Vladimir was also quite surprised to hear the news about Liria.
“I will strengthen the guards as you said. Having a personal knight for the child’s safety would also be an option.”
“…That’s not enough in this household teeming with magic users from all sides.”
That statement implied that even the direct line of Roberg could be dangerous.
“Is it just Liria? This is a snake pit full of countless checks and dangers. Once born as a Roberg! You must survive, even if you have to become a viper yourself.”
Vladimir himself had narrowly escaped death at the hands of his brothers or cousins more than once.
“I don’t mind if they come after me, but I won’t tolerate anyone touching my daughter. No matter who it is.”
Classid’s eyes flickered fiercely.
The Duke sensed that something had awakened in Classid, but he didn’t ask further.
“I’d rather take Liria and live in another territory.”
“Even if you live elsewhere, you would still be of Roberg blood. Become stronger. Survive by being more vicious and ruthless! That’s the way to protect yourself and your child.”

***

With Ibnis, who usually followed him around annoyingly, gone, Conrad was resting in his palace earlier than usual.
His magic demonstration at the family meeting was an effort to impress his grandfather.
In front of his grandfather, he had to be the flawless eldest grandson.
But in front of the boy before him, he could shed such pretenses.
He inherited his father’s evil nature and his mother’s intelligence.
Conrad nudged the boy’s back, who was tied up by his feet.
“Hey.”
“……”
The boy didn’t move at all despite being called.
“Are you deaf?”
Conrad, who had risen himself, tapped the boy’s thin cheek and spoke.
This time, the boy seemed quite upset and resisted by pushing away Conrad’s hand.
The force was so strong that Conrad unknowingly furrowed his brow.
But the boy’s eyes were covered. It meant Conrad could be as merciless as he wanted.
“…I said speak, speak.”
“……”
“Ha, are you really an idiot? How boring.”
“……”
Judging by his heavy breathing, his hearing was fine.
Come to think of it, he had quite a sleek appearance if washed and dressed properly.
Whether to use as a servant, a magic practice target, or a plaything.
In his current state, he was too smelly and dirty to play with.
Conrad ordered his servant.
“Hey, Bill. Do something about his shabby appearance.”
“Yes, young master.”
When the servant named Bill tried to drag him away, Noah resisted violently, kicking and struggling.
“Ugh, this guy! He’s almost like a beast.”
Then Conrad twitched his foot and made his red eyes gleam ferociously.
“…A beast’s cub should be treated like a beast. What else can we do?”
Bill called over a large servant who dragged Noah away.

***

The next morning.
Thanks to oversleeping, Liria only heard the news that Classid had attended the family meeting alone.
“It can’t be helped. Then today is free time.”
Hearing Liria’s excited voice, Marit said.
“Miss Liria, Master Classid instructed that you should rest well until today. If you need to leave the annex, you’ll have to be accompanied by the guard knights outside as well as me.”
“…Hmm, even guard knights?”
“Yes. I heard that until a formal knight is selected from the knights’ order, temporary guards will take turns protecting you.”
“I, I see.”
Father has definitely become more thorough.
It might be a little harder to move around secretly by herself.
Nevertheless, the feeling of being overprotected wasn’t unpleasant.
While Marit went to get food, Liria approached Kiki’s bed and gently woke him up.
“Chirp?”
Kiki perked up his ears and opened his drowsy eyes.
“Sorry to wake you. Listen, while it’s just the two of us, I want to quickly check the book and key. My heart reacted several times yesterday.”
“Peep! Peep!”
As if he had been waiting, Kiki wagged his tail and tickled Liria’s soft cheek.
“Chirp, peep!”
“Did something really change?”
Seeing Kiki so excited, it seemed like something had indeed happened.
Whoosh.
Float.
Liria summoned the key and the magic book.
Her heart pounded at the bright light that streamed out without restraint.
After checking the magic book, Liria blinked in surprise.
“Whoa… Wh-what happened to all this?!”

[You have fulfilled all conditions to meet a new key.]

“I really completed them all! Wow, I feel proud somehow.”
She understood how she had fulfilled the conditions by proposing a deal to her grandfather and giving Eugene plenty of praise.
But she was sure there were still more times left to feed Kiki jerky.
“Kiki, what happened? When did you eat all the jerky?”
Kiki pointed to his still bulging stomach.
“Ah, you snuck into the kitchen the day before yesterday and ate all the jerky. Well done! You’ve worked so hard to fulfill these conditions.”
Just as she was about to tear up with emotion while hugging Kiki tightly.

[The Key of Power guides you to the door of the heart. Please respond using mana.]

The text appeared.
The Key of Power flashed with light.
As if urging her to quickly use itself to obtain a new key.
It was a novel feeling.
‘After finding the Key of Power and then the Key of Healing, I’ve finally come this far. Now I’ll be able to get all the other keys too.’
With my own power.
Liria firmly grasped the Key of Power.
Thinking that the key would open the way, Liria released her mana freely.
Gently.
The flow of mana in her heart was warmer and more active than ever before.
As the continuously sparkling Key of Power spun around once, a door was drawn in the air with translucent lines.
It lacked a sense of reality as the background showed through clearly.
Previously, she had activated a magic circle for summoning, but this key was a bit different.
Could it be a more special key?
“What is the door of the heart?”
Liria tried to grab and turn the doorknob, but it was locked.
“Huh? It seems like I need a key to open the door…”
“Peep!”
At that moment, Kiki pointed to the magic book. Liria approached and turned to the next page.

[Everything depends on your mindset. You have already obtained the key. Close your eyes and imagine. The key will appear where you want it to.]

“Hmm?”
It seemed like wordplay, but Liria quietly did as instructed and closed her eyes to imagine.
‘I want to open that door with my own hands. I wish for the key to my heart to be in my hand!’
At that moment, a key really appeared in Liria’s palm.
A beautiful key with a heart-shaped decoration was emitting a bright light.
The moment she grasped the key, she felt warmth.
This new key hadn’t appeared in the original work, so she was very curious about its power and usage.
Liria checked the name engraved on the body.
The shape was a heart, and the name was [Heart].
“So it’s the Key of Heart. What kind of power does it have?”
Liria muttered to herself while making eye contact with Kiki as usual. Then, a playful child’s voice sounded from somewhere.
“Peep peep!”
‘You should check the book.’
Kiki raised his tiny front paw and pointed to the magic book. However, Liria was focused on the voice she had just heard.
“Huh? No way… Was that you just now, Kiki?”
‘Yes, this is me speaking with my heart. Thanks to obtaining the Key of Heart, we can now communicate comfortably!’