Chapter 53
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Chapter 53
I blinked repeatedly, even rubbing my eyes with my hands, but nothing changed.
"H-how is this even possible!"
The Shop Owner's state mirrored my own bewilderment.
He felt around the spot where the monster core had been several times over, yet nothing emerged. Just as Lucian had said, the monster core had vanished without a trace.
"...."
Lucian seemed equally startled. The child stared down at his own hand—the one from which white light had burst forth—with his mouth hanging open in shock.
Only Claude remained composed throughout.
"Lucian, shall we try again?"
He offered Lucian another wooden box.
Yet the result was identical. The moment Lucian's hand touched it, the monster core emitted white light and vanished.
"See! I told you I was right!"
Lucian, finally regaining his senses, shouted triumphantly. Still, I couldn't bring myself to agree with him.
'What was that just now? Magic?'
Every child in the Empire has their magical power measured at birth. Yet the magical detector had shown Lucian's power as zero.
'There was no mention of anything like this in the original work.'
Then what on earth was that light?
"A purification ability."
At Claude's words, I lifted my head.
"It seems Lucian possesses the ability of purification."
* * *
"I told you... I'm not a thief..."
"I know. I'm sorry for doubting you, dear."
I patted Lucian's chest as his heavy eyelids fluttered. Feeling deeply wronged at being accused of theft, Lucian insisted on his innocence right up until sleep claimed him.
Because of that, I practically had to beg Lucian for forgiveness.
"It's... my ability..."
With those words, silence settled over the room. Soon after, the sound of soft snoring began to drift through the air.
I pulled the blanket up to Lucian's chin and left the room.
"I never knew Lucian possessed such an ability."
Claude had said that Lucian appeared to be a purification ability user.
The way the monster core had evaporated seemed to be because the magical energy contained within the crystal had been purified by Lucian.
'But then what about the other items? This shop is filled with monster byproducts, and if what the Marquis says is true, shouldn't all the other byproducts have been purified as well?'
'Strictly speaking, a monster core is not a byproduct. It is a concentration of magical energy.'
A monster core was not a part of the monster's body like a mermaid's scales or a unicorn's horn.
It was the force that moved the monster itself—in other words, what could be called the heart of an ordinary creature.
'Monsters that have been dead for a long time contain no magical energy. Only the monster core retains any magical energy.'
Therefore, the magical energy had been purified by the power Lucian possessed. This was Claude's conclusion.
'But there's no way our Lucian could possess such a power.'
'Why do you think that?'
Because there was no mention of it whatsoever in the original work.
However, I couldn't tell Claude any of this.
'If the Young Lady possesses the ability to sense magic, and that power is inherited through blood, it's certainly a plausible explanation.'
But then why did I have such an ability?
'In the original story, neither Lucella nor Lucian possessed any such power.'
I fell into deep contemplation.
There were countless things that had changed.
I had remained by Lucian's side, Amelia had found her uncle far earlier than expected, and Edwin had met his father much sooner than the original timeline suggested. I couldn't begin to fathom what changes had brought about these differences in Lucian and myself.
'I should visit Rilprey County tomorrow without delay.'
If this power truly flowed through bloodlines as Claude suggested, there would certainly be clues waiting there.
* * *
The next morning, I boarded a carriage bound for Rilprey County before the sun had even risen.
The Bellomen Mansion was quiet in the early hours, the children still asleep.
"Please look after Lucian for me. And Edwin too."
"Of course. Don't worry and have a safe journey."
Only after asking Claude several times did I finally close the carriage door.
Though the Nanny and the maids were there, and capable Amelia as well, my heart felt heavy leaving Lucian behind. He had never spent a single day apart from me until now.
But I couldn't bring Lucian to Rilprey Territory.
'If I take Lucian with me, what should be a quick trip will certainly take several more days.'
This power of purification was truly formidable.
Yet I couldn't know whether it would be a blessing or a curse for Lucian.
'Sometimes people pay with their very lives for possessing such tremendous power.'
So I needed to quickly discover what this purification ability truly was.
And what connection it might have to the House of Rilprey.
Throughout the journey to Rilprey County, I pondered this purification power.
After traveling hard for half a day, the carriage gradually began to slow its pace.
I drew back the curtain covering the window. Beyond the glass stretched Rilprey's vast plains.
"How long has it been."
I found myself unable to look away from the sunset-painted landscape.
This was my first visit to my homeland since Sister's death. This land, revisited after so long, remained exactly as I remembered from childhood.
I gazed at the platane trees, withered and bare from their inability to withstand the cold season.
"These platane trees were truly beautiful back then...."
The memory of my younger self writing letters to Sister on dried platane leaves came flooding back.
As those memories surfaced, my chest tightened while a bitter taste filled my mouth.
"Father's territory."
Had Father still been alive, I would surely be living peacefully in this place.
Perhaps Sister would have become the head of House of Rilprey in Father's stead.
But now neither my parents nor Sister remained in this world.
'If only I could return to those days.'
Lost in these meaningless reveries, my eyes suddenly caught sight of something outside the window.
"Smoke?"
Billowing clouds of pale smoke were unmistakably rising toward the heavens. Seeing people gathered around, it appeared something was being burned.
"What are they burning?"
I narrowed my eyes. As my vision sharpened, details that had been obscured came into focus.
"Wheat?"
The heaps of material stacked beside the clusters of people were indeed wheat. They were shoving the towering piles of grain into the flames.
"Why are they burning wheat?"
Was it unmarketable?
Even so, it should still be edible.
'Surely not....'
An uneasy premonition brushed across the back of my neck in that instant.
'No, it can't be.'
Though he may be weak, he is still the master of an entire territory. He couldn't possibly commit such an irresponsible act.
I shook my head, dispelling the inexplicable unease that clung to me.
In the meantime, the carriage that had been racing along came to a halt. We had finally arrived at Count Rilprey's Mansion.
"State your identity."
At the gatekeeper's words, I threw open the carriage window.
"Can't you see the crest carved into the carriage?"
"L-Lucella, Miss...!"
With my eyes wide and round, I opened my mouth once more toward the stammering gatekeeper.
"Tell my uncle that I've arrived."
* * *
"What brings you here?"
The voice addressing me was laden with displeasure.
"Do I need a reason to visit my own home?"
I spoke curtly while sipping my tea with a slurp.
Yet they still brought tea, as if I were a guest.
"When you were at the Duke's Mansion, you never stirred an inch."
"I wasn't there by my own choice. I had no choice in the matter."
"Hah."
At my words, Nob Rilprey let out a hollow laugh.
Nob Rilprey was my uncle, the man who had seized the position of Count Rilprey after my parents passed away.
He was the one who had rejoiced more than anyone at my parents' death, and who had abused both my sister and me.
"I thought you might change with age. Yet you remain exactly as you were."
My uncle sneered at me.
In truth, this was the greatest reason I hadn't brought Lucian along.
I didn't want him to see such an ugly sight.
"I'll take that as a compliment for my consistency."
"Yes. Consistently rotten to the core."
"How well you remember that my eyes are yellow."
I met my uncle's glittering gaze without flinching.
Sister had brought me to the Duke's Mansion rather than leaving me under my uncle's care for precisely this reason.
'If she left me there, one of us would die.'
Either my uncle would perish, or I would.
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