Liantin let out a bitter laugh, clearly stunned.

“So, you’re that one. Ereka Gilarr.”

Some cousins frowned as if they recognized the name.

“Ereka? Ereka Gilarr?”

“You mean that girl?”

I hadn’t paid attention to that side since leaving the 12th Tower, but she seemed pretty famous.

‘She wasn’t around when I was there.’

Ereka smiled gently and tilted her head slightly.

“I’m glad you know my name.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s never in a good way. After all the chaos you caused at the 12th Tower, even my ears heard your name.”

Liantin curled her lips into a sneer.

Ereka pressed her lips lightly and said, “Well, if you think it was chaos, that’s your opinion... but it’s amusing to hear that from you, Liantin.”

“What?!”

She was mocking Liantin for having gone to the Colosseum match with the Sun Society.

The direct descendants’ expressions twisted with anger.

“That idiot brought disgrace to the main family...”

A few cousins said irritably, and Liantin flushed.

Ereka looked at me with a smiling face.

“I want to see the famous Lagon too. Who knows? Maybe I could tame it as well.”

“You’d better not even think about challenging that. Lagon hates anyone but me.”

“That’s what I said. ‘Who knows?’ You should read the context better.”

Then she burst out laughing.

I raised an eyebrow. Just as I was about to say something, Ereka clapped her hands.

“I’m looking forward to getting educated at the main family from now on. Please take care of me?”

“.......”

“Well then, shall the 12th Tower folks go pay their respects to the Duke?”

The branch family members glanced arrogantly at the direct descendants and followed Ereka.

Joffrey, the son of Uncle Balderic and Loreina’s younger brother, threw down a book.

“What the hell are these crazy people...!!”

Despite his piercing shout, no one scolded him.

Everyone was too tense, glaring at the branch families.

The main classroom fell silent.

Joffrey grumbled to his sister.

“Are you just going to let this happen?”

“If not? You want to bite them to death?”

“There’s nothing we can’t do.”

“You idiot...!”

Loreina glared fiercely at her brother.

“Because of that traitor, the trust in the direct 3rd gens has fallen. What if grandfather’s chosen branches bite them to death by other means?!”

“So, we just watch that arrogant mess?”

Loreina pressed her temple with an annoyed look.

Then she turned to Liantin.

“You know that girl, right?”

“Mm.”

“Why would the direct descendants remember some lowly branch?”

“She has excellent blessings. Two, no, now three of them... in any case, three.”

“What?”

Liantin explained Ereka Gilarr’s abilities:

Special blessing : Ability to analyze surrounding terrain and find hidden treasures.

Attack blessing : Ability to alter plants to create weapons like whips or make thorny thickets for defense.

The blessing obtained a few months ago.

The cousins looked dismayed.

“What? That broken ability...”

Judging by the quality of blessings alone, she outclassed the 7th-rank cousins.

Liantin crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.

“I heard just and made her known as a ‘branch surpassing the direct line’.”

“What?!”

Joffrey gritted his teeth.

Other cousins’ expressions turned fierce.

Liantin sighed.

“And now she’s added too. Didn’t Erilot almost single-handedly awaken blessings after the Great Celestial Gate closed? No wonder there was such a fuss.”

Loreina snorted.

“So she’s famous for that pathetic ability.”

“There’s more.”

“What else?”

“Grandfather... sent her a birthday gift. With a letter.”

“What?”

Loreina stiffened and other cousins frowned.

“What did you say just now?”

“Say it again.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

For others, ‘a birthday gift from grandfather’ might mean nothing, but in Astra, it was different.

It was a special honor bestowed only on children who made notable achievements.

Only I, Rishimond, and Selene had received it.

“What was the gift?!”

The black dragon cousin sister grabbed her skirt tightly and shouted.

“A doll.”

“No way... That sounds like a gift for a real favorite grandchild. And with a letter too. Erilot, have you ever received one?”

Being considered the most loved grandchild, I was suddenly stared at by cousins.

“No.”

“See! None of us got one!”

Liantin wore a sulky expression.

“I don’t know. But it’s certain a gift arrived at the 12th Tower. She unwrapped it in front of the branch families, read the letter, and burst into tears.”

“.......”

“She cried out, ‘I’m so happy, Duke...’ causing a fuss.”

“No way......”

“That’s why the rumor was said to be true.”

“Rumor?”

“That Ereka Gilarr’s father, Marquis Gilarr, is actually grandfather’s illegitimate child.”

“Huh......”

Thinking carefully, I recall that rumor also floated in my first life.

Though I didn’t know if it was Ereka Gilarr.

That grandfather had truly loved a commoner woman in his youth and had a child, whom he entrusted to a cousin to keep out of the main line’s reach.

That story had quietly spread, so cousins knew it.

The main classroom became quiet.

One cousin muttered,

“If that’s true, how could we ever beat her...?”

“Huh?”

“Grandfather’s children were all born without love. But the child and granddaughter born of his true love... how pretty would they be?”

“Well...”

“Is there really a traitor? Isn’t this all a setup to have Ereka Gilarr, known as a branch, receive family education?”

“.......”

The cousins’ mood was chaotic.

I understood what they felt.

A contest expected to be fair.

But what if the winner was already decided?

One by one, the cousins with stern faces stood up.

“I have to go.”

“The test?”

“I’ll think about that later. I’m not sure if this is really fair.”

“Yeah......”

Soon after, almost all cousins left.

Only Liantin and I remained until the end.

Liantin hugged her book and stood.

“Not preparing for the exam and just leaving?”

I asked, and Liantin pouted.

“I’ll think about it after I go back.”

“Alright.”

After Liantin left, I leaned back in my chair deeply.

Soon, Han Ji-hyuk hurried into the main classroom.

“A rival has appeared?!”

“...Seeing you, I’m relieved.”

“The main family is in chaos. The employees believe the rumor that Ereka Gilarr is a legitimate granddaughter and are fawning to get on her good side.”

“.......”

“Even . That one’s real. You’re the fake─”

I quickly clamped my hand over Han Ji-hyuk’s mouth.

“Watch your mouth.”

He nodded, and I withdrew my hand.

“Investigate Ereka Gilarr.”

“How far?”

“Everything. Something feels off.”

Han Ji-hyuk furrowed his brows.

“What?”

“If she’s that amazing, I would have known in my first life. But I...”

“......?”

“Never saw her.”

Ereka Gilarr might be hiding something.

...Or in my first life, grandfather loved that woman and her child so much that he hid them.

‘Back then, my uncle Dalia’s father had too much power.’

He might have loved her so deeply he didn’t want to hurt her.

I narrowed my eyes sharply.

In the evening, Han Ji-hyuk came to see me in the palace guest room.

“I checked, but found nothing special.”

“Nothing?”

“Yeah. Marquis Gilarr works at Astra Manor’s Magic Tower and became its head after Noarizen died.”

“Hmm.”

“His personality... he might really be your uncle.”

“Why?”

“He’s like a mix of your uncles — showy, arrogant...”

“.......”

“He doesn’t seem to have money, but lives very richly. You know the Kanlot district in Balderic’s jurisdiction? He lives in a huge mansion there.”

The Kanlot district’s housing prices were notoriously ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ high.

Like Gangnam in Korea, close to the palace and shopping district.

Especially since greedy Uncle Balderic raised prices insanely, it’s ten times a normal area.

“Someone supporting him?”

“That’s why the rumor says it’s your grandfather.”

“Beast Taming?”

“He really tames monsters. He supposedly tamed a swamp fairy.”

I gasped sharply.

“Jealous─!”

Being the beloved daughter of grandfather isn’t enviable at all, but the swamp fairy is really enviable.

‘Swamp fairies are extremely rare.’

Though small as a palm, their attack power is immense.

Most 2-tier mercenary squads couldn’t stand a chance.

‘Such a monster. Jealous, jealous!’

Han Ji-hyuk continued reading the report.

“He apparently had some natural affinity for monsters. Hearing you had the blessing, he tried taming, and really succeeded.”

“My lie caused a butterfly effect.”

“Better get out of here fast.”

“Why?”

“He’s been running wild in the castle.”

How wild must Han Ji-hyuk’s words be to say that?

I tilted my head and stood.

As soon as I headed toward grandfather’s study, I heard Ereka’s voice.

“My swamp fairy really likes you. Maybe it’s because you’re kind?”

She laughed, holding onto Conrad.

Conrad, weak against children, women, and the elderly, couldn’t easily shake her off.

There were many employees around.

Conrad was so popular that he seemed displeased with Ereka clinging to him.

‘Oh, and there’s Greta too.’

She was a palace maid who cared for me when I first came to the palace at age three.

Greta was glaring at Ereka while biting on a handkerchief.

Conrad sighed.

“Miss, I’m sorry, but I’m busy.”

“I was looking forward to meeting the famous Conrad Marcial...”

As she teared up, Conrad’s superiors jumped up.

“Sir Marcial, why don’t you entertain the lady?”

“But—”

“I’ll handle the paperwork.”

Other administrators agreed.

An extraordinary blessing like and possibly the duke’s beloved granddaughter—administrators were overwhelmed.

Ereka hugged Conrad’s arm and smiled.

“Thank you for your kindness. Could you spare a moment?”

The administrators grinned and said, “Yes, yes,” and left.

I brushed past the administrators and approached Ereka.

She was busy chattering as she looked up at Conrad.

“I’ve always admired you, Sir Conrad. Being the youngest duke’s aide is the coolest title ever.”

“Miss, please... young lady.”

Conrad bowed toward me.

“Conrad, go back to your work.”

Ereka narrowed her eyes.

“I reserved Sir Conrad first. I heard he’s excellent, but he’s got poor manners.”

Greta’s eyes widened.

Her expression clearly said, ‘That... that’s...!’

Han Ji-hyuk glanced at Greta and whispered.

“She’s the president of your fan club and Conrad’s fan club’s palace branch.”

“Quiet.”

Ereka didn’t seem to want to let go of Conrad.

Still clinging to his arm and smiling brightly.

I stared quietly at her.

“People aren’t things, so you don’t reserve but make prior appointments.”

“Huh?”

“I’m telling you because you don’t seem to know. You should study a bit. You need to learn common sense before manners.”

“......Hmph.”

Ereka bit her lip tightly.

“Yes, prior appointment. I have a prior appointment with Sir Conrad.”

“One more thing. Conrad can’t make prior appointments with anyone.”

“Huh?”

“Because he serves under my grandfather. He must prioritize my grandfather in every appointment, so no one else can make prior appointments with him.”

I smiled and continued.

“You should learn etiquette more than manners. Along with common sense, of course.”

“Is your business related to the duke?”

“Not really, but my business always comes before yours.”

“......Huh?”

I smiled.

Then I pointed at myself with my index finger and then at Ereka.

“I’m direct line, you’re branch.”

“After this exam, branches will be educated together...”

“Yes. Even if they do, I come first. I’m direct line, you’re branch.”

The employees smirked; someone quietly laughed and covered their mouth.

Ereka lowered her eyebrows.

“I wondered why other direct descendants are so kind, but Astra’s direct line is called arrogant. It’s really upsetting.”

“You hear those complaints because you act arrogantly?”

But Ereka quickly changed the subject.

“Of course, I don’t mean you, young lady. I mean those who say such things are too harsh.”

Then she glanced at Conrad and said,

“You always say direct descendants come first, so I’ll yield. I only have one purpose...”

“Yeah?”

“The duke’s aides change every ten years, right? I heard this is the 10th year. So... I want to take the opportunity.”

“What...?”

“The chance to become his aide.”

Han Ji-hyuk quietly murmured “Wow,” shaking his head.

Only direct descendants or royals could get the duke’s aide.

So Ereka’s words could be heard as,

‘She means to take the aide who once served the duke. So the rumor might be true.’

Conrad looked embarrassed.

“Ah, I...”

I blocked between him and Ereka with one arm and smiled.

“Listen, Ereka─”