He was completely different from the Uncle Noarizen I knew.
Originally, he was an overly easygoing man who laughed heartily with a friendly smile.
But Uncle Noarizen frowned deeply as he walked down the corridor, then was startled when he saw me standing there.
“Erilot?”
“Hello, Uncle.”
I lifted my skirt elegantly and greeted him.
“What brings you here?”
I was about to say I came to see Blizen but hesitated.
Should I throw out a bait? Wondering if he’s really tempted by money.
Because there might be another reason for selling Aunt Aisa’s belongings at the pawnshop.
I smiled brightly and said,
“I dared to invite him because I have something I really want to ask Brother Blizen!”
“...Something you want to ask?”
“I received the Platinum Medal this time (an honor awarded to the top-ranked 3rd generation), so I got a lot of money.”
Annoyance flickered across Uncle Noarizen’s eyes for a moment.
‘He must dislike it since I took first place over his son...’ Was it because of his son or the money?
I continued with an innocent look.
“So, I thought about investing... Since Brother Blizen has received countless Platinum Medals, I wondered if he might know a good investment.”
Then his eyebrows rose once.
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as if pondering something.
After a moment, Uncle Noarizen laughed heartily like usual and said,
“Yeah, that’s definitely not something you can talk about at the factory. You’d make the 2nd and 3rd gens jealous.”
“That’s true.”
“But you came to the wrong place. Blizen’s no good at that kind of thing. I handle all the management.”
I was caught!
“I see...”
“If you want advice, would you like to hear it?”
“Really? Thank you, Uncle!”
Pretending to be overjoyed, Uncle Noarizen smirked lightly.
The irritated face from earlier was gone; he looked quite pleased.
“Go wash up first. Talking with a face like you just woke up isn’t polite.”
“Yes!”
Watching Uncle Noarizen hurry away, I frowned involuntarily.
I’d just lightly tossed out bait, and he swallowed it whole.
He really must be desperate for money. Seeing him so greedy even for his great-niece’s money was shocking.
That greedy gleam in his eyes was something I’d never seen before in Uncle Noarizen.
What on earth was he scheming?
As I quietly watched Uncle Noarizen’s retreating back, the steward cautiously approached.
“Shall I take you to the parlor?”
“Yes.”
I followed the steward’s guidance to the parlor.
The exterior looked peaceful, but strange signs were everywhere.
Walls with peeling paint roughly nailed with frames.
Tables crudely patched with paint over cracks and wear.
Tablecloths roughly mended with other fabric where candle wax had dripped and melted.
How much money do they lack? Even though Aunt Aisa had passed, this was the Astra jurisdiction. They should have been getting budgets regularly.
Even if not as huge as other jurisdictions, the upkeep wouldn’t be this poor.
That means...
Embezzlement. At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.
Shortly after, Blizen entered.
“Erilot?”
He frowned as if he couldn’t believe it, and I chuckled.
“Hello.”
“You sent the letter less than an hour ago, I think.”
“Yeah!”
I answered cheerfully; Blizen looked at me as if incredulous.
He was dressed simply. Probably had been in the room.
Blizen normally wore formal attire even in summer.
So seeing him dressed lightly like this felt unfamiliar.
Blizen sighed helplessly and sat opposite me.
“Why did you want to come to our estate so much?”
“There were things I wanted to ask. Also, I hadn’t been to many other jurisdictions, so I was curious.”
As I looked around the parlor, Blizen nodded.
“We don’t invite each other often. Afraid secrets will leak.”
“Right.”
While we talked, the steward brought tea.
One cup in front of Blizen.
One cup in front of me.
The fragrant aroma filled the room.
The atmosphere was calm.
Before getting to the point, I made small talk to loosen his guard.
“Brother Blizen, you dress like that even in summer.”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t you hot?”
“Not really. Once you get used to it, lighter clothes feel more awkward.”
“But you’re dressed lightly today too?”
“That means I’m used to being formal outside. I relax only at the estate.”
“What do you do at the estate? You’re part of the advanced training room, so you only go to the factory a few times a month, right?”
“You seem really curious about me.”
“Yeah.”
Blizen chuckled.
“As far as I know, you’re not someone who’s that interested in others.”
That was true, and I flinched.
But I hid it and shook my head.
“I’m interested. A lot!”
“When Joffrey broke his leg, you didn’t even visit.”
“Well, I’m not close with Joffrey...”
“When Juliana got caught putting up a portrait crying by the wall and caused a fuss, you didn’t get involved.”
“Well... our maid said kids can be like that...”
“The day fourteen-year-old Elmen tried to run away with a seventeen-year-old maid, and your uncle came to the factory and Elmen got beaten, you were the only one yawning.”
“I was... sleepy?”
Blizen shrugged.
𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚 “Fine, let’s say you’re interested in relatives.”
“...”
“So? What do you want to know?”
Now that he’d brought it up, I couldn’t change the subject.
Blizen had already sensed there was a reason I came to the Aisa jurisdiction.
I glanced at Blizen while holding my teacup.
“About Uncle Noarizen. Has he gone anywhere recently?”
Blizen, who was about to raise his cup, flinched.
Tea spilled, soaking the back of his hand.
“Ah!”
I quickly grabbed Blizen’s wrist.
The tea wasn’t that hot, but just in case.
Smack!
Blizen sharply shook off my hand.
‘Huh?’
What?
Was Blizen really someone who hated being touched?
No, he wasn’t.
If so, he should’ve hated the maid approaching him when he was sleeping.
What was really strange was—
Blizen looked more surprised than I did by shaking off my hand.
‘...What?’
Suddenly, the jumbled thoughts in my head snapped into place like fitting puzzle pieces.
How Noarizen, without the Gaho, could go to the capital without leaving a trace.
Noarizen is a mage.
What if he had a son with the Gaho?
Reaching that thought, I grabbed Blizen’s arm sharply.
“Let go!”
Blizen tensed and held on tightly.
“Brother, stay still!”
We struggled, but since I’m a girl, Blizen couldn’t use full strength.
I quickly rolled up Blizen’s sleeve.
His thin, simple outfit made it easy to push the sleeve up.
And on his bare arm...
‘Oh no.’
I shut my eyes tightly.
My brow furrowed on its own.
Like Blizen said, I wasn’t really interested in cousins.
Unless it was something like this. I spoke stiffly, holding back anger.
“You wear formal clothes even in summer because of the jacket.”
“What are you talking about?”
Blizen played innocent, but I caught on.
“You only wear the jacket because you’re worried the shirt might be see-through.”
“It’s nothing...”
“What do you mean it’s nothing? That’s—!”
I got angry and furrowed my brow, shouting at Blizen who kept denying it.
When I raised my voice, Blizen’s eyes went wide.
His arm was in a state that was unbearable to see.
Skin cracked like dried earth from repeated experiments.
Crusty dried blood stuck in the cracks, probably seeped out long ago.
Clear belt marks near the elbow, as if his arm was bound to stop movement.
The day the maid approached him.
He hadn’t just left her alone knowingly.
He was struggling to move because of the experiments.
He didn’t have the strength to push the maid away. That explained why he always looked listless.
“You’re the one Noarizen experimented on, trying to make the Gaho stone.”
“No.”
Blizen denied it firmly but quickly avoided my piercing gaze.
“In the end, he made it and was able to go ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) to the capital without leaving records.”
“I told you, no.”
“How could you do that to your own child...!”
I clenched my skirt tightly.
Blizen sighed seeing my trembling hands.
He looked exhausted.
“Go now. I need to rest.”
I grabbed Blizen’s arm as he tried to leave the parlor.
“What are you doing...”
“Let’s go. Come with me.”
“...”
“To our estate.”
Blizen stared at me wordlessly.
At that moment, Noarizen burst into the parlor.
“You kept me waiting.”
Noarizen frowned, sensing the tense atmosphere as he entered.
“What’s going on?”
I wanted to punch the clueless expression on Noarizen’s face but held back.
Forcing a smile, I said,
“If it’s okay, can I take Brother Blizen to our estate?”
“Blizen? Why?”
Noarizen widened his eyes.
“He helped me at the training grounds. Dad said he wants to repay him.”
“Repay?”
“Yes. Have a meal together and there’s something to give...”
Dad’s unusual affection for me was well known.
If someone helped me, he’d reward them handsomely.
Noarizen, seeming to think deeply for a moment, nodded.
“Alright. Blizen, go with your sister.”
“...”
“Blizen.”
Noarizen spoke sternly, and Blizen reluctantly answered,
“Yes.”
Noarizen withdrew his gaze from Blizen and turned to me.
“Can we talk about investment now?”
“Sorry, I’ll listen next time. Dad called urgently.”
“Is it because of what you’re going to give Blizen...?”
He was good at jumping to conclusions.
“Probably.”
Smiling broadly, Noarizen laughed heartily and sent Blizen and me off.
Daymond jurisdiction castle.
Bringing Blizen into the main hall, the family was all gathered.
Balzac frowned seeing Blizen come with me.
“What? Why is Blizen here?”
Joshua didn’t look at Blizen but gave me a kind look.
“Is something wrong?”
Dad stared intently at the wrist I held of Blizen.
“Come in first.”
Dad turned and entered his study; the twins followed closely with suspicious looks.
I pulled the stiff Blizen along and entered the study side by side.
When I tried to roll up Blizen’s sleeve, he twisted his wrist free.
“Stay still.”
“Let go.”
Now he was putting in some strength.
Earlier, he hadn’t dared to do much for fear of injury.
But here was my territory now.
“Dad! Brothers!”
Shouting, the three men immediately swarmed Blizen like a pack.
They were fast.
“Let go, Uncle!”
“Stay still.”
“Balzac! Joshua!”
“Erilot just wants to roll up the sleeve.”
“Should we restrain him?”
The ones trying to roll up the sleeve and the one resisting.
I watched the four struggle.
Then,
A light flashed in Blizen’s eyes.
Movement Gaho. Blizen is a genius with incredible power.
Trying to escape?
But this was the Daymond jurisdiction.
Meaning, Daymond Astra was here.
He’s a certified hound of Astra who has truly mastered mountain, land, sea, and even air battles.
As soon as Blizen’s gaze lit up, Dad immediately cast a Gaho.
Even a genius like Blizen couldn’t beat Dad.
The speed difference was huge; Blizen’s Gaho was blocked before it could take effect.
Dad Blizen’s magic before it reached his dantian.
“Ugh!”
Eventually, Blizen’s sleeve was rolled up.
“...”
“Crazy.”
“What is this.”
Dad, who was holding Blizen’s arms behind the chair.
Joshua, who gripped Blizen’s arms with both hands.
Balzac, who rolled up the sleeve.
The family froze seeing Blizen’s condition.
I, having seen it once, was speechless.
Blizen held no bad memories for me.
Rather...
“Blizen, why are you sitting here?”
“Saving a seat?”
“No, but... Didn’t you hear the rumor that I tried to kill Dalia?”
“Really tried?”
“No.”
“That’s enough then.”
“...Dalia got hurt because of me, you know? The Dalia you treasure like your life.”
“Class is starting.”