Chapter 41: Chapter 43

The tumultuous ball came to an end. Adelia and Ivan, who were surrounded by people, were finally able to get into the carriage. Ivan asked the coachman to go back to the Duchy.

“Did your wish come true?”

Adelia thought for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“Thanks to you, I got more than I planned.”

Thanks to the spectacular escape of the Grand Duke, she received more attention than she wanted.

Ivan smiled faintly at Adelia’s answer.

“That’s a relief.”

The Grand Duke’s face looked tired for some reason.

Well, there’s been a lot of fuss…

“Are you tired?”

Ivan shook his head and said to the worried question

“No, I’m not that tired. Compared to a battlefield, this doesn’t take much energy. It’s just that…”

“Just that?”

“… I’m just mentally tired.”

“You mean you’re tired anyway.”

Adelia felt sorry. She didn’t mean to make him tired.

Ivan shook his head after seeing the worried look on Adelia’s face.

“No, this is … It’s because of personal circumstances.”

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“Personal circumstances?”

Ivan hesitated. He wondered if he would make her feel pressured by telling her about his situation.

After thinking about it for a long time, he opened his mouth with difficulty. He gave a detailed explanation about the ball when he was a child.

“…that’s what happened. If so, I should have asked you to go to a normal banquet instead of a masquerade.”

“No, it’s okay. I think they chose a masquerade for the free atmosphere.”

The Grand Duke had an accurate grasp of her intentions. The masquerade was a place where all kinds of gossip were made. At times, the name of a king in any country comes out in a masquerade without hesitation.

That’s why she was able to bring up the most sensitive issue these days, ‘disaster’.

If it was an ordinary ball, there was a high possibility that the group would turn away as soon as she leaked information about the disaster.

In addition, without the mask, the possibility of being identified by those who knew “Adelia Sorne” could not have been ignored.

If that happens, no matter what she says, she’ll be dismissed as nonsense.

“Thank you, though. You came to the masquerade where you don’t like going because of me, right?”

The Grand Duke replied with a smile without saying a word.

Adelia shut her mouth so as not to give the Grand Duke any more fatigue. And over the window she stared at the sky where the sun had begun to break.

‘It’s been a long day.’

It’s been a long, long day. In fact, it hasn’t been long since she was at the Count of Tegris, but it felt like she was there all day.

‘I’m going to sleep as soon as I get home. Will it be dawn when we arrive at the Duchy?’

Adelia imagined kissing Emily good night on her forehead and falling into a sweet sleep.

As Adelia expected, the carriage arrived at the Duchy after dawn.

Click.

As soon as she got out of the carriage, a young voice called Adelia anxiously.

“Lady!”

Emily ran hard and clung to Adelia’s skirt.

Adelia saw Emily in her pajamas and quickly put her shawl around her.

“You should have put on your coat.”

“But… I hurried when I saw the lady coming back through the window.”

Emily looked up at Adelia with a tearful look.

Her heart weakened, Adelia smiled helplessly and stroked Emily’s head.

“I’m not scolding you.”

“I’m sorry…”

Emily’s sullen shoulders fell axially.

“Shoes are more of a problem than coats.” said the duke, lifting Emily lightly.

Only then did Adelia notice Emily’s feet. Emily was wearing slippers that she only wears in the bedroom. It turned Emily’s feet red.

“Oh, are you going to scold me…?”

“No way. Let’s hurry inside.”

The Grand Duke took Emily into the castle as if she were running away before Adelia could say anything.

‘Are you two on the same side…?’

Adelia smiled in vain at the backs of the two moving away.

“You should come inside, too. It’s cold.”

Liam, who was watching the situation with satisfaction, said in a calm voice.

Adelia sighed and stepped into the castle.

“Just eat something and go to sleep.”

Upon entering the castle, Liam suggested a meal.

Only then did Adelia realize that she hadn’t eaten for more than half a day.

Hunger began to feel greater than fatigue.

‘Well, it’s time for Emily to have breakfast.’

She’s been busy with one thing or another these days, so she has been eating with Emily less frequently.

After much thought, Adelia told Liam.

“I will.”

Liam smiled softly and led Adelia to the dining room.

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“Your Highness and Miss Emily have already started eating.”

Before entering the dining room, Liam whispered to Adelia. Adelia nodded lightly and entered.

At the same time, Emily’s voice was heard.

“Viscount!”

Adelia opened her eyes wide for a moment.

What did Emily just say…?

“Viscount! Viscount Yurpeon!”

“Emily… did you call me?”

The answer came from the mouth of the Grand Duke, not Emily.

“You are the only Viscount Yurpeon, so of course she calls you.”

“…….”

There was nothing to say because he was right.

Adelia blinked at Emily, who called her the Viscount of Yurpeon.

She was obviously feeling embarrassed.

Emily has been calling her ‘lady’. She asked her to call her sister but she kept calling her lady. She can’t believe Emily called her “Viscount” first.

Adelia froze.

“Let’s sit down. We have to eat.”

“…Yes, we should sit down first.”

Adelia sat down with an awkward look.

“I heard it.” As Adelia sat next to her, Emily whispered.

“What?”

“Now, the lady is the lord of a family!”

“…Do you know what lord is?”

“Of course! You’re going to be a great aristocrat, aren’t you?”

Not a great aristocrat, but Emily was right. Now she is no longer a byproduct of her father.

She is freed from the shadow of the Marquis Sorne and becomes an independent aristocrat.

“Who told you that?”

“The Duke told me!” Emily replied with a bright smile.

Adelia glanced back at the duke. He continued to eat with a calm face.

“Well, Emily. I don’t mind if you call me as usual.”

“I don’t want to!” Emily shook her head and refused fiercely.

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Adelia couldn’t understand what was wrong with Emily all of a sudden.

‘Now you’re a viscount!’

Emily curled her little hand tightly and determined not to call her lady anymore.

She once heard the word “Viscount” from her parents’ mouth.

Her parents were always afraid to talk to the Viscount’s subordinates who came to collect taxes. It was clear that the Viscount was a great aristocrat. And now the lady is a great aristocrat.

Emily’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Although she was told by Adelia, ‘You are my precious person,’ Emily could hardly shake the thought that she was an obstacle to Adelia’s future.

Emily couldn’t help but be happy that her young lady became a great aristocrat. The thought that was pressing heavily on Emily’s chest became a little lighter.

‘As long as Emily likes it… Right?’

Adelia shook her head at Emily’s sparkling eyes.

Yeah, as long as Emily likes it.

‘I’m embarrassed and proud that Emily thinks so much of me.’

It was at that moment Adelia became Emily’s “great Viscount.”

After the masquerade, Adelia lived a calm and busy life. For now, Adelia interpreted the Bible diligently. It was work that made her tired just by reading and understanding. It was never in vain, though.

Adelia, who interpreted half of the Bible, found out a lot. What worries her most is the 10th disaster.

The previous disasters were enough for the Hestine Expedition. However, the 10th disaster was different from what had been predicted before.

A hundred thousand beasts and a house of hell. She couldn’t imagine what would happen.

‘I’ll have to think about how to deal with this.’

With this level of disaster, even the Duchy will not be able to escape the damage. So, she can’t just sit on the sidelines like what she always did.

In addition, according to the prophecy, a war between humans will break out sooner or later.

The goddess predicted that the war would result in numerous casualties and the disappearance of a country.

War.

The name alone was disturbing and frightening. Maybe more than a disaster.

It was not known which countries would be at war, but the Huizeniac Empire, the loser of the Northern Continent, was likely to inevitably be involved in the war.

‘Can we stop it?’

Adelia agonized with a stiff face. But no matter how hard she thinks about it, there is no answer.

“Whoa. It’s a waste of time to think about it like this. Let’s do what we can right now.”

Her first goal was to send Emily to the academy.

The prophecy of the third disaster included that the goddess, who felt sorry for the children being swept away in a chaotic world, would create a safe area from the disaster.

It is the Academy of Neuten Kingdom, a neutral country. Adelia wanted to send Emily there.

If there’s a moment she can’t protect her, she’ll be safe if she’s at the academy.

‘She is at the age where she can enter the academy.’

One concern was whether Emily would want to enter the academy.

Emily always tried to stick with her. It’s probably because she’s anxious about losing her only guardian again.

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Adelia wasn’t unaware of it, but she couldn’t back down this time. Adelia made up her mind and headed to Emily’s room.

“Emily, can I come in for a minute?”

“Lady? Oh, Viscount! Of course!”

Emily, who was lying on the bed reading a book, hurriedly got up and opened the door.

“What’s up?”

“Well, Emily, do you have any thoughts about attending an academy?”

Emily’s eyes grew surprised at the word academy.