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Chapter 8
Lucilea detached her back from the pillar and glanced around.
“Can’t you hear me? I told you to stay there.”
It sounded like a fight had broken out somewhere…
One of Lucilea’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Hmph. I’m not really the type to enjoy this kind of spectacle.
Although, she was admittedly curious…
Sensing Lucilea’s thoughts, Cookie wiggled excitedly.
[Hurry, Lucy! Go, go, go!]
Should I? I’m only going because you’re telling me to. It’s not like I actually want to go. I just want to take a quick look while Mei goes up and comes back; that’s all.
[…]
Lucilea carefully moved her steps, making no sound, heading toward where the voices were coming from.
As she stepped a little further, she caught sight of two boys through a window along the outer corridor.
They both looked to be around thirteen to fifteen years old.
One was neatly dressed in what appeared to be quite expensive fabric, while the other wore armor, smeared with grime as if he had just returned from the battlefield.
The neatly dressed boy looked at least a year or two older.
Wait a minute…
Did they really send someone that young to the battlefield?
Lucilea frowned as her gaze landed on the armored boy.
She thought she knew enough about Elbadin, but she had never heard rumors of him sending children to the front lines.
Could they really be sending a child picked for the elite corps out into battle…?
The cold, icy expression of Elbadin flashed across her mind.
Maybe it’s really true…
After all, there was no way that child could have equipped the armor and gone out alone.
Then, suddenly…
Wait, what about me?!
Lucilea became anxious.
Her original plan was to gain the support of the Grand Ducal House, save money, and grow her abilities so that once she came of age, she could leave the Ducal House.
But if my abilities become strong enough, won’t I also be dragged to the battlefield like that child?!
If that happened, there was no guarantee she would survive until coming of age.
Sensing Lucilea’s unease, Cookie quietly asked,
[Lucy… is our life plan ruined now?]
Actually, it’s more like we crawled straight into a grave?! Cookie’s anxious voice echoed in her head.
[…]
Lucilea could not bring herself to answer “no.”
Unknown plot elements kept appearing, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a setting emerged where Duke Elbadin really did send children to the battlefield.
But…
Lucilea clenched her fists and whispered softly.
It’s okay, Cookie! At least we know now!
[It’s fortunate that we know even now?]
Of course! We can prepare!
[…huh?]
Yes, all she had to do was be careful. Work diligently enough not to stand out.
That’s probably why the child in armor had been sent to battle.
They were exceptional, which is why they were sent to the battlefield at that age.
So I’ll just aim for the middle. Not too bad, not too outstanding.
If I fall too far behind, I could get expelled.
Just be incompetent enough not to be expelled, that’s the plan!
[Ohh!]
Cookie seemed to understand and exclaimed in admiration.
[Lucy really is a genius! Let’s be incompetent! Let’s be stupid!]
Stupid too…?
At that moment, the neatly dressed boy with rather thin, somewhat vile-looking lips twisted the corners of his mouth.
“How’s the East Annex? Enjoying it? It must be boring since I don’t play with you, right?”
[…]
“Keep it clean. Soon I’ll be using it myself. Got it?”
He lightly kicked the armored boy’s shin, but the boy remained silent.
[…]
“Why aren’t you answering?! Did entering the East Annex make you look foolish?! How dare you?!”
The boy, speaking and shouting alone, suddenly smirked.
“Ah, like your mother who died in the brothel, have you become mute too?”
[…]
Wow, that crossed the line.
Lucilea clicked her tongue at the vile boy’s behavior in her mind.
[Right?! Not only is he vile-looking, but every word he says is vile! A miniature version of foster father Shred!]
Even wearing such expensive clothes, he still looked utterly despicable! Cookie’s sharp observation continued.
Yet, the boy in armor showed no reaction, keeping his gaze straight ahead, expressionless.
As if he couldn’t hear the insults, or perhaps he had grown accustomed to them.
Lucilea’s brow furrowed slightly as she observed him.
…He should get hit more.
She knew from experience that such reactions only fueled the other’s anger.
Sure enough…
“You little—!”
Snap! The vile-looking boy slapped the armored boy across the cheek.
Eek!
Lucilea flinched, startled.
The vile boy shouted furiously.
“You’re only a successor in name! Do you think you’re the real heir?!”
What?
Lucilea’s eyes widened.
Successor…?
Only then did she realize that the armored boy, covered in filth, was the male protagonist of this story, Serdian.
Wow…
No wonder he had such a presence, even covered in grime.
Of course, his face was still hard to make out.
But now that she knew he was the male lead, the fight she had been observing from afar felt strikingly real.
So this is the male lead who’s going to kill me…
A chill ran down her spine.
The vile boy continued speaking.
“No one acknowledges you as the successor! Even the Duke hasn’t completed the final registration! That’s the proof! You’re nothing but kindling for the other gifted children’s competitive fires!”
The vile boy, catching his breath, grinned cruelly.
Then Serdian slowly opened his lips.
“I see. Understood. If you’re done speaking, may I leave? I need to report to His Excellency.”
“…What?”
Wow!
Lucilea clenched both fists.
That boy! He knows how to make someone so angry they could die from it!
Unsurprisingly, the vile boy got angrier and swung his fists.
“You little—!”
But this time, Serdian didn’t take the hit easily.
He effortlessly dodged the slow, sloppy punch and strolled calmly toward the main building of the Ducal Estate, as if mocking the attempt.
“Hey! Aren’t you stopping?!”
The vile boy couldn’t bring himself to follow and huffed in place, catching his breath.
Hmph, would you stop if you were me? Foolish boy.
Lucilea, hiding behind a pillar and hugging it while watching everything, clicked her tongue.
An unexpected gain.
She had seen Serdian, the male protagonist, as soon as she arrived at the Ducal Estate.
And also how he’s treated here…
She already knew this from reading the original story.
Not just that vile boy—many others made Serdian’s life miserable.
Aside from the vile boy, relatives of the Ducal House and their vassal families teamed up to torment Serdian.
Reading it didn’t feel as intense… but seeing it in person feels strange.
If even the children are this malicious, imagine how ruthless the relatives and vassals must have been.
That explained why Serdian later cut through them and brought the Ducal House to its knees.
Abandoned alone from such a young age in scorn and contempt…
Enduring threats to his life, resentment and anger couldn’t be contained by Lucilea alone.
He was placed as the heir but not given power, making him an irresistible target for those filled with envy and jealousy.
Lucilea watched Serdian until he was out of sight.
Her thoughts deepened.
I’m not in a position to worry about anyone right now… but…
She realized:
Until I come of age and leave the Ducal Estate, Serdian must not be expelled!
If he were expelled like in the original story, returning with a blade of fury, it wouldn’t matter if she hid her connection to the Ducal bloodline—her life would also be at risk.
Which meant that as long as Lucilea remained in the Ducal Estate, Serdian must not be wrongfully expelled.
But how?
To be safe from the threats of relatives and vassal families, he must be properly recognized as the heir…
Hmm, the best scenario would be to strengthen the relationship between the Duke and Serdian…
I hope their relationship isn’t beyond repair…
After a moment of thought, Lucilea shrugged.
I don’t know.
It’s already difficult enough to safeguard myself!
The only thought that strengthened was to stay unnoticed.
Judging by how they treat the heir Serdian, it would be worse for me.
On the surface, Lucilea had no supportive family or relatives.
Serdian had strong aura and the male protagonist buff, but I don’t.
So I have to be careful to avoid my turn—
Then suddenly…
Thunk—
“Ah!”
Lucilea lost her balance as a force pushed her from behind, toppling her onto the corridor floor.
Fffft! Startled, Cookie flew up and took cover on the railing beside the pillar.
“Ow….”
Lucilea groaned, staring at her scraped palm.
[Lucy! Are you okay?!]
Yeah, I’m fine.
But…
What’s going on now?
Sitting on the floor and looking up, she met the eyes of three boys.
They looked about ten years old.
One of them, a red-haired boy, asked Lucilea,
“What are you?”
“……”
