Chapter 33
He let out an ambiguous hum, “Hmm,” in response to the fundamental question, then lightly perched on the edge of the desk.
“Yes.”
“But why won’t it work?”
“Well…”
“Did you learn how to do it, Teacher?”
“No.”
“People with abilities, do they just… do it?”
“Mostly, yes.”
His words left me feeling even more despondent.
“But why can’t I do it, even though I have an ability?”
“Perhaps it hasn’t properly manifested yet, or the flow is blocked somewhere?”
Ha! I could have said that myself.
Anyone could spout such obvious nonsense. But his tone, acting like such an expert while saying it, irritated me immensely. I stared at him pointedly with a thoroughly displeased expression.
My grandfather had gone through so much trouble to call him here, and I had been so expectant.
I thought he would tell me things that the ability users in our family hadn’t been able to explain.
But somehow, it seemed like he didn’t know any more than the ability users in our family.
‘Is he a fraud?’
Frauds always have these good-looking, innocent faces and scam people without batting an eye.
Somehow, his suspicious tone made me lift my head.
‘Let me test him…’
“If my ability hasn’t properly manifested, then how could I read Ancient Tongue and speak the Imperial language…”
“Isn’t that just the Young Lady’s talent, not her ability?”
Under Olga’s steady gaze, I felt a stinging sensation in my chest.
* * *
‘That is merely the Young Lady’s talent, not an ability.’
‘You must know that yourself, Young Lady.’
I walked down the quiet corridor, recalling my conversation with Olga.
I had intended to test whether he was a fraud or not, but somehow, it felt like only my own thoughts had been laid bare.
‘Abilities are something one controls and manifests oneself; I cannot help you with that part.’
Well, at least he’s not a fraud.
Even so, I couldn’t help feeling hurt.
I couldn’t even be sure myself if I had an ability or not, and here I was, unable to do even the most basic things others talked about.
Circle, triangle, square.
The most basic of basics.
I looked down at my fingertips and let my shoulders slump.
“Sigh.”
I feel drained.
I had been eagerly waiting for my lessons with Olga.
I thought that once I met him, I would learn about the nature of the ability I possess, how to make it manifest, and even how to control it, all quickly, one after the other, so I could soon go to Oneiro.
As for Grandfather’s problem, his house arrest was lifted upon his retirement, and most importantly, his health was the main issue, but Paul was researching that, so there wasn’t much to worry about.
Paul already knew about the treatment method.
The hints and time were the problems, but hadn’t I solved that to some extent too?
So, if I go to Oneiro and come back, and by the time I lay some foundation, Grandfather will still be healthy.
‘Father still has time too, for now.’
Honestly, in the current situation, the most urgent matter was whether or not I could go to Oneiro.
‘Sigh.’
I looked down at my fingertips again, where nothing was happening.
Frankly, if the only direct third-generation heirs were Chandler and Jason, it wouldn’t be a problem, but Grandfather already had direct grandsons who were qualified for succession and were studying.
Leonardo, the eldest son of Uncle Andrea, and Aleph, the second son of Uncle Windren.
Unlike the good-for-nothings Chandler and Jason, those two had diligently spent two years in Oneiro and returned, and were now studying at the academy.
If Uncle Andrea hadn’t ruined the family, perhaps Leonardo or Aleph would have inherited the family.
Well, it’s not like those two were exceptionally outstanding either.
Didn’t they say it back then? Under the disastrous parenting, a ruined crop of grandchildren followed.
The only difference between Leonardo and Aleph and Chandler and Jason was that they were very good at hiding the fact that they were messes themselves.
Though that seemed like something they naturally acquired with age.
Anyway, since they, unlike my immediate seniors Chandler and Jason, had spent their time well in Oneiro and returned, I too absolutely had to go to Oneiro to qualify as an heir.
That way, I could secure a means of living in advance, even if Essierau were to fall, just like I initially intended. Like Grandfather’s other collateral relatives.
It’s a bit sorry to say to Grandfather, but unless Father inherits Essierau, Essierau has no future.
I can state that categorically.
At best, if Grandfather lives just a bit longer, it might endure just long enough to last that much longer.
Unless the successor changes.
‘It’s hopeless.’
Andrea was incompetent.
Windren was the same.
“Hoo.”
Moreover, before autumn, Pelluana would cross the Libbis territory, which bordered the Empire.
That was the prelude to the The-Pell territory war.
Both sides knew well that winter was the worst season for war, so Pelluana would advance quickly, but the Empire would laugh at Pelluana’s foolishness and barbaric behavior and try to hold out. They probably thought that if they just defended well, Pelluana would collapse on its own.
But the Empire and the Lord of Libbis should have wondered: Why did Pelluana attack at the tail end of autumn?
Even though they knew perfectly well that winter wasn’t advantageous for the attacking side either.
‘The fall of the Imperial Capital.’
Pelluana intended to capture the Imperial Capital outright and behead the Emperor while the Empire’s territories were firmly locking down their walls for defense.
‘Honestly, if Grandfather hadn’t risked his life to stop it, the Emperor would have died long ago.’
If Grandfather hadn’t broken his house arrest and personally blocked the path to the Imperial Capital, the Emperor would have died early on, and Lian probably would have lived and died as a commoner, unrecognized as Emperor.
Ah, but he had the protagonist’s plot armor.
Maybe it wouldn’t have gone that far?
‘Well, the Emperor did agonize until the end over whether or not to ask Grandfather for help.’
In the end, my impatient grandfather lost the standoff.
He was an Emperor who truly fit the description of ‘ungrateful,’ but what could one do?
Even so, he was the Emperor.
But this time, Grandfather will be in a superior position.
‘I gave him a hint, after all.’
Roughly looking, Bennett seemed busy checking on Pelluana’s side, and situation reports would be coming in regularly from the bank side too.
‘This time, Essierau will win.’
Anyway, the rest is up to Grandfather and the adults.
And right now, I have my own problems to deal with.
‘I need to go to Oneiro and meet Lian.’
Who would have thought my ability would block my path?
It seems like even if I just showed my talent without any ability, going to Oneiro wouldn’t have been a problem.
‘Who knew there would be side effects to having an ability?’
“Ugh.”
Giving up on looking at my hand, I heaved a deep sigh as if wanting the ground to swallow me, reached the door, and turned the knob.
‘For now, let’s properly handle tomorrow’s tasks first.’
I decided to think about the rest later.
* * *
The next day.
“Young Lady!”
Arina, who had stopped me in front of the carriage as I was preparing to leave early for Liriana, held out a glass of juice.
“It’s grape juice. Please drink it before you go.”
She’s so serious about this grape juice.
I frowned at the murky green color in the glass and looked up.
“You have to drink it all. It’s good for your health.”
At Arina’s smile as she handed me the green grape juice, I took it casually with both hands and drank. But today, again, a bitter taste rose up after the fresh sweetness of the grape.
‘Ugh.’
I wiped the remaining juice from my lips with the back of my hand and held out the empty glass.
“From next time, I’m not drinking this. It tastes bad.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
I handed the glass to Arina, who nodded, and as I turned around, suddenly my vision seemed to spin.
‘Huh?’
Staggering and stumbling, feeling like I was about to fall, I sharply inhaled, and Hael hurriedly approached and supported my body. I leaned my faltering body against hers as she held me up, preventing me from collapsing.
Somehow, my stomach felt a bit nauseous too.
It felt like I could throw up everything I ate at any moment, my insides churning and heaving as if being twisted.
“Young Lady?”
“Un, I’m fine.”
But despite my saying I was fine, Hael’s stern expression as she looked down at me didn’t improve.
It seemed she was even more alarmed because she had already seen me collapse and bleed before. Her gaze seemed to be wondering, ‘Is it okay to take her out like this?’ I shook my head.
“It’s fine. The sun was just a bit bright, made my eyes dizzy, that’s all.”
“But.”
“I hab to go to Liriana. I hab to go.”
I smiled faintly, waved my hand vaguely in a gesture of farewell to Arina, and got into the carriage.
“We will depart now.”
It wasn’t the usual coachman today.
“Un.”
Noticing this, I looked at Hael, and she gave a slight nod.
Seeing that, I got into the carriage as if to say I understood and took my seat.
“I’m going now.”
“Yes.”
“Arina, have a good holiday.”
“Yes, see you the morning after tomorrow.”
I waved my hand in response to Arina’s farewell and slammed the carriage door shut. For some reason, my heart was pounding.
Even more than it did the first time I headed to the Count’s residence.
