Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 1/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

Emmett, appearing in an impeccable attire, asked.

“Good day. Young lady, young masters. I am Emmett Okims, third assistant to His Grace the Duke. I was passing by, but is there any problem on this peaceful 3 o’clock afternoon?”

Emmett concluded after briefly checking his pocket watch.

Startled, Malcolm and Dmitri exchanged quick glances before hurrying away, leaving Natasha alone to taunt Liria.

“Not such a peaceful afternoon, is it? I see the precious direct line heir still needs others to fight her battles? That filthy pet of yours bit my brother’s ankle. You can’t even use magic properly, yet you dare call yourself the direct line? Truly laughable.”

“…Natasha, watch your mouth.”

As Eugene warned coldly, Natasha said.

“Did I say anything untrue?”

Liria, who had been quiet in front of Emmett, hid behind Eugene with a tearful expression.

“…Big sister Natasha insulted my parents first. Liria hated that so much, so…”

Seeing Liria shrink in pretend fear, Natasha scowled and tried to push her.

“What’s this! Are you acting right now?”

This time, Emmett intervened.

“…Ahem, Miss Natasha, causing a disturbance is troublesome. Please stop.”

Liria stuck out her tongue, taunting.

‘That’s what you get for being so mean-spirited! One day I’ll teach you a lesson with magic.’

“Tch… Are you only taking the direct line’s side? This is too much! Just you wait, Liria.”

Trembling with anger, Natasha pouted and stormed off.

The situation was resolved instantly with Emmett’s appearance.

After all, the foolish trio had been driven away.

“Then I’ll be on my way now.”

“Ah, goodbye.”

Emmett also bid farewell to Liria and turned away awkwardly.

His robotic backward steps as he disappeared were rather unnatural.

Now only Liria and Eugene remained. If he hadn’t appeared, Liria would have been helplessly beaten by Malcolm.

Of course, Liria wouldn’t have just stood there either.

“Um, Eugene Oppa, thanks for helping earlier.”

“No need. Those guys, they’ve been bullying you often, haven’t they?”

“Huh? Ah… yeah. A few times.”

Gritting his teeth, Eugene’s red eyes flashed as he muttered a small curse.

“…bastards.”

Liria couldn’t hear properly because Eugene covered her ears.

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“Nothing at all.”

Eugene smiled it off and patted Liria.

“Tell me if it happens again.”

“So you can scold them?”

“Yeah. My magic is stronger.”

Eugene seemed to want to ask something as he stared at Liria.

“What is it?”

“Oh, Liria. Did you pass the aptitude test last time?”

“Ah… about that…”

She did pass, but how should she explain this?

Faced with such a troublesome question, Liria fidgeted with her clothes, hesitating to answer.

Just then, a voice calling for Eugene was heard from the other side of the bookshelf.

“Eugene.”

At that moment, Eugene’s body noticeably stiffened.

“Come here. Quickly.”

It was Benjamin, the second son of grandfather and Eugene’s father.

Tall and handsome, with a seemingly kind impression at first glance.

With neatly combed black hair and the thick book he always carried, dressed in a relaxed robe style, he looked like a knowledgeable scholar.

For now, he hasn’t revealed his true nature, so his reputation in the duke’s mansion is still good.

But Benjamin is just as trashy as the others. Liria was slightly worried for Eugene.

“Let’s go have dinner. Your mother is waiting.”

The gentle gaze and attitude towards Eugene, surely he treats his own son well?

“Yes, Father…!”

“…Oh, Liria, you were here too.”

“Hello, Uncle.”

As Benjamin sauntered over, Liria had no choice but to greet him.

A somewhat displeased gaze landed on her. A look that said he didn’t like her associating with his son.

Sure enough.

“Eugene, didn’t I tell you not to associate with just anyone? Let’s go.”

After glancing at Liria, Benjamin turned around immediately and urged Eugene, speaking casually.

‘Did he just naturally insult me as he passed by?’

At Benjamin’s words, Liria clenched her fists and glared.

Just you wait.

“Li-Liria, I’ll see you at the next successor lesson.”

“Okay.”

‘Make sure to let me know when you change rooms!’

Eugene mouthed those words before running after his father.

Tap tap tap!

“Yeah, take care, big brother.”

Liria waved her small hand.

Just now, Eugene seemed somehow different from usual, more withdrawn.

His expression seemed to darken a bit too.

“…Is it just my imagination?”

“Beep.”

Watching Eugene’s retreating figure with Benjamin, Liria was overcome by an uneasy feeling.

“You think so too? Shall we head back for today?”

There wasn’t much progress at the library anyway.

Besides, she needed to figure out how to deceive the examiners and grandfather about the aptitude test results.

As Liria was trudging back to her room, still worried, she hid behind a wall.

Marit was talking to someone in the corridor.

It was Ilina, one of the aptitude test examiners.

“I came because I was worried that if you keep delaying the result measurement, the pass might be canceled.”

“Fortunately, there’s no problem with the young lady’s health.”

“That’s good. Then please make sure to tell Miss Liria to come to the spirit tree tomorrow morning for the result measurement.”

“Understood.”

After Ilina left, Liria tiptoed behind Marit and hugged her suddenly.

“Marit!”

“Welcome back, young lady.”

However, Marit didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“Oh? You’re not startled?”

“I have good hearing. I know your cute footsteps very well.”

Marit said affectionately while patting Liria’s head.

“Really?”

“Of course. It’s true. By the way, where did you go without telling me? I was worried.”

“Ah, I went to return books to the library and read a bit. But about the test examiner earlier…”

“Yes, you heard it all, didn’t you?”

Liria nodded.

“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll go tomorrow and come back with a pass.”

“Alright, young lady. Give me your bag. I’ll tidy it up.”

“Huh? Ah, no. Good children tidy their own bags!”

Somehow, she hadn’t told Marit yet about getting Kiki…

Even though Liria said that Marit didn’t give up and approached.

Then she opened the bag to check its contents.

Liria closed her eyes tightly, prepared to be caught soon. Kiki had fallen asleep yawning on the way back.

But then.

“Oh my, young lady. It’s a fluffy doll. How cute.”

Marit mistook Kiki in the bag for a doll as soon as she saw it.

‘Did Kiki pretend to be dead or something?’

“Y-yeah. I picked it up on the way. Don’t worry, the bag is clean.”

“I see.”

As soon as Marit turned around, Liria saw Kiki’s eyes fluttering open.

‘So it was an act after all.’

But deceiving someone by pretending to be a doll only works once or twice.

There was already the incident of Kiki biting Dimitri at the library.

Although Liria said that to reassure Marit, she was actually worried the whole time.

About Kiki’s identity, and about having the key ability.

If everything were to be discovered, it would cause an even bigger uproar.

If everyone found out that she was a spirit user, that is.

But she couldn’t just sit back and let her pass be canceled either.

She had to do something tomorrow!

Whoosh!

Back in her room, Liria summoned the power key and book again. Then she stared at the key for a long time.

As she pondered deeply, turning over the links of thought, Liria came up with one clever idea.