Chapter 59
Two days later, in the early dawn.
The line of carriages belonging to the Grand Duke’s household passed through the southern gate of the capital.
They went straight toward the eastern quarter of the Imperial Palace—an area where, under the Emperor’s decree, the Decarte Grand Duchy’s capital residence had been built.
The massive iron gates opened, revealing a series of towering statues, and soon the mansion displayed its grandeur.
Lucillea pressed her face against the carriage window and gaped.
“Wow!”
The Decarte residence in the capital wasn’t as overwhelmingly large as the Grand Duke’s northern estate.
But because it was in the capital, it had a more refined, restrained kind of beauty.
Tall walls, marble columns, gleaming silver gates polished to a shine, and a row of servants standing before them.
The dignity of the Grand Duke’s household remained intact, but the atmosphere flowing through the place was clearly different.
When the carriage stopped and Elbadine stepped down, the servants all bowed deeply.
At their head, a butler with neatly brushed silver hair stepped forward.
“It has been a long time, Your Grace.”
Elbadine gave him a curt nod.
“It has been a while, Bazerne.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Five years, has it not? You so rarely came by, I began to think you had forgotten the mansion even existed.”
At that, Elbadine gave a faint smile and looked up at the building.
“How could I ever forget…?”
Somehow, his tone and the look in his eyes as he gazed at the mansion carried a wistful note.
Lowering his gaze again, Elbadine asked,
“Are the preparations complete?”
Bazerne inclined his head.
“As you commanded, everything has been made ready.”
“You’ve done well.”
Elbadine gestured to Riat, who immediately went to the children’s carriage and opened the door.
“Wow, so this is the capital residence?!”
The first to burst out, cheering, was Lucillea.
“Look how big the garden is! There are flowers here we never see in the northern estate’s gardens!”
Serdian, Raiden, and Irnel followed after her.
Their appearance was a complete mess.
Clothes splattered with dirt, boots caked with dried mud, and hair tousled by the wind.
Their exposed skin was grimy as well, streaked with dust.
The servants of the capital residence exchanged murmurs. A few even stared at one another in open surprise.
They knew well about the Grand Duke family’s combat training traditions, but judging from the children’s state, the battles they faced had been harsher than expected.
“My word, Young Master… What on earth…?”
Even Bazerne seemed at a loss, staring blankly for a moment before regaining his composure and approaching Serdian.
“Young Master, it has been so long. On such a joyous day, I never thought I’d greet you with worry outweighing my delight.”
Serdian gave a short nod.
“It was training.”
“…”
That much, Bazerne and the servants already knew.
The young master and the other children stepping out of the carriage were in the midst of practical combat training.
Bazerne let out a quiet sigh before turning to Elbadine.
“Allow me to show you to your rooms. The baths have already been filled with warm water, so you may wash immediately.”
“Very good.”
Elbadine nodded and began to move toward the mansion—
“Kyaaah! The garden!”
Lucillea had dashed off toward the back, where the gardens stretched, shouting in delight.
Everyone turned to look at her.
“The smell of grass! The smell of grass!”
Squawk! Squeeeak!
Her noisy parrot flapped around overhead, as loud as its mistress.
The garden alone had turned into a miniature ball, full of life and clamor.
“….”
“….”
Elbadine and the others stared silently at her antics until Bazerne carefully asked,
“And that child…?”
“Leave her be.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
After casting Lucillea one more glance, Elbadine finally entered the mansion.
Behind them, Lucillea’s bright laughter rang out as she darted through the capital residence’s gardens.
Bazerne, every bit the experienced butler, directed the servants to carry the children’s luggage swiftly. He had warm baths, clean clothes, and simple refreshments prepared in every room.
When Lucillea was shown to her assigned room, she immediately ran to the tall window and gasped at the view of the gardens outside.
“Wow…”
Though it was still the Grand Duke’s property, the difference in atmosphere simply from being in the capital was striking.
The room was spacious enough for her alone, and from the window she could see the wide gardens spread below.
“First things first, a bath!”
After giving Cookie his treats, she hurried into the bathroom.
Tossing aside her filthy clothes, she leapt into the steaming tub.
“Ahhhh….”
She melted instantly.
The warmth soaked away the tension that had piled up in her body all this time.
She closed her eyes, then opened them again, scooping up water in her hands and letting it trickle down.
Her gaze fell on the cuts and scars crisscrossing her palms.
So these are my badges of honor, huh?
From the northern estate all the way to the capital.
In that span of time—short if short, long if long—she had brushed with death countless times.
Of course, in truly dangerous moments, the Grand Duke’s knights had intervened, so her life was never truly at risk.
But could one really think so calmly when a monster appeared right before your eyes?
Even so—
I made it safely to the capital!
If she could escort Elbadine all the way to the Imperial Palace without incident, the mission would be complete.
Even someone like me, who can’t cast a proper attack spell, managed it!
She had mostly used supportive magic, but she could proudly say she had pulled her weight.
Magic doesn’t have to be strong to be useful.
The same went for alchemy. Even if it couldn’t deal fatal blows in battle, potions created through alchemy could always help in some way.
Of course, there were times she envied Raiden’s blazing fire spells or Irnel’s sweeping wind magic.
But that was only greed.
I just need to find what I’m good at—and profitable at—and pour myself into it.
And that, Lucillea was certain, was alchemy.
I’ll make time to study it whenever I can.
When she returned to the estate after training, she’d boldly request her own herb garden and a research lab for alchemy!
If not teeth, then gums!
If my magic is weak, I’ll use alchemy!
But then a thought struck her.
Just what did His Grace see in me to give me the entire fifth floor?
Remembering the moment she’d briefly wondered if she might be a genius, her ears grew warm.
After bathing, Lucillea flopped onto the soft bed, chatting idly with Cookie.
[Lu, are you going to tonight’s banquet too?!]
“Mm-hm. It’s part of guarding His Grace, I guess. I’ll probably have to stay until it ends.”
[But he doesn’t need guarding, does he?]
“Of course not. It’s just training. I doubt I’ll actually enter the banquet hall, though.”
Serdian and Raiden, as heirs of their families, would have to attend inside.
“Irnel, Caelin, and I aren’t heirs. We’re just kids with a bit of special ability.”
Being treated as special only applied within the Grand Duke’s household.
In the Imperial Palace, especially at the Empress’s birthday banquet, they weren’t recognized or respected enough to be included.
Well then…
Lucillea glanced at the clock on the wall.
“There’s still plenty of time before evening. Should we go explore the mansion?”
[Yes! Let’s go! Let’s go!]
Lucillea hopped off the bed with Cookie and stepped into the quiet corridor.
As she walked toward the central staircase, a loud sound came from beyond the tall corridor windows.
Whooom—! Thud—!
What’s that noise?
She pressed closer to the window and peered outside.
Oh, must be the training yard.
Behind the mansion lay a wide open space that looked like a drill ground.
And in its center, a boy was swinging a sword.
“Huh? Serdian?”
Was he crazy? Training again, right after arriving?
Sweat drenched his shirt as he swung tirelessly.
All around him, chopped logs lay in piles.
Lucillea hurried downstairs and out toward the yard.
But seeing the intensity of his practice, she stayed back, settling into the shade nearby.
For a while, she simply watched.
At last, Serdian lowered his sword, breathing heavily, and glanced her way.
“What.”
“Just watching.”
“You’re distracting me.”
“If you can stay focused despite distractions, that’s true focus, isn’t it?”
“….”
He gave her a look, exasperated, before lifting his sword again.
Watching his back, Lucillea said,
“You know there’s a banquet tonight, right?”
“I know.”
“Then how about resting a little to recover?”
But Serdian’s reply was firm.
“I’m not good enough to rest.”
Oof.
Though he was speaking to himself, Lucillea felt the sting too.
She coughed awkwardly.
That’s exactly the attitude of a protagonist.
That’s why he could be the main character.
I couldn’t. No way, no way.
She gazed at him quietly.
She could have said something shallow, like “Take it easy” or “You’re already strong enough.”
But she chose not to.
She knew well the hardships he had endured in the story—and those he still had yet to face. Empty words of comfort would mean nothing.
Besides, I don’t have the right to say them.
Still…
That unease that had been gnawing at her since leaving the northern estate returned.
He’ll be okay, won’t he? Serdian. Nothing bad will happen even in the palace… right?
Surely Elbadine had his reasons for bringing him along.
Perhaps reading her thoughts, Cookie tilted his head.
[Hmm? What’s wrong?]
Lucillea let out a sigh, eyes still on Serdian’s back.
Serdian… he’s the Emperor’s illegitimate son.
[Whaaaaat?!]
