Chapter 17: Robusta Duke Family(3)

The Robusta Duke Family has a secret.

For reasons unknown, they lost the ancient magical tome passed down as the family treasure hundreds of years ago.

They haven’t found the magical tome, which they thought they would recover quickly, to this day.

Even though it was within 10km of where the Robusta Duke Family’s mansion was located.

‘The darkest place is under the lamp’

The magical tome, which they couldn’t find for hundreds of years, was under a giant dragon statue.

I ventured out at night to find it.

I wouldn’t be suspected if I went when no one was around.

I escaped from home in a state where I erased my presence with the help of Elin, a fairy.

I moved to the meeting place to ride the carriage that Anna had ordered in advance, and Anna was waiting in advance.

Along with a horse.

“Where’s the carriage?”

“The carriage is too noticeable, so I’ll lead you.”

Anna, who was wearing black clothes and pants like an assassin, was new to me, and I was looking at her with curiosity.

“Wai, wait a moment!?”

“I’ll lead you, Miss.”

Suddenly, she lifted me up and put me on the horse!

I was a little scared because I was in a much higher position than usual, but I was even more scared when the horse started to pick up speed.

I was so scared that I closed my eyes tightly, but Anna’s voice was heard.

“You can open your eyes, Miss.”

“It’s not okay…”

“It’ll be okay if you look ahead.”

As I believed Anna’s words, the scenery was changing rapidly.

Looking at that scene, I was more scared than I thought.

“scary…”

“……”

“Are you alright, Miss?”

“Ugh, my butt hurts…”

We were able to arrive quickly thanks to the fast ride.

The dragon statue was located almost halfway between the Robusta Duke Family and our family.

I was looking at the giant dragon statue, and I felt a familiar feeling…?

For reasons I don’t know.

I approached the statue and put my hand on it, and I could naturally tell where the magical tome was.

When I rubbed the base of the statue, a small space was created, and a volume of the magical tome appeared.

I took it and left with Anna.

And now, the magical tome was in my hands.

A mysterious magical tome that emitted a faint red light.

‘If it’s like this, I can negotiate.’

I asked Anna to send a letter to the Robusta Duke Family.

‘I have the lost ancient magical tome. If you want it back…’

And soon, a reply came.

It was a request to visit the Robusta Duke Family to trade for the magical tome.

I was looking up at the mansion surrounded by beautiful roses.

It’s smaller than our house, but the years are much older.

As I entered the interior of the mansion, which combines elegance and beauty, Duke Robusta greeted me.

The Duke, who has red hair as beautiful as Bella unnie’s.

She is the only woman among the three Dukes in the empire.

“Nice to meet you, Duke! I am Aria Liberica!”

“Nice to meet you. Shall we go to the reception room instead of talking here?”

“Yes!”

As soon as I sat on the chair in the reception room, tea and desserts were prepared.

When I was captivated by the various desserts, the Duke opened her mouth.

“May I see the item…?”

“Of course!”

I took a book from the ‘space pocket’ and handed it to the Duke, and she showed a delighted expression.

And, she was showing how she was judging whether it was genuine or fake by using her mana, and how much time had passed.

Suddenly, a single tear fell.

“Duke!? Are you alright!?”

“…Ah, I didn’t expect to find the lost family treasure while I was the Duke.”

She was muttering to herself that she didn’t have the face to see the faces of her ancestors in the afterlife.

She took a deep breath, and at a certain moment, her face turned slightly red.

“Hmm hmm, I’m sorry. I’m showing this messy side in front of the family’s benefactor…”

“It’s okay. You might.”

When I replied with a smile, the Duke, who was looking at me with warm eyes, spoke.

“Then, what do you want in return for finding the treasure?”

“Before that, can you call Bella unnie?”

“…Ah, you said you were going to visit when you were at home. I’ll call her now.”

The Duke had a servant call Bella unnie to the reception room.

After waiting for a while, Bella unnie entered the reception room.

“Mother, what did you call me for?”

“Not me, the family’s benefactor found it.”

The moment Bella unnie looked at me, who was sitting next to the Duke, she showed a surprised expression.

“Aria? Why are you here!?”

“Bella unnie!”

I ran to Bella unnie and hugged her, and she looked very flustered.

“A, ah, you have to be careful about suddenly running to me! And, why are you the family’s benefactor!?”

She hugged me tightly so that I wouldn’t get hurt, and it didn’t seem bad that she was smiling faintly.

I said, looking at the Duke while being hugged by Bella unnie.

“Give me Bella unnie!”

“……”

The Duke, who had a serious expression, unlike Bella unnie, who was flustered, was looking at me.

“Is that all?”

“Yes!”

Bella unnie, who was speechless at first, shouted.

“A, no, what are you talking about!?”

After Aria went home, I was left alone with my mother in the reception room.

“Mother, what’s going on?”

No, what did they talk about that made her say something so scandalous!

A sudden confession…? And that from a five-year-old child!

More than that, my mother also gave permission.

I looked at my mother with a shocked expression, and after drinking a cup of tea, she opened her mouth.

“Bella Robusta.”

“…Yes, Duke.”

“By the name of Yenia Robusta, I acknowledge the independence of Bella Robusta from this moment.”

“Wh, what is that…?”

“I withdraw the command to become the Master of the Tower. Of course, I won’t force you to marry.”

“……”

“I will support everything necessary for your independence from the family.”

“……”

“Live your life doing what you want to do.”

Freedom that came suddenly.

Smiling at me, she had been looking at me for a moment, and came closer and hugged me.

“My daughter, you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“……”

I couldn’t say anything.

Because I couldn’t even grasp what was going on.

But, I could clearly see one thing.

That the weight that had been pressing on me had become as light as a feather.

“Uhm, but there’s one problem.”

“…Wh, what is it?”

I couldn’t help but feel tense because of my mother’s serious expression.

How much time had passed.

My mother opened her mouth.

“I don’t know whether to call you a daughter-in-law or a son-in-law.”

“…Mother. Aria is five years old.”

“Oh my, they say that a 9-year age gap doesn’t matter, it’s perfect!”

“Mother!”

“Just kidding.”

She patted me, and I didn’t understand.

“Mother, what kind of deal did you make?”

“You should ask your husband that.”

“……”

“More than that, can I ask you a favor?”

“…What is it.”

“That is…”

After my little sister, Bella, left the room, I had time alone.

I looked at the magical tome on the table, and a smile appeared.

“I don’t know about anything else, but I’ve done well with the childbearing. To have won the heart of a great being…”

I knew that the ancient magical tome was in the dragon statue.

It wasn’t that I didn’t take it.

I couldn’t take it.

It was sealed by the dragon’s magic, so no one could take it out all this time.

‘To have found that when it was sealed so that only the same dragon could take it out…’

I was trying to calm down my excited emotions and fell into thought.

I thought that all the dragons that existed in the world had disappeared, but that wasn’t true.

I can’t miss the opportunity.

‘I have to make a contract while she has the heart…’

“…It’s a problem. I see that Bella has become independent from the family.”

Was the tea so sweet today?

I saw what expression my second daughter had when she looked at the great being.

I don’t know how many years it’s been since I’ve seen her face truly smile, not a face hidden with a mask.

‘Well, it’s good like this for the time being.’

The tea time in the Glass Garden with Mom is the best.

She always prepared the desserts I liked the most.

And, she feeds me herself. The feeling of being loved that I couldn’t receive in my previous life was awkward, yet it was happy.

“Is our youngest enjoying it?”

“Yes! It’s delicious! Give me more!!”

“Haha, that’s a relief. I was worried because you went out secretly at night and did that.”

I doubted my ears for a moment, but that wasn’t true.

Because Mom was looking at me with cold eyes.

“I didn’t know that our daughter would run away at the age of 5.”

“…O, oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“Hehe, right? Did Mom misunderstand? Our good youngest wouldn’t sneak out through the dog door in the middle of the night, right?”

“……”