Chapter 56

Thank you for reading.

Since the next chapter is quite unfinished, I plan to post it after some time has passed.

I would be grateful if you could wait patiently.

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At the time of that accident.

Zeraphi reported to the guard that a collapse was about to occur. The guard, knowing that Zeraphi had good hearing, believed her and took action.

The prisoners in the mine were evacuated.

Zeraphi then ran to call the people who were deeper inside.

Before anyone could stop her, she disappeared into the depths of the mine. After the evacuation was complete, the guard tried to follow Zeraphi, but the collapse happened.

By then, Zeraphi had guided the people deeper inside to the side tunnel set up for evacuation and died in the collapse.

When it was known that Zeraphi had died, some people cried out loud.

It might have been Zeraphi's lover, but no one knew for sure, so it couldn't be identified.

Whether Zeraphi really had a lover or if it was just a one-sided love, no one pursued the matter.

◇◇◇

"Rainbow ore?"

Noel picked up the small, sand-colored stone and examined it.

"Yes, that's right. It's called rainbow ore. Inside the facility, it was also known as 'rainbow stone.'

In that mine, there was a superstition that it was a 'protective stone.'"

"Is this it?"

Noel looked at the sand-colored stone again.

It was a stone that seemed to be found everywhere but wasn't. The only difference from ordinary stones was that the cross-section shone brightly.

It shone sharply, but the stone itself wasn't sharp; it was round.

"This is a polished piece of rainbow ore."

Sirius took a small sphere out of a small bag and showed it. It was about twice the size of the sample stone and beautifully polished. It looked cute when processed. When polished, it became clear that the stone had a translucent, subtle color, not just a sandy color.

As Sirius handed the round stone and said, "Try slowly channeling magic into it," Noel did as told.

The small sphere glowed a beautiful amber color, the same as Sirius's eyes.

The moment magic was channeled, it turned into a gem.

"Beautiful... such a mysterious stone."

Noel was captivated.

"Yes, it seems to have a slight magical property.

The color changes depending on the quality of the magic channeled. It's not as hard as a gemstone, so it can't be treated as one.

That's why the market price is low."

"What exactly is this?"

"It's something found in the mine where Zeraphi was.

It's not used because there's no practical use for it."

"Really? Even though it's beautiful."

Noel answered while still looking at the stone that resembled Sirius's eyes.

"According to the traders, it can't be sold at a high price and isn't profitable.

This is found in the waste disposal area of the processing plant, not in the mine. The prisoners often pick it up there.

Since it's garbage, the guards don't complain. It's not a small, hard object.

The prisoners believe it's a protective stone. It's not used for anything else.

They keep the picked-up rainbow ore carefully and plan to process it into a bracelet after their release."

"A protective bracelet."

Noel thought it sounded quite good while looking at the stone in her palm.

"Because it doesn't circulate, it's considered a protective stone. It takes a lot of effort to find and pick up.

Moreover... even from my perspective, it seems to have some 'power.'

I can understand why the prisoners believe it's a protective stone, even if it's found in the waste disposal area.

Zeraphi also picked it up."

"My sister, a protective stone...?"

"Doesn't suit her?"

"Yes..."

"Indeed, it didn't seem to be for her own use. She knew she couldn't leave."

Sirius handed Noel another piece of testimony.

"Zeraphi was very enthusiastic about picking up the protective rainbow stones.

I thought she was interested in protective stones, like a normal person. But she wasn't really normal.

The way she picked them up... she took off her jacket, wrapped a lot of garbage from the waste disposal area in it, and brought it back to the room to sort through. I was worried she'd be caught by the guards.

I don't know how she managed to bring so much without being caught. The room was like a sandbox.

Zeraphi's magic eyes? She had incredible eyesight, finding the gray clumps of earth that might contain rainbow stones and digging them out with finger strength like a magic beast. I knew she wasn't an ordinary person. She was really inhuman.

After sorting, she took the unnecessary part back to the waste disposal area. Of course, I was forced to help. If I didn't help, I'd have to give him 20 pieces of meat. So, I helped, but he didn't give me meat; he took it away if I didn't help.

My jacket was turned into a soil bag, and I cried. I wondered how she would carry it, but Zeraphi bent the iron bars of the toilet. I touched them to see if they were really that soft, but they were just ordinary iron bars. Then Zeraphi ran to throw it away at an incredible speed. 'You could have easily escaped,' I was just stunned. While Zeraphi was gone, I carried the soil in my jacket to the toilet many times. After carrying the soil, I returned the iron bars to their original position and shook the dirty jacket. Zeraphi shook it skillfully and cleaned it. I asked her to clean my jacket too, turning it inside out and cleaning it thoroughly.

The others had to clean the room because it was dirty. When we returned, our roommates had cleaned it so well that we hardly recognized it. When they welcomed us back, saying we looked like we had just recovered from an illness, my eyes welled up. Zeraphi said, 'I'm back.' Who does that? It's funny, but I don't need a husband like that.

But, she gave 3 rainbow stones to everyone in the room as a 'reward.' I was happy because with at least 3 stones, you can make a protective bracelet. Normally, it's hard to pick up even one stone, so people give up. The rainbow stones in the hard clumps of earth are softer and harder to obtain.

Zeraphi collected what she needed. It was good that she got what she wanted in one go.

She was happy to have collected enough for 5 people.

Zeraphi said, 'For Simone and my baby. The big one is for my sister. I'm thinking of giving it to the old butler, Heine.'

What a strange selection.

The last one, Zeraphi said, 'It's a spare!' but she treated it very carefully."

Noel felt a bit deflated again.

"Sister...?"

"It's about you. The rainbow ore I gave you.

The small ones were all polished and made into a bracelet. The large ones are rare."

Noel couldn't help but look at the amber-like stone in her palm.

"Will Simone's family accept it?"

She muttered to herself.

"I had it delivered to the Basel family."

"You've already given it to them?"

Noel looked up at Sirius.

"Yes. I thought they would refuse, but they accepted it. The person who explained it must have done a good job.

The marquis said the lady flowed magic into it, and it turned into a red gem."

"That's good..."

"Lucian's share was given to Sariel.

Heine's share was given to Heine, who said, 'I'm not that old,' with a slightly unwilling look."

"That's true. He's still sharp."

Noel felt sorry for Heine.

"Sariel said, 'Since he's only a man in appearance, it doesn't matter that he left no mementos. It's too much to not be liked even a little.' He revealed his thoughts.

Sariel had a political relationship with them but cared for them and had a level of trust like a classmate."

Sirius told her this matter-of-factly.

"Did you show them the report?"

"I did."

"Poor thing..."

Noel felt uncomfortable.

It wasn't from a stranger but from her blood-related sister.

"I don't think it's that bad. Well, it's not like she didn't think anything at all."

"That's true."

"Zeraphi killed Simone but helped the staff and prisoners and was involved in the accident.

In such cases, it's customary to grant a pardon. Of course, it's thoroughly investigated and considered.

Even if the person is deceased, it's the same.

We considered applying it to Zeraphi and confirmed with the Basel family.

The parents accepted it, saying, 'If it's customary, that's fine. The person is deceased.'

Sariel and Jace, who were seriously injured at the time, also said, 'It's fine.' Although they injured the royal family, they saved many prisoners, so the royal management office did not oppose it. I signed it too.

As a result, Zeraphi was buried in the city's national religious facility's cemetery, not the prisoner's cemetery.

The national religious facility gave her a good spot because she saved many prisoners."

"That's... very kind, isn't it?"

"Is that okay for you, Noel? She suffered a lot..."

Sirius looked at Noel.

The assault on Noel was not part of the trial, so it wasn't counted as part of Zeraphi's crimes.

Sirius didn't ask Noel about Zeraphi's treatment to maintain fairness.

Noel was glad to be treated this way.

"I only suffered what I did, so it's fine. If it was violence against my child, it would have been different...

But, can my parents also receive a pardon?"

Noel thought she wouldn't want that.

It was her honest feeling.

Zeraphi helping her companions was her own decision. It had nothing to do with her parents.

Noel even thought Zeraphi was a victim of her parents. It was hard to accept that her parents would be saved by Zeraphi's good deeds.

Sirius shook his head.

"A pardon has legal power... to put it simply, it's for imprisonment. Compensation is separate.

They have to work to pay it off. The amount of compensation they still owe will take a lifetime."

That's fine.

That's what she thought.

She wanted them to continue paying. For the sin of raising her sister that way.

Just because Zeraphi wanted to give her a special stone, she felt like forgiving. She thought she was too soft.

"I had almost forgotten about it anyway.

I'm worried about what the Basel family thinks."

"The cemetery wasn't reported to them."

"That's better... I think."

The "spare" for the last person was already gone by the time Zeraphi died.

◇◇◇

Sirius informed Sariel of the cemetery's location and told the palace staff that they would go to Janine's mine to handle the remaining matters.

Sariel sent a bouquet of roses, saying, "I want to offer them."

The roses were a pale pink with a hint of cream, like gemstones.

The roses, with their thorns removed and wrapped in a box, were freshly picked and had wet cloth applied to the cut ends.

Sirius had the roses offered at Zeraphi's grave before they wilted. The roses remained beautiful and lively for a long time, becoming somewhat famous. It was said that they disappeared, possibly stolen, but Noel thought Zeraphi had taken them to her.

Sirius secretly thought, "Maybe Zeraphi's lover thought they were in the way."

The reason Zeraphi's grave was in the mining town was because Sirius thought it would be better for Zeraphi, who had a lover.

Flowers are always offered at Zeraphi's grave.

This might mean that Zeraphi's lover was not a prisoner.

The person, whose identity everyone kept quiet, was perhaps deeply loved or feared.

Sirius thought both were possible for Zeraphi.