MMLP 23

chapter 23

She had originally been a troublemaker at the orphanage, going by the utterly ordinary name of Lily.

The younger the child, the higher the chances of adoption. In the special environment of the orphanage, Lily’s eleven-year-old self was at the “awkward age.”

When she was judged suitable to be a magician, she thought her hardships were over and happiness was beginning—but as the war took an unusual turn, the recruitment of boy soldiers was temporarily suspended.

Lily endured life fiercely, taking care of her younger siblings and handling all the cleaning.

“Would marrying an older rich man make me happy?” she often wondered. But one day, a chance she had never imagined in her life came to her.

“Lily! Come here, my dear. Let me hug you!”

It was the first time Lily had seen the director so delighted.

From what she heard, the adoption fee paid by the person who would become her foster father was enormous. Could he be some magnate at the level of a junior marquis?

Lacking imagination, Lily almost fainted upon hearing the words “the Duke of Grimlaw,” and when she learned that the foster father was none other than Count Caulen, the heir to the ducal house, she actually fainted.

When she opened her eyes, she was lying on a canopy bed fit for a princess in a fairy tale.

“You will now become my daughter’s elder sister, Amaryllis. Sometimes like a mother, sometimes like a friend, and at other times like a devoted maid, you must take care of your younger sister. Can you do that?”

“I’ll do it with my life!”

Her name was changed, and the orphanage records were erased using backroom connections. Though not comparable to Levietta, the magician’s palm print etched onto Amaryllis’s hand was reasonably long and distinct.

It was distasteful to take in a girl of no noble lineage as a foster daughter, but to strip her of her power, there was no choice but to make her Eve Maria’s sister. Caulen accepted Amaryllis as his foster daughter.

And without even realizing how time had passed, Eve Maria’s birthday arrived.

“Can I call you sister?”

The doll-like, adorable blonde girl, Eve Maria, shyly approached Amaryllis.

At that moment, Amaryllis made up her mind: she would give her life for this child if necessary.

Even being adopted from an orphanage into a ducal family was an incredible stroke of luck, but to have such a cute younger sister as well! Amaryllis felt as if she could fly. The saying “nothing comes for free in this world” must be someone’s nonsense.

But apparently, it wasn’t just one or two people spouting nonsense.

A silver-haired girl named Levietta, who suddenly called Amaryllis over saying she had something to tell her, had no information known about her besides that she had been adopted into the ducal house before Amaryllis and that she was a magician—but one thing was certain:

“Don’t trust what these people say. They only intend to deceive you.”

She was an enemy.

Amaryllis glared at me with eyes full of hostility.

I had expected it, but indeed, she was completely impervious.

As the birthday party was in full swing, a tense atmosphere lingered in the dark corridor far from the hall.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m under Gilbert Grimlaw… you know. I came here before you did.”

“So now you’re asserting dominance?”

“Dominance? I haven’t insulted you or laid a hand on you. I just know more than you, and I’m telling you before you see something ugly.”

“I don’t need to be told. I’m not grateful at all.”

Perhaps wanting to create physical distance as well as emotional, she reached out and lightly pushed my chest.

I allowed myself to be pushed back to show I bore no ill intent, but Amaryllis’s resolve was firm.

“The idea that children are kind and pure is a lie. In the orphanage, I dealt with countless kids as sly as you.”

“If you’re that experienced, you should sense danger yourself…”

“You’re lying to me. When you reveal your dark side, I’ll see that you’re stirring trouble because you’re afraid I’ll adapt better than you.”

“Ah, the great detective. Sorry, but you’re a side character who dies in chapter one.”

I’ll probably die in chapter ten.

I had given advice as a senior, and yet this chapter one dared glare at chapter ten. She seemed annoyed at being treated like me.

“…I’m sorry if I offended you, but I’m not making things up to deceive you.”

This wasn’t a problem that could be solved emotionally.

Thinking my words might seem abrupt to Amaryllis, I explained with evidence.

“So, the Grimlaw ducal family has heirlooms passed down through generations, right? Caulen replaced one with a fake, but its activation conditions are tricky. The tricky part is, if the conditions are met, it can perform miracles. One of those conditions is that ‘the people involved must be siblings.’ From what I’ve told you, can you guess anything?”

“All I can guess is that you’re a skilled liar.”

“This is insane. Don’t regret it later—listen to me. Eve Maria isn’t as kind as you think—”

Splat.

I couldn’t finish my sentence; Amaryllis slapped my cheek so hard my head turned sideways.

“Don’t slander my precious little sister with your filthy mouth!”

She shouted, furious from head to toe.

Operation failed.

Let’s just call it a day. At this point, it’s almost like she’s possessed, so there’s no way she’ll believe me.

As Amaryllis stomped angrily down the corridor, Zeroidnes, who had been silently observing, muttered beside me.

—Cunning swindler. You deliberately offered your left cheek at the perfect moment, so this round’s bet is invalid.

Thus, I lost money, trust, and the peace of my left cheek.

Feeling empty, I thought of Rosinante. The hunting tournament would be coming soon, so I should be able to see him. Though he hadn’t yet switched with the fake, I couldn’t expect great results.

‘He probably didn’t catch a single rabbit and finished last, right…?’

It was too much to give him a hand-embroidered handkerchief, so I decided to prepare a word of consolation.

‘That’s nothing to worry about.’

Looking out the window, the crescent moon hung in the sky.

Two months later.

A javelin-like arrow pierced the chest of the prey as it sliced through the wind.

The bird that fell with golden feathers fluttering was a golden falcon, notorious for its speed that could humble even skilled archers.

The boy holding the bow had accomplished the remarkable feat with a single arrow, yet his blue eyes were as calm as the sea.

“Not strong enough yet.”

Golden hair shimmered in the wind. In the lush forest, tinged with sunset, the boy looked toward the western sky.

“If I don’t become stronger…”

“Your Highness.”

From behind a tree, without any warning, a young page appeared and addressed the prince.

Rosinante, as if used to it, didn’t show surprise and calmly gazed at his personal servant.

“The day is getting dark. Perhaps it would be best to return to the palace for today?”

“No.”

“The night forest is not as gentle as the day.”

“I don’t care. I won’t be gentle either.”

Snap. A vein bulged on the servant’s forehead.

Although disguised as a page, Rosinante knew he was the Light Apostle sent by the Divine Empire, codename Shadow.

Shadow, abandoning unnecessary politeness and with a menacing face ready to strike, warned him.

“Stop being stubborn and obey. If the Savior of the Oracle dies acting reckless, the world ends too.”

“I’m not being stubborn to die.”

Rosinante spoke boldly, without intimidation. He was no longer the timid youngest prince.

“You allowed me to cast self-activating healing magic if my life is in danger. So while I’m gone, you stay disguised in the palace in my place.”

“Do not order me, Your Highness. My loyalty is to the Saint, not you.”

Though fiercely spoken, Shadow instinctively knew he would ultimately follow Rosinante’s orders.

What had happened while they were apart to change him so much?

The hero city’s events began about two months ago, when Rosinante left the Grimlaw ducal house.