As Grandfather’s gaze fell on her, Ereka flinched and lowered her head.

The expressions of the uncles and aunts watching Viscount Gilard and his daughter grew harsh.

‘No wonder they held back for so long.’

They had probably been restraining themselves not to offend Grandfather’s temper, but now that the rumors were proven false, there was no need for fear anymore.

Grandfather fixed his steady gaze on the pale Viscount Gilard.

“You owe a debt to your father.”

“Yes?”

Gilard seemed to have expected trouble because his daughter had run wild at the duke’s manor.

But Grandfather’s words were not what he anticipated, and he looked confused.

The ashen hue returned to his face.

“Ah, yes. I heard he earned many merits...! Haha, and more besides. How many memories must he have made on the battlefield as the duke’s closest aide!”

It seemed like an opening to explain the connection between Grandfather and my father.

Viscount Gilard babbled on.

“How close the two must have been when they were young. From boy soldiers to dedicated guards, so many memories...! Yes, that must be it!”

“...”

“The depth of loyalty and friendship is immeasurable. So he took an arrow for the duke and died of lead poisoning—”

“There are many such men.”

Grandfather spoke in a calm, flat tone.

Viscount Gilard and his daughter flinched.

Gilard glanced nervously at Grandfather and asked,

“Yes?”

“My deceased brother also took a blade in my place.”

Viscount Debussy sat silently without expression.

Glancing between Grandfather and Debussy, Gilard forced an awkward smile.

“Yes, yes. Both my father and Debussy’s brother did noble deeds.”

“What difference is there between you and Viscount Debussy?”

“...Yes?”

“Both have blood kin who leapt into enemy blades for me, but there is a difference. What is it?”

“Well... Viscount Debussy is the assembly chairman...”

Gilard’s words trailed off, uncertain what answer was expected.

Grandfather shuffled papers and said,

“Go find out.”

“Yes?”

“Father—!”

Uncle Balderic jumped up.

Aunt Bastina scowled deeply.

They had expected harsh punishment for the Gilard pair, but merely being told to find out was enough to ignite their fury.

“Viscount Gilard and his daughter dared to use your name to control the Astra domain!”

“Yes. If you don’t punish them, someone bolder will appear next time.”

“It’s outrageous. This time it was rumors of illegitimate blood, but next time it might be about the previous generation’s illegitimate child—”

Bang!

Grandfather slammed the table, and silence fell instantly.

I glanced cautiously at Grandfather.

‘That foolish uncle of mine.’

Never speak the word ‘previous generation’ in front of Grandfather.

The uncles and aunts stiffened.

“Ah, Father.”

“Um...”

“Leave.”

The retainers rose quickly, faces tense.

Viscount Gilard glanced around nervously.

“Do you mean me too?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“Yes, yes! Let’s go, Ereka!”

Gilard hurriedly fled with his daughter.

I quietly stood.

“Well then, I’ll be going, Grandfather.”

“Very well.”

“Don’t work too hard and rest when you can.”

“Don’t worry.”

Grandfather smiled faintly, eyes fixed on the papers.

I bowed to Grandfather and Viscount Debussy and left the room.

As I walked down the hall, Han Ji-hyuk followed, grinning.

“What happened to Viscount Gilard? It was quite a commotion.”

“...Something’s strange.”

“What?”

Gilard was ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) let off too easily.

‘He’s not a merciful man to let a troublemaker go so easily.’

Even if he owed his life to Gilard’s father, it was odd.

The order to find a favorite among the third generation now seemed suspicious.

There would have been no need to give such an order just because palace members came.

“Han Ji-hyuk.”

“Yes?”

“Look into Viscount Gilard again.”

“I already did all I could, even got Conrad’s help.”

“...”

“Conrad has access to all the duke’s information. If Conrad doesn’t know, there’s nothing more to find.”

“You go yourself.”

“Huh?”

“Go to Gilard’s mansion yourself, even to the magic tower where he works, and gather every rumor.”

“I can do it, but why bother?”

“I have a bad feeling.”

If we let this slide lightly, it’ll never be okay.

Ereka looked at her father with a stunned face.

“Did the duke forgive us...?”

“Probably.”

Gilard sighed deeply.

“How fortunate to let this go. I thought we might have to live hiding in the mountains.”

“...”

“You don’t know how scary that old man is. When he really draws his sword, it’s a disaster.”

“...If he’s so scary, why forgive us?”

“Well, he owes your late grandfather his life...”

“No, I don’t think it’s that.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe it’s because we’re valuable talents?”

Gilard stopped at that.

He glanced at Ereka and rolled his eyes.

“Maybe.”

“I’m special with three strong blessings, and Dad has a fairly big faction, right?”

“...”

“So maybe that’s why he’s letting us off!”

“True. I thought he’d hold us accountable, but even in front of my wild children, he kind of protected us.”

“Yes!”

Ereka’s face brightened.

‘So even if I’m not a grandchild, he cares about me.’

Gilard stroked his beard and muttered,

“Well, isn’t just an ordinary blessing. It was a unique blessing that didn’t exist before Erilot Astra’s awakening.”

As soon as Erilot’s name came up, Ereka pouted.

“The blessing itself is probably more amazing for me.”

“Well...”

“Think about it. She didn’t even use her blessing in the match. Probably so she wouldn’t be compared to me.”

“That’s true. Tch, those direct descendants are just vain and won’t let themselves look worse than others.”

“Dad, I’m going to stay true to myself. I’ll find the favorite.”

“What?! The direct and collateral descendants alike must be desperate to catch you!”

Ereka shook her head firmly.

“This is just a trial sent by the gods.”

Special protagonists always face trials.

Overcoming trials is how one gains true strength.

“I have to make up for this mistake somehow. I can’t keep living worrying about others’ eyes.”

“...That’s true, but—”

Gilard groaned but nodded.

“No more causing trouble.”

“I’ll find the favorite and win the duke’s favor.”

Ereka smiled brightly.

“Just watch.”

I recalled the annoying sight of Erilot clinging shamelessly to the duke in his study.

‘Maybe she’s jealous I might beat her?’

Just now I saw the duke wasn’t very attached to his children either.

‘He cares more for Viscount Debussy than his own blood. Maybe I can be like that too.’

Ereka’s eyes flared with determination.

The next day,

I looked over the materials Han Ji-hyuk brought.

A mountain of books and documents was piled on the table.

Han Ji-hyuk added another heap of books and documents, then clapped his hands.

“Here’s the magic tower entry logs, Gilard’s land development records, and more. I got everything from the magic tower, and I’ll go to Gilard’s mansion as you ordered.”

“Okay.”

“Can you handle all this alone?”

“Ugh, I have no choice.”

“If it’s too much, get some help. Call Mikellan or someone.”

“Mikellan’s busy with imperial matters. I’ll manage alone. I’ll go.”

Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

“If you collapse, you know how your scary father and brothers will hunt me down?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m off.”

After Han Ji-hyuk left, I tied my hair back.

Then I started looking through the magic tower entry logs.

Alexis stared at me intently.

“You didn’t sleep much yesterday either.”

“Hm?”

“You locked yourself in the magical tool storage preparing for the match.”

“Hmm...”

“Before that, and the day before, you kept missing sleep.”

“You’re supposed to sleep in chunks for better rest, you know?”

“More likely I’ll die first.”

I shook my index finger left and right.

I know from experience people don’t die if they miss about five days of sleep.

‘Just nap in between.’

I opened the ledger and searched for Gilard’s name.

‘Ijure Gilard... Ijure Gilard...’

After a while,

Alexis sighed and took the book from me.

“Look at what I organized first. I’ll sort the records for you.”

“...That’s a lot.”

“You said you’d do all that yourself.”

I watched Alexis start reading and smiled a little.

‘Still, he’s kind at heart.’

Then I picked up the materials again.

Even after a whole afternoon buried in them, I wasn’t sure if I could check everything.

‘My head’s starting to hurt.’

I asked a maid to crush mint leaves and put them on my temples.

While massaging my neck and picking up the next book, there was a knock.

“Erilot, it’s me!”

It was Dionera’s voice.

Alexis opened the door.

Not only Dionera but also Liantin was with her.

We left the door open and chatted lightly.

“I heard something happened in the intermediate-advanced training room?”

Dionera in the lower training room didn’t know much about Ereka’s situation.

‘Must have heard it from Liantin.’

I nodded.

Liantin cleared her throat.

“I heard your servant brought a huge amount of materials from the magic tower?”

“How did you know?”

“Basilea aunt (Dionera’s mother) is one of the magic tower’s managers. Don’t worry, only aunt and I know about this.”

“Thanks. But why did you come?”

“...How do you plan to look at all that alone? Come with me.”

Liantin passed by me and entered my room.

I opened my eyes wide, and Dionera giggled and whispered,

“I heard from my mother and told her, so Liantin insisted on coming. To help.”

“...”

“I promised to keep it secret! Not to say a word. If Erilot moves quietly, there’s a reason.”

I smiled looking at Liantin reading while covering her mouth.

Dionera clenched her fist.

“I’m good at reading! I can help.”

“Thanks—”

“I think I can help too.”

It was Selene’s voice.

Liantin, Dionera, and I inside the room all looked surprised at Selene.

“Selene unni.”

She smiled gently, as if asking how she came.

“Grandfather’s behavior is strange. I thought you’d be investigating, so the timing worked out.”

“That’s true, but...”

“This is important to all direct descendants. It’d be good if we can work together.”

“...Aunt Bastina shouldn’t know.”

“I don’t usually talk to my mother.”

Selene shrugged, and I chuckled.

‘If Selene helps, I have a thousand troops.’

Liantin is a prodigy who easily ranks 7th in written exams.

Selene always fights for 1st or 2nd among the direct descendants.

Dionera is...

Kind.

“Selene unni, come in. Dionera unni too.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah!”

Alexis, Liantin, Dionera, Selene, and I gathered and read the materials.

Liantin peeked at Alexis, covering her mouth with a book.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re so handsome I keep losing focus. Could you move to the back?”

I laughed.

I always worked alone, but cooperating with others wasn’t so bad.

After some time,

“Hm?”

Dionera tilted her head.

Liantin fixed her eyes on the materials.

“If you’re hungry, hold on. It’s only been a few hours since lunch—”

“No, it’s not hunger... something’s weird about this.”

“You’re the weirdest.”

Liantin didn’t care.

It had been six hours reading together.

Dionera, somewhat slow, thought everything was strange.

“Why does Gilard leave the magic tower every evening? This is definitely strange!”

“...He’s off work.”

“He moves somewhere else every lunch!”

“...He’s just going to eat lunch.”

“Hey! He was alone in section A56 for 30 minutes.”

“A56 is the restroom! You can’t even see inside? Can’t you read!?”

Liantin pushed Dionera until she exploded.

Dionera sulked, dropping her shoulders.

“No, I think Gilard visits the magic tower every time the test subject has an experiment... I’ll be quiet now.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Say that again.”

Liantin, Selene, and I all stared at Dionera.

Dionera looked flustered.

“I said I’d be quiet... did I do something wrong...?”

“No, no. Not that!”

“This test subject experiments every time at the magic tower...?”

Liantin quickly took Dionera’s book to check.

“That’s right. For half a year, every time the test subject has experiments, he’s gone to the magic tower.”

“What’s the test subject?”

“A humanoid monster... number 12983.”

Alexis put down the materials.

He pointed to a section...

[12982 – Mandragora Elixir / Test Subject, Rat.

12984 – Blessing Experiment / Test Subject, Goat Geila (Male, 19)]

‘Number 12983 is missing?’

They ran the experiments, kept records of all medicines and minerals used, but it was missing.

Frozen, Liantin hurriedly searched the experiment logs.

“The last experiment on 12983 was on April 3rd.”

At that moment,

Han Ji-hyuk returned with wide eyes.

“April 3rd?”

“Why?”

“It’s strange. No, it’s very strange.”

“What is?”

“Ereka Gilard manifested her blessing on April 3rd, too.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

Liantin, Selene, and I exchanged looks.