I picked up the book and muttered.

“Something’s definitely strange.”

“Yeah.”

“Too strange.”

Selene and Liantin answered in turn.

Then Dionera tilted her head and asked,

“Hm? Why?”

Her expression was innocent.

‘It is strange.’

Count Gilard, who always entered the Magic Tower whenever Experiment No. 12983 was conducted.

But there is no record of that No. 12983.

The blessing of Ereka that manifested on the day No. 12983 did the last experiment.

In other words, all this means...

‘Ereka’s blessing is fake.’

─That might be the conclusion.

Selene, Liantin, and I headed together toward the Great Education Hall.

Han Ji-hyuk was following behind us.

Liantin asked Han Ji-hyuk,

“Is Ereka Gilard really in the Great Education Hall?”

“Yes.”

“I heard the rumors were exposed as false, so why is she loitering there? Do you think the direct descendants know what she might be up to?”

“She seems to be trying to find the spy.”

After my victory calmed the collateral branches, the direct 3rd generation heirs focused on finding the spy.

Ereka seemed to be trying to insert herself in that effort.

Liantin let out a bitter laugh.

“She’s bold.”

As we spoke, we arrived at the Great Education Hall.

Han Ji-hyuk waited at the door while the three of us entered.

The direct descendants sat with indifferent expressions as usual, while the collateral branches gathered in a corner.

Previously arrogant collateral branches now timidly glanced at the direct descendants.

‘They got their comeuppance.’

Of course, Joffrey wouldn’t have just let them be.

“Hello, Erilot.”

I was startled by the voice beside me.

It was my cousin sister, Ayla.

She was famously as disliked by me as Loreina was.

“Oh, hello.”

I opened my eyes wide and greeted her, and Ayla sat down with a prim expression.

Liantin whispered with a chuckle,

“You saved her from Ereka’s swamp fairy last time. Looks like she’s started to like you?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

‘By the way, Ereka...’

We had found Ereka Gilard, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Selene and Liantin furrowed their brows.

Liantin asked the cousin who was lying face-down on the desk,

“They say Ereka Gilard is in the Great Education Hall?”

“Yeah. Must be crazy.”

“Where─”

It was then.

“You’re really insane?!”

A sharp shout rang out.

I turned my head to see a tall, thin boy huffing.

It was my cousin older brother, Adam, Joffrey’s shadow.

Adam was angry at Ereka.

Joffrey frowned and asked,

“What’s going on? Why are you like this?”

“This crazy woman even chased me to the bathroom spouting nonsense...!”

“It wasn’t nonsense, it was a question. Who is the 3rd generation that often goes to the Zodiac? Who has the opportunity to contact outsiders? I think it’s definitely Eril─”

Adam’s face flushed red as he shouted,

“Even now that the rumor is proven false, do you think I’ll just overlook this?! You can’t just run around...!”

“I never once said I was the duke’s granddaughter. Don’t act like I lied when you misunderstood on your own.”

“Bu-but─”

“Even the duke himself has overlooked me. He thinks I’m a victim of the rumor too.”

Ereka smiled arrogantly.

Then Liantin shouted in anger,

“You’re the one who made people believe the rumor!”

“Did Lady Erilot say that?”

Ereka narrowed her eyes.

She glanced at me then frowned.

“I don’t know what Lady Erilot told you, but it’s all a misunderstanding.”

“......”

“Anyway, this is good timing. There was something I wanted to ask.”

Ereka walked steadily toward me.

“You’ve been in the Zodiac all along, right? Who did you meet?”

“How could I remember all those people?”

“Ah, ‘I met so many outsiders I can’t remember them all’... Have you ever given them information about Astra?”

“......”

“Why can’t you answer?”

Ereka’s lips curled crookedly.

“You see? Other direct descendants can’t move freely, but Lady Erilot can.”

“So?”

“Since you were in the Zodiac, you had the most contact with outsiders, and even your movement records are missing.”

“That’s because my dad received a title and moved our living quarters; it wasn’t that I made the situation deliberately.”

“Titles, huh? Why would His Majesty the Emperor suddenly grant such a title...?”

Ereka shouted, looking around.

“Everyone! Please think rationally. I’m not the enemy. It’s the spy.”

I chuckled inwardly.

‘When cornered, try to create another prey and escape?’

Ereka sighed deeply and continued.

“Isn’t this atmosphere too strange? Fighting among ourselves while the enemy is right in front of us.”

As people focused their gaze, Ereka lowered her eyebrows and put her hands together in front of her chest.

“You all know it too. The true enemy of Astra is the spy. But now, the atmosphere makes it seem like I’m the common enemy.”

“......”

“Who led this atmosphere? Who was most hostile to me?”

“......”

“This is the spy’s evil plan to make the victim—the one that’s me—the common enemy, and hide behind me!”

The direct descendants stiffened, and even the collateral branches started whispering.

The atmosphere grew strange.

Ereka smiled lightly.

“Why does the duke not take any action against me? He knows. He knows this is the spy’s scheme.”

“......”

“So he’s given me a chance. Probably to catch the spy and contribute to Astra. Everyone! We should join forces to catch the spy. I think Lady Erilot might be the spy─”

“What is she saying now?”

It wasn’t me who spoke.

Everyone’s gaze suddenly turned toward the door.

Standing there, looking coldly in our direction, was...

“Brother Balzac!”

Balzac’s face twisted grimly.

Joshua and Richmond were beside him.

Balzac strode toward Ereka and me.

“I heard the rumor that some crazy person came to our estate. But she’s really not just ordinary crazy.”

“Y-yes...?”

“Say that again in front of me.”

“Th-that we should catch the spy.”

“That’s not it. You said my fawn was the spy!”

Heat shimmered around Balzac.

The aura that manifested from Balzac’s blessing .

It was the effect of that aura.

“My fawn?”

“I... I... um...”

“With that small body, my fawn who never rested a day for Astra, what about her?”

“Ah, no...”

“My fawn...!”

Stop!!

‘Stop with the fawn talk!’

Where did he get so obsessed with ‘fawn’ again!

I grabbed Balzac’s waist.

And clenched my teeth, whispering,

“Don’t call me a fawn.”

“Ah...!”

Balzac’s face instantly brightened.

“Eril, I went on a mission and caught a baby deer.”

“Calling it a baby deer sounds less like an insult, Brother Balzac...”

“It’s small, golden furred, and cute, just like you. They call it a fawn.”

So that’s where it started.

He grabbed my waist and lifted me up.

“See? Even lightness is the same.”

I hoped he’d put me down soon.

“Put me down!”

“Alright, alright. I wanted to see it too.”

“No, I said put me down.”

“I really wanted to see you.”

Balzac hugged me and lightly patted my back.

The collateral branches looked as if their eyes would pop out.

“That Balzac guy...”

“They say he’s terrifying.”

“Yeah. He cuts monsters in half. Vertically...”

‘I’m doomed, I’m doomed.’

Until now, I had been acting like a graceful lady in front of the collateral branches.

Then.

Following Balzac, Joshua and Richmond approached me.

“How have you been?”

At Richmond’s words, Joshua replied,

“Doesn’t seem like she’s been well, hyungnim. Since she’s been hearing nonsense.”

Joshua’s tone was very cold.

Though he smiled, a chill ran down my spine.

‘He’s really angry.’

While Richmond took me from Balzac and put me down, Joshua surveyed the collateral branches.

His gaze eventually landed on Ereka.

Ereka looked at my three older brothers with trembling eyes.

“Ah, hello...”

Her face flushed red.

‘All three are ridiculously good-looking.’

But they were scary on the inside.

Ereka shrugged slightly and pursed her lips.

“I think you misunderstand... Here’s what happened─”

“I heard you were the illegitimate child of our grandfather and you spread rumors.”

Joshua’s words made Ereka flinch.

“Uh... I don’t know what your younger sibling told you, but it’s really a misunderstanding. I never once said such a thing.”

“So.”

“I’m really upset. I don’t know why I have to be misunderstood like this... It seems Lady doesn’t like me. I don’t know why, but I want to be close with Lady─”

Just then.

Kwak kwa gwa kwak─!

With a dull explosion, cracks started forming on the floor.

And in a few seconds...

Bang!

A tremendous sound was heard as the ground beneath Ereka sharply rose.

Ereka hurriedly stepped back.

Bang!

Bang, bang!

Wherever she stepped back, the ground jutted up.

Ereka’s face went pale as she quickly summoned the swamp fairy.

“What are you doing!”

She shouted, trembling in her shoulders.

Joshua’s lips curved gently.

“Well. What do you think I’m doing?”

“You tried to attack me!”

“I never said that.”

“...!”

“I never once said such a thing.”

A suppressed chuckle came from somewhere.

As if it was a signal, both direct and collateral branches started giggling.

Ereka trembled, biting her lip.

“That’s too cruel... Lady Erilot!”

‘Why me again?’

I stared at her dumbfounded.

Ereka began to cry, tears falling as she spoke sadly.

“What did you say to the three of them? What did you say that made them all misunderstand me like this?!”

“I never said anything about ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) you.”

“Lies! Those three are the wisest among the direct descendants, right? They wouldn’t misunderstand me like this.”

“I never misunderstood.”

Richmond said that.

Ereka’s face brightened.

“Richmond...”

“Get a grip.”

“...Huh?”

“Save your delusions for somewhere else. Before I really get angry.”

Ereka and the collateral branches turned pale.

No magic stirred, no blessing cast, but there was something about Richmond that made hearts pound.

‘It’s inevitable.’

The ranking of the direct 3rd generation is decided by written exam scores, mission results, and practical training results.

But in combat results, no one beats Richmond.

If the father is the empire’s greatest warrior, Richmond is the strongest 3rd generation warrior.

With the blessing that can teleport hundreds of kilometers.

With , no one knows where he’ll pop out next, and he also has an incredible offensive blessing.

Together, he boasts a nearly broken ability.

No matter how powerful Ereka’s swamp fairy is in attack and defense, Richmond cannot be defeated.

Because he can teleport while the swamp fairy attacks and stab Ereka anywhere.

“Please.”

Richmond’s voice dropped as if to pierce the ground.

“Don’t really make me angry.”

“Ri-Richmond...”

“Remember, I lose my mind when it comes to our fawn.”

Richmond smiled faintly.

The collateral girls sighed deeply at the beauty of that smile, but...

‘Stop with the fawn already!’

He’s quite mischievous.

I sighed deeply.

My brothers and I went out together to the lakeside.

I gave a sharp look to the three men who stood with hands folded in front and heads bowed.

“No fawn talk.”

“That suits you.”

Balzac raised his head quickly, and I frowned, sighing.

Balzac quickly bowed his head again.

“Alright...”

“Don’t tease me in front of the kids!”

Balzac looked aggrieved and said, “I wasn’t teasing─” but Joshua and Richmond quickly covered his mouth.

“Alright.”

“Yeah.”

I glared at the three and said,

“...Any injuries during the mission?”

Balzac, Joshua, and Richmond chuckled.

“Of course not!”

“Not even one.”

“Not hurt.”

“...Good. Rest when you get back to the jurisdiction.”

Balzac asked with a puzzled expression,

“You’re not going back to the jurisdiction?”

“I’m waiting for something.”

I had to see how Ereka Gilard would come out.

‘Having provoked that inferiority complex so much, she’ll definitely make a move.’

I wondered how to provoke her, but thanks to my brothers, things would be easier.

I smirked.

Late at night.

Ereka bit her lips tightly.

“Fawn!”

“Have you been well?”

“Erilot.”

The faces of Balzac, Richmond, and Joshua flashed by.

The handsome boys seemed to have come out of a dream...

They treated Erilot like a fragile treasure.

‘What’s so special about that.’

What the hell is that girl to me?

I’m better.

I have three blessings.

I’m prettier, I’m smarter...!

My clenched fists trembled pale.

[Are you listening to me?!]

A shout exploded through the connected communication stone.

A young voice.

Ereka said with irritation,

“I’m listening.”

[Please do it properly. You don’t know how angry ‘that person’ is! What’s wrong with you because of this?!]

“Then why didn’t you help me? When your cousins cornered me, you didn’t help but attacked me more!”

[You couldn’t let it be found out you and I are on the same side! Anyway, don’t move, stay still. Got it?]

“......”

[If I get abandoned by ‘that person’ because of you, I won’t stay still either.]