"Hehe… now you're starting to realize. Also, let me ask you something—if he only wanted to help you avoid that marriage, why did he take you directly to his mansion? He could've just left you, couldn't he?"
The sly look in Emma's eyes deepened more and more as she saw Fiora finally becoming enlightened.
"Yeah, I asked him to put me down, but he said he can't because they will just grab me back and marry me again."
Fiora unconsciously replied, but her voice grew lower and lower as she suddenly realized that Liam's intentions might not be so pure.
After all, if that were the case, she could have hidden elsewhere to avoid this misunderstanding, couldn't she?
'But that guy directly took me to his home. Damn, so he is indeed coveting me?' Fiora suddenly got angry as she looked at Liam, who was already near them.
She didn't want to get married to anyone right now. Instead, she wanted to become strong and independent and get admitted to the Arcane Citadel of the Drakari Empire.
Although she was indeed a little touched by his sudden transformation, she still felt like she had left one storm only to walk straight into another.
"Tch… tch… What a good trick. Why didn't I know my son was this smart before?"
Mother Emma got visibly delighted as if she was extremely proud of her son. Her eyes were filled with endless appreciation.
'Mom, can you please stop?'
Although Emma and Fiora were whispering with each other, Liam heard everything loud and clear.
Seeing how she managed to plant doubt into Fiora's heart, Liam couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Feeling that things might go south if he didn't stop his mom, he quickly came near and was about to stop her when his father Edward, interrupted him,
"Okay, okay. That's what I was talking about."
Duke Cromwell suddenly stepped forward and slapped Liam's shoulder, his face full of a proud smile.
"See? If you want, you can become strong too."
He said with rare appreciation on his face.
"Okay, there isn't much time. Although I have now allowed you to have this girl as a concubine, the problem you have caused isn't over yet."
Duke Cromwell suddenly turned serious and said without letting Liam interfere,
"Go and take a bath, then come with me to the palace. That bastard filed complaints against the palace, and now Her Majesty, Queen Seraphine, has summoned you."
His face was a little ugly, as with the complaint, their Cromwell family's reputation was hit hard.
After all, a noble kidnapping the daughter of another noble, that too during the wedding, wasn't a good thing.
It was fine if it was resolved internally, but that bastard Kaelen Duskbane directly complained to the palace. Now the situation has become diplomatic.
'But as long as my son showed signs of practicing, it was all worth it. Anyway, the throne might change its owner. Maybe my son can become a King too.'
Duke Edward thought seriously as he looked at Liam.
The Cromwell family's hidden aspiration, since time immemorial, had been to become kings and control everyone. For this ambition, he had worked hard all his life.
So, he was definitely very disappointed when his son turned out to be a waste.
'But due to her… he finally showed some change…'
Duke Cromwell then looked at Fiora, who was fidgeting nervously, opening her mouth and closing it as if trying to say something but hesitating.
"And you, the daughter of Count Greymont…"
Duke Cromwell suddenly pointed at Fiora, causing her to straighten herself.
"Yes, Lord Duke." She immediately bowed with perfect noble grace and poise, showing her impeccable etiquette.
As a Fourth Tier Mage of the Elarion Kingdom, Edward Cromwell had a very high reputation. That's why she was having a hard time saying that she didn't want to be a concubine of Liam.
She wanted to ask for help from Liam but stopped after remembering what his mother said,
'This rascal might even be happy now,' she thought, casting a deadpan glare at Liam, who was busy rubbing his shoulder—the one his father had just hit.
'Can't you talk without hitting me?' Liam thought, speechless. He felt that his recently increased strength still didn't seem to be enough.
"Very good!" Duke Cromwell nodded as if satisfied by her response.
"Since my son wronged you and forcefully abducted you to become a concubine... the Cromwell family can't ignore it. I hereby grant you access to the first floor of the Twilight Tower and permission for a one-time spiritual bath to boost your magical aptitude. Use this opportunity well."
He smiled, a little doting in his eyes. If she could transform his son, he wouldn't mind making her his son's wife instead of just a concubine.
"First floor of the Twilight Tower?"
Fiora suddenly widened her eyes in pure surprise and mumbled unconsciously.
After all, the Twilight Tower was the Cromwell family's most closely guarded heirloom—access was granted only to those they truly trusted.
Inside, rare magical tomes and powerful artifacts were kept, offering invaluable knowledge and a massive boost to any mage's abilities.
For her, who aspired to be a powerful mage, it was undeniably an incredible opportunity to build a solid foundation. Not to mention the spiritual bath that could directly increase her magic aptitude.
Who wouldn't be surprised after hearing such a reward?
"Wait, Father. It seems you both are really going a little too far. Like I said, Fiora and I have nothing to do with each other, and I was only he—"
"Thank you, Lord Duke, for your reward. I will cherish it very much."
Just when Liam finally decided to stop his father and clear up the misunderstanding, he was once again interrupted mid-sentence.
And surprisingly, it was none other than Fiora, who was smiling from ear to ear.
"What the heck?"
This time, it was Liam's turn to get surprised as he saw Fiora directly accepting the reward given to her. Didn't that mean she was now his concubine?
'Why did she suddenly change her mind? Wasn't she angry before?'
Liam looked at Fiora, who was actively dodging his eyes and bowing to Duke Cromwell.
'I can't let this chance slip. Sorry, Liam, help me a little bit this time. I promise to repay you in the future.'
Fiora saw Liam's look and felt a little guilty. But as she said, this opportunity was too good for her future.
After all, even after having solid talent in magic, she was still almost betrothed in a political marriage by her father.
Now that she was kidnapped, although marriage wasn't possible, maybe her father would directly send her as a concubine to other nobles.
So, wasn't it better to be a concubine of Liam?
'I can even gain access to the Twilight Tower. And this guy clearly wants me anyway. So, I am doing nothing wrong.'
She justified herself. In this world, sometimes, people need to be practical.
Although she felt guilty, she swore she would help Liam in the future.
"Okay, you don't have to say so much. You have the guts to kidnap someone's daughter at her wedding and don't have the guts to admit it? Just go take a bath and meet me outside. We cannot let Her Majesty wait too much."
Duke Edward was annoyed at Liam trying to still chicken out now. Maybe he needed a little more challenge.
After scolding Liam, Duke Edward quickly left the training hall without waiting for a response. Even Mother Emma didn't say anything but silently took Fiora's arm and disappeared from his view, leaving Liam alone.
However, Liam still heard her whispering in Fiora's ear before she disappeared,
"Hehe… I didn't know my son was a tsundere. Isn't he cute? Haha…"
The faint laughter of his mother and Fiora echoed in Liam's ears, making him almost vomit in anger.
'Who the fuck is tsundere?'
He really wanted to shout at the top of his lungs, but finally controlled himself.
'Damn you, Fiora. In the end, you betrayed me for a reward? Just wait and see what I'll do to you.'
Liam cursed under his breath and quickly rushed off to bathe. After all, like his father said, he couldn't keep Her Majesty the Queen waiting.
Especially not when he knew she was no ordinary royal—she was a genuine villain, drunk on power and secretly plotting with his father to usurp the throne. And even when it was discovered later on, she managed to survive behind.
'Sigh… why can't I ever catch a break?'