Chapter 161

༻━━━━━━༺✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧༻━━━━━━༺

A fluffy picnic mat was spread on the grass, and a table and chairs with a large white awning were placed around it. It quickly became refreshing, as if they were visiting a distant resort.

While the adults sat and rested, Luciel and Leoni searched for a squirrel through the forest path.

“There is another one here. This one is small.”

“That’s true.”

When Luciel put the acorn in the palm of her hand, a squirrel with a round and pretty tail approached with vigilance, whether he was afraid.

Leoni looked at it curiously, and his eyes twinkled.

“It’s cute and sweet like Sister. Pretty.”

The squirrel that was eating acorns with bloated plump cheeks and Leoni nibbling chocolate balls one by one looked exactly alike.

“You are cuter.”

In response to Luciel’s praise, Leoni revealed his feelings with a sneak glance.

“Really? Am I cute? Well……then kiss me.”

He closed his eyes and poked his lips out. Instead of his lips, Luciel kissed the blushing child’s cheek.

Leoni covered his cheek with his hand, dazed as if he had seen a falling star in front of him.

“Wow! I got one. chu, chu, Sister this is the first time I got a kiss. Hehe.”

Even though he was shy, he smiled brightly and chimed around. Luciel patted his fluffy hair, then got up and looked around for a moment.

“Leoni, do you know where’s Kizef?”

“Brother? Hmm.”

Luciel looked over to where the family was. Evelyn and Soliaphe were playing card games while drinking tea, and Gillard was taking a nap.

Louivid said he would most likely not be able to attend because of work, but she could soon spot him walking from a distance.

“Oh, Dad’s here. Let’s go, Leoni.”

“Yes.”

Luciel took Leoni’s hand and approached the picnic table. The Duke was dressed in his bests, while the whole family was dressed in comfortable and suitable clothes for outside activity.

“Honey.” (Soliaphe)

“You are here.” (Evelyn)

“Yes, I can’t help but come when I see this.”

The Duke replied while waving the letter Luciel had written on dried maple leaves.

[The most wonderful father in the world, I would be very happy if you could come to the picnic.]

“Luciel’s maple leaves letter, I envy it.” (Evelyn)

“Oh, I should’ve said I wasn’t coming either.” (Soliaphe)

Soliaphe and Evelyn’s laughter grew louder, and Luciel smiled shyly. The Duke sat on the mat and stretched out his arms at the approaching children. His lips rose quietly.

“You came, Dad.”

“Dad.”

“There you are, come here.”

The Duke embraced Luciel and Leoni with his large, strong arms, respectively. Looking at Leoni with red cheeks, Evelyn asked.

“But why is our Leoni with such red cheeks?”

“…….”

As if embarrassed, Leoni covered his face with a plump, squishy hand.

When shy Leoni eventually confessed that he had kissed Luciel, Gillard, who had been sleeping hard, got up and muttered arrogantly at the bustling sound.

“What, what kind of guy kissed our Luciel?!”

Leoni raised his hand.

“Me!”

The laughter of the family grew louder. Soon after, Chef Seth and Eva brought the picnic baskets themselves.

Each of them opened the picnic basket in front of them and unfolded the different menus one by one.

Sandwiches with plenty of crab meat, smoked chicken, grilled octopus skewers, soft cottage cheese salad, mushroom cream stew, and raspberry muffins were all served to fill your stomach.

The last basket was filled with apples, blueberries, raspberries, fresh cream, and fresh milk grown in Luciel’s little fief.

“It feels a little empty without Kizef…….seems like he’s still living in the Knights Order, haven’t you seen him, Luciel?”

“Yeah.”

Everyone nodded at Evelyn’s words.

They even heard that Kurantiel’s training was further strengthened, because the delay in daily exercises had stopped for too much time by his going to the Capital.

Therefore, when he was training, there was rarely any other contact, and even if they were in the same castle, it seemed that it had been more than a week since the others saw him.

“He must have a lot on his mind.”

The silent Duke spoke as if he knew something, and Luciel looked up at him.

“Dad, did Kizef say he had a problem?”

“It seemed like he was talking about his future with Kurantiel. If a guy who doesn’t reveal his true intentions easily would say something like that, then he must have a lot to think about.”

“……I see. I didn’t know. Because he’s always got a face he’s okay with anything.”

Luciel dropped her head helplessly as if she had not recognized Kizef’s feelings.

“It’s not your fault, it’s a natural process that everyone has to tackle, so don’t worry, Luciel.”

‘I think he wants to look strong in front of you.’

But the Duke saved his last words.

Then he recalled the recent news of the Prince. He tried not to talk about the scoundrel in this pleasant place, but he thought he should say this to Luciel.

“By the way, Luciel. The Prince will be stuck in a monastery for at least a few years.”

“……Not the academy? I see, Dad used his hand.”

“So don’t worry about anything.”

He gave out a lazy smile.

The bald eagle, sent by the Duke to monitor the prince, found some information and he immediately reported it to the Empress.

[I’ll replace my thanks and prizes by covering up the blasphemy of keeping an eye on the royal family. Not because I believe in Bellstein, but for our Claudia.]

The Empress immediately took action, and the Duke’s report turned out to be true.

What was found was a small burrow deep inside the hunting grounds where the bones of hundreds of animals were buried.

When it became clear that he had killed and stuffed too many animals it could not be overlooked as a simple hobby of hunting anymore, controversy over his brutal personality broke out first among Claudia’s supporters.

Among them, half were planted by the Duke, such as Count Hermann.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten about the Azran, the Tyrant? Since time immemorial, the cruelty of the monarchs that brought blood winds to the country cannot be ignored. The Prince is already treating life like a toy! If left as it is, there will most likely be chaos in this country’s future. You must set an example.”

“Isn’t hunting something you usually enjoy as a hobby? He’s still young. If a measure is needed, I think it will be resolved by simply sending the Prince to the academy for a while.”

They were at odds with the Princes who supported the prince, including the Marquis of Garsol.

The public opinion was even more heated as the Emperor was likely to choose a successor to the throne within a few years.

“The bribery of a Royal exam inspector also went unnoticed. There is clearly a problem with the way the Prince was educated.”

After much consideration, Neuschwan announced the treatment of the prince.

“Prince Reynold spends five years in the monastery of the Temple of Retranon to purify the body and mind according to the will of God, and returns after learning proper character.”

Upon hearing the news, Reynold left the room with his lips firmly closed before the Emperor’s command was over.

* * *

“Lady Luciel, I looked at the pink diamond you entrusted me with last time, but this one was also not easy. Oh, instead, the mana level was the highest. I don’t know what happened, but are you giving me jewels that are getting stronger and stronger?”

As Luciel entered the small fief’s lab building, Erika with short hair and large glasses approached to report.

It was what Luciel had expected.

“I thought so. First of all, it was unusual in appearance and so was the process. It doesn’t seem to contain the power of a common element. It’s all right to find out about it a little bit slower. For now, this is the last jewel we have to study.”

Luciel replied with a bashful smile.

After the pink diamond, no new jewelry has been made yet. It was unclear whether another new type of jewel would be really made, but for now, only pink diamonds were left, so it was the last one to be studied.

“……It’s a pity that this is the last jewel. I don’t want to break up with Lady Luciel.”

Erika wept and leaned on Luciel’s shoulder.

“We won’t break up. And it may not be the last time.”

“Really?”

Luciel thought it was time to tell her about the secret.

She was able to come this far thanks to Erika’s extensive research, she never coveted Luciel’s jewels, and studied them with pure enthusiasm and passion.

She was a trustworthy person.

“Sister Erika. I have something to say. You were wondering where I got the jewels that you’ve been researching, right?”

Luciel drew mana as she felt gratitude for Erika.

Torong. 

A topaz was made.

“……Huh? Hold on? Is this a dream?”

Erika took off the glasses and rubbed her eyes a few times to look at the jewel again.

“It’s not a dream. I made it because I am a crystal fairy who creates jewels with emotions. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to tell you for a while. But no one knows this except us Bellstein. Please keep it a secret.”

As Luciel urged, she grabbed Erika’s hand.

“Uh, wait……Wow, Lady Luciel was not like a fairy, but a real fairy……”

“Yes. I thought the power to make jewels was a curse……but it wasn’t. Thank you for showing me how strong and radiant I am.”

For a moment, Erika’s mind was filled with thoughts of the bad guys who might have been targeting Luciel because of this power.

‘She must have gone through a lot. Because she created such precious and strong jewels……’

“I won’t tell you until I die. I swear. Thanks for telling me the secret……sniff, thank you.”

“Hold on a second, Sister Erika. Why are you crying?”

Luciel’s little hand patted Erika’s shoulder. After she had stopped crying, Erika opened her eyes and asked.

“But how do you create jewelry? It looks similar to magic, but Lady Luciel’s abilities are amazing.”

“……Pff, I’ll tell you everything from now on.”

Erika’s pure intellectual curiosity was cute, so Luciel burst out laughing and slowly explained how she made jewelry.

Whatever emotions create what jewels…

After hearing all the explanations, Erika began to think about it as if she was organizing the information.

“A regular diamond was a sacrifice and protection, when holy water was poured, healing and vitality were activated. Did you say that pink diamonds are jewels created with confidence and passion? Well, holy water didn’t work this time. All right. I will go back to the beginning and start researching.”

As Erika vigorously rolled up her sleeves, Luciel became reassured.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Whatever jewelry she made in the future, it seemed like she could figure it all out together with Erika.

༻━━━━━━༺✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧༻━━━━━━༺