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Chapter 33
“Yes, my lady.”
Bella entered the room, turned on the light, and drove out the darkness. Watching the darkness flee into the night sky to escape the bright light, Bella muttered.
“It’s already time for you to sleep.”
“Well, you did it again after dinner.”
At Eloise’s words, Bella frowned, newly realizing how long the lesson had been.
_’It seems the Aide conducted the lesson based on his own standards.’_
Liana and Cain were beings who had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields with genius abilities. Most such geniuses fall into the error of setting all standards based on themselves. And then they always look at ordinary people with incomprehensible eyes, saying, ‘Why can’t they do this?’
_’The Aide is like that, and even though the Knight Commander often fights with him, they say they have many similarities.’_
“I think I should ask to reduce the daily lesson time.”
“……Really?”
At Bella’s unexpected words, Eloise, her eyes wide open, spun around.
“At such a young age, listening to lessons for this long is not good for your emotional well-being.”
“That’s right! We’re still young, it’s really bad for our emotions!”
Seeing Eloise meticulously include Kylian in her ‘we’, Bella smiled lightly.
“Kylian is young too, right?”
As Eloise pouted her lips, Bella slightly averted her eyes.
“You seem to be having a particularly hard time this time.”
Noticing the obvious behavior, Eloise narrowed her eyes. But regretting that she couldn’t elaborate on today’s difficulties, she silently nodded.
“It was really hard this time.”
In Bella’s ears, Ryan’s voice shouting, ‘That’s definitely a lie!’ rang like an auditory hallucination. It was no wonder, since Eloise had kept up with Cain’s lessons without difficulty. Not to mention Kylian, who followed Liana’s swordsmanship training without trouble. Everyone looked at the two of them with wonder.
“You say that, but I noticed you were discussing this and that with the Aide quite a lot?”
“Huh? You noticed?”
It was impossible not to notice. Since when, magic-related books had increased in the library. Not only that, but papers scribbled with formulas and magic stones were scattered in a corner of the library. Crucially, after lessons ended, Eloise and Cain would pile up magic books and ponder all sorts of ideas. Bella, who regretfully watched quietly, unable to help, nodded.
“I could at least tell that the two of you were working hard on something.”
Eloise briefly looked at the Eye Crystal hanging around her neck. Since the kidnapping, there had always been magic stones containing protective spells by her side. Her hand trembled as she recalled that time. The terror of that moment was still vivid. The fear she felt then wasn’t about death. Having already chosen death once in her previous life, she wasn’t afraid of that anymore.
_’Kylian got hurt protecting me. The Grand Duke, being a Sword Master, was fine, but…’_
At every moment, anxious thoughts surged.
What if Kylian had been of no use to them?
What if their power was stronger than that of a Sword Master?
_’Maybe…’_
Eloise clenched her trembling hand tightly.
_’I couldn’t do anything back then.’_
She no longer wanted to be protected like that. If the sword wasn’t the way, she wanted to become strong through other means. No, she *had* to become strong. The way to become as strong as the Sword Master now was to utilize the vast mana within her body. Although the lineage was said to be severed, mages still existed.
_’Then, I just need to revive that lineage.’_
No matter how slim the possibility, Eloise had to reach for it. Because the only thing she feared now was one thing.
_’My precious people dying. I must prevent that, above all.’_
As if making a vow, Eloise tightly gripped the Eye Crystal hanging on her neck.
“Studying to get stronger is good too, but that’s just a means. More than that, I want to have the power to protect someone.”
Eloise’s eyes shone like the deep sea. Bella, gazing intently at Eloise’s eyes, hesitantly moved her lips.
“Um… that’s not it. When you’re sure about it later, please be sure to tell me too.”
“Of course! I’ll definitely show you.”
Looking at Eloise’s bright smile, Bella smiled painfully. Though it had become rare lately, sometimes Eloise’s eyes held that same light as just now. It wasn’t a light one would expect from children just beginning to understand the world.
_’You’ve grown up too fast.’_
Children with many scars grow up quickly to protect their own hearts. Now she thought she understood why her grandfather had looked at her with those eyes back then. And it felt like her own eyes now resembled her grandfather’s.
“You’ve worked hard today as well. Sleep well.”
May you always shine like the surface of the sea, joyfully swaying under the sunlight.
May you always be filled with happiness, without any pain.
Bella prayed as she tucked Eloise into bed.
“Bella, you have a good time with the Head Butler too.”
Eloise waved her small hand in greeting.
“Yes, my lady.”
Bella replied, her eyes gently crinkling, and left the room. After Bella left, the dark room became quiet. The only sound in the room filled with silence was the thumping of her heart.
“Was it because I thought about that time? Why can’t I sleep…?”
Tossing and turning, Eloise closed her eyes. Then, the ‘what if’ moments she had recalled earlier came to mind. The images of her precious people bleeding and dead.
“Kylian…!”
Eloise’s voice, stained with fear, trembled uncontrollably.
_’Why did I think about that time? Pointlessly…’_
She shook her head, trying to shake off the loudly beating heart sound. But the fear-stricken heart spread instantly.
“Your Grace…!”
As the image of Alex, stained with blood and coldly lifeless, wouldn’t leave her mind, Eloise’s voice became precarious.
“Little one.”
At that moment, Alex’s firm voice echoed in the room. Startled, Eloise quickly sat up, and there stood Alex in front of the door.
“……Your Grace?”
Her anxiety-filled voice called out to him blankly. At Eloise’s voice, his red eyes flinched and wavered with self-reproach.
“I missed you and stopped by, but it seems I woke you up again……”
But his red eyes looked different to Eloise. Like a flame that instantly warmed and brightened her heart, which had been darkly submerged in fear.
“I missed you too!”
Eloise reached out her hands with a bright smile. Soon, the fear had vanished from her face.
“I missed you very much too.”
Alex responded with a soft smile. Then he approached the bed, bent his knee, and hugged Eloise. Leaning comfortably into his embrace, warm and cozy like a fireplace containing the warmth of flames, Eloise felt at ease.
“You didn’t wake me. I was just lying down because I couldn’t fall asleep easily.”
As if sensing something in her calm voice, Alex gazed intently at Eloise.
“Did something happen?”
“Being alone in the dark room, scary thoughts kept coming to mind.”
“Scared… Then, were you scared all those times you slept alone? Were you sad or lonely?”
“Don’t worry. It wasn’t like that all the time, only today.”
Seeing Eloise reassuring him that she was okay, Alex’s words faltered.
“I want to be a wonderful parent who protects your heart, but I keep showing you a foolish side.”
At his words, Eloise tilted her head.
“But Your Grace is always protecting my heart?”
“……Am I?”
“Yes! Just knowing you are here makes the anxiety in my heart disappear without a trace.”
The child in his arms wriggled her small body. Then she hugged him back with her dainty arms.
_’I wanted to make this child happy, but instead, the child is making me happy.’_
Alex took a breath as he looked at the child smiling brightly at him.
“I am also so happy just having Eloise here. Your existence gives meaning to my life.”
Alex’s sincere, quietly spoken words were trembling. Judging his trembling voice by her own standards, Eloise shook her head.
