Chapter 67

He was completely different from the Uncle Noaharigen I knew.

He used to be a man who laughed heartily with an overly carefree and friendly smile.

Uncle Noaharigen frowned deeply as he walked over and was startled to see me standing in the hallway.

"Erilott?"

"Hello, Uncle."

I lifted my skirt and greeted him elegantly.

"What are you doing here?"

I was about to say I came to see Blizen but hesitated.

'Should I dangle a bait?'

To see if he really craves money.

It might be because there's another reason for selling the items from Aunt Aisa, who passed away, at the pawnshop.

I smiled and said,

"I wanted to ask Blizen-ni something, so I took the liberty of inviting him!"

"…Ask something?"

"Recently, I received the Platinum Medal (awarded to the first-ranked 3rd generation) and a lot of money came in."

For a moment, annoyance flashed in Uncle Noaharigen's eyes.

'He must be annoyed that his son didn't come in first…'

Is it because of his son, or the money?

I continued with an innocent expression.

"So, I thought about making an investment… Blizen-ni has received the Platinum Medal countless times, so I thought he might know some good investment opportunities."

At this, Uncle's eyebrows raised.

Then he narrowed his eyes as if deep in thought.

After a while, Uncle Noaharigen laughed heartily as usual and said,

"Right, that's something you can't talk about at the duchy. It would make the 2nd and 3rd generations jealous."

"Exactly."

"But you came to the wrong person. Blizen has no talent for such things, so I manage everything."

He took the bait!

"Is that so…"

"Would you like to hear my advice?"

"Really? Thank you, Uncle!"

I pretended to be delighted, and Uncle Noaharigen smiled, his irritable look gone, looking very pleased.

"Let me freshen up first. It's not polite to talk with a just-awoken face."

"Yes!"

As I watched Uncle Noaharigen turn and leave, my brow furrowed.

I had only lightly dangled the bait, but he took it completely.

'He must be in dire need of money.'

Given that he even covets his great-niece's money.

I was even more surprised to see that greedy, intense look in Noaharigen's eyes for the first time.

What is he planning?

As I stood there, the butler approached cautiously.

"Shall I lead you to the parlor?"

"Yes."

I followed the butler to the parlor.

On the surface, everything seemed peaceful, but there were strange signs everywhere.

A wall with a frame nailed on haphazardly, despite the paint peeling off.

A table with cracks and wear barely covered by a coat of paint.

A tablecloth with candle wax stains patched up with another piece of fabric.

'What is this? How poor are they?'

Even if Aunt Aisa passed away, as a territory under Astra's jurisdiction, they should have received a steady budget.

Even if it's not as much as other territories, it shouldn't be this poorly managed.

That means…

'They must have embezzled.'

Just then, footsteps were heard outside the room,

and soon Blizen entered.

"Erilott?"

He frowned, as if not believing it, and I laughed.

"Hi."

"It hasn't been an hour since I sent the letter."

"Yep!"

I answered cheerfully, and Blizen looked at me with a bewildered expression.

He was dressed simply, probably having been in his room.

Blizen usually dressed well, even in summer, so seeing him in such casual attire was unusual.

Blizen sighed and sat opposite me.

"Why did you want to come to our duchy so much?"

"I have a few things to ask. Also, I've never been to other territories, so I was curious."

As I looked around the parlor, Blizen nodded.

"We don't invite each other often. We're afraid the secrets of our territories might leak out."

"Right."

During our conversation, the butler brought in tea.

One cup for Blizen, one for me.

The fragrant aroma of tea filled the parlor.

The atmosphere was calm.

Before getting to the main topic, I started with some small talk to ease his guard.

"Blizen-ni, you always dress so formally, even in summer."

"Yeah."

"Isn't it hot?"

"Not really. Once you get used to it, casual clothes feel strange."

"But you're dressed quite casually today?"

"I'm used to dressing formally outside, but I stay comfortable inside the castle."

"What do you do inside the castle? Since you're part of the Advanced Education Room, you only go to the duchy a few times a month, right?"

"You seem to have a lot of questions for me."

"Yep."

As I said this, Blizen chuckled.

"From what I know, you're not the type to be so interested in others."

I flinched, knowing it was true, but I shook my head.

"I'm interested. A lot!"

"When Geoffrey's leg was broken, you didn't even visit him."

"Well, I wasn't really close to Geoffrey…"

"When Julia's portrait of her crying on the wall was caught, everyone was talking about it, but you didn't join in."

"That… our maid said it could happen when you're young…"

"When 14-year-old Elman tried to elope with a 17-year-old maid, and was hit by his uncle, you were yawning."

"At that time… I was… sleepy?"

Blizen shrugged.

"Whatever. You care a lot about your relatives, I guess."

"…"

"Right? What do you want to know?"

There was no way to avoid it now.

Blizen already suspected I had a reason for coming to Aisa's territory.

I glanced at Blizen as I lifted my teacup.

"Uncle Noaharigen. Has he gone anywhere recently?"

Blizen, who was about to lift his teacup, flinched.

As a result, tea spilled from the cup, wetting Blizen's hand.

"Ah!"

I quickly grabbed Blizen's wrist in surprise.

The tea wasn't that hot, but just in case.

Thud!

Blizen fiercely shook off my hand.

'Huh?'

What's this?

Was Blizen the type to dislike physical contact?

No, he wasn't.

If he was, he would have disliked the maids approaching him while he slept.

But what was strange was that Blizen looked more surprised than I did.

'…What is this?'

Suddenly, the scattered thoughts in my head clicked together like a puzzle.

The reason Noaharigen, who didn't have the blessing of <Teleport>, could go to the Imperial Capital without a trace.

Noaharigen is a mage.

And if he had a son with the blessing of <Teleport>?

Thinking this far, I grabbed Blizen's arm.

"Let go!"

Blizen, startled, tried to pull his hand away.

"Stay still, brother!"

We struggled, but since I was a girl, Blizen couldn't use his full strength.

I quickly rolled up Blizen's sleeve.

Since he was dressed simply, the sleeve rolled up easily.

And what was revealed on his bare arm…

'My God.'

I closed my eyes tightly, looking at Blizen's arm.

My brow furrowed involuntarily.

As Blizen said, I wasn't particularly interested in my cousins.

Unless it was something like this.

I spoke in a stiff tone, trying to control my anger.

"You always wore formal attire in summer, right? It was because of the jacket."

"What are you talking about?"

Blizen tried to act nonchalant, but I saw through it.

"You were afraid it might show through if you only wore a shirt."

"It's nothing…"

"Nothing? That's—!"

I frowned and shouted, angry at Blizen's constant denials.

Blizen's eyes widened at my outburst.

Blizen's arm was in a state that was hard to look at.

How many experiments had he undergone? His skin was cracked like the ground, with dried, twisted scabs in the cracks.

And there were clear belt marks on his elbow, as if his arm had been tied to prevent movement.

The day the maid approached,

he didn't just let it happen.

He couldn't move because of the experiments.

'He didn't have the strength to push her away.'

His usual lethargic appearance had a reason.

"Noaharigen was experimenting, right? To create a <Teleport> gemstone."

"No."

Blizen, who had been denying it all along, quickly avoided my gaze.

"Eventually, he could travel to the Imperial Capital without a record."

"No."

"How could he do this to his own child…!"

I clenched my skirt tightly.

Blizen, seeing my trembling hands, sighed.

He looked exhausted.

"Go now. I need to rest."

I grabbed Blizen's arm as he tried to leave the parlor.

"What are you doing…"

"Let's go. Come with me."

"…"

"Let's go to our duchy."

Blizen looked at me silently, then Noaharigen burst into the parlor.

"You kept me waiting."

Noaharigen, sensing the tense atmosphere, frowned.

"What's going on?"

I wanted to punch Noaharigen's face, but I held back.

I forced a smile and said,

"Is it okay if I take Blizen-ni to our duchy?"

"Blizen? Why?"

Noaharigen asked, eyes wide.

"Brother helped me in the evaluation. Dad said he would thank him."

"Thank him?"

"Yes. We'll have a meal together, and there are things to give…"

Dad's affection for me was well-known.

If someone helped me, he would give a big reward.

Noaharigen, after a moment of deep thought, nodded.

"Right. Blizen, go with your sister."

"…"

"Blizen."

Noaharigen's stern tone made Blizen reluctantly agree.

"Okay."

Noaharigen turned his gaze from Blizen to me.

"Can we talk about the investment?"

"I'm sorry. I'll hear it another time. Dad is looking for me urgently."

"Is it because of what you're going to give Blizen…?"

He's so delusional.

"Exactly."

I smiled, and Noaharigen laughed heartily, sending us off.

* * *

Daimond Duchy.

As I led Blizen into the courtyard, the family was already gathered.

Balk saw Blizen and frowned.

"What? Why is Blizen here?"

Joshua, without looking at Blizen, sent me a loving gaze.

"Is something wrong?"

Dad stared at my hand holding Blizen's wrist.

"Come in first."

Dad turned and entered his study, and the twins followed with curious glances.

I pulled Blizen, who was stiff, into the study.

As I tried to roll up Blizen's sleeve, he twisted his wrist free.

"Stay still."

"Let go."

Now he's using some strength.

Earlier, he couldn't do anything, afraid of hurting me.

But this is my territory now.

"Dad! Brothers!"

I shouted, and the three of them pounced on Blizen like a pack of dogs.

They were quick.

"Let go, Uncle!"

"Stay still."

"Balk! Joshua!"

"Eril just wants to roll up the sleeve."

"Should we restrain him?"

One trying to roll up the sleeve, the other trying to prevent it.

I watched the four of them struggle.

Then,

Blizen's eyes glowed.

'Teleport.'

Blizen is a genius with immense power.

Trying to escape?

But where is this? The Daimond Duchy.

In other words, Daimond Astra is here.

He has fought on land,

in the sea,

in the air,

and even in space.

A certified mad dog who has drawn a map of the fruit.

As soon as Blizen's eyes glowed, Dad cast a blessing first.

Even a genius like Blizen would find it hard to beat Dad.

The difference in casting speed was too great, and Blizen's attempt was blocked before he could do anything.

Dad <Dissolved> Blizen's mana before it could reach his dantian.

"Ugh!"

And finally, Blizen's sleeve was pulled up.

"…"

"Unbelievable."

"What is this?"

Dad, who was holding Blizen's arms from behind.

Joshua, who was holding Blizen's arms with both hands.

Balk, who was rolling up the sleeve.

The family, seeing Blizen's condition, froze.

And I, who had seen it once before, couldn't say a word.

Blizen is someone who doesn't have bad memories with me.

Rather…

"Blizen, why are you sitting there?"

"Did you save a seat for me?"

"No, but… didn't you hear that I tried to kill Dalia?"

"Did you really try to kill her?"

"No."

"Then it's fine."

"…Dalia was hurt because of me? The Dalia you value like your life?"

"Class starts now."