there.
“You are…”
Hannelore, who spoke with trepidation, received a reassuring smile from the young man. He knelt down and bowed his head.
Not only Hannelore but also Lily and Trane knew the young man.
However, unlike the young man in their memories, his expression, which was usually smiling, was stern.
“I apologize for being late.”
“No, I am glad you are here, Luzer Fisher.”
Hannelore, speaking on behalf of them, expressed her gratitude, and he quietly raised his head.
He, who had saved the three from their predicament, was Jared’s older brother, Luzer Fisher.
