CHAPTER 55………………………………………
“Terceurus.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Maryanne isn’t an ordinary child, right?”
“From what the assassins said, she’s incredibly strong. Not only does she use tremendous physical strength, but she instinctively dodges incoming swords aimed at her.”
“So, the Delve family, huh? Even if only minor magic, she can use it.”
Terceurus opened his mouth to protest that it wasn’t minor magic at all, but seeing his father’s serious expression, he kept silent.
Finally, Rynes smirked slightly and spoke.
“The family council will be held soon. That will be when the issue regarding the land on Jark 12th Street is discussed.”
“….”
“As a member of the family, I will claim ownership of that land. Hmph… How dare she plan to build on it and make money? The audacity of a girl who just appeared out of nowhere.”
Terceurus looked at his father, worry etched across his face, and kept his mouth shut.
He was genuinely concerned about what might happen if they confronted a girl like Maryanne.
From the next dawn, the Duke’s household was busy.
The monsters had been exterminated, and the Duke and his knights had returned.
Skins and horns from the slain monsters were scattered everywhere.
Gethre had to head to his office immediately after changing clothes.
Even though he had been away only a few days, stacks of documents had already piled up.
“These were sent from the various territories. They all await your responses, Your Grace.”
The butler, Duvier, handed over the documents with delicate hands, smiling gently.
Frowning, the Duke reluctantly sat before the piles of paperwork.
As he reviewed each document and listened to Duvier recount recent events at the Duke’s residence, he suddenly stood up straight when the story of the Rynes family came up.
His sharp gaze turned toward Duvier.
“I specifically instructed that no one be admitted in my absence.”
“I apologize, Your Grace.”
“Why didn’t you send me letters? Where are Crimu and Anne right now?”
Seeing the Duke agitated, Duvier hurried to explain.
The Rynes family had stationed knights, suspected assassins, near Maryanne.
Duvier had immediately assigned skilled concealment specialists to accompany her.
Duvier gave a meaningful smile after explaining this much.
“Yet, surprisingly, Miss Maryanne handled them all perfectly.”
“Handled them?”
“Yes. One by one, she taught them a proper lesson. Not only does she possess magical abilities, but she seems extraordinarily adept at analyzing and defending against her enemies.”
The Duke’s furrowed brows relaxed, and a low sigh escaped his lips.
Though Anne had only been part of the Kerais family for a year, she was already as strong as if born with the Kerais bloodline.
“Father!”
At that moment, Maryanne arrived at the office.
Since she had returned to the Duke’s residence early in the morning, he had expected to see her only at breakfast.
“Anne.”
Maryanne greeted him politely, smiling brightly.
The Duke’s face lit up with a smile as well.
“How did you wake up so early? You could still be sleeping.”
“I had a feeling you would return as soon as the sun rose, so I went to bed early yesterday. I wanted to wake up at dawn. Hehe.”
“Tsk… doing things without being asked.”
Despite his words, the Duke smiled.
How could she always choose the words that pleased him so perfectly?
All his accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish instantly.
The maid placed a warm cup of tea before the two of them.
“I should have handled things sooner. You must have had a hard time because of Rynes.”
“No. I enjoyed meeting the Kerais family adults, but it wasn’t all fun. I worried about Father and the knights.”
Seeing her thoughtfulness, the Duke instructed the butler to bring a small box.
“This is for you.”
“A gift?”
“It’s a core from the heart of Condes. Mana is condensed within it, and every mage covets it.”
“Father…! Thank you!”
Maryanne looked into the box, genuinely delighted.
Seeing this, the Duke regretted having captured only ten Condes.
If there had been more, he would have destroyed them all and collected their cores.
He decided he would set out on an expedition to find another Condes group.
“Father, I heard the family council will be held soon.”
“Yes.”
“May I accompany you then?”
The Duke set down his teacup and gazed at Maryanne.
A wave of emotion swept over him.
Normally, the Duke and the eldest, Shevard, would attend the council.
Since Shevard was at the academy, his fiancée Maryanne would take his place.
The Duke was deeply moved that the young girl was already striving for the family’s sake.
However, a family council was essentially a battlefield.
Harsh words would be exchanged as each side sought advantage.
“You don’t need to, Anne, even in Shevard’s place.”
“What? Ah.”
Maryanne’s eyes widened as she understood his meaning.
She clasped her hands neatly and spoke.
“Father, yes. I wanted to attend for the family’s sake. How could you understand my thoughts so perfectly?”
“Thank you, Anne.”
“Then could I just observe, not officially participate? Please, Father!”
Seeing her plead cutely, the Duke relented.
Observing was perfectly acceptable.
“Father! Thank you!”
After Maryanne left, the Duke’s expression grew unusually somber.
Duvier approached, noticing him bowing his head deeply.
“Is something troubling you, Your Grace?”
“…Something serious has happened.”
“Excuse me? What is it?”
The Duke lifted something from the lining of his perfectly tailored clothes—a small jeweled brooch sparkled.
Duvier frowned.
The brooch didn’t match the Duke, who always possessed only the finest things.
“Who made this? It’s utterly crude.”
“Anne gave it to me.”
“Looking closely, it radiates a brilliant light. A celestial glow, if you will. Truly, Miss Maryanne has excellent taste.”
“….”
Duvier gave a thumbs-up, and the Duke pursed his lips.
“I shouldn’t have taken it out… It’s in such a precarious state.”
The jewel seemed ready to split in half at any moment.
One wrong touch, and it would fall.
“This was the first gift Anne ever gave me… I can’t bear to tell her. I must have it repaired without her knowing.”
Duvier had considered claiming it was fake and thus fragile, but wisely stopped.
Instead, adjusting his monocle, his eyes shone with competence.
“Such a precious item cannot be repaired by just anyone.”
“Then what shall we do?”
“Do not worry. There is a gem expert very close by. They will restore it perfectly.”
“An expert nearby?”
The Duke looked puzzled, and Duvier whispered:
“Kautz. That magician is ideal.”
“….”
The Duke’s face hardened.
A woman with tousled long hair, ten rings on her fingers, brought from a gambling house…
If not for her being Maryanne’s magic teacher, he would have kept his distance.
“How could she possibly repair something this precious?”
But the Duke’s thoughts changed immediately.
Kautz, secretly summoned by Duvier, squinted at the brooch, assessed it, and confidently said, “Leave it to me.”
And indeed, she repaired it like a true gem expert.
“…Perfect.”
“Indeed.”
The Duke and Duvier admired the brooch, which looked brand new.
“At this rate, no one would know it had been broken.”
“Exactly.”
The Duke was astonished at her skill.
“If the gem is ever damaged again, call me. Of course, I will keep it a secret from Miss Anne.”
Seeing Kautz speak firmly, the Duke instinctively extended his hand.
A handshake from the notoriously difficult Duke was reserved only for trusted individuals!
Duvier was surprised but quickly accepted it.
Kautz’s skill was that impressive, earning silent applause from Duvier.
I don’t know how many times I looked at the round cores in the small box.
I hugged the gift from the Duke tightly, happy.
“What should I make with this? Ah, should I make a teleport?”
The cores taken from the hearts of Condes contained highly condensed, high-quality mana.
And not just one—ten.
Hence, as the Duke said, every mage coveted them.
Of course, Condes was a high-level monster, so obtaining the cores was rare.
“Miss, you’re really happy, aren’t you?”
Britta brushed my hair, smiling along.
“Yes! I feel so energized this morning!”
“Me too. I feel good.”
My bright red hair, tied up beautifully, was secured with a butterfly pin.
Britta looked in the mirror.
“Ta-da! Today, I tried to style it like a flower. Of course, Miss, you’re even more beautiful than a flower.”
“Hehe.”
Looking in the mirror, my beauty seemed to blossom more each day.
Britta’s constant praise truly made me feel prettier.
“Miss, are you going to wear this again?”
Britta looked at the clothes on the floor—my boy disguise outfits.
“Yes, I need to focus on my magic lessons.”
“Our diligent Miss. Then I’ll choose today’s outfit carefully for you.”
“Eh? Carefully?”
No need for that!
Britta picked a bread-shaped hat with small wings on each side.
“Miss, try it on quickly.”
“….”
I couldn’t understand why a bread hat had wings, but I wanted to meet Ron as soon as I got the Duke’s permission.
