Chapter 64

“Duke?”  

Lia called out to him, half out of her wits.  

“Are you feeling unwell?”  

Johann snapped out of his daze.  

“…No.”  

He answered, setting his lips in a firm line.  

‘…To think I want to keep seeing her smile like that.’  

He must be crazy.  

Completely crazy.  

He denied his own feelings.  

“Oh, by the way, have you decided on a gift?”  

“Since Rafaella seems to be enjoying her swordsmanship lessons lately, I ordered a custom sword.”  

All the while he was preparing Rafaella’s gift, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.  

It felt as if he had experienced the excitement of preparing a gift for his daughter many times before.  

But the memory never fully surfaced, no matter how much he tried.  

“I think Raffy will love it.”  

“…Your advice helped.”  

Rafaella was still young and a beginner, so she used a wooden sword.  

At her current rate of progress, she would soon learn to use a real sword made for children.  

“…But she’s still so young. Isn’t it dangerous?”  

“Don’t worry. Until she enters the Academy, she’ll only use it under Veronica’s supervision.”  

“That’s a relief.”  

Lia smiled in relief.  

At that, he turned his head away.  

“…I should go see Rafaella.”  

Her smile—no, just looking at her face felt dangerous.  

He didn’t know what was dangerous about it, but it kept making him think strange thoughts.  

“I’ll go with you.”  

Not knowing his thoughts, Lia followed after him.  

* * *

A man entered the most splendid and beautiful palace of the Interim Empress in the Imperial Palace.  

Guided by an attendant, he arrived before the Interim Empress and bowed his head.  

“Heaven’s dazzling—”  

“Spare me the useless greetings and get on with your report.”  

Narcissa cut off the man’s words.  

“Yes, Your Majesty. Lately, for some reason, the Duke of Blumhart has hired a large number of magicians and is making medicine.”  

He was someone hired by the Interim Empress, regularly reporting to her on the movements of House Blumhart.  

“And?”  

The Interim Empress, receiving a hand massage from her maid, urged him on.  

“…And the magician of House Blumhart has been investigating something ever since the Yung Miss’ mana test.”  

The man continued his report.  

“When did they do a mana test?”  

“Well, it’s been a while, but the Duke kept it secret, and I only found out yesterday.”  

“It’s normal for noble families to do a mana test around that time, but to keep it secret….”  

Narcissa murmured, running her slender finger along her lips.  

“Did you find out what they’re investigating?”  

“They’re looking into mana manifestation.”  

“Why?”  

“…Pardon?”  

The man asked back, startled.  

“I asked why they’re looking into it.”  

“Well, I haven’t gotten that far yet….”  

Cold sweat ran down the man’s face.  

Her soft, even-toned voice made him shiver slightly.  

“Then hurry up and find out. Why are you dawdling?”  

The Interim Empress glared at him with sharp eyes.  

“Y-yes! Understood, Your Majesty.”  

The man bowed quickly, as if to escape those eyes, and left.  

“So slow….”  

“But no one can match his information network, Your Majesty.”  

Carmen, who was massaging Narcissa’s hand, spoke up.  

“That’s why he’s still alive.”  

The Interim Empress straightened her posture.  

“Why do you think the Duke is investigating mana manifestation?”  

Narcissa sipped the tea Carmen had brewed.  

“…It seems the Young Miss of Blumhart was born with a lot of mana, just like the Duke.”  

Carmen answered, her large eyes gleaming.  

“Yes, I think so too….”  

“That’s probably why there’s a problem with her manifestation….”  

“That man will find out why soon enough. More importantly, Carmen.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

“…If Patrizia marries the Duke and has a child, do you think the child will also have a lot of mana?”  

“Most likely, since even with a country woman, the child has that much.”  

“Hm, I need to marry off Patrizia as soon as possible.”  

That would make it easier to create the world she wanted.  

“…Wouldn’t it also be good to use the Young Miss as a backup plan?”  

“Yes, as long as her mana is certain, it would be more accurate and faster than having Her Imperial Highness marry and bear a child.”  

Carmen nodded, her eyes shining.  

“Right? But for that, it’s not just the Duke; the Young Miss’ birth mother would have to be removed as well.”  

The birth mother would surely become an obstacle when trying to claim the Princess.  

“I’ll look for a way to deal with the birth mother.”  

Carmen smiled wickedly, like a snake, and withdrew.  

* * *

Time passed, and before anyone knew it, the morning of Rafaella’s birthday had arrived.  

From early morning, Lia moved busily.  

There was to be a birthday party in the garden at noon.  

‘It’s just a small party with only the direct members of House Blumhart….’  

But not only Rafaella, Lia herself also had to dress up differently than usual.  

“Since it’s Rafaella’s first birthday party, you should also adorn yourself with a dress and jewelry to match.”  

A few days before the birthday, Isabella called Lia.  

“I’m fine….”  

Lia hesitated, having never dressed up before.  

“We’re all dressing up, so if you look plain, what will Rafaella think?”  

Isabella persuaded her.  

“……”  

Lia was left speechless by that.  

She’d probably stand out—negatively.  

“Right, you should wear the dress Johann had tailored for you last time.”  

Thinking she’d convinced her enough, Isabella even chose Lia’s dress.  

In truth, it was the only outfit she could wear right away.  

So now, Lia was putting on the dress together with Rafaella.  

Since the dress was hard to put on alone, Paula helped her.  

Helen took care of Rafaella.  

Afterward, sitting at the dressing table, Paula applied light makeup to Lia.  

Today, Paula also did her hair.  

Paula tied Lia’s hair into a neat updo.  

For jewelry, she wore pearl earrings and a necklace.  

They were lent by Isabella and matched the dress perfectly.  

‘They’re small but the color is so lovely, they must be incredibly expensive.’  

Finally, after putting on the shoes Isabella had lent her, all the preparations were finished.  

“How do I look?”  

When Lia spun around, the skirt line of the ivory dress flowed elegantly along her figure.  

With her hair stylishly swept up, the pearl necklace around her neck and the earrings on her ears stood out even more.  

The white shoes, decorated with several small diamonds, also suited Lia perfectly.  

Everyone who saw her thought the same thing.  

It was as if the beautiful moon in the night sky had come down in human form.  

No one would ever guess she was from a remote northern mountain village.  

“……”  

‘But why is everyone so quiet?’  

Not just Paula, but also Rafaella and Helen, who had finished dressing earlier and were waiting.  

All of them stood there, mouths slightly open, just staring at her.  

“…Do I look that strange?”  

Feeling embarrassed, Lia fiddled with her neckline and asked.  

“No, no!”  

Paula shook her head.  

“Then why is no one saying anything?”  

Lia’s eyebrows drooped.  

“…You look so beautiful, Miss Lia.”  

Helen murmured absentmindedly beside her.  

“Isn’t that a bit too much praise?”  

Lia’s face blushed bright red.  

“…Mom!”  

“Hm?”  

Rafaella couldn’t quite grab her mother’s skirt and instead stood close beside her.  

“Mom, you look just like an angel. Don’t fly away, okay? Promise?”  

“My daughter, are you sure you’re not just blinded by love for your mom?”  

Lia laughed as she spoke.  

“No, you really look like an elegant lady!”  

Paula tidied the softly flowing hair at the side of her face.  

Knock, knock, knock.  

Just then, Isabella came in.  

“I came just in case, but I see there was no need.”  

She admired Lia.  

“Very elegant. Now, come down slowly with Rafaella.”  

“Yes.”  

After Isabella left, Lia and Rafaella went out to the garden a little later.  

The birthday girl appeared last.  

Johann was also busy from the morning.  

Not only dressing up but also trying to imagine his daughter’s reaction to the gift he’d prepared.  

“Is the scabbard too fancy?”  

“I don’t think so….”  

“No, maybe it looks too rough.”  

Before Samuel could answer, Johann voiced the opposite worry.  

“Of all the scabbards I’ve ever seen, this one is the most….”  

The scabbard Johann had designed himself was very refined and intricate.  

“Is it too heavy?”  

He glared at the sword.  

“It was made to a weight Rafaella can handle.”  

“What if she doesn’t like it because it’s too sharp?”  

Johann frowned as he asked.  

“……”  

Samuel gave up answering.  

No matter what he said, his master wouldn’t hear it anyway.  

“Sigh, she won’t say she hates it, right?”  

Where had the once taciturn Duke of Blumhart gone?  

“I’ll bet my entire fortune she’ll love it, so let’s go out.”  

Johann reluctantly stood up.  

There was no more avoiding it.  

His daughter’s reaction to the gift.  

‘…Why am I so worried about this?’  

He let out a short sigh and headed for the garden.  

As he sat down and wet his throat with water, Lia and Rafaella arrived.  

‘They’re finally coming.’  

Rafaella was wearing a blue dress and a small tiara on her head.  

So cute and adorable.  

He’d have to order more dresses and tiaras in that color.  

And the moment he turned his gaze to Lia standing beside her—  

Thump, thump, thump.  

His heart began to race madly.