Leticia liked Basilinte, but separately from that, she knew they were somehow…

Yes. To use words learned in back alleys, they were somewhat off in the head.

They were honest, bold, and fair, but they didn’t seem as kind as Leticia had initially mistaken them to be.

‘But they can’t be kind because they can’t feel emotions.’

Even so, isn’t it more impressive that they try to be fair?

Leticia, with her rose-colored glasses firmly on, thought so.

Of course, the reason the Basilinte family members were razor-sharp fair in all matters was simply because it was convenient for them.

Since they couldn’t feel likes or dislikes about most things and couldn’t distinguish between good and evil, deliberately discriminating was also a bothersome and cumbersome act.

Anyway, in conclusion, Leticia had never seen a normal human among those bearing the Basilinte name.

Even Astrid, the daughter-in-law brought in from outside, was definitely not normal.

So Leticia had thought that the former Grand Duchess, who had thrown divorce papers at Gaien and run away, would certainly be abnormal in some way.

‘…But why does she seem so ordinary?’

Of course, her appearance was far from ordinary. She was an unusually elegant beauty.

“We should go back and wash up soon, Ferik. You’re covered in dirt.”

Thanks to the Grand Duke, who completed the stairs after a long time of shoveling, the party was able to descend comfortably to the bottom of the valley.

Of course, the party consisted only of Isana, Colin, and Leticia, in accordance with Astrid’s wish to maintain confidentiality.

At Isana’s warm voice worrying about her child, Leticia found this situation simply too mysterious.

Such an ordinary atmosphere in Basilinte.

Astrid also glanced at Isana and spoke to Ferik in her own kind way.

“Yes. You worked hard. Go back to Lady Isana’s mansion first and rest.”

“It’s fine. Don’t we need to dig more ground?”

“I can do that.”

“How can you when you can’t even use magic right now?”

At Ferik’s words, Isana’s eyes widened.

Covering her surprised open mouth elegantly, Isana asked Astrid.

“Astrid, what does that mean? Hadn’t your body fully recovered?”

“My body has recovered. There’s a slight problem with my magical power, but…”

Astrid said as she lifted Leticia up.

“My disciple and I are trying to fix it. What’s important is that my body is healthy anyway.”

For Astrid to recover her magical power, Tan, who was connected to her magical circuit, would have to stop drawing power from her.

This essentially meant the same as saying Astrid’s magical power would recover only if the Basilinte curse disappeared.

But Astrid subtly changed the subject and avoided Isana’s worried gaze.

“Now, before it gets too late, shall our baby find some water?”

Leticia saw Astrid being mindful of someone’s feelings for the first time. But looking at that kind gaze, it felt natural to be considerate.

“Astrid…”

At Isana’s soft call, Astrid’s shoulders flinched.

Soon, Isana swallowed a sigh and whispered gently.

“Let’s talk when we get home later. And Ferik.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“How pathetic. Bringing Astrid here when she’s not well.”

“….”

Strictly speaking, Ferik had arrived here because he was following the rampaging Astrid.

“If you knew your clothes would get dirty, you should have prepared in advance. Then, at least you could carry Astrid on your back. What were you planning to do in those dirty clothes if Astrid struggled?”

“….”

“Fine. That’s probably why Astrid asked for a divorce. You’re just like your father.”

Astrid, who was holding Leticia, slowly approached Isana’s side and linked arms with her.

“Lady Isana, please don’t be too angry. The sun is hot, so let’s just quickly find the water vein connected to the water source and go home today. Oh, did I tell you how amazing a magician my new disciple is? Leti, shall we show off to Lady Isana?”

“Yes, Master.”

As if matching Astrid’s rhythm, Leticia smiled brightly and stretched her hands forward.

Honestly, she could perform magic without stretching her hands, but Astrid had advised that it was good to show these gestures in front of ordinary people.

It was for the extremely childish reason that it looked cool.

A faint blue light flickered at Leticia’s fingertips, and soon blue lines appeared on the ground.

The lines, which spread out like tree branches, disappeared except for the thickest one.

“We just follow this.”

“Yes, we just follow this?”

Astrid, who looked like she could die from cuteness, rubbed her cheek against Leticia’s cheek with familiarity and asked again.

Leticia nodded shyly.

Isana, unaware that Colin was clicking his tongue at Leticia’s pretense, smiled faintly at the master-disciple pair who seemed to get along well.

“Ferik, dear. Can you help a little more before leaving? Please mark along this blue line with your shovel.”

“Understood.”

Behind the group, walking along the blue line like they were taking a stroll, Ferik traced the blue line with his shovel.

Their walk continued until sunset, and the same was true the next day, and the day after that.

Since the water source, which was the origin of the water vein, didn’t appear, they had no choice.

The difference from the first day was that now Ferik started to bring spare clothes and a plow on his own.

And there was the minor incident where Isana became more angry at her son after hearing Astrid’s complaints about Ferik’s heartlessness.

After several days of searching for the water source, another group of Basilinte burst into Isana’s residence.

It was Gaien, who had brought his two grandsons along despite being told not to come chasing after them without his grandsons.

***

Isana Lefri was not a noble, but she was the daughter of a merchant guild master who could look down on most nobles.

Therefore, even after her divorce, she had enough wealth to live in a mansion, but she had deliberately chosen a small house because she wanted to rest in a modest place.

Isana’s choice might have been fine if her divorced husband hadn’t suddenly invaded with two grandchildren.

Seeing her small and modest house suddenly overflowing with unexpected guests, Isana, instead of smashing her husband’s head like Astrid would have, elegantly collapsed backward.

“Lady Isana!”

After laying the collapsed Isana on the bed, calling a doctor, and amid the adults bustling about, the children were left alone.

Astrid, who had been fetching water, spotted Leticia and strode over.

“Go to your room and rest, Leti.”

“Is Lady Isana…”

“She’s fine. It’s all His Grace Gaien’s fault. Sigh. Don’t worry and go and play with your brother. Colin, please take care of the baby.”

Astrid, without much thought, pulled Colin’s hand and made him hold Leticia’s hand.

It was contact that neither Leticia nor Colin wanted, but since Astrid was present, both of them artificially pulled up the corners of their mouths.

“Yes, Master.”

“Of course. I’ll take good care of him.”

Astrid ruffled Leticia’s hair and stood up.

“Good, good. By the way, where on earth did that Chamuka go? If you see him, keep him with you. He’s probably with Tan…”

At that, Leticia felt a familiar gaze directed at her and turned her head toward the stairs.

Chamuka was standing in the first-floor lobby, holding the back of Tan’s neck. She immediately met the golden eyes staring intently at her.