Chapter 37

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Lestia was surprised by Lysian’s strange actions. This was her first time seeing Lysian act so flustered.

“…I’ll give you my reply later.”

Lysian spoke to Lestia before turning around and disappearing somewhere.

“Katrina-nim, what did you say to Lysian-nim?”

Lestia asked Katrina, who fell down on the sandy beach once again.

“Huh? That boy is Lysian? Verchester Family’s fourth? Uhuhmmm~ I see.”

However, Katrina just looked elsewhere and did not answer Lestia’s question properly. Gerard appeared on the beach not long after.

“I heard that the one who collapsed was Lysian.”

Gerard was someone who insisted that he should wear his formal attire perfectly anywhere but right now, he was only wearing some thin clothes. He looked like he rushed here immediately after hearing the news.

“Duke, I’m sorry for making you worry. It was my mistake. I thought Lysian-nim had collapsed. But, the one who collapsed was…”

Lestia hesitated but she couldn’t continue her words because Katrina rushed into Gerard’s arms.

“Kyaaack! Gerard! It has been a really long time!”

“Katrina.”

Katrina looked like a flower that had just bloomed as she hung on Gerard’s neck. Her appearance was completely different from her appearance before while she was groaning when she fell on the beach. But Gerard was not really welcoming as much as Katrina was enthusiastic.

“I see that you have used teleportation magic.”

His words of welcome were quite vague and ambiguous. The temperature of the atmosphere between the two was so different that Lestia had no choice but to feel embarrassed as she watched them.

But Katrina did not give in at all.

“Of course. You called for me. Shouldn’t I hurry up and come? Teleportation magic is unstable and dangerous but I can take that much risk for you.”

Katrina looked at Gerard like a puppy looking for praise. However, Gerard did not speak any warm words to her. Katrina grumbled.

“Sigh. Fine, Gerard. I have to do what you ask to satisfy you. Then, let’s see.”

Then she turned and looked at Lestia once again. Her opal eyes with blurry focus looked at Lestia once again.

“This little lady that came to see me is the youngest sister that you were talking about, Gerard?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, I’ll check it out right away.”

Katrina approached Lestia as she grabbed her shoulders and fixed her gaze on her.

Lestia faltered and took a step back.

“Oh my, little lady. Don’t be afraid. From now on, I will tell the lady the truth that you’re curious about.”

“The… truth?”

“That’s right. Now, ask me a question and my magic eyes will let you know if it’s true or false.”

Lestia blinked her big eyes as she looked at Katrina. She looked like she couldn’t understand her words. Then, Katrina explained it.

“It’s simple. My eyes will turn green if the answer to your question is true. And it will turn red if it’s a lie.”

This was the power of the magic eyes of the Lockevest Family.

‘It was something that I had read in a book but it’s still fascinating.’

The other day, Lestia searched the study to find out more about the Lockevest family.

The Count Lockevest Family was a family with the magic eyes that could find the truth in every answer. They have strong support from the public because they were people who could see the truth.

Gerard’s choice to solve Lestia’s worries was all too clear.

However, Lestia was a bit afraid. What if Katrina’s eyes turned red?

“Well then, let’s go. Aren’t you curious?”

Katrina pushed her once again. Lestia clamped her lips tightly as if she finally made up her mind.

‘I can’t continue living in the Verchester Duchy with these doubts in my head.’

After a couple of deep breaths, Lestia finally asked Katrina a question.

“I’m curious if I’m really the princess who inherited the Verchester blood.”

“Good job.”

Katrina opened her eyes widely.

“Then, look into my eyes now.”

The pupils enclosed in her opal irises once again narrowed sharply like that of a cat’s. Then, her iris turned a deep iridescent color.

Lestia’s eyes widened as she watched this mysterious scene in disbelief.

It was just a short moment, but it felt like time had stopped. The dark sea seemed to swallow Lestia. However, Katrina’s eyes blinked beautifully as it cut through the sound of the waves. Then, her magic eyes turned into a dark green. In other words, it was the truth.

“It, it means the truth. Right?”

At that moment, all of the worries that Lestia had disappeared. She felt dazed and fascinated… all kinds of complicated emotions wrapped Lestia’s head.

“I’m really…”

“That’s right. You are really a Verchester, little lady. My magic eyes will only show you the truth, no matter the question. You can trust me.”

“Really… I’m really a Verchester.”

Katrina stroked Lestia’s hair as she stood up with her head down.

“Gerard. Don’t stand stiffly there and talk to your sister. The little lady is really shocked.”

Only then did Gerard, who was watching the situation, spoke briefly.

“Since you’ve done confirming things. Let’s go back home.”

Katrina immediately scolded Gerard and his bluntness. However, Lestia knew exactly what she should answer Gerard.

“…Yes, brother Gerard.”

Lestia no longer called Gerard ‘duke’. The corners of Gerard’s mouth rose slightly as if he was satisfied with the change.

“Oh my. Gerard. So you know how to make this kind of expression too?”

Katrina looked at Gerard in interest after seeing him make this expression for the first time.

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Katrina flung herself down on the long sofa in Gerard’s office the moment she arrived in Verchester Castle.

“Phew. My bones are creaking. I can’t believe I fell down from the sky like that. I would have died if it weren’t for the sandy beach.”

Then, she glanced at Gerard who was paying her no mind.

“Gerard, your sister is really cute. She looks smart and kind.”

“……”

Gerard did not answer. However, she could see that Gerard liked her complimenting his younger siblings like that.

‘You always have your poker face, but…’

His expressionless face looked somewhat different from usual.

“By the way, Gerard. I heard that the Crown Prince was very angry with you.”

“……”

Look, his expressionless face when I brought up his sister and his expressionless face when I brought out the crown prince are completely different.

“Don’t you think it’s too much? I roughly heard what the situation was like from Joel.”

“It’s the same here. I’m also furious.”

The moment the topic veered towards the crown prince, Gerard’s momentum turned brutal.

“It’s just a pity that he did not leave any evidence.”

“Uhuh. That’s true.”

Katrina shrugged.

If Eric had left just one piece of evidence of Lestia’s kidnapping, then Gerard would have never stayed still. Gerard Verchester was a war hero. And he was notorious for being a cold-blooded and vicious man. He was someone who showed no mercy towards his enemies.

‘They called him Blue-Eyed Reaper.’

But it’s cool to see his cruel and brutal side too.

Katrina stared at Gerard as if she was appreciating some artwork. He was a man who made a beautiful and clear impression despite her blurry view. She couldn’t help but get enamored with him.

From childhood, when she first met Gerard, up to the present, when they had become adults, Katrina always hovered around Gerard.

“Then, are you done with what you have to say, Katrina?”

But Gerard had always acted as if he were tired with Katrina around him.

“Not at all! I still have something to say!”

Katrina wanted to look at Gerard a bit longer. So, she brought up another topic.

“ I saw a boy next to your sister earlier.”

“……”

“Did she say that he was Lysian? The Verchester Ducal Family’s fourth. That child. He’s a bit strange? Is that the reason why you hid him?”

Gerard’s eyes turned sharp in an instant when she mentioned Lysian. However, Katrina continued to talk without a care in the world.

“I couldn’t read him properly but the child has some amazing mana. Wait, that child― is he?”

Gerard did not answer.

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