Chapter 19
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#19.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess proved to be far more formidable opponents than I had anticipated. At first, they stumbled through the game, unfamiliar with the rules, but by the second half, they had quickly caught up to us.
Playing with a child's body against adults wielding jacks was an uphill battle from the start.
In the end, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess won by the narrowest of margins.
Inside the moving carriage, I exhaled a long sigh and grumbled.
"To think they'd get so heated competing against a child. Did you see? They were absolutely gloating after winning."
I trembled as I recalled Grand Duke Hadelus's smug expression, standing there so proud of himself.
To be so delighted about defeating a child!
Arkid, still basking in the afterglow of the game, answered with a faint smile.
"Still, it was enjoyable. I've never seen the two of them work together so perfectly before."
"Right? They're always fighting, but put them on the same team and they're like a pair of lovebirds."
The sight of them high-fiving each other excitedly the moment they won was something else entirely.
And that wasn't even the best part. When the Grand Duke unconsciously interlaced his fingers with her hand and swung it around enthusiastically, the Grand Duchess's expression was priceless.
"Let go."
"Oh, my. I didn't realize."
At the Grand Duchess's cold response, the Grand Duke quickly withdrew his hand.
Then, as if they were meeting for the first time on a blind date, both of them simultaneously stepped back and began bickering.
"So this is how you behave with your lover? How utterly frivolous."
"As if. I do far worse things with my lover."
"Unbelievable! It's beyond words."
I couldn't tell what had offended them, but it didn't seem like either was truly at fault.
Neither of them spoke kindly, but perhaps this was what they called affection born from the barbs they exchanged—a love wrapped in spite.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess bickered as if they'd never been on the same team, then went their separate ways.
In other words, the closeness I thought they'd achieved dissolved the moment the game ended.
"It feels like the first time I've ever done something together with the two of them."
Then Arkid murmured softly, his cheeks flushed.
My heart ached at how much joy something so simple brought him.
In truth, I didn't know the details of how Arkid had lived for the past thirteen years.
I only knew that by chance, he had been acknowledged as Grand Duke Hadelus's blood relative and officially registered into the family.
'The novel never went into much detail about Arkid's past as a supporting character.'
Even after being registered, he had been neglected, largely because the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess's relationship was so strained that Arkid had learned to be cautious around them.
"There will be many more moments like this. I'll make sure of it."
I grasped Arkid's hand firmly, wanting to comfort him, and made a promise.
'Yes, Arkid. I'll make you happy, I swear it.'
Even if thirteen years of pain couldn't be erased, couldn't it at least be diluted with effort?
Perhaps my promise caught him off guard. Arkid's grayish-blue eyes wavered for a moment.
Even my reflection in those eyes seemed to tremble. An enigmatic atmosphere settled between us as the carriage came to a halt.
"We've arrived!"
"Oh, looks like we're here."
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, I withdrew my hand and called out cheerfully, while Arkid clenched and unclenched his fist before answering slowly.
"Yes, that's right...."
After a moment of sitting in a daze, he descended from the carriage first and extended his hand to me.
"Be careful as you step down."
"Ah, thank you."
I grasped his hand and descended, stammering awkwardly.
Though I had been the one to hold his hand just moments before, the fact that he offered first made me feel inexplicably shy.
'How is it that Arkid has such impeccable manners.'
I was moved by even the smallest gestures, no doubt because Arkid was my favorite.
I gently placed my hand over his as I stepped down from the carriage, and when I beheld the open sky and the lanterns drifting lazily above it.
"Wow!"
I couldn't help but gasp in wonder. It was far more magnificent than I had imagined.
Just as Arkid had said, there was considerable distance between the place where the lanterns were released and where we stood. Thus, the lanterns had not drifted all the way to us.
Yet because we stood atop such an open hill, the Delus Flower Field below was laid bare before my eyes.
The Delus Flower Field looked as though a rainbow had descended to earth. The flowers planted beforehand bloomed brilliantly despite the cold.
Countless people released lanterns in the clearing encircled by the rainbow-hued Delus Flower Field.
As a result, the sky was filled with lanterns of five brilliant colors drifting gently, and with the sunset glow beyond them, it was truly a breathtaking vista.
"It's so beautiful."
As I gazed in rapt attention, Arkid came to stand beside me.
Without thinking, I turned my head toward him and nearly cried out.
Arkid's face, silhouetted against the sunset, was far too handsome.
'Why doesn't this world have cameras? Magic exists here—can't they create something like a memory crystal?'
It seemed there was no concept of preserving memories in this place.
Even with advanced magic, the creation of Artifacts demanded skilled craftsmanship and considerable expense.
Given such circumstances, it seemed no one bothered to invest the resources to create memory crystals.
They likely thought it better to hire a painter to capture such moments instead.
But that was the thinking of those who had never experienced recorded imagery.
'Come to think of it, the family seems to have a capable Artificer....'
I was staring intently at Arkid, already scheming how to persuade the family's Artificer, when I felt his gaze upon me.
Sensing my persistent stare, Arkid turned his head and met my eyes.
His grayish-blue eyes were tinged with red from the sunset's glow. He touched his cheek self-consciously and rolled his eyes away.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
Yes. There's handsomeness all over it. Absolutely covered in it.
I swallowed hard, barely suppressing the foolish words that threatened to spill from my lips, and shook my head.
"No. It's nothing."
Then I averted my gaze first. This time, with Arkid staring intently at me, my face felt as though it were burning.
Unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, I asked.
"What?"
"Me too. Nothing."
Then Arkid let out a soft chuckle and murmured quietly.
It seemed like he was teasing me, but I decided to let it pass.
For a while after that, we lingered on the Hill, admiring the scenery.
* * *
The flower festival concluded successfully. Just as I thought we'd return to our peaceful life in Delus, Elena summoned me.
Wondering what could possibly warrant such a sudden call, I made my way to the Terrace. Upon arrival, I found dessert and milk arranged on the table.
And of all things—a strawberry shortcake brimming with the rare strawberries of Delus!
"Oh my."
As I gazed at the strawberries in rapture, Elena gestured for me to sit down.
Entranced, I settled into the chair and reached for a fork, when a maid suddenly placed a heavy box before me. I tilted my head in confusion.
"What is this?"
Wondering what could possibly be happening before I'd even started my meal, I glanced up to find Elena watching me with a knowing smile.
"Open it."
"Can't I eat the cake first?"
"You'll change your mind once you open it."
Elena insisted so persistently that I had no choice but to set down my fork and lift the lid of the box. And to my utter astonishment, I gasped.
"Gasp!"
Goodness, what is this radiant golden gleam?
They were gold ingots. An enormous quantity of them, in fact.
The amount rivaled what we'd discovered on the treasure island, leaving me speechless. I nearly drooled before managing to compose myself and ask casually.
"Why the sudden gold ingots?"
Surely she wasn't simply showing them off. As I ran my fingers over the gold, unable to tear my gaze away, Elena spoke.
"They're yours."
"Mine?"
Could today be my birthday? No, that couldn't be it.
As for a bribe, Elena had no reason to curry favor with me.
If anything, I was the one who should be bribing her, given how poorly I'd been regarded.
As I alternated my gaze between the suspicious gold and Elena.
Elena fanned herself and explained the reason for the gift.
"It's a commission for your idea regarding the seed lantern event. I intend to set aside your share every time such an event is held in the future."
"I'm sorry?"
What? A commission?
My eyes widened at this commission I hadn't even known existed. Elena then laughed and continued.
"Well, this is the first time you've actually fulfilled your duties as Grand Duchess, so you wouldn't have known."
"I wouldn't have known?"
"Hadelus is quite thorough about compensating contributions. Whenever anyone presents an idea or business proposal, Hadelus provides a certain percentage as a personal commission."
"Does that mean I'll receive commissions for life?"
"Yes. Every time the lantern event is held, you'll receive your share."
Excellent! Such a wonderful system exists?
I suddenly found myself earning a fortune, and my lips kept curving upward involuntarily.
I'd started this to gain Elena's favor, and now money was pouring in. It was an unexpected windfall.
Hehe, just how much is all of this worth?
As I fidgeted with the gold bar and grinned foolishly, Elena frowned, apparently finding my behavior ridiculous.
"Anyone seeing you like this would think you've never laid eyes on this much money before."
I'm sorry, but in my previous life, I'd never even seen a gold bar.
When I laughed awkwardly, Elena spoke.
"There should be several more boxes of gold bars in your Personal Storage. Are you planning to faint when you see those?"
"My Personal Storage?"
I had something like that?
My expression must have screamed ignorance, because Elena let out a soft chuckle. And at her next words, I found myself unable to close my mouth.
"Yes. That storage room you kept empty while indulging in extravagance finally has a use now."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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