Chapter 33: Chapter 33

✿

After such a difficult time, I headed straight to my room all worn out and tired.

“Now the sun’s in the middle of the sky, but it feels like just ten o’clock in the afternoon…”

As expected, shopping was never easy. Especially if it’s with my father.

It was the moment I arrived in front of my room. I saw someone walking from the opposite way.

“Marilyn!”

When I called happily, Marilyn with her head up quickly approached me.

“Oh, lady! Did you choose all the clothes?

“Yeah, I just finished.”

Marilyn, who nodded, soon held out the box she was holding.

“I got this from the top of Lagras. When I gave the letter, they gave it to me in less than ten minutes.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Can I put the box on the table?”

“Yeah. Just put it on the sofa table. Oh, and tell them I’ll be in the lab if someone finds me.”

“I guess what you asked for at the top was the research material. I’ll pick you up before dinner just in case.”

I smiled awkwardly at Marilyn’s words and replied, “Okay.”

To be honest, once I was locked up in the lab, it wasn’t that common for me not to notice the time passed by.

One day, I didn’t even know that I was up all night, so the house turned upside down.

I didn’t know that, I was engulfed and concentrated on what I was doing then.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

Erita waved her hand to Marilyn as she left the room.

“Let’s see how it looks…”

I headed to the sofa and opened the lid of the box on the table. Then I saw a neatly sealed letter on the top.

Even if I looked it over, the name of the sender or recipient was not written.

But knowing who sent it, I just smiled at his habits.

“Because he’s strict anyway.”

Using a sharp paper knife I gently cut the paper.

When I blew mana into the paper I took out from the box, letters appeared in the empty place.

I slowly read the text that began with the words, “To the Lord above.”

「…As you said.

But where the hell did you need five diamonds for?

It’s also above the upper level. Anyway, if you need anything, feel free to contact me.」

The letter written in concise handwriting contained only the main text without little introduction.

The letter, which contained a bit of absurdity, did not even say a friendly greeting.

There were two letters I sent.

“Yurgen’s too hard.”

Next time, I’m going to visit him in person.

I grumbled quietly because I was disappointed.

Yurgen Casey.

From a fallen aristocratic family, he was a man of great talent towards the upper world.

Now, superficially, he’s the top of the Lagras.

“Hmm… Was it 4 years ago when I met Yurgen?”

Of course, what I know about him was that he was a character in the original story.

Yurgen was one of Ayla’s people I intercepted.

Years ago, after secretly inquiring about him, I found Yurgen, who was living a life without dreams or hopes.

“There’s nothing you can’t do with money.”

After that, as expected, I persuaded him gently. To be exact, I offered a partnership.

Since I saw the original, I knew a few items that were going to hit the jackpot, and he had a great brain.

To be precise, it must be said that he was an excellent boss.

In the original story, Yurgen builds the top with Ayla’s help.

“And the top stands at the top of the Empire less than six years ago.”

He was essential for the financial resources I need now.

I just know a little bit of the future, but I have no talent in trading or top operations.

For me, Yurgen was a talent I had to recruit. Of course, we have been together for four years now.

“At first, Yurgen’s reaction was really funny.”

At that time, he was nineteen, and he had a rather pessimistic and perverted personality.

When I first visited Yurgen and presented a contract, the expression he made was still noticeable.

He had an expression on his face like seeing the most crazy people in this world.

Well, I was only 14 at the time, so it might have been natural in a way.

In any case, in the end, the top of Lagras was established as one of the top three in the Empire after four years.

My capital went into it, but it would not have been possible without Yurgen.

It was also quite difficult for me to raise initial capital.

Although I was the daughter of the Grand Duke, I didn’t have much wealth as a young woman, and they would have thought it would be strange if I suddenly spent a lot of money.

So what I chose was my closet and jewelry box.

‘It was fortunate that my father and brother didn’t care about my closet.’

My father and Aaron liked to buy me clothes and jewelry, but after that they left it all to me.

Fortunately, sneaking over a few small jewels was enough to show off Yurgen’s talent.

Well, now my personal fortune’s overflowing.

I put down the letter, looked at the items inside the box, and sighed.

“What a waste…”

There were five diamonds that were a little larger than my thumb nails.

Five high-grade diamonds of this size are worth buying a mansion in the capital city.

I’ll have to engrave magic on small jewels. It would be extremely difficult.

No matter how much money I may have, I can’t help but feel nervous.

And I got five of them just in case…

“So, won’t it all fail?”

I’ll just go ahead and practice on another gem and then do it over again, right?

Shaking my head, I grabbed the box and got up from my seat.

All I need is to succeed in the fifth.

✿

“Oh, my god. This book!”

I put down the small knife I was holding roughly, and then slump down on the sofa.

“Oh, my eyes hurt.”

All day long, I try to engrave magic on it, a little bigger than my fingernails.

I felt like my teeth were going to fall out.

It’s already been three days since I’ve been locked up in the lab, and I can’t believe I still haven’t succeeded in engraving only two magic spells.

This is all because the same magic must be engraved five times.

It would have been better if there were five different magic spells I could use.

I already thought it would be difficult, but I didn’t know it was going to end up like this.

If I want to get a bigger diamond, I can get it, but the quantity itself is rare and it should be worth it.

“Can I make it before my debutante?”

The problem wasn’t to succeed in five, but to superimpose five magic spells on one jewel.

It’s not even my first time making artifacts.

“Oh, my pride hurts!”

After hanging out for a while, I got up.

‘I have the pride of a wizard!’

“I have to assume that I can do it again tomorrow anyway…”

Therefore, it seemed likely that at least one of them would have to be finished by today.

Tomorrow’s my father’s birthday. I gripped the sword with determination.

Fortunately, I was able to engrave two spells before the day passed, perhaps thanks to my motivation.

✿

“Lady, what kind of earrings do you want to wear?”

“I’ll use this!”

In Mary’s words, I chose the earrings that Aaron gave me without hesitation.

Anyway, today’s dress is purple, so blue would look good on it.

The necklace was also worn as a set he gave me.

A pleasant freshness wrapped around my body, and at the same time, the hand that adorned my hair finished.

When I looked in the mirror, Marilyn’s hand hung softly as she fixed my hair.

“What about my father?”

“The Grand Duke says he’s in the office. He said he hasn’t finished his work yet…”

“What? Still?”

My eyes widened at those words, and then pouted my lips feeling sullen.

It’s not a party where guests are invited, but it’s still work.

‘Besides, he said he had someone to introduce to me.’

Originally, the birthday of a high-ranking noble usually leads directly to a party, but father neatly rejected the opinion.

The reason was that he didn’t like to be bothered.

Instead, he invited a guest to a banquet, but I don’t even know his name.

Aaron seems to know, but he doesn’t tell me even if I ask.

“Lady, are you going to the office?” Mary asked me as I got up from my seat.

“Yeah. I have a little time left, so I’m going to go see my father.”

Maybe it’s not that he’s not ready yet.

“Mary, can you bring those two boxes to the dining room later? It’s a gift for my father.”

“There are two gifts this year? I’m sure your father will like it!”

Mary smiled happily at my words and nodded.

“I hope he’ll like it. See you later!”

“Walk carefully!”

After leaving Mary and Marilyn behind, there was a hallway that was a little more noisy than usual.

Even if there’s no party, it’s a dinner party. I hurried to get to the office and knocked on the door.

“Father, it’s Erita.”

“Come on in.”

When I opened the door and entered, I saw my father in a state of complete preparation, with his hair brushed neatly and dressed in a black suit.

It wasn’t a party conquest, but it was enough attire for a dinner party.

I was worried that he was still working. But he was okay.

“Oh, dad. You’re all ready.”

“…He already prepared for it.”

The one who answered my words was Fern with a tired expression on his face.

“Sometimes it seems that the young lady knows that I’m squeezing the Grand Duke…”

“Ahaha! It’s not like that, but it’s because you’re still in the office.”

Suddenly, I made Fern a man who pressured my father too much, and I smiled awkwardly and blurred my words.

Seeing me like that, Fern sighed.

“It’s not my fault that your Highness has been working until now. It’s because Your Highness hasn’t worked.”

When he said that, he had a face showing it was really unfair.

“Father? That can’t be…”

My father doesn’t like being bothered, but he’s so thorough in what he has to do.

He’s a kind of father who spends half of his day at the office because of the documents that pile up every day.

When I glanced at my father in doubt, he was only looking down at the documents without saying anything.

‘…I guess it’s true. What’s going on?’

I only heard it from Fern later, but it seemed like he was waiting for me to keep staring at the door all day long.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t guess anything.

Every year, I wanted to give him a present first, so I went there every morning.

“When will you finish your work?”

“I’ll finish it in 10 minutes.”

That’s why you seem to be here… Surprised by my father’s quick reply, I waved my hand.

“You can take your time! There’s still more than an hour left before the dinner.”

“It’s okay. It was almost over anyway.”

My father, who lightly refused to dissuade, quickly finished a pile of documents.

Fern’s face, looking at father, reminded me of a dejected smile.

“You ignored me when I told you to do it quickly.”

At his words, my father, who looked at me, turned his head back to Fern.

“Is that what you call that?”

And he responded with a finely crumpled expression and turned his eyes toward the document again.

“The Grand Duke’s very kind. How fragile is that heart.

Hmm… As expected, today. I had no choice but to shed an awkward smile on Fern’s hurt face.

“How can you not change at all over the past 8 years?”

Father has a cynical personality, but Fern’s reaction to his resolute words was always surprising.

‘At this point, I think I’ll let go of my expectations. Fern’s amazing, too.’

That’s what I thought inside. He grinned and smirked, then cleared his throat.

“Well, then can I go out? I think I’m only getting in the way.”

At my words, my father’s hand, who was turning the papers over with a simple motion, stopped.

If you look closely, the gap between the brows is slightly narrowed.

Without saying anything, I knew that reaction came when he was dissatisfied.

It was my father’s habit that I came to know after looking at him for a long time.

“Father, I’d like to wait, but I’d like to go for a walk together. Is it okay?”

“…Yeah. Then why don’t you wait for a minute?”

I pretended not to know and spoke again, and only then did I hear my father’s answer. I leaned back on the sofa, holding back the laughter that was trying to escape.

‘Even though you are blunt, there are some areas that are easy to understand.’

When he saw Fern, he looked at the documents with a subtle look as if he had given up.

Did I wait for that long?

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Are you done already?”

My father, who got up from the chair, turned around the desk and approached the sofa.