Chapter 31

Chapter 31

They only arrived at their destination by the time the sun had set. Lestia was overwhelmed by the size of the base castle of the Verchester Duchy in front of her.

The Verchester Castle showed its magnificence and dignity as it reflected the red sky on its pale gray walls that stood on top of a steep cliff against the background of the setting sun.

And below this view were the vassals, retainers and servants working in the castle that stood there and welcomed them in the Verchester Duchy. Compared to the number of retainers and servants in the capital, their number here was incomparably larger.

‘So… this is Verchester Duchy.”

It seemed like the Verchester Ducal Family was a family that held power and wealth that was far larger than what Lestia had imagined.

‘I got a bit used to it before but… this…’

The more she learned and experienced about them, the more she wondered if she could truly ever live as a member of such a great family.

“How is it Liti? This place isn’t fun, right? Be careful, it will be even more suffocating once you get inside.”

Mathias kept on sticking to Lestia’s side after apologizing to her about the argument that he had with Gerard back in the ship. He had also explained to her a few things about the Verchester duchy.

― Liti, you should get yourself ready. The Verchester territory is a really boring place.

A boring place?

― That’s right. It’s winter for almost half of the year, so it’s cold. Just looking at the beach can make you feel depressed. And all the objects that decorate the castle are old and antique. It’s really boring.

In fact, it was more of a complaint than an explanation. However, it seemed like Lestia took it seriously since she couldn’t help but think that her experience was quite different from his explanation.

“It’s much cooler than what I thought.”

“What? Cool? My sister is so kind.”

“That’s not true. It’s really cool. I thought the mansion in the capital was cool too but… the Verchester’s castle in this place looks like the ones in the fairy tales.”

The deep blue of the sea contrasting against the white of the beach and the lively and hopeful expression of the people who survived the cold of the winter as they prepared for the spring was beautiful. Even the furniture and decorations inside Vercherster’s base castle all exuded elegance and dignity that showed its long history.

It was a place that had a completely different charm compared to the busy atmosphere of the capital. Lestia loved the place.

“Hmm… Well, it’s been here for so long that it can be considered to be part of those fairytales.”

However, Mathias was still shaking his head as if he couldn’t agree with Lestia’s words. But he soon smiled as he teased Lestia.

“Ah, that’s right! You might think that it reminds you of fairy tales but there are also ghosts in the fairy tale books about castles.”

“G, ghosts?”

Lestia’s eyes widened when she heard something unexpected like ghosts.

“That’s right. I was alone when I met him. He walked towards the end of the hallway with the sound of iron hitting together. Clank, clank, clank, like that.”

Mathias pointed towards the dark hallway that led to the inside of the castle. The hallway that was slowly being encroached by the darkness from the setting sun raised fear in anyone looking at it. It was as if something would really come out from the other end of it. There were even suits of armor lined up in a row along the dark hallway.

“Right! The sound of metal and iron clinking together was the sound of them moving! I’m sure the ghost went inside them and moved them!”

“R, really?”

Joel immediately grabbed Mathias’ fingertips the moment he saw the fear in Lestia’s face.

“Mathias, don’t make fun of our younger sister.”

“Hoooo. I did it without realizing it. The startled Liti looks so cute too.”

“B, brother Mathias!”

“Sorry, Liti. Your reaction was just too cute. Don’t worry, I will defeat it for you if there ever is a ghost!”

Mathias tapped his chest with his fist as he smiled leisurely.

“Anyway.”

Joel clicked his tongue at him as if he was someone pathetic. Then, he turned towards Lestia and spoke to her in his sweet and gentle voice.

“Lestia, the castle is huge so you can get lost if you wander around while you’re still not yet familiar with the way. Make sure that you’re careful before you get used to it. Understand?”

“Yes, yes!”

Lestia nodded as she looked around.

The castle was so quiet.

She could see and hear Gerard speaking to his vassals and retainers that he had not seen in a long time while Lysian stood indifferently next to him.

‘Lysian-nim is probably okay, right?’

Lestia was concerned after the conversation that she had with Lysian in the cabin. However, Lysian had been acting as if nothing had happened.

“Young lady, young masters.”

Butler Halo bowed as he spoke.

“I’m sure you’re hungry so I will ask them to prepare dinner right away. How do you want me to serve it? Do you want me to bring it to your rooms as usual?”

“Halo! I’ll eat with Liti at the dining hall!”

Mathias was quick to answer.

“Ah, then I’ll eat at the dining hall too. Will that be alright, Lestia?”

Lestia nodded happily.

“Yes! I like that!”

“Should we do that? Then, I will prepare it right away.”

Halo watched the Verchester siblings with a gentle smile on his face. He could see that the desolate and frosty relationship between the young masters were leaning in a better direction after Lestia came to the Verchester family.

“Then, Liti. Let’s explore the castle while dinner is being prepared! I’ll guide you!”

Mathias held Lestia’s wrists as he took a step forward towards the hallway where ghosts were said to appear.

“B, brother Mathias. Do we really have to go there?”

“Liti, are you afraid of ghosts? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“That’s not it…!”

“It’s alright Lestia. I’ll be there with you too.”

Joel followed behind them with a grin.

Lysian glanced at Lestia’s party that disappeared beyond the hallway before instructing Halo.

“I’ll eat in my room.”

Then, he took a step in the opposite direction of the hallway where Lestia disappeared into.

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The dark hallway brightened up the moment Lestia stepped foot inside. It seemed to be the work of a magic tool.

It wasn’t something new to her since she had encountered them a lot of times back in the Verchester mansion but Lestia still sighed in relief. After all, no ghosts would appear if it was this bright.

“Liti! If you go towards the end, you will see the castle’s watch tower. And if you go this way, you will see the patrol’s path.”

Mathias explained the structure of the castle in excitement.

“The Verchester Ducal Castle was built as a naval fortress that’s why it’s built with all of these defenses in place, Lestia.”

Joel, on the other hand, explained the history of the Verchester Castle.

Lestia quietly listened to the words of her two brothers as she took in the grandeur and splendidness of the castle.

‘You can really get lost if you go around alone.’

She now understood why Joel had told her to be careful or she might get lost.

“Huh…? That.”

Lestia’s eyes were drawn towards the painting hanging in the hallway. She unknowingly stopped in her tracks as she looked at it. There were four people in the painting.

A noble and elegant lady with dazzling blonde hair was smiling widely with three young boys with bright eyes standing next to her.

Joel and Mathias also stopped to look at the painting.

“Ah, this. It’s been a long time. It’s a family portrait that has been drawn a long time ago.”

“Family portrait…?”

When she looked closely, she realized that the three boys in the painting resembled Gerard, Joel and Mathias.

“Then, that lady…”

“That’s right. She’s our mother. She died a long time ago.”

Joel smiled bitterly as he spoke.

“Ah. I, I didn’t know…”

Lestia looked apologetically at Joel and Mathias. They were siblings born from different mothers. It was only natural that they had different mothers but she did not even think about asking them about her.

“It’s alright, Lestia. We should have told you earlier. But it’s already been a while so we thought that there’s no need to talk about her.”

“That’s right, Liti. We don’t even remember our mother that much. Just like you.”

Mathias smiled and pointed at the picture as if it was something insignificant.

“Now, Liti. Let’s give you a quiz. Which one is me, and which one is Joel?”

Lestia followed Mathias’ finger. She could see two boys who looked so much alike that they seemed to have come out from the same mold. Amazingly enough, Joel and Mathias looked more alike back when they were children than now.

As they grew up, their personalities and atmosphere began to affect their appearance which made it easier to see their differences.

But…

“This is easy. Brother Joel is the one with emerald eyes and brother Mathias has the amethyst eyes.”

Lestia could easily get the answer.

No matter how similar they were, the color of their eyes were completely different.

“Ah, you easily answered it. As expected, our Liti is a genius.”

“What do you mean genius? That’s not it. Brothers’ eyes are different in color so anyone can guess it correctly.”

“Hmm~ Is that so?”

“Yeah! They’re so pretty. I wish I also had eyes that are as colorful and as pretty as a jewel like yours. Then…”

If she had, she would have never suspected that she wasn’t a Verchester. Lestia realized it late that she had brought out something that she shouldn’t have so she quickly shut her mouth.

Mathias and Joel stared at Lestia.

“Lestia, the color of your eyes does not mean much.”

Joel gently patted Lestia’s shoulders.

“The eyes show the mana of the wizard. That’s why the color of our eyes reveals what mana we have.”

“Shows the mana?”

“That’s right. So how can someone compare to our youngest’s silver eyes? Can they read magic books, like you? Don’t you think your eyes are cool like that?”

When she heard their explanation, she realized that she could feel the wind mana in Joel’s eyes and the earth mana in Mathias’ eyes. It was something that she couldn’t feel in the past but after the fire that broke out in the mansion, she had been able to feel the mana’s energy albeit it being weak.

Lestia decided that she should discuss this with Lysian too.

‘So, it was like that.’

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