Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Paltry, but Impressive
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Grand Duke Elbadin Descartes.
He was nothing more than an extra in the original story, a character with a minor role.
He rarely had any scenes of his own, and his dialogue and related descriptions were practically nonexistent.
After all, the villainess's biological father wasn't a particularly important figure in the original story.
Nevertheless, Lucillea remembered him clearly.
Because Elbadin Descartes was her biological father.
Lucillea and Elbadin stared at each other in silence.
Elbadin didn't respond to Lucillea's brief greeting.
Instead, he had his knights drag her out of the luggage cart.
“W-Wait a minute! Let's be civilized and talk this out—!”
Lucillea's suggestion to resolve things with a conversation was casually ignored, and she was unceremoniously lifted and placed squarely before Elbadin.
*Whoosh*. A cold winter wind swept by, rustling the hem of Lucillea's old, shabby clothes.
Lucillea, who had squeezed her eyes shut against the sharp wind, slowly opened them again. Her gaze met a pair of red eyes that seemed to bore into her face.
Ah…
*...So that's what he looks like.*
Jet-black hair that shimmered, reflecting the sunlight, and striking red eyes set between long, sharp-lined eyes.
Those red eyes were less like a blazing fire that threatened to burn everything and more like blood freezing on a sheet of ice.
The sense of intimidation was overwhelming.
*Just as I expected.*
She felt no special or fond emotions just because he was her biological father.
*Whether it's my biological father or my adoptive one, I have nothing but bad memories of them—too many to even bother listing.*
But it didn't matter.
Lucillea's goal wasn't to mend her relationship with her father, anyway.
*I'll get chosen by the Elite Corps, enter the Grand Duke's household, and receive support until I come of age.*
That way, after my coming-of-age ceremony, I can leave the ducal house and live my life freely, which is great for me. And the male lead, Serdian, won't be kicked out of the family, which is also great.
*If Serdian isn't kicked out, I won't become his number one target for revenge, which is even better for me.*
So, until then, I'll hide my identity and survive by laying as low as possible for as long as possible.
Just then, Elbadin asked.
“Who sent you?”
Huh…?
*Who sent me...?*
The expressions on Elbadin and Riat, who stood beside him, were dead serious.
No, it was beyond serious—it was downright menacing.
Judging by the atmosphere, it felt like her head would roll before she even set foot in the grand ducal residence.
Sensing the threat instinctively, Lucillea quickly opened her mouth.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I wasn't sent by anyone—”
Before Lucillea could finish, Elbadin's gaze grew even sharper. Riat already had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
*Clink.* As Riat drew the blade about a finger's length from its sheath, a panicked Lucillea hurriedly added.
“MynameisLucillea!Ijusthadmyseventhbirthdayamonthago!IswearnoonesentmeIcameonmyownbecauseIwanttolive!Tosurvive!I'llbeamaidanythingpleasejusttakemewithyoutothegrandducalresidence!Please!”
*Pant, pant, pant.*
Having blurted out the words without taking a breath, Lucillea, her face flushed, finally caught her breath.
*Shing.* Riat, sheathing his sword again, raised an eyebrow.
“Seven years old?”
“Yes!”
Lucillea stated her age as one year younger than her actual age of eight.
*Since I've decided to hide my identity, I can't just tell them my real age.*
The people in Mille Village don't know my exact age anyway.
At the mention of seven, Riat stroked his chin and nodded as he looked at Lucillea.
Since Lucillea's build was much smaller than other children her age, he didn't seem to doubt her claim.
However, Riat didn't let his guard down. He figured a little intimidation was necessary to get to the truth.
Riat gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and snapped sharply.
“You snuck into the Grand Duke's carriage just because you wanted to live? Did you think we would pity you and spare your life if you said that?”
*Shriing*. The smooth blade slid out of Riat's sheath once more.
“W-Wait a minute!”
Lucillea quickly pulled her scrawny hand out from under her cloak and held it open before Elbadin and Riat.
“Please look at this!”
The two men's gazes shifted to the child's small palm.
With a sharp intake of breath, Lucillea furrowed her brow intensely.
Then, Lucillea also stared intently at her own palm.
*Alright, it's time to show them!*
Come on, please.
Show yourself, just like when I was secretly practicing in the cabin!
Lucillea gathered all the strength in her body and focused it on her palm.
*Hnng, ugh. Hmph!*
Her palm, stretched out so wide it turned pale, trembled.
*Come on, hurry! You have to appear if I'm going to survive this!*
Her toes curled inside her unseen shoes, and her lips were pressed so tightly together it was as if she begrudged the effort of breathing, her mouth taut with strain.
It felt as if all the heat in her body was gathering at the crown of her head, and soon, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.
*Aargh! At this rate, my head is going to explode before I can even show them my magic!*
After her memories returned, Lucillea had realized she had magic within her body.
This was because she recalled the original story's description of her possessing a faint amount of magic.
The problem was that Lucillea had no idea how to control this thing called magic.
*Maybe it's thanks to the plot point of being born with magic, but I had no trouble sensing it and circulating it through my body...*
But bringing that magic outside her body was another matter entirely.
*The original story never explained how to use magic!*
The only time she'd succeeded was by accident a week ago, while secretly practicing in a cabin in the mountains.
There was no one to teach her and no books to reference.
It was truly a case of trying to build something from scratch.
*The protagonists in other novels could always figure it out on their own.*
Ah, right.
*I'm not the protagonist.*
A few more moments passed like that.
Unable to wait any longer, Riat muttered under his breath, "Just as I thought."
In that instant.
*Poof—!*
A faint but distinct, light-green energy appeared on Lucillea's small, rough palm, looking like a tiny sprouting seed.
“...”
Elbadin's head tilted slightly.
“...?!”
Riat's eyes flew open in surprise.
“I-It worked!”
Lucillea cried out in joy.
The energy was like a new sprout pushing its way through cracked, drought-stricken soil.
Elbadin's expression remained impassive, while Riat's mouth hung open at the unbelievable sight.
Lucillea finally let out a sigh of relief and held her palm out toward Elbadin.
A bead of sweat trickled down the child's cheek.
“This, this! This is what I wanted to show you!”
“...”
“...”
Lucillea asked Elbadin, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“With this, can I be chosen by the Elite Corps?”
Elbadin glanced for a moment at the sprout-shaped magic on Lucillea's palm, smaller than her pinky nail.
A brief silence passed before Elbadin slowly opened his mouth.
“How paltry.”
“...”
Huh?
At Elbadin's indifferent remark, Lucillea steadied her breathing and blinked her large eyes.
*P-Paltry...?*
For a moment, her heart sank.
Was this not enough? Did it not meet the Elite Corps' criteria?
*Does this mean I can't go to the Grand Duke's household?!*
Her large eyes trembled noticeably.
Just then, Elbadin continued.
“Paltry, but impressive.”
“...Pardon?”
As Lucillea tilted her head in confusion, Riat spoke up.
“Your Highness, that's magic.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
Elbadin nodded.
Lucillea looked back and forth between the two men and asked again.
“So? Does that mean I can be chosen by the Elite Corps?”
Did he mean it was too paltry, so no, or that it was impressive, so yes?
*What in the world does 'paltry, but impressive' even mean?!*
Elbadin answered Lucillea's question impassively.
“You are chosen.”
“...”
Chosen?
*He just said he'd choose me, right?!*
In that instant, goosebumps rose on her arms.
And Lucillea, without realizing it, shouted, "Yes!" and threw her arms up in the air.
A look of sheer joy spread across Lucillea's face.
*I did it! I did it!*
She unknowingly clenched her fists in triumph.
Just then, Riat, who had been trying to hide his surprise, turned to glance at Elbadin.
Elbadin's expression was as impassive as ever.
*His Highness made the choice without consulting the captain of the Elite Corps.*
Normally, when a child with a special ability was found, he was supposed to discuss it with the Elite Corps' captain to assess the situation.
But just now, Elbadin had declared his choice without a shred of hesitation.
And Riat, for his part, had no complaints about that decision.
Riat turned his head back toward Lucillea.
*This kid is...*
The energy that had bloomed like a sprout just moments before was gone.
But it had clearly been magic.
Manifested magic, at that.
He didn't know why Elbadin had described the magic as 'paltry,' but Riat couldn't agree with that assessment.
Because it was extremely rare for someone to manifest magic on their own, without any help.
*For a mere seven-year-old to manifest magic on her own...*
This…
*Isn't she a genius?!*