Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Breakfast
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As Mei finished preparing the bath and came out, the fireplace was roaring to life.
Elbadin handed Lucillea to Mei and said,
“Ask Ireban for some medicine. He'll give you something to prevent a cold.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He glanced at Lucillea for a moment, then turned and left the room.
As the door closed, Mei quickly helped Lucillea into the warm bathtub.
“You must have been so cold.”
“No, thanks to His Highness the Grand Duke, I wasn't that cold.”
I realized then how surprisingly comforting a person's body heat could be.
And that even the cold and aloof Elbadin was, in the end, just another person with warm blood running through his veins.
After soaking in the hot water Mei had prepared, the chill that had settled into my body finally subsided.
In the meantime, my few belongings and the birdcage Cookie was hiding in had been moved.
Lucillea changed into sun-scented pajamas, dried her hair, and stared blankly at the flames roaring in the fireplace.
*Have I been seeing him in too harsh a light?*
My opinion that Elbadin was ill-tempered, cold, and had a vexing way of speaking hadn't changed.
*Then again, the very fact that he brought me, a girl of unknown origin, to the grand duchy must mean he isn't a bad person.*
Perhaps I'd been prejudiced against him simply because he was the villainess's biological father in the original story.
Just then, Mei approached and led Lucillea to the bed.
It was well past midnight.
“Are you feeling chilly at all?”
“No, I'm warm.”
Mei tucked Lucillea into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.
“That's a relief. I was worried, since this room has been vacant for quite some time.”
Lucillea looked around the room and asked,
“There are more books here than in my old room.”
Mei smiled and replied,
“Ah, that's because this was the room His Highness the Grand Duke used when he was the heir.”
“Huh? This room?”
“Yes.”
She explained that a young Elbadin, heir to the grand duchy, had used this room back before the Guardian and Elite Corps existed.
“He mostly used it when he wanted to read in peace. After the Elite Corps was formed, it became a room for its chosen members.”
“I see...”
Lucillea scanned the room once more.
While it couldn't compare to the library, every bookshelf was packed with books that showed signs of having been handled.
“Don't tell me he read all of these?”
“No.”
“Right? I knew it. There's no way he read all of th—”
“From what I've heard, he memorized them all.”
“...Huh?”
All these books... he memorized them?
Astonished, Lucillea's lips parted slightly.
*Why are the stats of a minor character, one who barely even appeared in the original story, so ridiculously high?*
And that wasn't all. He was an Aura Master, tall and strikingly handsome, with power and wealth that even the imperial family couldn't treat lightly.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
At this point, who's the main character?
In any other novel, his abilities would have been more than enough to make him the protagonist.
*He's... kind of amazing, isn't he?*
Just as Lucillea was re-evaluating her biological father, Mei spoke to her again.
“This time, you're really off to dreamland.”
“Okay, for real! I'll really go to sleep quietly this time!”
Walking toward the door, Mei looked back at Lucillea and smiled gently.
“Yes, sweet dreams.”
“You too, Mei!”
Mei left, and the door closed.
Alone again, Lucillea let out a soft sigh and noticed the birdcage against one wall.
It was the one Cookie had hidden in.
*Cookie.*
[...]
*Cooookie?*
[...]
Whether he had actually fallen asleep, Cookie didn't answer.
*Geez. He must be exhausted.*
Then again, while I was busy carrying water, Cookie's beak was just as busy shouting and squawking.
Lucillea glanced at the dozing Cookie, chuckled, and turned toward the window.
It went without saying, but being a new bedroom, the curtains were also intact.
Looking at them, the events from her previous bedroom came flooding back.
*Something feels... off.*
I had succeeded in drawing out my magic, but something was bothering me.
I just couldn't figure out what it was.
*Still, I think I have a feel for how to move my magic and how to bring it out now.*
I had promised Mei I would sleep quietly this time, so I had no intention of drawing out my magic again.
But Lucillea could feel it.
She had taken another step forward.
And.
*Next time, I should practice somewhere safe.*
That obvious realization came along with it.
The moonlight, which had been hiding behind the clouds, peeked out.
Soft moonlight streamed through the window, settling on Lucillea's face, and as she watched it, her eyelids slowly grew heavy.
Another hectic day drew to a close.
***
“Today's breakfast is tenderloin steak! Perfect, right? Growing teenagers need to eat lots of protein.”
*Hehe,* Lucillea's eyes crinkled as she smiled.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Serdian's blunt voice shot toward Lucillea. He had just finished his dawn physical training and entered the dining hall, only to find her already seated. His gaze questioned the entire situation.
In response to Serdian's blatant cold shoulder, Lucillea beamed even more brightly.
“What do you mean? I'm saying we should have breakfast together. I heard you were training since dawn. You must be hungry. Come on, don't be shy, go ahead and eat. Out of all the food at the grand duchy, I think this stew is the best. The lamb is so tender. Lamb is a great source of protein, too!”
Lucillea lifted herself slightly from her chair and pushed a plate of stew toward Serdian.
His brow deeply furrowed, Serdian glanced at his aide, Jed.
But Jed could only shake his head, his expression clearly showing he hadn't anticipated this either.
Looking delighted, Lucillea smiled brightly as she slathered strawberry jam on a piece of bread she had torn in half.
“Have you tried this strawberry jam? The chef makes it himself. It's so good on bread with a glass of milk. It's even richer with butter. Mei told me to try it.”
*Chomp.* After taking a big bite of bread, chewing a few times, and swallowing, Lucillea didn't forget Cookie.
She pushed a plate of fresh fruit in front of Cookie and said,
“Here, you eat up too, Cookie.”
*What's so great about reversing my fate? As long as I can eat my fill and sleep in a warm place, that's all that matters!*
*Screech!* Cookie bobbed his head and picked up a piece of fruit with one foot.
“...”
Lucillea was inhaling her food as if she hadn't eaten in days, and beside her, a parrot was eating just like its owner, its yellow beak smeared with all sorts of fruit juice and pulp.
Serdian, who had been watching this scene with a dumbfounded expression, asked bluntly,
“What's your objective?”
*Huh?* Unaware of the strawberry jam smeared on her lips, Lucillea looked at Serdian with bright, clear eyes.
“Objective? If you're asking why I'm in the dining hall, what other reason is there besides filling my stomach?”
*What are you doing? Hurry up and eat.* Lucillea gestured for him to eat, but Serdian just crossed his arms and said,
“Why the East Annex dining hall, of all places? There are dining halls in the West Annex and the main building too.”
“I know.”
Nodding a couple of times, Lucillea scooped up a spoonful of stew and continued,
“But you're not in those dining halls.”
“...”
*Crease.* Serdian's brow furrowed sharply.