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Chapter 49
“Hmm… we’ll need to run some tests, but sometimes people react that way when bitten by insects that parasitize certain trees. Perhaps we should brew some Judy fruit and Elaim leaves and observe the reaction?”
After that, the woman’s questions kept coming, and Herion responded eagerly, a bright expression on his face.
He didn’t know why she was asking these things, but it didn’t matter. Asking and answering questions like this was genuinely fun and enjoyable.
“Seres, where have you been going every day at this time lately?”
Cheyan couldn’t help but ask about Seres’ habit of disappearing around the same time every day.
Since the time wasn’t that long, he usually tried to just ignore it, but it had already been over ten days.
“A test.”
“A test? What kind of test?”
“A test to see if someone is worthy of entrusting the future to.”
“The future? What future… Wait, what? The future? Does this mean you have someone in mind?”
“Where did that come from all of a sudden?”
“Wh-what kind of test are you doing? Can I take that test too? I’ll do my best…!”
“Do you know what Dyke flowers are used for?”
“…What’s that? Do I need to know that to take the test?”
“…Are you even doing your work properly? How’s the defensive magic coming along?”
“Ah! So you’re dodging the question!”
Cheyan let out a short sigh as her question bounced back to him. He thought they were getting closer, but she still had many secrets.
“The external setup is done. Now only the interior remains to be finished.”
“Fast, huh?”
“Of course. I’m here.”
“….”
Seres’ expression stiffened at his overly confident face.
The events from just yesterday.
“Cheyan, could you help me with this?”
“Relying on others too often is a bad habit. Try doing it yourself. That’s how experience becomes part of you.”
Just thinking about what had happened a few hours ago made him sigh.
“Cheyan.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re going to live a long life, I’m sure of it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Because he had endured so many scoldings.
Until now, Seres had seen Cheyan avoiding work and skirting around the staff, whining for help, and slacking off.
“Do you want some tea? Shall I bring it?”
Even if temporary, he was still the secretary. He had to at least do this.
Seres, staring at him with eyes like a naive child, had just stood up from her seat.
“Seres.”
“What? Don’t want tea?”
“Have you been here before?”
“…No.”
“Hmmm.”
Could he trust that answer?
Cheyan recalled her actions since the first day she arrived and couldn’t remove his skeptical gaze.
‘Why is this place so big?’
‘Herbal storage room.’
‘And that next to it? A kitchen? There’s smoke coming out.’
‘Place for boiling herbs.’
‘Really? But how do you know that?’
‘…I just guessed.’
For a first-timer, she seemed to know the mansion’s layout extremely well. Not just the kitchen—she could find and fetch things without the staff pointing them out. Anyone would be suspicious.
That day, a novice healer was assigned as their guide.
Due to the aftermath of the Black Forest incident and the first family meeting since Creel became the head, senior healers were overwhelmed.
When the novice guide made their fifth mistake, Seres, with a small smile, stepped forward.
‘Go ahead. I’ll handle this.’
‘Y-yes? B-but…’
‘I’ve observed while walking around.’
‘But…’
‘Go.’
‘Okay.’
“Are you really sure? You haven’t been here before?”
“I swear.”
Scratching her cheek, Seres met Cheyan’s doubtful gaze.
It wasn’t a lie. Seres had never set foot here before in her life.
“What?”
“Really?”
At that moment, voices drifted in from an open window.
Looking outside, they saw some maids talking.
“Why was the meeting date suddenly moved up?”
“Wasn’t it supposed to be two months from now?”
“I don’t know. So now the head maid is panicking. They don’t have enough time to prepare.”
“Is that why there was a loud commotion near the head’s office just now?”
“A commotion? Why?”
“No idea. Maybe they didn’t like the new date.”
‘Meeting date… must be the family meeting,’ Seres guessed from their conversation.
She already knew why the date had been moved, more than anyone else.
“Have you heard the rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“That ring the head wears… it’s fake.”
“What? That’s absurd!”
“You need to watch your tongue! Don’t talk about things like that!”
“But… doesn’t it seem strange if you think about it?”
“What’s strange?”
“The head. They’ve never used the power in the ring, have they?”
“Well, maybe they just haven’t needed to.”
“I heard they even refused a request from the royal family outright?”
“Ah! I heard that too. Even without pressing matters, they refused?”
“The rumor is that they refused because the ring is fake.”
“Really?”
Hearing the maids’ chatter, Seres’ lips curved slightly.
‘I wonder who started that rumor?’
That would be me. Yep, me.
