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Chapter 4
“Who taught you how to draw out magic?”
At Elbadin’s question, Lusilea couldn’t hide her excitement and spoke in an animated voice.
“No one really taught me! Honestly, even just succeeding this time was barely a success! I really prayed with all my heart! I wanted to be chosen for the elite squad! I used every bit of strength I had, and I thought my head would explode!”
Lusilea raised her arms above her head, drawing a large circle to express just how much effort it had taken.
“Anyway, I guess my desperate wish must have reached them!”
Hehe, Lusilea smiled brightly, sweat streaming down her face.
Yet even after Lusilea finished speaking, Elbadin and Liat remained silent.
A wave of unease washed over her.
‘What’s with this atmosphere?’
Could it be… no, that can’t be it. Are they going to go back on their word about choosing me?
‘Nah… he’s the head of the ducal family. Surely he wouldn’t be that fickle.’
But the longer the two men remained silent, the deeper Lusilea’s anxiety grew.
‘Then again, what do I really know about him? He might be more capricious than anyone.’
He had even called my magic trivial earlier.
‘What if they really change their mind? What if they don’t take me?!’
Growing impatient, Lusilea hurriedly added,
“Um, I’m really good at moving this energy inside my body—well, the magic you mentioned. Getting it outside is a bit harder, but if you teach me, I can do it quickly!”
The warmth spreading gently near her heart, the flow of that energy through her veins, and sending the exact amount to the exact location she wanted—
Lusilea explained in detail how she could manipulate her internal magic.
Yet the two remained silent.
‘Is this still not enough?’
Then…
“Actually, besides that, I’m really, really good at doing laundry! I used to take care of my foster father’s laundry! Even if the river freezes, it doesn’t matter! I can even break ice! And I don’t eat much—once every two days is fine! Also… oh right, as long as I can avoid rain and wind, I can sleep anywhere, and I’m good at cleaning up horse droppings. Cleaning is a given! I can adapt anywhere, so… please…”
Lusilea glanced at Elbadin and continued.
“…Please, take me to the ducal mansion. I’ll do anything so that you won’t regret choosing me.”
Her eyes lowered to the floor, Lusilea looked at Elbadin with a desperate gaze.
“…….”
“…….”
Elbadin’s brow twitched slightly as he met her gaze.
The change was so subtle that only Liat noticed.
Liat shifted his gaze from Elbadin to Lusilea.
‘What kind of child is this…?’
Magic is an innate ability, but just being born with it doesn’t mean one can become a mage.
One’s potential depends not only on magic but also on natural talent, perseverance, patience, and effort.
‘First and foremost, one must feel what innate power their body holds.’
Yet Lusilea was already nearly complete in that regard.
She had realized on her own that her ability was magic and even managed to draw it out and use it.
‘She probably doesn’t know how remarkable that is…’
Even if she didn’t yet know the full applications of her magic, with the proper ducal education and training environment:
‘At least, when she comes of age, no mage will surpass her.’
That thought sent a shiver down Liat’s spine.
The child who had seemed suspicious and questionable just moments ago now appeared as a variable capable of overturning the established order of the world.
‘When I first saw the young duke, I didn’t feel this way.’
Though the young duke used aura and Lusilea used magic, making them incomparable, Liat’s gaze was suddenly drawn to the thin wrist peeking out from her short sleeves.
‘…That.’
As his wariness eased, he finally saw the truth behind why the child had to hide in the ducal carriage to leave Mille Village—to survive.
Skin stretched over her bones, the scars and bruises from her fingertips to her wrists.
Though time had faded them, these weren’t simple scratches from falls or bumps.
‘If this is what’s visible, the hidden areas must be worse.’
And just how much had she been starved for her body to be like this?
Liat realized he needed to understand Lusilea’s living conditions in greater detail.
Clearing his throat, Liat asked Lusilea,
“Are you from Mille Village? With abilities like yours, why didn’t you appear in the town square? If you had, you could have taken the elite squad test right in front of everyone.”
A reasonable suspicion. Unless she had another purpose, there was no reason she couldn’t appear in the village square.
Lusilea’s eyes drooped with sadness as she replied.
“If you check, my name probably isn’t even on the list. I wasn’t recognized as a villager.”
“…….”
She calmly told her story.
She had lived alone with her grandmother in a cabin in the northern mountains outside the village, and the villagers called her grandmother a witch.
And…
“A year ago, my grandmother passed away, and the villagers drew lots to choose a foster parent for me.”
Liat’s eyebrows twitched.
“Wait, they chose a guardian by drawing lots?”
“Yes. No one wanted to take me in. I was considered the ill-omened child raised by a witch. But that’s fine. I’m not a weak child who gets hurt by such words!”
“…….”
Liat frowned.
‘How can she tell such a story so matter-of-factly?’
Anyone could guess it was a tragic life, yet the child recounted it calmly.
Even in front of Elbadin’s fearsome gaze, she spoke her unfortunate story without trembling or shedding a tear.
‘Has any child ever looked at the duke like that?’
No. And probably never will again.
Most children would be overwhelmed by Elbadin’s presence, unable to even meet his gaze without suffocating or losing consciousness.
‘Is she fearless, or just blank-minded…?’
Given her deep understanding of magic, she’s probably not stupid.
‘Well, geniuses are always a little eccentric.’
Liat shifted his gaze from Lusilea to Elbadin.
“Your Excellency, in this case, the child has no guardian to consent to going to the ducal mansion.”
Elbadin looked at Lusilea silently before speaking.
“In other words, there’s no need to ask for permission.”
“Exactly.”
“Still, just in case, send Edmon to Mille Village.”
Edmon was the elite squad commander, known for handling matters expertly to prevent disputes.
“It won’t hurt to be certain. It’d be troublesome if the village suddenly demanded the child back.”
Liat replied, “Yes, Your Excellency… I’ll ensure there are no problems in taking the child.”
Elbadin simply nodded in acknowledgment.
-“Don’t worry, child. Remember what I always told you? You are a very precious child.”
The ground beneath you will guide you on a beneficial path, the passing wind will lighten your steps, flowing water will quench your thirst, and fierce flames will take away even the anger in your heart.
-“You are the only child capable of embracing the world.”
So don’t worry. Live as you wish.
“…….”
Lusilea, who had dozed off, slowly opened her eyes.
She thought she had just heard a familiar voice, but opening her eyes, it had vanished like bubbles.
‘I think I heard something…’
But like the disappearing voice, she couldn’t remember what was said.
‘Something about water and fire… maybe…’
Blinking, Lusilea noticed the unfamiliar ceiling and paused her thoughts.
‘Where… am I?’
