ITMLBDSML 43

 Chapter 43

Of course, Kellic couldn’t use his ability at any time.

To use it, he needed a massive amount of mana stones.

Now that magic had mostly vanished and most mana stones had turned into ordinary rocks, they weren’t something easily acquired.

Moreover, even if Kellic only thought of the scenes he wanted to show, any stray thought would immediately be projected as well.

Still, the abilities of the red fox beastmen had consistently drawn attention—especially in court.

Maybel, who had no idea of this, widened her eyes in astonishment.

Seeing her like that, Kellic shrugged.

“How’s that? Cool, right?”

Perhaps because Aselt was so mature, Kellic seemed more like a mischievous child…

The way he had just fought Landor evenly, and how he had protected Maybel to the very end…

Maybel began to see Kellic in a slightly different light.

‘But if I say that, he’ll just blush and sulk again.’

So she said nothing and instead smiled brightly, speaking sincerely.

“Yeah! You’re really amazing, oppa!”

“Hehe, from now on, I’ll protect you, Maybel, so don’t worry!”

Kellic, seemingly sensing the sincerity behind Maybel’s words, smiled shyly and made the promise.

The warm atmosphere was heartening, yet there was still something that needed to be asked.

“Alright, it’s good that you two are getting along, but—”

Zigmunt’s lowered tone made Kellic and Maybel flinch.

Turning to them, Zigmunt smiled but spoke in a menacingly serious way.

“Shall we have a little talk about why you two were in that prison?”

Although his expression was as usual, there was a moment when Zigmunt’s face looked terrifyingly sharp.

Taking a deep breath, Maybel timidly reached out and grabbed Kellic.

“O-opp… protect me…”

“Hic…”

Her plea was desperate, and Kellic was equally frightened.

“Let’s discuss this in the carriage.”

Eventually, the two children had to ride in the Escleid Grand Duke family carriage and endure a mix of concern and scolding.

Each child received an hour’s worth of admonishment, totaling two hours on the carriage to the Grand Duke’s castle.

And repeatedly, without pause!

Zigmunt, the youngest Grand Master, spoke ceaselessly, blending worry with discipline.

Maybel realized just how tremendous his stamina truly was.

Zigmunt’s timely appearance had been made possible entirely thanks to Head Butler Rundwell.

Immediately after Aselt and then Kellic disappeared, Rundwell requested a falcon beastman to send word to Zigmunt.

It was an unprecedented emergency.

As soon as Zigmunt received word that the children had all headed toward the Ashilonia estate, he mounted his horse.

After several days of riding without rest and switching horses, he finally arrived at the Ashilonia dukedom and met Aselt.

“They told me Kellic was dragged into the underground prison.”

He probably didn’t expect Maybel to be there as well.

“Given the urgency, I couldn’t speak separately, but Aselt, you should go home and check on her too.”

Zigmunt said sharply.

Kellic and Maybel, finally free from his scolding, exchanged glances and silently offered their condolences to Aselt.

“Anyway… Maybel, let’s check if your bandages need changing.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Zigmunt’s signal, the carriage slowed to a stop.

Maybel quickly sat beside him, not wanting to risk him starting his scolding again.

The wounds on her palm from the pin and the neck wound from Caesar were both quite severe.

“I’m not sure about your neck, but the palm wound may leave a scar.”

Zigmunt’s expression twisted with discomfort as he cleaned her palm with a wet cloth.

He was upset that a child’s body would bear scars, and also angry at himself for putting her in a situation where she could be injured.

Maybel already had many self-inflicted scars, and she didn’t want any more.

“I’m sorry.”

Hearing this sudden apology, Maybel lifted her head while calmly examining her wounds.

Zigmunt’s gaze remained fixed on her palm.

“I’m sorry you had to go through this.”

Why hadn’t he anticipated that Caesar might try to take her back?

Because he had neglected her before?

Because he acted as if he didn’t care what happened to anyone but Sophia?

‘I should have taken more concrete measures, not just told them to live well.’

Everything from A to Z about Maybel and the children getting hurt was entirely his fault.

“That’s not your fault, Your Grace! It isn’t, really!”

Maybel quickly shook her head.

“Ouch.”

In the process, her neck wound opened slightly.

“Maybel!”

“Maybel!”

Both Zigmunt and Kellic rushed to her side.

“Let’s see, it hasn’t worsened, right?”

“How bad is it? Does it hurt a lot?”

Four hands gently held Maybel’s face and neck to carefully examine the wounds.

Even knowing this wasn’t the time, Maybel couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hehe.”

Her neck stung whenever she laughed, but she couldn’t stop.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Don’t laugh, you’ll bleed again!”

Seeing the blood, both of them panicked and tried to stop her from laughing.

But she couldn’t stop.

At every little word and movement, they overreacted like a parent and child.

Their concern felt so warm and welcome.

It felt as if this was what having a father and older brother would be like.

‘Of course, Kellic really is like an older brother now…’

But even Zigmunt acting this way made her chest flutter, and she couldn’t stop laughing.

Maybel kept giggling for a while, then wiped the tears forming at the corners of her eyes and said:

“I didn’t go to Ashilonia because of Your Grace.”

Exhaling naturally as she calmed, she added:

“These wounds aren’t because of Your Grace either.”

Zigmunt quietly listened while carefully cleaning the wound on her neck with a clean cloth.

Maybel stared at him throughout the first aid.

Feeling her gaze, Zigmunt looked up to meet her eyes.

Their strikingly similar red eyes reflected each other perfectly.

Maybel’s eyes curved into a smile.

“I was actually so happy you came. The first time we met, you seemed like a kidnapper, but this time, you really felt like a prince.”

In fact, Zigmunt had always seemed princely.

He had appeared suddenly, calling her name, and now escorted her safely to the Grand Duke’s castle.

Like a Cinderella who finally rides to the prince’s castle and lives happily ever after, Maybel felt the same.

“So don’t say that. And what if there’s a scar? Thanks to it, we were able to meet again and be together.”

“Well…”

Zigmunt remained silent for a moment, then sighed and dabbed at his face.

“But still, it’s upsetting. This is my…”

Suddenly, he stopped speaking mid-sentence.

‘What was I about to say?’

Seeing Zigmunt hesitate, Maybel tilted her head.

Following her gesture, his red eyes tilted slightly as well.

Sometimes, when looking into her eyes, Zigmunt felt an unexplainable illusion.

Though he had no lover or children, he imagined that if he had a child, it would surely look just like her…

Those very eyes that had caused Maybel’s misfortune—he felt as if he had really given them to her.

‘That can’t be possible.’

Having heard so many rumors about real illegitimate children, he shook off the absurd thought and cleared his throat.

“You’re my assistant. You’re precious to me, Maybel. Which researcher would feel good if their assistant got hurt while I wasn’t there?”

“Ah.”

Maybel nodded, understanding.

If there was even a hint of disappointment in his expression, maybe it was just her imagination.

And perhaps his desire to call her something other than “assistant” was also just a fleeting thought.

‘Because the children were hurt, my mind is wandering too much.’

After securing the bandages on Maybel’s wounds, Zigmunt signaled the driver.

Meanwhile, Kellic realized something significant.

‘Now that I see it, Master and Maybel… they look so alike!’

He wanted to share this incredible discovery with Zigmunt and Maybel, but he kept his mouth shut.

For some reason, he felt it wasn’t the right time.

Yes, not yet.

The carriage, carrying the three of them, slowly returned to the Grand Duke’s castle, mindful of the children who had already fallen asleep.