‘What was that mouse’s name again?’
Erata tried her best to recall. But no matter how hard she thought, it just wouldn’t come to her.
‘Did she even have a name in the first place?’
Wittegar also rarely mentioned Sephiel, and when he did, he called her ‘that thing’ or ‘that girl’.
Seeing Erata just rolling her eyes, Daihan sneered.
“I knew it.”
Daihan threw down a letter from the Allegro royal family.
“Even in this one letter, that child’s name wasn’t written. I suppose being locked away since childhood has made her name forgotten by everyone.”
Daihan said softly.
“If we look through the records, her name will definitely appear. But she’s a child who doesn’t even receive that much sincerity and attention. That’s the kind of existence she is—to you all, at least.”
Erata’s face turned bright red.
“And yet, that child introduced herself to me. At the very least, I alone remember her name.”
“…….”
“Do you know what that means, human queen?”
Daihan whispered.
“At times, some of your kind behave worse than beasts. It’s truly pitiful.”
“I-I am the queen of a kingdom. Be respectful to me!”
“Even if you were the queen of livestock, I would show respect if you deserved it. But it seems you don’t.”
As Daihan flicked his hand, the list flew up in front of Erata’s nose.
“The only reason you’re still alive is because I chose not to interfere in worldly matters. Take that and leave.”
Erata bit her lip hard. She couldn’t back down there.
“Are you saying that you want to buy that child with this gift now?”
“Buy…?”
For the first time, Daihan’s eyebrow twitched.
“This is unacceptable. Our Allegro royal family is a very old and prestigious family and the only royal family in this land. Honestly… yes, the gift was just an excuse. We want to take her back. Surely you must consider our feelings, who have lost our child.”
Erata smiled shamelessly.
“If you truly want that child, how about I take her back, educate her for a few years, and then send her off as a bride?”
Daihan paused.
If it had been any other normal family, Daihan might have allowed that.
But that wasn’t the case.
Elton stepped up.
“Your Majesty, Miss Baby Sephiel can receive a good education and grow up in our grand Duke’s castle.”
“And how am I supposed to believe that? The Grand Duke’s castle doesn’t even have a single lady of the house to care for her. What do you know about raising a child?”
“……”
“I can see you’re treating the child with excessive kindness. At this rate, she’ll become arrogant. I should at least educate her properly before sending her back here. Otherwise, the engagement will be canceled.”
At that moment, Daihan’s expression changed—completely.
It was as if he was a different person.
“You say the most amusing things….”
“……”
‘uh?’
At that moment, Erata felt her body tremble. She met Daihan’s gaze and—
‘It feels like the whole world is crushing me.’
That was the only way to describe it.
A chilling terror gripped her, sweat poured from her forehead as if she had just encountered a ghost.
“Hiik!”
Erata’s maid rolled her eyes and fainted.
But Erata couldn’t even turn around.
“Calm yourself, Your Highness! A lower species cannot withstand Dragon Fear! And please, think of the peace treaty!”
Erata couldn’t even hear what Elton was saying.
“That lowly being is not even a direct descendant of royalty. She is not an object of my mercy.”
Daihan got up from his seat.
“Queen of the lower species. Anything that falls into the hands of our Remdragon, no matter how small or insignificant, is ours. The only way you will get it back is as a corpse. And only if we are the ones who killed it.”
“T-That’s…”
Erata stammered, trembling.
“Hurry and check your gift before you take it and leave. Or else, you may find yourself crawling out of here with no legs.”
—Thud.
Though no one had pushed her, Erata fell off the chair.
Erata trembled and checked the gifts as ordered.
‘I have to do as he says.’
‘Or else, I would die.’
Mechanically, Erata lifted the silk cloth covering the tray.
“Huh…?”
But all she could do was stare blankly at what lay beneath it.
Daihan’s gaze followed hers.
“What is this?”
His voice dripped with cold fury.
“Uh….”
Elton spoke up.
“She did say it wasn’t enough.”
“…..”
“And.… it really isn’t enough.”
All the gifts that were supposed to be under the silk had disappeared.
Whoosh.
Daihan looked at Elton.
“Elton, how on earth did you prepare the stuff?”
“That’s…”
Elton said solemnly”
‘They were definitely here. But now they’re gone.”
Instead of treasures, underneath the cloth lay…
A piece of paper, with letters scribbled in colorful crayon, pressed down hard as if by a child’s tiny hands.
<Emerald Mine Rights Certificate.>
(This mine is only for good people.)
<Forest Land Lease Rights.>
(Belong to Remdragon. Only loaning it temporarily. Definitely not yours.)
The corners of the paper were painted in rainbow colors.
Like a child who had just received their first set of crayons and excitedly doodled all over it.
“This is a fake?”
“It seems so.”
Elton scratched his head and said calmly.
“Open the treasure chests!”
Erata said in panic.
Elton opened the chests.
Inside, instead of gold and jewels…
There were dried flowers and handmade flower rings, neatly arranged.
Elton picked up the fake certificate and looked it over.
“Who did this?”
Daihan had already guessed, but he was so dumbfounded that he asked again.
“Hmm. It seems like Miss Baby raccoon was the culprit.”
“…..”
“I just left the gift in the next room for a moment,…..”
It seemed that Sephiel had played a prank in the meantime.
“She has a habit of stealing. This raccoon is getting out of hand.”
* * *
“Miss Baby!”
“Come here!”
Daihan and Elton went out to catch Sephiel themselves.
‘The treasures among the gifts are quite heavy, so she wouldn’t have gotten far. She’s probably hiding somewhere nearby along with the stolen goods.’
Elton’s intuition proved correct.
Sephiel was running down the hallway.
Sephiel was wearing a baby backpack shaped like a teddy bear’s face, with rolled-up documents sticking out of it.
“Miss Baby! Please don’t run!”
“Come here, Miss Baby.”
Elton was rushing after Sephiel when he ran into Berry, who was also looking for Sephiel.
“St-stop!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Sephiel climbed up the stairs and precariously perched herself on the second-floor railing.
People started gathering.
Among them were the captain of the elf guard, Lev, along with servants and chefs who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion.
The only unusual thing was that they were all wearing hoods, helmets, or other coverings to hide their ears and skin color—a common practice when visitors from outside were present.
“What’s going on?”
“What happened to the Miss Baby?”
It would have been easy to subdue Sephiel by force, but no one dared to approach her, fearing that she might slip and fall from the railing.
“Hiiks…”
Sephiel was even more frightened when she saw Daihan with a scary expression among the people.
“You, come down here right now.”
Erata came running with loud footsteps and shouted. Sephiel’s crying grew louder.
“Hand over the gift meant for the Allegro Royal Family!”
“Be quiet!”
“You’re scaring Miss Baby!”
Erata, who had been shouting with a furious expression, finally shut her mouth after the crowd reprimanded her.
“If you don’t come down, you’ll regret it!”
Erata glared at Sephiel with burning eyes.
“N-no! I wyon’t givve it ywou!”
Sephiel sobbed and shook her head.
“Baby, those gifts are things that were promised between the adults. Please give it to me.”
Berry coaxed her gently, but Sephiel kept shaking her head.
Large, ruby-colored eyes. The corners of her eyes were filled with clear tears.
“No! This is myine!”
“I’ll give you another toy, okay?”
“N-no! If I givve this byack…”
“If you give it back?”
“The Gyand Duke will get mwad at me!”
“Why would I be mad at you?”
Daihan quietly asked Sephiel, who was making excuses.
Sephiel spoke with a sob and a groan, Her short tongue made her words even more slurred than usual.
“It wouwldn’t be fayi if I gavve heyr thvis.” (It wouwldn’t be fair if I gave her this)
“It won’t be fair?”
“Yes. I heayd that the Gyand Duke is a fayi pewson.” (Yes. I heard that the Grand Duke is a fair person)
“What on earth are you talking about?!”
Erata couldn’t stand it any longer and shouted.
“Maloyando Fyild…” (Malorando field)
At that moment, Sephiel mumbled in a faint voice.
Erata’s movements stopped when she heard those words. She looked as if she had been struck by lightning.
“What…?”
“They secyetly mine magvic stownes theyre. That’s stevaliyng!” (They secretly mine magic stones there. That’s stealing)
“……”
“If it’s Malorando Field, then it’s the territory of the Grand Duke’s family and borders the lands of the Allegro Kingdom?”
Elton tilted his head.
“Do magic stones really come from there?”
Daihan asked.
“Um… I’m not entirely sure. There was speculation that it had valuable resources, but when our principality was blockaded, all related operations were shut down.”
Elton scratched his head.
“Do you remember anything about that, Your Highness?”
“Hmm….”
Daihan replied.
“There are so many places like that, I can’t really recall.”
Sephiel, who had been sobbing, was at a loss for words for a moment.
‘So… magic stones are considered less valuable than coal?’
Magic stones were the most precious minerals in the world. They were essential materials for all kinds of magical tools, from household appliances and lighting to heating systems and high-grade magical artifacts.
It was a fuel with some kind of transcendent power.
Among them, the ones that came out of Malorando Field were the best magic stones of the continent.
It was an object that would make any wizard drool, and they were treasures worth as much as gold.
“But…,”
Elton’s eyes grew sharp.
“What is meant by secretly mining magic stones?”
-Gulp.
Erata swallowed.
“Yeah…”
Daihan murmured.
“I’m starting to get very interested in hearing more about that…. very interested.”
* * *
