Lilian of Turin

“Thank you, brother.”

Another nickname for Cantacun, which was directly under the Emperor’s control, was the land of gold dust.

As it’s a resort for aristocrats, the cost of staying there was unimaginable.

However, cost was not an issue for Cedric.

“If it wasn’t for the problem of needing to receive mana from me periodically, you could rest for half a year…”

Lilian’s body was so weak that it seemed like it would break, so Lilian couldn’t receive a lot of mana at once.

There were many things to consider in sharing mana to others. The caster’s skills and compatibility were also important, so it’s impossible without Cedric.

“Two weeks should be enough.”

“Aren’t you being too greedy?”

Lilian was stunned.

“You’re not thinking of wasting money to build a new greenhouse, are you?”

The owner of the most fertile territory in the Empire burst into laughter.

“To be concerned that this Cedric Islar is wasting money. For a day like this to come.”

“You’d better stop doing it and let me take over.”

Originally, housekeeping was the role of the hostess, but when the hostess was absent like now, the woman with the highest status in the family took over that task.

Originally, Turin’s internal affairs should be taken over by Lilian once she came of age, but Cedric was still taking on all the work himself, citing her health as an excuse.

“I’m an adult now. What should I do if I become the Grand Duchess without any work experience and get humiliated?”

“That story ended a long time ago, Lily.”

“Brother.”

“It doesn’t matter how much you sleep in protest.”

As far as Lily was concerned, Cedric, who was softer than an eastern peach, acted sternly on rare occassions.

“I’ve said it before, but there’s no way until your health is restored.”

“Brother’s standards for my health are too high.”

“If you say you want to work, you can definitely go shopping. Would you like a new outfit or buy some jewelry?”

Lilian clearly gave up.

“I surrender.”

Cedric smiled.

She didn’t like clothes and jewelry anyway. Even so, seeing that she wanted to go, it seemed like she wanted to get some fresh air.

Lilian laughed bashfully.

“Because it’s the first time.”

Indeed. This was Lilian’s first trip, as her mother had abandoned her only daughter and she had been ill ever since.

“…yes, that’s how it is.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“You already know what I want to say.”

Cedric patted Lilian like a child.

Although she was no longer young, she was still twelve-years-old to Cedric.

If she wanted to go on a trip, then she can.

‘I wish she had asked for new clothes instead…’

“Don’t make me want to stay out of the house, brother.”

“Okay, okay.”

***

At that time when Lilian was in the middle of preparing for her recuperation.

“His Highness’ Matteo’s activities have been cut off.”

A man with dark white blond hair at the roots turned around and was silent. The subordinate cautiously spoke.

“Your Highness, by any chance…”

“I’ve been telling you for the past seven years, Sir.”

The Grand Duke gently turned the swivel chair and sat down.

During the seven years, some grew old, some got sick, some died, and some grew up.

And someone got stronger.

There was no more emotion to be found on the face of the man who added one more achievement: suppressing the Northern Rebellion was a feat so great that it rewrote the history of the imperial wars a dozen times.

He’s just more gorgeous and beautiful than 7 years ago.

“My brother isn’t stupid enough to kill cute little Matteo.”

“No, but that’s why His Highness the Crown Prince has disappeared, so are you going to do this casually?”

“We don’t get along well enough to make a fuss.”

“…”

Ivan shuddered.

Damian was difficult to deal with, but after the death of the Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna, he had been on the verge of exploding.

“Well, don’t worry too much. I was thinking of going to look for him sooner rather than later.”

“Then, even if you say that you intend to do so…. and, he’s gone.”

Leaving the grumbling Ivan alone, Damian grabbed his sword.

An indigo knot ornament was still hanging from the beautiful white sword, as if it was made entirely of pure silver from the sheath to the hilt.

Damian murmured as he habitually touched the worn-out ornament that had been with him for seven years.

“Then, shall we go?”

***

Lilian’s preparations for the blood pact was also nearing its end.

“This…”

It was a sigh she hadn’t done in a long time.

“Should I think it a blessing to have an older brother who is wealthy…”

A room occupied by boxes.

‘Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this.’

Even her room was small at that time. So filling this large room would have cost a lot more than before.

She didn’t even want to estimate how much it cost.

“Are you awake, lady?”

“Yes…”

Rita appeared from behind a mountain of neatly arranged boxes.

Lilian asked, hoping for a miracle.

“Am I moving?”

She didn’t want to believe that all of that was a week’s worth of luggage.

Lilian, who naturally lost sleep as her growth period ended, was currently being prescribed sleeping pills.

“It’s about using less energy and conserving vitality by sleeping as long as possible without straining your body.”

She never thought something like this would happen while taking the medicine and taking a nap.

‘Come to think of it, I think I heard something while dazed, seems like I gave a rough answer to the question of what kind of jewelry would be good…’

She didn’t even know what and how much she had been unknowingly spending.

Even if her thoughts were like that, how could she stop them. She couldn’t do anything because she was sleeping for almost 20 hours out of 24 hours a day.

“They’re all necessary.”

“It’s just for a week.”

Rita wisely avoided answering. Instead, she disappeared behind an orderly pile of boxes and brought out a long, flat box.

“?”

“Please open it.”

Up close, the box itself was not unusual. The box, made of immaculate ivory, was engraved with the emblem of Islar, the lily, and had a gold frame around each corner.

Lilian felt it.

It didn’t seem like something money could buy.

“Did my brother open the door to Isharel by any chance?”

Rita immediately replied, “Yes”. Lilian lost her words.

Isharel was a treasure trove of treasures from the time when the Islar family was not yet known as Islar.

Rumor had it that treasures from the Magical Era were often found inside the Isharel Triple Gate.

Far from taking them out, they didn’t even make a list of the collections in Islar, lest the information leak into the hands of foreigners.

‘Among the nobles, there’s nothing worth gifting someone who’s about to get married and change their last name… Then…’

Lilian was sure. This was something that shouldn’t have come into her hands.

‘What on earth is inside?’

Please don’t be a big deal. She hoped it’s the least valuable. As she prayed, Lilian pushed the golden clasp.

It clicked and the box slid open.

“Huh?”

A very unexpected thing greeted Lilian.

“A smoking pipe…?”

“I prescribed it since it would assist you in taking herbal medicine.

Shaw, who had been checking Lilian’s medicine bottle one last time from one side, stuck out his face.

Lilian tried to roll the unfamiliar words in her mouth

“Medicinal smoking?”

“That’s the name of the pipe. It’s an object that vaporizes medicinal herbs and you just have to inhale the active ingredients.”

Shaw monotonously confirmed.

“It’s a Magical Era item.”

“…”

“I’m telling you just in case, but it’s an official gift. The Lord has already passed all the documents, and it’s an item that completely belonged to the Lady from two hours ago. If you want to refuse, you’ll have no choice but to throw it away.”

Although she’s a cherished sister, Lilian was a member of the family. It wasn’t just rude for her throw away the family’s treasure.

It was something that could even damage the prestige of the Lord.

“It’s cunning to do something like this without even showing his face.”

Lilian let out a sigh of relief. She exhaled, but she couldn’t do much.