CHAPTER 46/……………………………………………………
She was a beautiful person with golden hair and golden eyes, the only one who had treated her like a human being when she had been abandoned in the darkness.
“Could it be… that child is a trace you left behind?”
El’s story, which I had heard in the Umte Mountains, flashed through my mind.
“It’s my mother’s keepsake.”
A shadow fell over Risha’s face.
About twenty years ago, the events of “that day” came to mind.
That day, everything collapsed, was destroyed, and yet began anew.
And Milene disappeared like smoke.
She had been abandoned by her.
After that day, I searched relentlessly, but I couldn’t find even a single strand of hair. A few years later, I gave up due to my busy life.
“You were so powerful with magic… My tracking spells were nothing to you, weren’t they?”
And yet now, a clue appeared right before my eyes.
Risha pulled out a necklace hidden beneath her clothes, one she had never removed from her body. It was a matching piece with the one El had—originally an ornament made by splitting an opal orb in half.
It was the first and last item Milene had ever given her.
Risha placed the necklace in the palm of her hand. Black mist-like magic flowed from her hand and enveloped the necklace.
“[Bi Canter Nassa.]”
Ting! Risha’s magic bounced back.
It was the same reaction she had always seen when her tracking magic failed.
“Huh?”
But sensing something, she cast the tracking spell again. This time, the reaction was different.
A name appeared in the air, one she had never seen before.
The spell originally only vaguely indicated the location to the caster, but perhaps due to her bloodline, Risha’s tracking magic always revealed a name.
And that name told her a lot.
El. Eloa.
That was the real name of the girl with the golden eyes.
“Could it really be that she’s Milene’s daughter?”
Having only seen her in dark places, she hadn’t noticed at first. But thinking back, her gentle eyes were very similar.
And those golden eyes—Milene’s color.
“She’s really dead, then.”
What had just bounced off her tracking magic was Milene’s final magic. With the anti-tracking spell completely lifted, the current owner of the opal necklace revealed her name.
Risha had finally found Milene’s trace.
“Then surely…”
Risha’s red lips curved into a sly smile.
“Vail.”
[Yes, Master.]
A voice spoke from somewhere impossible to define.
Risha brushed the invitation she had left on the table with her fingertips.
“There’s something to investigate.”
[What is it?]
“Find all the information about a person named Eloa Finn Nosdian.”
[Command received, glorious Master.]
After that, the voice no longer spoke.
Risha hummed a cheerful tune. Then she turned and lifted the curtain slightly.
The dazzling light of the full moon poured over her face.
“Nosdian, huh… Very well. This is getting interesting. Hehehe.”
An ominous light, never seen before by Eloa, flickered across Risha’s darkened eyes.
Recently, Count Uberis’ mansion had not seen a single moment of peace.
“Damn it! Still no reply?!”
The Count slammed his desk and shouted hysterically. His aide flinched and hurriedly reported the situation.
“I’ve tried contacting them over thirty times, but as you know, the Duke’s residence only has the one communication device that the aide holds. Connection isn’t easy.”
“What about letters? We’ve already sent dozens as urgent messages!”
“Those… still haven’t received a reply either.”
“Damn it! What the hell have you been doing?!”
Unable to hold back, the Count threw a cigar ashtray at his subordinate.
With a sharp thunk, blood ran down the aide’s forehead, but the Count ignored it entirely.
“I knew it wasn’t right to send that report back then! Even the complaint I submitted to His Majesty hasn’t received a response… Damn it! They’re all ignoring me!”
At that moment, the Countess entered the study. As always, she maintained a calm expression and gestured for the aide to leave.
The aide, still dripping blood, bowed and quickly exited.
“Calm down, dear.”
She placed a glass of ice water on the desk to soothe him. The Count grabbed it and gulped it down, his tone slightly calmer.
“Do I look calm to you? I’m suffering huge losses! How much did I invest in Baron Daisen’s lands! That cursed Duke Notch caused me to lose half the territory and my entire investment!”
“Weren’t you planning to get him to invest in your next project anyway?”
“That’s true.”
With frustration, he tore the cigar and lit it.
“But that scoundrel! Ever since he took Eloa, he’s ignored all my messages! Communication devices, letters! Even the servant I sent hasn’t returned!”
He shouted, and only then did he regain a fraction of composure and lift his head.
“You don’t think he realized I was involved with Baron Daisen’s affairs, do you?”
“Impossible. As soon as I suspected, I disposed of all related documents. Even if he searches Baron Daisen’s lands thoroughly, he’ll find nothing but empty drawers and dust.”
Isabelle popped a grape into her mouth from the snacks on the Count’s desk. Despite it being off-season, its sweetness filled her mouth, nurtured by magic.
Meanwhile, the Count nervously puffed his cigar, unable to sit still.
“Did the one who told you about the investment say anything else? You don’t think I betrayed him, do you?”
“Of course not. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have sent you this letter.”
“Letter? He contacted me?”
“Yes. And honorably so.”
She handed the Count a letter sealed with blue wax, uncommon in the Empire.
The seal depicted a striking eagle with a blue tail, found only on the southern island of Triol.
“The Master wishes to meet you. About a month from now, in the backyard of the ball held for the Princess’ birthday.”
She plucked another grape, placing it in the Count’s mouth with a smile.
“They will help you get her back.”
“What? Really?”
“Of course. There’s nothing they can’t do.”
“Hmm. If it’s that person, it’s possible. Very well, I look forward to the ball. Hahaha!”
Finally in high spirits, the Count laughed loudly. He felt as if he had acquired a secret trump card.
“I’ll make them pay for ignoring me.”
A few days had passed since meeting Rifei, but my daily life hadn’t changed much.
Study, study, and more study!
My days were still filled with learning about the social scene and the Empire.
I thought, what’s the point when I’ll be divorced in a year? But leaving here would mean losing knowledge that money couldn’t buy.
I wanted to learn everything I could while I had the chance.
Still, my routine had changed a little.
“Milady! Come down!”
Sina shouted from below, visibly anxious.
Meanwhile, I flailed in midair, clinging to the tip of a tree branch.
I want to go down too!
Magic cancellation was harder than I thought.
I had successfully cast the levitation spell the Princess used before, but in my excitement, I lost control of my magic. I floated like a balloon with a leak, barely managing to grab the top branch of a tree.
I must have been at least three meters above the ground. I pouted.
“Someone get me down!”
“Hurry, do something!”
“If Milady gets hurt, we’ll tell the Master!”
“Oh, that would be bad.”
I saw blue magic moving as Beric’s voice called from below, and the wind slowly subsided. My body floated down gently.
I landed on the grass, and Sina rushed over.
“Milady, are you okay?”
“Y-yes… Nosdian’s lands…”
“Pardon?”
“They were… beautiful.”
“Yes?”
And frightening.
Tears welled up. I never imagined, in my previous life unable to even ride a plane, that I would soar so high and see the Nosdian lands in one view.
As I sat sniffling, Beric approached leisurely.
“You wouldn’t have fallen with me here.”
“That’s true, but…”
Today, I realized I had a fear of heights.
I wiped my eyes and stood, my legs trembling.
“Beric. I guess wind magic doesn’t suit me.”
“Hm, I’d say that’s likely.”
Beric thought for a moment, then smiled.
“Still, achieving this much in a few days—if the people from the Sky Ark saw, they’d be shocked. I’d love to see their faces.”
“Ha ha…”
I laughed sheepishly at his mischievous expression.
The magic I had learned so far included three or four spells each from the first and second ranks.
Thanks to memorizing my mother’s spellbook, I had the theory of the seventh rank down perfectly. I thought I was slow, but Beric seemed impressed.
K’s impatient personality hasn’t changed even after reincarnation.
“I’ve watched you for a few days. Milady, you’re most compatible with light-based magic.”
“Really?”
Unexpectedly good news.
“Is that good?”
“Of course. Mother was also a light magic user. The first spell I learned was a light illusion spell.”
“I see.”
I recalled memories of my mother.
“They say light magic is also connected to space-time magic.”
“Oh, Duchess.”
At that moment, the Duke of Nosdian approached from the training grounds. He wore formal attire for the ball, not his usual work clothes.
“You seem to have practiced diligently today as well.”
“Ah… haha.”
I reflected on today’s magic practice.
The broken training grounds, destroyed targets, and scorched garden trees—these were traces of failed magic cancellations.
“If you wish, you may even destroy the mansion. We could use it as an opportunity for repairs.”
“I won’t destroy it.”
I couldn’t tell if he was teasing or encouraging me.
He chuckled and briefly kissed the back of my hand, smiling warmly.
“More importantly, you haven’t forgotten today’s appointment, have you?”
“…Yes. I remember.”
I answered slowly, flinching.
Ugh… is today the day?
The Duke laughed lightly and extended his arm.
“Shall we go, milady?”
