“I heard what the duke and mom were talking about earlier. My mom has a mark………. Do bad people know that my mom is here?”
“It’s okay. I’m safe. Eduard is here too…….”
Despite Karina’s efforts to reassure Roland, Roland shook her head violently.
“It’s not okay.”
“…Roland.”
Roland shouted as if he couldn’t take it anymore.
“The mark, it ends only when the caster dies. The caster could be on the other side of the continent by now, but how…!”
Karina’s eyes widened.
Roland was talking about the mark that even she didn’t even know in detail.
“Roland, I have never heard about the mark until yesterday. How did you know about it?”
“…it was in the book uncle made me read.”
Once again Karina cursed Lord Renke.
The mark is the magic that even Claude, who has seen a lot of wizards ‘misdeeds so far, trembled.
Magic that makes humans not viewed as humans, but only as a target.
Roland is only eight years old.
An age that shouldn’t even be aware of the existence of such cruel magic.
‘And Melissa too……’
There is no way Roland would hide what she knows from Melissa, so Melissa would have found out anyway.
“I see.”
Karina spoke slowly.
“I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt, and in fact, the duke informed me about the mark.”
“It doesn’t hurt?”
Roland’s eyes widened.
“It definitely said it’s burns like it was on fire…”
Karina looked through her memories.
It was a crazy day for her, but if she felt a burn-like pain near her chest, she would surely remember it.
“There was no such thing. So don’t worry about it, Roland and Melissa. Got it?”
Melissa’s face flushed red, and a small sob broke out.
“How can we not worry?”
“Oh, my. Melissa.”
“Mom, you’re bad. You’re not telling us the truth.”
“It doesn’t hurt. Really.”
Karina hugged Melissa and carried her up.
“If I’m sick, I can’t hug Melissa like this.
Right?”
Melissa pursed her lips and wrapped her arms around Karina’s neck.
Karina hugged her tightly then put her on the floor.
She wanted to hug her all day long, but seven was too old for that.
Roland frowned.
“Mom’s arm will hurt, so come down quickly next time.”
“……..”
At Roland’s words, Melissa looked into Karina’s eyes.
“It’s okay. I can’t stand being hurt. So, if I’m hurt, I’ll tell you right away.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Karina answered solemnly.
“So, you can hug me as much as you want. If I like it, I’ll hug you, and if I don’t like it, I’ll push you. Got it?”
“… I don’t like pushing.”
Melissa mumbled as she grabbed Karina’s hand even tighter.
“Really? Then I’ll just sit down next to you. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Karina sat on the bed.
A soft blanket was wrapped around her lower body.
‘This feels good’
Karina noticed that the bed was much more expensive than Lord Renke’s bed.
‘This place is well managed”
On the surface, it looked like an annex used by servants, but in reality, it was used by a nobleman.
Since guests with ambiguous status like themselves would often come in and out, they have managed it steadily.
‘I am very lucky to be in this place.’
She felt a little regretful because they have to leave soon.
What worries her more than anything else is the reaction of her children.
‘When we leave, the children will be disappointed.’
But soon Karina shook her head, recalling the time they ran away from Lord Renke.
Traveling through a wagon is hard but the children seem to adapt quickly even though they were raised as an aristocrat.
‘I’m sure they are struggling but they can’t just say it.’
Not only Roland but also Melissa never whined.
They knew it was inevitable.
So now, Karina was happy seeing the kids being energetic
‘At that time, the children were afraid that even me would abandon them. That’s why they didn’t whine, not even once.’
“Then shall I choose a room now?”
“Yes!”
Roland ran out joyfully, then they heard him scream.
“Roland!”
Karina hurriedly ran towards Roland.
Roland stood frozen in the doorway, staring through the hallway.
“It was the strange thing I saw before!”
“It’s a cat.”
Melissa said stubbornly.
“Roland, Melissa. Can you tell me in detail what the animal looked like?”
Karina patted Roland, who was still trembling to calm him down, and used Melissa’s head
‘I just let it go earlier, but if it’s a dangerous beast, I can’t stay still.’
Melissa opened her mouth first.
“It’s a cat. His hair was spiky and black and his eyes were all yellow!”
“How is that a cat!”
Roland exclaimed in shock.
“I don’t know what it is…”
“Was it magic?”
“Nope.”
Roland shook his head.
“Melissa and I know well about magic. It was my first time seeing that animal. It looks more like a rock than a cat. A moving rock.”
“First of all, the duke said it was a cat.”
Karina answered slowly.
“But I don’t think it’s a cat, either. Next time we meet, I’ll ask. But I don’t think it’s a dangerous animal, so don’t be too scared, okay?”
“Yes.”
Roland nodded.
“Madam Bloe!”
Eduard’s voice was heard. Karina hurried down to the first floor.
Eduard had a faint smile.
“The duke told me that he had hired a tutor.”
“Yes? Already?”
“Actually, he persuaded Ms. Terrace.”
Karina’s eyes widened.
Ms. Terrace did not seem to want to receive a student other than the princess.
‘How did he convince her in just a few hours?’
“But Ms. Terrace said it was too hard and turned it down.”
“She thought it was doable, so she accepted it. However, she had one condition: she would only take classes in the main building’s library. Madam, are you okay with that?
“Yes. It doesn’t matter at all. Then just the kids…….?”
“Yes. If you take the children to the entrance of the main building at the appointed time, then Ms. Terrace will take charge of the next.”
The hours requested by Miss Terrace were from 10:00 to 12:00 every morning.
It wasn’t too early because school started at 9.
The next morning.
Karina woke the children up and fed them breakfast. Eduard prepared poached eggs, crispy toast, and apples cut into rabbit shapes for them.
“It’s so cute I don’t want to eat it.”
Roland whispered in a small voice. Karina smiled, thinking how cute Roland is.
“You still have to eat it. If Roland didn’t eat it and threw it away, this rabbit would be even more sad.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Roland bit the apple.
“Good job.”
The meal was soon over.
Karina thanked Eduard.
“Thank you so much for staying here for us.”
Eduard looked around and whispered softly to Karina only after confirming that the children were completely distracted.
“I heard what happened. Of course, it’s our responsibility, so we’ll risk our lives to protect Madam. Rest assured.”
“……but Mr. Eduard is not a part of it.”
Eduard let out a wild laugh.
“How can I, a member of the duke, not be a part of it? So, don’t worry, Madam, and stay here.”
After a while, Karina left the annex with the children.
‘I might be able to come out a little more relaxed tomorrow.’
She was an hour ahead of her appointment because she also had in mind the possibility of getting lost.
“The way, be sure to remember that.”
“I will.”
Roland nodded loudly. Melissa looked up at Karina with an uneasy look.
“Mom, are you not coming with us?”
“Have you already forgotten, Melissa? You went to school together right. This is like a little school but just for the two of you, so only you guys have to take classes.”
“Well…”
Fortunately, Melissa only let out a small cry.
When Karina walked in the corridor holding the children’s hands in both hands.
Sharp words that did not match the clear and quiet voice passed Karina’s ear.
“Andrea, what are those filthy kids doing over there?”
Karina’s body stiffened.
She slowly lifted her head and looked at the place where the voice came from.
A girl in her early teens with black hair and purple eyes was staring at Karina and the children.
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The girl was wearing the most expensive-looking clothes Karina had ever seen in her life.
“Ah.”
Karina quickly recognized the girl’s identity.
The girl who just called her children ‘these filthy children’ is named Astrid Deviatan Tors.
She is the princess of the South.