“Why? Do you want to find it?”
“Not really.”
She was only a little curious about who had it. But if no one ever used the key to seek out the guild, then whoever possessed it probably had no interest in using the key. Or maybe Artia really had died with it.
“You know there’s a way to find it.”
Kainel gave the key another light shake.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re going to pretend you don’t know that either.”
...Ah. This guy never lets anything go.
Of course she knew.
There was a way to find the last key. Artia had placed a special spell on it.
You can find it when two keys come together.
If two of the three keys were gathered, they’d reveal the location of the third.
“Why would you put a spell like that on it? Aren’t you wasting your talent?”
“You never know. One of us might end up separated someday. Then the other two would have to go find them.”
“Can’t we just stay separated?”
“No. What if something happens while they’re alone?”
“......”
He never specifically said who it was for, but she had a feeling he’d created that spell for her sake.
Ever since the carriage accident long ago, Artia had never been willing to leave her on her own. He always shoved strange artifacts into her hands in case something happened.
“Take it.”
“Hm?”
Pulled from her thoughts by Kainel’s voice, she looked up. He was holding the black key out to her.
“Keep it.”
“Why?”
“I think Arti would’ve wanted you to.”
“...?”
When she only stared at him in confusion, Kainel grabbed her hand and pressed the key into her palm himself.
“He left a message.”
“A message? What was it?”
Artia had left Kainel a message? That was the first she’d heard of it.
Did it happen after I died?
“Why? Are you curious?”
A slow smile tugged at Kainel’s lips.
“Why would you be? You’re someone who doesn’t even know who Arti is.”
“...I’m not curious.”
Not curious at all, you j*rk!
Kainel chuckled softly and changed the subject.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“About what?”
“You don’t need to keep acting as head of the family anymore, right?”
“That’s true.”
As Kainel said, there was no reason for her to continue as acting head. Herion’s condition had improved dramatically after visiting the magical training grounds.
The fractured arm was nearly back to normal. There was nothing stopping her from resuming her duties.
“I °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° told them I’d keep an eye on the knights’ training whenever I have time.”
Since she was already teaching Antonian and the other children, she figured she might as well oversee the Ellesia knights’ training while she was at it.
“S-Six o’clock?”
“Six o’clock. Not a minute late. Training starts at that time.”
“But....”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“N-No, ma’am! No problems at all!”
Conversation really was a wonderful thing. People understood so much faster when you talked things through.
Ever since their serious discussion that day, Captain Tylo’s attitude had become remarkably pleasant.
You can say he takes every word I had said to heart.
These days, he moved as soon as she gave an instruction. He was finally starting to look like a proper knight.
“But why do you keep following me around?”
“You said you were going to the market.”
“So?”
“I was going to carry your bags.”
“......”
Ceres glanced back at Kainel, who had been trailing after her ever since she left to buy supplies for the shop. She stared at him in disbelief.
And why would you be carrying my bags?
Shaking her head like she’d given up trying to understand him, Ceres continued on her way.
“Hm?”
She stopped in her tracks. A pair of small red shoes sat on display outside a shop. She couldn’t look away.
“Aren’t those too small for you?”
“They are.”
Did he seriously think she was looking at them for herself?
“I think they’d look nice on Julia.”
Julia’s worn brown shoes had been on her mind ever since she noticed them a few days ago.
“Then why not buy them?”
Kainel watched her curiously as she stared at the shoes for a while before turning away.
Wasn’t that why she’d stopped?
“Not now.”
Those shoes screamed expensive.
“If not now, then when?”
“Soon.”
Ceres glanced back over her shoulder and flashed him a grin.
“Just wait. I’ll pay back everything I owe you before long.”
***
“Have you heard?”
At the brush of the man’s fingertips, a closed bud unfurled into full bloom, revealing pristine white petals. Veilks’s touch as he stroked the flower was gentler than ever.
“They say someone’s developed a medicine to replace holy water.”
“A medicine?”
It was the first Alex had heard of it.
“The effects of holy water have been growing weaker for years.”
There were rumors that the holy water sold by the temple wasn’t what it used to be.
At the same time, the number of people capable of wielding divine power had dwindled, reducing the supply while driving the price higher and higher.
“But a medicine that can replace it...”
Veilks lightly shook his head, a faint crease forming between his brows.
“As you know, plenty of people need to die from demonic energy. Otherwise, this place can’t survive.”
Those who were wounded in the Black Forest and succumbed to demonic energy provided the ideal nourishment for the flowers.
“So, where did a medicine like that suddenly come from?”
“.....”
Alex clicked his tongue as he watched the smile playing at Veilks’s lips. The man clearly knew the answer. He was only fishing to see what Alex would say.
“Jutel.”
At Veilks’s summon, a figure appeared without a sound.
Jutel bowed slightly before stepping over to Prince Alex’s side. The movement was so natural it looked like that spot had always belonged to him.
“There are fewer reports on Ceres Drow than I expected.”
Veilks’s voice was gentle, but the reproach beneath it was unmistakable.
“As I mentioned before, someone is constantly at her side. That makes it difficult to keep a close eye on her.”
“So, you’re telling me the problem is your lack of ability?”
Jutel flashed a crooked grin.
“It’s not as though that’s my only responsibility. I have to protect Prince Alex, run errands for you, and handle everything else in between. Even two bodies wouldn’t be enough.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s true.”
Veilks withdrew his hand from the white flower and took a step toward him.
Across the room, Alex sat by the window, his gaze fixed outside as if the conversation had nothing to do with him.
“Then, perhaps it’s time you focused on a single task.”
“A single task?”
“Ceres Drow. Make her your sole priority. I’ll assign someone else to attend Prince Alex.”
“......”
For the first time, the playful smile lingering on Jutel’s lips faltered. A short sigh escaped him.
Raising both hands in surrender, he shook his head helplessly.
“I’ll put more effort into it. Perhaps it’s time for a home visit.”
Only then did Veilks’s smile soften with satisfaction.
“That’s better. Besides, I’m sure Prince Alex would rather keep someone familiar by his side than be saddled with a stranger.”
As though asking for confirmation, Veilks turned his gaze toward him.
Alex, who hadn’t reacted once during the entire exchange, finally rose from his seat.
“Jutel. We’re leaving.”
A faint smile flickered across Jutel’s lips before vanishing again. He understood perfectly well that this was Alex’s answer.
“Prince Alex.”
Alex stopped just before leaving.
“It seems the S-Class Black Stone I gave you still hasn’t been put to use.”
“.....”
“You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
Alex sighed quietly before looking back at him.
“I’m waiting for the right time.”
“Of course.”
Still smiling, Veilks stepped closer.
“Just remember that stone is precious to me as well. Failure isn’t an option.”
“...I know.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words.
Alex turned away sharply and walked out without another glance. He had no interest in continuing the conversation.
***
“What’s this?”
“This month’s profits.”
A visitor had come to see Ceres while she was enjoying a lazy weekend at home.
The visitor was none other than Herion, head of the Ellesia family.
“Wait. The medicine’s already making money?”
“Yes!”
Teaching the recipe hadn’t been difficult. The Ellesia name apparently wasn’t just for show. Once she showed them the process, they picked it up right away.
Still, she hadn’t expected results this quickly.
Holy water was already widely available, which meant breaking into the market wouldn’t be easy. She’d assumed this would take time.
But it was already turning a profit?
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