Chapter 06
A long time ago, Dad used to read me fairy tales. In fairy tales, witches were always ugly and evil. Villains who captured and tried to eat children.
“I’m not a witch!”
That came to mind and I shouted reflexively.
Startled by my rebuttal, the boy flinched. But even so, instead of lowering his sword, he pointed it at me even more strongly.
“If you’re not a witch, then what was that just now? You were sending an evil energy into the ground!”
“It’s not evil energy! This is purification!”
“Purification? Ha-! That’s ridiculous. You call purification that gloomy color that looks like it would rot and curse anything it touches? Do you already have lies on your lips as a little witch?”
“Eek–! I told you I’m not a witch! I’m not ugly! Dad said I’m pretty and cute!”
Dad always said my calmness was my strength. I took pride in Dad’s praise and tried not to get excited over most things.
But no matter what, calling me an ugly and hideous witch! And evil energy, too!
This is the magic Dad taught me! It would be weirder to stay calm after hearing Dad insulted!
As I hopped around and protested, the boy’s expression as he watched me changed.
“No… I didn’t say you were ugly…”
“Take it back!”
“Uh… huh?”
“Take back what you said about me being ugly!”
“Ah, no. I didn’t say you were ugly, so…”
“Take it back!!”
As I shrieked, all the surrounding attention focused on us. Startled, the boy rolled his eyes and slowly lowered his sword.
“I-I’ll take it back. I’m sorry.”
I could feel the injustice of the boy having to apologize for something he didn’t say, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Hmph. Watch yourself next time!”
Above all, I needed him to apologize for accusing me of being a witch.
Anyway, since I got him to take it back, I didn’t plan to stay angry. Instead, I spread my palm to show what I had been doing a moment ago.
“This isn’t a curseā”
“Justian?”
That was when a voice cut off my explanation. I turned my head and saw blue eyes.
Black hair and blue eyes. A boy with a gentle and kind face was approaching us.
“What’s going on? It’s noisy over here.”
“Ah, Edric.”
Edric and Justian. As I repeated the names of the two I’d learned in this brief encounter, Edric approached and looked at me.
Blue eyes. No, rather than blue, it felt more like a clear azure.
“Violet eyes. Is she your relative? That eye color is rare, you know.”
“Maybe. But I saw her for the first time today.”
“Really?”
After exchanging a few words, Edric focused his gaze on me again. And he smiled.
“Hello? How old are you?”
“I’m eight. My name is Ilenia.”
“Really? I’m twelve, and my name is Edric. Nice to meet you.”
As if suggesting a handshake, he extended his hand, and I reached out mine to match his.
“Hey hey, stop! That hand might have a curse on it!”
“A curse?”
At Justian’s shout, Edric’s head turned in surprise, and conversely, my angry eyebrows shot up.
“I told you it’s not a curse!”
“How can I believe that?”
“Dad never taught me anything like curses! He said only bad people use that kind of magic!”
“Hmph. I don’t know who your father is, but it’s meaningless to insist that here!”
“Eeeeeek–!!”
“Alright, alright, calm down.”
I don’t like that boy! He has a talent for making people angry with everything he says!
I was about to stomp my foot and get angry. But then Edric stepped between me and Justian. He smiled, spread his palm wide, and grabbed my hand just like that.
“Edric!”
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong.”
Edric, who had been mumbling while rubbing his chin with his free hand, turned his head.
“It doesn’t seem like a curse? If it were a curse, it would feel cold or burning hot, but this is warm and rather cozy. Just holding hands feels incredibly comfortable, and it seems to make fatigue disappear.”
“Of course! This isn’t a curse, it’s purification!”
“Purification?”
After letting go of Edric’s hand, who was tilting his head, I turned around. I crouched down on the ground and placed my hand on the soil.
Green energy blooming from my fingertips slowly seeped into the ground and disappeared. After that, there was no reaction.
“What? What’s supposed to happen…?!”
Justian’s voice, which had been growing louder, suddenly cut off.
The ordinary dirt floor that had shown no reaction. After the green energy seeped in, not long after, sprouts began to pop up one by one.
I stood up and looked back. Surprise showed on the faces of the two watching the sprouts emerge.
“How is this…”
“I told you it’s purification.”
Of course, purification alone couldn’t make sprouts grow.
But I didn’t like being constantly suspected of a curse, so I mixed a little vitality energy with the purification and released it.
Purified soil. Inside it, seeds of flowers and fruits lay dormant. When vitality energy flows into them, they can grow to an appropriate point.
If I used even stronger energy here, I could make large vines wrap around the entire castle. Of course, it would take a lot of effort.
“How about that? Can you believe me a little now?”
“……”
“Justian. You should apologize.”
Edric cautiously called out to Justian, who had clenched his lips shut and kept his mouth closed. Justian, who had been silently staring at the green sprouts, turned his gaze to me.
“…Who are you? Who are you to be able to do something like this?”
“Ilenia.”
“Not your name. Just how can youā”
“Young Master!”
That was when Justian was about to speak again. I turned my head at the voice from behind and saw Lukeman approaching.
The aged butler approached at a slightly faster pace and stopped.
He first bowed his head politely to Edric. Then he looked alternately at Justian and me.
“Perfect timing! Who is this girl, exactly?”
“…I apologize for not informing you in advance. I believe His Grace intended to tell you slowly later, so I did not mention it separately. If there has been any discourtesy or rudeness, I will apologize on his behalf.”
“That’s not something the butler needs to apologize forā”
“I ask that you forgive the young master’s rudeness with your generous heart.”
“…Butler?”
Justian, who had been speaking confidently, widened his eyes in surprise. Then he stared blankly at the butler bowing his head respectfully to me.
Watching that, I recalled how he had pointed his sword at me and called me a witch just a moment ago.
“Well, well-? Forgive-?”
I looked at Justian, who was blinking his eyes knowing nothing. Seeing him flinch as my gaze met his, I pulled the corners of my mouth into a smirk.
Meeting my smile, Justian’s face paled and contorted.
“Y-you, what’s that expression… insolent! Do you know who I am!”
“And do you know who I am?”
“I am this family’s legitimate son and eldest, Justian! No one except the family elders can speak to me with that expression and tone!”
“Is that so? You say no one except the elders can?”
“Th-that’s right!”
I smirked at his shouting, even clenching his fists.
“Then you should show me proper manners.”
“What?”
“I’m Ilenia. Though still just a candidate, I am a member of this family. And to you, who is the Duke’s son, I will be your great-grandmother.”
“Great… what?”
Did he not understand my words? Or did he just not accept them for a moment? As he blinked his clear eyes, I smiled.
“I’m your great-grandmother.”
“Great… grandmother?”
I nodded, and Justian looked at Lukeman. Lukeman’s head also moved up and down along with mine.
Staring blankly at that sight, Justian turned his head and shifted his gaze to Edric.
“My ears are broken, Edric.”
It seemed he was in denial of reality.
—
After hearing the shocking words from Ilenia, Justian immediately went to find Vale. Hoping that Ilenia and Lukeman had been mistaken and spouting nonsense.
“What that girl said is true, Justian.”
“……!”
But that hope was shattered in front of Vale, who readily nodded. Justian’s dazed mouth fell open.
Vale, who had been silently gazing at his son, handed him a letter from the desk. Justian slowly took the letter and carefully unfolded the paper.
[Preldin Jonas]
The name written at the end of the letter was the first thing that caught Justian’s eye.
“…Preldin?”
Even young Justian knew the name Preldin. The only natural-element archmage born in the empire. And a figure the House of Hyderic had been searching for over a long period.
“You’re saying that brat is Preldin’s daughter?!”
“Mind your words. She is your great… grandmother.”
Even Vale seemed incredulous at saying great-grandmother, letting out a small sigh. Justian, who had been silently watching him, lowered his hand, and the letter fell with a soft thud.
“…Great-grandmother, she says.”
Justian’s mind pictured Ilenia’s smirking face.
‘I’m your great-grandmother.’
It felt like that smirking face was floating above his head. He had pointed his sword at Ilenia and called her a witch. At Preldin’s daughter. At the family’s great-grandmother.
What would become of him now? If he apologized, would she forgive him?
‘Well, well-? Forgive-?’
At that moment, that mischievous girl’s face surfaced in his mind. And in the endā
“…This is a dream, it must be a dream. It has to be a dream…”
Justian closed his eyes tightly and denied reality.
