Chapter 22
Looking at Marit smiling brightly while checking the bankbook again and again made Lilia feel good.
“Ah, and I heard that since I activated my magic attribute, our budget will increase from next month! How much was it… 300,000 Ruts per month?”
“Gasp… That much money?”
“Yes! Now we’re rich!”
“That’s more than enough to cover living expenses. It’s better to open an account in your name and save the money there.”
“Oh, that can wait. I want to raise Marit and Yupi’s salaries first, since they’ve been working hard.”
“Our young lady thinks of everything! But I’m fine with it.”
“Why? Marit should also save up and get rich!”
Marit lifted Lilia up with a smile, feeling a little emotional. Her eyes glistened red as she held her tighter.
“I was already rich, my lady. Seeing your cute face and hearing your voice every day is enough. Ah! I should bring the new fashion catalog I’ve been watching!”
She dashed off and returned with a children’s fashion catalog.
“…Yes, Marit, let’s not wear the same old clothes all the time. Let’s get some pretty outfits. And not just for me…”
Of course, it was a catalog from a high-end children’s clothing brand.
“Miss, look at this pink cherry-patterned dress! Isn’t it adorable? Let’s buy it right now!”
“I won’t! The price isn’t cute!”
Lilia noticed that the dress cost more than Marit’s entire monthly salary.
“Now that the budget is enough, Miss.”
But there was something she had forgotten.
“Oh, right. Marit, now that I’ve officially passed, I want to go see Father. Please take me to his hospital room.”
Lilia quickly slung her white bear-shaped bag over her shoulder and stood in front of the mirror.
“Alright. But something smells from your bag, Miss?”
Marit sniffed suspiciously at the bag.
“Huh?”
“It’s a bit strong… and like it hasn’t been washed for a month?”
Ah, she knew.
Ferrets have a distinct smell. Right now, Kiki was sleeping quietly inside Lilia’s bag.
He slept more than ten hours a day.
“Ah, that’s because I put jerky in the bag yesterday!”
Lilia tried to make an excuse, but Marit quickly took the entire bag.
“Whoa?”
“I’ll have Yupi wash it properly, Miss.”
“Nooo!”
Lilia hopped toward the bag, stretching out her tiny arms.
Marit scolded her firmly.
“Miss Lilia, you’re a child who doesn’t throw tantrums, right?”
“Yes… ah, I don’t know. Well… I have to confess, there’s something in my bag.”
“You mean the ferret doll you mentioned before?”
Marit reached inside the bag and immediately shouted at the soft, squishy feeling.
“Kyaaah!”
There was a small commotion caused by Kiki, disturbed from his nap, and Marit being startled by the sudden wild animal.
But everything was quickly resolved.
Marit could have objected to keeping Kiki…
“At the main estate, no one plays with me. Kiki is my only friend…”
Perhaps Lilia’s pitiful act worked?
Fortunately, Marit only seemed slightly surprised and allowed it.
Thanks to this, Lilia could take Kiki with her whenever she went out, holding Yupi’s hand.
They promised to bathe him once a week and always keep him on a leash outside.
For now, he was still in the basket because no special carrier had been made yet.
“Miss, we’ve already arrived.”
The hospital room was closer than when they lived in the East Wing.
“Wow, that was fast. I’ll go meet Father right away.”
“Alright, Miss. I’ll stay and talk with the gardener for a while. I’ll come to meet you at the hospital later, so go ahead.”
“Okay, see you later.”
Waving to Yupi, Lilia stepped toward the building.
Someone was approaching.
“…!”
It was Clara, walking toward her with her head held high.
“Lilia? What are you doing here?”
“Hmm? Oh, hi, sister. Can’t you tell? I’m visiting Father in the hospital. What about you?”
“I’m here on Father’s errand.”
Lilia had heard that Osdel had been staying in the Imperial City for several months, leaving the main estate.
‘Has he returned already? That could be a big problem…’
Osdel was the most dangerous character in the story.
He was cunning and smart, willing to use anything to gain power. As the eldest son of Roberk, he held the most influence among the three siblings.
Even though the main story hadn’t started, he might be planning to kidnap Adrian.
And he could be plotting some scheme to take over the family, so if he returned, Lilia couldn’t relax at all.
Her mouth felt dry with tension.
Still, she asked Clara casually, as if nothing was wrong.
“Errand?”
“Honestly, I’m so annoyed. I have to run an errand to visit your father in the hospital?”
“What do you mean?”
“Amy, give it here quickly.”
Through Clara’s maid, Amy, she handed over a box about the length of an arm.
“What’s this?”
“How would I know? It’s a gift wishing your father a speedy recovery! Anyway, I’ll be off… oh wait, never mind!”
Clara turned around, her eyes narrowing at Lilia.
“What did you do?”
Lilia tilted her head, not understanding.
“Do what?”
Clara stomped her foot in frustration.
“How… how did you activate the Metal Attribute?”
Clara had already heard the news.
“….”
“Getting your own palace doesn’t mean you’ve become special! Don’t be ridiculous. It was probably just Grandfather’s whim. It happened before too.”
Clara’s face was full of jealousy.
“What happened before?”
“There was a rare attribute heir in a side branch. They got a private palace at first too, but it was revoked after two months. They couldn’t prove their power!”
Clara’s reason for saying this was clear.
She wanted to scare Lilia.
But Lilia answered calmly, showing no worry.
“Two months, huh? Grandfather was generous then. But why do you care?”
“Wh-what? Don’t you feel any urgency?”
“Nope. I believe in myself more than anyone. Thanks for worrying, Clara.”
Lilia smiled brightly, and Clara frowned, unable to control her expression.
“Hmph, we’ll see how long you can act so confident, Lilia.”
Clara glared at Lilia after her harsh words.
Then, a rustling sound came from Lilia’s quiet basket.
Kiki had woken up, disturbed by the noise. Lilia perked up her ears, an idea forming.
“A mouse! I think there’s a mouse!”
“What? W-what? A mouse?”
Clara’s face turned pale, and she crossed her arms.
“Hmm. What should we do?”
“I don’t know! Step aside!”
Clara hurried away with her maid.
Lilia laughed softly, opened the basket, and saw Kiki blinking sleepily.
He yawned widely, stretching.
But what had Osdel given Father?
Lilia looked at the object Clara had delivered and thought,
‘Something about this feels off.’
