Chapter 10
“Why the long face? Did Theon tease you again?”
‘The prankster was me, not Theon.’
I shook my head and rifled through the stack of papers in front of Lucas.
“Do you have a lot of work?”
“Just the usual.”
“I see…”
As I trailed off awkwardly, Lucas folded his arms and let out a thoughtful hum.
“Did someone say something to you?”
As expected, he was quick to catch on.
When I nodded, Lucas sighed with a troubled look.
“I didn’t think you’d find out this soon.”
“Theon told me.”
“That guy really can’t keep a secret.”
“And he makes reckless bets, too.”
“True.”
We both chuckled, sharing a bit of harmless gossip about Baratheon, but Lucas soon turned serious.
“You don’t need to worry. Everything will settle into place.”
“But isn’t it unfair? I heard you were raised as the heir ever since you were adopted.”
A girl suddenly appeared and threatened to take that position away, yet he was this calm.
‘Definitely not an ordinary person.’
Lucas Ashinoff—the sub–duke.
I might have a grudge against this family, but most people would covet that seat.
In fact, even the branch family had tried to marry their daughters to Lucas to get closer to the title.
“Well, honestly I’m relieved. I never wanted to marry just to be the heir.
Does it make you feel better if I say it like that?”
“Theon said something similar, but… to be honest, I don’t want to be a sub–duke either.
It sounds boring. I’d rather just eat and play.”
Acting like a naïve kid, I carefully laid the bait.
“That position suits you far better than a silly little girl like me.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“One day is enough to see that Lucas is a fine person.”
That was true.
He was the picture of a model student.
“You’re saying that to comfort me, aren’t you? You’re very considerate, Danae.”
“Huh?”
There was a faint emotion in his eyes I couldn’t quite place.
Was he touched by the compliment?
Or by my lack of greed for the heir’s seat?
Either way, it seemed my plan to win him over was working.
“Are you unsure of yourself? If that’s the reason, don’t worry.
I’ll help, and so will Theon and Sise.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And it’s good you came to me instead of brooding alone.
That’s the right approach. Avoiding and hiding isn’t the Ashinoff way.”
Lucas smiled and gently patted my head.
Even a real brother wouldn’t be this kind.
‘Or maybe he’s kind because he isn’t my real brother?’
I decided not to bottle up my curiosity.
“I’ve been wondering—why are you so nice to me?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, I’m not your real sister. I just appeared out of nowhere.
But all three of you are so kind… especially you, even though you could lose your position.”
Baratheon and Sise had their annoying sides, of course,
but at the core they were all warm toward me—whether or not it was genuine.
Even with my limited experience in relationships, I knew this wasn’t normal.
Lucas seemed to understand my question and shrugged.
“We all owe our lives to the Grand Duke.
Anything precious to him is precious to us.
You are his treasured jewel—so you’re precious to us too.”
That, I could understand.
‘I also owe someone my life.’
If my master had treasured someone, I’d treasure that person too.
‘Still… being called a precious jewel to my face feels weird.’
I squirmed at the unfamiliar warmth, and Lucas gave an embarrassed laugh.
“Besides, we’re family now.
It’s natural to get along.
We don’t know each other well yet, and things are still awkward, but we’ll grow closer.”
‘Family… huh?’
The word felt strangely moving.
‘I’ve never really had a proper family before.’
Not that it would stop me from bringing down the Ashinoffs, of course.
‘Totally separate issue!’
I clenched my fist, forcing down the warm fuzziness from Lucas’s gentle words.
‘Don’t fall for a handsome face, Danae!’
After that talk with Lucas about the succession, I decided to strengthen my body.
‘Because there are people out there who want me dead.’
With a true direct heir now present, the branch families had no chance at inheritance—
unless they killed the rightful heir.
Which meant my life was in serious danger.
The attack on the carriage heading to the winter estate was surely aimed at me.
Lucas hadn’t said as much, but it was obvious.
‘I may look like a thirteen-year-old, but in my past life I was an adult.’
I wasn’t about to die easily.
This second life was too precious.
Smirking inwardly, I flipped through a thick herbal manual.
I was looking for ingredients used in a special pill my master once made.
That pill carried mysterious power.
After taking it, a strong energy surged through the body—
temporary, yes, but if you trained in magic right then,
you could make that immense power your own.
‘Ordinary training takes at least five years—too slow.’
But I had enemies now.
If I wanted to survive, I needed a shortcut.
‘And that shortcut is Master’s pill.’
The problem was I didn’t know the exact ingredients.
‘But if I see the plants, I’ll recognize them.’
So here I was, stifling yawns as I studied dull herbal illustrations.
“Yaaawn…”
Marina, holding a candle nearby, draped a blanket over my shoulders.
“Young lady, it’s late.”
She meant I should go to bed.
“Yes, just a little more… ah!”
As I turned one more page, I finally found it—
a drawing of a herb I knew for sure.
“This is it!”
The herb grew in the northern continent.
‘Do they know how huge the north is?
How am I supposed to find it with only that note?’
Searching the entire region would take ages.
‘There must be a way…’
As I puzzled over it, thoughts of my master surfaced.
‘How did Master learn to make such medicine
or teach magic cultivation like that?’
I’d once searched for books containing the knowledge he taught.
Common information was easy to find,
but most of his teachings weren’t recorded anywhere—
especially those mysterious medicines and training methods.
‘Who was Master, really?’
He rarely spoke of his past.
People who hide their pasts are usually shady,
so I used to think he was a terrible criminal.
‘But maybe not…’
Maybe he wasn’t a criminal at all, but a great sage.
‘Could it be I was the disciple of a legendary sage?’
Of course, that was ridiculous.
He never seemed the sage type.
“Young lady?”
Marina pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Weren’t you supposed to meet Young Master Sise today?”
“Oh right! Was I late?”
I sprang to my feet, remembering the appointment I had asked for myself.
‘Can’t be late when I’m the one who asked.’
But before I could rush to get ready,
a voice I wasn’t supposed to hear came from the doorway.
“If you’re wondering whether you’re late—yes, you already are.”
It was Sise, his tone lazy and sharp.
He checked his pocket watch and slipped it back,
then strolled toward me.
“I was just about to come find you,” I said.
“Really? Well, I’m already here.”
“…Right.”
I scratched my cheek sheepishly as Sise lounged on the sofa.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
