Chapter 32
TL-Mechatronic
As Kizef sat on the bed in the dormitory, somehow Luciel did not disappear from his mind.
A white, small silver-haired girl with crimson eyes. A bright voice, small gestures, and a bossy smile when their eyes meet. If there were angels in the world, wouldn’t it be like that?
Besides, I was definitely seeing her face for the first time, but I felt an unknown feeling of dizziness. Above all, I couldn’t forget the gaze when I first met the child.
‘It was a strange look, as if she knew me. It’s like she’s been waiting for us to meet.’
She was a weird kid
A girl like a ball of cotton with a bright voice, small fluttering gestures, and a gentle smile every time their eyes meet.
She was a pretty child that caught my eye.
Having accepted her contract, the child will be safe now. They were contractually engaged, and if marriage proceeds in full, there’s nothing more to worry about. After that, they can stay as strangers. Until she grows up to be an adult.
No, he had to. So that Luciel didn’t notice his secret.
A black thread came to light and strained.
Sururu.
A tall black-haired boy popped out of Kishev’s long shadow.
(What are you so worried about? This doesn’t suit you.)
Reaper Raven.
From the moment he signed a contract with this guy, Kizef thought he should never love or marry anyone for the rest of his life.
One day, he himself will succeed Raven and become a reaper.
He cannot die once he becomes a reaper. Until he finds a substitute, a new successor to fulfill his duties, binds him in a contract, and hands over everything. It was an eternal trap and bridle.
Raven signed a contract with Kizef to die.
A long time ago, Kizef lost his first friend. He first met Raven at that friend’s funeral. Then Raven said as his eyes met Kizef.
[You have come to see things you shouldn’t have seen.]
It was from then on. Kizef’s eyes saw things he had never seen before. He was haunted by ghosts both day and night, and evolved into a very closed personality, so much so that he was extremely reluctant to let servants touch my body.
If it hadn’t been for Raven then, Kizef might have gone really crazy watching the ghosts all the time. When Raven offered a contract showing a terrible future, the young Kizef had no choice. The weakened boy thought he was the only one who could save Bellstein from that future. To do that, the power of the Reaper was needed.
When Kizef, who had been drenched in reminiscences for a moment, did not answer, Raven’s golden eyes widened horizontally.
(Did something happen during the day?]
Sniffing, Raven wrinkled his nose, and his eyes, which had always been hollow, shone.
(What is this fresh smell of magic? Who have you met?]
“I met my father.”
(Lie. It’s the first time I’ve smelled such pure and fresh magic.]
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
As he said that, Kizef took his arm and sniffed it. He didn’t smell anything. Raven looked at it and smiled.
(Not just anyone can smell mana. Be honest, who did you meet? It is easier to deceive a ghost than to deceive me.)
“My father must have been hunting. I met no one.”
Kizef continued to look around.
The reaper was invisible to the general public, but he did not know what kind of prank Raven would play. One day he’ll get to know Luciel, but he hoped Raven would recognize her as late as possible.
I don’t think I’ll have to see Luciel very often.
Raven usually roamed around for the riper’s work, or hid in Kizef’s shadow. If he blocked the black thread that followed himself, no matter how strong Raven is, he could not enter Kizef’s shadow, but that won’t last long either.
Kizef opened the window and stared blankly at the night sky. In the distance, Maximus was staring at Kizef’s window. He must have been grinding his teeth because he had been humiliated in front of all the students earlier.
(Isn’t ending that bastard like a piece of cake if you use up my powers a bit?]
“No.”
Raven said with a playful smile. Even if he always spoke like that, he was the one who led humans to death. He couldn’t take anyone by himself, but he could use Kizef to kill people for him.
[You are not funny…..)
Raven, who had been muttering with a bored face disappeared again into Kizef’s shadow.
To Kizef, Raven was a necessary evil. He borrowed the power of Raven and was able to use the power of darkness.
He recalled a memory he had seen a few years ago.
The broken wall, the burning estate, and the family returning as cold corpses. The future Raven showed was truly terrifying. To prevent that future, Kizef signed a contract with him.
After that day, young Kizef promised himself that he would protect Bellstein no matter what.
Even if that path ends in him becoming a Reaper….
A woman in a colorful dress got off the wagon that stopped at the Count. His beloved lover came, but the Count could hardly smile. Since that day, his stomach had been stuffed up as if he had crumpled paper up in his throat.
The place to where Luciel fled to was the Duke of Bellstein. The wealthiest family in the empire, as well as a family reputed to have demonic powers.
How the girl managed to capture such a large family as Bellstein was still unanswered.
“My love! Guess what gossip I brought?”
Magellan first crossed her arms with the Count’s who didn’t even care that she had arrived.
“My head is complicated for the time being, so I don’t have the free will to listen to you, come the next time I call you.”
“If you knew what I just heard, you wouldn’t treat me like this.”
As Magellan fanned herself, she entered the mansion with dissatisfaction. Count Orbia’s gray eyes narrowed.
As if there was really something major in her gossip, the Count took her hand and smiled.
“I have neglected my wife for a while these days. What did you listen to?”
“Of course. I heard from Marie that the Duke of Bellstein had come to the capital’s clothing store with a young girl as his daughter-in-law. Isn’t that kid, Luciel?”
“What? Why are you talking about that now! Where is Luciel now? She’s in the capital?”
Count Orbia, whose bulging blood veins raised in excitement, rolled his eyes as he ripped off his hair, Looking at him, Magellan shook her head.
“It was already a few days ago.”
“Damn…..!”
Crack! Woodang!
The Count, who took out his anger by turning over the table in the drawing room, thought while holding his temple to show he had a headache. All the guild members he sent went missing. It was impossible to break through the Duke of Bellstein. If so, he had no choice but to kidnap Luciel while she was outside.
Magellan pretended to clean up quietly, as if she had experienced it not once or twice.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Magellan, where is the clothing store that the Duke and Luciel went to?”
“…….that, well It’s a clothing store that sells some kind of children’s clothing. Ah! What’s even more surprising is that he gave the whole clothing store to Luciel. But how did she become the daughter-in-law of such a noble family?”
“The dirty girl must have deceived them as if she was my daughter.”
“Oh my, she has a cunning side. So now we are in-laws with the Duke of Bellstein?”
“Nonsense. Luciel is mine! I will never allow her to marry!”
“…… Why, Bellstein is so rich.”
This woman don’t know that Luciel had the power to make jewelry, so she can only say such stupid things.
“How rich must they be?”
“Rumor has it that he is richer than any other kingdom. They say there is even a mine owned by the family!”
A mine.
Will that be more precious than the jewels Luciel will make in the future?
It was difficult to calculate, but since the Duke wouldn’t give me the whole mine anyway, Luciel was worth more. Moreover, the mines cost a lot of labor, but raising a single girl was not even a task.
The Count approached Magellan, who was chattering from the side and took her hand, glimmering his serpent like cunning eyes.
“Magellan. I have one request…… Find out about that children’s clothing store.”
…… Marie didn’t know that either.”
“It’s owned by my daughter, so we should go see it. And isn’t it time to match Bianca’s dress?”
“Okay, let’s find out!”
Magellan, who felt better at once, opened her mouth.
“It would be better if it was faster.”
“Oh, okay. Let’s have a cup of tea at least. You’re so impatient.”
After sending out Magellan, Count Orbia wondered what to do when he found out about the clothing store. However, when the mail carriage arrived outside the window, the butler soon received a letter.
Black Dragon Seal.
A notification arrived from the Duke of Bellstein, no, it was a letter close to intimidation.
(Count Orbia.
Your daughter Luciel, freed from the Count’s neglect and abuses, agreed to become a person of our Duke of
Bellstein.
Even though you were given a second chance, the Count still hadn’t sent a signature authorizing the
marriage.
Oh, the surprise gift you sent was well received.
This shows clear hostility towards the Duke, and after three days my deputy and knights will go to get the
signatures.
That day is your last chance.)
“Damn Bellstein! You think I’ll bend to you!? I’m not giving her away.”
The count, who was grinding his teeth, trembled.
“You can’t take Luciel until dirt gets in my eyes!”
Luciel, who returned to the castle, did not come out of the bedroom the next day, perhaps because of her exhaustion. There was a line of people who wanted to meet Luciel. From Leoni asking to play together, Ellington saying he had something to report, to the vassals who kept coming with gifts after attending the governing meeting.
“If you want to meet your baby madam, you have to take turns and wait!””
Rose had to write a waiting list in her notebook and explain the situation when someone new came to meet Luciel.
thump, thump.
But for Luciel, that wasn’t an important issue now. Her heart palpitations, which first started yesterday, had subsided, but then pounded again.