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~Chapter 26~
Ciella stared deeply into Edell’s eyes.
If we run away now, we’ll just have to go back to dangerous, harsh Udes and live trapped as exiles.
If you want something, you have to take a risk. That’s right.
She decided to trust Edell and found her courage.
“Of course, I’ll enter the contest.”
The marquis’s eyes widened in surprise at her confident answer, then narrowed.
“But it makes no sense to let an exile enter with no conditions.”
Someone protested, and the marquis nodded, lifting his chin.
“Then there will be a preliminary test for entry.”
He planned to give a subjugation mission that only a mid-level spiritist could handle. He wanted only the top nobles left as participants. Lower-ranked relatives, already expecting this unfairness, sighed.
At that moment—
“But. As the former head of the family, I will personally oversee and run this trial.”
Grand Duke Isaac Belmour had stood up and was looking straight at the marquis with sharp eyes.
The marquis asked in confusion,
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
“I may have stepped down as head of the family long ago, but I still have the authority, don’t I? For fairness, and since I’m not sure there’s enough budget to run this contest.”
Territory and investment money meant whoever held the assets had the power.
Because the estate was in trouble, they had borrowed money using land as collateral from the grand duke. They really didn’t have enough funds to run a big event like this. Ciella stepped up to support him.
“Grand Duke is right. Wouldn’t it be fairer if someone not related directly to a contestant ran the contest?”
Ciella put her hands together and looked at the grand duke with respectful eyes. It was a flattery skill she had learned as an office worker in her past life.
“Big events and festivals are the best way to revive a region hurt by disaster. I’m amazed by the grand duke’s wisdom in boosting the scale of the contest with extra funds.”
It was like holding the Olympics for the family heir once every few decades. There’s no way I’d miss something this fun, even with disasters and chaos.
Ciella spoke with a very impressed expression.
“I’m also touched by the grand duke using his retirement money to help the spirit estate recover from disaster.”
The grand duke, watching her with a blank face, twitched his eyebrows. Ciella checked his reaction. Was it working? That’s how reserved people hide a good mood.
“Grandfather is absolutely right. If he’s paying for the contest and cares about fairness, he should run it. Everyone should have a fair chance, no matter their status.”
Count Biern, always quick to pick the winning side, rubbed his hands and agreed. If the marquis ran things, he might favor his own children.
Other nobles and minor families nodded in agreement.
“……Let’s do that.”
With most relatives agreeing, and public opinion against him, the marquis had to step back. He knew he’d only lose more if he pushed it. Besides, this could be a chance for Basilie to recover his image after his disaster with the spirit.
If it was just a fair competition, there’d still be plenty of chances to get rid of Marciella along the way.
The party had long ended, and with the contest decided, people began to leave. The guests chatted about the trial and the talents of the Belmour heirs as they left the hall. Family members started slipping away, saying they needed to prepare.
“Chase. Where is the new marquis’s wife?”
When things grew quiet, Isaac asked the marquis.
Chase looked away from Isaac’s sharp eyes and slowly shook his head.
“She died of illness before bringing the children to the spirit estate.”
Lerazie, coming back from seeing her fiancé Lexion off, overheard them and remembered her mother, who died when she was little.
“My baby, you must live happily.”
“Mom, what is happiness?”
“It means eating delicious food, wearing pretty clothes, and living in a warm house with a fire. You should be able to study without worrying about money. I didn’t get to learn much because I was poor.”
Mother. Now my standards for happiness are much higher. You gave me a life where I have so much more to lose. Lerazie clenched her fists, thinking to herself.
I can never let Marciella take it from me. My life, everything I enjoy.
Haah, this is so exhausting. I slumped my shoulders and sighed.
It’s never easy to change someone’s beliefs.
Even if Arnes’s statue itself said, “I’m the Spirit King, and yes, she’s a real spiritist,” they’d just say, “The Spirit King doesn’t talk like that,” and refuse to believe it.
So I have to bring in outsiders, persuade third parties, and change public opinion first. Even if the marquis keeps believing I’m an illegitimate child, I have to force him to recognize me and remove my exile status.
“Marciella. You’re amazing for having such courage in a tough spot.”
Uncle Alec came over, smiling warmly.
Since I still didn’t trust him, I answered stiffly.
“Did you bring the grand duke? You seemed to know everything…”
Based on his reactions and words, it seemed he’d told things in a way that helped me. Uncle Alec smiled kindly.
“I’ve been writing letters to the grand duke for a while, telling him about the spirit estate. At this rate, all the spirits would leave the human world.”
He must have asked for help before things got even worse.
Spirit magic, the power borrowed from spirits, connected the spirit world and human world, making spirit families very important in the empire. Spirits, linked to the magic elements, kept magic from becoming corrupted or cursed.
“But Uncle, why are you helping me?”
I asked suspiciously. Nobles always keep track of what they give and take, even with family. He must want something—maybe to take over the estate through public opinion or a territory war.
“Of course, because we’re family.”
Compared to my heavy worries, his answer was simple.
But in a situation where nobody believed I was a true child, it didn’t feel light.
“Your peridot eyes and golden hair look just like Grandmother. She was a beautiful person. I loved her a lot.”
So he was a grandma’s boy. I grabbed my gold hair, feeling a little gloomy.
“But the marquis said I look just like my mother…”
“Yes. When I first saw the marquis’s wife, I was shocked—she looked just like Grandmother when she was young. Grandfather must have been surprised too.”
Was he? I thought of the grand duke’s blank face.
A shadow of sadness crossed Uncle Alec’s smile.
“Why do the people I love always leave so soon?”
Maybe he hadn’t helped my mother because he was afraid of being accused of an affair. The marquis was so suspicious he drove out any male servants who looked at her the wrong way.
It was basically jealousy at the level of illness.
I don’t know if it was love, obsession, or just paranoia.
“Marciella, you’ll do well.”
His kind words felt awkward, so I smiled awkwardly.
“My name is Ciella now. I don’t plan to return to the spirit estate. I just… want to restore my mother’s and my own honor, and stop being an exile.”
Uncle Alec looked surprised, then nodded.
“You want to live your own life, right? I’ll call you Ciella from now on. But… who’s that cute kid bickering with the grown man over there?”
He pointed to Edell, who was having some kind of rivalry with Keia.
“Ah, I’m taking care of him for a while.”
I didn’t explain in detail. If they found out he was a black mage, things would get messy.
He’s a smart kid, so he probably won’t cause trouble first.
Uncle Alec watched Edell closely, then turned back to me.
“He looks like someone I know… Who was it…”
No way—is he talking about the villain, Yuri Sinclair?
Did Uncle Alec ever meet him before he died?
