“......”
“......”
“......”
Despite running so hard, Erilot froze stiff the mont her eyes t the Duke’s.
She hesitated for a long mont before holding up the rabbit doll.
“The older sisters gave it to .”
Marquis Debussy chuckled.
“Yes, quite a cute doll.”
“Yes!”
A maid approached quickly from a distance. Upon seeing the Duke and the Marquis, she bowed hurriedly.
The Marquis said to Erilot,
“It seems she has co to take you. By the way, it must be ti for dinner. You have worked hard till late.”
The maid bowed again and bent at the waist toward Erilot.
When the maid asked, “Shall we go?”, Erilot nodded.
“Gampa, annyeong.” (Grandfather, goodbye.)
“......”
Marquis Debussy chuckled watching the maid hold Erilot’s hand as they left.
She was truly an amusing child.
‘Maybe it’s because she grew up in the Twelfth Tower rather than the castle.’
She was completely unlike the main branch children.
No child in this castle carried a rabbit doll.
Especially none who boasted about a doll to Duke Astra.
And to say “Grandfather, goodbye?” too.
Even the seasoned nobles treated the intimidating Duke Astra like a normal grandfather.
Today was quite an entertaining sight.
To see Duke Astra not ignoring but unable to respond.
‘How long «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» will it last?’
Soon the child would realize her grandfather was no ordinary old man.
Kids tended to be surprisingly perceptive.
But unlike Marquis Debussy’s thoughts, Erilot was steady.
When the Duke left the study, Erilot sat down in front of the door.
The child held a book.
“When I read books, I get smarter.”
“......”
The next day she sat down in front of the dining hall.
She held a sketchbook just as big as her.
“I draw pictures.”
“......”
The following day was in the bedroom.
She held a milk bottle.
“When I drink milk, I grow fast.”
“......”
Every move Erilot made was reported without fail.
She took care to report well on her own.
After a week passed—
“Eating snacks. Need to brush teeth.”
“......”
Erilot was always doing sothing in front of the office as usual.
The Duke glanced at her then went into his office.
Marquis Debussy and Conrad who ca with him chuckled.
Conrad said,
“You ca again today.”
“Did the lady co yesterday as well?”
“Lately, she has been coming consistently.”
“If I had known, I would have wanted to see a grandchild too.”
Marquis Debussy laughed heartily, but the Duke frowned.
The Marquis shrugged.
Would that man care about a grandchild tagging after him?
He placed the docunts he brought on the Duke’s desk.
“This is the report on Marquis Tolliso’s situation. The mood there is tense after losing the granary. Their last funding source has been cut off... Your Grace?”
“...Hmm.”
His reply was slightly delayed.
As if lost in thought.
When Marquis Debussy and Conrad looked at him puzzled, the Duke waved his hand.
“Continue.”
He spoke casually, but I kept feeling distracted.
That yellow back of his head.
At sunset.
I stood on tiptoes, secretly peeking into the office.
I an, at ‘Conrad’ inside the office.
I had recently been chasing after Conrad diligently.
‘Because it’s about to be the ti for betrayal.’
Though briefly ntioned in , I clearly saw it.
Conrad betrayed in the winter of his fourth year after entering Astra.
And I found out it was currently exactly the winter of his fourth year.
‘I can’t leave grandfather alone with him.’
If alone, he might attack.
But sticking too close to grandfather was impossible.
Grandfather wouldn’t like it, and more importantly...
‘My life is precious.’
What if I got caught up and hurt when grandfather was attacked?
For that reason, I never entered the room, always stayed outside.
Ready to scream if sothing happened.
‘Being a kid is inconvenient.’
If I was going to be possessed, why not an adult’s body?
There was nothing a three-year-old could do.
Pointing at the competent attendant—
‘He’s the traitor. No proof, but I saw it in the novel.’
—he’d think I was crazy.
While thinking that, Conrad ca out of the room.
“You’re still here.”
I nodded, and he bent one knee to et my gaze.
“Not bored, are you?”
“I have snacks.”
I showed him the bag, aning I was fine waiting while eating.
“You’re very well behaved.”
“Yes.”
Hearing that, Conrad chuckled.
“If it’s okay, may I touch your hand?”
Other administrators were behind him, so it didn’t seem dangerous.
I nodded.
Conrad gently straightened my collar. A very kind touch.
“It’s still cold.”
I felt maids glancing this way in the corridor.
I understood them.
‘He’s so handso, their eyes can’t help but look.’
When he looked down while fixing my collar, I thought I was in a fashion magazine.
Long eyelashes bathed in sunset.
Clear eyes.
Sharp nose.
Lips drawing a gentle curve.
‘Above all, Conrad’s greatest charm is this gentle aura.’
“Will you stay here for a while?”
“And Conrad?”
“I am going ho now.”
That was welco news.
If Conrad wasn’t with grandfather, there was no reason to guard here.
Actually, it was a bit cold, so I wanted to go back to the room.
“I’ll go too then.”
“The lady’s stairs in the castle are still high, so I will escort you to your room.”
“Yes.”
I took Conrad’s hand and walked.
He matched my steps comfortably as an adult.
And talked well enough to keep from getting bored.
“You read the history book every morning?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t it hard?”
“No, not hard. I read a little bit at a ti.”
“That’s good.”
The distance from grandfather’s office to my room was quite far, but it wasn’t boring at all.
Conrad saw to the door and said,
“Good night.”
Then he left, and I inwardly groaned.
Not yet the ti to attack grandfather.
The best ti would be at night when few people were around, but Conrad had been going ho early recently.
‘But why did Conrad betray grandfather?’
Thinking deeply, I heard a familiar voice behind .
“Miss.”
It was the maids bringing my dinner.
They saw Conrad’s back and said,
“Oh my, it’s Conrad. He looks so handso every ti.”
“Yes. Seeing him once in a while was a joy. Now that I think we won’t see him anymore, it’s a pity.”
Hearing the maids, I opened my eyes wide.
“Why isn’t Conrad here anymore?”
“He is stepping down as the Duke’s aide.”
“Why?”
“He’s moving to a less demanding job. He has to take care of his younger brother.”
Another maid added,
“I heard his brother has been very sick since sumr. That’s why he’s been coming ho early recently.”
“Sick? Where?”
“Ilmo disease... Miss, it’s your bedti, isn’t it?”
The maids stopped talking and helped get ready for bed.
But I already knew about Ilmo disease.
It starts with so spots appearing on the body.
The more spots, the worse the pain, until the whole body is covered and death follows.
But the treatnt is simple.
There’s a special dicine called Cheonghwa bulb.
‘The problem is, getting Cheonghwa bulb is like plucking stars from the sky.’
It was almost a legendary flower.
It was so hard to find the price was astronomical.
Suddenly a light bulb lit up in my head.
A sick younger brother.
A very difficult dicine to get.
And betrayal.
‘So that’s why Conrad betrayed! For the dicine for his brother!’
Those who ordered the attack bribed Conrad with the dicine.
Conrad must have betrayed for his brother.
‘They haven’t contacted Conrad yet, I think.’
If they had, he wouldn’t have stepped down as grandfather’s aide.
There was no better place for the attack than that position.
‘So if they have the dicine, he won’t betray.’
If only the Cheonghwa bulb was found, it would be solved.
‘That’s easy!’
The next day.
It was ti to read ancient language, so I went to the study.
Only grandfather, Marquis Debussy, and Conrad were there.
Apparently, after huge info like ‘dragon bones, blessed land,’ they thought only a few should know.
Pretending to look at the history book, I said,
“There is a theory that Cheonghwa bulb strengthens Gaho.”
Of course, there was no such thing in the book.
Marquis Debussy’s eyes slightly widened.
“You an Cheonghwa bulb?”
“Yes.”
“To think Cheonghwa bulb had such an effect...”
Marquis Debussy turned his head to grandfather.
“What do you think?”
“If we can develop the Gaho, it’s worth checking.”
“Then...?”
“Get it.”
‘Good!’
I smirked inside.
Getting Cheonghwa bulb was really easy for .
Because I could use the power of Duke Astra’s family!
No matter how hard getting Cheonghwa bulb was, with Astra’s power it wasn’t that difficult.
Infinite funds.
Information networks spread all over the continent.
Astra really was a family that could pluck stars from the sky.
Grandfather raised the stakes.
“As soon as you get it, distribute it to my grandchildren. I want to verify its effect.”
“Yes. Since it’s not a poisonous plant, it should be safe.”
Marquis Debussy looked at Conrad.
“Conrad, contact the information bureau and have them find Cheonghwa bulb.”
“...Yes.”
Conrad’s eyes trembled.
Naturally.
It was an item so precious he was willing to betray his master.
Conrad left with a stiff face.
I quickly put down the history book.
“I’m tired now. May I go?”
Marquis Debussy looked to grandfather for permission.
Grandfather nodded.
I bowed deeply and hurried after Conrad.
He looked half out of it.
“Conrad.”
“Ah. Yes, Miss.”
I grabbed the edge of Conrad’s jacket and whispered.
“When I get the bulb, I’ll give it to you.”
“...Yes?”
I raised both hands childishly and said,
“The maids said so. Conrad’s brother is sick. Need Cheonghwa bulb.”
“That... why would you give such a precious thing to ?”
“If you’re happy, Conrad, it’s good.”
“...”
Conrad covered his face with one hand.
Through his long, slender fingers, I caught a glimpse of trembling eyes.
After calming his shaking breath, he soon bent one knee.
“I will never forget this favor. Never.”
His eyes glead with determination.
I patted Conrad’s head.
‘Good. Don’t forget it for real.’
And a few days later.
I sang happily as I walked down the corridor.
‘Conrad’s brother recovered!’
As expected of Astra’s information bureau.
In just one week, they had found the Cheonghwa bulb.
As promised, I handed it to Conrad.
‘Good, good.’
Now I didn’t have to worry about grandfather slipping into a coma.
“Miss.”
I saw Conrad from afar.
“It’s late, where are you going?”
“To Gampa.”
Conrad’s watch was over, but I still ca and went to the Duke diligently.
‘You get attached by seeing soone often.’
Reading ancient language would end soday.
Then my usefulness would be over.
So I needed to get close to grandfather in preparation.
“What should I do? The Duke just went out. He has an urgent eting with senior nobles.”
“I see...”
“Also, today is a day you should be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the night of the red moon.”
Ah.
I nodded.
The red moon weakens Gaho greatly. Nobles dependent on Gaho naturally beco sensitive.
‘A dangerous day.’
Conrad looked around, confird no one was there, then said,
“Your training schedule is set.”
“Training?”
“When the main branch mbers return from their training, you will train with them. The curriculum is...”
Conrad began giving various information.
He seed to regard as a benefactor because I gave him the Cheonghwa bulb.
I was delighted.
‘This kind of info is great!’
Upper class society is all about information warfare.
Good thing I gave the Cheonghwa bulb to Conrad.
I listened carefully to what he said.
“Miss, your swordsmanship teacher is quite strict, so you should be nervous.”
“Should be good if Conrad teaches.”
He’s the strong one who successfully ambushed that grandfather.
And very kind to .
Conrad smiled awkwardly.
“Unfortunately, I’m not from the martial arts side.”
“What?”
“I’ve never learned swordsmanship. Nor received any killing training.”
...What is this?
Then how did he do the ambush?
At that mont, I recalled sothing I had overlooked.
‘There might be more than one traitor.’
This damn novel!
It described the ambush as if Conrad acted alone...!
‘Wait.’
I whipped my head to look out the window.
The red moon.
The day Gaho weakens.
An urgent elder eting.
‘An ambush.’
I turned and ran like crazy.
“Miss? Miss!”
Grandfather is in danger!
Duke Astra was surrounded by traitors.
The battlefield was already a ss from their previous fight.
Bodies strewn everywhere.
The ground stained with blood.
“A monster of a man...”
Marquis Tolliso, the mastermind, gritted his teeth.
How could he have that much power on the day of the red moon?
Several soldiers lay crushed on the ground by Duke Astra.
‘If we retreat now, it’s over.’
It was supposed to be a safe resolution by involving the Duke’s aide.
Assassinate then fra the aide — that would have been the end.
The aide would know the Duke’s schedule and wouldn’t be involved in a eting.
But things went wrong.
That brother sohow recovered.
‘How did a re noble family retainer get Cheonghwa bulb?!’
In any case, today they had to kill Duke Astra.
Marquis Tolliso shouted from afar, retreating from the Duke and soldiers.
“Attack! Kill him! Aaaah!”
Tolliso scread.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to him.
No, more precisely—
To the small child who had fallen from the low cliff Tolliso was turning away from.
“Gampa, don’t hurt him! You bad man...!”
The child was sitting on Tolliso’s back, biting his fragile hair roots.
“...Erilot?”
The Duke called in a stunned voice.
...Why are you here?
“Won’t you let go! Aah!”
The cowardly Marquis Tolliso was far behind the soldiers.
Unable to reach, a soldier threw a dagger at Erilot.
At that mont—
Clang—!
A knight wearing a robe with Astra’s emblem deflected the flying dagger.
“Your Grace, are you unhard?”
From the cliff ca a familiar voice. Conrad.
Even now, Erilot, biting Tolliso’s hair roots firmly, thought,
‘Am I stupid? Co alone?’
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