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Chapter 13
If possible, I should turn the flowers into gold. Selling flowers turned into gold would make a wonderful gift in itself. One thing was certain—it would fetch a high price.
But Eluana’s fluffy daydreams were shattered by the continuing explanation from Duke Spes.
“Turning leaves into gold is also possible through alchemy. Not just gold, but even elixirs can be created. However, changing the material itself comes at a great cost.”
“A cost?”
“You have to use life force.”
Life force?
“…You mean lifespan?”
“You could say it’s similar. That’s why usually, alchemists utilize their power through resonance with materials they are closely attuned to.”
“Resonance with materials…?”
Eluana tilted her head slightly. The terminology was too complex to grasp at once.
“Each alchemist has materials they are particularly compatible with. For me, for instance, it’s gold.”
Duke Spes pulled out ten gold coins from his inner pocket.
The coins melted in his palm, morphing into the shape of a rabbit. The gold rabbit then changed into a roaring bear before shooting out like a stream of water. The golden stream circled Eluana’s wrist and turned into a ring-shaped bracelet.
Eluana silently stared at the gold bracelet wrapped around her wrist.
“This is alchemy. You can change the shape, like this, or reinforce strength as you did, or even create highly sharp weapons. As long as you’re not altering the fundamental properties—like turning gold into silver—you use stamina instead of life force.”
“Then when I forged the sword…”
“You must’ve felt your heart race when you were doing it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s resonance. The clearer the image of what you want to apply to the material, the better the result. You must have had a clear image of an ‘unbreakable sword.’”
“I did think that, yes.”
Because she didn’t want the sword user to get hurt.
“Alchemy is more about communication than magic. Once we reach the mansion, I’ll teach you from the basics.”
“Will I have to do a demonstration in front of the First Prince? To prove I can perform alchemy?”
Duke Spes chuckled as if he’d just heard something amusing.
“Alchemy is a gift from a dragon to the Spes family. Not once has an alchemist ever been born outside of our bloodline. If I, the head of House Spes, acknowledge it, that’s enough. No proof is necessary.”
“Then…”
“First, I plan to publicly declare that Ron Vita is a member of House Spes. You’ll be treated as someone who inherited alchemical abilities from him. I’ll arrange things by holding Ron Vita’s funeral. He may have been from a fallen family, but he was still the head of it. Hiding a head’s death is a serious crime, more than you might expect. On top of that, you even impersonated him—so that gives them plenty of excuses to pursue punishment.”
That meant she wouldn’t live as the duke’s illegitimate child but would continue living as Ron Vita’s daughter. That was a better arrangement for the ambiguous position of Rui as well.
“Thank you… for the consideration.”
“You sound like a stranger.”
Eluana glanced away, as if embarrassed her true feelings had been noticed.
“And for taking Rui with you.”
“Because he’s Stella’s child.”
The unexpected reply left Eluana speechless. By the time the carriage entered the town and came to a stop, the sun was already setting.
Attached to a six-story inn was a three-story annex where they would stay tonight. The first floor of the annex was a carriage house, the second a dining hall, and the third the guest rooms. It was a lodging facility meant for nobles traveling with large retinues.
Eluana’s eyes widened as she looked out the carriage window.
It was her first time leaving the Aden territory. Even when the townspeople traveled to neighboring lands during festivals, Eluana’s family had always stayed behind to guard the empty Aden. Ron Vita and Stella had raised Eluana freely but strictly forbade her from leaving Aden.
In Aden, there were no buildings taller than two stories, except the lord’s castle. So, the six-story inn in front of her was the tallest building she had ever seen in her life.
“It’s so tall.”
As Eluana admired it, Rui, half-awake, puffed up his chest.
“It’s your first time in another town, right? I’ve been to Yones before.”
Smiling smugly, Rui turned to look out the window and his jaw dropped.
“Wowww. It’s huge. So shiny.”
Since Yones was also a rural territory like Aden, there were no tall buildings there either. And the farther they got from Aden, the more glittering particles Rui could see, making everything seem to sparkle.
Duke Spes smiled faintly at Rui’s wide-eyed expression.
“Let’s get off.”
He got off the carriage first and held out a hand to Eluana.
‘Does he want me to take it?’
She could have stepped down on her own, but Eluana took his hand.
She figured it was best not to offend someone she would have to rely on so often. Though it was a calculated decision, the warmth in his hand as he supported her lingered even after she let go, leaving her palm strangely tingly.
Duke Spes then lifted Rui down in one swift motion. Both Eluana and Rui were taken aback by the unexpected gesture.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Yes.”
Just as Eluana awkwardly answered and took Rui’s hand, the inn’s door burst open and someone came running out.
“Duke! Dukeee!!”
A man shouted desperately as he ran—but passed right by the duke and stopped in front of Eluana and Rui.
“My goodness… hic.”
The man covered his mouth with a strange noise and introduced himself with a teary voice.
“I’m Noah Nilsson, the Duke’s aide. Milady. Young Master.”
“…Hello.”
Just Eluana’s simple greeting made Noah tear up. He pulled out a handkerchief to dab his tears and said with a voice still trembling with emotion,
“To think I didn’t know about you until you’d grown this much—it’s heartbreaking.”
Eluana took a cautious step back.
‘What the heck. Why’s he acting like this?’
He looked like someone reuniting with a long-lost lover from a past life. The emotion he showed seemed excessive for someone meeting her for the first time.
“Thinking of how much you must’ve suffered in prison makes my heart feel like it’s tearing apart.”
When Eluana narrowed her eyes in wariness, Noah’s shoulders slumped. Duke Spes turned and started walking inside.
“Noah, stop being dramatic. Let’s go.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Once Eluana, Rui, and Noah entered, the waiting staff bowed deeply to greet them. The oldest-looking man among them politely asked the duke,
“Would you like to dine first or bathe?”
Duke Spes didn’t answer and instead looked to Eluana. Realizing he was passing the choice to her, she answered,
“A bath first.”
A woman with her hair tied up guided Eluana and Rui to the third floor.
“Please use these two rooms. The bath is ready. Would you like someone to assist?”
Eluana was about to decline, but Rui immediately spoke up.
“Yes, please! Sis, let’s bathe quickly and eat!”
If she were to bathe Rui first and then herself, it would take quite a bit of time. Since others were waiting, this was the most efficient choice.
“Okay, bathe and then stay in your room. I’ll come over.”
Rui nodded.
Eluana sent Rui off and entered her bathroom. The large tub was filled with fragrant water. She undressed and sank into the bath, feeling like her body was melting.
Even when water touched her back, it didn’t hurt.
She instinctively reached back to touch her back, then leaned into the tub. The inn was far grander and more luxurious than anything she’d imagined. If a simple inn was like this, she couldn’t even begin to picture what the duke’s estate would be like.
“Dad, I think this might be what it’s like to live the sweet life.”
She hoped it would be.
***
Noah, the aide, roughly tidied up the round table piled with papers, pulling out only the quarterly budget report. It had to be reviewed before they returned to the duke’s estate.
He spread the documents and sat across from Duke Spes, who was leisurely sipping wine.
First, he began the report.
“We successfully won the bid for both of Ron Vita’s swords that appeared at auction. Those are the ones Lady Eluana alchemized, correct?”
“Yes. Quietly buy the rest of the swords sold on the market, without drawing attention.”
“Understood.”
As he jotted down the instructions, emotion surged in Noah, and he couldn’t hold back his scolding.
“I mean, seriously! How could you leave without me? You disappeared suddenly—it caused a huge uproar. I thought you’d been attacked or something!”
“When I came to, I’d already crossed the teleportation gate.”
The duke answered with a voice tinged in self-deprecation.
“So you were already certain when you left?”
“A newly alchemized sword had surfaced, and its maker was none other than ‘Ron Vita.’”
Noah sighed. They had searched the entire continent to find Stella. But they hadn’t thought to check Ron Vita. That brief connection—it had continued all this time.
No, still.
Noah continued scolding.
“But still, you should’ve taken gold coins. How did you rent a carriage?”
“I got some from the First Prince.”
“You extorted him, didn’t you.”
“He flogged my child.”
Noah gasped. He desperately hoped he’d heard wrong and asked in a trembling voice,
“You didn’t… kill the First Prince, did you? He is the most likely candidate for the next emperor…”
“What kind of person do you take me for?”
“You’re… you’re the Duke.”
Which meant it was entirely reasonable to worry that he might have killed him.
“I didn’t kill him. Not planning to let it slide, though.”
“Just the fact that you didn’t kill him is a blessing. Killing the First Prince would be a nightmare. Worst case, it could even spark a war.”
Duke Spes emptied his glass with a short reply: “I know.”
Noah had been more than just an aide—he was a longtime friend. Having grown up together in the duke’s estate since they were five, he knew him better than anyone. Which was why Noah’s emotions were all the more tangled.
“I’m not sure whether I should offer congratulations or condolences.”
“Congratulate me. I’ve found my child.”
At last, the long wait was over. He wouldn’t have to wait for Stella anymore. Among the many emotions he felt, there was definitely a sense of relief.
“There will be many people shocked out of their minds when they meet Lady Eluana and Master Rui.”
“Indeed.”
As he absentmindedly took another sip, light brown liquid slipped past Duke Spes’s lips.
“You plan to adopt Young Master Rui as well, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Noah also accepted that as natural. Just being Stella’s child was enough for Rui to be fully protected.
Thinking of Rui, Noah added,
“He’s such a lovable boy, isn’t he?”
“Because he’s Stella’s child.”
Duke Spes calmly emptied the last of his drink.
