Is this truly the power level of a villain who disappears before the original story starts? The man's insane physical strength brought down the fortress-like castle.
"Nu, Nuna!"
While everyone stood frozen, unable to move, Noel acted swiftly. Sitting on the knee of a composed-looking knight, he ran to her as soon as he saw her.
"Noel!"
Diana wanted to run to him too, but Roderick grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Startled, she looked up at him, just as Noel hit his head on an invisible barrier and fell back.
"Hueeing. Nuna."
The wall that had crumbled was regenerating. Noel got up and started hitting the transparent barrier with his small fists.
"Nuna! Nuna!"
His pitiful gestures snapped everyone back to reality, and they stiffened up. Roderick's blue eyes were piercingly cold. The knights swallowed hard.
"Find a way connected to the castle."
At his brief command, the knights responded in unison.
"Yes!"
As the re-emerging wall fully restored, blocking their path again, a sense of futility washed over Diana. Such powerful magic was daunting.
Diana nodded, gaining strength from her wrist held by Roderick.
"So, we have to play hide and seek after all?"
"Yes. Alone, Lady."
Alone? Confused, she blinked, then bit the inside of her cheek at his following words.
"From now on, we act separately. You do what you must, Lady. I'll look for an escape route on my own."
Her body was charged due to Roderick, but she didn't know when her magic might suddenly drain again.
Roderick's decision was logical. It's more efficient to move separately than together.
Understanding his logic, she still hesitated to part ways, fearing the impending pain.
"I thought you were carrying me to avoid injury."
"Now that the fog is cleared. At least, you won't trip and get hurt."
His axe had even cleared the fog. As the mist dispersed, visibility improved.
"What if we get lost and can't find each other?"
"I'll come find you."
Doubtful, she looked up at him. He sighed briefly and took something out of his pocket.
"Keep this. It's enchanted for location tracking."
He handed her a pendant with a blue magic stone resembling his eyes.
Hesitantly taking it, Diana licked her dry lips, pondering her next words.
"Then…"
Before she could finish, Roderick turned to leave. In a rush, Diana grabbed him.
"Roderick!"
He turned, looking as if she still had something to say. She hesitated, then continued.
"Before we part, can you give me a tight hug?"
His eyebrow quirked, indicating his discomfort.
"No, it's not like I'm clinging to you in a perverted way. Of course, many women must have clung to a handsome man like you, but I'm not saying this with any ulterior motive."
His look suggested otherwise. "Sounds sinister."
"What?"
"Just a hug, then?"
Surprisingly easy. Her eyes widened in shock. She quickly agreed.
"Yes! Just a hug is fine. Or even holding hands."
As she extended her hand, Roderick took it and pulled her into his embrace.
His generosity overwhelmed her. He was more approachable than she thought.
Seeing a glimmer of hope in his kindness, she considered proposing a deal disguised as a marriage proposal.
"Lady."
His call snapped her back to reality.
Absorbing the dense curse still seemed insufficient for her as Diana took a deep breath. The heavy scent of the man calmed her anxious mind.
"Anything else to say?"
"What do you mean?"
Pondering if she missed saying something, Diana blinked and then realized she had forgotten to thank him.
"Ah, thank you, Roderick."
"That's it?"
"Yes?"
He held her cheek with one hand, looking down emotionlessly. His inscrutable blue eyes seemed to pierce through her.
It almost looked like he was about to kiss her powerfully, but it was far from romantic. It felt more like an interrogation.
"What are you doing?"
Her already scarce cheeks drooped under his grip, slurring her speech.
"You're ugly."
"Ha."
Who? Me? Diana, known for her beauty, ranking close to the heroine and the villainess in the empire, was confident in her looks.
"That's rude. I wouldn't be outshined anywhere."
"Quite confident."
"It's the truth."
Ignoring Diana's words, Roderick turned and strode ahead.
As she watched him walk away, Roderick glanced at his hand. The warmth, even through the black gloves, felt alien to him.
Strangely, he didn't find her touch displeasing.
Usually on edge, he felt surprisingly calm with Diana, experiencing a rare sense of peace.
There was something suspicious about this coincidence.
He sensed something about Diana, her attempts to cling to him made it obvious.
If she wouldn't reveal it, he'd find out. Whether it would be a gain or a loss was uncertain.
'It's been a while since the madness subsided.'
His brother claimed to find a cure for his curse and ran away, but Roderick knew there were only two ways to end it.
Either his brother inherits the curse, or he succumbs to it and destroys himself.
Both led to his death, yet he was calm.
Without an heir, the curse could misfire and harm his brother.
So, he must endure until his brother can inherit and have children.