Chapter 86

With the Golden Week holiday over, the update speed is expected to drop.

It was a stay-at-home Golden Week.

“Wow, you did a great job. Even though it’s a disposable type, did that box princess manage to use it? Blood runs deep, doesn’t it?”

“Sir Vania, this is the property of Duke Latitche. It is to be handed over to Lady Latine, Sir Kishtria, or Lady Albertina as an inheritance. Under no circumstances should it be disassembled.”

“I know, I know. Isn’t Lord Kreutz interested? He seems to be a big fan of this kind of thing, doesn’t he?”

Vania, holding the amulet that had already been activated and turned into a remnant, and the one that was still unused, turned around.

Vania, not being a noble, has no surname. Even non-nobles can have surnames if they were given positions in the past, such as commoners or mages, or if they admired nobles and started using them, or if a particular name became so popular that it became difficult to distinguish people.

In response to Vania’s question, Zephir turned around with a serious look after a moment.

“I find it extremely intriguing and can hardly resist the temptation, but as the original owner is my brother and a member of the ducal family, I have no right to touch it. The earliest I can officially investigate it is after obtaining the consent of the heirs. Otherwise, I would be charged with theft and damage to property, and be sent to the pigsty or the chicken coop. I like good food and don’t want to eat smelly food. If I had the time, I would finish my work quickly and return to my rural estate or research magical devices and magic. No matter how high my position or how much I am a noble, this is the property of the upper-class, the four great ducal families, and a personal item at that. I wouldn’t do anything without permission, no matter how much my curiosity is piqued.”

“Wow, non-breathers are scary.”

Probably, this magical mania of his triggered Grail’s danger sensor.

Usually, he is gentlemanly, but he is not this obvious. He is quite letting it slip because his work is getting tight.

Zephir is a popular single man who, if he were to appear at a tea party, a party, or a social gathering, would be surrounded by a crowd of women. He is a soft-spoken, witty, and handsome man. His somewhat problematic divorce history is overshadowed by his title, wealth, and beauty.

Despite his busyness, which is starting to kill his rationality, if he were to walk around the castle, the maids and other ladies would get excited, surround him, and engage him in trivial or meaningless conversations.

“The reason it didn’t activate is... probably a curse. Purifying a corrupted life is outside its scope, so it didn’t activate. Even if it had activated, it’s questionable whether it would have been effective.”

“Hmm, can you conclude so easily? There are barriers that use the four elements, but a barrier that is itself an element is a rare case, so the way it is woven and the approach to its construction is different. It’s delicate and intricate, yet strong. It has a quality closer to light or darkness. How curious. A magic passed down through the Sandis royal family for hundreds of years. It’s ironic that it would appear in the place with the least interest in power, where there have been no direct marriages into the royal family for several generations. I haven’t heard of the royal seal or the barrier magic being passed down to Princess Cestina or her daughter, Princess Christina. The eyes are the royal family’s, but to this extent...”

Other nobles, behind their masks of beautiful smiles, are pulling each other down in a sinister manner.

Whenever a child with green eyes was born in a family that had a direct marriage into the royal family, they would vie with each other, saying this child is the one fit for the royal family. Two of King Lauses’ princes and princesses have green eyes, but they are not recognized by the Council of Elders as the royal family’s eyes. Both are engaged to daughters of the four great ducal families, but if the royal family’s eyes were to appear from elsewhere, a change of allegiance would not be surprising. To make their own children the crown prince, the current queens would not hesitate to cause scandals and act without regard for propriety.

Recently, Albertina, who had just awakened, is probably being eyed by both the main queen, Mezarin, and the secondary queen, Ophelia, as a potential match for their own sons.

Before the attack, the two queens’ eyes on Albertina in the audience chamber were sharper than those of hyenas or vultures. The poor princess, noticing the sticky and fierce gaze, seemed to be trembling in fear.

Cute, cute, poor princess.

To some, she must have seemed like a prey ripe for the taking.

Until now, a terrifying demon king was always by her side, preventing anyone from making a move.

The more the poor princess is cornered, the more she drips with golden honey. The more she is squeezed, the more it seems endless.

From her pale face, it’s clear that she doesn’t know how to resist or how to fight back.

“What a waste.”

If she were not a royal or a great noble but just a commoner or a low-ranking noble, she might have become a great mage.

The princesses Vania knows are creatures who screech in high-pitched, grating voices, wear dresses that are unnecessarily fat and gaudy, and are adorned with flashy and glittery things.

The Council of Elders and the nobles, upon seeing Albertina, have all praised her as the one who is most fitting to be a princess of the Sandis royal family. A year ago, they were mocking her as the demon king’s ugly princess or a monster lady, but how fickle they are.

“If she weren’t a princess, we could have talked about many things.”

Vania is a mad wizard, not a mad scientist.

However, as one of the palace mages, he knows the minimum necessary manners. Despite his talent, he is young and lacks a solid backing as a commoner. If he doesn’t get along well, he won’t get research funds and might be kicked out. Still, he is not good at socializing, so he can’t catch patrons and can’t do his research as he likes.

His ash-gray hair and iridescent eyes, a mix of green and gold, reflect his magical power. Vania, whose strange appearance was even shunned by his parents.

He glances at Caine Druitt, who was in a similar position, now a specimen in a large bottle filled with a magical solution. It’s hard to tell if it’s even human anymore.

During his time at the academy, Caine, who had a crush on a girl, made friends and had Lucas’ backing, and his magical research was going quite well. The curse seemed to weaken, and he made some progress.

But then, he started to follow the girl with a hunched back and a dark look, like a slave.

Vania knew that soldiers, who were paid, would secretly take Caine away from time to time.

Well, his magic was sealed by strict magical devices, so he couldn’t do much. Caine, unable to use magic, was just a weak child. But he still had his magical power.

“Oh, poor Caine Druitt. It’s obvious, isn’t it? That woman only cares about herself, a typical type.”

Caine Druitt, a genius boy blessed by magic despite his cursed body, was envied, hated, and resented for his magical talent.

In the cold solution, he floats as a specimen, never mourned or buried, but ends up as a rare case for researchers to display.

If he had met someone who could guide and love him properly, he might have been in glory, not in the cold solution.

At the Vayu villa, the garden, which has finally become accessible, is neatly maintained. The grass, which was a bit sparse and overgrown, has been neatly trimmed and leveled.

Chappie, as if to confirm, steps on the grass, seemingly in a good mood and singing.

Being cooped up in the room is bad for the body, but going out too much is also not good, so they decided to have tea on the terrace.

The bright and warm terrace is surrounded by glass, like a greenhouse, with the ability to open and close the windows to adjust the temperature.

Chappie, who was enjoying the grass a bit away, came back when Anna set up the cake stand.

When she came to my feet, Chappie spread her arms, asking to be picked up. Looking around, Honey was not there. I was about to put her on my lap, but Anna silently moved her away.

There was a slightly thick mat, and a container like a dog’s food bowl with water and pet food was prepared.

“Miss, giving animals human food is the source of illness. You must start training her now.”

Chappie glanced at Anna, comparing the food tray and my table. But seeing Anna’s firm attitude, she seemed to realize there was no point in arguing. She hunched her back and started to eat the pet food, making a sad, crunching sound.

Chappie, who is not an animal but closer to a fairy or spirit, has been given human food so many times, so it’s not a big deal now.

Chappie, who couldn’t be introduced to my father. My cute friend.

If only, I imagine.

My father would probably make a slightly troubled face but look at her with kind eyes and say, “It can’t be helped,” and allow it. Then, if I took her to Latitche, we would walk through the proud garden together, and he would pick up Chappie when she occasionally stumbled. Butterflies would flutter around, attracted by the scent of flowers. Chappie, with her curiosity, would probably chase them.

“I couldn’t do anything.”

If I hadn’t been taken to the castle, if I hadn’t been dragged to the audience chamber by my father, if I hadn’t run out of magic, if I had escaped first—regret is of no use. That’s true.

The tears that silently run down my cheeks are something I’ve gotten used to.

The tea set that Anna prepared. When I was in the mansion, every day was exciting, and I would look forward to what would be served. The tears distort and blur everything.

At that moment, someone kneels a bit away.

Looking in surprise, there was an old gardener.

“I know it’s impolite, but I have something to show you, Miss.”

“Yes, please do.”

Normally, a gardener would not be allowed to speak, but he is trusted from the Latitche ducal family, and this is a private place. If I allow it, no one will reprimand him.

I wiped away my tears and smiled.

The old man stood up with surprisingly light movements. Oh?

“Is your back okay? The last time you were carrying a large object...”

“It’s the strength of a man in a fire. I’m fine, Miss. It’s not bad to be cared for by a young lady.”

His white, bushy beard resembles Santa Claus. His beard moves and his eyes narrow a bit. He seems to be smiling. I’m glad his back is not hurting.

This gardener, Agravain, was once a soldier who retired due to a back injury. The axe he was carrying before was quite large, and he must have been a strong man.

“Here. I brought it from the ducal mansion.”

“...Raven’s... rose?”

“Yes, it was a bit weak after the commotion, but it’s recovering.”

“Oh! So many buds!”

I ran to the old man, who nodded. Approaching cautiously, the buds are still firm but are there.

The taut stems and fresh leaves show that they have been well cared for.

“If it weren’t for the attack, I could have shown it to you earlier.”

“What color will it bloom? The buds seem to be a different color.”

“It’s probably a rainbow rose. You’ll have to wait and see, but it’s a rare rose that blooms in various colors. Well, the variety of colors is a testament to the gardener’s skill.”

“Huh, I’m looking forward to it.”

Apparently, the first bud that formed after the attack was broken off.

The heroine really doesn’t do anything right. Raven got this for me. I was happy that he got it for me.

It’s not unusual for a lady to receive roses and other flowers, especially as a noble. But for that slightly insensitive boy to get a seedling for me, it was more precious than any bouquet.

Oh, excluding my father, Kishtria, and Mikaels, who are family and childhood friends.

Sometimes, men who come for business bring me bouquets. Honestly, it’s off-putting. Why bring a bouquet to a business meeting? And the intense, piercing gaze. It’s full of ulterior motives... Well, the Latitche ducal family has a great reputation and wealth. I understand why they want to get closer...

The demon king, who is feared elsewhere, my mother, who is active in society, Kishtria, who is an excellent heir, and me, the box princess... Yes, it’s clear what they’re after.

But those who do such things don’t come back. Still, the flowers are not at fault, so I give them to Julius or Sebastian... Come to think of it, I’ve never seen those flowers in my room or even in the mansion.

“Please let me know when the flower blooms.”

“Yes, I’ll pick it in the morning and bring it to your room.”

“No, I want to see it as it is. Is that okay?”

“Of course, I’d be happy to. It’s a big job, but I’ll do it!”

The old man, who looks happy. At first, he was big, taciturn, and a bit intimidating, but he never rushed over when I was observing ants or making flower crowns and getting my hands green. He was a helpful presence when I wanted to relax and log out of lady mode a bit.

Can I no longer touch the clover in the backyard of that mansion?

But this rose fills my heart a little. The hole left by my father is still there.

Raven... Is he doing well? There was a time when I thought he might be nearby... But I’ve never seen him clearly. There’s not even a sound...

With the application of barrier magic, I can investigate the surroundings, but I can sense that someone is there. It doesn’t feel bad, so it’s probably Raven...

But there is one problem...

I can no longer cast barriers.

I can sense the surroundings up to a certain point, but I can’t construct them.

I can no longer use barrier magic since I woke up.

The book publication is in progress at Icshinsha. (*- -)(*_ _) Thank you for all the messages.

I am considering folding the comment section. I plan to do it by the end of May or when it feels right.

I will read the many warm messages again and use them as motivation. (*- -)(*_ _)