In an instant, the temperature inside the hall was getting colder due to the chill emitted by the Duke.
“Listen! Search Viscount Jade’s territory and mansion thoroughly to track illegal funds and form a special audit team to investigate the truth. Judging by the look of things, his crimes exceed ten counts. If necessary, deploy the knights as well.”
At the Duke’s command, the waiting aide and the knight commander rushed forward and bowed.
“W-wait a moment, please. Your Grace, how could you be deceived by mere child’s words? It’s not even something you investigated directly, this cannot be!”
Viscount Jade, with a wronged expression, shamelessly denied everything to the end.
Just then, the closed banquet hall doors opened with a thud.
Emmett entered, pushing up his glasses, carrying documents sealed with magic and a vision orb.
“Your Grace, we have been conducting secret inspections of Viscount Jade’s territory. Please forgive me for acting without Your Grace’s approval. It was because we couldn’t fully grasp the inside story with just public inspections. And here is the evidence of Viscount Jade’s illegal activities.”
As the vision orb subsequently revealed Viscount Jade’s atrocities, everyone condemned him.
“How terrible.”
“There is no greater devil!”
“He must be expelled from Roberg.”
The silent Duke opened his mouth.
“To uncover the full extent of that man’s crimes, I will investigate the truth based on the materials and deliver the final punishment. However, the circumstances revealed now are sufficient for some punishment. From this moment, I strip him of his title and confiscate his territory and all assets. Whether it will be exile or execution will be determined according to his remaining crimes. Until then, imprison him!”
Hearing the Duke’s decision, Viscount Jade became dumbfounded and desperately looked for Osdel, but was dragged away by soldiers.
The disposition of Natasha, Dimitri, and Malcolm was suspended, but it was a foregone conclusion that they were no longer heirs of Roberg.
“The family meeting is temporarily suspended.”
After finishing his words, the Duke immediately left the place.
Emmett hurriedly followed behind the Duke, but bowed his head to Liria in gratitude.
Liria also bowed back in response.
‘Without Emmett, it would have been impossible to cut off Viscount Jade at once like this! But I didn’t expect the family meeting to be suspended.’
As this was unprecedented, the nobles still remaining in the banquet hall were in disarray, unsure if they should return home now, but soon Buena came up and informed everyone about the resumption of the family meeting.
Meanwhile, Vladimir, having left the meeting hall, said to Emmett, who was hurriedly following behind him.
“Don’t follow me.”
“Your Grace… are you alright?”
His face was rapidly growing weary with the surge of deep misgivings.
“I didn’t even know that Roberg’s land was rotting away.”
Speaking self-deprecatingly, the Duke ran his tongue over his dry lips.
“Emmett, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known until the end. I will commend you for your contribution to this matter once everything is settled.”
“No, Miss Liria deserves great credit for this matter.”
Emmett showed the Duke Liria’s note that he had kept in his pocket.
The scribbled handwriting was unmistakably Liria’s.
“Without this note, we wouldn’t have been able to punish Viscount Jade this time.”
The Duke took out the document that Liria had handed to him earlier from his chest.
“That child gave me something like this, too.”
Emmett’s eyes widened at the tremendous information.
“…Could this possibly be true?”
“That’s what we need to confirm now.”
If it were true, the history books of the Roberg Duchy, the foremost in the Empire, would need to be rewritten.

***

An hour later.
The family meeting, which had been suspended due to the Natasha and Viscount Jade incident, resumed.
However, to give all children a fair opportunity, it was decided to continue with the children’s magic demonstrations today and to postpone discussions on major agenda items until tomorrow.
Since there were still heir children who hadn’t fully showcased their abilities, the public magic demonstration continued.
This time, Conrad from the direct line was the first to demonstrate his magic as an example.
As Conrad gathered mana and spread both hands as if conducting, a pair of fire pillars blazed up from the floor. Every time his hands moved, the fire pillars rippled like they were dancing.
Just as the fire pillars reached their climax, seemingly about to touch the ceiling, Conrad withdrew his hands with precision, and the fire pillars suddenly vanished.
“My, he certainly deserves to be evaluated as the most outstanding even among the direct line!”
“Conrad’s magic isn’t just limited to that.”
As if responding to those words, Conrad raised his fingers and moved them freely in various directions.
Then, orbs containing flashing lightning appeared floating in various places in the air, and when he flicked his fingers, they all burst with a bang.
Everyone felt a thrill and exclaimed in admiration at the lightning magic bursting above their heads.
Conrad came down from the stage with a triumphant face, drawing a smile on his lips.
People’s applause and cheers poured out.
Osdel also clapped with an inwardly satisfied expression at his son’s performance.
Liria was also surprised inside.
‘He’s certainly skillful.’
The collateral lines also seemed tense at his overwhelming skill.
Next, the heirs who were receiving expectations from the collateral lines demonstrated their magic one after another.
A feast of various magics unfolded, such as making it rain or summoning beautiful statues.
Among them, a boy named Jake summoned a giant spear made of light, surprising everyone.
Light attribute magic had rarely been manifested as attack magic until now. Seeing this, some nobles from the collateral lines argued.
“Your Grace, please show generosity by giving special privileges to outstanding children from the collateral lines as well.”
“The achievements of the collateral children are more impressive than I thought. I will discuss this matter with Suleiman.”
As the Duke answered while rubbing his jawline, the faces of the collateral lines also brightened.
By now, all the children scheduled for public demonstrations had finished their turns, and only Liria’s turn remained.
Liria thought as she rolled her eyes.
‘This is according to my calculations.’
Thanks to the performances of the other heirs, she didn’t think she would face much opposition if she showcased the Healing Key.
She also newly realized how amazing the skills of Roberg’s heirs were.
If she demonstrated the ability of the Healing Key that had awakened Classid here, everyone would recognize that she was more outstanding than the other heirs. However, that fact was a secret known only to Liria herself.
For now, if she just showed healing a small wound, it might look like a simple healing magic.
Buena said.
“Finally, we will have Miss Liria’s magic demonstration.”
Liria stood up from her seat.
Everyone was focused, including the Duke, the direct line, the collateral lines, and the elders.
‘Ugh, I feel nervous for some reason. But let’s do it as usual.’
Liria blinked her eyes, gathered mana fully in her mana heart, and then released it.
Paaaa.
The golden Key of Authority was summoned, floating up.
Then people said.
“So it’s true that she has the ability to summon keys!”
“How fascinating.”
“Metal attribute is rare, and keys are even more rare.”
However, the Duke tilted his head sideways and questioned.
“This is the same as last time. What about your promise to show new progress?”
“Ah, the new key has healing power. I’ll show you now.”
Paaaa!
Soon Liria manipulated mana again, and the blue Healing Key was summoned.
The Healing Key floated around as if swimming through the air like a fish.
“Oh, when you say healing, is it perhaps similar to healing magic?”
“Yes, I think so.”
Liria nodded and asked the people.
“Is there anyone who has wounds or injuries? I’ll heal you.”