Chapter 32
Fwoooosh!
A dazzling, intense light illuminated the surroundings.
In an instant, a translucent magic circle formed on the ground.
I want to check the magic book.
The moment she thought that, the magic book was summoned into the water with a small bubble.
[Through your authority, you have discovered a summoning circle for a new key.
Would you like to activate the magic circle to summon the key?]
Wow, finally!
It was the new key she had been waiting for.
To activate the magic circle, mana was required.
Srrrk.
Kiki was the first to pour mana into the circle, and Lilia followed right after.
Thump, thump.
Her mana heart filled with excitement more than ever before.
When the mana was fully charged, the magic circle glowed blue and activated.
Flash!
The moment the key shot out from the circle, Lilia tried to grab it at once. But it was so fast that it slipped right through her hand.
“Ah, no!”
The key had a strong force, flapping around like a fish.
The joy of finding it was brief, and Lilia soon fell into thought.
How do I catch that?
At that moment, the Key of Authority glowed and slightly lengthened, making it easier to hold. Lilia quickly gripped it tightly.
As soon as she infused mana into the Key of Authority, a net of light spread outward.
Shwaa!
But the new key escaped swiftly.
She lost the key, but she learned the method.
“So I can use the Key of Authority like a tool. Good, I just have to catch the new key!”
“Kyuu!”
As if agreeing, Kiki clapped its tiny paws and wagged its tail excitedly.
The new key floated above Lilia’s head, as if teasing her.
Lilia focused and steadied her breathing before pouring mana into the Key of Authority again.
Srrr.
This time, a much larger net of light formed.
Shwaaaah!
“…Got it!”
The new key struggled inside the net, flapping wildly, but there was no gap to escape through.
Slowly, Lilia pulled the Key of Authority closer and caught the new key in her hand.
Finally… she had obtained a new key.
Lilia and Kiki hugged each other and screamed in delight.
After obtaining the key, Kiki poured even more mana into the mana bubble.
At once, the bubble split the water current and surged upward, carrying Lilia out of the spring.
It felt like riding an amusement ride.
Lilia turned her head back to look at the spring.
Phew, that was hard. I barely got it.
Just then, she saw Melissa and Yupi approaching the spring.
Lilia quickly withdrew her mana and dismissed both keys and the magic book, then pretended to be playing in the water.
“Lady Lilia?”
“Are you alright? We heard a loud noise earlier and came to check.”
“As you can see, I’m fine. I finished praying and was just splashing around with Kiki.”
“Peep!”
Kiki eagerly splashed water to support her act.
***
“It seems the young lady used a private carriage to visit the house of a maid and a gardener.”
“The gardener’s house?”
“Yes. She is a gardener named Melissa who works at the ducal castle. It appears she has recently grown close to the young lady.”
As the Duke listened to Emmet report Lilia’s whereabouts, he slowly stroked his chin.
If it was a gardener within the ducal castle, she could have met her inside. Was there a reason to visit her home separately?
Lilia had previously asked him to allow her to visit the temple.
Surely she hadn’t set out to find a temple on her own.
“Since she works within the ducal castle, she is trustworthy, correct?”
“She was recommended by Head Maid Anna. There are rumors that she previously belonged to the Temple of Soriel.”
At Emmet’s words, the Duke looked at him again.
“She is from the temple?”
Last time, Lilia said she would pray for Clasid.
So she found a way to achieve her goal after all.
Vladimir’s wrinkled eyes curved slightly.
“That little crumb…”
“…Pardon?”
“Nothing. Leave her be.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“This time, we will send Conrad alone for the inspection. Slowly. Change the location.”
He had considered letting her ride the magical railway under the excuse of an inspection visit.
But since she seemed to have resolved it on her own, there was no need.
As Vladimir stroked his beard, he recalled Lilia.
“So I’d like to propose a deal.”
“I’m proposing a contract marriage to the young lord.”
The child who rolled her bright green eyes so confidently resembled his wife, Lillian, in some way.
As Emmet was about to leave after organizing documents, the Duke spoke.
“Tell Buena to come.”
Buena was the aide in charge of diplomacy, events, and the Duke’s schedule.
“Your Grace, are you planning something new?”
“We should prepare to hold a family council.”
***
After parting with Melissa, inside the carriage returning to the ducal castle—
Lilia kept suppressing her laughter.
Her mind was filled with curiosity about the new key.
Please let it be a Key of Healing. No… even if it’s something else, I won’t be disappointed.
Since it was a key summoned from a holy relic, it surely possessed tremendous power.
Kiki, who sat on her lap, had fallen into a deep sleep from exhaustion. Lilia dozed off as well, and before she knew it, the carriage had entered the ducal castle.
“Youngest Lady, have you returned safely? Shall I prepare some warm cocoa for you?”
Rayman greeted her with a bright smile.
She had planned not to eat anything, but somehow she could never refuse Rayman’s offers.
In the end, after drinking cocoa and even eating macarons, she stepped into the corridor.
There, she encountered someone unexpected.
It was Conrad.
Normally, Conrad would never speak to her first.
Last time, even when she deliberately approached to greet him, he had ignored her completely.
But now, for some reason, Conrad walked straight toward her as soon as he saw her.
Lowering his eyes slightly, he said,
“Hey, you.”
Hmph, when you were ignoring me before—what about that?
Today, it’s your turn!
“…I’m sorry, but I’m extremely tired and sleepy right now. Please don’t talk to me.”
“…What?”
After saying that, Lilia brushed past him.
The look on Conrad’s face, crumpled from being ignored, was quite satisfying.
“Yupi, what are you doing? Let’s go!”
“Ah? Y-Yes, my lady!”
Even Yupi looked surprised.
That brat…
Conrad’s glare prickled at the back of her head.
If he had business with her, he would come find her later.
Right now, something far more important is waiting for me!
When Lilia arrived at her room, she refused dinner and snacks, locked the door tightly, and decided to shut herself in.
“I won’t see anyone today. I’m too tired. I feel like I’m going to faint.”
She declared this to Marit and Yupi, even pretending to nod off.
That way, no one would come in while she examined the key.
