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Chapter 26
“Your Grace.”
As soon as the Grand Duke descended the last step, both of us rushed toward him.
Dean checked on Leandro, and I picked up Veloa in my arms.
“When did you wake up again? No, more importantly—how did you get here with His Grace, Veloa?”
“Hiya!”
Did she even understand what I was saying?
“Hiyuuu!”
Veloa giggled, clearly amused by being lifted up high.
“She grabbed me just as I was about to leave,” the Grand Duke said.
Thank goodness.
At least someone who can explain things was with her.
Grateful, I hugged Veloa tightly and looked at the Grand Duke.
“What do you mean, she grabbed you?”
“I sent the two of you ahead while I stayed behind with the knights to depart shortly after.”
The Grand Duke couldn’t move immediately, so he sent Dean and Ermia first. He was preparing to leave with the knights for the secret storage once the message came through.
“Hyaa!”
And that’s when Veloa showed up.
She had clearly gone to her room in the Duchess’s arms earlier. When had she woken up? More importantly, how did she get out?
She had grabbed Leandro’s coat.
“Awoo!”
She frowned and let out a shout.
“…?”
The Grand Duke simply furrowed his brow in silence.
“Hihyuhyu!”
Frustrated, she pounded her tiny fists against her chest.
“Ah-jo!”
Then she raised both arms high in the air.
“And so, I brought her with me.”
“Hmmph!”
Even before the Grand Duke finished speaking, Veloa snorted proudly.
What is that baseless confidence supposed to be?
Does she really think I’ll praise her for that?
‘Not happening!’
“Veloa.”
I cut her off sternly and coldly.
“Why didn’t you stay in the mansion and get some good rest, Veloa? This is a very dangerous place. Do you think I’d be happy to find you here? I would never—”
“Hiiing.”
“Never mind! I am happy! Yes! My heart’s pounding just seeing you!”
Sorry!
But I couldn’t help it. The more I scolded her, the more that once-confident Veloa drooped like a wilted flower.
“You’re amazing, Veloa!”
“Heehee!”
As if expecting the praise all along, she beamed brightly. It was almost like a comedy skit.
“Aww.”
She pointed at the ground. Wanting to be put down?
Leandro and Dean, who had been watching us, shook their heads.
“Your Grace.”
Just as Leandro opened his mouth to speak, Dean beat him to it.
“Count Preston confessed to possessing the Tears of Pluani. Sir Tekins was able to verify their authenticity.”
He paused, taking a breath before continuing.
“They’ll be very useful in dealings with the imperial family going forward.”
Dean smiled. So he’d chosen that route, after all?
I gripped the hem of my dress tightly.
“Dean.”
But before I could speak, the Grand Duke addressed him first.
“You take the Tears.”
He looked completely unburdened by the decision. I blinked in surprise.
It’s one of the most coveted miracle elixirs—how could he be so indifferent?
“You’ll make much better use of them than I would.”
“But—!”
“Dean.”
Leandro’s gaze turned cold as he stared at him.
“Do you think I need the Tears of Pluani to hold my ground against the imperial family?”
“…!”
Dean hesitated, then shook his head.
“Of course not, Your Grace.”
“Then that settles the matter of the Tears.”
That was clearly a command not to speak further. Dean nodded, eyes glistening with emotion.
That was good.
Really good.
‘No, wait!’
I shook my head and slapped my cheeks with both hands to snap myself out of it.
‘Dean should take them!’
I’ll use every trick from the original story if I must—but I’ll make sure Veloa grows up healthy.
I’ll help her awaken all her powers!
Yes!
Just like now!
“Huh?”
My eyes widened.
“What’s going on?”
Dean looked around, confused.
“…”
Leandro quickly stepped in front of me protectively.
We were all startled—for good reason.
Because—
“Awoo!”
Veloa was using magic.
Wait, huh?
Is this… her awakening moment?
The quintessential cliché of childcare stories. The moment every reader waits for:
The event where you get adorable sweetness and badass payoff—sometimes even the regret genre’s flavor—all in one.
It’s the moment of Awakening Powers.
“Darkness, arise…!”
“I’m the holy saint, beloved of God?”
“So I really do have powers!”
“What’s this? A system window? A shop?”
From classical magic to modern system UIs, child protagonists awaken all kinds of powers.
Among them, mana and divine energy were the most common.
And Veloa had powers, too.
My jaw dropped at the sight of floating gold coins.
Dozens of gold coins fluttered like butterflies, dancing through the air.
They shimmered in the torchlight on the walls, looking stunning.
Though it was hard to see clearly behind the Grand Duke’s broad back.
“Kya-haha!”
Veloa clapped and laughed joyfully, surrounded by the swirling gold coins.
“Your Grace.”
Dean approached cautiously, his eyes still fixed on the flying coins.
“This is… the power of Lady Hilda, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Leandro answered without looking away.
“It’s my sister’s power.”
Hilda Leandro had been one of the most gifted mana users in the Empire.
Everyone, including their parents, had placed high hopes on her.
‘But her body was so frail.’
So fragile that even casting basic magic would make her collapse.
Because of that, Hilda had to give up the path of the mage.
‘Hmm.’
I peeked over to look at Leandro’s profile.
‘What’s he thinking?’
The keepsake I brought from Lady Hilda had proven that Veloa was truly his niece.
But it couldn’t erase all doubts.
So now, I wondered—what is the Grand Duke thinking about this new piece of overwhelming evidence?
“…”
‘No idea.’
Well, he’s not exactly expressive.
Scratching my cheek, I turned my focus back to Veloa.
“Hyaa.”
She looked utterly happy, floating coins like she was building a sandcastle in a playground.
But we couldn’t just let her keep doing this forever.
“Veloa.”
“It’s dangerous.”
Just as I was about to step out from behind Leandro, he extended an arm to block me.
Preston, that lunatic.
Just how much gold had he hoarded?
The secret vault was overflowing with flying gold coins.
The weight alone would be dangerous—but the real problem was that Veloa couldn’t fully control her power.
If I got close and she lost control, causing all the coins to fall…
It would be a disaster.
‘What do we do?’
We couldn’t just leave her floating in the middle of that.
“Dean.”
Leandro, seemingly thinking the same, spoke up.
“Escort Lady Tekins slowly toward the tunnel. I’ll go retrieve my niece.”
“No.”
I grabbed the Grand Duke’s arm. Why was it so ridiculously thick?
“You or Sir Dean being strong doesn’t make it safe.”
I shook my head firmly.
“If word got out that a war hero died buried under flying gold coins, people would laugh.”
“Then do you have a better idea?”
“Yes.”
Nodding with a determined face, I took a deep breath.
And then—
“Ow ow ow!”
I flopped down on the floor.
“Sis got hurt! I got hit! It hurts!”
My secret plan?
Pretending to be injured.
