~Chapter 54~
“Well, anyway, to discuss your adoption, we’d have to meet the Emperor at least once.”
Dad (not uncle anymore) muttered this and patted my head twice.
“So what about you, Father?”
Purple eyes now turned toward Grandpa. Grandpa frowned, glaring at the end of the letter.
‘No way, Grandpa won’t go.’
Ever since he got sick, he didn’t like standing in front of people.
“…? If my little jewel is going, how could I not?”
But against my guess, Grandpa looked as if the question itself was silly.
“Me too, me too! I’ll go with Ruby!”
“Of course. Void, you come too!”
“Yay! A chance to show off my sword!”
Void joined in, full of excitement.
“Isn’t it fun, Ruby? It’s like a picnic for all of us.”
Dad rubbed my head roughly.
As a silver lion, I pursed my lips and nodded.
If we all go together… well, maybe it’s good.
And so, the Jebert family decided to attend the Green Festival—for the first time in ten years.
“Ah! Then Father, what about Mother?”
“She had a long journey, so Rose should rest at the castle. Only Liam will be called.”
“Aw…”
Void looked a bit disappointed, but he nodded properly, thinking Rosetta’s health was more important.
“Is the Duchess really unwell?”
I carefully asked while biting into a big cookie.
“Just watching her makes me anxious.”
Dad’s voice carried a long sigh.
‘Oh no…’
I thought she was just a bright, warm lady, but apparently she also had the “fragile, sickly heroine” trait. Maybe the carriage accident still left aftereffects.
‘What kind of person is she?’
I recalled the two people from the original story.
First, Liam Jebert. A fifteen-year-old boy with a sharp mind. Of course, like a Jebert, he was also skilled with the sword.
‘In short, smart and strong. Top student at the academy, the perfect son.’
Liam’s biggest interest was studying monsters. He later became an outstanding monster scholar.
‘But for now, he’s still just a beginner.’
Then, Rosetta Jebert.
Once the queen of the Empire’s social world. Noble, elegant, and Leviathan’s first love. In other words, practically the female lead of Part 1 of this story.
Her descriptions were textbook for a heroine: fairy-like appearance, pink hair like sweet cotton candy, and a gentle, spring-breeze voice…
‘But how did they first meet again?’
In the original, they were already lovers, so I didn’t know.
‘Come to think of it, Rosetta was adopted into a noble family too.’
Then what had she done before that?
I tried to imagine it while eating my cookie, but it didn’t come to mind.
‘Anyway… unintentionally, I’ve been delayed in meeting her.’
I’d have to wait to see Rosetta.
It was a bit disappointing, but oh well!
If I met Liam first, I’d have to get close to him.
There was still time before the Green Festival, but the Jebert family decided to leave early and stay in Ipsun.
Ipsun was the northern land ruled by Count Camelan, a vassal of the Jeberts.
Since they were going anyway, they decided to go early and discuss various matters.
Count Camelan had also requested knights to help protect the territory in preparation for the festival.
“Have a safe trip!”
The castle servants waved cheerfully.
“I’ll be back!”
“Safe travels, Lady Rubian!”
Hazel straightened my hair once more as she said goodbye. Having lost the draw, she was sadly left behind to watch the house.
‘I thought she’d be really gloomy.’
Thankfully, she looked fine.
“If something happens, I’ll come after you…”
“Hm?”
“Ah! I mean… I’ll miss you, even if it’s short!”
Hazel hugged me tightly, so I couldn’t ask more.
No way… she wouldn’t dig a tunnel or something to chase us, right?
I narrowed my eyes with rational suspicion.
The horse carrying Dad and me moved slowly.
Since Ipsun wasn’t far, we didn’t need a carriage. Behind us were Void and Grandpa’s carriage, along with the knights’ procession.
[Look ahead. Keep distance.]
Of course, Khalid was with us too.
‘That bad Khal. He only lifts the block when it suits him.’
At this point, I had my doubts.
Was it really blocking… or was he just ignoring me? Like “read and ignore”?
‘If not for that stronghold mage info, I would’ve blocked him myself!’
Hmph.
I turned away with a flick and reminded myself of my goal for this Green Festival.
‘I must meet the stronghold mage.’
He was the last puzzle piece for completing the barrier. And surely, I could also get some good blueprints at the festival.
‘Not going would be a loss!’
Besides… I was a little excited. A spring festival!
“…Something’s strange.”
At that moment, Dad muttered softly from behind me as he held the reins. I tilted my head.
“What is?”
“There’s no trace of monsters at all.”
Huh? Really? I looked around.
Now that I thought of it, before we left, he’d said something similar.
“Your Grace, I checked the Ipsun route in advance, but I couldn’t find a single monster.”
“…No way. Could it be?”
“…Surely not.”
What exactly did they mean by “surely not”?
“Surely… no. It can’t be.”
His quiet words carried a strange unease.
Why did it make me feel nervous too?
But Dad didn’t say more, and I soon got distracted by the view ahead.
“Wow.”
We arrived at Ipsun just as the sun was setting.
“It’s the Duke of Jebert’s family!”
The gatekeeper shouted in shock, as if he’d seen a wild beast.
Behind us, the blue lion banner waved in the wind. Without any obstacle, we entered through the main gate and crossed into Ipsun city.
“Whoa, look at all that smoke rising.”
“It’s volcanic land. The hot springs here are famous, so nobles have many villas.”
“Does Jebert have one too?”
“Of course.”
A giant villa in a resort town? I couldn’t wait! I sniffed the faint sulfur smell while hiding in Dad’s cloak and peeking around.
“Welcome, my lord.”
Butler Adolf and the villa staff greeted us.
“Wow! It’s huge!”
“It’s big, but shabby.”
Really? From a rich uncle?
It looked better than Count Camelan’s mansion on the way!
“It’s been a while! I can’t wait for Liam to come!”
Void stretched as we entered the villa’s lobby. He looked familiar with the place, like he’d been here often.
“I wanted to see our Rose…”
Grandpa took off his heavy cloak, muttering regretfully.
Then one servant asked,
“My lord, we’ve prepared the Jebert family’s hot spring. What will you do?”
“Yay! Bath!”
My eyes sparkled before I realized. Grandpa bent with a grin.
“Since it’s been a while, I should relax too! Little jewel, will you join your grandpa in the medicinal hot spring?”
“No, I hate it!”
Ack. My blunt reply made Grandpa clutch his chest and roll on the floor. Uh, Grandpa… the heart’s on the left, not the right.
Void shook his head and stepped in.
“Hah. Grandpa, Ruby likes me more. Ruby, let’s go to the rainbow hot spring together!”
“I hate rainbows.”
Ack! Void also collapsed next to Grandpa.
“……”
The servants’ gazes naturally shifted to Dad as he removed his cloak.
Dad laughed softly and picked me up in his arms.
“Really, none of you are careful. Ruby doesn’t like bathing with others.”
Wow. My cool Dad…
“But surely I’d be okay. Ruby, you can cover yourself, but come with Dad…”
“Can I just pick a room?”
I jumped down from his arms and ran up the stairs.
How could they say such nonsense with straight faces!
As I hopped up the steps, Grandpa and Void stood back up, brushing themselves off.
“Well… at least Ruby didn’t reject me outright.”
“How much does she dislike us…”
Dad stayed frozen like a statue, saying nothing.
Grandpa, looking sympathetic, patted his broad shoulder.
“Well, um… cheer up, son.”
“Stay strong, Father.”
The Duke was depressed.
