Chapter 48
Lost in thought without realizing it, he shook his head firmly.
‘No. This is comfortable. No chirping voices. No little butts bustling around. How quiet and peaceful this is.’
It’s comfortable. Definitely comfortable.
Kalec twisted his body slightly and held the crystal glass in his hand.
“Your Grace.”
Just then, Ruska approached, lowering his voice.
“What is it?”
“It’s about that mage from the Tower. The one Lord Blaine mentioned.”
Kalec straightened his posture.
“He really didn’t seem suspicious at all? Just a regular mage who’d just been promoted from apprentice to low rank.”
“……”
Blaine had followed the mage, bothered by how excessively tense Lirin had been.
And since Kalec also had an uneasy feeling about the Magic Tower, he lent his support.
“…I see.”
Was it just groundless worry?
“Still, keep a close eye on the Tower.”
“Yes, sir. But… there really hasn’t been any unusual activity. No matter how much we investigate, there’s nothing suspicious. I’m beginning to think that incident in the labyrinth might have truly been a random occurrence.”
“Well, once we meet the chief mage attending the summit, we’ll get a sense of what they’re up to.”
Kalec had summoned the chief mage, the second highest authority after the Tower Master.
He intended to get a read on that sly fox who rarely left the Tower for outside affairs.
To do so, he even borrowed a sacred relic used only in the temple from a priest he knew.
“More importantly, what’s the status of the fire in Lepi Village?”
At that, Ruska’s eyebrows drooped downward.
“My apologies. We’re still investigating, but we haven’t found any trace of evidence yet.”
Kalec lightly pressed his forehead.
“Come to think of it… there have been a lot of fires lately.”
“Ah, I heard there was a fire at the seed warehouse of the Northon General Store. Apparently, Lirin couldn’t get seeds there and had to go all the way to the Florin Gardening Shop…”
As if realizing something, Ruska added in a low voice.
“I’ll look further into these unexplained fires.”
After scribbling something into his notebook, Ruska smoothly held out the silver tray he had been carrying all along.
“Actually, this is the main thing… We’ve received word from the Duke of Summerain. He’s ultimately decided not to attend the summit.”
Kalec’s brow furrowed.
“Hah. Even though I’m hosting the summit in his stead. So, he really intends to hole up in the South and not come out? That guy.”
“Well, yes.”
Ruska scratched his chin and added,
“I don’t know the details, but it seems he lost something quite important.”
Kalec gave a light snort and took a sip of the sharp liquor.
‘Did he lose a family heirloom or something.’
Well.
‘That kind of thing suits a fool like him.’
— Hahaha! Lord Kalbec! It’s been a while!
— It’s Lord Kalec, Lord Solleo.
— Ah, my apologies! Have you been well? You grow more handsome every time I see you! Hahaha! We should go horseback racing sometime, Lord Kalmen!
— It’s Lord Kalec, Lord Solleo.
Just recalling that always boisterously laughing, bronze-toned face that scratched at your nerves made him feel disgusted.
‘Good. This is really a good thing.’
Serves him right. Hope he never finds it.
Of course, it meant Kalec had to deal with the nuisance of the summit, but he still felt somewhat relieved.
“Here, why don’t you read the letter yourself.”
“What’s the point of sending a letter.”
Ruska handed him the sealed letter, and Kalec opened the envelope, his expression already sour.
The handwriting was as big and bold as the man’s personality.
[ Hello, Duke! First, relax your brows. A handsome man should always smile. ]
Crunch. His hand gripped the letter tightly.
[ As you may have heard, I’ve been in a bit of a tough spot lately, so I’ll be sending a retainer to the summit in my place.
It’s no one else but Count Florin—you know him. He happened to be in the capital.
Ah, I was really curious whether the rumor that you adopted two children was true. A shame, really. I wanted to hear all about it next time we meet.
PS. With the Great Southern Labyrinth incident and now you hosting the summit of the Four Dukes, I owe you a great debt. I’ll be sure to repay you someday.
Truly grateful, my handsome…]
Kalec scoffed, ‘How unusually honest,’ and flipped to the next page.
[Lord Carlson.]
In the end, Kalec tossed the letter into the nearby candlestick and burned it to ashes.
“Oh my, Your Grace. Are you displeased? I’ve just blended a calming herbal mix to help with peace of mind…”
“We’re leaving.”
The owner who had brought the pipe opened his eyes wide.
“Huh? Already?”
“This chair is terribly uncomfortable. The air is too heavy. These dark and gloomy places are just not welcoming anymore, don’t you think? You should consider following the trend and improving the atmosphere, Master.”
“Huh?”
More open windows.
Livelier music.
“This place isn’t relaxing at all.”
Muttering, the Duke disappeared with a gust of wind.
Ruska covered his mouth with both hands and cursed before rushing after him.
Kalec’s long legs moved without hesitation.
The place he arrived at, of course…
***
There were no pink candies in the garden.
‘I thought she’d be here since she said she went out after waking up.’
Feeling somewhat blank, Kalec headed back to the main building. And as soon as he opened the office door, he froze.
“Hah, what are you doing.”
A large hand pressed his forehead.
“Cleaning!”
The pink candy, now evolved into a cleaning fairy, rushed over with a bright smile.
“Who told you to grab a duster with that injured hand… A rag? Wait. What you’re holding—is that… a rag…?”
Mutter mutter, nagging ×100
Lirin instinctively covered her ears.
‘As expected…’
Kalec groaned inwardly as his mouth went off uncontrollably.
‘She’s the most unpredictable creature.’
Child-rearing… what on earth is it?
Yet, somehow, it didn’t feel bad. In fact, it even felt comforting.
When had it started?
The nerves that had always been on edge began to calm, and the place that had merely been for sleeping and working started to feel a little cozy.
‘Come to think of it, maybe it was after the cabin appeared in the eastern forest.’
No.
Actually… ever since this little one started roaming the mansion…
“What on earth do you need that’s causing all this mess?”
“Heh. Actually…”
‘Ha, it’s serious.’
His memories were intact.
Facing a new version of himself every day was truly unpleasant.
But somehow.
He didn’t feel the need to seek comfort or rest anywhere else…
“I want to invite a friend to the summit!”
“Oh, my head.”
Cancel.
I want to go back.
***
“Hup!”
My eyes snapped open!
As soon as I returned home, I got treatment for my finger. After taking anti-inflammatory medicine with pain relief, drowsiness hit me hard and I took a short nap.
And the moment I opened my eyes…
“No, Lirin. Cleaning is my department.”
Wipe wipe.
Kate glared at me, trying to stop me, but I wasn’t the kind of kid who could be stopped once I started.
“Sorry, Kate unni.”
This was a fierce turf war.
I climbed onto Dad’s chair and scrubbed the desk with a rag. Even the head maid rushed over to stop me, but it was no use.
“What on earth are you doing? Hm? That finger injury might reopen!”
My finger didn’t even hurt—it was just a scratch.
“Don’t stop me. I’m about to go berserk.”
Scrub scrub. Scrape scrape.
“Hah… Did you read some fairy tale about cleaning fairies? Oh well. At least use this.”
The head maid handed me a new rag. It was so soft I thought it was silk.
“Wow! Why is this rag so soft?”
“That’s what the youngest maids get to use.”
“Ooh!”
Unaware that Kate was swiftly tidying up in sync with the head maid’s signal, I focused solely on one thought as I cleaned.
‘I have to score points with Dad!’
The House of Wintervalt runs on clear rewards and punishments.
I had something I absolutely needed to ask Dad for.
“Hah, what are you doing.”
Just then, the door opened and Dad returned home.
I hopped down from the chair and bowed elegantly toward the head of the house.
“Duke—no, Lord of the House… Welcome home.”
“…?”
Roughly mimicking the maids.
“I hope your day was peaceful and… something something.”
“‘Something something,’ really.”
“I haven’t memorized the last part yet.”
“Not sure if that was respectful or not.”
Dad strode in and, seeing the duster and rag in my hands, his face hardened.
‘Ah, that face.’
Nagging incoming in 3 seconds.
‘2, 1…’
Emergency, emergency.
The head maid and Kate swiftly escaped.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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