Chapter 36
Lilia made sure no one was around. Even after checking, she slipped into the bushes and hid herself.
Fwaaah!
She immediately summoned the key and the magic book. The book and the Key of Authority began to glow.
As soon as she opened it, words appeared.
[The target’s heart is firmly locked.
If the target’s heart opens, there is a possibility of discovering a new key.]
Lilia tilted her head.
“What does that even mean?”
It was good news that she might find another key, but she couldn’t simply be happy about it.
The only person she had met just now was her father, Clasid.
His heart was firmly locked…?
Why?
She had no idea.
Did something really happen on the battlefield during the monster subjugation?
“Or is there another reason I don’t know? Sniff… If I can’t even guess, it means I really don’t know much about Father.”
Lilia bit her lip.
Still, what the book had said bothered her.
If his heart opened, it wouldn’t mean she would definitely discover a new key—only that there would be a possibility?
So it wasn’t guaranteed.
It seemed harder than when she found the Key of Healing.
“Then is the next key related to a person’s heart?”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Kiki chirped, “Pip!”
‘Right now, my relationship with Father is the worst… How am I supposed to make him open his heart?’
Feeling lost, Lilia dismissed the key and walked softly into the Hall of Instinct.
“I need more information first.”
Her light green eyes rolled as she crossed the cloud bridge.
Then—
Someone suddenly appeared behind her and blocked her path.
“Well, well. Isn’t this our cute youngest niece?”
The gentle voice hid sharp thorns.
The strong scent of roses almost made her nose go numb.
It was someone she did not want to meet.
Her aunt, Belita.
Meanwhile, news that Clasid had awakened spread quickly through the duke’s castle. The servants ran around in a hurry.
One man rushed toward the meeting hall like the wind, wanting to inform the duke first.
Emmet Okims.
But when he stood before the large doors, he swallowed hard.
“Anyone who enters during a meeting should be ready to hand in their resignation.”
The duke always said that.
‘Well… quitting this time wouldn’t be so bad.’
Emmet tapped the document he carried against his chest and pushed the doors open.
Bang!
The doors burst open loudly.
The old retainers and Duke Roberk stared at Emmet as if he were insane.
“What is the meaning of this! I told you again and again not to interrupt!”
As the duke shouted angrily, Emmet walked forward step by step.
One hand hesitated over the document in his chest.
“I apologize for the interruption, Your Grace, but… Lord Clasid has finally awakened from his sickbed.”
“…!”
The duke suddenly stood up.
“Take me to him at once! The meeting is over.”
Leaving the murmuring retainers behind, the duke hurried out of the hall with Emmet.
“Clasid! You foolish boy! You couldn’t even defeat a single monster and ended up like this?”
Like a storm rushing in, Vladimir strode into the room and glared fiercely at his son.
Clasid simply looked at his father quietly.
“….”
“Just because your mana heart has a hole doesn’t mean you’ll die tomorrow! Don’t even think about dying!”
“…You haven’t changed, Father.”
He looked calm, as expressionless as ever.
As if he had no idea how worried everyone had been.
Vladimir walked up to him and hugged him tightly.
“You came back alive.”
“…Yes.”
“I am still searching for a way to cure your illness.”
“You don’t have to….”
“What did you say?”
“….”
“Are you trying to die before your own father? You unfilial brat!”
Vladimir cursed angrily.
“It’s useless. You already know that.”
At Clasid’s words, the old duke’s face darkened.
“Yes. While you were unconscious, I ran everywhere trying to save you.”
“….”
“But will you really leave that young child behind and die?”
“…I will send Lilia to her mother.”
“What?”
Vladimir asked in disbelief. Clasid looked up at him with dull, lonely eyes.
“It would be better than staying beside a father who will die soon.”
“Do you truly think that is what’s best for the child?”
“….”
Clasid could not answer.
“Think carefully. That child is not as soft as you believe a six-year-old to be.”
“Have you been strict with my daughter while I was gone?”
Vladimir turned away without answering.
At the door, he stopped and gave an order.
“Hah! A man who claims to cherish his child so much… Enough. Judging by your condition, one week of rest will be sufficient. Return to work in a week.”
“That is my plan.”
After hearing his reply, Vladimir left the room swiftly.
“…Hello, Aunt Belita.”
For now, it was better to hide her hostility.
Lilia stood tense but greeted her politely as if nothing was wrong.
Belita brushed her long hair back and stepped closer proudly.
“I heard Clasid has woken up. Will you guide me there?”
Lilia had no intention of walking alone with her aunt.
“Ah! I’ve already been there. I just saw Grandfather heading to the room.”
Lilia spoke clearly with an innocent face.
Belita bent down and pressed a hand onto Lilia’s small shoulder.
“How rude… Why? Do you hate going with me that much?”
Her twisted lips and eyes full of contempt.
What was her goal?
She surely didn’t truly want to go together.
Just then, Head Maid Anna and other servants were passing by.
“S-Sniff… A-Aunt, are you angry? Then maybe tomorrow? Father said he wants to rest quietly today.”
Lilia deliberately trembled as if frightened.
She felt more eyes turning toward them.
Belita, aware of the attention, softened her voice.
“Really? That’s strange. Weren’t you two very close?”
“….”
She noticed that?
Her instincts were sharp at times like this.
“Yes, of course we are.”
As soon as the servants passed, Belita smiled.
“Lilia, I heard you awakened a metal attribute this time. Show it to me. Won’t you?”
She leaned in close.
At that moment, red flower petals fell from her hand.
Her attribute was controlling roses—the queen of flowers.
‘She wouldn’t try to bind me with magic here… right?’
