“I read all the letters Liria sent… It was a bit embarrassing to read them, but they gave me strength. They made me reflect on whether I really had so many good qualities.”

Seeing him shyly smile while casually brushing his hair aside, Liria could tell the complimentary letters had truly comforted him, and a gentle smile spread across her face.

“Of course, of course! To me, big brother Eugene is the kindest and most dependable person in Roberg.”

Praise is the best way to boost a child’s self-esteem.

She couldn’t understand how this shy, broadly smiling boy would grow up to become the corrupted head of the underworld information guild.

“Is that so? I’ll have to work harder. To become like Liria says.”

“You’ll become a good adult who protects the weak. Just like how you helped me! I guarantee that you’ll be a kind and good person, so please continue to get along well with me!”

Liria enthusiastically offered sincere compliments.

Partly to fulfill the remaining count needed to open Eugene’s heart.

Partly to plan for the future.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

‘Someday when you succeed Jiana, just share a few of those countless gold mines of information with me! Don’t pretend you don’t know when that time comes.’

Hiding such dark intentions, Liria clasped her tiny hands together and tilted her head from side to side.

Eugene, thinking she resembled his puppy Ruby, gently patted Liria’s fluffy hair.

“Of course. When I become a strong adult in the future… I’ll definitely protect Liria then too.”

As Eugene made this promise, his clear ruby-like eyes momentarily darkened.

Among the Robergs, Eugene had the gentlest impression, but just now, he didn’t seem so.

“Big brother, what’s this, by the way?”

“I stopped by town and bought it.”

Eugene smiled brightly and handed her a yellow box.

A sweet aroma wafted from it, and when she quickly opened it, there was a custard pudding drizzled with sticky caramel syrup inside.

“I was just craving something sweet! This is such a perfect gift. Thank you so much!”

Liria’s soft pink cheeks puffed up as she enthusiastically praised him more than usual while deliciously devouring the pudding.

Despite being flustered by the endless compliments, Eugene’s smile never faded.

“This is so delicious.”

The sweet, moist taste seemed to properly recharge her sugar levels.

Her head was spinning.

Energy surging!

Eugene, quietly watching her eat with a gentle smile, murmured softly.

“…Next time, shall I bring two, no, ten of them? No, perhaps buying the entire pudding shop wouldn’t be a bad idea…”

“Huh? That line sounds familiar.”

Clunk.

Liria dropped her spoon and naturally looked down, then her eyes widened.

“Wha…!”

There was a glowing spiral-shaped mark on Eugene’s ankle.

It looked unusual.

Eugene’s Eternal abilities were speed and invisibility. And his manifested magic attribute was wind.

‘…Could that possibly be an awakening mark?’

It was a physical characteristic that appeared in Eternal awakeners.

‘Has Eugene already started awakening? At such a young age…?’

“Liria, use this one since I haven’t used it.”

Eugene quickly picked up the spoon and exchanged it with his own, then asked.

“Big brother Eugene. There’s a glowing spot on your ankle? Has it always been there?”

Eugene stiffened momentarily and pulled up his sock to hide the mark.

“Ah, I think it appeared one day. I’m not sure. By the way, what time is it now? I need to return by 2 o’clock.”

Eugene anxiously looked at the clock as he spoke. Liria tilted her head curiously.

“Already? You haven’t even seen all of my annex yet.”

“It’s tea time.”

“Tea time?”

Eugene didn’t seem like someone who particularly enjoyed tea.

“Yes. Our family drinks tea together every day at 2 PM.”

As Eugene said this, his expression darkened briefly, and he unconsciously frowned.

He didn’t seem to like the tea-drinking session.

“I see… Then can I come along too? I love tea time!”

I should probably go along to observe the situation.

However.

Unexpectedly, the door clicked open, and Benjamin stood there with his arms crossed, looking down at Liria and Eugene with cold eyes.

‘Since when was he standing there?’

Goosebumps rose on her skin.

“It’s a tradition just for our three family members, so that won’t be possible, Liria. Eugene, why are you here? Stop wasting unnecessary time and let’s go. We need to start our family tea time.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Why such an obsession with mere tea time? It makes it even more suspicious.

When Benjamin extended his hand, Eugene’s bright face became noticeably gloomy.

One thing was clear.

Eugene was being forcibly dragged to a tea time he didn’t enjoy.

“Liria, I’ll see you next time.”

“Okay, understood.”

As Liria waved her hand, Benjamin hurriedly took Eugene and left Liria’s room.

Marit and Yuphi, unable to intervene, spoke with embarrassed expressions.

“I’m sorry, young miss. Benjamin suddenly barged in, and we couldn’t inform you in time.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Liria shook her head vigorously.

What could powerless maids do when a direct Roberg descendant barged in so forcefully?

Instead, she was able to better understand Benjamin’s intentions.

There must be a reason for his obsession with tea time and monitoring Eugene.

But we can’t allow him to come and go freely here.

“Marit, I’d like to have a knight standing guard in front of this annex to protect us!”

“Ah, shall I request an escort knight from the knights’ order then?”

“Yes!”

With that, the two maids withdrew. Left alone, Liria fell into deep thought.

The glimpse of Eugene’s awakening mark lingered before her eyes.

‘I feel like the Eternal awakening must be connected to Benjamin somehow. Considering the previous incident he covered up as a fever. Could there be something in that tea?’

As she made this conjecture, she grew anxious.

‘If only I could read big brother Eugene’s mind, that would be great.’

Liria summoned her magic book and opened Eugene’s page.

[4. Eugene von Roberg]

The target’s heart is opening.

Sincere compliments (79/99)

Her earlier enthusiastic compliments to Eugene had significantly increased the count.

Only 20 more to go.

“Good. I’ll have to fill an entire letter with 20 sentences of compliments. Since we’ll meet at the family gathering, I’ll give it to him then.”

Scribble, scribble.

Seated at her desk, Liria continued her relay of compliments disguised as a letter.

At the end of the letter, she also wrote about something that concerned her.

「Big brother, next time, could you bring me some of that tea you drink during tea time? I really want to taste it.

Let’s keep this a secret between just the two of us.」

Using a long quill pen instead of crayons made her handwriting terribly crooked.

As she folded the letter, Liria made a resolution.

If, just if.

If Benjamin was making Eugene drink strange tea to obtain his Eternal abilities, she wouldn’t let him get away with it.

“I’ll make him gurgle in hot tea water!”

Liria exclaimed, her temper suddenly flaring.