Chapter 51: We’re Here to Make an Arrest
A high-ranking meeting was held at the Mage Tower.
Only mages who possessed four or more star badges were gathered in the conference room.
At the center of the round table lay the anonymous accusation letter Aracila had received. The contents of the letter were as follows:
> To Lady Aracila,
A man named Johnny Pattinson of the Red Hawk Order has used black magic.
The incident occurred around midnight on April 2nd of last year.
Please uncover the crime he committed that night and bring him to justice.
You must be the one to handle this personally. I beg you.
Even a mere rumor about the use of black magic was enough to prompt an investigation by the Mage Tower.
Let alone a formal accusation letter—such a case was considered an absolute priority for investigation.
The real question was why, of all people, the letter specifically called for Aracila, the wife of the Red Hawk Order’s commander, to take charge of the investigation.
Since she had no answer to that herself, Aracila simply waited for Philip, who was carefully examining the letter, to speak.
As the master of the Mage Tower and the highest authority present, he would surely provide wise guidance on how to proceed.
However, to some in the room, her silence seemed like an attempt to avoid the issue.
“Aracila, why have you been keeping your mouth shut this whole time?”
“Exactly! Isn’t the Red Hawk Order led by your husband?”
“A knight from there is accused of using black magic. Don’t you know anything about it?”
The three senior mages who had always looked down on Aracila banded together to pressure her. She swept her gaze over them with calm eyes.
The first to speak had been Fernando, a middle-aged mage and the mentor of her rival, Travis.
Like master, like apprentice—their behavior was so identical it was almost amusing. Finding any excuse to pick a fight with Aracila had become part of their daily routine.
“I’m simply waiting for the Mage Tower Master to speak. I have no knowledge of the accusation. Besides, on April 2nd of last year, I hadn’t even met Damian yet.”
“Then why were you singled out as the investigator?”
“How would I know? I’m not the one who filed the accusation.”
Aracila crossed her arms and shrugged. Fernando’s face twisted in displeasure.
Look at this arrogant attitude…
He had always felt that Aracila failed to show him proper respect. Naturally, he never considered that his own behavior toward her was far from respectful either.
Just as he was about to throw another remark at her, Philip finally spoke.
“Hohoho, that’s enough from all of you.”
His voice was gentle yet carried undeniable authority, silencing the room instantly.
Even Fernando flinched and clamped his mouth shut.
Then, an elder mage seated to Philip’s right turned and asked,
“Mage Tower Master, how do you intend to handle this matter? The legitimacy of the accusation remains unclear.”
“What else? It’s our job to determine the truth.”
“Then who will be assigned as the investigator…?”
“Naturally, it will be Aracila. The letter explicitly requested her.”
At this, the other mages immediately objected.
They argued that Aracila, being married to the commander of the Red Hawk Order, could never conduct an impartial investigation.
Fernando, in particular, was the most vocal about this.
Of course, Aracila had no intention of taking the knight’s side just because her husband was one.
Still, she understood that her connection to the Red Hawk Order could raise suspicions, so she remained silent for now.
“The accuser must have had a reason for choosing Aracila. There’s no harm in respecting that request.”
Philip stroked his beard as he spoke in his usual calm tone.
Since he was aware that Aracila’s marriage was purely contractual, he had no doubt that she would not favor the knights.
However, Fernando thought differently. He held no trust in Aracila whatsoever—especially after she married a knight.
“How can we trust Aracila? What if she’s completely swayed by her husband?”
“Fernando, do you not trust your junior?”
“I don’t trust a mage who married a knight.”
Some of the mages nodded in agreement with Fernando’s words.
Aracila frowned. She didn’t appreciate being treated this way just because she had married Damian.
If it weren’t for my sister, I swear…
Swallowing her irritation, she responded in the calmest voice possible.
“Don’t worry. I’m not foolish enough to be unable to separate personal matters from work. Or have you already forgotten that I defeated my husband and won the Hunting Festival?”
If she had been the type to go easy on Damian just because he was her husband, she would have let him win instead.
Before being anyone’s wife, Aracila was a mage. There was no reason for her to be lenient toward Damian.
“Hohoho. Well then, let’s all trust Aracila this time.”
Philip chuckled in his usual way, putting an end to the argument.
“Aracila, head to the Red Hawk Order immediately and arrest the accused knight.”
“Understood, Mage Tower Master.”
Without hesitation, Aracila rose from her seat.
Afternoon Training
It was the afternoon training session.
All the knights had gathered at the training ground, each working to strengthen their weaknesses through rigorous practice.
Isaac, who had been closely observing the stance of one of his subordinates holding a sword, widened his eyes upon noticing a slender figure walking in from the entrance.
Why is Lady Vandemir here?
The rare lavender-colored hair was unmistakably Aracila’s. The pristine white uniform—something never seen among the Red Hawk Order—was another clear identifier.
Isaac quickly checked Damian’s location. He was at the far end of the training ground, meaning it would take him some time to reach them.
Judging that it would be best for him to greet Aracila first and guide her, Isaac moved swiftly.
“Greetings, my lady. It has been a while.”
“Ah, was it Sir Wind?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Isaac’s eyes briefly flicked behind Aracila, noting the presence of a companion.
It was a young male mage wearing the same Mage Tower uniform as Aracila, holding a black bag in his hand.
“The commander is over there. If you follow me—”
“No. Today, I’m here to see Sir Johnny Pattinson.”
“…Excuse me?”
Isaac, who had naturally assumed she had come to see Damian, was taken aback.
Aracila remained composed as she asked again.
“Where is Sir Pattinson?”
“Ah… He’s, uh, over there.”
Still bewildered, Isaac pointed toward Johnny. Coincidentally, he was standing nearby.
“But why Johnny—”
“That brown-haired knight, correct?”
“Yes. But why Johnny—”
Ignoring Isaac’s question, Aracila calmly approached Johnny Pattinson, with Rudy following closely behind.
Johnny Pattinson had large, gentle eyes, resembling those of an ox, and carried a mild-mannered aura.
For a knight, he appeared somewhat timid and docile.
Judging by appearances alone, he seemed incapable of committing even the slightest wrongdoing, let alone practicing black magic.
But people couldn’t be judged by appearances alone.
The more someone had to hide, the more they might cloak themselves in an innocent exterior.
When Aracila stopped in front of him, Johnny flinched slightly.
“Sir Johnny Pattinson?”
“Yes…?”
“We are from the Mage Tower. You are under arrest on suspicion of using black magic.”
Johnny, who had been preparing to greet his commander’s wife, turned pale.
The knights standing nearby were equally shocked.
Even Isaac, who had followed out of curiosity, was stunned.
“What is the meaning of—!”
“From this moment, we will escort you to the Mage Tower. If you resist, we will subdue you by force. Consider this your warning.”
“My lady! What is this all of a sudden?”
Isaac, unable to hide his bewilderment, stepped between Aracila and Johnny.
However, Aracila, unfazed, continued speaking.
“As a precaution against any potential danger, I will now place restraints on you to suppress your magic. Please extend your hands forward.”
“Wait, what—”
“Hands forward, Sir Pattinson. I will not repeat myself a third time.”
Her firm tone left the surrounding knights frozen in place, uncertain of what to do.
At that moment—
“What is this commotion?”
The gathered knights parted as Damian entered the scene.
Feeling as if salvation had arrived, Isaac quickly approached his commander and briefly explained the situation.
Upon understanding the circumstances, Damian’s brow furrowed deeply.
He immediately strode over to Aracila.
“What do you think you’re doing, my lady?”
“Commander Vandemir, the Mage Tower has received an accusation that one of your subordinates used black magic. We must take him in for investigation. Please cooperate.”
Aracila deliberately used formal language while meeting Damian’s gaze head-on.
This was to make it clear—this was not a personal matter, but an official duty.
Realizing that she was here to truly arrest his subordinate, Damian’s expression hardened.
His face turned cold.
“Who made this accusation?”
“I cannot disclose that.”
“Do you have any evidence?”
“That is what we are going to find.”
“Ha.”
Damian let out a breath of disbelief, half-laughing. Before being her husband, he was the commander of the Red Hawk Order.
His duty was to protect his subordinates. His expression turned chilling as he spoke.
“If you wish to arrest Johnny, bring me proof. Without it, I cannot hand him over.”
“If you refuse, we will have no choice but to use force. Sir Pattinson’s arrest is in accordance with the law.”
The Mage Tower had the legal authority to immediately detain and interrogate anyone associated with black magic.
It was a lawfully sanctioned act.
Even so, Damian did not step aside.
Aracila leaned in slightly and whispered.
“You should cooperate, Damian. If another mage had come, they would have restrained him with magic first.”
“…”
“Do you really want to see one of your men dragged away after being subdued by my magic?”
Damian’s expression twisted slightly.
He glanced at Johnny, who wore an anxious look.
There was no way Johnny could win in a confrontation against Aracila.
He would only end up embarrassing himself in front of his fellow knights.
Moreover, Damian was well aware of how strict imperial law was regarding black magic.
Resisting arrest would only put Johnny at a greater disadvantage.
In the end, Damian decided it was best to step back for now.
Turning toward Johnny, he spoke in a firm voice.
“Johnny, go with them to the Mage Tower.”
“Commander! I have never used black magic!”
“I know. That’s why you must go. If you resist, it will only raise further suspicion.”
Damian grasped his subordinate’s shoulder and spoke resolutely.
“Go and prove your innocence. Get an apology out of them.”
“…”
“As long as I’m here, no mage will dare harm you.”
Damian’s words, carrying the weight of absolute reassurance, made Johnny lower his head in reluctant acceptance.
He hesitated briefly before holding his hands out toward Aracila.
“Rudy, place the restraints on him.”
“Yes.”
Rudy took out a pair of restraints from his bag and fastened them around Johnny’s wrists.
The knights, including Damian, silently watched as the two mages led their comrade away.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
