Chapter 65

A heavy silence followed.

“I want to prevent a terrible future where the Bellstein Wall will come down and people will die. You might say it’s absurd.”

Soliaphe was confused.

‘In the future, Bellstein will fall, and people will die. And is this little kid going to stop that?’

“You’re just saying things you don’t understand.”

“Yes, you can be confused. You may not believe me. But it’s clear that I can help Madam Soliaphe. Please, let me help you.”

“…….”

“I have something to show you.”

“Something to show me?”

Luciel nodded her head and took Soliaphe into the greenhouse. There, the Phoenix’s Rose, which Luciel had cared for in the morning, grew even bigger and stretched out to the vine.

“……What is this?”

“It is a magical plant called the Rose of the Phoenix. I got it from the Phoenix at the altar of fire to wake up Grandma Evelyn from her sleep.”

“I know if it’s a magical plant. I just can’t believe there’s such a precious thing in this place…..”

Luciel pointed to the small wound on the back of Soliaphe’s hand.

“Have a sniff from the Phoenix’s Rose.”

Although Soliaphe had a puzzled face, she soon took in the scent of the rose, as Luciel instructed. A thick rose perfume blew into her lungs, and the scar on the back of her hand disappeared. It seemed that her body was full of vitality and became more relaxed.

On the other hand, the Rose of the Phoenix slightly withered, and a voice was heard.

―Luciel, you gave away my vitality……I’m running out of energy

Luciel was startled, but she didn’t show it and continued to speak with Soliaphe.

“The Rose of the Phoenix is ​​said to replenish vitality in addition to the power to awaken dragons.”

“……It is amazing, but my disease is a terminal one that has no cure. It’s not just a wound.”

“What exactly is the name of your disease?”

“Manaris. It’s a disease in which the mana circulating through the body gradually dries up and disappears. In the end, when the person runs out of mana, the blood dries up, leading to death.”

“……It’s a terrible disease.”

“Yes, it’s almost been two years. It was the time the Doctor told me I had left. I have no hope.”

As Soliaphe was speaking in a helpless voice, Luciel held her hand tightly.

“No, there is a way.”

Luciel thought to herself. As long as Phoenix resurrects soon, she can help Soliaphe.

‘I can protect her with my own hands.’

“Please wait a little longer for the Phoenix to resurrect. I think it will take some time.”

“Well. I don’t have much time left.”

Time. Yes, time was the biggest issue. Worst of all, she will die before Phoenix resurrects. I have to help Phoenix resurrect as soon as possible.

“Luciel, what you saw today……”

“I’ll keep today a secret from everyone….”

“Thanks.”

“But you can’t just keep avoiding it. It would be best to tell the truth to father-in-law, but…. That’s up to you, right?”

“…….”

“Oh, and I have one request.”

“Request?”

“Come with me to see the Doctor. We need to know how far the disease has progressed.”

I was worried that it seemed to have progressed quite a bit when I saw her vomiting blood, but her complexion was bright after she had eased her vigilance.

“I’ll think about that.”

Luciel shook her head and grabbed Soliaphe’s hand with her tiny hand.

“No. You have to go hand in hand with me. Okay?”

Luciel was clinging to her and said so. Soliaphe was entangled in an unfamiliar experience. The soft feel of little wads of cotton tickled every corner of her heart. Perhaps embarrassed to hug the child so openly, Soliaphe patted Luciel’s back with one hand.

Luciel said while feeling her warmth.

“Mother, I will protect you. I won’t fail. So please don’t let go of my hand.”

“……What?”

A small child, like a fluffy snow rabbit running in the snow, suddenly gave a bright smile while saying she was going to protect her.

“By the way, did you just call me mother……?”

“Oh, I was distracted, so I called you like that without thinking much. I’m sorry, Madam Soliaphe.”

Luciel pretended to be a mistake, but it wasn’t. For some reason, the Bellstein’s seemed to be sensitive to nicknames.

“No. It’s nice to hear.”

Luciel chuckled while knowing it would be like that.

A familiar gaze could be felt watching the two of them laughing for a long time from a distance.

“Mother.”

“Yes?”

“Father-in-law is watching over there. It’s not good to just keep avoiding it.”

Soliaphe herself knew that Luciel was right. Louivid was burning up because of her dishonest self.

Luciel gave her a small push.

“Please say something first.”

But Soliaphe didn’t even think to move. She was afraid to take one-step closer to Louivid. Then Luciel ran up to Louivid and said.

“Father-in-Law!”

“Luciel.”

Even if he didn’t say anything, it was written all over his face. He was asking if Soliaphe was okay.

“Mother, it’s okay. You can go to her.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, Father-in-Law!”

Seeing Louivid trying to approach Soliaphe, Luciel quickly called out to him and put something on his hand. It was a little shamrock. A very common grass.

“Softly. Okay?”

Louivid chuckled and nodded his head. Maybe it was but a little and trivial thing that could melt a heart that has been frozen all these years. He made a flower ring by weaving the shamrock in a circle.

A little round ring was completed.

When he lifted his head, his wife, who had a familiar face, was approaching. His ruby red eyes widened immediately. He said nothing. He did not resent nor obsess over why she cut off all contact. He just spread his arms, telling her to come quietly over his broad shoulders.

He now realizes that sometimes one action speaks louder than ten useless words.

Soliaphe, who was in Louivid’s arms, buried her face in his chest. She closed her eyes and savored his warmth for a long time.

In the next afternoon, the Duke called the children to a bench outside the castle. He didn’t show it, but his face was brighter than ever. Soliaphe was next to him exposing her elegant neckline in a beautiful purple dress

A flower ring made of shamrock was worn on her finger.

‘They seem to have reconciled properly.’

The two pretended not to, but secretly met their gazes. Watching the two, Luciel seemed to be thrilled. She could barely hold back her heart pounding for a moment.

Luciel said as she stroked Leoni’s head next to her.

“The two are so beautiful, right?”

“Dad and Mom. Hum, they are not bad.”

The Duke approached the two children and said.

“I was going to buy you a present on the way back.”

‘You remember that promise.’

Louivid soon cast Snow magic over the clear sky. It was beautiful to see the snow falling gently under the clear blue sky.

“It’s snowing in spring. It’s cool!”

When Luciel looked up at the sky and admired, Soliaphe smiled at her.

“Not snow, but a snowman…….”

But it seemed that Leoni wanted a snowman, not snow. Louivid took carrots, buttons, and twigs from his pockets and floated them in the air, chanting an unknown spell.

Then, the face and body clumped together from the snow that had piled up, and the limbs, nose, and eyes flew and stuck in the main body. Finally, the long carrot was stuck in the head and a nose was born.

“It’s a real Snowman!”

Louivid snapped his fingers as he watched Leoni’s who was delighted and jumping with joy.

As the snowman started toddling and moving, Leoni was completely blown away and started a snowball fight with the little friendly snowman, they were making other little snowmen.

Luciel also made a snowman with Leoni.

“But where is Sister’s present?”

“Luciel’s is here.”

As if the Duke couldn’t possibly forget that, he held out a red square box to Luciel. Curious about her gift, Leoni approached and glanced at her.

“What is this?”

“Origami set! Rose told me that this is popular for young girls these days. Thank you so much, Father-in-law.”

Luciel later decided to do origami with Rose and Bessie. It was fun just imagining it.

“And Luciel, I brought an animal that resembles you from the snowy field.”

At Louivid’s words, Soliaphe burst into a smile.

“It really looks like Luciel.”

“I want to go see it.”

“Yes, first of all, we put it in on the animal ranch in Leoni’s little fief.”

At the Duke’s words, Leoni slapped his cheeks and jumped excitedly.

“Yes!”

“Leoni, I didn’t give it to you, so don’t get excited…….”

“Yes.”

“Little fief?”

“Leoni liked animals, so I prepared a little fief under his title in advance.”

“Ung. I also have an animal ranch and a well in my land. It’s all up to me.”

‘Because he is the son of a Duke, it was passed down for education. It’s kind of cool.’

Luciel, who was simply admiring, suddenly thought this was one answer for her problems.

‘If I had a small piece of land, would I be able to store all my jewels?’

The four of them went on a picnic and quickly reached Leoni’s little fief in a carriage. As if it were a specialty of the village, there was a small sign at the entrance of the land.

[Leoni’s Strongest Land]

It was such a simple and strong name, Luciel couldn’t help but laugh.

There were quite a few animals, including ponies, chickens, ducks, sheep, deer, and goats. It was a small ranch with cattle and animals everywhere, and there were several people taking care of it.

“Hi!”

Leoni raised his hand toward the young man, and he looked at the child in a friendly way and welcomed the little lord.

Luciel looked around. Bellstein’s soldiers were everywhere.

She had no need for such a large piece of land, it would have been nice to have a place small enough to fit only one warehouse.

Luciel thought that if her father-in-law said that he would present her with a little fief, she would have to answer with a decided mind.