Chapter 59
Chapter 59
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Capital Mansion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two days later, in the early dawn.
The Grand Duke’s procession of carriages passed through the southern gate of the capital.
The carriage headed straight for the eastern side of the Imperial Palace, to the district where the Descartes estate had been built by the Emperor’s special decree.
The massive iron gates swung open, revealing the capital mansion in all its glory, lined with magnificent statues.
Lucillea’s mouth fell open as she gazed out the carriage window.
“Whoa!”
The Descartes’ capital mansion wasn’t as overwhelmingly large as the grand ducal estate in the north.
But being in the capital, it possessed a more refined and restrained beauty.
The high walls, marble pillars, the gleaming silver iron gate, and the servants lined up before it.
It had all the dignity of the grand ducal estate, yet the atmosphere was distinctly different.
When the carriage stopped and Elbadin stepped out, the servants bowed in unison.
The butler at the very front, his silver hair neatly combed back, stepped forward quietly.
“It has been a long time, Your Highness.”
Elbadin nodded impassively at his greeting.
“It has been, Bazern.”
“Indeed, Your Highness. Five years, was it? You’ve been away so long, I thought you might have forgotten the capital mansion even existed.”
At Bazern’s words, Elbadin gave a small smile and looked up at the mansion.
“How could I forget…”
There was something wistful in his tone and in the way he looked at the estate.
Elbadin soon lowered his gaze and asked Bazern.
“Are the preparations complete?”
Bazern bowed his head lightly and replied.
“Everything has been prepared as you commanded.”
“You’ve done well.”
Elbadin gestured to Riat with his eyes. Riat walked over to the carriage carrying the children and opened the door.
“Whoa, is this the capital mansion?!”
The first to jump out of the carriage with a cheer was Lucillea.
“Look how huge the garden is! There are so many flowers I’ve never seen in the northern estate’s garden!”
Following her, Serdian, Reiden, and Irnel stepped out one by one.
The children looked, for all intents and purposes, like a complete mess.
Their clothes were spattered with dirt, their boots were caked in dried mud, and their hair was still disheveled from the wind.
It was clear they hadn’t washed properly; their exposed skin was grimy with a layer of dust.
Seeing this, the servants of the capital mansion began to whisper amongst themselves. A few of them couldn’t hide their surprise, exchanging shocked glances.
The servants were well aware of the Grand Duke’s practical training. However, judging by the children’s appearance, it seemed they had endured a more grueling journey than expected.
“My, Young Lord. What in the world…”
Even Bazern seemed at a loss for words for a moment, staring blankly before composing himself and approaching Serdian.
“Young Lord, it is good to see you again. I never imagined that on such a joyous day, I would be greeting you with more worry than welcome.”
Serdian nodded.
“It was training.”
“…”
Bazern and the other servants already knew.
They knew that the Young Lord and the other children who had just stepped out of the carriage were in the middle of practical training.
Bazern let out a short sigh, then looked at Elbadin and spoke immediately.
“I will show you to your rooms first. The baths have been filled with warm water, so you may wash up immediately.”
“Let’s do that.”
Elbadin nodded and was about to step inside the mansion.
“Aaaaah! A garden!”
Lucillea, who had run toward the mansion’s garden behind the carriage, shouted.
All eyes turned to her.
“The smell of grass! The smell of grass!”
*Squawk! Chirp! Chirp!*
The parrot, just as loud as its owner, flew about in the sky.
That one spot was uniquely chaotic, like a small ball was being held there.
“…”
“…”
As Elbadin and the children watched Lucillea in silence, Bazern asked cautiously.
“That young lady is…?”
“Just leave her be.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Elbadin glanced at Lucillea for a moment before heading into the mansion.
*Giggle, giggle.* The sound of Lucillea’s laughter echoed from behind him as she ran through the gardens of the capital mansion.
***
Bazern, a seasoned butler, swiftly directed the servants to carry the children’s luggage. He had already prepared rooms with tubs full of warm water, clean clothes to change into, and simple snacks.
Lucillea, arriving in her assigned room a little later, let out a gasp of admiration at the view of the garden through the large window she saw upon entering.
“Wow…”
*So this is what it’s like. The same grand ducal estate, but the atmosphere is so different depending on the location.*
The room was spacious enough for one person, and the large window offered a clear view of the capital mansion’s expansive garden.
“First, a bath!”
After getting a snack for Cookie, Lucillea headed for the bathroom.
She flung off her dirty clothes and plunged into the warm bathtub.
“Ahhhhhh…”
*I’m melting, just melting.*
The moment she submerged herself in the comforting warmth, all the tension that had built up washed away instantly.
Lucillea closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
She scooped up a handful of bathwater and lifted it slightly.
*Drip, drip, drip.* The water in her small hands trickled down.
Then, she happened to notice the cuts and scars on her palms.
*These are the scars of glory, you hear!*
From the northern estate to the capital mansion.
In what felt like a short, yet long time, she had faced death countless times.
In truth, she never had to worry about losing her life, as the Grand Duke’s knights would intervene in truly dangerous situations.
But was it really that simple?
The moment a monster appeared before her, the worst-case scenario would flash through her mind.
And yet.
*I made it to the capital safely!*
If she could just escort Elbadin to the Imperial Palace without incident, her guard duty would be perfectly complete.
*Even I, who can’t cast a single proper offensive spell, managed to do it!*
Although she had mostly used support magic, she could confidently say she had pulled her own weight.
*Even if my magic isn’t strong, I was still plenty helpful.*
The same went for alchemy. Even if it couldn’t deal a fatal blow in battle, the potions made through alchemy would surely be helpful in some way.
Of course, since she was born with mana, she had wished she could shoot fireballs like Reiden, or that the wind would blow when she swung a staff like Irnel.
But that was just greed.
*I just need to find what I’m good at and what makes good money, and work hard at it.*
And Lucillea was certain that would be alchemy.
*I should study alchemy whenever I have a spare moment.*
And once she finished her practical training and returned to the estate, she would confidently ask for a personal garden to grow herbs and a laboratory to study alchemy!
If you don’t have teeth, use your gums!
*If my magic is weak, I’ll use alchemy!*
But still.
*What did His Highness the Grand Duke see in me to give me the fifth floor?*
She remembered the moment she wondered if she might be a genius, and the tips of her ears grew a little warm.
***
After her bath, Lucillea lay down on the fluffy bed and passed the time chatting with Cookie.
[Lucie is attending the banquet tonight too?!]
“Yup. It’s part of my duty to guard His Highness. I guess I have to guard him until the banquet is over.”
[But he’s not someone who needs guarding, is he?]
“True. It’s just part of the training, I guess. But I probably won’t go inside the banquet hall.”
Heirs of their respective families, like Serdian or Reiden, would have to go inside.
“Irnel, Keilin, and I aren’t heirs. We’re just kids with minor special abilities.”
Being treated well as children with powers was an internal rule of the Grand Duke’s family.
It didn’t mean they were respected or acknowledged enough to attend the Empress’s birthday banquet in the Imperial Palace.
*Let’s see…*
Lucillea glanced at the clock on the wall.
“There’s still a lot of time until evening. Should we go explore the mansion?”
[Yes!! Let’s go! Let’s go!]
Lucillea and Cookie got off the bed and left the bedroom.
As they were walking down the quiet hallway toward the central staircase.
A sound came from beyond the large hallway window.
*Whoooosh—. Thwack—!*
*What’s that sound?*
Lucillea moved closer to the window and looked down.
*Huh? Looks like a training ground.*
Behind the capital mansion, there was a wide space that appeared to be a training ground.
And in the center of it, a boy was swinging a sword.
“Huh? Serdian?”
*Has he lost his mind? He’s training again as soon as he arrived?*
Serdian, wearing a sweat-drenched shirt, swung his sword relentlessly.
Around him were numerous piles of neatly split logs.
Lucillea hurried down the stairs and headed toward the training ground.
Serdian’s aura was somewhat fierce, so she didn’t get too close, instead finding a spot in the shade a little distance away.
She watched Serdian train for a while.
A moment later, Serdian lowered his sword, took a deep breath, and glanced back at Lucillea.
“What.”
“Just watching.”
“It’s distracting.”
“Isn’t being able to concentrate despite distractions what real concentration is?”
“…”
Serdian gave her a look of disbelief before raising his sword again.
Lucillea watched his back and said.
“You know there’s a banquet tonight, right?”
“I know.”
“Then shouldn’t you rest a bit and recover?”
But Serdian answered resolutely.
“My skills aren’t good enough for me to be taking a break.”
*Ouch.*
Serdian was clearly talking about himself, but for some reason, Lucillea felt a pang of guilt.
*Ahem.* Lucillea cleared her throat.
*Now that’s a protagonist’s attitude.*
That’s what it takes to be the main character.
*I can’t do it. Nope, no way.*
Lucillea watched Serdian quietly.
She could have offered empty compliments, like telling him to take it easy or that he was already strong enough.
But she decided against it.
Knowing the hardships Serdian had faced and would face in the original story, she knew that such shallow words of comfort would be of no help.
*And I’m not qualified to say such things anyway.*
But still…
That feeling of anxiety she’d had since leaving the grand ducal estate.
*He’ll be fine, right? Serdian, he’ll be okay even if he goes to the Imperial Palace, right?*
His Highness the Grand Duke must have his reasons for taking Serdian along, right?
As if reading her thoughts, Cookie tilted his head and asked.
[Huuuh? Why?]
Lucillea sighed, looking at Serdian’s back.
*Serdian… he’s the Emperor’s illegitimate son.*
[Whaaaaaat?!]