Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Grandfather's Burden
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Marquis Epekle returned to the ballroom, splendidly fulfilling his role, before boarding the carriage back to the mansion with Resuan.
‘Thank goodness no greater disaster occurred.’
Even after emergency treatment, Resuan hadn’t woken up right away.
It was because the amount of magic crystals he carried as a precaution had been insufficient.
This was the first time she had fallen so ill since her childhood.
Marquis Epekle had dissuaded Ryan, who wanted to summon the imperial physician, and simply asked him to procure magic crystals without asking any questions.
To Ryan’s puzzled expression, he revealed a part of the secret.
‘It’s absolutely necessary to save Resuan. She has a constitution different from others. She needs magic crystals.’
Fetching magic crystals from his own mansion to save Resuan would take too long.
It was wiser to ask Ryan like this and seek his help.
Besides, wasn’t Ryan the one who loved Resuan? Everyone in high society knew of his feelings. That was why Marquis Epekle could confide in him so easily.
Ryan discreetly ordered his attendants to bring the magic crystals.
The agitation didn’t subside easily. His heart churned from the shock of the sudden situation.
He felt as if his granddaughter would leave him too, just like that.
Just like his daughter had left with that scoundrel...
...and died.
‘I can’t let you go the same way, my dear.’
Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened. After using additional magic crystals, Resuan woke up with her usual radiant smile.
But Marquis Epekle’s hands were still trembling.
‘What happened, Grandfather?’
Resuan smiled innocently, noticing nothing amiss.
Once informed of the situation, she immediately worried about the rumors that might arise because of her.
It was all for the sake of her grandfather’s reputation.
“I’ll go back and reassure everyone, and apologize for worrying them.”
Her granddaughter was busy caring for him even without grasping the exact reason for her collapse. He found her so endearing.
Resuan gripped his hand tightly. Marquis Epekle hugged his granddaughter close.
The warmth in his arms felt utterly precious.
“I must have been too tired lately.”
Resuan’s voice pulled him from his reverie.
“That must be it.”
Though he agreed with her words, Marquis Epekle still hadn’t figured out why Resuan had collapsed today.
What on earth had caused Resuan to fall into crisis this time?
There was only one possible reason.
‘It couldn’t be anything else.’
Marquis Epekle thought of the mountain of magic crystals he had piled up to repair the broken door.
Magic crystals react to other magic crystals. They used the same method when discovering new veins in mines or locating remaining crystals.
“I caused trouble for Lady Etwar when I collapsed. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’ll thank her properly later.”
Marso Etwar had vanished with the prince Darsi, who appeared like a comet, and only returned near the end of the ball.
There had been no time to speak with her before she boarded her carriage.
Even his plan to talk with Marquis Etwar during the ball had fallen through. He had left due to the sudden breakage of an imperial fixture requiring extra magic crystals.
It was enviable that even after supplying the imperial family and taking his share, he still had magic crystals for emergencies.
It was bitter to know the Etwar Marquis House had spare magic crystals.
Especially since he had mentioned today that if Marso Etwar grew closer to them, she might gift them magic crystals.
Seeing them use magic crystals like water soured his mood.
‘They still haven’t run out of magic crystals, it seems.’
Unlike his own mines.
If gods existed, this shouldn’t be allowed.
‘Shouldn’t they go to those who need them most?’
Moreover, Marquis Etwar was utterly indifferent to his own blood.
He hadn’t even known where his daughter was, despite attending together.
But he was different.
When his magic crystal mines suddenly dried up, halting all supplies, he had been gathering crystals for Resuan.
For her life.
‘It’s my karma...’
He shouldn’t have driven his daughter away like that. Though not perfectly healthy, she had never been seriously ill until she rapidly weakened.
He thought she would bend and return, but she stayed by her lover’s side until the end. Resuan was the precious child his daughter had given her life to bear.
‘How shocked I was when we first met.’
Her bright smile, so like her grandmother’s, was enough to plunge the marquis into memories.
But Resuan was sickly. Very much so.
Everyone said she wouldn’t live past fifteen.
Yet he could never let go of the only blood relative he had rediscovered.
So he searched far and wide...
And ultimately saved Resuan.
But the method wasn’t flawless. Reviving a body that had nearly died wasn’t easy.
Resuan needed ever-increasing amounts of magic crystals every day.
Marquis Epekle sighed deeply.
Thinking of Resuan’s future always filled him with anxiety. Even when he had stockpiled them, it was worrisome enough—now that it was the opposite, how much more so?
“Grandfather, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
At Resuan’s voice, the marquis smiled kindly.
“Nothing. I was just admiring how beautiful you are.”
“...You flatter me. I’m sorry for worrying you today.”
“You already apologized. It’s not your fault.”
His granddaughter was always so lovely.
Gripping her slender hand, Marquis Epekle smiled warmly.
“How was the ball today? Did you enjoy it at least?”
“I did. Time spent with you is always enjoyable, Grandfather.”
Resuan smiled as she spoke. Warmth filled Marquis Epekle’s chest.
After his daughter left him, he had thought happiness was gone forever...
‘Resuan, you are my miracle.’
His granddaughter had awakened emotions he thought dead.
No matter what, he wanted to protect this girl.
So she could live her whole life without worry.
So he wouldn’t repeat the mistake of letting his daughter go in vain.
“Did you enjoy it, Grandfather? No, you must have been shocked because of me...”
“No, I’m fine.”
“I troubled Prince Ryan too. I should send him something later.”
At the mention of Ryan, Marquis Epekle flinched. Resuan tilted her head, noticing.
Marquis Epekle quickly changed the subject.
“He’d be happy with anything from you. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen the prince at the mansion lately.”
Now that he mentioned it, it was true. Ryan, who used to visit the Epekle estate constantly, was nowhere to be seen.
Resuan blinked before speaking clearly.
“...Yes, I haven’t invited him.”
“Why not?”
“...I felt like I needed time to reflect on myself too.”
Marquis Epekle’s eyes widened at Resuan’s words.
“What is there for you to reflect on?”
Resuan gazed steadily at Marquis Epekle, who always took her side, then explained.
“There were things I avoided, as long as they didn’t harm me directly.”
“...Resuan.”
“If someone is good to me, I wanted to believe it was fine.”
“That’s only natural.”
“But if they go too far, I need to know how to respond accordingly. Instead of just watching.”
Resuan slowly shook her head.
“It feels like I realized it too late.”
Marquis Epekle realized Resuan was passing through another turning point in life. Maturing once more.
There was only one thing he could say in moments like this.
“Grandfather will always support you.”
“Thank you. But what were you talking about with the prince earlier?”
“...Nothing much. Just about you.”
Marquis Epekle evaded the answer. He hadn’t known Resuan had seen them heading to the reception room.
Resuan felt a sense of unease as Marquis Epekle, who usually answered her questions honestly, dodged.
His actions showed nothing strange, yet it felt suspicious.
There seemed to be more to it, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.
“If Grandfather says so, then it must be.”
But pressing further would only trouble him. She didn’t ask.
Still, the doubt lingered.
Marquis Epekle recalled his conversation with Ryan.
“You’ve heard that the number of magic crystals is dwindling for Marquis Epekle as well.”
They had gone to the reception room during the ball and begun talking with the door closed.
“For Resuan’s sake too, the supply of magic crystals must continue steadily.”
“...Yes.”
Ryan now knew about Resuan’s condition. Cooperation could be expected going forward.
“Then I have something urgent to ask.”
Was it just cooperation? Marriage could be pushed forward sooner.
“It would be good for Resuan, and for you as well.”
“What is it?”
Marquis Epekle brightened. Marriage? The imperial family owned two magic crystal mines. Their veins would dry up last, securing Resuan’s safety.
But Ryan’s words were unexpected.
“Join me in bringing down the Etwar Marquis House.”
“...Pardon?”
“Then I’ll give you one of their magic crystal mines. Haven’t they run dry?”
It wasn’t strange that the prince knew of his mine’s situation, now that they could no longer supply the imperial family.
Unfortunately, his mines had been the first to bottom out.
“You need a mine, don’t you?”
Marquis Epekle hadn’t had many magic crystals to begin with.
The Epekle family’s wealth had accumulated through magic crystal distribution. They had been complacent, assuming the crystals would never run out.
He had tried to recover them late, but it wasn’t easy.
People who noticed the decreasing circulation had started hoarding magic crystals.
The imperial family was steadily reducing distribution, and Marquis Etwar was cutting back transactions from his mines.
The amount gathered from back alleys wasn’t much.
Ryan’s proposal was indeed an irresistibly sweet temptation.
But in that moment, Marquis Epekle completely changed his view of Ryan.
Now, in his eyes, Ryan was nothing but a shameless bastard.