Chapter 66

Ivan crumpled the sheet of parchment paper in his hand. He checked the contents of the parchment with an expressionless face.

‘The mountain behind the Valkyr Castle.’

Obviously, in his memory, the mountain surrounding the Valkyr Castle was nothing but an empty box. There was no rare life, and even fewer mineral deposits. If it did, the royal family would have known first.

He was banned from entering such an extraordinary mountain for 12 years.

You’re hiding something.

That was not the only strange thing. Twelve years ago. It coincided with the time when Ivan was kidnapped.

“Spencer.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Tell Dennis to focus on the mountains behind him.”

“I understand.”

“And…”

Ivan blurted out the end of his words. Spencer waited for the Grand Duke’s words, wondering at his unusual behavior. The Grand Duke’s expression was complicated. It was like a man with an unresolved problem ahead.

Spencer became more curious about what the Grand Duke was hesitating to say. At last, the Grand Duke’s mouth opened.

“What is Viscount Yurpheon doing?”

“…What?”

It was a simpler question than he thought. Confused by this, Spencer asked back foolishly. He quickly recognized his mistake and answered immediately.

“She left early in the morning.”

“Where?”

“She went to take a tour of our newly launched crop business.”

“She went there in person?”

The Grand Duke’s eyes were startled. The crop business involves farming. Farming begins on the ground and ends on the ground.

So going to look around in person was, in other words, like going to bury the hem of the clothes in dirt.

“Yes, she said it’s more efficient to go and see it in person.”

At Spencer’s words, the Grand Duke was briefly troubled. After what happened at the ball, Ivan felt that Adelia seemed to be avoiding him.

No, it’s not just a feeling. He was absolutely certain.

Sometimes, she avoids having dinner with him, and if she bumps into him, she unnaturally changes her direction so that their movements do not overlap, and she tries not to make eye contact.

Whenever Adelia did, Ivan felt like he was out of breath. This feeling, which he experienced for the first time in his life, was not very pleasant. But he couldn’t force Adelia to face him.

I’ll have to approach you slowly. So, you won’t run away in fear.

Ivan’s eyes gave a sharp energy for a moment. Like a hunter after a prey. Spencer suddenly had an ominous foreboding as his silence lengthened. Unfortunately, Spencer’s ominous hunch was right on most occasions.

“Spencer. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Expectedly. Spencer also choked back tears, saying his ominous hunch is never wrong.

“Your Highness, can you see the number of papers piled up next to you??”

“I’ve got something to do all of a sudden. I’ve already taken care of the important documents, so you just need to check them.”

“No, wait a minute, Your Highness!”

“Excuse me, then.”

Ivan hurried out of the office, leaving behind an aide calling him anxiously. He headed to a greenhouse 30 minutes by carriage from the castle.

***

Adelia got up early in the morning and immediately prepared to go out. When she opened the door after simple preparation, he saw a solid back.

“Demalo.”

“Are you going out?”

Adelia asked another question instead of answering.

“Since when have you been standing?”

“It hasn’t been long.”

You’re lying.

Adelia instinctively noticed that Demalo was lying. Adelia stared at Demalo with her squinting eyes. But Demalo didn’t budge. Adelia sighed and spoke.

“I’m going out.”

“I’ll follow you.”

Adelia nodded indifferently and moved ahead. It didn’t take too long to get to the greenhouse as she rode a carriage.

It’s wider than I thought.

The greenhouse was much bigger than she had imagined.

I didn’t expect to have this much land.

“Are you the Viscount of Yurpheon?”

A man approached Adelia, who came to the greenhouse. His name is Hudson Farmers. He was responsible for the whole crops of the Duchy.

Adelia greeted him with a smile.

“That’s right. Nice to meet you, Baron Farmer.”

Hudson took off his hat, put it over his chest, and bowed.

“Nice to meet you, Viscount. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”

Adelia’s smile became a little awkward. Because he never imagined he would be so polite. He had an unrivaled knowledge of crops. His name was famous across the continent beyond the Duchy. A man who raised the seeds of life in a duchy that was difficult to grow.

Adelia observed Hudson, who had an innocent face and a plump body. He didn’t seem to have any negative feelings for her. She was wondering what if he didn’t know anything about farming and he was just doing nothing. 

Adelia smiled softly and asked Hudson a question.

“How are the greenhouse preparations going?”

“Do you  want to look around while I’m explaining?”

“Sure.”

Adelia nodded gladly; Hudson’s mouth was filled with a gentle smile. He toured Adelia to the greenhouse, which is still incomplete, and informed her that his plan was being completed well.

“A new improved breed will be planted here.”

“If it’s the new breed, is it the Yongan…?”

“That’s right. We’re planning to create bigger fruits than the existing yongan.”

“…That’s great. I can’t believe you already thought that much.”

Adelia was truly amazed. It is daunting just to make a greenhouse, but to even think about it. Perhaps ashamed of the sincere compliment, Hudson scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

“The great one is the Viscount. How did you get such mana stone…? I’m just happy to be able to realize what I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.”

There were no greenhouses in this world.

Of course, some botanists have conceived something similar to a greenhouse, but they have never made the idea a reality. In a way, it is natural because the technology and science to create and maintain greenhouses do not yet exist.

However, since it is a world with holy power and magic, there has been arguments that it would be better to use Mana stone as a way to maintain certain temperatures and humidity. But Mana stones were too expensive and difficult to get. Therefore, it was only possible in a dream to make a greenhouse for crops using mana stones.

Not until just a while ago.

‘How did you get such a magic stone?’

Hudson did not initially believe in the existence of a long lasting mana stone.

However, Hudson, who witnessed the mana stones that did not lose its light even after three days, a week, and another month, was able to believe it.

With this alone, it could resonate not only with Yongan but also with the entire crop industry of the Duchy.

“Haha. I’m really curious where you got this amazing thing from.”

Adelia smiled and emphatically hid the source of the long lasting mana stone.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”

Hudson stepped back neatly without further questioning.

“Haha. If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do about it. I would be satisfied if only I could grow crops using the magic stone the Viscount obtained.”

The two walked again to look around the greenhouse that was being built. The greenhouse was being built as planned.

I’m glad I came out for an inspection.

Adelia looked carefully at the greenhouse, feeling proud. As he reached the end of the greenhouse, Hudson’s servant rushed toward them.

“Baron Farmers!” 

“What’s going on here?”

“Y, Your Highness, has visited the greenhouse!”

Hudson’s eyes widened at the servant’s words. He asked the servant back in surprise.

“Your Highness?”

The servant nodded strongly and affirmed. Adelia showed impatience with a troubled look from the moment the name of the Grand Duke came out.

I have to get out of here for now.

Adelia had that one thought in her head. She immediately opened her mouth to put her thoughts into practice.

“Well, Baron Farmer. I have to go now….”

But her words were never completed by the sudden rush of voice into her ears

“Are you running away again?”

“…….”

Adelia turned her head gently, thinking it was a disaster.

“What do you mean run away? I just… suddenly remembered something I had to do….”

“Work?”

Ivan’s eyes narrowed and gave Adelia a suspicious look. Adelia wanted to turn her head. But his gaze kept catching her and so couldn’t.

“Your work. Put it off a little bit.”

“But…”

“If you really want to refuse, tell what you have to do right now then you can go.”

Adelia gulped down her dry saliva. How could she go to work that does not even exist? In the end, Adelia was forced to accept the Grand Duke’s request for conversation.

…it’s impossible to stay like this.

Adelia sighed quietly and nodded slowly.

“…Now that I think about it, I think I can postpone it a little bit.”

“That’s a relief.”

With a satisfied smile, the Grand Duke swung round and walked away. Adelia followed the Grand Duke slowly with heavy steps.

***

White marble, white curtains, and white plants. The room where only white exists seemed to deny other colors.

As if following the rules of the room, the man wearing white clothes, stared quietly out the window with a shadow on his face.

His gaze was in the sky. He was the only one who could embrace a different light in the Holy Land, where only white could exist.

I can’t think of a way.

A sigh full of anxiety flowed through Eustaf’s lips.

The tenth disaster

According to Adelia, it was such a huge and terrifying disaster that humans could possibly be defeated.

Can we overcome it if the Holy Father is here?

Eustaf remembered the Pope who suddenly disappeared. Leaving for sacred land without any explanation, just saying it might take time. He was his teacher and someone who acted as his father, but he couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

On the other hand, it was frustrating and worrying. Tired of waiting, he once set up a search party and sent it to sacred land to find the Pope.

But Eustaf’s search party disappeared shortly afterwards. As if they had disappeared from the world, they could not find their traces.

It wasn’t too difficult for Eustaf to guess who did it. Those who do not welcome the return of the Pope.

Eustaf knew who harbored such disturbing thoughts. But he couldn’t move hastily.

Now the two forces in the temple were playing a close tug of war. If Eustaf pulls out a knife, the barely maintained balance will be broken and chaos will come.

It shouldn’t be like that. Now, the two forces of the temple must join forces to defeat the disaster.

That’s what Vishna wants.

My anguish must also be the ordeal that Vishna has endured.

Eustaf sighed and reached for the sky. Then his holy being, resting leisurely on the pillar, flew in with colorful wings.

Beep!

When Eustaf put the nuts on his palm, the holy being pecked them with joy.While the holy being was eating a snack, Eustaf hung a letter on its feet. 

“Please deliver it well.”

Beep!

The holy being cried loudly once as if he were saying yes. Soon after, the holy being flapped its wings loudly and escaped from Eustaf’s hands. Eustaf turned his head as he watched the disappearing figure of the holy being.