That night.
I slipped out of the mansion, dodging around.
Dad told me not to go out without a grown-up after dark, so I felt a twinge of guilt. Of course, that was Alec's dad's rule, not mine.
‘Meh... Callec wouldn't care if I went out or not.’
I headed to the west annex first.
Then, I quietly rolled the mini-carriage I borrowed from Theo near the lobby and took off.
After that, I went to the east forest.
It was pretty far from the mansion, so it was a real trek.
“Still, it's good to be here.”
Best of all, it wasn't raining!
The night forest was quiet.
The moon was super bright, almost like daytime, so it wasn't too dark. It was totally different from the daytime, but weirdly, I wasn't scared, even alone.
‘Because it feels like I'm with my friends.’
Even though magic didn't work, I could feel it.
That all the energies of the forest were welcoming me.
I trudged over to a huge, old tree near the lake and looked up.
Actually, it was the same tree I'd noticed earlier.
My magic quietly seeped into the tree.
The huge, lush tree seemed like it had been guarding this place for ages. It had this really majestic and imposing vibe.
It was like a wise old sage who'd seen it all.
“Hello.”
A soft voice responded in my head.
[ Hello. ]
“I'll get straight to the point, I have a question.”
[ I'll be direct too, I love showing off my knowledge. ]
Oh, I knew it.
I knew you were special.
“I get a new question like every five minutes, so I think we'll get along great. Sweet! So, about this magic thingy...”
I slightly took out the protective magic tool that I had kept in my arms and showed it. The leaves rustled, like they were greeting an old friend.
[ Oh my, long time no see. They are dormant seeds. ]
“You know about this?”
[ That's a kind of magic circle. If you make the seeds sprout, it activates a super strong protective barrier. If you don't touch the seeds, you just get a regular barrier.]
I knew it!
“How do I make that super strong barrier…!”
[ It's impossible with your power, little one. ]
Whoa, why so serious?
“Why!”
[ Making something grow requires a lot of power. ]
The leaves rustled with a soft whoosh, like a low chuckle.
[ In the first place, there are few people who know how to properly use this magic tool. Because the line of druid mages is gone. ]
‘Druid?’
It sounded kind of familiar, but also new. I wonder if it's what they call people with magic like mine?
I gave the tree a big, pleading hug.
“But they said plants love my magic. So, maybe I could use the super strong barrier, right?”
It felt like the tree reached out its branches and looked down at me, real gentle-like. The wind whooshing through the leaves tickled me.
[ That's true, yes. Because humans who can talk to me like this are rare... But I wouldn't really recommend it. You sure about this? ]
I nodded my head like crazy.
I'd do anything for Dad!
[ So stubborn... ]
A fallen leaf gently landed on the top of my head. My hair, which the maids had expertly tied up, had already come loose.
[ Okay. But with the magic you have now, it's really difficult. ]
“Then what should I do?”
The tree paused for a moment and said.
[ There's a price. ]
Blaine Winterwalt loved taking walks at night.
Actually, he'd been feeling bummed out for the past few days.
Because he hadn't even been able to see the face of the kid he wanted to befriend most.
‘There are two cutie-pies in this mansion, and I can't get near either of them.’
Not only Ririn, but that little kid Theo was always stuck to her like glue, so he couldn't talk to her.
Because he'd totally blown it and scared her off at their first meeting, Blaine tiptoed around, trying to stay out of Ririn's sight as much as possible.
And if their paths happened to cross, he'd quickly duck behind a tree.
But when he couldn't resist the pitter-patter of her little footsteps and peeked out, just seeing the back of her little pink head made his heart flutter like crazy.
‘She was just so adorable.’
Tiny, round, and looking all warm and cuddly. And her voice was just the cutest thing.
He felt like all his wishes would come true if he could just hug her once.
Blaine really liked children.
But with this appearance and this bulk, children generally feared him. Of course, he'd never had a kid run away crying from him before, like Ririn did.
‘I'm glad I was able to give her the teddy bear as a gift.’
He'd been carrying it around all day, and when he bumped into Ririn, he quickly dropped it on the road and took off.
Peeking from behind the tree, he saw her from behind, and she looked pretty excited.
Her chubby cheeks were puffed up a little, so maybe she was happy.
What did her face look like? Was she grinning?
He still had a mountain of wooden dolls ready, so he'd sneak them to her one by one.
“……Huh?”
Just then, a small wooden carriage bumped into his big feet.
‘This is…’
It was something he had made.
Except this one had a little note stuck on top.
Blaine unfolded the note and looked at it. He saw the handwriting, all crooked but written with real care.
Gah, he covered his mouth.
His big, hunched shoulders straightened right up.
Ah, suddenly everything in the world seemed beautiful.
He'd immediately carve the most luxurious and exciting toy in the whole world for this precious little kiddo.
Something welled up inside him. A flood of inspiration.
At that moment, Blaine abruptly stopped walking.
‘Huh?’
There was another page to the note.
Thump. He clutched his heart and dropped to his knees.
It was the most heart-stopping letter since Elisa's proposal.
Maybe because he'd been fretting about it all this time, it was even more touching.
Ah, what should I wear?
No, what outfit should I make for her?
‘Something that goes with the lake.’
Might as well make something for that little squirt Theo too.
Blaine, bursting with inspiration, twirled around in front of the mansion.
It was the night before the procession.
The four ducal houses that guard the four corners of the Etherion Empire.
When the head of a house changes, the former and new Dukes go to the Imperial Palace to pay their respects to the Emperor. The commemorative procession started as a way for people to gather and watch the parade.
A sacred ritual to express gratitude and respect to the former Duke who protected the Empire with all his might, and to offer support and trust to the new Duke who would safeguard the Empire's future.
Of course, these days...
“Lift those flags higher! Make 'em visible! Wave them so they look really impressive!”
“And the flowers and coins for the streets? What, is this it?”
“It has to be double Summerain's. No, five times as much!”
It had just become a big show of each family's wealth and power.
“Your Grace, everything's ready. Let's head out.”
Callec was sitting on a white horse draped with a magnificent banner. At the adjutant's words, he slowly scanned his surroundings.
“Alright.”
A quiet but commanding voice.
The servants, who had been fussing and making last-minute checks, froze.
That's right. We had him...
The Duke of Winterwalt, so perfect and imposing that he made all the dignified flags, fancy flowers, and expensive gold coins seem unnecessary.
With his hair perfectly styled and dressed in a spotless uniform, he looked absolutely flawless.
From his sharp eyes that could cut you down with a glance, to his venomous lips curled in a perpetual snarl.
‘We won.’
The servants smiled contentedly and saw off Callec's procession.
Just the sight of his back filled them with pride.
“And Mother?”
“She's following behind in a carriage.”
Callec nodded and slowly headed towards the main gate of the ducal estate. A very ornate four-horse carriage was following a little behind.
“She got into the carriage and didn't even open the window... She's unusually quiet today.”
“Haha. She hates this kind of thing, so maybe she's trying to get it over with quickly.”
“Is Father still holed up in the annex?”
“Yes. He probably won't come out for about a week, no matter what anyone says.”
“I see.”
Listening to the adjutant's explanation, Callec tilted his head.
‘Speaking of quiet…’
His gaze almost automatically turned to the 4th floor of the main building.
He forced himself to look straight ahead, staring only at the approaching main gate of the estate.
‘The little brats are unusually quiet this morning, too.’
