Kays Translations

Chapter 253: A Guest Appears

Shopping in the salon was called off, and the jeweller was warned, "Don't tell anyone what you just saw." The merchant turned deathly pale and nodded again and again. Sorry, old man. This happened because of me…

Apparently, the plan had been to hold a tea party after the shopping. When we moved to another salon, the tea was already prepared. A large table had been set up so everyone could sit together, and extra places had been added for Rosalia and Mira.

First things first, I needed to wet my dry throat.

"Haaah… I don't even know where to begin. Julius, where did you learn about that jewel?"

"It was mentioned in the Book of Magic Potions Grandmother gave me. It seems she was investigating whether it could be used as an ingredient for magic potions."

Of course, that was a completely made-up lie. Sorry, Grandmother. At this rate, when I finally make it to the afterlife, she might stab me in the back. I'd better stay on my guard.

Maybe it was because I used that excuse so often, but Father, Mother, and Brother Alex all looked at me suspiciously.

"I'd like to see the book Grandmother wrote at least once."

"No. That book contains magic potions that were sealed away because they were too dangerous. What would you do if something happened?"

"Hmm. If that's the case, I suppose it can't be helped."

Brother Alex gave up reluctantly. Father didn't press the matter either. Had Father already read the parts of that book he could understand? If so, perhaps he assumed the information was written in one of the sections in that other script.

"I've never heard of anyone being good at every magical attribute. Was there ever someone like that?"

Mother closed her eyes and ground a finger against the space between her eyebrows as she thought. Everyone else was pondering the same question when Brother Alex spoke.

"I once read a description of a great man called the Great Sage, who spread magic throughout the world and could freely use every attribute."

"I've read that story too," Sister-in-law Daniela said. "But a lot of people say it's nothing more than a fairy tale."

"I've never seen anyone with four or more attributes they're good at. Most stories like that turn out to be false when they're actually tested."

Then everyone's attention gathered on me.

I'm not doing it, okay? If I did, I'd only prove it. And if that happened, I'd end up becoming the Great Sage.

"What should we do about this…? No, it's probably better not to confirm it at all. Julius, don't demonstrate it in front of anyone either."

"Of course not. There'd be no benefit to proving it."

"…Right. Everyone, don't speak of this outside this room. Rosalia, do you understand?"

"Yes. I won't tell anyone that Brother Julius made a rainbow-coloured jewel."

She smiled with a wonderfully satisfied expression. She really looked as though she wanted one. Would Rosalia really be all right? I was a little worried.

That also meant I couldn't give this magic crystal to Lady Fabienne. What was I supposed to do now? My stock of possible presents was already down to zero. Somebody help me.

"Um, what should I do about Lady Fabienne's present…?"

"You'll have to look for something else," Brother Alex said. "You certainly can't give her that."

"That's what I thought."

"We'll have to give up on it this time," Father said. "Take something else in its place."

"Understood. I'll do that."

Something else, huh? What would be good? I'd already prepared sweets, and surely taking nothing but those would be a bad idea. Come to think of it, there was still a lot I didn't know about Lady Fabienne. I needed to close the distance between us a little more.

Oh! What about a voucher for one date with me? Would she get angry?

"M-my lord, a visitor has arrived. The visitor says there is business with Lord Julius."

A flustered servant rushed into the salon. Anyone who wasn't needed was supposed to be barred from entering, so this had to be urgent. Father furrowed his brow at the servant's state.

"Who is it? We weren't expecting anyone."

"Th-the visitor says they are the River Spirit…"

"Whaaat!? The visitor wasn't dressed like a turtle, right?"

"Now that you mention it, yes…"

Apparently, even the servant thought the visitor looked like a pervert. Good. It wasn't just me.

Still, if that was the description, I knew what this was about. I'd figured it wouldn't end with the Snow Spirit, but I hadn't expected them to start coming one after another like this.

"It seems you have some idea who this is?"

"Yes. I believe that visitor is definitely a spirit."

"I see. Then we have no choice but to meet them."

"Then I'll come too."

Mother volunteered. I really thought she shouldn't. Look, Sister-in-law Daniela had gone pale. Sister-in-law Meeka, on the other hand… her cheeks were a little red. Apparently, she liked muscular men. Good for you, Brother Cain. Of the three brothers, Brother Cain was the most muscular.

"Brother, I want to come too—"

"Rosalia and Mira will wait here and be good. Nero, Lelie, I'm counting on you two."

"Understood."

Rosalia's lips puckered up like a duck's, but the sight would be too stimulating for her. It was probably better not to show her until Father had seen the spirit himself and given permission.

Brother Alex seemed to be staying here with Sister-in-law Daniela. I thought that was for the best. Judging from the fact that Brother Cain and the others didn't get up either, they seemed to have reached the same conclusion. We didn't need strange rumours starting about Sister-in-law Meeka.

On the way to the entrance, I tugged on the sleeve of Mother's personal attendant.

"Lord Julius?"

"Mother might faint, so please be very careful."

The attendant's face twitched. Apparently, she'd picked up on a very bad feeling. As long as she was mentally prepared, at least the two of them wouldn't go down together. If I remembered correctly, Mother's personal attendant came from a count's family. She was still a sheltered young lady herself.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter