TYF 9

Chapter 9

They were only very small soap bubbles, but the moment they touched the surroundings, they approached threateningly as if they would devour all mana.

The instant his fingertips touched a soap bubble that had drifted right up beside him, even Oberon’s body stiffened.

‘……Mana doesn’t work at all?’

Instead, after swallowing the mana, the soap bubble became even more solid.

Ackmund looked at Rierusha with an expression that said he couldn’t believe it.

“Is this…… your ability?”

“I-I dunno, Hadabuji. Rierusha did wwrong.”

In the quiet atmosphere, Rierusha began rubbing her hands together, saying she was sorry.

‘He’s angry because I awakened such a pathetic ability.’

The soap bubbles that had been floating around the office were now colliding with each other and popping.

Pop! Pop!

Popop!

The mana had exhausted itself.

The last remaining soap bubble popped—Pop!—right in front of Ackmund’s nose.

“Kheup.”

Seymour turned his head away as if he hadn’t seen it, but he couldn’t bring himself to cover his mouth.

As if scolding him, Oberon’s gaze flew over.

Silence settled over the office.

“Rierusha Arakrene.”

“……Yesh.”

Rierusha lowered her head deeply.

She might be thrown out.

Everyone awakened amazing abilities, but hers was just soap bubbles that couldn’t even last a few seconds.

It was so embarrassing.

“To not even properly grasp your own ability. Until you can use it properly, do not show your ability to anyone, do you understand?”

As expected, it seemed Grandfather thought so as well.

Rierusha answered quietly.

“Yes, Hadabuji.”

“There is no castle for me to bestow upon you who cannot even use your ability properly.”

At Ackmund’s cold words, Rierusha’s expression darkened.

“Until then, you will live together with the children of the collateral lines.”

Rierusha, who had sensed the end, lifted her head in surprise.

As those moist red eyes looked up at him, Ackmund’s expression stiffened even more frighteningly.

But Rierusha was fine with everything. As long as she wasn’t cast out of Grandfather’s favor like this again.

‘There’s a chance to win Grandfather’s heart again.’

Rierusha bowed her head firmly.

“Thank you, Hadabuji.”

The round crown of her head, neatly parted, showed again.

As he looked at the cute double-buns, Ackmund’s gaze would not leave them.

When Rierusha lifted her head with a snap, Ackmund’s gaze turned to the documents as if nothing had happened.

“You may go now.”

“Yes!”

Rierusha answered loudly.

* * *

After Rierusha left, Ackmund’s red eyes sank deeper than ever.

Outside the window, Rierusha could be seen holding hands with Sona as they returned.

After staring down at that back for a long while, Ackmund opened his mouth coldly.

“Oberon. There was no lie in what Rierusha said just now, was there.”

“No, there was none.”

“Bring Rosinante.”

Rierusha’s ability was far too dangerous.

It was attractive enough that anyone would covet it—worrisome enough that the ability might end up harming the child.

And Rierusha’s heart was far too soft as well.

If someone were to learn the child’s ability…….

‘They would surely try to use her.’

That was how absolute Rierusha’s ability could be called.

An ability not recorded anywhere in any grimoire.

Ackmund narrowed his eyes as he looked at the wound on Oberon’s fingertips.

He gave a cold order.

“Erase what you just saw completely from your memory, do you understand?”

“I receive your command.”

Oberon answered, prostrating himself.

His silver-gray eyes wavered.

* * *

Rierusha came to live in a separate annex with the children of the collateral lines.

“That will be all for today, Miss Rierusha. We will have a test next time on what you learned today.”

“Yesh!”

When Rierusha answered enthusiastically, Kaden, wiping the chalkboard, smiled faintly.

When the duke’s order had first come down telling him to teach Rierusha, he had been no small amount startled.

To personally tutor Rierusha, who was not recognized as a formal heir.

Kaden was someone who had taught only heirs until now.

It was obvious people would say it was unfair.

Of course, such talk actually began to circulate.

‘I can’t tell what the duke intends.’

Rumors abounded that she was being given excessive favoritism.

Rierusha was clearly bright.

Her comprehension was excellent for her age, and the level of her questions was high.

She learned vocabulary quickly, and soon formed sentences with ease.

If it continued like this, she might catch up to the progress of the collateral children in no time.

However…….

‘Why did he order her to live together with the collateral children?’

Having her live in an annex area for the collateral lines, not the heir area inside the main fortress, was difficult to understand.

Even though there was no way the duke wouldn’t know Rierusha would become prey to the collateral lines.

“Then see you next time, Teacher!”

After packing her bag, Rierusha neatly pushed her chair in, then bowed her head.

Pulled out of his thoughts, Kaden smiled brightly.

“Yes, Miss Rierusha. I will see you next lesson.”

“Yesh!”

Kaden, who had been quite flustered by Rierusha’s greeting in their first lesson, now accepted the greeting rather naturally.

Rierusha smiled radiantly, then quickly dashed out of the classroom.

‘It must be hard to live in the annex, but she’s so brave.’

And that made it all the more pitiful.

Because a child pretending she was fine also meant she knew everything.

Kaden, gathering the lesson materials, opened his mouth at a thought that came to him.

“Could it be…….”

Because he recalled a lesson he had received from the duke when he was very young.

“Things you treasure especially should be mixed in among common things. And the owner must not know it either. That way, no one notices what you treasure.”

Could it be that Rierusha living in the annex was for the same reason?

If that were true.

“Hah, honestly. His Grace is still vicious.”

If he pushed her out to the annex so no one would realize Rierusha was being cherished by the duke……?

If he did it so that even Rierusha herself would not realize it……?

Knowing that this was Ackmund’s way of protecting what was precious, Kaden shook his head.

“I can only hope the young lady comes to realize His Grace’s intentions soon.”

Please, let Rierusha not go astray.

Kaden, who had long taught the Arakrene heir curriculum, looked out the window.

The people of House Arakrene had a strange habit of taking the long way around instead of the easy road.

Except for Rierusha.

‘It would be nice if everyone learned a bit of the young lady’s honesty.’

Anyway, it was a world full of people who weren’t honest at all.

* * *

On the way back after class.

Rierusha recalled the day she first met Kaden.

Originally, Kaden was a teacher who taught only the family’s heirs.

Every time she snuck into the Tower of Truth, she had seen Kaden conducting lessons, so she was certain.

‘For Grandfather to assign Kaden as my teacher.’

She couldn’t believe it.

At the same time, a will to work hard ignited on its own.

But soon, Rierusha’s complexion darkened.

The real reason he assigned Kaden was probably…….

‘Because it would be troublesome if the other children found out I can’t even write properly.’

It seemed Ackmund, worried Rierusha would become a laughingstock, had assigned tight-lipped Kaden.

From Ackmund’s standpoint, having to set the ducal castle’s order straight, perhaps he couldn’t allow the family’s heir to seem inferior to them.

The existence that would lead the family had to show an overwhelming difference in skill so that the collateral lines could not dare overstep what was permitted to them.

In reality, the heir curriculum was far harsher than what was taught in the annex.

Rumor had it the other direct-line children could handle their abilities at a level where even adults could not easily oppose them.

‘I have to become like that too, and win Grandfather’s favor.’

To do that, she had to do her best with what she was given first.

Rierusha held tightly to the bag strap Sona had made for her and walked on.

When she got back, she planned to do her homework and review what she learned today.

However, her motivation was brief.

She discovered a group blocking the path and stopped.