Chapter 43
“I’m fine, ma’am.”
I smiled as if to truly reassure her.
The marchioness, unusually angry enough to curse, somehow made me feel as if I had a real mother.
“I’m not hurt at all. And I wasn’t alone—I was with Cardinal Ruben.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. But I hear your father benefited a lot thanks to you as well. Ah, I can’t believe I’m standing here talking like this. Let’s go inside quickly. There’s a lot prepared for you.”
“Yes.”
I replied lightly and followed Learwin into the mansion.
As we headed to my room, the physician arrived.
Even though I had already undergone a meticulous checkup at the palace, Learwin still seemed uneasy.
“Examine her thoroughly. She’s been to the demon realm twice in six months. Those little devils dared to kidnap this young, cute girl twice! Truly, they must be devils themselves, the cruelty is chilling!”
“….”
She really was furious.
The physician, swept up in Learwin’s anger, asked me a series of questions, and I answered all of them diligently.
After the checkup, I bathed in a tub filled with various herbs. The servants massaged my body with gentle, careful hands, and applied a facial mask.
They also applied oil to each strand of my hair.
‘This feels like a noble lady experience…’
Even on weekends when I visited the mansion, they would pamper me in various ways. But today, it felt like they were three times more attentive than usual.
It was because I had returned from the demon realm.
Still uneasy, Learwin instructed the servants once more.
“Make sure to erase all traces of the demon realm so that no demons can follow her again. Treat this not as a simple bath but as a solemn ritual. Remember to handle her sacred-energy-bearing body with utmost care!”
“Yes! Understood, Ma’am!”
Once Learwin left, the servants worked with even greater enthusiasm.
Though I thought such measures were excessive, a pleasant drowsiness slowly swept over me.
‘Wow. Hard training on weekdays, noble-lady experiences on weekends—healing at its best.’
My body, exhausted from the demon realm and temple, gradually regained vitality and energy.
Before coming to the duke’s house, I hadn’t realized just how fatigued I had become.
After finishing my bath, I slipped into the bed and took a blissful nap.
The bed was soft, the sheets and pillows gentle…
My new pajamas felt good, and the room smelled cozy and inviting.
‘Ah, I’m so happy.’
Why was the Pluto dukedom so wonderful?
Undoubtedly, enjoying luxury here was infinitely better than struggling in the demon realm.
Thinking such trivial thoughts, I drifted into a gentle sleep.
I woke up just before dinner.
I stretched my arms high, feeling more refreshed than ever.
“Ahhh, that was a good sleep!”
After a deep rest, hunger quickly struck.
Calling the servants, I quickly dressed and headed down to the dining hall on time.
Ruben, Miles, Learwin, and Meteo were all already seated.
“Oh, I’m the last one. Hello, everyone!”
Learwin was the first to respond brightly.
“You’re here, Senti. Seeing you so energetic, it seems your body has recovered well.”
“Yes, thanks to you. I slept really comfortably.”
“That’s good. Since you suffered so much at the palace, you need to rest properly on weekends. Now, sit down.”
“Yes.”
I quickly moved to my seat.
I glanced at Meteo, but he didn’t even look at me.
‘…Tch.’
Once seated, Ruben addressed me.
“So, Crescent. Have you been alright all this time?”
“!”
I almost spat out the water I was drinking.
Since returning from the demon realm, this was my first time seeing Ruben. We hadn’t met at the temple.
Yet he spoke to me first—something that had never happened before, not even once during meals.
He had never looked at me or spoken a word to me until now.
I quickly swallowed my water and replied.
“Yes, Your Eminence, Cardinal.”
“You may just call me Duke at home.”
“Eh?”
I asked in surprise. Learwin’s eyes widened, and even Marquess Miles seemed startled.
Ruben’s tone was different—there was barely any caution in it.
I answered promptly.
“Ah, yes. Understood, Your Grace. I managed well at the temple, too. The recovery potion from the marchioness helped a lot.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re unharmed after visiting the demon realm. If you need more rest, you may take a few days off training. Your knight master will understand.”
“…Thank you.”
Why was his tone so indifferent yet warm?
Was it because of what happened in the demon realm?
Ruben’s attitude toward me felt gentler than before.
Though still distant and dignified, I sensed no trace of previous caution or aversion.
Then Learwin chuckled.
“So Crescent saved your father, and your father has taken a liking to you?”
“Taken a liking? That’s absurd.”
Ruben sharply retorted, sounding as though he had been unjustly accused in the middle of sleep.
I, too, wondered what she meant.
Taken a liking? Where exactly?
Learwin could not stop smiling.
“Why are you embarrassed? I, too, was smitten when Crescent saved me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes.”
Ruben’s firm words were met with a short reply from Learwin, yet her lips still curled into a smile.
Ruben continued.
“I could have killed Count Izmir. It was nearly done. But Crescent saved me. Of course, I could have saved myself, but she saved me nonetheless.”
“Indeed. Your father is remarkable.”
I agreed quickly with Learwin.
“Yes. I only persuaded the monsters. If Your Eminence—no, Your Grace—hadn’t confronted Izmir, I wouldn’t have had the time.”
“Hm. That’s not what I mean. Anyway, Crescent, you did very well. So, I want to give you a gift.”
“Yes?”
A gift?
He was giving me a gift?
It was so sudden I was shocked.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one surprised—Miles asked as well.
“You’re giving her a gift?”
“What kind of gift?”
Even Learwin looked curious, wondering what kind of gift it could be.
Ruben raised his hand, and the servants brought something in from outside.
They came directly to me and opened a luxurious box.
Inside was a blade, shimmering with silver light.
It was slightly larger than my hand, like the tips of two blades joined together.
The ends curved in different directions, creating a wave-like shape.
The transparent jewels embedded in it were no ordinary decoration.
‘It can’t be diamonds, can it?’
Even without the gemstones’ shine, the blade itself emitted a radiant brilliance. Its sharp edge indicated masterful craftsmanship.
I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
‘…It’s so beautiful.’
“You’re giving that to Crescent?”
Before I could even admire it, Marquess Miles questioned in astonishment. His next words surprised me even more.
“Isn’t that a family heirloom? Giving such a precious item to her…”
“Eh? An heirloom?”
I looked at the dagger again.
An heirloom? He’s giving me an heirloom?
At that moment, Learwin clapped her hands joyfully.
“That’s perfect! Though called an heirloom, it’s a weapon. If it’s left unused in storage, what good is it? Finally, this beautiful weapon has found its rightful owner.”
I stared at Ruben in disbelief.
“Are you sure it’s alright to give me something like this?”
Ruben, expressionless, simply nodded once.
“It’s a special weapon that responds to divine energy. Now that you are its owner, it will respond to your sacred energy. I intended to give it to a suitable heir, but it seems you’ll make the best use of it.”
