Chapter 126: Interrogating Selena
The moon was bright and the stars were few.
After the fierce battle, Duane’s men began to clear the battlefield.
The servants, who had been sent to take shelter in other homes around the city, began to return one by one.
They were shocked by the ferocity of the battle and heartbroken to see their home destroyed.
Granny Mara gazed at the nearly collapsed kitchen and the iron pot shattered by a rock, her heart filled with bitter regret.
’I should have taken the pot with me.’
With heavy hearts, everyone cleared the debris, all the while silently cursing the damned bastards who had done this.
Duane sat in a chair that had been brought for him, silently observing the Female Mage standing opposite.
"Do you have anything to say?"
Selena kept her head down. Weakness and worry for Brison had turned her thoughts into a complete muddle.
When she heard the question, she lifted her head. Her face was deathly pale.
"What would you like to know?"
"Everything. From how you conspired to the specific details of your plan of attack."
Selena remained silent, seemingly conflicted.
Duane was patient. He didn’t press her.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath. "I can tell you, but I have one request."
Duane smiled. "Is it about Brison?"
"Yes!"
Selena nodded without hesitation. "I want you to let him go."
"Impossible!" Duane refused outright.
As if all her strength had been drained, Selena collapsed to the ground.
She had once been a mere instructor at the Magic Academy before unexpectedly becoming a baron’s wife. And while her mind had been sharpened by life, she had never experienced a war like this—let alone defeat.
"Go bring a chair and have her sit down."
Owington quickly brought a chair over. With Jasmine’s help, Selena managed to sit down.
Only then did Duane speak. "While I have no intention of letting him go, if you cooperate, I can have a doctor treat him. You know as well as I do that he’s badly hurt. It could get very messy if his wounds aren’t treated promptly."
"Alright!"
Selena immediately agreed. "Please, don’t kill him."
Duane chuckled. "I am a peace-loving nobleman. I don’t kill people without reason."
Selena began to recount the entire affair.
The reason for the sneak attack was largely as Duane and his men had previously deduced.
’The only thing I didn’t expect was their strategy for advancing with a paired Level 4 Mage and Warrior.’
’The Water Mist Technique is a clever ability. If they had made the mist form more slowly, it might not have aroused suspicion.’
"You’re saying they also arranged for ships?"
Selena nodded. "The ships loaded with cargo were to return directly, but the empty ones were supposed to come back."
The more she explained, the more she realized how arrogant Garrot’s plan had been. He hadn’t even considered an exit strategy in case of failure.
Duane stroked his chin. ’They have five empty ships in total, which means all five will be coming ashore tomorrow.’
’Free ships. It’d be a shame not to take them.’
He beckoned Raymond over and shared the intelligence with him.
"Rest assured, my lord. We’ll find a way to seize control of all those ships!"
Raymond acknowledged the order and went to arrange his men.
The method was actually quite simple: they would just need to control one of the prisoners, have them go to the shore and pretend the plan had succeeded, then lure the ships to dock before boarding and seizing them.
Only two ships could dock at a time anyway, and the ones remaining at sea wouldn’t be able to tell what was really happening.
"Baron, I’ve told you everything I know. Brison, he..." Selena was still worried about her beloved.
Duane looked at the Male Servant. "Have Dr. Ronald go see Brison. And remember, none of these captives are to die. Especially not Garrot."
"Yes, Baron. I’ll go inform them right away."
Duane turned to Selena and spread his hands. "I never go back on my word."
Gratitude washed over her face. "I’m sorry. I never should have been a part of this."
"There’s nothing to be sorry for. We were both just acting in our own interests."
Duane said, "I’ve always had a certain respect for Mages. So, I won’t break your legs and lock you up like I will with the others. I will, however, be restricting your movements. You are not to leave this room without my permission."
He paused. "As the price for this preferential treatment, you will write down every Spell Model and Potion formula you know and give them to me."
Selena shook her head. "That... I can’t. Without the Magic Academy’s permission, I..."
"Be realistic, Selena."
Duane cut her off. "The things you’ve learned are things we also have in the Pruck Kingdom. Once you’ve written them down, as long as I don’t tell anyone, who’s to know they came from you?"
Selena was still hesitant.
A faint smirk played on Duane’s lips. "Besides, you wouldn’t want Brison to suffer any more than necessary... would you, Lady Courtney?"
Selena froze at the title.
’Of course. This Baron must know about her and Brison’s... unconventional relationship.’
’If this were to get out, both their families would be ruined.’
Moreover, Duane was only offering her a sliver of leniency. Brison’s life was still entirely in his hands.
Compared to those two threats, transcribing a few Spell Models seemed utterly insignificant.
Selena slowly nodded. "Fine. As you wish. I will write down every single Spell Model!"
Duane’s smile turned friendly. He stepped forward and took her cold, slender hand in his. "A pleasure doing business with you."
Then, he leaned in and said in a voice only they could hear, "Actually, Red Sun Grass doesn’t look like that at all, does it?"
"You...!" Selena’s eyes flew wide.
From his coat, Duane produced a piece of paper and unfolded it. On it was a drawing of the Red Sun Grass.
"As it happens, I’m looking for it myself. Though I haven’t found it yet."
Selena’s breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes filled with disbelief.
’So he had seen through her lie from the very beginning, and had simply been too polite to call her out on it.’
Duane folded the drawing and put it away, then sat back down.
"Let me guess what you planned to do with the Red Sun Grass."
He feigned a thoughtful expression. "You’d deceive Baron Torre by claiming you found the Red Sun Grass, then brew a Magic Potion to enhance his virility, give it to him to drink, and then... with him..."
"Don’t say another word!"
Selena cut him off harshly. She shot to her feet, but her strength failed her and she collapsed back into the chair.
"Now, now, don’t get so worked up."
Duane did his best to sound gentle. "It’s just a guess, of course. Please forgive me if I’ve caused any offense."
Then his tone shifted abruptly. "However, if I happened to guess correctly, then perhaps there’s room for us to cooperate."
"Cooperate?"
Breathing hard, Selena propped her head on her hand and stared sideways at Duane.
’She couldn’t believe how tenacious this young man was.’
’Decisive, ruthless, meticulous... he was so much more formidable than her own husband, who only knew how to solve problems with brute force and violence.’
"Yes, cooperate!"
Duane walked over and squatted down in front of her, lowering his voice once more.
"To help your and Brison’s child inherit the title of Baron from Torre Courtney."
This sudden pronouncement completely shattered Selena’s composure.
Her pupils trembled violently, and then, unable to take any more, she fainted dead away in her chair.
"Er..."
Duane was taken aback. He stared at the unconscious Female Mage. "Jasmine, were my words that frightening?"
The maid stood stiffly to one side.
’What the Baron had just said was indeed terrifying, but she didn’t dare say so, and could only shake her head frantically.’
"I... I don’t know."
"Fair enough!"
Duane stood up. "When the carriage arrives, take good care of her. A Mage is a walking library of knowledge—a true treasure."
"Yes, Baron."