BRRC CH 24

Chapter 24 – The Final Formula and the Countess’s Panic

“Ria!”

The heavy door to Owen’s underground lab—the same place officially called my “classroom”—swung open.

Stepping in with a bright smile was Arwin.

Owen gave him a small nod. “You’re here. How are you feeling?”

“I think I’m better now, brother. My headaches are gone too.”

Arwin walked right up to me and sat down beside my chair.

“Can I stay here until your class ends?”

Owen gave him a weird look.

“Why would you want to? You won’t understand a thing anyway.”

“Come on, brother. You think I came here for you?”

“Then why are you here?”

“To see Ria, of course.”

Arwin turned to me and smiled so sweetly his eyes curved like crescents.

I quickly looked away and flipped through my notebook to hide my embarrassment.

‘He’s only seven, and he’s already like this…’

He looked like an angel—soft features, gentle manners, and such a kind voice.

He wasn’t a genius like Owen, but he was still clever for his age.

In just one month at the Abner estate, everyone adored him.

“Ria, do you know what I brought for you today? Guess.”

“Hmm… What is it?”

“Ta-da! Bread!”

He pulled a basket of bread from behind his back, beaming.

My eyes widened.

“Whoa. How did you know I was hungry?”

“You always get hungry around this time. I remembered from last time.”

“…You’re amazing, Arwin.”

I had to admit—he had completely won me over too.

‘Smart, considerate, and sweet. Who could possibly dislike him?’

I eagerly reached for a piece, but Arwin stopped me with a grin.

“Can I feed you?”

I frowned. “I can eat by myself.”

“But I’m your big brother now! I want to feed you.”

I sighed and nodded reluctantly.

Delighted, Arwin tore off a small piece and held it up to my lips.

I bit down, chewing quietly as Owen muttered under his breath.

“Unbelievable. You two look more like family than we do.”

But Arwin didn’t even glance at him. He was too busy offering me another bite.

“Is it good, Ria?”

“Mmm… yeah, it’s good.”

“Eat lots.”

At that moment, Owen suddenly leaned forward.

Before either of us could react, he snatched the bread basket out of Arwin’s hands.

“Brother!”

Arwin scowled, but Owen just shrugged and grabbed another piece for himself.

Then he turned to me.

“Here. Eat.”

He held out a small torn piece of bread.

I blinked, confused, then reluctantly accepted it.

Something about his face made it clear—if I didn’t take it, snack time was over.

‘I guess this is as close to kindness as he gets…’

Over the past month, Owen and I had poured all our time into completing the Purification Formula.

The northern mana crystal mine couldn’t reopen until it was ready.

And of course, we hadn’t forgotten about Arwin’s medicine.

Thanks to that, Arwin was looking healthier every day since coming to the Abner estate.

“You eat well. You should—you’re too small for your age.”

Owen set the basket aside and clapped his hands.

“Alright then. Let’s get started.”

It was time for the final stage of our so-called lesson—the completion of the purification formula.

“F-finally… done…”

I collapsed onto the desk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Arwin fast asleep on the sofa.

“Good work, apprentice.”

Owen gathered up the papers with a tired sigh.

“You too, teacher…”

We had started around three in the afternoon.
Now, the small window near the ceiling glowed orange with sunset.

“At least we finished before nightfall,” I said, yawning.

“Well, when someone with a second lifetime’s worth of experience gives flawless instructions, it’s hard to mess up,” he teased.

“Hey! I told you not to talk about that so openly!”

Owen only shrugged, amused.

I was glaring at him when—knock, knock, knock.

“Come in,” Owen called.

The door opened, and two familiar figures stepped in.

“Miel! Soya!”

I jumped down from my chair and ran straight into Miel’s arms.

She effortlessly picked me up with one arm.

“My lady, is your lesson over?”

“Yes! Just finished!”

“Oh dear, you must have studied so much today. You went half an hour longer than usual!”

Soya’s eyes flicked toward Owen, her expression faintly accusing—as if silently saying ‘how could you make a four-year-old study for three hours?’

Sensing it, I quickly tapped Miel’s arm and laughed.

“It’s not that! I just forgot to do my homework, so I did it now.”

“Oh my, our young lady forgot her homework? That’s rare.”

“Are you tired?” Soya asked gently, stroking my hair.

“Not at all.”

I turned to Owen and silently mouthed, ‘The finished formula—give it to Sharon Abner.’

He nodded.

Then I looked back at Miel.

“I’m hungry! What’s for dinner today?”

“Chef Mareness made steak tonight, just for you.”

“Wow, steak!”

“Would you like to eat in the dining hall or in your room?”

I pressed my lips together, thinking seriously.

Then decided. “In my room!”

I had work to do after dinner.

Now that the purification formula was complete, it was time to prepare for the next step—reinvestigating the mine’s contamination.

Camilla and Ruby Coel.

Those two had stolen a fortune from Sharon Abner.
It was time to make them pay it all back.

Meanwhile, at the Coel Mansion

“What—what did you say? Baron Roman was fired?!”

Camilla staggered back, barely able to stay on her feet.

From the other end of the communication stone came a nervous voice.

“Actually… it wasn’t just Baron Roman. Every single Abner employee working at the northern refinery has been replaced.”

“What are we supposed to do then?! There’s nothing we can do now!”

“Well… realistically, yes. And from what I’ve heard, they’re planning a contamination reinvestigation soon. If that happens…”

Silence fell.

They both knew what that meant.

The truth would come out.

“No! No, that can’t happen! Whatever it takes, stop it!”

Camilla’s breathing quickened.
She herself had been the one to forge the report claiming the mine was “contaminated.”

The Coel family had been exploiting that false report for years—secretly siphoning off the profits that should’ve gone to House Abner.

“It’s just the Abners. Do we really need to go that far?”

“You don’t get it! That woman won’t be able to manage a mine anyway. She’s too busy fighting her own relatives for power!”

“Still… if we’re caught later, won’t that just make things worse?”

“We won’t get caught. Once her finances crumble, we’ll buy the mine outright. Easy.”

That had been their plan from the start.

Pretend to help fund the mine.
Take most of the profit.
Then buy the whole thing once the Abners fell into debt.

But things hadn’t gone as planned.

“You said they wouldn’t last long. Yet she’s thriving even with those tiny profits! What happened?”

“Sharon Abner got smart. She’s using the mine profits to develop new weapons. Expanding her business.”

“Then what now? We can’t buy the mine if she’s growing stronger! She might find out we faked the contamination!”

“Relax. I’ll handle it. Just stay quiet.”

The truth was, the Coel family owed everything to her—Camilla Coel.

Her useless husband had nothing to do with their success.

“I’ll visit the duchess often and keep tabs on her finances. It’ll be good for our Ruby too. If we make her like us, it’ll be easier later.”

“Are you sure Ruby can really become the Abner heir?”

“Of course! Who do you think Sharon spends the most time with these days? Me and Ruby, obviously!”

For years, she had been certain—
that Ruby would become House Abner’s next heir,
and that the profitable mana mine would soon belong to the Coels.

But now—

“What… what do I do…”

Camilla sank helplessly to the floor.

All her spies and allies at the refinery were gone overnight.

“This can’t be happening…”

Her heart pounded with panic, but her mind was already racing for a solution.

There’s no way she suspects me.

After years of social visits and polite smiles, Camilla was confident—Sharon Abner still trusted her completely.

Yes. Unless someone tells her the truth directly…

The duchess wouldn’t suspect a thing.

Her lips slowly curled as a new thought struck her.

There was only one move left.

And she was just desperate enough to try it.