Chapter 55
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Chapter 55
However, I found myself nodding in reluctant acceptance.
"There's no point in trying to hide it now. Too many people have already witnessed it."
Lucian's use of the Purification ability had been seen by more than just a handful of people.
From the Shop Owner to the Duke's escort knights, to the onlookers who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
With such a spectacle unfolding in the Downtown District, rumors that the Duke of Bellomen's son possessed mysterious powers would have already spread far and wide.
"I suppose that's inevitable."
"Then there's nothing we can do about it."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"We'll have to report it to the higher-ups, as you said."
"I apologize."
"What do you have to apologize for? This is simply something that happened beyond our control."
I reassured Claude, who was nervously watching my reaction.
Given the circumstances, there was only one path forward.
'Turn this crisis into an opportunity.'
Perhaps this incident could be the perfect chance for me to prove my abilities within the House of Bellomen.
If my standing as a capable talent increased, I might even be able to claim the position of heir that had been taken by Edwin in the original story.
'I should look on the bright side.'
After all, what's done cannot be undone.
"Um, Miss Lucella."
It was then, while I was lost in thought, that Riley, who had been standing guard at the door, cracked it open slightly.
"What is it?"
"Young Master Lucian has come to see you."
"Tell him to wait a moment."
"I already told him that, but he won't listen...."
"Auntie!"
Lucian's booming shout cut through Riley's words. Soon after, there came a thunderous crash as Lucian burst into the room.
"Where have you been all day? You didn't even tell me!"
"I had something to do, so I went back to my hometown for a bit."
"Your hometown? You mean Rilprey?"
"Yes."
"Take me with you! I wanted to see that place too!"
Lucian stomped his feet loudly. To prevent disturbing the neighbors below, I scooped him up and set him down on a chair.
"I'm sorry. Auntie wanted to take you too, but you were sleeping so soundly that I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
"You should have woken me anyway! I wanted to go there too!"
Lucian let out a whine and pouted his lips.
"I wanted to see where Mother lived...."
Lucian had only been to the Rilprey Count's Residence once before. That was at Sister's funeral.
At the time, Lucian had been barely two years old, so he would have no memories of it whatsoever.
"Auntie understands how you feel. That's why Auntie brought something for you."
I pulled out an old doll from the bag I'd set beside me.
"Ta-da!"
The rabbit doll, made of pink fur, was a gift Father had bought for Sister's ninth birthday.
"What... is this?"
However, Lucian's expression was far from pleased.
"It's so grimy."
Understandably so—the doll had no eyes.
Originally, small rubies had been attached where the doll's eyes should have been.
It was Uncle who had removed them.
'Why would anyone attach jewels to a mere doll, honestly.'
Uncle couldn't bear the sight of fine things in our hands.
The moment he recognized the rubies, he tore them from the doll, and days later, those same rubies appeared as Jake's brooch.
As for the doll itself, I'd barely managed to find it carelessly shoved away in what used to be Sister's room.
But I couldn't tell Lucian any of this.
"It's a doll Mother played with when she was little. The eyes fell off because they're so old."
"...Mother used to play with this?"
At the mention of Sister, Lucian's expression shifted.
"Yes. It was Mother's favorite doll. Want to hold it?"
I placed the doll into Lucian's outstretched arms.
"What do you think? Cute, right?"
"Well, it's not bad. Reasonably soft and fluffy."
"Tch."
I pinched Lucian's cheek at his deliberately gruff tone.
"Give it here now. It's filthy, so let me wash it clean for you."
"No."
Lucian turned away, hugging the doll protectively to his chest.
"It has too much dust on it, I'm telling you."
"It doesn't have any dust."
"It hasn't been washed in over a decade, so it probably smells."
"Then Mother's scent must still be on it, right?"
Lucian's eyes sparkled as he said this.
Watching him desperately seek out any trace of Sister, I couldn't bring myself to insist on washing it.
"Fine. Do as you wish."
"Yay!"
"I won't notice even if you cough the whole time."
I'd wash it secretly while he slept.
"By the way, Aunt..."
Lucian, who had been playing with the doll's ears, suddenly called out to me.
"What is it?"
"What were you and that man doing together?"
"Huh?"
The unexpected question made me blink.
"When you come home, of course you should find Lucian first! Why didn't you come to me and went to Uncle instead?"
"Because I had something to tell Uncle...."
"Just the two of you?"
"Yes."
The moment I answered, something felt off.
Come to think of it, I've been alone with Claude this whole time, haven't I?
And in my room, no less.
"You two didn't do anything strange behind my back, did you?"
"S-Strange things!"
I jumped to my feet.
"Why are you so startled?"
"Because you're saying something ridiculous!"
"Did you really do something without me? You know, that thing."
Lucian knelt before me and brought his lips to my hand.
"Like swearing an oath or something."
It seemed he was referring to the oath Claude had made to me when I found Amelia.
"If you did that again, you need to wash your hands. Lots of germs, so scrub-a-dub!"
"Don't worry, Lucian. We didn't do anything like that."
I stopped Lucian, who was pulling out soap from who knows where.
Where did this little one even learn about germs?
"Saliva is dirty."
"Yes, yes."
"And Aunt is mine."
"Yes... huh?"
Lucian hugged his legs tightly, his gleaming eyes fixed on Claude.
"Are you saying that to the Marquis right now?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, Lucian, but people aren't objects. They're not something others can possess and claim."
Claude admonished Lucian, who was glaring at him.
"It's something you decide for yourself."
...Was that really an admonishment? The phrasing seemed a bit odd?
"Aunt is Lucian's aunt!"
"That's right. You can call her aunt. I'll be something else."
"What are you saying right now? Something else?"
What was this man saying to a six-year-old child?
"I'm simply teaching Lucian that there can be other relationships besides aunt."
"Is that so?"
For something like that, the nuance seemed rather suggestive.
"No! Aunt can't do anything else! Only Aunt Lucian can do it!"
"Fine, I understand, so hush. Marquis, I'll take Lucian outside first."
"Understood."
I stepped outside to calm the struggling Lucian.
I didn't see Claude's lips curling upward in amusement as he watched Lucian.
* * *
The new year had dawned.
At the Bellomen Duchy, a vassal council was held every two weeks on Mondays to propose and report on various matters.
And I attended this particular vassal council as well.
It wasn't solely because of the authority the Duke had granted me, surpassing that of a typical vassal.
"His Majesty the Emperor has commanded that young master Lucian be brought to the Imperial Capital."
Once word of Lucian's purification ability reached the Emperor, he decided to summon the child to the Imperial Capital immediately. As Lucian's guardian, I had a duty to discuss this matter.
"Must we comply with His Majesty's command? Young master Lucian has only just turned seven this year. He is far too young to participate in monster subjugation."
"Surely you don't think His Majesty intends to place someone so young in the Monster Subjugation Unit? It seems he merely wishes to verify his abilities. Your concerns are excessive."
"And what is the purpose of such verification? Ultimately, he intends to have young master Lucian join the Monster Subjugation Unit. We cannot send the sole heir of Bellomen to such a dangerous place."
"The sole heir? Have you forgotten young master Edwin?"
The faction supporting Lucian and the faction supporting Edwin stood in fierce opposition.
Those supporting Lucian sought by any means to keep him in the Duchy, while those supporting Edwin hoped Lucian would be conscripted into the Monster Subjugation Unit. That way, Edwin could establish his position in Lucian's absence.
"Are you suggesting we officially recognize a bastard as the heir of Bellomen?"
"What reason would we have not to? He is the Duke's child, carrying the Duke's blood."
The atmosphere gradually began to heat up.
"Everyone, please calm yourselves."
It was Gillian who quieted the agitated vassals.
"We have gathered here to hold a council, not to quarrel."
"Ahem."
"Hmm..."
At his words, the vassals who had been raising their voices fell silent.
In the Duke's absence, Gillian, holding the highest rank among the advisors, stood in the Duke's stead.
"On this matter, we shall defer to the opinion of Miss Rilprey, young master Lucian's guardian."
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