Chapter 53

Chapter 53

When Luciel opened the drawer of her desk to hide the little Topaz, she found a small box she had never seen.

“……What is this?”

When I opened the black box, there was a big diamond, topazes, and emeralds that were dazzling in the five colors of light. All were of high-purity, clear and transparent high-grade jewels. They were so dazzling that you can’t help but feel attracted.

If you see such a jewel, someone will surely take it, so I didn’t even think of looking for them, but I didn’t expect it to be stored so nicely like this….

The weather outside the window looked exceptionally clear. Luciel’s heart pounded again and another topaz fell from the air to the floor.

Someone knocked on the door and Luciel quickly hid the jewel. It was Bessie, not Kizef, who showed her face.

“Little Madam! I heard you woke up. I’m really happy. Everyone was very worried.”

Bessie ran and hugged Luciel tightly. She looked like she was in tears. Luciel struggled to contain her feelings.

“I, I am fine. As you can see, I’m fine.”

“Yes, I am very happy. Oh, would you like to try some hot vegetable stew? Chef Seth is very worried.”

“……Yes. Bring it to me quickly. I am hungry.”

Luciel quickly sent Bessie out and quickly grabbed the jewels in the air again.

“I’m trying to hold back my emotions. But it’s good. Because I’m loved…….”

Meanwhile, when Bessie closed the door and came out, there were many people waiting for Luciel’s news in front of the room. Upon hearing that the Little Madam had woken up and was looking for food, all the workers were relieved and went to do their jobs.

Gillard, the Duke, Ellington, and Leoni were all waiting at the door, but they could not enter the room.

It was because Eva stopped them.

“It would be better to wait for the Little Madam so that she can eat comfortably.”

Eva grinned as she watched the men of Bellstein fidgeting in front of Luciel’s room waiting for a chance to visit.

Luciel had just woken up, but the Castle was already lively. Now everyone was feeling that it was impossible to imagine Bellstein without Luciel.

* * *

After eating the vegetable stew, and feeling refreshed, Luciel decided to show her face to reassure everyone that she was well and came down to the drawing room. It was because Eva offered to give her a special snack.

“They grew watermelons on the greenhouse farm. Now is the time to enjoy some cool fruits.”

Eva cut the watermelon in half, and made a pretty round flower-like shape inside the watermelon that looks like a natural bowl.

Luciel took a round cut piece of watermelon, put it in her mouth, and bit it. As she tried watermelon for the first time in her life, she fell in love with it.

“It’s really sweet and refreshing.”

The sweet and cool juice bursts out on her mouth and moistens her throat. She thought it would be ok to drink this instead of water.

“I feel like my thirst is disappearing. The first water you drink from an oasis in the desert might taste like watermelon.”

The soft cheeks that seemed to stretch like cheese if pulled were busy moving.

“I am glad that you enjoyed it.”

Eva smiled as she sat down and watched Luciel eat. Before she knew it, it was becoming Eva’s hobby to serve Luciel a cold drink or dessert.

After she had a full meal and dessert, Luciel regained some energy. She went to the office and spoke to Gillard and the Duke.

“I will go back to the altar.”

When it comes to Luciel, the two worried people did not say much this time and readily allowed it.

“Anyway, I was going to ask you to go together when you wake up.”

“Let’s go right now.”

“Since the coordinates are saved, we can move immediately.”

When the three were exchanging positive glances in harmony with each other, Kizef opened the door to the office and came in.

“I will go too.”

“You came on time, Kizef.”

Gillard beckoned Kizef to come.

Paah.

He raised his staff, creating a green mobile portal. So the four of them moved to the entrance of the altar together.

Perhaps it was because Luciel held the Holy Grail last time, the altar remained open until the last floor, so all they had to do was move on.

Luciel, who once again grabbed the rolling Holy Grail that was on the floor, bravely stepped forward and turned slightly to look at the three of them.

“Move away, Luciel. It’s dangerous, so I’ll take the lead first.”

The Duke, who was flapping his cloak, grabbed Luciel and moved her to the back before going in first.

Gillard was behind him, and Kizef was behind him.

In the end, Luciel was at the very last place, all the way to the back. Kizef looked down at Luciel, and gently reached out his hand without the grown-ups knowing.

Luciel grabbed his hand.

She was anxious because she could not see the enchanting light she had seen that day.

They were very nervous and went down fully prepared, but there was still nothing in the eyes of the three, but an empty space.

As if that day had been a dream.

“…… There seems to be nothing.”

“We’ve been working in vain.”

“Let’s go back.”

Everyone turned away, but Luciel approached the center of the space and stopped walking. She could clearly see it

It was a red hawk that gracefully folded and unfolded its wings and tail. There were golden, blue, and bright red feathers in several places. The hawk had fine, black eyes, and from its golden glittering beak, gold dust fell every time it moved.

The tail made of scarlet flames blazed brilliantly.

Luciel called out the name of the sacred and beautiful bird.

“Phoenix.”

Phoenix raised her head and stared at Luciel for a long time.

-……I wondered who held the Holy Grail, and it was you. This clear energy. The transparent jewel inside. You are the blood of a wise and good fairy, aren’t you?

The auspicious voice of a woman was heard from Phoenix. Gold powder also fell off the long crest on the head.

-Why are you here? I’m sorry, but I burned myself to death seven years ago.

“Then did you cause the fire that broke out in the past at the academy?”

-Yes. I did because he was trying to reveal the Phoenix’s Rose to the public at will.

Phoenix seemed to be angry for a moment, and her tone grew stronger. Luciel guessed who the man was. The author of the book, Quent.

“The man was Quent, the author of 『Legendary Magical Plants』right?”

-That’s right. He was a foolish human being. Otherwise, I would have been more than happy to be his friend.

“He…..what happened? It was only known that he was missing.”

Phoenix replied sadly.

-After seeing the entire botanical garden burn, he eventually left. Quent was actually a pen name. He hails from the Polyche family who founded the academy.

“Then the academy knew of your existence?”

-Yes. Rather than resurrect me, they’d rather hide me and possess me forever. But I waited for those who are worthy to pass the trials of my altar and lift the Holy Grail. But no one deserved it except Quent. He also had clear and pure mana.”

“Ah……”

Then the question seemed to be resolved. In order to hide the Phoenix, the academy even built a barrier and made it a forbidden area.

-That’s how many years passed by and you appeared. Thanks. Thanks to you, I am ready to be reborn. As long as I still have my soul. I will die endlessly and rise again. It’s the fate of the Phoenix. I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to own me.

“No. It’s not that.”

Luciel shook her head.

“I didn’t come to own you.”

-Then?

“I have a favor to ask of you. Phoenix’s rose, that’s all I need.”

-Why?

“I want to wake a dragon from her sleep.”

-All right. You are now my favorite child so I can do this much. Instead, there are conditions. Can you share some of your clear and pure mana?”

“……Hm.”

After Luciel hesitated for a moment, Phoenix said.

–  Your mana will be consumed just like when you use magic. It will be refilled eventually. Besides, you seem to have a constitution with a lot of mana like a clear spring deep in the forest. Because you are a Crystal Fairy.

“Did you know that too?”

-Of course. I’ve seen many things through hundreds of deaths and returns.

Luciel was startled. Then, how many years have you lived in total?

-There’s no other monster like me.

“No, I am looking at you as a wonderful and mysterious being. So how do I give you my mana?”

“You just need to reach out your hand.”

“Yes.”

As Luciel reached out her hand, Phoenix placed the tip of her wing. Luciel opened her eyes brightly and waited. A soft blue light flowed through their touching hands. Phoenix fell from Luciel after a while.

-Thank you, it was well received. You were born with clear mana, which is rare even among fairies. It must have been quite painful in your previous life, right.

“……Ah.”

Phoenix also knew that Luciel had returned.

-The roses I take care of are elsewhere.

“Somewhere else?”

-Yes. Hold my feathers tight and close your eyes.

Luciel approached carefully and grabbed the feathers of Phoenix’s chest tightly. Then she felt a sensation of floating as if her whole body was in middle air and moving.

-Open your eyes.

When Luciel opened her eyes, she was in a bright garden. The red roses, which seemed to have been sprinkled with gold powder, had a deep smell.

-Take only one flower. Goodbye, sweetheart.

Luciel carefully picked one of the roses in the garden. In an instant, her distant mind awoke.

“Luciel?”

“Are you getting a hold of yourself now?”

“You lose your mind whenever we go there. I think I need to explode that place…….”

When I woke up, I was lying in my room again. It really seemed like I was possessed by something.

I barely got the Phoenix’s rose and that ended up being a dream…….

“Come on, Little Madam needs a rest, so everyone please go back.”

Saying so, Bessie and Rose drove the three men away.

Luciel looked down, slightly upset, and felt something in her hand, so she carefully looked at it.

There was a red rose in her hand, dripping with golden powder.