Chapter 12
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Bold Wager
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It was a simple technique, but one that demanded a perfect understanding of aura. It couldn't be achieved through mere instinct—it required years of deep contemplation and a pure passion for truly comprehending aura.
Even Isaac, who had wielded aura with effortless mastery since birth, found it difficult to infuse it into anything other than metal.
Crunch.
Isaac watched with delight as a handful of salad disappeared into the mouth of his nine-year-old cousin, his thoughts drifting onward.
'Charlotte has no talent for aura—that much is certain. You can't hide something like that. It's confirmed by age five. So then...'
Isaac's red lips twisted further.
'That means she cultivated aura through sheer effort after the fact. To surpass Byaki and Russell in finesse at just nine years old...'
Isaac ignored the resentful glares from Russell and Byaki fixed on him, as well as the sidelong glances from everyone else, and continued his musings.
'But even that seems unlikely. I've never heard of Charlotte training.'
Isaac glanced briefly at Jerome, seated beside Camilla.
'Has Uncle been preparing her like this because he doesn't want to hand over the heir position to me?'
Isaac's gaze shifted back to the nine-year-old sprite who was now on her third glass of strawberry juice.
That sudden display of skill he'd witnessed moments ago felt like a dream now—Charlotte was simply eating her meal with serene composure.
Isaac's fingers drummed happily on the table like a pianist playing a melody.
'Whatever... it doesn't matter. In fact, it was almost too obvious. If she's prepared like this...'
As he kept smiling, the attendants struggled to hide their startled expressions at the sight of Isaac's stunning face.
Isaac was unchanging to that extent—a machine who only ever focused on the family heirship.
After his father, who should have been the current head of House Setia, died young, Isaac's already aloof nature had frozen over even more. He seemed like a man harboring some deep grudge.
So for him to be unable to tear his eyes away from Charlotte, whom he'd previously ignored as if she didn't exist, was an utterly bizarre spectacle.
The servants attending the table had to keep steadying their fumbling hands and feet just from watching the scene.
The meal was also an occasion for Camilla to inspect her grandsons.
Camilla noticed the unusually lively atmosphere but chose not to comment on it.
She simply swallowed a quiet sigh inwardly as she watched Isaac flash a smile more confident than ever before.
'The heir is all but decided, yet I hold these ceremonial tournaments anyway. Is it because I keep hoping for something more?'
House Lord Camilla slowly finished the meal, which tasted especially bitter today, then addressed everyone.
"The upcoming royal ball has invited the entire clan. Some of you may never get another chance, so there will be no restrictions on participation this time. Enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
"Yes, House Lord."
As the three heir candidates replied in unison, Charlotte quietly raised her hand.
Jerome looked at her in flustered surprise at the highly unusual behavior, but Camilla narrowed her eyes and nodded toward Charlotte.
It was only a mild shock to see the girl, who could never even meet her gaze straight-on, asking to speak—nothing extraordinary.
"What is it?"
Charlotte looked straight at Camilla with clear eyes and asked,
"If I win the martial tournament, what happens?"
"...What?"
"Right? If I lose, I'll be kicked out. So I'm curious—what do I get if I win?"
A wordless shock rolled across the table like an invisible wave.
Camilla slowly lifted her head and peered into Charlotte's eyes.
She was a child Camilla had never once seriously considered as an heir candidate.
Yet even from a talentless girl, Camilla liked hearing her speak of victory—even if it was just a joke. It was probably the first time she'd ever thought favorably of Charlotte.
"Your ambitions are bold. Indeed, you're right. Losing comes at a cost, so winning should bring rewards."
"...House Lord! There's no need to entertain Charlotte's words..."
As Jerome jumped in, unable to bear the tense atmosphere, Camilla continued smoothly.
"If you win, I'll grant your wish."
Her words didn't sound like a genuine promise to fulfill any request.
They rang more like a threat: if you set such conditions and still lose in the preliminaries, don't even dream of setting foot in this house again.
Even Jerome held his breath at the weight of those words, but Charlotte smiled boldly, undaunted by the House Lord's presence.
"Any wish at all?"
"Very well."
"You promised."
"Yes."
Charlotte beamed inwardly as she recalled her plan to whisk away Prince Joseph, then grinned brightly.
In that moment, Camilla's lips curved faintly for the first time as she watched Charlotte.
She didn't dislike the audacity of this girl boldly stating goals far beyond her reach. It was far more amusing than the sniveling kids who couldn't even look her in the eye or speak properly.
A week passed since then.
During the period Jerome had confined her to quarters, Charlotte spent her time in the attic room without a single complaint.
Her only outings had been the meals Camilla personally summoned her for.
Charlotte actually preferred it that way.
There was no point running into her playmates—it would only sour her mood—and right now, every minute of every day was precious for conditioning her body.
She burned to meet Prince Joseph right away, but there was no helping that.
This morning, as always, Charlotte had begun circulating her energy at the crack of dawn. She guided the flows through her body back to her dantian and slowly ended her meditation.
"...Hoo."
Sparkle.
A smile hung on Charlotte's lips as she opened her eyes and looked ahead.
Honestly, she was having way too much fun.
She fully understood now that she was an unwelcome presence in this world, that staying passive might cost her her head—but the joy outweighed all that.
After all, she'd spent a year unable to move her limbs, memorizing nothing but cultivation manuals.
'Orthodox sect inner arts are pure and harmonious, building deep reservoirs over time, but they accumulate very slowly... Here, I can overcome that flaw.'
Already, a fair amount of inner energy had gathered in her dantian.
'I feel like I could fly.'
Just a bit more, and she could start opening the pathways in her body.
'No, before that—I need to pick up a sword first. I'm itching to death.'
As Charlotte sprang up from the floor in excitement, Betty entered through the door.
"Betty? Betty!"
Betty had grown accustomed over the past week to the unusually well-behaved and cheerful young lady. But she still startled anew each time Charlotte greeted her so brightly.
"Yes, Lady Charlotte."
"Today I can finally go outside, right?"
"Oh, I figured you'd be waiting. Yes, today is the day—the royal ball at last..."
"Finally, I can head to the training grounds!"
It had been over a week since words like "training grounds" and "sword" started coming out of Charlotte's mouth. Betty had initially dismissed it as childish whimsy, but after seeing her meditate, the words began to feel all too serious.
"...Do you really want to go to the training grounds?"
Charlotte nodded casually at Betty's hesitant question.
Betty blinked at the firm response.
Charlotte had always refused to go anywhere near there, claiming she'd be ignored or worse by the other Setia family members.
Betty took Charlotte's hand and pulled her to her feet.
"If you're set on it, I'll prepare you. But not today."
"Why?"
"How long you've been looking forward to today. Don't skip it—get ready quickly. You even did a fitting for that dress we ordered last time."
"...Oh, that?"
Charlotte sighed faintly, recalling the red dress she'd tried on at Betty's insistence.
As expected, a skirt that flared out dramatically and restricted movement was pretty but made her uneasy.
But following those thoughts came a flash: going to the palace meant finally seeing Joseph.
"Prince Joseph!"
"...Pardon?"
"Prince Joseph. I can meet him at the ball, right?"
"...P-Prince Joseph?"
Betty glanced nervously around, worried Charlotte's raised voice might carry outside the room as she kept invoking that taboo name.