Chapter 23
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#23.
Expecting an exciting outing, Arkid and I arrived at the Ebis Coal Mine only to encounter an unexpected obstacle.
The problem was simple: the area before the mine was overflowing with Delus flowers.
'Oh no! There are mines scattered everywhere!'
Recalling the terror I'd experienced at the Seed Farm previously, I clutched Arkid's sleeve tightly.
The thought that my body might ache immediately filled me with dread. Arkid steadied me gently and spoke.
"I think it would be best to head to the office first."
"Yes, that sounds good."
After reassuring me, Arkid promptly evacuated us to the nearby office.
When the Mine Staff Member inside greeted us, Arkid rebuked him in an irritated tone.
"Didn't you say there were no Delus flowers in this area? Did you actually verify this properly?"
"What? Delus flowers?"
The staff member glanced out the window as if hearing of it for the first time, his eyes widening.
"Oh, no. When did those bloom?"
He looked genuinely shocked, as though seeing them for the first time today. He bowed his head apologetically.
"I'm so sorry! I swear they weren't here this morning—they really weren't...."
Clearly flustered, the staff member broke into a cold sweat. His expression suggested he couldn't believe what his own eyes were showing him.
Yet his response seemed to Arkid like an attempt to evade responsibility, and he questioned coldly.
"Are you saying flowers that didn't exist suddenly appeared? In half a day, no less?"
I was startled by Arkid's icy rebuke. I'd never seen him treat someone with such cold severity before.
The staff member, his face ashen, continued his explanation.
"That's what puzzles me too. Until I contacted you, there were no Delus flowers, but now they're here."
They weren't there before, but now they are? What kind of nonsense is that?
I was exasperated by the absurd excuse. Arkid seemed equally bewildered, letting out a hollow laugh before responding.
"For flowers that supposedly just appeared, their condition looks far too healthy. Are you certain you checked properly?"
"I'm telling the truth! There were definitely no Delus flowers before the heavy snow. No, wait—this is a magical stone excavation site in the first place, so we don't plant flowers here. I'm certain there were no flowers this morning...!"
The staff member spoke passionately, muttering about his unfair treatment. Yet the sheer quantity of Delus flowers visible outside made his words difficult to accept.
For them to have appeared suddenly in half a day was simply unrealistic. Arkid's expression turned glacial as he delivered his verdict.
"I will absolutely hold you accountable for this matter."
"Y-Your Highness."
"You may have taken my words lightly, but someone could die because of this negligence."
"What? D-die?"
The staff member muttered as if it were an exaggeration, but he had no rebuttal to Arkid's following words.
"Do you know why my wife fell ill recently?"
"I heard she was quite unwell, but...."
"It was because of the Delus flowers. Severe allergic reaction—does that ring a bell?"
"Gasp!"
Only then did the staff member grasp the gravity of the situation, his mouth snapping shut.
My Delus flower allergy was classified information. Being incompatible with the symbol of the Hadelus Territory was a grave flaw for a Grand Duchess.
Arkid ran a hand through his hair and splashed cold water on his face. He was trying to calm his anger.
The Mine Staff Member immediately dropped to his knees and began apologizing the moment he realized the Grand Duchess had survived because of the Delus flowers.
"I am truly sorry! It was my mistake! But I swear I didn't intentionally hide it. I genuinely don't understand what happened myself...."
"Evading responsibility to the very end, I see."
"I'm s-sorry...."
"A frog can die from a stone thrown carelessly. I don't wish to see you anymore. Bring another staff member."
Arkid's stubborn attitude caused the Mine Staff Member to pale before he retreated.
The way Arkid dismissed his subordinate like this reminded me of the original story's version of him.
That version of him after being abandoned by the heroine, darkening and closing his heart, building walls even more impenetrable than before.
His nature of refusing once and then following through completely seemed almost heartless.
'I was right to tear up those divorce papers.'
If I hadn't, I might have been divorced by now.
Because I had rejected him so strongly, Arkid must have stepped back as well.
Through the window, I could still see the departing Mine Staff Member, his expression bearing traces of grievance.
'I can't tell if it's an act or genuine resentment.'
But given that his mistake had nearly cost me my life, there was no room for sympathy. The Delus Flower Field visible beyond the window was far too lush to believe his words.
Lost in such trivial thoughts, I found myself gazing absently at the Delus Flower Field.
'What is that?'
I tilted my head at the white objects moving through the flower field. Each time they moved, the Delus flowers swayed.
But before I could confirm what they were, the white objects quickly vanished from sight.
'Was it snow?'
Being white, I must have mistaken falling snow from the trees, or perhaps mistaken wind-blown snowflakes.
In the meantime, another staff member entered the office, unable to hide his flustered state.
"I apologize for the inconvenience. There is another path to the coal mine, and I shall guide you that way."
Having rushed over after hearing the previous staff member's account, his face was damp with perspiration. Arkid offered me a handkerchief.
"Just to be safe, please cover your mouth and nose. Or you may remain in the office."
"After coming all this way, you want me to stay inside again?"
"Well, that's true, but...."
"The distance is far enough. Allergies don't develop from merely looking at something, you know."
I held the handkerchief to my lips and smiled with my eyes.
Soon after, with my hand on Arkid's arm, we headed toward the Ebis Coal Mine.
* * *
After Rhoena and Arkid entered the coal mine, the existence that Rhoena had mistaken for snowflakes emerged from the Delus Flower Field.
With delicate wings fluttering, they were clearly white butterflies. The white butterflies hovered above the flower field, their wings swaying gently.
Wherever the butterflies passed, Delus flowers began to bloom where none had existed.
As if performing magic, as if a god creating his creations, empty space was filled and Delus flowers began to surround the area.
After some time, the white butterflies vanished as if they had never been there.
Having abundantly bloomed Delus flowers all the way to the front of the coal mine.
* * *
The reason the Ebis Coal Mine staff member had requested confirmation from Hadelus Castle was because of a massive wormhole discovered in the coal mine.
The wormhole was studded with magic stones of a purity incomparable to anything found before.
It was a discovery that far exceeded the existing mining output—tremendous by any measure. Thus, the Mine Staff Member had sought approval from the Grand Duke to begin excavating this Wormhole.
"Wow."
The moment I descended into the Wormhole, my eyes widened at the sight of Mana Stones gleaming in every hue imaginable. It was as though I were gazing upon a constellation of stars.
Stars beneath the earth—what a peculiar sensation.
Moreover, the Wormhole's scale was far vaster from within than it had appeared from above, creating the illusion that I stood upon the surface itself.
Yes, despite descending deep underground, I felt as though I were suspended weightlessly in the sky.
It was surely the Mana Stones scattered throughout, their ethereal luminescence flickering like distant lights.
"This is an extraordinary scale."
"It's not far from where we've been mining. How was this never discovered before?"
"Yes. We only found it because the heavy snowfall caused the terrain to collapse. Until then, even the Miners who pass through here daily had no idea such a place existed. It appeared suddenly, as if by the whim of a Spirit."
Wait. A Spirit?
I opened my mouth in astonishment at the Mine Staff Member's casual remark.
'Now that I think about it, wasn't it around this time that the Grand Duchess's coal mine became blessed by a Spirit?'
In the original story, in exchange for not publicizing Marquis Lorke's corporal punishment, Elena obtained a Mine from Demian. And by fortunate chance, that land received the Spirit's blessing and became a goldmine.
'I recall the yield of Mana Stones increased several times over from that point.'
All the circumstances pointed to this being that very Mine. As I mentally traced through the timeline of the original story, Arkid posed a question.
"You didn't deliberately conceal this after discovering it?"
"Not at all! How could I possibly attempt embezzlement on Grand Duke Hadelus's own land? I'd lose my head if caught."
"Show me the work logs for the past three months. Just to be certain."
"Y-you want all of that?"
The Mine Staff Member's expression darkened. I'd thought we'd be done after simply inspecting the Wormhole, but the sudden demand for documentation caught him off guard.
Arkid, already on edge from the previous manager's negligence, tilted his head slightly and asked.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no, of course not. Then we should head back up and move to the Office."
The Mine Staff Member shifted his demeanor and became deferential toward Arkid. It was amusing to watch him fumble like someone caught trying to gloss over a mistake because of his youth.
'This is precisely my husband's charm.'
Given his earlier misstep, it was only natural that Arkid would verify everything meticulously.
And truthfully, discovering such a massive Wormhole only now was suspicious enough to warrant investigation.
Business was far too precarious to trust people unconditionally.
I watched with satisfaction as Arkid admirably filled the Grand Duke's absence. It was as I was taking one final look into the Wormhole's depths.
Flash—!
Suddenly, the surrounding Mana Stones flared with intense brilliance, and I felt something pulling at my body.
"Oh!"
"Rhoena!"
Before Arkid could even reach for me, I was drawn downward into the depths of the Wormhole.
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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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