Chapter 27

Gerard turned to look at Mathias.

Joel immediately moved to block Mathias to prevent the fight in advance. He looked so familiar and experienced with the movement as if he had done it so many times.

“Brother, where are you going this early in the morning? I thought you’re going to the territory with us?”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has invited the duke for breakfast.”

The butler, Halo, replied on behalf of Gerard. His words, however, made the entire atmosphere in the hall freeze. Lestia had no choice but to nervously shift her eyes in such an atmosphere.

“Do you really need to go?”

Gerard answered Joel’s question in a low voice.

“…I don’t have any evidence but I will give him a warning.”

Gerard turned away and walked out of the door after leaving those words. It was as if he did not have anything to say to them anymore. Halo bowed deeply and saw him off. Mathias clicked his tongue before turning to look at Lestia.

“Acting smart. Liti, Liti. That eldest brother, isn’t he so annoying?”

“Mathias. Please. Just speak of good and pretty things in front of Lestia.”

“You have to show a pretty attitude to say pretty things, right Liti?”

Lestia smiled lightly as she looked at Joel and Mathias, who patted her shoulders. Then, he turned towards Lysian’s golden eyes that were staring from behind her. It was not until she had met all of the men of Verchester Duchy that she realized that Lysian was strange.

He had the attitude of waiting and seeing what the Verchester Family was going to do. Even though he was the youngest among all of the men in Verchester household, his gaze and attitude seemed to place everyone else in a lower position.

His eyes and actions seemed to bother her.

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“Hmmm, hmm…”

Crown Prince Erich hummed happily as he watched his servants prepare breakfast in the Crown Prince’s palace’s garden.

The box that he handed over to Lestia’s uncle contained a black smoke that amplified mana. Originally, he had prepared it to see if Lestia could really use magic. Anyone who could use magic would suffer from loss of control on the mana that was flowing through their body as soon as they inhaled the smoke. They would die but they could still live if they were lucky. Because of that, the Verchester Family would definitely ask the Imperial Family for a neutral mana stone which would allow him to determine what attribute Lestia’s mana was. In fact, even an ordinary body would not be able to withstand once the amplifier burst in close proximity. Doing this was enough to put Gerard in a difficult position.

Of course, both of his plans were ruined. From what he heard from the spy that he had planted in advance, Lestia’s uncle was safely disposed of and Lestia was safe. But it did not matter. The Verchester Mansion had been set on fire. From what he heard, the weak fourth son, who used fire attributed mana, had been injured on behalf of Lestia. That fact alone made him happy.

“Kekeke… He must be extremely angry.”

Gerard Verchester.

He wondered how deep the creases on his face would be on his handsome face. So, he sent a messenger early in the morning and invited him for breakfast. He would be happy even if he did not accept his invitation. If that happened, then it meant that he was extremely agitated.

However, Gerard accepted his invitation. The crown prince immediately welcomed Gerard, who had appeared in front of him, as he tried to erase the mirth in his face.

“Duke Verchester! Welcome!”

Gerard was staring coldly at Eric. His expression remained dry and blunt. Eric’s brows furrowed as he continued to speak.

“You look much better than I thought. I’m glad. I heard that the Verchester Mansion was burned. You must be extremely worried.”

“I don’t need to pay attention to just one mansion.”

His tone seemed to be saying that just a tiny speck out of the Verchester’s enormous assets had gone missing.

Eric gritted his teeth at his calm response.

Isn’t he too calm? This is not the expression that I expected.

He felt uncomfortable. But then, he noticed Gerard staring at something hard. Eric hurriedly turned to look at where he was looking at.

Gerard was looking at the large cage that was placed in his garden. Eric’s mouth curled up in a grin as he spoke.

“Ah. Isn’t it pretty? I was going to put my pet in that cage over there. But there was an accident and it became empty. But I’m thinking of filling it up soon.”

Gerard’s interest in that thing meant that he knew something about his sister’s kidnapping. But the fact that he couldn’t do anything despite knowing it was making him feel joy. Eric’s lips twitched as if he was going to burst into laughter any moment.

“I see.”

Was what Gerard replied.

Fwooosh!

As soon as his words ended, all of the flowers in the garden began to dry up. The crown prince’s palace, which was filled with lively flowers, was now dull and lifeless as if it had been through some great devastation.

This was Gerard Verchester’s magic. A magic that allowed him to work with water freely.

“Duke Verchester! Wh… What is the meaning of this?”

Eric shouted sharply at him but Gerard just looked at him calmly.

“The scent of flowers is quite terrible. It hinders me from enjoying my meal.”

“Duke Verchester…!”

“It’s my fault so your subject and the duchy will present you with a new pet and gardener.”

“What’s with your overbearing attitude!”

Gerard stood up from his seat without giving him an answer. Eric looked at him in surprise and was shocked to see his terribly dry and cold blue eyes. His entire body suddenly cooled down. He could even feel his skin stretching and hardening as if it would crack at any given moment. Even the food on the table turned dry and skinny and could no longer be eaten.

Gerard slowly walked towards Eric.

“Kghk…!”

Eric wanted to scream but his mouth was dry and filled with a sweet taste. He couldn’t even utter a single word. His fear even hardened his legs which stopped him from moving.

“It’s just that I can’t control my mana well today. I ask for Your Highness’ generous understanding.”

Gerard stopped right in front of Eric’s nose. Gerard roughly pulled out the necklace hanging on his neck. The neutral mana stone that was shining a bright purple suddenly turned gray. Then, he quietly placed the necklace down in front of Eric as he gave his warning.

“Your Highness, I hope you don’t forget who really is the one being tied on a leash.”

Eric saw the Verchester family’s symbol engraved on the pendant of the necklace. It was a lion with four eyes. He was clearly telling him that they only thought that they had tamed the lion because they put a leash on them.

Gerard left these words and turned around. Only when he left did the air return to normal.

“Cough…! Cough…!”

Eric coughed dryly. His dry mouth was filled with the taste of iron. However, Gerard just continued to walk out of the garden as if he did not care about what the condition of the crown prince was.

Eric wanted to shout… ‘Catch that man right away!’ but he couldn’t. If this fact was known to the public, the Emperor would doubt his abilities. The old Emperor did not adore him despite him being the crown prince and he was sure that he would blame him for failing to deal with a single Verchester despite sitting on his position. And he was sure that it was the same for the other nobles.

“Aaaaaaaargh!”

Gerard stepped out of the imperial palace. He left behind the screaming Eric.

He planned to take his younger siblings back to their territory by today. He did not want to waste any more time in this place. As soon as Gerard got on the Verchester carriage, it headed straight towards the port. Just like what he had ordered in advance.

“Waaaaah!”

This was the first time that Lestia had seen the sea in her life.

She could see the endless blue waves greeting and meeting the sandy beach on the shore which created white foam.

Everything that she saw outside of the carriage was marvelous and beautiful to the point that she couldn’t take her eyes off of the landscape that they were passing by.

“Liti, is it fun to look at the sea? Don’t tell me it’s more fun than hanging out with your brother?”

Mathias, who was sitting beside her, pouted and complained. However, Lestia was entranced by the scenery. She only understood the part where he asked if the sea was fun and answered him with joy.

“Yes! This is my first time seeing the ocean up close! Really, it’s really cool!”

Mathias immediately turned sulky upon hearing her answer. He wanted to hear her say ‘It’s more fun to play with my brother!’ but it seemed like he needed to work harder to catch Lestia’s attention.

“Pfft―”

Joel, who was watching them from the opposite side, burst out in laughter.

He did not expect that he would see Mathias, like a raging foal without any reins, be so happy with someone’s words. This man, who had never spared any glance at his father’s or eldest brother’s words, pretended to die as he sulked at the words of a small girl.

It was quite fun.

“What? Are you picking a fight, huh? Joel?”

Mathias glared at Joel but Joel just ignored his gaze as he handed Lestia a macaron filled with lemon cream.

“Lestia, my sister. I didn’t know that you would like the sea this much. Eat some snack and watch the view slowly.”

“Ah! Yes! Thank you, brother Joel.”

Lestia quickly adjusted her posture and accepted the macaron. Her relaxed appearance was completely different when she first rode the carriage to go to Verchester Mansion.

“Keuuk. Joel, you’re too cowardly. How dare you seduce her with food.”

“What? Your methods of trying to get your younger sister’s attention is too one-dimensional.”

“Ugh! I should have prepared some cookies if I knew this is what would happen!”

Lestia, who couldn’t understand what Joel and Mathias were arguing about, tilted her head as she nibbled on her macarons.

“……”

Lysian quietly looked at Lestia with his hands supporting his chin. It was as if Lestia’s cheeks that puffed up as she bit on the coin-sized macarons were extremely interesting.

‘She’s eating well.’

Was what he thought while thinking that it was strange at the same time.

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TL’s corner!

I don’t like Gerard but I will like you because you did that to the crown prince! Sorry for the awkward cuts on the chapters! I assure you, they are of the same length as before. Hehe.