Chapter : 09
After leaving the meeting with Kyleop behind, returning to the room felt somewhat bustling.
The Grand Duke and Egal were gathered, intently staring at something.
What they were looking at was a pile of gifts stacked high. Even at a glance, they were clearly expensive—clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and more.
Anna was busy organizing them.
“Sending gifts from the Marquis Tiberi’s household.”
“Rael… is he serious?”
No wonder—they were quite materialistic and showy, and indeed, they came from Rael.
Arisha stepped between the two, interrupting the murmurs.
“Anna, make sure all the gifts are returned.”
There was no need to accept bribes or owe anyone. For the Grand Duke’s household, items like these were more than plentiful—they practically tripped over them.
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Anna bowed her head and replied.
“The Marquis Rael says he intends to push our daughter as the next Grand Duke. I suppose he’s serious.”
The Grand Duke spoke with genuine interest, even seeming secretly proud.
Well, who would dislike someone praising their own daughter?
“Indeed. That family is said to be skilled at balancing things; seems they have a good eye.”
Fortunately, Egal didn’t seem offended. One marquis family switching allegiance wouldn’t shake Egal’s status as heir.
At that moment,
“Shall we just make our daughter the heir outright?”
Cough.
Arisha choked on her tea at the sudden remark.
The Grand Duke and Egal looked startled at her.
“Our daughter, are you alright?”
“Should I call a doctor?”
“No, I’m really fine. Everyone, calm down.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“But… isn’t this already the second time?”
“Yeah, sis. Clearly, your throat and esophagus muscles are just too weak.”
Was a single cough really worth making such a fuss?
“Isn’t the cause muscular loss?”
What? Muscular loss? Did I mishear?
“Look, your arms. See this.”
Egal lifted Arisha’s arms. Today, they looked unusually thin and pale.
“No muscle at all. You haven’t been exercising lately, have you?”
“Now that you mention it, your face has gone completely pale too!”
“You’ve been stuck indoors lately without stepping outside even once!”
The conversation was veering in a very strange direction.
“Even the throat and esophagus are made of muscles. This is clearly due to muscular loss!”
“Exactly! Muscles are the foundation of a healthy body.”
It was a relief the topic had changed, but the feeling was still unsettling.
“Get up. Starting today, you’ll begin training.”
Egal pulled Arisha to her feet.
Arisha turned her head to signal the Grand Duke for help.
When her desperate gaze met the Grand Duke’s equally pleading eyes, the Grand Duke gave a thumbs-up.
“Strong muscles make a healthy body. Our daughter, cheer up!”
Good heavens.
Focused on training, Egal set aside his sword and approached Arisha in the corner of the training area.
Standing next to her, Egal sighed as if frustrated.
“Sis, what kind of exercise is that?”
Arisha was lying very comfortably, reclining on a large mat placed atop a rocking chair. A magical fan beside her gently fanned her automatically.
Above her, a large canopy had been set up; the Grand Duke had hurriedly ordered the servants to bring it, worried his daughter might get too hot. Despite being rushed, its quality was quite good.
On a small side table nearby, snacks Anna had prepared were set out.
The sky was blue, high, and breezy—the perfect weather for a picnic.
Thus, Arisha’s current state was excellent.
[Happiness: max.]
[Physical comfort: max.]
[Fresh air increasing internal mana concentration by 100%.]
Arisha opened one eye lazily.
“I’m exercising.”
“…What kind of exercise?”
“Breathing exercises.”
Egal squinted.
“…Just say you don’t want to exercise.”
Arisha stared him down.
“I don’t want to.”
“….”
A direct, unflinching answer. With her confidence, Egal had no words.
As always, Egal lost.
“You still need to do something…”
“I don’t want to.”
“At least a walk…”
“No.”
“…Alright.”
Egal returned to his place, slightly sulking.
As training began, golden light swirled around Egal’s fingertips. Mana moved, and a bow appeared in his previously empty hands.
Without hesitation, Egal drew the string.
The boy who had been intimidated by Arisha a moment ago vanished.
In his place, a golden-eyed hawk appeared.
Fwoosh!
The golden arrow from Egal’s bow flew straight and hit the target, which looked like a distant dot, perfectly.
The wind split by the arrow blew afterward, rustling Egal’s dark blonde hair.
“Well done, Egolas.”
He still needed more training, but at his age, that level of skill was impressive.
‘And his mana flow is strong.’
His balance of martial skill and mana control was excellent.
‘He seems to study diligently too.’
If he grew like this, Egal would become the Grand Duke, and she could live a more comfortable life.
Arisha’s praise lifted his expression, and soon his face was bright and childlike again.
‘He should probably hide how obvious that is.’
After shooting the final arrow, Egal returned.
“Next time, you’ll have to do it too, sis…”
Not even mentioning “exercise” showed that her firm refusal had some effect.
“And this.”
“What is it?”
Egal gestured, and a glass bottle flew toward her. It looked expensive just by itself.
‘Perfume?’
Arisha read the label—bath additive.
“Subtle Jasmine scent.”
“…With a little muscle growth supplement.”
“No need to thank me.”
“Wow.”
Arisha pretended to drop the bottle; Egal immediately caught it.
“Sis, this is expensive.”
Only after properly handing it to her did Egal step back.
Seeing Arisha’s uneasy expression, Egal smiled mischievously and pulled something else from his clothes.
“This is the real gift.”
In his hand was a locket necklace, its exterior embossed with the Grand Duke family’s lion emblem.
Inside the locket was a delicate painting, like a photograph.
It depicted the Grand Duke’s four family members sitting together warmly. Egal looked much younger and cuter, his eyes half-closed as if sleepy.
The Grand Duke looked similar to now but younger and calmer.
Strangely, the Grand Duchess’ face was blurred, almost unrecognizable.
“This is…”
“You gave it to me, remember?”
Egal gently tapped the painting in the locket. A fleeting sadness passed through his eyes, then vanished.
“Eleven years ago, when you saved me… and I lost my powers. You remember, right?”
No, she hadn’t remembered—but reading the books told her what had happened.
On the day 9-year-old Arisha lost her powers, she and Egal were together. She had saved her brother but lost her abilities.
Since then, Arisha had not spoken to Egal at all until she became possessed by her current self.
“Back then, you said this locket would protect me, and put it around my neck.”
Egal placed the locket around Arisha’s neck.
“Now it’s my turn to protect you.”
Her heart fluttered.
It had been so long since she’d heard that story.
And the vow had originally been for her real sister, not her current self.
Egal grasped her hand tightly.
“I’ll never let you go through anything difficult again.”
His hand was hot and rough. Arisha finally understood why he trained obsessively—he wanted to protect his sister, no matter what.
Memories of failing to protect her had driven him to push himself relentlessly.
She understood that feeling profoundly.
The heat of his grasp reached her bones.
Egal finally smiled brightly. She had often seen him smile, but never like this.
“It took over ten years to say this.”
Arisha gently touched the locket, the lion emblem clear and striking.
“…Thank you.”
“Thanks, right? Now come play with me.”
“Now that you’re grown, saying that is gross.”
Arisha chuckled; Egal looked serious.
“I need to make up for the 11 years you didn’t play with me. I’m serious.”
“Fine.”
“You said ‘fine.’”
Egal grinned shamelessly.
Returning to the room, Anna had prepared a bath and was waiting.
“I’ve prepared your bath, milady.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, but today, please let Master Egal greet you instead.”
“Egal?”
Had he prepared something again? Arisha felt a slight pang in her chest.
“Master Egal prepared the bath himself. He even chose the scent.”
Though the color differed, the bottle’s design looked familiar.
“Subtle Forget-Me-Not scent.”
“…With a little muscle growth supplement.”
Arisha smiled faintly.
Egolas was really thoughtful.
Truly… thank… you. This was sincere.
A gust of wind blew, and the window swung open.
“Oh my!”
Arisha, as if waiting for the moment, tossed the bottle.
The bottle flew with the wind, disappearing outside like a star in the sky.
“Milady, oh my. The bath additive flew away!”
“Wow… what a shame.”
Arisha tidied her hair, smiling contentedly.
