He was completely different from the Uncle Noarizen I knew.
Originally, he was an overly easygoing man who laughed heartily with a friendly smile.
But Uncle Noarizen frowned deeply as he walked down the corridor, then was startled when he saw standing there.
“Erilot?”
“Hello, Uncle.”
I lifted my skirt elegantly and greeted him.
“What brings you here?”
I was about to say I ca to see Blizen but hesitated.
Should I throw out a bait?
Wondering if he’s really tempted by money.
Because there might be another reason for selling Aunt Aisa’s belongings at the pawnshop.
I smiled brightly and said,
“I dared to invite him because I have sothing I really want to ask Brother Blizen!”
“...Sothing you want to ask?”
“I received the Platinum dal this ti (an honor awarded to the top-ranked 3rd generation), so I got a lot of money.”
Annoyance flickered across Uncle Noarizen’s eyes for a mont.
‘He must dislike it since I took first place over his son...’
Was it because of his son or the money?
I continued with an innocent look.
“So, I thought about investing... Since Brother Blizen has received countless Platinum dals, I wondered if he might know a good investnt.”
Then his eyebrows rose once.
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as if pondering sothing.
After a mont, Uncle Noarizen laughed heartily like usual and said,
“Yeah, that’s definitely not sothing you can talk about at the factory. You’d make the 2nd and 3rd gens jealous.”
“That’s true.”
“But you ca to the wrong place. Blizen’s no good at that kind of thing. I handle all the managent.”
I was caught!
“I see...”
“If you want advice, would you like to hear it?”
“Really? Thank you, Uncle!”
Pretending to be overjoyed, Uncle Noarizen smirked lightly.
The irritated face from earlier was gone; he looked quite pleased.
“Go wash up first. Talking with a face like you just woke up isn’t polite.”
“Yes!”
Watching Uncle Noarizen hurry away, I frowned involuntarily.
I’d just lightly tossed out bait, and he swallowed it whole.
He really must be desperate for money.
Seeing him so greedy even for his great-niece’s money was shocking.
That greedy gleam in his eyes was sothing I’d never seen before in Uncle Noarizen.
What on earth was he scheming?
As I quietly watched Uncle Noarizen’s retreating back, the steward cautiously approached.
“Shall I take you to the parlor?”
“Yes.”
I followed the steward’s guidance to the parlor.
The exterior looked peaceful, but strange signs were everywhere.
Walls with peeling paint roughly nailed with fras.
Tables crudely patched with paint over cracks and wear.
Tablecloths roughly nded with other fabric where candle wax had dripped and lted.
How much money do they lack?
Even though Aunt Aisa had passed, this was the Astra jurisdiction. They should have been getting budgets regularly.
Even if not as huge as other jurisdictions, the upkeep wouldn’t be this poor.
That ans...
Embezzlent.
At that mont, footsteps were heard outside the door.
Shortly after, Blizen entered.
“Erilot?”
He frowned as if he couldn’t believe it, and I chuckled.
“Hello.”
“You sent the letter less than an hour ago, I think.”
“Yeah!”
I answered cheerfully; Blizen looked at as if incredulous.
He was dressed simply. Probably had been in the room.
Blizen normally wore formal attire even in sumr.
So seeing him dressed lightly like this felt unfamiliar.
Blizen sighed helplessly and sat opposite .
“Why did you want to co to our estate so much?”
“There were things I wanted to ask. Also, I hadn’t been to many other jurisdictions, so I was curious.”
As I looked around the parlor, Blizen nodded.
“We don’t invite each other often. Afraid secrets will leak.”
“Right.”
While we talked, the steward brought tea.
One cup in front of Blizen.
One cup in front of .
The fragrant aroma filled the room.
The atmosphere was calm.
Before getting to the point, I made small talk to loosen his guard.
“Brother Blizen, you dress like that even in sumr.”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t you hot?”
“Not really. Once you get used to it, lighter clothes feel more awkward.”
“But you’re dressed lightly today too?”
“That ans I’m used to being formal outside. I relax only at the estate.”
“What do you do at the estate? You’re part of the advanced training room, so you only go to the factory a few tis a month, right?”
“You seem really curious about .”
“Yeah.”
Blizen chuckled.
“As far as I know, you’re not soone who’s that interested in others.”
That was true, and I flinched.
But I hid it and shook my head.
“I’m interested. A lot!”
“When Joffrey broke his leg, you didn’t even visit.”
“Well, I’m not close with Joffrey...”
“When Juliana got caught putting up a portrait crying by the wall and caused a fuss, you didn’t get involved.”
“Well... our maid said kids can be like that...”
“The day fourteen-year-old Eln tried to run away with a seventeen-year-old maid, and your uncle ca to the factory and Eln got beaten, you were the only one yawning.”
“I was... sleepy?”
Blizen shrugged.
“Fine, let’s say you’re interested in relatives.”
“...”
“So? What do you want to know?”
Now that he’d brought it up, I couldn’t change the subject.
Blizen had already sensed there was a reason I ca to the Aisa jurisdiction.
I glanced at Blizen while holding my teacup.
“About Uncle Noarizen. Has he gone anywhere recently?”
Blizen, who was about to raise his cup, flinched.
Tea spilled, soaking the back of his hand.
“Ah!”
I quickly grabbed Blizen’s wrist.
The tea wasn’t that hot, but just in case.
Smack!
Blizen sharply shook off my hand.
‘Huh?’
What?
Was Blizen really soone who hated being touched?
No, he wasn’t.
If so, he should’ve hated the maid approaching him when he was sleeping.
What was really strange was—
Blizen looked more surprised than I did by shaking off my hand.
‘...What?’
Suddenly, the jumbled thoughts in my head snapped into place like fitting puzzle pieces.
How Noarizen, without the Gaho, could go to the capital without leaving a trace.
Noarizen is a mage.
What if he had a son with the Gaho?
Reaching that thought, I grabbed Blizen’s arm sharply.
“Let go!”
Blizen tensed and held on tightly.
“Brother, stay still!”
We struggled, but since I’m a girl, Blizen couldn’t use full strength.
I quickly rolled up Blizen’s sleeve.
His thin, simple outfit made it easy to push the sleeve up.
And on his bare arm...
‘Oh no.’
I shut my eyes tightly.
My brow furrowed on its own.
Like Blizen said, I wasn’t really interested in cousins.
Unless it was sothing like this.
I spoke stiffly, holding back anger.
“You wear formal clothes even in sumr because of the jacket.”
“What are you talking about?”
Blizen played innocent, but I caught on.
“You only wear the jacket because you’re worried the shirt might be see-through.”
“It’s nothing...”
“What do you an it’s nothing? That’s—!”
I got angry and furrowed my brow, shouting at Blizen who kept denying it.
When I raised my voice, Blizen’s eyes went wide.
His arm was in a state that was unbearable to see.
Skin cracked like dried earth from repeated experints.
Crusty dried blood stuck in the cracks, probably seeped out long ago.
Clear belt marks near the elbow, as if his arm was bound to stop movent.
The day the maid approached him.
He hadn’t just left her alone knowingly.
He was struggling to move because of the experints.
He didn’t have the strength to push the maid away.
That explained why he always looked listless.
“You’re the one Noarizen experinted on, trying to make the Gaho stone.”
“No.”
Blizen denied it firmly but quickly avoided my piercing gaze.
“In the end, he made it and was able to go ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) to the capital without leaving records.”
“I told you, no.”
“How could you do that to your own child...!”
I clenched my skirt tightly.
Blizen sighed seeing my trembling hands.
He looked exhausted.
“Go now. I need to rest.”
I grabbed Blizen’s arm as he tried to leave the parlor.
“What are you doing...”
“Let’s go. Co with .”
“...”
“To our estate.”
Blizen stared at wordlessly.
At that mont, Noarizen burst into the parlor.
“You kept waiting.”
Noarizen frowned, sensing the tense atmosphere as he entered.
“What’s going on?”
I wanted to punch the clueless expression on Noarizen’s face but held back.
Forcing a smile, I said,
“If it’s okay, can I take Brother Blizen to our estate?”
“Blizen? Why?”
Noarizen widened his eyes.
“He helped at the training grounds. Dad said he wants to repay him.”
“Repay?”
“Yes. Have a al together and there’s sothing to give...”
Dad’s unusual affection for was well known.
If soone helped , he’d reward them handsoly.
Noarizen, seeming to think deeply for a mont, nodded.
“Alright. Blizen, go with your sister.”
“...”
“Blizen.”
Noarizen spoke sternly, and Blizen reluctantly answered,
“Yes.”
Noarizen withdrew his gaze from Blizen and turned to .
“Can we talk about investnt now?”
“Sorry, I’ll listen next ti. Dad called urgently.”
“Is it because of what you’re going to give Blizen...?”
He was good at jumping to conclusions.
“Probably.”
Smiling broadly, Noarizen laughed heartily and sent Blizen and off.
Daymond jurisdiction castle.
Bringing Blizen into the main hall, the family was all gathered.
Balzac frowned seeing Blizen co with .
“What? Why is Blizen here?”
Joshua didn’t look at Blizen but gave a kind look.
“Is sothing wrong?”
Dad stared intently at the wrist I held of Blizen.
“Co in first.”
Dad turned and entered his study; the twins followed closely with suspicious looks.
I pulled the stiff Blizen along and entered the study side by side.
When I tried to roll up Blizen’s sleeve, he twisted his wrist free.
“Stay still.”
“Let go.”
Now he was putting in so strength.
Earlier, he hadn’t dared to do much for fear of injury.
But here was my territory now.
“Dad! Brothers!”
Shouting, the three n imdiately sward Blizen like a pack.
They were fast.
“Let go, Uncle!”
“Stay still.”
“Balzac! Joshua!”
“Erilot just wants to roll up the sleeve.”
“Should we restrain him?”
The ones trying to roll up the sleeve and the one resisting.
I watched the four struggle.
Then,
A light flashed in Blizen’s eyes.
Movent Gaho.
Blizen is a genius with incredible power.
Trying to escape?
But this was the Daymond jurisdiction.
aning, Daymond Astra was here.
He’s a certified hound of Astra who has truly mastered mountain, land, sea, and even air battles.
As soon as Blizen’s gaze lit up, Dad imdiately cast a Gaho.
Even a genius like Blizen couldn’t beat Dad.
The speed difference was huge; Blizen’s Gaho was blocked before it could take effect.
Dad Blizen’s magic before it reached his dantian.
“Ugh!”
Eventually, Blizen’s sleeve was rolled up.
“...”
“Crazy.”
“What is this.”
Dad, who was holding Blizen’s arms behind the chair.
Joshua, who gripped Blizen’s arms with both hands.
Balzac, who rolled up the sleeve.
The family froze seeing Blizen’s condition.
I, having seen it once, was speechless.
Blizen held no bad mories for .
Rather...
“Blizen, why are you sitting here?”
“Saving a seat?”
“No, but... Didn’t you hear the rumor that I tried to kill Dalia?”
“Really tried?”
“No.”
“That’s enough then.”
“...Dalia got hurt because of , you know? The Dalia you treasure like your life.”
“Class is starting.”
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