Chapter 95

“This is the church designed by Gallius. I think the stained glass that depicts the goddess is magnificent and mysterious!”

“…So, was this all you had to say?”

Gallius said with dry eyes as if he wasn’t very interested.

He must have gotten a lot of compliments so far, and he seems to be a person with high self-esteem, so I was expecting there would be positive feedback until here.

“No.”

When Luciel gave a signal with her hand, Ellington took off the black cloth that was placed inside the cathedral. It was not one, but several. Soon the lights came on and the objects inside were revealed. They were miniatures of the buildings that Gallius had been making.

Seville Square, which is loved by the residents of Bellstein, the Golden Mirror Palace, and the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Luciel and Ellington, too, were expecting a little reaction from him this time, but Gallius didn’t change his expression but rather became angry.

“No, what are all these useless things for?”

However, that was not the only thing Luciel had prepared. Luciel beckoned to Max, who was waiting in the church chapel.

“It was made by him, not me. He’s Ivnak’s glass craftsman.”

Max approached, scratching his brown hair.

“My name is Max Hamel. That stained glass gave me deep inspiration and enlightenment. I really want to learn that technique from you.”

At Max’s words, Gallius tilted his head. He didn’t understand.

“If this is about glass craft, aren’t you a craftsman who makes ornaments and bowls? Why do you want to learn stained glass from me as an architect?”

His question was understandable. This time, Luciel came out again.

“That’s the question. Ordinary people can’t easily connect stained glass to glass crafts. Stained glass is a part of architecture that emphasizes the beauty of glass, but what if it was reborn as a glass craft?”

When Luciel asked a question with shining eyes, it was only then that curiosity began to rise in Gallius’s eyes.

“Imagine that each person owns their own stained glass.”

“…! If that happens, the beauty of stained glass will spread more widely to the public. Are you proposing a change in perspective?”

Through his glasses, Gallius’ eyes shone.

“That’s right. We saw the future of glass art in the stained glass of Count Gallius.”

Luciel said with a smile.

“Can I hear why you put so much effort into glass crafts?”

Gallius looked at Luciel for the first time. For a child, she was a rare being who did not waste his time.

“I will bring back Ivnak’s dying glass workshops. To that end, I was preparing a glass craft that everyone would admire even if it was presented to the Imperial Palace. Mr. Max is the one who will make that possible.” (Luciel)

“Yes. Most of the old glass workshops were closed. We lost our place because Baluk Guild offered amounts of glass craft we couldn’t keep up with. That’s why I want to take pride in myself as a glass craftsman and learn with sincerity.” (Max)

Max followed Luciel and also added courage to say.

“Ivnak….It used to be called the Village of Glass. The glass there was of very good quality. There was a big difference with what Baluk Guild is offering.” (Gallius)

Luciel clapped inwardly. She was trying to get the story of Baluk Guild out in the open, but to hear Gallius’s inner thoughts like this. Luciel did not miss the opportunity that came and asked, lowering her voice.

“Count Gallius is currently being sponsored by the Baluk?”

“Yes.”

According to Ellington, the official guild owner was the head of the Baluk family, but I heard that the identity of the real head was completely hidden. That means that the real owner is in a higher position or is more wealthy than that…

After thinking for a while, Luciel looked up at him and said.

“Then, how about getting the support of Bellstein?”

“…My my, are you serious? Wait, come to think of it, child, didn’t you say that you were the Duke’s daughter-in-law? Is this a matter for you to decide?”

“Well, if you leave it to me, I will definitely come with permission from the Duke of Bellstein. It’s hard to suggest the amount at will, but the Duke is an incredibly generous person, so maybe…”

He liked the child’s large-scale oversight, and her confident appearance was bubbly.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“I’m Luciel von Bellstein.”

“How old are you?”

“I just turned ten.”

“I can’t believe it. Getting a sponsorship offer from a 10-year-old child…….”

Luciel chuckled shyly as Gallius shook his head and she wedged it in.

“You will never regret it. The condition is that you pass on the architectural techniques of stained glass to Mr. Max.”

“Is that really the only one?”

“Yes. So, should there be any other conditions?”

“No, no.”

Gallius remembered the conditions with Baluk Guild. He had promised to build a total of three buildings in return for support. One building still remained as a condition. Moreover, there were times when his opinion was ignored and he built a completely different design.

“I wish I could talk directly to the Duke about the sponsorship…”

“Are you sure?”

Ellington, who was by his side, asked again as if to confirm. In fact, a few years ago, right before Gallius joined hands with the Baluk Guild, he had asked for a chapel in the Duke’s Castle in Bellstein and offered to sponsor him.

But at that time, he only got a reply that he was already discussing with Baluk.

The scale of the castle was so great that they didn’t even dare to repair the old part. Aside from money, he had not been able to find a talent who could properly complete the work by combining artistry.

However, if we formed a relationship by sponsoring Gallius, we could slowly bring up not only the story of renovation but also other buildings in the territory.

To be honest, letting a talented person like Gallius play around was a waste of talent.

In this regard, the Little Madam’s performance will be a new achievement to develop Bellstein.

***

Kizef, who watched Luciel meet Gallius behind the walls of the cathedral’s chapel, wondered if she was the child he knew.

I wanted to see what Luciel was doing with my own eyes, so I secretly followed her…

Thinking that it was not only the child’s eyes that sparkled, Kizef turned around. As he left the chapel, Raven spoke to him.

[Is it because of that child? That’s what stopped me from coming out these days?]

Is it because he has been suppressing Raven for a long time?

The black aura he scattered gradually became more visible. As soon as he came out, the energy became black smoke.

Through the drooping shadow of Kizef projected by the moonlight, Raven eventually came out and sat next to him in the form of a boy. Raven grinned with his slanted golden eyes, black hair that felt like darkness, and a pale face.

[You can’t hide it from me forever, so why didn’t you show it on purpose?]

Raven, putting a hand on Kizef’s shoulder, whispered playfully from the side. Kizef got goosebumps every time Raven was like this.

When Emilia’s ghost touched Kizef, he felt a similar chill as if it was not a living person.

“It’s just a contract marriage partner. We decided not to meddle with each other as much as possible.”

Kizef deliberately answered in a dry tone. However, the heart of the thirteen-year-old boy was quickly discovered.

[Lie. You are interested in that child, right?]

Kizef quietly walked down the street at night in silence.

[You are not denying it. After all, you’re not good at lying.]

Kizef looked back at him and sharply said.

“Why are you pretending to know me like that?”

Raven walked ahead and smiled, he replied.

[No one knows you better than me.]

The golden eyes shining like those of a nocturnal beast were really sharp as if they could see through to the depths of Kizef’s inner heart. Ignoring him and approaching the garden, he could see Maximus sitting on the grass, glaring at Kizef with eerie eyes.

Seeing him smiling meanly, it looked like he had been preparing for something.

“Inviting me to a wedding reception is a big deal. Have you grown up so much that you even made my sister obey you? Are you trying to be a Young Master now?”

A wooden doll appeared from behind Maximus, creaking and striking Kizef in the face with his fist.

Whomp!

“……!”

His mouth burst open and he tasted fishy blood in his tongue, but Kizef raised his lips.

“You brought a toy.”

Combat wooden dolls were not used in actual battle but were intended to threaten the enemy. Therefore, it was also a cowardly method used by those who had a lot of money but did not have the strength to fight.

He caught a glimpse of Penelope’s red hair, shivering and hiding behind the bushes.

As Maximus told her to, she was just waiting to press the button so that the wooden doll could attack in time.

“You cheeky kid. Remember, you were nothing at the academy.”

Maximus let out an unpleasant laugh.

“Hey, that’s what the new groom looks like. Your bride is supposed to see this, right?”

Kizef’s eyebrows narrowed and he asked.

“I have something to ask. Do you know Luciel?”

“Luciel? Who is it?”

At Maximus’ attitude, as if it were the first time he had ever heard of her name, Kizef tilted his head.

‘You don’t know? Then why did Luciel write this guy’s name down?’

After all, not only this guy but the names of the three family members of Marquis Cavills were all written on it.

“I don’t know, that name.”

“Luciel is my wife.”

“Oh, really? Then I think I know a little bit know.”

Maximus sarcastically swung his fists to strike Kizef in the stomach.

But his fist was caught with a movement. Maximus was also slightly surprised by the stronger grip than usual. It was because he was that Kizef, who had less strength and was smaller than him.

“Penelope, what are you doing? Press it!”

For a moment, Penelope pressed the attack button of the wooden doll in a frenzy, without seeing properly.

Puck. Puck.

The wooden doll recklessly began to beat the opponent. But when Penelope barely opened her eyes, it was her brother, not the Bellstein Young Master, who was being beaten.

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