CHAPTER 58………………………..
I frowned at the Duke’s words.
“Father, that’s not right. Please let it remain as it is—that the land will officially become mine when I come of age. And…”
“And?”
“At the next family council, please say that you will build a garden on that land. Let it be used for the people of the empire, just as they suggested.”
“…Do you really want to do that?”
“Yes. When I think about it, it would be nice to have at least a small park in a busy area. There’s a certain tranquility that plants and flowers provide. People living busy lives could stop by the park to rest—it would be good for them.”
The Duke touched his chin, then relaxed and looked at me fondly.
“Alright, if that’s your wish, we’ll do it that way. In return, I’ll look for another piece of land for you, so don’t be too discouraged.”
“No, Father. You don’t have to give me another land. But I do have one request: please set a condition for that land.”
“What kind of condition?”
I answered with a sly smile.
“That everyone in the empire may enter, except for one person—who must never be allowed in.”
“…You don’t mean that one person!”
“Yes, exactly. Rynes. And if he tries to enter illegally, he should face the consequences. Heh heh heh.”
Human psychology is funny like that.
Telling someone not to enter makes them want to enter even more.
Tell someone not to eat something, and they want it all the more.
And if you forbid just one person in the entire empire, imagine how furious they’d be.
He’ll be itching to go in.
I was going to make a ridiculously beautiful garden on that land.
Rynes, if you enter, you’ll die by my hand.
“Hahaha!”
The Duke’s thin lips twitched, then lifted in a broad smile.
The laughter filled the study.
I grinned back and added,
“And Father, I’ll also learn etiquette like the other young ladies.”
The Duke stopped laughing and looked at me with pride.
“Alright, I’ll find a good private tutor for you.”
I nodded, feeling that the tasks for today were mostly complete.
Kautz’s jaw dropped when he saw the Condes cores I had brought out.
These cores, condensed with high-quality mana, were a wizard’s dream.
“My goodness, the Duke must cherish you greatly. Giving not one, but ten of these precious items…”
He looked pleased as he examined the yellow, translucent, orb-like cores.
“What will you do with them?”
“Most wizards use them to create teleports, right?”
“Exactly. They’re needed to travel long distances. Much better than a one-use scroll.”
“Then make a teleport for me as well.”
“Is there somewhere specific you want to go?”
I didn’t answer, only smiled.
The place I wanted to go was far from the Western Duke Kerais’ mansion—
the Trensia Forest in the north, where my grandfather’s estate stood.
It was where Ron had gone missing.
Kautz didn’t ask further and began preparing the teleport with the Condes cores.
“It looks simple, but it’s actually quite complex.”
Even wizards with decent magical knowledge found teleport creation challenging.
But Kautz was a former top researcher from the magic academy.
“Oh, Great Power that moves the world, unite the different paths into one. At the end of the path lies what must be claimed; those who long for it shall obtain it.”
Chanting the ancient formula, he manipulated the mana flows within the Condes cores.
His whole body trembled as if in pain.
His hands holding the cores burned as if holding fire.
Then, a blinding white flash spread.
Blinking against the brightness, I saw coordinates—north, south, east, and west—drawn on the cores.
“Wow! It worked!”
“Now put in the mana and set the destination coordinates.”
Even with a teleport ready, not just anyone could use it.
It required a certain amount of mana to operate.
“Alright! How many people can we move at once?”
“Judging by the mana flowing through the teleport, up to ten people should be possible.”
“That’s enough!”
“Hmm…”
Kautz narrowed his eyes and stared at me.
“Why, why?”
Had he guessed?
I had hesitated to tell him I was going to the northern forest, worried he’d object.
Turning to hide my nervous eyes, I heard his concerned voice behind me.
“Miss, teleportation is merely a means of transport. Wherever you go, I must accompany you for safety. Understood?”
I couldn’t turn around and bowed my head deeply.
“Kautz, actually…”
I told him everything truthfully.
I had to confide in him, since he always looked out for me.
“Miss…”
“I really want to go.”
Kautz looked at me, then gently brushed my hair with his warm hand.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. How can I stop a stubborn young lady who insists on going? I have no choice but to accompany you.”
“Kautz!”
I hugged him tightly.
The comfort of his arms eased the tension I had felt before going to the forest.
“By the way, Kautz! I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Have you heard of the Zar voyage from the Eastern coast?”
I had heard about it from Ther.
He had decided to earn money personally to pay off his father’s debts and was going on a voyage.
“Of course, I know. Wait—you’re interested in the sea too? No, you absolutely cannot go there!”
“No! Not me! I’m only concerned because someone else is going!”
When I waved my hands and protested, Kautz’s suspicion subsided.
“But why is it so dangerous?”
“Half of the people who board the ship don’t survive. It’s an extremely perilous journey.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. But they catch things far out at sea that can’t be caught near the coast, and the reward is beyond words.”
Listening to Kautz, I thought a lot.
I pictured Ther, looking as if he could collapse at any moment.
‘I treated Krimu well…’
He even hinted at the assassins to someone like me, whom he barely knew.
Even if I tried to ignore it, I couldn’t help worrying.
‘Alright. I dislike my uncle, but I have to do what I can for Ther’s sake.’
A few days later, I rode a carriage into the city, guided by Butler Duvier.
Today, I was supposed to meet my private tutor.
Usually, a tutor visits the student’s home, right?
I was very curious how exceptional this person must be to require me to go to them.
The mansion stood atop the tallest hill in the city center.
The gardens were full of beautiful flowers.
A long-mustached servant guided me to the parlor.
And there, I met her.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rose.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Maryanne Delve.”
Rose? I stood dumbfounded, blinking.
Who was Rose?
White hair, blue eyes.
Her elegance made it hard to guess her age.
Who could she be?
Then I remembered when she mentioned Duke Kerais.
“Getre, that cold man, was quite passionate. So I readily agreed to this proposal.”
“…!”
How many people in the empire could call Duke Kerais by his first name?
Her tone suggested she knew him well.
She was the Duke’s first wife!
I gaped in surprise, and she laughed softly, red lips parting.
“I’ve heard that bringing in a countess’s daughter changed the men in that household. I didn’t expect such a surprised reaction from a young lady.”
“Th-thank you for the compliment.”
I bowed, and Rose laughed even more.
Wait—if she’s the Duke’s first wife, that means she’s Shevard’s mother?
Future mother-in-law?
I gawked at her, but just then, the maids brought cherry cake and tea.
Thank goodness—I almost revealed how shocked I was.
“This is my favorite cake. I thought you might like it too.”
“…Thank you.”
I ate half-heartedly while recalling memories.
Rose—Rose—Rose!
She had married Getre Kerais in a political marriage.
Their relationship was likely indifferent.
She divorced shortly after having Shevard, and the Duke remarried Ariya, his second wife.
Their connection was purely ex-husband and ex-wife.
‘Who in the world would assign a private tutor to their ex-wife? Especially the future mother-in-law!’
I was speechless at the Duke’s choice of tutor.
Once back at the mansion, I wouldn’t let this slide!
Yet the atmosphere flowed gently despite my resolve.
The more time I spent with her, the more I was drawn to her charm.
“They say you’re engaged to Shevard?”
“Pfft.”
Tea dribbled from my mouth.
Fortunately, it was a small amount, wiped with a napkin.
Rose noticed my reaction to Shevard’s name.
“Don’t worry. I maintain a proper relationship with Shevard. Though he’s mine, he took after Getre’s violent temperament. When I heard Getre sent him to the academy, I even stood up and applauded.”
She left me with that remark, smiling.
I looked at her with complete respect—she was the true image of a mother.
“Indeed, I completely agree with your mother, Miss.”
“Mother? Hahaha. Miss Delve has a talent for making good people happy.”
Through talking about Shevard, our relationship quickly grew closer.
“He needs to learn everything properly, from start to finish.”
“Indeed.”
“I even wrote to the academy’s principal, asking him to teach Shevard rigorously.”
“Mother, that’s perfect! Ah, and please feel free to speak casually to me.”
“As a tutor and student, that’s not possible yet. But later, we’ll be closer, so you may speak freely then.”
“Ah! Yes!”
I had a feeling I was about to become a real fan of her.
After building rapport, we began discussing etiquette in earnest.
