Chapter 21

21. In Search of Sapphires

Among the items sent to the kingdom of Helenia twenty years ago was a rough sapphire gemstone.

Sapphires are favored gems in the kingdom, which considers the blue color auspicious. Especially sapphires from the empire were highly valued for their deep color and purity.

However, the quantity mined was small, so it couldn’t be included in the tribute.

But the records stated that a considerable amount of sapphire was sent as tribute.

“Where did they get so many sapphires?”

“I’ve heard that there are sapphire mines near the border between the Caucasian Autonomous Region and Tiflis.”

“There are sapphire mines in Tiflis?”

“It’s not confirmed.”

Jensen emphasized that it was just a rumor, fearing that Adelaide might have false hopes, but Adelaide didn’t listen.

“If there are records, it would be worth looking into.”

“Yes, but…… Your Grace, those records were written based on past events, so they’re not easy to trust.”

“If there are records and rumors, I have no reason not to believe them.”

If there really was a sapphire mine in Tiflis, the problem would be easily solved.

“Bring me a map.”

Adelaide decided to pin her hopes on this straw-like hope.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“I heard about it, too.”

Adelaide, who was searching for a place where there might be a sapphire mine, looked up sharply.

Zatia, who was cleaning, stopped and politely replied.

Zatia stopped mopping and replied politely.

“Yes. There’s a cave full of blue gems close to the holy place, but the entrance to the cave is on the Tiflis side, so we can’t go in.”

Adelaide’s eyes lit up at this much more specific testimony than Jensen’s, and she asked.

“Do you happen to know the exact location?”

“I only know what the shaman told me…….”

Zatia studied the map and pointed to a corner.

“He said it was near a holy place, so it must be around here.”

In the middle of a forest on the border of Tiflis and the Caucasian Autonomous Region.

It’s a day’s walk, so it’s worth a shot, even if it’s a waste of time.

“We need to prepare for the outing.”

“Your Grace, but…”

“Hmm?”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t go.”

Zatia cautiously urged Adelaide.

“Why?”

“The shaman says there’s a guardian spirit that guards the mine, and if you go near it, you’ll be cursed and die or go insane…….”

“A curse?”

Zatia nodded softly. Adelaide smirked at the horrified look on her face.

Can even those who have died and come back receive a curse?

If so, it was a curious thing.

“Interesting story.”

“You shouldn’t take the shaman’s words as a joke. He told me that the head shaman himself was cursed to death when he approached the mine to see the guardian spirit!”

“Then let’s see if there is a curse or not. Go and fetch Sir Lucid.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“You’re going to go out again after all that mess?”

Lucid asked, looking exhilarated at being asked to get ready to go out. It was a rather rude way to address a duchess.

Bam! Margaret poured tea into the teacups and set the pot down with a loud clatter. Lucid coughed in vain, looking puzzled.

“Margaret, I know you’re busy; why don’t you go out and work.”

“I’m not busy at all.”

“Go outside.”

“I’ll be right outside the door at …….”

Margaret rolled her eyes at Lucid and left the room. While waiting for the door to close, Lucid spoke up in a more polite manner.

“Where are you planning to go?”

“Not that far, maybe a day or two?”

“Two days?”

Lucid openly frowned. Adelaide, who was raising her teacup, tilted her head stubbornly and asked.

“Are you busy?”

“Not really. My duty is to protect Your Grace.”

“Though I don’t think I’m much of an escort,” he added.

“Then can you arrange for me to leave tomorrow morning?”

“Do you have to go?”

“Yes. Do you not want to?”

“I’m a little scared, to be honest, because whenever you go out, it’s a mess.”

“I know I’m a troublemaker.”

“I’m glad I don’t have to remind you.”

The tone of voice that had become polite for a moment suddenly became rude again.

She can understand his frustration after two accidents in a row on two separate outings, but she can’t blame him for being uncooperative when he’s supposed to be her personal knight.

“Okay, I’ll find another way to go there.”

“…….”

He knew it would come to this.

Lucid sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

If he refused, Adelaide would go out alone, and if something bad happened, he would be blamed for failing to protect the Duchess.

If he followed her out and she was in danger, he would be responsible for that, too.

‘Whatever the outcome, I’m the one who’s going to be in trouble’.

Lucid spoke up with one last hope.

“Let me hear where you’re going, and then I’ll judge.”

“Here.”

Adelaide pointed to the map. The red ink indicated the middle of a forest with nothing in it.

“This is just a forest, isn’t it?”

“There’s supposed to be a sapphire mine around here, so I thought I’d check it out.”

“A sapphire mine? “

What kind of nonsense is this?

Lucid looked at Adelaide with a bewildered expression. He hoped she would say, ‘Just kidding,’ but she just nodded casually.

“Please don’t joke. There’s no way there’s a sapphire mine.”

“Then could Sir Lucid ask the Duke of Lephisto if he would be willing to lend me a hundred thousand cels?”

“…Our family is poor, Your Grace.”

“The founding hero Duke Lephisto is poor? Even a passing dog would laugh at that statement.”

“Hmph.”

Lucid, at a loss for words, shut up.

The tribute exchange was imminent. Normally, the tribute should have been piled up in the castle by now. However, due to tight finances, preparations were not made on time.

Even Callion, who rarely mentioned money, complained that the budget was woefully insufficient. So, it was understandable that Adelaide, who was responsible for the preparations, was trying to find a way out.

Still, there was no such thing as a sapphire mine in Tiflis territory.

Lucid chuckled as he looked at the map.

“You’re not willing to look for another way, are you?”

“If there were other options, I wouldn’t have come this far. If you’re hesitant to enter the forest, you can just take me to the entrance.”

“If you do that, His Grace might cut my head off.”

Lucid jokingly touched his neck. Adelaide chuckled at his gesture, which was almost like consent.

“I understand that you plan to depart tomorrow morning. Since the journey may be difficult, it would be comfortable if we had a carriage.”

“I’ll see to that.”

Adelaide grinned, satisfied that she had gotten the answer she wanted.

‘What to pack first? ’ With a headache already brewing, Lucid furrowed his brow and stood up.

“Shouldn’t Your Grace inform the Duke about your outing?”

“Do you really think we need to bother him?”

“Understood.”

Lucid shrugged and turned away as if he’d expected the answer.

Adelaide gathered the map and quickly drank the remaining tea.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Tap-tap

The heavy rain that had been pouring all night stopped as if it were a lie when morning came.

Adelaide, who couldn’t sleep due to the sound of rain, blinked her sleepy eyes. Just as she was about to yawn, Zatia burst into the room.

“Your Grace, they’re ready to leave.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Adelaide left the room. Zatia followed, carrying a basket of food and blankets.

As they stepped into the front yard, they saw a carriage they hadn’t seen before. It was much more luxurious than the carriage they had ridden on before.

“There you are.”

Lucid, checking the horseshoes, spotted Adelaide and greeted her.

“Can we leave immediately?”

“Yes, I’m ready, but…….”

Pretending she hadn’t heard his unspoken question about whether she really needed to go, she headed for the carriage. Sighing heavily, Lucid opened the carriage door.

“Did you sleep well?”

Callion, who was inside the carriage, greeted her lightly. Adelaide looked back at Lucid with a puzzled expression.

She gritted her teeth and forced the corners of her mouth upward.

“Are you going out somewhere, Your Grace?”

“I heard you were going to a good place, so I thought I’d come along.”

“……Are you not busy?”

“What could be more urgent than preparing for the tribute?”

Callion laughed softly. He seemed to know where she was going. Lucid’s eyes widened, and his voice rose in exasperation.

“It’s not me, it’s Jensen! Jensen thinks Her Grace might be looking for a sapphire mine…”

“I thought it was a joke, but Lucid prepared the carriage, and when I interrogated him, he confessed.”

“…….”

That light-mouthed human.

“Oh, the knights will accompany us as well. It might be quicker to find if more people search, right?”

The mention of dozens of knights accompanying them left Adelaide dumbfounded.

She’s trying to do something because she has no answers, not because she believes there’s a sapphire mine.

Adelaide, desperate to shake Callion off, poked Zatia in the side.

Zatia opened her mouth quickly.

“Um, it might be presumptuous, but wouldn’t it be better if His Grace didn’t go?”

“Why?”

“I heard a story when I was in the Caucasian Region…… that if you approach the sapphire mines, the guardian of the mines will curse you.”

“A curse?”

Callion chuckled lightly.

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t go because I’m afraid of the curse?”

“W-well, it’s not a story to be taken lightly. If by any chance you were cursed…”

“Then, is it okay for the Duchess to be cursed? ”

“…….”

“Or is there some kind of guarantee that the curse will avoid the Duchess?”

“Your Grace.”

“And you believe that?”

He asked with a smile, his expression boyishly mischievous.

If she says yes, he’ll tell her not to go, and if she says no, he’ll ask her to come with him.

When she hesitated to answer, Callion spoke up.

“You’re not asking me to believe something you don’t believe yourself, are you?”

“…….”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Callion held out his hand. Adelaide took it hesitantly.