IBFWGFG 84

Chapter 84

“Got you.”

Kurine, the head of the Mage Tower, gave a bitter smile.

Her eyes were fixed beyond the crystal orb on her desk, more precisely, beyond the eyes in the portrait connected to the orb.

• Hand over the elixir hidden in the Mage Tower.

At that demand, Kurine shrugged.

“Since you caught me using a trick, I suppose I have no choice but to give it.”

The reason Kurine had sent that portrait was simple.

After a whole day dealing with ugly mages, there were times when she just wanted to refresh her mood with a handsome face.

‘Even with a robe, you can’t erase the typical ugliness of humans.’

Of course, there was also an information-gathering purpose.

She had sent it to see how he would treat Lucis, given his notorious reputation, and to judge him as a potential husband.

‘Seeing him like this was beyond my imagination.’

Seymour was an excellent father. Perhaps even to his own children, he couldn’t show such care.

There was none of the usual noble arrogance toward servants.

Seymour treated his servants professionally, never crossing the line with unreasonable demands or physical punishment.

Kurine gave Seymour high “husband points.”

‘So this is the infamous Mausoleum family. Is “notoriety” for humans different than for elves?’

But collecting this type of information could, if discovered, become a cause for a declaration of war.

Since she didn’t want to make Lucis an enemy, Kurine had no option but to comply with Seymour’s request.

“Elixir, huh.”

An elixir. Or the potion of the easy way.

A legendary potion supposedly created by a former head of the Mage Tower about thirty years ago, fearing that pure magic might fall behind the rapidly developing magical engineering.

However, it put such a tremendous strain on the body that all elixirs were discarded and further production ceased.

‘…The world knows that much.’

The outdated elixirs from that era had indeed been destroyed.

But only high-ranking officials of the Mage Tower knew that a new, secretly produced elixir incorporating later technological advancements existed.

‘I don’t know how Count Mausoleum discovered this.’

If that knowledge could justify it, Kurine could reluctantly hand it over.

Although the improvements allowed only small quantities to be produced at great cost, considering Seymour and Lucis’s relationship, it was a fair price.

‘No, first of all, how he even knew about the portrait is a mystery. Did he gain profound magical knowledge from being with a dragon?’

Kurine, having reflected in her very typical way—not that she shouldn’t do it next time, but that she must do it even more flawlessly—began selecting elixirs to send to Seymour as an apology.

These were next-generation elixirs that greatly mitigated the strain on the body.

‘Though they don’t completely eliminate it, that’s the catch.’

Human lifespans were short enough. As a wife, it would be troublesome if it became even shorter.

‘I’ll send some health-boosting potions along as well.’

Another act of marital support.

Feeling generous toward herself, Kurine started diligently packing the elixirs into a bag.

Within two hours, a bag filled with elixirs arrived for Kurine.

“…Elixirs, huh.”

Alfred’s expression darkened as he checked the contents.

I raised an eyebrow, having removed my shirt to absorb the elixir.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

Alfred hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Count Liam Mausoleum, the previous head, also used this potion to fight for succession.”

I already knew that.

“And?”

“I believe the previous count’s death was caused by the elixir.”

“The elixir?”

“The elixir places tremendous strain on the heart. It shortens one’s lifespan significantly.”

Now that I think about it, the first time I used the elixir at the academy, my heart had felt extreme pain.

‘Did elixirs really have that side effect?’

I had no idea. In a game-like world, I assumed even simple skill-level-up potions existed and didn’t expect such detailed mechanics.

‘Well, if there were a completely safe power-granting potion, the Mage Tower would have mass-produced it.’

Still, I didn’t regret it.

Even knowing this, I would have injected the elixir into my heart.

“Alfred. Would you rather live a hundred years as a beggar, or ten years as an emperor?”

“I’d live a hundred years as a beggar. Even rolling in dirt is better than being dead.”

I smiled at his immediate response, his intent to persuade me clear.

“The question is wrong. Would you rather watch your child be taken from you and live a hundred years, or risk shortening your life to protect them and live together?”

“…”

Of course, I wanted to live long too.

But I did not want to live only to regret and mourn what I had lost, waiting for my death.

“Also, don’t worry. The Mage Tower head’s letter said it too.”

I showed the letter from Kurine inside the bag, fluttering in my hand.

The letter, starting with an apology, stated that these elixirs were of the highest quality, and the strain on the heart was reduced to 30% of previous elixirs.

“And you even included heart-friendly health potions?”

Supposedly, a rare potion containing troll regenerative properties. Probably impossible to buy with money.

“…If your resolve is this firm, I have nothing more to say.”

Alfred bowed briefly, conceding.

“May you never regret this choice.”

I, shirtless, lay on the sofa and picked up an elixir.

“All right. Shall we take the easy path again?”

The injection point of the elixir was my heart.

Now dozens of sanctification circuits reached from my chest to my shoulders and collarbone.

A few days later.

I boarded a carriage with Lucis and Locarium.

“Are you sure it’s okay for just the three of us?”

“Shouldn’t we bring Hella too…?”

Simon and Sia seemed worried about our small group.

“Erina always comes here just with the Radiant Knight Commander. Adding more people doesn’t look good.”

“What does politics have to do with this? It could be dangerous.”

Sia muttered, clearly displeased.

“You take risks now so you don’t have to take bigger ones later. Aren’t you going to the grand workshop today?”

I changed the subject to soothe Sia.

“Yes. It’s part of the apprentice program.”

The apprentice program gave students who wished to work at my household a chance to work during vacations.

‘Based on Earth’s modern internship system.’

The original apprentice system in this world was almost like being a personal servant, so we created a new one.

Unlike the original system, this paid well and treated apprentices decently, making it popular.

“Good. Learn well today. Someday, you’ll run this place.”

“Okay!”

Sia always brightened when talking about taking over the workshop.

“Simon, I trust you, so don’t overdo it.”

“Okay. You be careful too.”

After patting Simon’s shoulder, I went to board the carriage.

“Hey, Lady. What about me?”

I playfully replied to Hella.

“Stop bothering the knights.”

“Ha ha. They must die for our family to survive.”

We joked, but had already arranged to plant a knight near Ishtar Townhouse, who would alert the Black Dragon Knights in an emergency.

Once in the carriage, Lucis waved out the window.

“See you!”

“Take care!”

As the carriage passed the front gate, Locarium muttered quietly.

“What a close-knit family.”

Lucis giggled.

“We are close.”

“Just the two of us?”

Locarium looked shocked, as if he had been told he wasn’t a dragon but a lizard.

“No?”

“…No, yes. I mean, yes, we are close.”

“Hm…”

Lucis narrowed her eyes at the overly long reply.

Locarium avoided meeting her gaze.

“Peanut.”

“Pardon?”

“Hand.”

“….”

Locarium stared at Lucis’s hand, then shakily placed his own over it.

Lucis smiled warmly, patting his hand.

“We are close.”

“…Yes. We are.”

It was funny seeing him resign to her hierarchy, unable to complain.

‘Family, huh…’

Locarium’s comment about a “close-knit family” stirred a strange feeling in me.

I realized I had also begun freely using the word “family.”

Who would’ve thought that I, never having a family on Earth, would find one in another world?

‘It’s not just Lucis who grows and changes.’

I smiled, looking out the window.

The sky was as dazzlingly white as the scales of the Radiant Dragon.

Before arriving at Ishtar Townhouse, we dismissed the coachman and placed Locarium in the driver’s seat.

• It’s good to come along for emergencies, but I want to remain inconspicuous.

Locarium, worried that Ishtar would report him for violating the Mausoleum Treaty, would face over a hundred years of exile.

“Right, right.”

Being a dragon, the horses obeyed him perfectly.

We enjoyed the ride even more peacefully than before and soon arrived at Ishtar Townhouse.

“Oh…”

Unlike the Mausoleum Townhouse, the walls, gates, and buildings of Ishtar Townhouse were entirely white metal, like stepping into a dollhouse.

“Huh?”

Lucis tilted her head, noticing something strange, then soon returned to looking out the window.

The carriage stopped in front of the main building, where a welcoming crowd awaited.

“Hmph!”

Lucis nodded, as if saying such a reception was appropriate.

I held Lucis close and got out, facing the crowd.

Lucis clutched a treasured white dragon doll.

Locarium pressed his hat down in the driver’s seat, trying not to be noticed.

Irina looked over with trembling eyes.

And then there was Marquise Moina, whose thoughts were unknown.

“Greetings, Marquise. Thank you for inviting us.”

I smiled politely.

It was a historic moment—heads of two rival noble families meeting.