Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Visitor
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The next day.
After finishing her morning lesson, Lucillea took the hand of Mei, who was waiting outside the training grounds, and headed for her bedroom.
-“I’ll give you a gift during our next lesson.”
-“I’ll give you a gift during our next lesson.”
-“I’ll give you a gift during our next lesson.”
Her steps were full of energy as she walked down the corridor on her way back to the bedroom.
Mei asked.
“You must have enjoyed your lesson. You seem to be in a very good mood.”
Lucillea nodded eagerly and replied, “Yes, yes!”
“It’s so much fun learning everything, one by one!”
Then, she stretched out her hand and summoned her magic.
Flicker. A small flame blossomed from her index finger, then freely grew and shrank in size.
“How’s this! How’s this?!”
Wow! Mei clapped her hands, clap, clap, and gave a thumbs-up with both hands.
Feeling smug, Lucillea laughed, ehehe, and lifted her chin.
‘Something like this is a piece of cake now!’
Today, too, Lucillea told Mei all about her lesson after it was over.
Though it could have been tiresome, Mei listened with what seemed to be genuine interest.
“My master praised me a lot, too, saying I’m a fast learner, you know?”
“So that’s why you were in such a good mood?”
“Yep! He said he’s giving me a gift next lesson!”
“A gift?”
“Yes! Yes!”
A gift.
It was already the second gift she’d received since coming to the grand duke’s residence.
It felt different from the kind of support given just because she was a chosen child.
‘A gift prepared solely for me...’
The lollipop she had received from Mei was still sitting untouched in her drawer.
Sometimes, as she lay in bed, a sweet scent would drift out, making her heart flutter for no reason.
‘I’m happy.’
The word ‘happiness,’ which had never once crossed her mind in Mille Village, came to her easily here in the grand duke’s residence.
‘I wish things could just stay peaceful like this.’
Of course, she still hadn’t won Serdian’s heart.
‘But that’s just a matter of time.’
There’s no male lead who won’t fall after the tenth try!
With Serdian on her mind, Lucillea asked Mei.
“Is Serdian having lunch in his room again?”
Mei gave a troubled, bitter smile.
“Yes... He said he’ll be dining alone in his room for the time being...”
“Tch...”
Lucillea clicked her tongue, her face showing her disappointment.
‘It’s so damn hard to have a single meal with the male lead.’
Just then, Mei spoke.
“However, I believe he’ll be using the dining hall for dinner.”
Ooh?! Lucillea’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
“Why? Why, why?”
“His aide, Sir Jed, has been ordered by His Highness to attend Marquis Belgar’s funeral.”
Huh? A funeral?
‘Wait a minute.’
Marquis Belgar? I’ve heard that name somewhere before, but where?
She tilted her head this way and that, but nothing came to mind.
‘He must be someone important to the Grand Ducal family, seeing as they’re sending the Young Lord’s own aide.’
Anyway, since his aide won’t be there to bring his meals to his room, he’ll have to come to the dining hall. Is that it?
Hehe. Lucillea let out a sly laugh and said.
“Mei. I’ll be having dinner at the East Annex dining hall tonight, too!”
Just you wait, male lead! This big sister is coming to make her tenth attempt!
As Lucillea’s eyes twinkled and she clenched her fists, Mei smiled brightly.
“Yes, I’ll prepare for that.”
“Okay!” Lucillea beamed.
“Then I’ll go to my room and read the books I borrowed until dinnertime.”
Lucillea had been visiting the library in her spare time to borrow and read books about magic, and a pile of them she hadn't finished yet was currently stacked on her desk.
“Yes, I’ll prepare some refreshments for you.”
“Kuh! Sounds great! Oh, and please bring some fruit for Cookie, too.”
“Of course.”
Then, on a whim, Lucillea reached out and patted Mei’s forearm.
“And after that, you should go take care of your own work, Mei.”
“Pardon?”
“You must have a lot of work you couldn’t get to because you were always following me around.”
“But staying by your side is my job, Lady Lucillea?”
“I know a maid’s work is never-ending. Besides, what kind of danger could there be inside the grand duke’s residence? If anything, I’m probably the most dangerous being in this place.”
*Was there any other chosen child who almost burned down the grand duke’s residence?* she mentally retorted.
“And no one has tried to pick a fight with me since the first day.”
“That’s because I—”
Mei opened her mouth, then closed it again without a word.
She couldn't say that no one had bothered Lucillea because she had been constantly by her side.
Mei looked at Lucillea, her eyes filled with bewilderment.
‘But why is she suddenly trying to send me away?’
Could it be she has another motive?! Is she finally about to reveal her true nature?!
Just then, Lucillea looked at Mei with clear eyes and asked.
“Or is there some other reason you have to stick with me all the time?”
The question was turned back on her.
Feeling a prick of guilt, Mei did her best to hide her fluster and quickly replied.
“What? No? Another reason? What other reason could I have besides protecting you, Lady Lucillea?”
Mei flashed her signature kind smile.
“Then that settles it. The grand duke’s residence is safer than anywhere else, I’ll be quietly reading in my room, and you can go catch up on your work. Right?”
“That’s true, but...”
“I’ll call you if I need you, so don’t worry too much.”
“...”
Unaware of Mei’s inner turmoil, Lucillea smiled brightly.
Then, she happened to spot a carriage entering through the main gate of the residence from a hallway window.
“Oh?”
Lucillea paused her steps and pressed against the window to watch the carriage.
“Looks like we have a visitor.”
Mei also looked out at the carriage, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Ah, that’s a carriage from the temple...?”
“The temple?”
Hearing that it was a temple carriage, Lucillea tilted her head.
“It’s so big and ornate.”
The carriage, painted white overall with gold trim, was incredibly lavish and grand.
It wouldn’t have seemed out of place even if the emperor himself, rather than a priest or a high priest, were riding in it.
“The temple must make a lot of money. This carriage is like a palace.”
“Haha... I suppose so.”
Mei gave an awkward laugh at Lucillea’s comment.
“But why are they here from the temple?”
“I’m not sure. As far as I know, there was no advance notice. Shall I go and find out?”
“Huh? No, it’s fine. I wasn’t that curious. They probably had an appointment with the Grand Duke.”
Lucillea stopped Mei, who looked ready to run off at once, and glanced back at the carriage outside.
A moment later, a high priest dressed in pure white vestments stepped out of the carriage, followed by two more priests.
Lucillea tilted her head and furrowed her brow.
‘That’s strange.’
The original novel definitely said that the relationship between the Grand Ducal House of Descartes and the temple was poor.
‘That’s why they didn’t even try to stop Serdian or mediate when he later attacked the Grand Ducal House.’
For the temple to come directly to the grand ducal residence like this...
Lucillea felt a sudden unease.
It was the same kind of anxiety she felt whenever a detail she didn’t know from the novel popped up.
‘Just why would a high priest visit the grand ducal residence?’
Could it be that they’ve already joined hands with the imperial family and have come to spy on the grand ducal house?
‘This is... I can’t exactly tell the Grand Duke to stay away from the temple because they’re going to betray him in the distant future.’
She had told Mei she wasn’t that curious, but in truth, she was dying to know what the high priest and Elbadin would talk about.
Then, an idea struck her.
‘That’s right, I have Cookie!’
Remembering Cookie, who was probably napping in her room, Lucillea hurried back with Mei.
As soon as they reached the bedroom, Lucillea sent Mei away.
“See you later, Mei!”
“...Yes. ...Please call me if you need anything. You must.”
“Okay!”
As if reluctant to leave, Mei looked back several times before finally exiting the room.
After confirming that Mei’s footsteps had faded away, Lucillea woke up Cookie, who had been enjoying a nap.
“Cookie, wake up. This is no time for sleeping.”
Uung...? Lying sprawled out on the windowsill like a corpse, Cookie blinked its eyes open slowly.
[Hwaaaahm—! Lucy, you’re back...?]
Lucillea moved Cookie, who was yawning with its beak wide open, onto her finger, then walked to the window and opened it.
Then, she met Cookie’s eyes and said with a solemn expression.
“Cookie, look into my eyes.”
[Wh-what’s with you...?!)
“The time has come.”
[Time?]
“It’s time for you to show off how clever you are.”
At that, Cookie’s eyes, which had been dazed with sleep, instantly sparkled.
[My cleverness?! Finally! Is it my time to shine?!]
“That’s right. You remember what we always used to do in Mille Village, right?”
Fufufu. In response to Lucillea’s question, Cookie let out a sly laugh.
[Of course!]