"......"
Is this right? Did it originally open this easily?
Contrary to expectations, I stared blankly at the pendant that opened so easily it felt anticlimactic.
Why couldn't the Duke and the others open it?
I pushed the question aside for a moment and opened the pendant completely with a trembling heart.
What could be inside? The magic of the Founder was sealed in it, so surely something amazing was inside...?
And what appeared was...
"......A portrait?"
It was a portrait smaller than my palm. And, of course, the subject of the portrait was...
"...The people I love."
The people the first Head of Rodbel said he loved, according to my memories.
Lilith, Ash, the first Head of Rodbel, and the Evil God. They were sitting together, looking straight ahead.
I couldn't take my eyes off their 모습 (moseup), which looked like a family portrait.
"......"
I quietly looked down at the pendant.
I had been thinking this subtly for a while, and especially after passing through the mana storm.
'Could it be that I actually inherited the Founder's blood strongly?'
Thinking back on how I was scorned as a crow's bastard, I could be laughed at for having such a ridiculous thought, but circumstances suggested it.
I accomplished something that other Rodbels couldn't.
Even Giles of the Smore family, who had her permission, suffered severe injuries from the backlash when breaking through the storm.
But I was able to pass through it without any pain.
I felt that it was definitely because the Founder's magic not only allowed me but also protected me.
'The Founder's sword hilt reacted, I keep seeing her memories, and this pendant necklace opened so easily it's absurd.'
Above all, the Founder also had black hair and red eyes...
'It makes sense.'
That I inherited the Founder's blood more strongly than other Rodbels.
But thinking so made me wonder.
The Rodbel family is characterized by white hair and purple eyes.
'That's Lilith's appearance.'
As Rodbels, they should follow the Founder's appearance, so why are Lilith's traits being passed down?
The question I had subtly held all along became even stronger the moment I saw her portrait.
'Maybe Lilith was also a Rodbel.'
Like a branch family.
Then it would be explained how the Founder's blood diluted over generations and Lilith's traits became stronger...
But even so, there was one thing I couldn't understand.
'Black hair and red eyes are a symbol of misfortune in the Rodbel family.'
The bullying and harassment were even worse not only because I was a bastard but also because of my black hair and red eyes.
How did the Founder's traits become a symbol of hatred in the Rodbel family?
"......Lilith."
I looked at the beautiful woman smiling brightly in the portrait.
If I resembled the first Head of Rodbel, she looked very similar to Miracle.
More in the atmosphere she gave off than her appearance.
'I don't know.'
There's definitely a secret between them, and it seems that secret changed the history of the Rodbel family and even controlled my destiny.
'Is that why she keeps appearing before me?'
To fix something distorted.
But I don't know what that is.
There are plenty of clues, but it feels like something most important is missing, so they can't connect.
Above all.
'Do I have the power to do that?'
I don't know.
But...
'It doesn't matter.'
I don't exist to grant her wishes.
"Hoo..."
I took a long sigh because my mind was complicated.
But where should I hide this pendant?
'Unlike the seemingly ordinary romance novel <Arista and Ellesa: Hearts Across Borders>, this will become a headache if it gets discovered.'
Especially if it falls into the hands of the Rodbel family... they'll immediately start questioning where and how I got this.
'A place to secretly hide it...'
While looking around for a place to hide the pendant necklace, there was a knock and the door opened.
"My lady."
It was Marine who entered.
I reflexively clenched the necklace in my fist and hid it behind my back.
"Uh-huh, Marine."
"......?"
Marine tilted her head, perhaps because she thought I seemed strange, but she didn't pay much attention and said.
"I have confirmed the location of Commander Aen Rixus as you ordered."
"Really?"
I was surprised and quickly ran to Marine.
It's not that I doubted Marine's abilities, but I didn't expect her to find him so quickly.
"Yes, he is in the mansion."
"In the mansion..."
I thought that would be the case.
He wouldn't leave this place, having left the <Ayla's Book of Medicine>, his goal.
But if so...
'There's no way Ligrin wouldn't know Aen's location.'
Ligrin, as the chief steward, is aware of everything in the Rodbel estate.
There's no way Ligrin, who knows the number of forks, wouldn't know the location of Aen, the commander of the Magic Knight Order.
That means...
'He hid it from me.'
And another point of doubt is...
"Marine, was Commander Aen Rixus perhaps injured?"
To my cautious question, Marine shook her head.
"No. I haven't grasped everything, but I confirmed that he wasn't hurt."
"......Is that so?"
At the same time, I was sure.
Aen is avoiding me.
'Then it makes sense that Ligrin hid Aen's whereabouts.'
He probably hid it because he thought I would be shocked.
'Aen is...'
But why? There's no reason for Aen to avoid me...
'I think I know.'
I tightly closed my eyes.
I quickly opened my eyes. I looked at Marine and said.
"I want to meet Aen."
Marine quietly looked at me before giving a soft smile.
"Yes, my lady."
She respectfully put her hands together and bowed her head towards me.
"I will make your wish come true."
"Thank you, Marine."
Marine left the room after telling me to wait a moment.
Meanwhile, I changed into an outfit for going out and lifted the pendant necklace in front of my eyes.
After thinking about it, the safest place to hide this was my own body.
No one can touch my body unless it's an emergency.
'I should keep it safe and show it to the Crown Prince later.'
Thinking that, the moment I put the pendant necklace around my neck.
—Whoosh...
Suddenly, a strange energy swirled around my body.
It was a deep refreshment, like the feeling of cold air running through your whole body when you take a deep breath in the middle of winter.
'What is this?'
Before I could feel the confusion deeply, Marine returned.
Pulling a laundry basket with wheels.
She smiled at me and said.
"Now, please get in here, my lady."
"......"
I stared blankly at the laundry basket for a moment before nodding solemnly.
Clatter.
The door opened.
Rattle, rattle...
The sound of wheels rolling on the smooth marble floor reached my ears.
It seemed to move for a moment.
"Wait."
It stopped.
I held my breath with tension.
A voice came from above.
"What is this?"
The cloth above my head shook. Someone grabbed and shook it.
Then Marine's sharp voice was heard.
"Can't you tell by looking? It's a sheet."
"I'm not asking because I don't know, but why are you suddenly bringing out a sheet?"
"Why else? I'm going to do the laundry."
"The head steward said not to leak anything outside."
"My lady spilled food while eating. You can't keep using a dirty sheet."
"......"
The knight, having nothing to say, continued to rummage through the sheet covering the laundry basket.
I covered my mouth and nose with both hands and looked up.
Part of the white sheet was stained red.
Marine and I deliberately spilled tomato soup to make it dirty.
"You're not saying that my lady should keep using a dirty sheet, are you?"
"Ahem. Go ahead."
The knight, at a loss for words, put the sheet down and allowed passage.
Marine snorted saucily and pulled the basket across the hallway.
Rattle, rattle...
How long had it been?
Marine's whispering voice was heard.
"You can come out now."
At those words, I removed the sheet covering my head and got out of the basket.
Outside the basket was a forest path leading to the Magic Knight Order's barracks.
"I can't enter beyond this point. If you want, I can hug you and sneak in, but..."
"No."
I shook my head.
From here on out, Ligrin's influence wouldn't reach easily anyway, so I could move smoothly.
At least enough to find Aen.
"Thank you for fulfilling my request."
"Of course. I can make anything you want come true."
Marine, taking out a thick cape from inside the basket, put it on my shoulders and tied the ribbon tightly.
And she hung a whistle around my neck.
"I'll be waiting here. If anything happens, blow the whistle loudly. I'll run right away!"
"Okay, I will."
Nothing would happen inside Aen's area, but I nodded obediently to reassure Marine.
"Then... have a good trip."
"I'll be back."
Leaving Marine behind, I went into the forest path.
Like that time, sometime ago, when I made a contract with the Evil God and went back to this time for the first time to find Aen.
The difference was that, unlike back then when red leaves were falling abundantly, white snow was piled up on the road, and my steps, which were trembling with the excitement and tension of reunion, were moving anxiously to meet him as soon as possible.
I followed the forest path and gradually moved inward.
The road gradually narrowed and suddenly widened.
"......It's been a while since I've been here."
I reunited with Aen here.
It was only a few months ago, but it felt nostalgically like a long time ago.
'It would be nice if Aen would appear like that again.'
That won't happen...
"There, watch out!!"
I turned my head at the sudden shout.
A flash of light flashed, and something flew towards me.
At the same time.
Wham!
Someone hugged me and rolled around a few times.
Just like that day.
Bang!
The spot where I was standing was dented by the flying flash of light.
I looked at the spot where smoke was rising and raised my head.
It's the same situation as that day.
Then, could it be...
"Aen?"
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