Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: A Veiled Warning
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***
“I asked her to come to the office with me, but she said she wasn’t in the mood for sweets today.”
“…”
Having come up to Elbadin’s office, Noa spoke as he sipped his tea.
“She’s not gaining any weight. And that’s even with Mei giving her extra food, right?”
Elbadin replied bluntly to Noa.
“Of all places, why did you have to drink tea in my office?”
Noa crossed his legs and leaned back against the sofa.
“Because I thought you’d be curious about the little squirt.”
At his words, Elbadin’s brow furrowed.
“…Me?”
“Yep,” Noa said with a nod, then continued.
“I heard everything. When that squirt passed out from the gate’s side effects. You carried her yourself, didn’t you?”
“What, should I have just tossed her in the back of a cargo wagon?”
“That’s not what I mean. You usually just dump things like that on the Elite Corps captain.”
“I had sent Edmon back to investigate Mille Village.”
So, he had no choice, Elbadin added.
“Ah.”
*Is that so? I didn’t know that.*
Noa scratched his cheek and spoke again.
“And you’ve called that squirt to dine with you several times, haven’t you? You barely managed a single meal with the other kids.”
“Hah,” Elbadin let out a dry laugh.
“And even that one time, they couldn’t handle it and either burst into tears or lost their minds.”
“Ah…”
*He has a point.*
“But that squirt didn’t cry. In fact, she even talked back to my face, clear as day.”
“She did.”
“So you called her for a few more meals?”
“…”
“And you’re telling me you’re not interested in her at all?”
*Thud.* Elbadin set down the document he was holding as if exhausted.
“What are you trying to say?”
“It was the same that day the west wing caught fire. The moment you sensed mana from the west wing, you abandoned me here and ran straight to that squirt’s bedroom, didn’t you?”
“…”
“My point is, has there ever been a child that Grand Duke Descartes cared about so much?”
Noa’s gaze, fixed on Elbadin, was sharper than usual.
“Don’t tell me.”
“…”
“You think that squirt… might be your child?”
Elbadin did not answer.
He simply remained silent, his face as impassive as ever.
Noa’s expression crumpled.
“You really… think so?”
“…”
Elbadin’s gaze fell to his desk as he spoke calmly.
“I am merely considering the possibility, however small. A similar age, magic that conceals her appearance… I believe that alone is reason enough to find out.”
“No, you’re not wrong, but…”
Noa looked at Elbadin with concern.
*You always end up getting hurt this way…*
It had been eight long years.
In those eight years, there had been plenty of suspicious children like Lucillea.
Children who had lost their memories, children with black hair or red eyes like Elbadin, or children with blue eyes identical to the Grand Duchess Radia’s, children who were allergic to the same foods as Radia, and so on.
The smallest similarity or question became a glimmer of hope for Elbadin, which soon turned to despair.
*You can’t tell because of his expression.*
*But he must be covered in scars…*
*Sigh.* Noa set down his teacup and rose from the sofa.
“Fine. Do as you wish.”
Noa considered Elbadin’s search for his child to be a domain he could not interfere in.
*It’s hard for me to understand, having never been married or had a child.*
Still, he couldn’t help but worry.
“Make sure you eat your meals.”
“…”
Noa’s heart was heavy as he left the office.
***
“Ouch…”
Lucillea quickly lifted the wand in her hand to check its condition.
“Phew, that’s a relief. It didn’t break.”
She had been worried it might have broken since it had been knocked from her hand with quite some force, sending it rolling across the floor.
*That’s my master for you.*
*He wouldn’t have given me something that breaks and shatters so easily!*
But…
Lucillea finally raised her head to see who she had bumped into.
It was the head butler, Anton.
“Oh my, are you alright?”
“…”
Anton, who had stood there blankly while Lucillea checked her wand and looked up, finally approached and offered her a hand once their eyes met.
“You came out so suddenly, I couldn’t avoid you in time. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“…I’m fine.”
Lucillea took Anton’s hand and got to her feet.
Thanks to her fluffy dress, she hadn’t been hurt much despite landing on her bottom.
Once again, it was just a small scrape on her palm.
She dusted off her palms as if it were nothing and smiled at Anton.
“Hehe, I should have been more careful. I’m sorry.”
Anton replied with a gentle smile.
“Not at all. I should have been more cautious.”
His apologetic voice and smile were nothing but gentle.
Anton looked Lucillea over with concern, then met her eyes and asked.
“It seems you’ve hurt your palm. Should we get it treated—?”
Lucillea waved her hand.
“No! This isn’t a wound, it’s just a scratch! I’m really okay!”
“Ehehe,” Lucillea laughed harmlessly.
*Strange.*
Lucillea thought to herself without realizing it.
*Did I see it wrong?*
Right after they collided, when she was on the floor looking up, Anton’s gaze had seemed somewhat cold…
*It was just for a split second, so maybe I was mistaken.*
The Anton before her now was just a kind adult looking down at her with a worried expression.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way! Goodbye!”
As Lucillea tried to hurry away from a strange sense of discomfort, Anton’s voice followed her quietly from behind.
“Did you enjoy your lesson with Lord Noa?”
Lucillea flinched and reluctantly turned around.
Anton, still wearing a warm smile, pointed to the wand in her hand.
“Seeing that wand, it seems Lord Noa is quite fond of you, Lady Lucillea.”
“You know what this is?”
*Wait, how did he know this was a wand?*
*It looks like a rotten twig to anyone else.*
*As expected of the Grand Duke’s head butler!*
Lucillea was inwardly impressed.
Anton spoke with a smile still on his lips.
“The material is so rare that one cannot help but recognize it at a glance. Is that not Moonlight Wood, which grows only in the heart of the Forgotten Forest?”
*Moonlight Wood?*
Lucillea tilted her head, having never heard the name before.
Anton added an explanation, like a kind teacher.
“It grows while bathed in moonlight, making it the finest material for amplifying mana. Lord Noa himself searched for it for years, so for him to have made you a wand with it… It is truly astonishing.”
*Wow, this rotten-looking twig is from such a rare tree?*
Lucillea examined the wand from all angles, genuinely amazed.
*Master! I’ll be devoted to you for life!*
*Maybe the reason I don’t have parents to devote myself to is so that I could meet you, Master!*
*Heehee.* Lucillea’s shoulders bobbed as she giggled.
Anton, who had been staring at her, spoke again.
“Seeing how both His Highness the Grand Duke and Lord Noa cherish you, Lady Lucillea, I have high hopes for the future of the Grand Duchy.”
Lucillea scratched the back of her head, looking embarrassed as she smiled.
She didn’t understand the part about Elbadin cherishing her, but hearing that Noa did made the corners of her mouth lift in spite of herself.
“Oh, my master is just kind to all his students—”
“However.”
Suddenly, a shadow of concern crept into Anton’s voice.
“A gem that shines with unusual brilliance… often puts itself in danger.”
*Huh?* Lucillea’s smile faltered.
Anton looked down at Lucillea with eyes full of what seemed like genuine pity as he continued.
“Children who all believe themselves to be the best are gathered here in this grand duchy. Their pride and competitive spirits can sometimes become sharp blades, seeking to mar the gem.”
He added with a sigh.
“I only hope that Lady Lucillea’s pure talent and the attention she has received from such esteemed individuals do not invite misunderstanding from the other children. Please, be careful. Be very careful.”
“…”
Lucillea blinked her wide eyes.
*This…*
*This doesn’t sound like he’s just worried about me.*