ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 187: Not in this land

Demian’s jaw tightened. His mind moved fast territories, borders, maps, magic. The words spun, then locked into place.

"That means..." he paused, then continued in a voice cold and certain, "...she has crossed beyond this territory."

Vedseel did not deny it.

Kaiser let out a long breath. "A caravan," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.

Demian stared ahead for several seconds, then his eyes hardened not with despair, but with a decision taking shape.

Leaving the territory meant the rules of magic changed. It meant his authority was no longer absolute. It meant Valerie had deliberately gone that far.

"She knew," Demian said suddenly, his voice low, heavy with restrained emotion. "She knew about my marriage. She knew what was happening... and she chose to go this far away."

Vedseel studied his face, then said quietly, "Or she chose a place where you could not reach her easily."

Kaiser turned toward Demian. "And you still intend to pull her back?"

Demian did not answer with words.

He simply turned away, his long coat swinging with the motion. His steps were heavy, but resolute the steps of someone no longer asking whether he should stop.

"I will find her," he said at last, without looking back. "Territory, borders, or any magic none of it will stop me."

Vedseel watched his retreating back, then allowed himself a thin smile the smile of someone who knew this game had just entered a far more dangerous Chapter.

Outside the ritual chamber, the night wind blew harder.

And far from there, aboard a ship cutting steadily through the cold, a woman held her stomach, unaware that the search had now changed no longer merely a search, but a hunt driven by will.

Kaiser stopped at the threshold.

He did not turn fully only tilted his head slightly, just enough to ensure his words would land... and wound.

"If you truly are this insane," he said coldly, without excess emotion, "then you never should have done the thing that made her choose to leave you in the first place."

There was no anger in his voice. That was what made it sharper.

"You didn’t lose Valerie because of magic," he continued quietly. "You lost her because of your own choices."

Then he walked away.

The door closed behind him with a heavy sound, leaving the ritual chamber in suffocating silence. Only the lingering scent of candles, the remnants of magic not yet fully extinguished, and two men standing with very different purposes remained.

Demian did not move.

His gaze rested on the stone floor, but his mind was far away too far to be reached by Kaiser’s words. Something in his chest felt like an old fracture being reopened, and this time, he did not seal it shut.

He slowly lifted his head and looked at Vedseel.

"There is another way," he said flatly. "Tell me."

Vedseel crossed his arms. "There is," he replied without ceremony. "But it is more dangerous."

Demian did not blink. "I don’t care."

Vedseel let out a small breath, then said, "I’ll attempt it through scent traces. Like the way you do it using a person’s essence to find them. The difference is that this will be done through magic, not instinct." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Demian nodded once. "Do it now."

"You will need to be involved as well," Vedseel added, fixing him with a sharp look. "Your sense of smell is far keener than that of ordinary humans. I need it. I need you."

"Fine," Demian answered curtly.

He stepped closer to the ritual circle and removed his gloves. The air shifted again heavier, colder. Vedseel began arranging the materials: dried ash, an old cloth once touched by Valerie, and magical symbols that slowly flared back to life.

But before the first incantation could be spoken.

Footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Light.Too light for a place like this.

"I finally found you," the voice said, deliberately softened. "Demian."

Ivanka stepped inside.

She wore a pale gown that accentuated her fragile appearance. Her face was slightly colorless, her lips almost devoid of hue, as if she were truly a sick woman surviving only through love. Her eyes fixed on Demian with a small smile a smile meant to look hopeful.

"I was looking for you," she said again. "You shouldn’t be spending your time with magic and anger. You’re tired... I can see it."

Demian slowly turned.

His gaze fell on Ivanka’s face and stopped there. There was no tenderness. No guilt. No trace of the bond he had been forced to accept.

Only exhaustion... and cold irritation.

"You’re still alive," he said at last.

His tone was flat. Too flat.

Ivanka smiled faintly, as if mistaking it for concern. "Of course. My illness isn’t that severe. I only—"

"I thought you were already dead," Demian cut in without hesitation. "So why are you still alive... and standing here?"

The words struck like a slap.

Ivanka’s face froze.

Vedseel halted his movements and slowly turned. Even a mage as old as he was could feel Demian’s aura shift colder, sharper, more dangerous.

"What do you mean by saying that?" Ivanka asked, her voice beginning to tremble. "I’m your wife. I came to calm you. To help you forget that woman and live happily with me."

Demian looked at her as if he were truly seeing her for the first time not as a wife, not as a duchess, but as the source of lies that had ruined far too much.

"Forget Valerie?" he repeated softly.

He took one step closer. Ivanka reflexively stepped back half a pace.

"Listen carefully," Demian said low, his voice almost a whisper yet steeped in threat. "I am searching for her. Do not stand in my way."

Ivanka swallowed. "Demian... I—"

"Leave," he cut in sharply.

One word.

Absolute.

Ivanka did not move.

Even after that single word leave fell cold and final between them, she remained standing there. Her fingers curled into fists instead, her chest rising and falling faster, as if something inside her had finally fractured.

"No," she said suddenly, her voice rising. "I won’t leave."

Demian stopped moving.

The air in the ritual chamber grew heavier, as though the unfinished magic itself were holding its breath. Candle flames trembled, shadows on the walls twisting out of rhythm.

"You can’t keep treating me like this," Ivanka continued, now taking a step forward. "I am your wife, Demian. In the eyes of the world, before the law, I am your duchess."