Chapter 97
Chapter 97
He also had questions about Luciel but decided to wait.
Those shining stars seemed to know about the stories that she had not told anyone before.
The two of them looked up at the Duke’s castle as the night of the banquet grew deeper and suddenly muttered.
“I’m hungry.”
“Me too…”
“I couldn’t eat properly because I was busy at the banquet.”
If I go back and talk to Eva and Bessie they’ll prepare a meal for us, but…I didn’t want to go back inside. It seemed the same for Kizef.
“Let’s go to your little fief.”
Luciel nodded. There were many fruits available when she was there. The two who opened a portal with the coordinates and moved, quickly looked around the orchards.
“All my favorite fruits are here. I’ll pick them all up later and make fruit jam.”
“All of that?”
“Yes!”
“You are greedy.”
“I will give it to everyone in Bellstein.”
After stroking Luciel’s hair, Kizef said.
“Let’s find food first.”
“Yes.”
As Kizef walked among the trees, he picked up two apples. Luciel picked strawberries and blueberries and had both of her hands packed full.
Entering the villa and sitting on the sofa, the two filled their stomachs with fruit. Crunchy apples, sweet and sour strawberries, and blueberries disappeared quickly.
“I’m sleepy. I’ll sleep a little.”
Luciel began to nod and her head dropped to Kizef’s shoulder.
He made Luciel’s head, which was coming and going in all directions, slightly leaning towards him. It was almost midnight, and for Luciel, who usually goes to bed early, the time to sleep had passed.
Luciel in a thin dress looked cold. He rolled his eyes hard and was able to find a wool blanket. When the blanket was wrapped around her, Luciel seemed to be sleeping comfortably, perhaps thanks to the warmer feeling.
A gentle smile crept onto Kizef’s lips. He too was tired, and his eyelids slowly closed.
That night, there was a small commotion as the grown-ups, surprised to learn that the two were missing, gathered in front of Luciel’s villa, but they were unable to enter due to the Shield Sealing Stone.
But Gillard, who found the adorable figure of the two children sleeping on the sofa through the window opening, said
“They were here.”
“So cute…”
The old couple held each other’s hands at the sight that was so soft that it melted Gillard and Evelyn’s hearts.
Soon everyone left and the first night of the banquet passed like that, leaving only the sound of the young couple, breathing comfortably.
* * *
After waking up the next day, the two immediately contacted the adults who would have been worried, using the communication port, but for some reason, they were all at peace.
Above all else, when they went out in front of the villa, a light meal had arrived. It seems that Ralph, the escort knight, received the order and brought it to the little fief.
“Thank you. I will eat well!”
After eating, Luciel guided Kizef all around the area, except for the orchard.
“What is that?”
His gaze was directed over the pasture fence. A snow deer with silver fur was running around and playing.
“Ah, snow deer. Father-in-law brought him from the snowfields because he had a leg injury.”
“It’s a snow deer. You’re a snow rabbit, so it suits you well.”
Of course, his true identity is a wizard of ice, but I can’t honestly say it.
“Luciel.”
“Yes?”
“You seem to be busy, but if there is anything I can help with, please let me know. Because I want to help you too.”
Looking at Kizef’s slowly blinking eyes, Luciel thought he was pretty once again.
“Come to think of it, there are no letters these days.”
Kizef murmured as if he was disappointed, and Luciel laughed.
“Shall I write a letter?”
“Yes, please.”
Kizef’s short response had a deep voice, but Luciel did not notice.
“Okay. It will not be difficult.”
Luciel said with her hands on her waist.
It was fortunate that all the Bellstein liked letters.
Around the time the two were walking together in the grass, escort knight Ralph approached and told them.
“The residents who live nearby have asked for a favor for some time now. They want to say hello to the Little Madam when she visits the area. Are you okay now?”
“Oh.”
Surprised, Luciel looked across Kizef’s face.
“Go on, Luciel.”
“Yes, come with me Kizef.”
Kizef walked together, thinking that she didn’t seem to have the courage to go alone.
At the entrance of the little fief, about a dozen people were gathered. Luciel walked towards the entrance with a slightly flushed face.
“My Lady!”
“The one who bestowed grace upon Bellstein.”
“You must be an angel.”
“Thanks to my Lady, we avoided a landslide.”
The residents cheered as they thanked Luciel and some plucked flowers for her. In response to the unexpected reaction, she shyly greeted with a surprised face.
“I am really glad that you were not harmed. If you have any difficulties, please let me know.”
At Luciel’s words, the residents raised their hands one by one and began to complain of discomfort.
“There is no place that sells medicine, so if we get sick, we have to go to another town.”
“Well, I think I’ll be able to help you soon.”
Luciel remembered the story she had shared with Cicline.
“The weather is so bad that it’s so hard to make money by farming.”
“I’ll suggest the Duke, how about deploying a wizard who creates a mild climate.”
“Thank you!”
The faces of residents, who got the answer that they would try to improve, brightened one by one.
“I’m proud that the young lady knows how people feel.”
The old man with a cane who was pounding on his waist praised Luciel. The people seemed to melt away at her angelic appearance and heart.
Is it completely different from the lofty and powerful image that members of the Bellstein family have accumulated over the years so far.
Many people have been imagining what it would be like if the friendly and cute Luciel became the future Duchess.
“I am not great. Other people work really hard for Bellstein. The Duke and all of Bellstein, as well as the vassals of the castle, the knights, and all of you who do your best every day, is the most amazing. The Young Master over there is the person responsible for the future of Bellstein. He is doing a lot to protect it.”
After hearing Luciel’s words, the eyes of the residents turned to Kizef. Because he had not been exposed to the residents, their reaction became even more excited.
“Wow! Long live Young Master! Long live the Little Madam!”
It was an embarrassing situation, but he would gradually get used to it.
The fact that they met the residents and listened to their grievances that day soon became widely known in the territory. Thanks to this, the good image of the Young Couple not only increased, but it was also an opportunity to raise the honor of the Duke and former Duke who had educated them well.
Kizef said in the carriage going back to Bellstein Castle,
“You are gaining immense trust and popularity from the residents.”
“Yes. How did it happen?”
Luciel answered, pretending to be sniffing the scent of the flowers that they had given her. Kizef took this opportunity to ask about the story he had heard from Ellington.
“I heard that there were other things that you helped besides the landslide. The same goes for the Frandel Lake business that Count Gillen is promoting. Are you doing other things besides that?”
“……”
“So that’s why you are disappearing often with Ellington?”
“That’s right.”
Luciel nodded her head gently, looking at Kizef’s countenance. She knew Kizef would be angry, but he silently looked out the window, as if thinking about something.
Silence buried in the sound of the horse’s hooves continued.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t honestly tell you all about Bellstein’s future.’
However, she only got married to Kizef on a contract, and he was willing to reach out to Luciel and did his duty.
‘I have been doing well so far, and I will continue to do well in the future. Kizef, I don’t want you to be unhappy. I’ll protect you this time.’
While Luciel was making a promise like that, Kizef spoke first.
“Everyone in Bellstein regards you as family. Me too.”
“It’s the same for me too. Bellstein is like family to me now.”
It was Luciel’s first real family. She can open her heart and show it to them.
“Luciel, I will trust you and wait for you. No matter what you tell me.”
“Yes.”
“If you think of something you think is unbelievable, please tell me first.”
* * *
Clop, Clop.
Jarga returned to the castle on horseback and headed straight for the Duke’s office.
In the office, the Duke and Ellington were going through documents together. Due to the daily banquets, new business proposals were piled up.
The Duke slowly held his chin and asked.
“Did you find her?”
“Yes, it seems that she lives and works in a wine region called Sicilen that belongs to the estate of Ricardo.”
“Wine…Were there any signs of meeting someone else?”
“I couldn’t catch it. I also left the personnel of the reconnaissance team, but so far there was no news. But I discovered a new fact.”
The Duke looked up at those words.
“New fact?”
“Yes. While traveling around the village, an important person who was traveling around the village was going to deliver wine to the Imperial Family.”
“That’s an interesting fact.”
Among the Ricardo mountains, the Pipiano village is the most famous, and the emperor, as well as various nobles, enjoyed the wine there.
Of course, there were people who enjoyed various flavors depending on their preference, but how could it be the same place where Mrs. Volladi, Lucy’s nanny, stayed? What if that woman had anything to do with the imperial family?
If so, maybe someone in the imperial family is also looking for the existence of the Crystal Fairy. Such anxiety struck the Duke.
Ellington felt the same way.
“By the way, the imperial carriage has not arrived yet, Sir.”
In general, the first day of the banquet was attended by the most guests, and it was extremely rare for people to come the next day.
“I know. For now, keep an eye on the woman.”
“Yes.”
This time, he turned to Ellington and asked,
“Did the Marquis of Cavill return without any further action?”
“Yes. Claiming to have lost his children, they searched and found both of them together with a broken wooden doll in the woods. There was a bit of a fuss because they couldn’t remember anything, but I think it was because they were playing a prank using the wooden doll… They went back a little while ago anyway.”
At Ellington’s report, the Duke shook his head.
“A ridiculous family. What about Kylock’s usury business?”
“The Bellstein branch was a fake one-day office. It seems that only real customers have been taken to the headquarters.”
“…It did look sloppy. I thought so. As expected, there was a different purpose.”
The Duke thought to himself.
‘It was also an excuse to target Luciel. Yes, let’s see how far you stack them one by one. Marquis of Cavill.’