CHAPTER 96………………………..

<Chapter 96>

“Actually…”

I smirked and gestured for him to lend me his ear. Terrence, looking a bit dazed, obediently leaned toward me.

Though I mentioned kidnapping and all that, I had no real intention of forcibly taking Terrence from this place. Practically speaking, it was impossible.

“I have a magic stone mine that I inherited from my family when I got married. It’s already closed because it wasn’t profitable, but someone living nearby recently sent me some news about it…”

I didn’t have a local contact who could deliver news about the mine, but I couldn’t exactly say I read it in a novel, so I just made up a story.

“Is that realistically possible?”

Terrence’s eyes widened at my words.

“I had difficulty believing it myself, but…”

I handed him a booklet. He read the title on the cover.

“The Correlation Between Meteorites Fallen in the Majer Region and Nearby Magic Stone Mines. This appears to be a rather old paper.”

“It was written about 80 years ago. At that time, meteorites were observed falling in the Majer region, and a few years later, magic stones began to appear in the nearby land.”

Terrence quickly skimmed the abstract of the paper.

“The author of this paper proposed the hypothesis that magic stones could have been produced by meteorites. I’ve never heard of this theory before.”

“At the time, it was dismissed as nonsense and buried. Even now, it’s a hard story to believe.”

“Honestly, yes. New magic stones forming… and from meteorites, no less.”

Terrence didn’t stop there. He brightened his eyes and added:

“You, Idel, find this plausible, don’t you?”

It wasn’t just plausible—it was the truth described in the novel. Riena, who had guessed the secret of the mine, discovered this paper while looking for related materials. That’s why I deliberately brought this paper from the deep, dust-covered shelves of the Imperial Central Library.

‘I’m glad I read it on a whim before.’

After my divorce, I had nothing else to do, so I decided to deepen my knowledge of the mine. I got busy again soon after dealing with Elliot, but the habit stuck.

“Yes. I think it’s a story with potential. The chances are slim, but unless it’s outright impossible, it’s worth checking.”

I looked at Terrence carefully, choosing my words.

“Of course, I understand that this is a critical time for you and you’re extremely busy…”

“You don’t need to say more.”

He closed the booklet and gave a faint smile.

“I’d like to accompany you on this journey. May I join?”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

I had intended to invite him first, but I wasn’t certain he’d accept willingly, hence my dramatic phrasing about kidnapping. But Terrence, contrary to my concern, nodded readily.

“Any work that piles up while I’m away can be dealt with when I return.”

He opened the window and gave several instructions to Jack, who was waiting outside the carriage. Jack’s face immediately turned pale.

“Your Highness! I apologize, but it’s impossible to suddenly postpone all schedules. And if His Majesty the Emperor finds out about this…”

“You don’t need to explain the details to His Majesty yet. Just tell him it’s a decision I made as a prince. If he hears that, he may be a little upset, but he will trust me and wait.”

Jack hesitated, but as always, he left to carry out his master’s orders. Terrence turned his gaze to me and spoke.

“Shall we depart now? Jack will handle the remaining arrangements.”

“R-right now?”

His decisiveness was astonishing. I glanced at Jack trudging away in the distance and asked:

“Is it alright?”

“It’s fine. He’s competent.”

Poor Jack. But for Terrence, seeing the Andala mine firsthand with me would be highly advantageous.

“Shall we talk along the way?”

Terrence gave a meaningful smile.

“If your guesses about the mine are correct, then you and I… that is, the Astarot royal family, could form a certain relationship.”

As expected, Terrence understood my plan without any explanation. I hadn’t invited him merely as a guard or companion. This was very much a business proposition.

“But before that, don’t you have anything you need to prepare?”

“Most things can be acquired along the way.”

“Good. Then let’s start the detailed discussion.”

We had an enjoyable discussion as the carriage moved toward the train station.

Cassius’s Townhouse.

The former Duke Cassius, Roland Cassius, glared at his son without touching the tea the servants had carefully brought. Edmond was not intimidated by his father’s piercing gaze.

“What brings you here?”

“Don’t pretend it’s because you wanted to see my face!”

Even a three-year-old in the Cassius domain could tell that the father and grandfather did not get along. Edmond Cassius had gathered the majority of the vassals to overthrow his father and claim the dukedom. Roland’s eyes blazed.

“You traitor who stabs your father in the back!”

“It was something that had to be done.”

Roland ruled with tyranny for the sake of Cassius’s appearance. He slashed welfare budgets and claimed survival of the fittest, letting the weak perish. Many who dared oppose him died.

“Even if I went back in time, I would make the same choice.”

Roland glared at his resolute son as if he could devour him.

“I still can’t stand to look at you.”

“The feeling is mutual. Since I was a child, you forced me to constantly compete with my siblings. Until one killed the other.”

“It is only natural that the strong survivor continues the lineage!”

“I removed you to prevent passing that unlucky fate on to my children.”

As the argument escalated, Riena stepped in.

“Dad, grandpa, stop it!”

“….”

“Daddy, he started it first!”

Edmond fell silent, and Roland defended himself.

“No matter what, if you keep speaking badly of my father, I won’t see my grandfather anymore!”

“What?!”

“I won’t give him kisses either!”

“Even kisses?!”

“Will you keep speaking badly?”

“I won’t! I won’t! How could I live without you, you little rascal!”

“Good thinking.”

The Duke of Cassius observed the two with a complex expression, recalling the first time little Riena had won her grandfather’s heart.

Even off the dukedom, Roland still had considerable power, maintaining control over about ten percent of his vassals in the northern Cassius domain. Even after Edmond married and had children, father-son interactions were nonexistent.

“I’ll persuade my grandfather properly!” Riena declared one day. Edmond needed Roland’s cooperation for the domain’s affairs.

“Riena, I appreciate your intent, but you’ve never met your grandfather. You don’t know him.”

“Daddy, I’m sure you can reconcile with grandpa too. Family works that way.”

But the child was stubborn.

“Please trust me and let me go to grandpa!”

Edmond, unable to resist his daughter, brought her to see Roland. What happened next was unexpected.

“Riena, what did you eat to be this adorable? Why don’t you just stay here with this grandpa forever?”

Within a week, Roland was completely captivated by Riena. He doted on her with a strange speech pattern, unlike anything he had ever shown Edmond.

Reflecting on the past, Duke Cassius furrowed his brow.

Roland Cassius, who hadn’t even shown tears when his young son died in political strife, was now utterly enchanted by a granddaughter he barely knew?

At that time, he had brushed it off as, “Of course, my daughter is adorable.”

Meanwhile, the interactions between Riena and Roland continued steadily.

“Daddy! So for now, I’ll stay with grandpa.”

“It’s better than having a useless father who can’t even protect his daughter!”

“Grandpa, don’t speak badly of daddy again!”

“…Ugh, alright, alright!”

Edmond quickly intervened.

“No. You’re planning to ask your father for help with your business, right? I can’t allow that.”

“That’s unfair. Why do you oppose what I’m trying to do?”

“As your father, I know. I’m not a good role model. You’d only be negatively affected by me.”

“What? You little rascal!”

“Riena, please follow my request this once. It’s for your own good.”

Previously, he had only interfered out of jealousy, but this time it was genuine concern.

Riena looked at Edmond for a moment and then linked arms with Roland.

“I’m sorry. But soon, Daddy will understand my heart. If he returns to the way he used to be.”

“…Riena.”

Duke Cassius muttered, bewildered. Riena left the mansion with Roland, never looking back at her father.