Chapter 23

Chapter 24

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: Second Eclipse (1)

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The moment I had the gut feeling that I was screwed, cold sweat began pouring down my entire body.

'You're kidding, right? ...How much is left?'

I focused my mana to check the remaining amount.

There was still a ton of emotion left to recover.

My vision blurred for a moment.

I let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out a silent sigh and looked down at the soundly sleeping Ruena.

Here I was, suffering through the rest of this sweltering summer night without sleep, drenched in sweat,

while the person responsible was peacefully snoring away. It was infuriating for no reason.

Tsk, I clicked my tongue and lightly pinched her nose.

'What is she, some swan? So calm on the outside, but a storm raging within.'

I sighed and opened my bag.

I had prepared for something like this.

In case the toll wasn't enough, I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make up for it with material goods.

First, to make sure she wouldn't wake up, I dripped sleep-inducing incense onto the tip of her nose.

'Alright. Let's take them out one by one.'

I had scraped together everything valuable from home.

Jewels, gold bars, magic stones, and

even the paintings my sister Rapina had drawn for me.

'...If they find out, I'm dead.'

House Noir hates having their things taken more than anything.

I didn't want to die, so I had to pay the toll with my own stuff as much as possible.

First, the brooch my late grandfather had given me.

A large sapphire resembling my own eyes,

encased in intricately wrought precious metal.

Honestly, if I sold it, I could buy a house after scraping together some more cash.

'This should be enough...'

Swallowing my resentment at losing my own possession, I placed it in Ruena's hand.

The sapphire, which had shone brilliantly,

gradually lost its luster and value, bit by bit.

It was subtle enough that only someone from House Noir would notice... but to me, the drop in worth was painfully clear.

'That should do it... Wait, still so much left?'

My vision blurred again.

I'd honestly thought that would be enough.

But even after checking again, there was still emotion left to recover.

'No way... Am I going to lose everything?'

I sighed and rummaged through my bag again.

My hard-earned emergency funds,

the magic stone I'd stolen from a bear,

the expensive jewelry box that had held the brooch.

And... the weird painting my sister Rapina had drawn for me.

I took them out one by one in order and placed them around the sleeping Ruena.

'This... looks kind of like a summoning circle...'

The bizarre arrangement didn't even make me laugh.

I could clearly see the value draining from my items, and it hurt.

And even after paying all this toll, there was still emotion left.

"Haa, God..."

In this bleak situation, I ran a hand over my face.

I had zero faith, but when my wallet got emptied, I found myself calling on the divine.

Normally, I'd stop here,

take back the items I'd given, and repeat the process to pay the toll again...

But that could tangle up Ruena's emotions in unpredictable ways.

So I had to steal it all at once, as much as possible.

Even if it might kill me later—after all, we'd grown somewhat attached over time.

I didn't want to see her break because of me.

'Plus... if something happens to her, the Grand Duke might kill me.'

Does this family specialize in keeping things bottled up inside?

The Grand Duke seemed so cold and indifferent on the outside,

but inside, it was a mess of unavoidable affection and worry for Ruena.

Every time I read his mind, it was 'Ruena', 'Ruena', 'Ruena'.

And occasionally 'Bella', 'Bella', 'Bella'.

I heard those names so often that now just seeing the Grand Duke's face brought them to mind.

"...Hah."

If I'd known it'd come to this, I should've clung to my sister Rapina for a few more paintings.

Or snuck out Little Brother's useless collection.

'Damn... I'm really going to lose everything at this rate.'

In the end, I dumped every single item I'd brought around Ruena.

And the result was—

"...I'm not playing with you for a while. Oh, wait, you can't play anyway."

I steeled myself for a scolding from the family

and laid out the expensive valuables I'd snuck from home one after another.

Just as the bottom of my bag started to show—

'...It's done.'

Finally, I'd stolen all of Ruena's emotions.

With the tension released, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Looking at the pile of items on Ruena's bed, I could only sigh.

Meanwhile, Ruena was still sleeping soundly, breathing softly.

As if nothing had happened, peacefully.

It was natural since I'd used sleep incense, but it still pissed me off somehow.

I clutched my throbbing forehead and let out a wry smile.

'Still... thank goodness I stole it all.'

I stood up and pinched Ruena's nose again.

Resentment welled up, but relief outweighed it.

Now, the foundation for Ruena to gain her unique ability was set.

I gathered the scattered items from the bed and shoved them into my bag.

I didn't know what excuses I'd have to make when I got home, but I'd kneel, beg, and insist this was the best option.

The bed, which had looked like an altar piled high with offerings just moments ago, was now neat and tidy.

I checked on the deeply sleeping Ruena

and gently pulled the blanket up to her chest one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠last time.

'Can't have you catching a cold.'

I opened the window and slipped outside.

This was my second infiltration, so the garden layout was etched in my mind even with my eyes closed.

'Make sure you get it. A unique ability.'

Gazing back at the receding Eliad mansion, I hoped my choice hadn't been wrong.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A week passed since then.

As expected, I was banned from entering the Eliad mansion.

She was busy trying to gain her unique ability, after all.

I had no idea what was happening inside the mansion, but whatever it was, I hoped it went well.

The real problem was...

'I'm bored.'

Maybe because going in and out of the Eliad mansion had become routine.

With my visits suddenly cut off, the days felt strangely long.

To kill time, I read our ancestor's ancient tomes,

trained to increase my pitiful mana even a little,

and even baked desserts to give Ruena later.

'Only this much time has passed?'

I thought it'd be evening at least, but the sun was still blazing high.

I sighed and looked down at the counter.

Macarons,

egg tarts,

puddings in various flavors, lined up in a row.

'What do I do with all this?'

As I pondered, my sister Rapina walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, sis. Want some?"

"...Ugh. No thanks. I'm sick of them for a while."

"Sick of them?"

I tilted my head, and then my little sister came in.

"Hey, Trisha. How about..."

"No."

...That was too quick.

She didn't even look and just walked right past.

They used to fight over them like crazy, so had they all developed a dessert allergy in the meantime?

'Should I dump them on Little Brother for wooing girls? ...Or share with the servants?'

For now, I gathered them up and headed outside.

Butler,

maids,

gardeners and stablehands, etc.

Fortunately, the servants gladly took them all.

Before I knew it, only one egg tart remained in my hand.

Just then, a familiar face appeared a short distance away.

"Head Chef!"

"Let me see, that voice... It's the fourth young master."

"Yeah. You recognized me just from my voice."

"Heh heh, how could I not know the young master's voice."

The Head Chef continued with his usual warm smile.

"Besides, I'm no longer worthy of being called Head Chef. My eyes are failing with age, and I can't even hold a kitchen tool properly..."

"You were still our house's Head Chef until just recently."

This grandfather, covered in white hair and wrinkles,

had been in charge of our family's table until not long ago.

But—

his health had rapidly declined due to old age,

forcing him to completely step away from kitchen duties.

His eyes barely worked,

his hands and feet trembled,

and he couldn't even stand for long.

I carefully eyed the Head Chef, whose gaze was oddly misaligned, and opened my mouth.

"Are you... really leaving the mansion?"

"I have to. It's only right to retire before I cause more trouble."

"Trouble? No one thinks that."

"Heh heh, yes, I know. But... I've long dreamed of retiring to the countryside and watching my grandchildren play."

"...I see."

I handed the Head Chef the last egg tart.

I'd made it following the recipe he'd taught me.

Maybe because it contained his decades of expertise.

I still hadn't tasted an egg tart better than this one.

The Head Chef took a big bite.

"How is it?"

"Splendid. Much better than mine."

"Come on, that's not true."

The Head Chef laughed heartily, his throat visible.

Then he gazed at the egg tart with a wistful expression.

"It's not about the taste. The fact that you, young master, are carrying on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my recipe is far more precious."

"...Yeah?"

"Yes. To be honest... I'm quite regretful."

The Head Chef sighed and continued.

"Leaving the kitchen is one thing, but above all, I couldn't properly pass on my secrets to the kitchen staff."

"True. Your health declined so suddenly."

"Yes. That's truly regrettable."

The Head Chef gave a bitter smile as he said that.

The moment I saw that smile,

I decided what to steal under the full moon to come.