Chapter 37
Now, I felt like I finally understood her real intention.
“Could it be… she doubts my power?”
It would be bad if she discovered my power before I even did anything.
If things went wrong, I’d have to ask Kiki, who was hiding in my bag, for help.
“Oh, it’s nothing special. I’m just summoning a key,” Lilia said, raising her eyebrows.
Bellita whispered in her ear.
“I see… a key. I wonder if that’s really all it is. If it’s really just summoning a key, is that kind of magic really worth anything? Or… does it have some other power?”
Lilia’s face stiffened in surprise for a moment but relaxed again.
“I… I don’t know. Right now, I really am just summoning a key.”
Bellita chuckled.
“Well, if that ability is real, I’ll find out in time. By the way, Lilia? My secretary has been careless. It’s lucky the budget issue got resolved, isn’t it?”
Bellita smiled brightly and lightly tapped a rose on top of Lilia’s head as if playing around.
“But you know… people who wag their tongues carelessly end up useless. I don’t know who told Emmet about that, but it caused your aunt a bit of trouble. Could you watch your tongue a little…? Even if you’re young and grew up without a mother, you are, after all, a direct descendant of the Roberk family, aren’t you?”
This woman wasn’t even funny. She was teasing and threatening me at the same time.
She had a talent for making people feel horrible.
Lilia clenched her tiny, acorn-like fists tightly.
“……”
Bellita tossed the rose to the floor and turned to leave, as if her business here was done.
‘Hold it in for now, Lilia.’
I’d wait and endure it for the sake of revenge later.
“Oh, Auntie.”
“…Hm?”
Lilia smiled brightly at Bellita, who had turned her back unconsciously.
“Next time, please introduce me to your boutique in the city.”
I need to check it out in advance, so I can steal or ruin it if necessary.
Yesterday, before rushing to Clasid, I had hidden while watching Bellita speak with Conrad.
I didn’t hear everything they said, but Kiki picked up a business card with Bellita’s boutique name from the floor of the reception room.
There must be more that Bellita is handling.
To understand the Roberk family more deeply, I had to wait for the family council.
The Roberk family holds a family council twice a year, in spring and autumn.
This year, it hadn’t been held yet, even though summer was approaching.
It seemed to have been postponed because Clasid was still in bed.
Once Clasid regained his strength, Grandpa would surely hold the council.
Of course, even if young Lilia attended, she wouldn’t have a voice.
Now that my relationship with Clasid was distant, I might not even be allowed to attend.
The family council wasn’t a friendly gathering, as its name might suggest.
Including direct and collateral relatives, the number exceeded a hundred, making it bigger than most noble family gatherings.
They discussed major matters of the duke’s house, the distribution of lands and businesses, and even evaluated who would manage which business and how it was running.
Later, when Osdel took over the family and became head, the first thing he did was hold a council to take all the wealth and replace the key people.
‘Maybe I can get some information there. And meet other heirs too.’
The family council wasn’t only an adult battlefield.
Children also competed to be recognized as promising heirs, showing off their magic and trying to put others down.
Children of powerful families naturally stand out.
I could gauge who held real power in the Roberk family.
Until now, the youngest prince, Clasid, had been excluded from family business for various reasons.
‘But… if nothing is done, it will collapse.’
The direct descendants now held most of Roberk’s major businesses.
And the collateral relatives, working under them, held lands, businesses, and valuable resources.
If left as is, it would lead Roberk to ruin.
Having read the original story, I knew who would ruin it, what was right and wrong, and who to ally with.
I couldn’t miss such an important opportunity.
“First, I need to meet Grandpa…”
Dodo-do-do.
Lilia crouched and waited in front of Grandpa’s study.
‘He hasn’t returned from Dad’s hospital room yet.’
Some assistants came and told her to wait inside, but Lilia stubbornly chose to wait outside.
A few minutes passed.
Thudding footsteps.
Heavy, ragged breathing.
I instinctively knew.
‘He’s here.’
Soon, a strong figure appeared, shoulders covered with blue epaulets and a white shawl.
It was Grandpa.
But he didn’t see me and went straight inside.
“…Ah.”
Startled, Lilia stood up and looked up. Emmet, following Grandpa, noticed her and approached.
“Miss Lilia?”
“I came to see Grandpa.”
As she fidgeted with her hands, before Emmet could answer, Duke Roberk turned back and approached. His crimson eyes gazed indifferently downward.
In the wide hallway, the small child standing beside a statue seemed unusually tiny.
“…Since when have you been there? Hah, I didn’t even notice because you were so small.”
The Duke seemed intent on noticing even the smallest things.
“G-Good day, Grandpa.”
Lilia bowed politely from her waist.
“Ah, you were the first to see Clasid wake up, right?”
“Yes… y-yes.”
“When exactly was that? Why did you delay telling me immediately?”
“…W-Well, Grandpa.”
As she hesitated to speak, the Duke’s eyes revealed a trace of emotion.
“Grandpa… are you crying?”
“…Nonsense. If you have no particular business here, go back.”
Then Vladmir turned his back and went inside the study.
‘Grandpa isn’t truly angry right now. He’s expressing sorrow over his child’s illness in this harsh way.’
The iron-blooded Duke had lived many years, but was always rough and awkward in showing emotion.
Lilia hurried to follow Grandpa.
She saw his broad back in front of the study.
Usually imposing, today he looked small.
Emmet also stepped back a few paces and waited silently.
Exchanging a glance with Emmet, Lilia approached Grandpa from behind.
Noticing her presence, the Duke still stared far out the window and asked,
“…Why did you follow me?”
Startled by the sharp gaze, Lilia flinched slightly, but without fear, she opened her big eyes and spoke.
“You’re upset with me because you’re worried about Dad, right?”
Vladmir, who had been watching the small, round child, turned his gaze and cleared his throat.
“…Hah, how dare you assume someone’s feelings on your own.”
His scolding was still harsh, but the glance was gentler than before. Lilia smiled inwardly.
‘Ah, they’re really father and son. They try to hide their feelings, but I think I understand Grandpa’s heart.’
At that moment, Lilia felt something in her chest, a little spark again.
At the same time, her own voice echoed inside her mind.
⟨I think I understand Grandpa’s heart.⟩
‘Oh, this feels similar to before. Like when the Key of Authority gave a hint about a new key.’
I’ll check the book later.
For now, I have to deal with Grandpa in front of me.
