Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 148: Important Pursuits

Hekate bursts into Wenlianna's private state room on the airship, exclaiming, "Wenlianna!"

The magic artisan and two maids are wholly startled in the middle of changing the young noblewoman from her lab-clothing to her dinner dress. She yelps in terror, stammering, "H-H-Hekate!? Wh-What's wrong!?"

The feldrok doesn't register what's going on, instead rushing to Wenlianna quickly. The brunette tries to back away, but is cornered as the fox-eared girl closes in on her in an obvious frantic state. The two maids try to block Hekate, but the young empress is too quick and manages to dart between them. "Wenlianna! We have to go! Hurry! We're wasting time! We have to tell, and we have to go. I think there's a shuttle, please!"

Wenlianna tries to keep her arms free of Hekate, crying out, "He-Hekate! Hekate! I don't- No! Please stop!"

In her terrified and apparently delirious state, she begins dragging Wenlianna by the wrist towards the open door, still urging desperately, "Let's go! We can't keep wasting time like this! I'm such a fool! It was right in front of me the whole time! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, just..."

"HEKATE!" screams Wenlianna, trying in vain to escape the deceptively strong teen's grip.

The only thing stopping the brunette from being dragged out of the door, since Hekate is able to overpower her and her maids, is the caramel-skinned elf-like woman that might stand a chance in a fight against Hekate, at least for a short time.

Doephluev places herself in Hekate's path, making it clear that she's blocking the feldrok girl. "Doephluev!? Move! I have to-..."

"I only take direct orders from Daniel," retorts Doephluev as she blocks the door. She can't physically stop Hekate, but she can brace against the door and refuse to move.

Her insolent retort also halts Hekate in her tracks, and she is stunned for a moment. "What? I order you to move, Doephluev! I'm in a hurry!"

The archoneldwyn shakes her head. "No."

"You're under contract! H-Have you...!? YOU!"

Hekate releases Wenlianna finally, and Doephluev's composure breaks. She lurches backwards almost unnaturally, as if possessed, and she cries out, clutching her chest. She catches her breath, and Hekate, finally disrupted from her panic, snaps at Doephluev, "You were resisting it?"

Doephluev nods. She murmurs with her voice weakened, "The real question is... what are you... doing?" She continues panting as she tries to recover from the pain of being compelled by her magic contract.

Hekate looks behind her, and both maids are now trying to protect Wenlianna, who has retreated to the other side of her bed.

"Please come to your senses, your Greatness!"

"Her Grace has done nothing wrong! Please!"

"W-Wrong?" stammers Hekate, horrified that everyone is so terrified of her suddenly. She looks at Doephluev, who is trying to posture herself to move in some sort of defensive manner as well. She then looks at Wenlianna, who is stripped down to her silk underclothing.

The feldrok teen droops her ears and tail as she tries to recall where exactly she went wrong, and she realizes it immediately. In her haste to fix the problem she made a realization of, she didn't explain why she wanted Wenlianna to follow or what the reason was.

Hekate says apologetically, "I'm sorry... I... Wenlianna, I... Everyone, I was too hasty. But, w-w-we... I think..." She fumbles her thoughts because she's still distressed by what she figured out.

Wenlianna takes a breath to calm herself now that she sees how disappointed Hekate is in herself. The first daughter of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of the Stalvaltan noble family bore witness to the strongest and most fearsome mother the world has ever seen. She's certain of it.