“T–That kid is a liar.”
Erata shouted.
“How dare you slander an adult without any proof? You must be insane. You need to return home immediately for strict discipline!”
“What do ywou mwean, no prvoof?” (What do you mean, no proof)
Sephiel opened her eyes wide.
“The magvic stwone… dug up by hyand.” (The magic stone… dug up by hand)
“……”
Erata’s cheeks turned bright red.
Those who had gathered were silent.
‘If they are mining magic stones illegally, then of course there must be a mining facility.’
It was a thought that everyone had at the same time.
And it wasn’t something that could be fixed overnight.
“You… where on earth did you hear such nonsense…?”
“Ywou said it ywourself.”
Sephiel held the railing tightly and spoke in a trembling voice.
“She said they were secyetly selling magic stownes without the Gyand Duke’s knowlvedge. That styealing tweasure with no ownyer wasn’t a bad thing.” (She said they were secretly selling magic stones without the Grand Duke’s knowledge. That stealing treasure with no owner wasn’t a bad thing)
Erata’s family discovered that magic stones were found in lands not managed by the Grand Duke’s family, and instead of reporting it, they had secretly mined them for themselves.
‘And, of course, they never paid taxes on them.’
It’s illegal mining, so how can they pay taxes?
Instead, the profits were used lavishly.
‘And how did I know that?’
In Sephiel’s previous life, she had been locked away in a small room, forced to organize the family’s financial records.
Every time Erata received financial statements from her family, she made Sephiel check them for any discrepancies.
“One magic stwone costs five gold coins. She says she prowduyces this myuch eveyi year….” (One magic stone costs five gold coins. She says she produces this much every year…)
Sephiel sobbed and continued to recite.
“Such a huge amwount.”
“Even if the Grand Duke does not manage the land, this is nothing more than a robbery. How can you do such a thing?” Elton said.
Sephiel inwardly smirked, deciding to drive the final nail in the coffin.
“You… You insane child, how could you possibly know all that…”
“Hikss… But lady… Won’t this cauwse the famvily to fight becawuse of me?”
“Fight? What are you talking about?”
“I mean….brother… And the rest of the family… What if they start fighting…?”
Elton tilted his head.
“If it’s the family of the queen….”
He spoke as if he suddenly realized something.
“I’ve memorized the royal family trees of the three other kingdoms, and if I recall correctly…”
Elton’s eyes turned cold.
“The land bordering Malorando Field belongs to the Marquess of Haman.”
“Marquess of Haman?”
Daihan asked.
“Yes. That’s the Queen’s family.”
“So, you’re saying… that woman’s family…?”
“Hikss…Yeah….”
And just like that, reality crashed down on everyone.
“If the Queen’s family had been secretly mining from that field all this time…”
“The Kingdom of Allegro owes a debt to our Grand Duke.”
“Moreover, if this incident was caused by his in-laws, the Allegro royal family cannot escape responsibility either, right?”
“That means……”
What else could it mean?
They’re in no position to accept wedding gifts right now!
‘Good. They’re understanding it well.’
As everyone seemed to grasp the meaning, Sephiel sniffled with her small nose and spoke.
“They have to payi back theyr debt. Taking mowre is bad. If they stweal becawuse of me, ywou will hate me.” (They have to pay back their debt. Taking more is bad. If they steal because of me, you will hate me)
Sephiel said, sobbing.
“Saying ‘it’s unfayi’ and doing ‘bad things’ because of me isn’t wight! I’ll eayn mowney and buy the wedding gifts myself. I’m soyyi I don’t have mowney now. But don’t do bad things. Don’t give them mowney.”
Sephiel spoke tearfully.
‘Because Grand Duke was a Fire Dragon. Fire Dragons value rules and hate those who break promises.’
All of that was what Sephiel had read in ancient books in her past life.
‘Unfair.’ ‘Bad thing.’ These were all words that pierced Daihan’s heart.
“We need to investigate.”
Daehan spoke coldly.
“Arrest that woman immediately.”
“W-Wait!”
The elf guards surrounded Erata.
“Are you all being fooled by this little kid? Listen! I’ll expose this child’s true identity!”
“True identity?”
Daihan’s eyebrows twitched.
When Daihan showed even the slightest reaction, Erata shouted in frustration.
“That child has been unlucky since birth! She’s a cursed child!”
As if something had just come to her, Erata quickly added,
“She must be possessed by a ghost! If you take in a child like that, misfortune will surely come to the Grand Duchy as well.”
Erata raised her voice.
The Grand Duchy’s people exchanged shocked glances.
Sephiel instinctively shrank her shoulders a little.
‘They found out that even my own family treated me like this.’
The day had come sooner than expected.
Sephiel became gloomy.
“I see.”
Elton spoke as if he were amazed.
“Wow. Such a rare talent!”
“What….?”
Errata paused.
“Our young Master was the same when he was little.”
Marie added.
“That’s right. Even the ancient gods and spirits appeared, there was chaos because they saw the dragon’s child born after a hundred years.”
“And although she has passed away, our grand duchess, the Elf Queen, also commanded fairies.”
“Could it be that Miss Baby has the talent of a necromancer?”
TL: A necromancer is a person who practices magic to communicate with the dead and predict the future.
“Unbelievable. A pure human child with such an ability?”
“Wow, that’s amazing!”
“As expected, someone that cute must be special!”
Erata’s accusations didn’t work at all.
“Are you all crazy? What are you talking about?”
“Your Majesty.”
Elton spoke with a pitying tone.
“That kind of accusation doesn’t work in this house. Rather, it’s considered a high compliment.”
“…..”
Erata was speechless.
She seemed so utterly bewildered that she temporarily lost the ability to speak.
‘Hmm. Yeah. They’re all crazy.’
Once again, Sephiel was deeply impressed today.
And the way people looked at her while calling her cute was all a bit strange.
Like they were under the influence of some happiness-inducing drug.
But since their intentions didn’t seem particularly bad, Sephiel decided to let it slide.
That wasn’t the urgent issue right now.
“I was wondering what you were talking about.”
Daihan said as if he found it funny.
“You are talking nonsense, Queen of Humans. I can no longer tolerate your arrogance.”
“How dare you insult me like this! This will turn into a diplomatic issue.”
“A diplomatic issue? What, do you think a war will break out because of you? Over a mere lower species like you?”
Daihan said calmly.
Erata just bit her lip.
“Then let me tell you. I don’t care if a war breaks out. The only reason I engage in diplomacy with lower species like you is when I decided to rule them.”
“…..”
“And, you know what? In Remdragon, theft is punished by having the hands cut off. If I punish you according to ‘the rules’ for stealing the magic stone… and your kingdom launches an attack…..”
“…..”
Erata bit her lips hard.
“I would be very happy. If your side is the first to break the peace treaty, that would be even better. So, I’ll ask again. Do you think a war will break out?”
Erata turned pale and could only move her lips soundlessly.
“Foolish lower species.”
Daihan spoke coldly before gesturing with his chin.
“What are you waiting for? Take her away.”
“No! Wait! Don’t touch me!”
“No!”
“Arrest the knights and servants who came with her as well.”
Daihan ordered.
In that way, Errata and even the maid who tried to block the way were miserably dragged away by the knights.
When their desperate cries echoed through the hall, Daihan frowned.
* * *
Errata was dragged away, and now only the strange standoff between Sephiel and the people of the Grand Duke remained.
Daihan sighed and made a gesture.
“Come here.”
“Hiikk.”
Sephiel shook her head.
“Come down. It’s dangerous.”
Sephiel jumped down from the railing.
Sighs of relief could be heard from all around.
“Give me that.”
Daihan gestured with his hand.
But instead of coming to him, Sephiel approached Lev.
“Miss Baby?”
—Plop.
She turned her teddy bear bag forward and unzipped it.
Then she took out a rolled-up piece of paper from her bear bag.
It was the emerald mine rights certificate.
Sephiel handed the paper to Lev.
“Heyre. If ywou have this, ywou get emeyralds….” (Here. If you have this, you get emeralds)
“Why are you giving this to me….”
“Hikss…. It’s mwine. It’s my doyyi, so it’s mwine.” (Hikss. It’s mine. It’s my dowry, so it’s mine.)
“……”
“Swell this and buy svhiny weawpons. And oil the Golwem too.” (Sell this and buy shiny weapons. And oil the Golem too)
Then, after that…
Sephiel approached the chefs and handed them an ancient bracelet.
It was one of the treasures meant as a wedding gift, also from her backpack.
“Hiks…. Thank you for the delicious food,…”
Sephiel spoke while crying.
“T-Thank you”
The chefs accepted it while keeping an eye on Daihan’s expression.
“Mayyi, Beyyi. Thank ywou for ryaising me”
And the forest business rights go to Marie and Berry.
“If ywou sell this, ywou can get ryich.”
“Miss Baby, what would we do if we became rich?”
“If ywou have a lyot of mowney… Buy me deliwcious fwood. Hiks….”
Marie and Berry didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Sephiel’s selfish yet adorable request.
“What do you want to eat?”
“White chowcolate… If that’s too expwensive, get anowther coloyr….”
She had heard that there were shops selling such things in the capital.
Chocolate filled with rose jam. Pure white chocolate. Pink chocolate.
She had once drooled over a promotional flyer tucked inside a discarded newspaper.
Before she died, she just wanted to taste the famous chocolate from the capital—just once.
That wish had never come true in her previous life.
At that moment, the chefs felt a deep sense of self-reflection.
‘We need to learn how to make chocolate.’
They were determined to study that, even if it meant traveling abroad.
After distributing gifts to all the servants, only one item remained in Sephiel’s hands—a sacred scripture.
“Why are you keeping that one?”
“This one… No.”
Sephiel hugged the sacred scripture as if it were her life.
“This one…. I’ll take it.”
“Is it because you’re greedy or not….?”
Daihan had a look of astonishment on his face.
“You took the most valuable thing for yourself.”
“…..”
It hit the nail on the head so she had nothing to say.
“But thanks to you.”
Daihan lowered himself to look directly into Sephiel’s eyes.
Her eyes were already swollen from crying too much.
“I could have avoided giving gifts to those annoying Allegro royals. Not bad.”
Daihan stroked Sephiel’s head.
Elton witnessed a shocking sight.
“Y-You… smiled?”
“What are you saying?”
“No, it’s just… It’s been ten years since I last saw the Grand Duke smile.”
“Shut up.”
Daihan frowned.
Before Sephiel could react, he lifted her into his arms.
“You’re so light.”
Sephiel instinctively wrapped her arms around Daihan’s neck.
Daihan’s clothes became dirty with Sephiel’s snot and tears.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to your room.”
* * *
