Chapter 38
Vanessa’s smiling face suddenly froze.
“You know the reason…? How?”
“I only found out recently. But first, I need to ask—do you really have no memory of what happened before you collapsed?”
“Yeah. Nothing at all.”
Twenty-five years ago. Vanessa had only been four years old at the time. It made sense that she couldn’t remember anything from such a young age.
But she had gone through something serious back then. After alerting the adults that the divine beast’s egg had gone missing, she should’ve returned to her room—but instead, she was found unconscious near the plum tree.
When she finally came to, Vanessa had no memory of collapsing there. She didn’t even remember discovering that the divine beast’s egg was missing or telling the adults about it.
So the adults suspected that the intruders who had infiltrated the duke’s estate to steal the egg had done something to her.
Something like… a curse.
In a way, it would’ve been better if it had been a curse—at least then it could have been lifted.
But since it wasn’t, there was nothing they could do. Vanessa ended up spending half her life bedridden, without knowing why she was so sickly.
And now Elkiers claimed to know the reason—something no one had ever known.
“There’s no proof, but I think you were probably the last person in the duke’s estate who had the divine beast’s egg.”
“Me? But didn’t the people who broke in steal it and take it out of the estate?”
“No. The egg was buried under the roots of the plum tree. The tree came back to life because Iree dug the egg up from underneath it.”
“What?”
Vanessa blinked in disbelief.
“Is that true?”
“It is. And…”
Elkiers’ gaze deepened as he looked at Vanessa.
“You were probably the one who buried it under the plum tree.”
Vanessa looked confused.
“Why would I do that?”
“That, I don’t know either. Maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe the spirit of the plum tree guided you…”
Elkiers calmly explained everything he knew.
He made sure to emphasize that there was no hard evidence—only a chain of events and deductions leading to this theory, so she didn’t need to take it too seriously.
“Maybe, during the process of burying the egg, you became connected to it. That might’ve been possible because you’re a direct descendant of Ludian, who was blessed by the previous divine beast.”
Elkiers’ eyes fell on Vanessa’s red hair.
Vanessa reflexively grabbed her hair and hesitantly spoke.
“What do you mean, connected to the egg?”
“Do you know why the plum tree withered? It gave all its nutrients to the egg buried under its roots.”
“…Don’t tell me I…”
“Yes. You’ve been protecting the egg your entire life.”
Elkiers deliberately didn’t mention the red string Iree had seen—he didn’t want Vanessa to be misunderstood.
“Protecting the egg… me…”
“Yes, you.”
As Elkiers nodded, Vanessa’s eyes welled with emotion.
From the age of ten until now, almost thirty, she had spent the best years of her life lying in bed, unable to do anything.
All those years, she had harbored resentment—at whom, she didn’t even know. Why had she become like this? She had been healthy. Why her?
But now she found out it wasn’t just bad luck or a curse placed by someone with ill intentions.
She had been protecting the divine beast’s egg as the eldest daughter of Ludian…
“…I’m glad. These past twenty years weren’t meaningless after all.”
“Exactly. You’ve fulfilled Ludian’s duties better than anyone. In fact, I think you’re more suited to be the duke than I am. What do you think?”
“What?”
“You’re the second-born, after all. If things had gone as they should, you would’ve inherited the title after our older brother died. But you were too weak, so it fell to me. How about now…?”
“El.”
Vanessa calmly cut him off, narrowing her eyes at him.
“You really think I’ll say yes if you make that suggestion with a face that’s practically glowing with excitement?”
“Oh, do I look that excited?”
“Want me to show you a mirror?”
“No thanks. I’ve seen enough already.”
Elkiers rubbed his face with his right hand, then added:
“I’m just happy you’re healthy now. That’s why I’m excited.”
“You mean you’re happy because you think you can dump the dukedom on me, you sly fox.”
“You figured it out? Then won’t you take it for your poor brother’s sake?”
“No way. I’ve spent my life in bed. I’ve learned nothing, and I’m not capable of leading such a large family.”
And most importantly—
“I have so many things I want to do. I spent all those years staring out the window, imagining everything.”
Vanessa had so many dreams she couldn’t even decide where to start.
“If what you’re saying is true, then I’ve already fulfilled my duty of protecting the divine beast’s egg. So don’t include me in the responsibility of running the dukedom.”
“Oh, so you’re planning to slip out of this, just like that?”
Elkiers pouted in mock disappointment.
But what could he say to a sister who had spent her life in bed and was now finally speaking of dreams?
“Fine, but only for a while. If things go south, I’m running too.”
“Why would you run? You’re doing great.”
“For the same reason our other brother did.”
“Oh…”
Vanessa nodded knowingly.
Elkiers gave her a strange look.
“Sounds like you’ve figured something out.”
“Of course I have. Mother doesn’t like Iree because of her background.”
Elkiers didn’t bother asking how she knew. Anyone who met the dowager duchess once could figure it out.
“Is Mother’s opposition really that serious? Serious enough for you to consider giving everything up and running away?”
“It’s a matter of whether it’s worth it. Even if I’m not the duke, I have enough power to make the person I love happy.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be easier if you were the duke?”
“Maybe. But I don’t think Iree finds the position of duchess all that appealing.”
Unaware that Iree had entered the estate chasing a money envelope, Vanessa interpreted Elkiers’ words differently.
She thought Iree was having a hard time because of how she was treated, due to her origins.
“I think I can help with that.”
“How?”
“Well… I asked Mother to officially announce my engagement to Rian.”
“A ball?”
“Yep. But only the lady of the house has the right to host a ball at the estate.”
Technically, when Elkiers reclaimed the key to Lazuli from the dowager duchess, the Ludians had no lady of the house.
In such a case, both the dowager duchess and Vanessa—as the duke’s daughter—could temporarily act as lady of the house.
But currently, the person most eligible for that role was Iree—since she was now the mistress of the Iris Hall.
“You haven’t had a formal introduction event for Iree yet, right?”
“No…”
Elkiers fell into thought, wearing a complicated expression.
Iree, as the mistress of Iris Hall, could host a ball and invite the vassals?
There couldn’t be a more perfect way to announce her position as the duke’s fiancée.
“Did Mother approve?”
“Of course she did. I acted all gloomy and told her I was worried that Rian’s feelings might have changed. I laid it on thick.”
Vanessa giggled, saying it was a secret, and pulled a necklace from beneath her clothes to show Elkiers.
Hanging from the golden chain wasn’t a pendant, but a ring.
“Actually, Rian proposed to me yesterday.”
“No wonder he’s been distracted during training lately. Congrats.”
“Don’t be so dry. Say it with some feeling.”
“I can’t help it if I don’t feel it.”
He hadn’t even confessed to Iree yet, let alone proposed—so of course Elkiers looked a bit grumpy.
But Vanessa misunderstood, thinking he was sulking because she and Rian were having their engagement first.
“Don’t you get what I mean? Since I accepted Rian’s proposal, I’m now the future Countess of Bolani.”
“So what… Oh.”
Realization dawned on Elkiers.
Vanessa smiled knowingly.
“The Marquis of Fenian already swore loyalty to Iree, right? I’ll make sure the next Count of Bolani supports her too.”
Ludian stood on four pillars.
If not just one, but two of them backed Iree…
“No matter how much Mother dislikes her, she’ll never be able to drive Iree out.”
