Chapter 57
Complete English Translation
This morning, once again encountering Duke Spes in the garden, Eluana greeted him with a gentle, “Good morning, Father.”
At first, she had seemed awkward with the word, but now, every time they crossed paths, she called him Father.
Father.
Father.
Father.
She called him that.
“Your Grace, I still think it’s best to hold off on this matter.”
Noah’s urging voice pulled Duke Spes out of his thoughts.
In Noah’s hand was a pale lavender gemstone. Discovered recently in the Elaine Mountains, a boundary near non-human territories, the gem’s color was nearly identical to lavender, the flagship item of the Spes family’s business.
Its mystical gleam was beautiful, but the supply was limited, and the price steep. The merchant group that brought it wanted to launch a new gem line under the Spes family name. But to the duke, it was a poorly thought-out plan, meant to exploit his family’s prestige.
Duke Spes peered at the sample on his desk.
“What’s the name of this gem?”
“They haven’t named it yet. They said we could decide together if the business goes forward.”
“Eluana. That would be a good name.”
“Excuse me?”
“For the gem, I mean. Doesn’t its radiant, clear glow resemble her?”
“Y-yes, I suppose it does… Wait, are you considering going forward with this?”
“They’re not worth partnering with. Just buy the mine.”
Even for the wealthy Spes family, buying an entire mine wasn’t a decision to make lightly. The other party was notoriously greedy.
“What are you planning to do?”
“I think it would suit Eluana. I’d like to make her a matching set—a necklace, earrings, and bracelet. It could also be used as an embellishment on her dresses. Perhaps we could redecorate the Lavender Room as well.”
“You want to embed gemstones into the walls?”
“That could work. I’ll have to ask her opinion.”
If that was his reason, Noah knew better than to argue. Objecting would only earn him a glare. He replied obediently,
“Give me some time, and I’ll beat the price down. No other noble house will touch it anyway—the current price is absurdly inflated.”
“Good. Is there anything else to review?”
Noah skimmed the documents in his hands, then cautiously set them aside, gauging the duke’s mood with care.
“That concludes matters regarding the domain. Also… Count Crow’s family has once again proposed a marriage alliance.”
“Tell them if they try one more time, I’ll declare war on their estate.”
The duke’s voice was sharp as frost, and Noah immediately straightened his posture.
“Yes, I’ll relay the message. Also, the Marquis of Pegimule’s household has requested the lifting of trade sanctions. Should we ignore them?”
“Let them rot.”
The duke tapped his second finger against the desk—a habit he showed when displeased. Sensing danger, Noah tried to discreetly excuse himself, but the duke spoke again.
“They tried to kill my child. Even brought in a monster to do it.”
“Do you think they’ve really found a way to control monsters?”
“Seems so, based on the circumstances.”
Before leaving Aden, Kazar had passed a brief letter to Alex. It contained three key pieces of information:
First, the monster had specifically targeted Eluana.
Second, a handkerchief bearing the Russell family crest had been found on the assassin who acted as bait.
Third, the final assailant had attacked late at night.
The most shocking detail was the first one.
‘Controlling monsters?’
That was the first thing Duke Spes investigated upon returning to the capital—but he’d found no solid information.
Noah asked in a grave tone,
“How could they have controlled the monster? It couldn’t be magic, could it?”
There had been mages who attempted to tame monsters in the past—but most ended up being eaten by their own subjects. Given how rare mages were in the Empire, it was no surprise that research into monsters had been banned.
“Even Ceyron failed. They must’ve found another method.”
“Right. No rumors of a mage surpassing Ceyron have emerged yet. If it’s not magic, then what? Spirit tamers are extinct… Could they have used help from a non-human race?”
“We need to keep looking into it.”
Noah understood the duke’s intent immediately.
“I’ll investigate. What do you intend to do about the Russell family?”
“I’ll make sure the Earl of Russell comes crawling to me. As for the rest… I’ll let my child decide.”
Of course, Eluana’s decision wasn’t to the duke’s liking. Be it the Empress, the Marquis of Pegimule, or Regis—he wanted all three wiped out.
But Eluana didn’t want to act without definitive evidence.
“If you step forward, people will start to suspect. They’ll think I might really be your daughter.”
They say no parent can win against their child. In the end, Duke Spes had no choice but to honor Eluana’s wishes. If it was revealed that she was his true daughter, the person most affected would be Louis.
The threat from the imperial family could be managed. But Louis, already in a delicate position, would suffer the most. The public would tear him apart, branding him the son of Stella but not the duke.
Eluana prioritized Louis over her own revenge. And Duke Spes agreed—it was the right decision.
“What about any new evidence from Aden?”
“Nothing. It’s clean. Lucky, I suppose. I had no idea alchemy could do that. Poison detection?”
“That metal bead was unique.”
“Excuse me?”
“I think it absorbed the child’s desperation—her wish not to die while fleeing.”
“That’s… heartbreaking. So that’s why you’ve been particular about her meals.”
“Yes. She likely used her life force.”
The thought of Eluana’s desperation made the duke’s chest tighten. Noah, looking distraught, made a bold suggestion.
“Let’s just kill them all. We’ll take care of it quietly without her knowing. People might grow suspicious, but so what? If it comes to it, we’ll declare independence. I’ll handle the mountain of paperwork.”
The duke looked at Noah. He actually wanted to follow through on his aide’s dramatic declaration.
“It would be easy. But it was choosing the easy path that made Stella leave. This time… I want to do things the way she wants.”
If Eluana and Louis were to live safely while walking the lives they wanted, they’d face many obstacles. But one couldn’t choose the easiest road for someone else’s life.
More importantly—
“What about him?”
“Who?”
“Prince Kazar.”
Noah winced.
“He’s still a prince, Your Grace. And he did save our young lady.”
Duke Spes’s expression shifted, and Noah’s voice faded entirely by the time he reached “save.”
After a long silence, the duke asked,
“What’s your opinion?”
“If the fourth prince becomes emperor, it wouldn’t be a bad outcome for the Empire.”
He was certainly better than Regis. In fact, a stray mutt might be better than Regis.
“I don’t like it.”
“Don’t like what?”
“All of it.”
Yes, of course you don’t. Who would ever meet your standards?
Noah kept his inner thoughts to himself. Eluana had just left for the capital to confront Prince Kazar, so it wasn’t the time to provoke the duke. Just then, a light knock broke the tension.
“Come in.”
At the duke’s permission, the door opened, and a head of pink hair peeked through. Louis stepped inside and hesitated before speaking.
“Um, yes. Uh…”
“Go ahead. Say whatever’s on your mind.”
The duke softened his tone as much as he could. Louis swallowed nervously and made up his mind.
“I see sparkles.”
“Sparkles?”
The duke blinked in confusion, then let out a small groan as the realization hit. Beside him, Noah covered his mouth, suppressing a laugh behind a fatherly smile.
Louis looked up at the duke hesitantly.
“Kazar—no, I mean His Highness the Prince—said that if I told you, you’d make me stronger.”
As Louis explained with wide, earnest eyes, the duke’s heart wavered.
Stella… it seems all your children are special.
Well, of course they are. They’re yours.
“When did you start seeing these sparkles?”
“After we left Aden. Then, when we came here, they started gathering more and more. They’ve been following me around. They decreased a little after I went back to Aden.”
“And the lights… they only follow you?”
“They help me too. They helped me find Sister.”
The duke rubbed the back of his neck. It seemed his hunch had been right.
“You’ve been blessed by mana.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re a child loved by mana. You could become a mage. A powerful one—like in fairy tales.”
“You mean the kind that breathes fire from their hands and calls storms?”
“That’s right.”
“I want to be one. A mage.”
Louis beamed, but the duke couldn’t smile back. Such a rare ability would draw attention—and danger.
Moreover—
“There’s one issue.”
“What is it?”
“You might have to be separated from your sister for a while. Regular mages can’t teach someone blessed by mana. You’d have to go somewhere with someone who can. It’s also safer.”
The real issue was that such a person wouldn’t come easily. But the duke would make it happen. Louis asked cautiously,
“…How long?”
“That depends on your future teacher. I don’t know much about children blessed by mana.”
It meant he might not see his sister for a long time. But Louis nodded firmly.
“That’s okay. I want to learn. I don’t want my sister to be in danger.”
“I don’t want either of you to be in danger.”
The duke’s eyes shimmered with concern.
Both children had suffered too much, too young. They had lost their parents, faced death threats, endured violence, and been forced to run and hide. The wounds left on their hearts wouldn’t heal easily.
Just as the duke’s rage toward the Empress, Regis, and the Pegimule family surged again, Louis spoke firmly.
“I’ll go. I want to become strong.”
If that was what Louis wanted, the duke could only oblige—but not on the spot.
“When your sister returns, we’ll talk together.”
“Thank you.”
With a deep bow, Louis left the office.
Duke Spes stared at the closed door, his profile lined with concern. Ceyron, the only other known recipient of mana’s blessing, wasn’t a bad man—but he was eccentric, unpredictable.
Not exactly someone you’d trust with a child.
“…I should send him a message. Tell him I’ll offer something good if he comes. And tell him to bring a few magic contracts too.”
“Understood!”
Noah quickly jotted down the instructions.
