Chapter 60

“Didn’t you think of someone when you asked the question a while ago?”

Luciel, who was caught red-handed, smiled shyly.

“It reminded me of my father-in-law.”

“……Hmm. Do I look weaker than him?”

At Gillard’s mischievous question, Luciel shook her small hand.

“Oh, no, no. The only person I know who can match Grandpa is Father-in-law.”

“It’s a joke. Luciel. In fact, I have never had a serious match with Louivid, but his level surpasses me.”

Luciel’s eyes widened. Grandpa Gillard was an Archmage of the 7th Circle, so Father-in-Law was stronger than that?

“Even though the difference between our circles is not large, Louivid has a strong swordsmanship. He’s literally crazy.”

“……Oh. That’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course, of course.”

Luciel laughed in embarrassment at her grandfather’s somewhat harsh remarks.

“Anyway, it’s my job to manage the tower and direct the wizards under my command.”

Luciel seemed to understand why her father-in-law had not officially revealed his magical potential.

“Father-in-law is hiding his skills because there’s a lot of work to do.”

“……Yes. He’s just too busy being the head of the house, so he probably doesn’t want to add the troubles that come with the Tower.”

Luciel nodded her head, even though the Master of the Tower looked less busy than being a Duke.

“Well, I’m not really that busy because I left a lot of things to the deputy. Hahaha.”

In fact, to those who do not know the true circumstances, Gillard is known externally as a laid-back person who goes around collecting antiques.

Gillard stopped his laugh.

“I see. The more I know, the more interesting it is.”

“Well……Next time I’m free, I’ll show you the Tower.”

“……Really?”

“Of course, my child.”

Gillard lightly wrapped around Luciel’s white cheeks. She was also happy with the touch of Grandpa Gillard, who did not know what to do with his pretty granddaughter-in-law.

‘He’s really like a real grandfather.’

Come to think of it, I had a few questions to ask.

“Grandpa.”

“Yes.”

“Who lives in the South Wing of the Castle?”

“……South Wing? It must be empty there.”

“Oh, I see. What about in the past?”

“That’s where the Duchess, Soliaphe, lived.”

“Wh…….Re-really?”

“Hm……What’s wrong, Luciel?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

‘Oh my God, I must have met the person who would become my mother-in-law.’

Luciel seemed to have made a mistake, so she became confused from her own actions.

When they met earlier Luciel seemed to understand now why she felt dazed by her. It felt similar to when she first met her Father-in-Law and Kizef. Because she was family, she was one of the Bellstein’s.

Luciel calmed her startled heart. She asked me to keep it a secret, so I didn’t say anything, but I was still nervous. On the other hand, I was also concerned.

“Oh, Grandpa. If you visit the tower, I have one favor to ask.”

“Favor? What kind of request is it?”

Luciel tightly clasped his hand with her two tiny hands, and asked for a favor, with bright shining eyes as if begging.

“Please, teach me teleport magic.”

Gillard, who fell in love all over again with her lovely figure, said.

“Okay. Whether it be teleporting or spatial magic, I’ll teach you everything.”

“Thank you. Hi-Hi.”

Gillard laughed, saying that he would teach the magic without her having to ask or beg for it. Such a promise was unimaginable for the wizards of the tower. A large, warm hand stroked Luciel’s head.

“It feels good that Luciel has asked for a favor from this old man.”

“…….”

Luciel didn’t know what to answer, she just smiled.

“Then let’s see about that when I get back, Luciel.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Gillard hurriedly waved his hand and turned around, flapping his cloak and long white blonde hair together. It looked like the back of the Master of the Tower.

She didn’t know her grandfather would like her request so much…….Luciel thought while blinking her eyes.

Oh……I’m asking someone to do a favor because I trust and rely on them. I trusted and relied on my grandfather, so that made him feel good.

A corner of Luciel’s heart warmed up, it seemed like she would make jewelry once again. It was a quiet morning with neither grandfather, who went to the Tower, nor the Duke who was out on duty.

According to the original schedule, today was the magic test, but it was canceled, so Luciel was enjoying a nap. Neither Bessie nor Rose entered Luciel’s room because she had already told them not to wake her up.

Luciel was worried about not getting enough sleep for a child, so to grow up better she went to take a nap and put a soft yellow chick doll next to the teddy bear in the bed. She felt the doll’s warmth and fell into a deeper sleep. She had many dreams thanks to the curtains that were blocking the sun.

In the dream, Luciel had become a powerful wizard. She used all the magic that she wanted to do by expressing not only one attribute but several. She burned down Count Orbia’s hair and beard with fireballs. The count ran away into the house screaming, and thanks to this, the Count’s manor also caught on fire.

Luciel, who was chasing after the Count with intense pleasure, was caught by someone’s hand. It was a hand wearing black gloves. She couldn’t recognize who they were.

Except that the person had a black cloak wrapped around his body and had black gloves.

Those black gloves stopped Luciel and flicked the Count with the tips of it’s fingers. Then the Count helplessly disappeared. As if he didn’t exist in this world.

The person did what Luciel wanted to do. It was a being all donned in black, it should have been something scary, but to her, strangely it was not.

“……!”

Luciel trembled and opened her eyes. It was a strange dream. An invisible force avenged her by killing Count Orbia instead of her. But somehow it didn’t feel bad or ominous. One day, Luciel was going to see the end of Count Orbia with her own hands. She had such a deep-seated grudge.

When she thought of Count Orbia, a fire seemed to ignite in her mind, and at that moment, mana fluttered and gathered in Luciel’s heart.

Ddorong!

Transparent, red sparkling jewels were formed in the air. It was a jewel that Luciel knew well.

It was Ruby. She knows very well what emotions made Rubies. Things like anger, hatred, resentment and angst. Those were feelings that Luciel engraved deep into her bones. Ruby was created by emotions exploding like an active volcano that makes anger rise.

Even though she didn’t know anything else, she seemed to know the properties Ruby had.

‘It must be a fire as hot as anger.’

Obviously, the jewels were brighter and more shiny than they had been made in the past. It was more transparent and with higher purity. She had never made so many emeralds in the past, so it was difficult to compare them, but Luciel was able to know a little more because she had made lots of rubies.

In order to make a ruby, you need a situation that makes you angry or resentful, but in Bellstein, there was absolutely nothing like that.

Luciel smiled softly and got up from the bed. After storing Ruby in a jewelry box in a drawer, she wore slippers and went out of the terrace.

The fresh morning air was sweet.

* * *

Meanwhile Luciel greeted the morning, the castle was turned upside down.

Evelyn, who has a keen sense for feeling mana, had come to find Soliaphe, who had sneaked into the South Wing. When Evelyn saw her daughter-in-law after a long time, she rolled her eyes in surprise.

It was an embarrassing morning for Soliaphe, who fell asleep while she was leisurely drinking whiskey on the sofa.

“Hey. If you come home, you should have told me that you were back. Soliaphe, how long has it been?”

She was also surprised for a moment at Evelyn’s face, where welcome, surprise, and disappointment coexisted, but only her eyes and pupils trembled for a while because Soliaphe herself was usually expressionless.

“Mother. When did you wake up from your sleep?”

(Note: It’s not Sionma here, is eomonin, which is also used for Mother’s in law. But I will use Mother.)

By the time she left the castle, Evelyn was definitely asleep in the West Tower, so she couldn’t say goodbye.

“When did you arrive?”

“…….”

“…….”

The awkward air current between the two reached its climax. It was Soliaphe who spoke first.

“I didn’t have time to say hello when I came back late last night. I’m sorry.”

“……Still, it is. Even if I didn’t know because I was sleeping, everyone else in the family would have been curious about your news. You should have told Eva. You mean you spent the whole night in this dusty place?”

Of course, they were taking care of it from time to time, but to Evelyn, who liked clean and tidy places, it looked like a mess.  She knows it’s affectionate nagging, but Soliaphe couldn’t get used to it.

“This is clean enough.”

Evelyn shook her head with excitement as if Soliaphe’s answer couldn’t stop her.

“Dear me, it’s good that you’re easy-going, but still. Just in case I came over, but I never thought you were really here. I should let Eva know right away and have her place some maids for you. How many people do you need?”

Handmaiden…….It was something she hadn’t even thought of since she has gotten used to having subordinates around instead of a maid. Her grooming was a simple matter she took care of by herself.

“I only need one maid, that’s enough, and I’d rather have servants than maids. A child to take care of my horses and a child to take care of my weapons.”

“Okay.”

Evelyn, who was about to turn around, once again looked at Soliaphe. Although she may be blunt, she felt that she should be the first to reach out and give a hug to her daughter-in-law, who had suffered during the long journey.

“Soliaphe.”

“Yes, mother.”

However, there was still  a sense of distance in the way Soliaphe looked at her with cold eyes. Evelyn didn’t have the courage to give her a hug, so she used words instead.

“To go out hunting monsters for over two years is not something that just anyone can do. Good job.”

“……I didn’t do it alone. It’s also something I like to do, thank you. What about him?”

Seeing Soliaphe asking Evelyn about her husband’s work, she sighed in sorrow.

“How can a couple live with such a distance between themselves? Call him first. He went to the north to inspect the territory.”

“Yes…….”

“Aren’t you curious about the kids?”

“……I saw Leoni sleeping for a while yesterday. I’m going to meet him now. How is Kizef doing at the academy?”

“……He’s doing well, he’ll be back before June. I’ll send a maid first, so dress up and come out. Let’s all eat together. I have a face to introduce to you.”

Evelyn spoke brightly while thinking of Luciel.