Bastard Daughter - 160

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Miracle said that as she approached me.

She stretched out her arms as if to hug me, but,

"You too. Take care."

I took a step back.

It happened in an instant, and everyone was too busy preparing to leave to notice the strange tension between Miracle and me.

"......"

Miracle, who had stopped, looked at me with a blank expression before breaking into a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

Soon, the two of them got into the carriage.

"Then......"

"We'll be back!"

After saying goodbye to the Duke, the two of them soon left in the carriage.

After watching the carriage disappear, the people who had gathered to see them off began to disperse.

I quickly tried to approach the Duke.

However.

"Lady."

Leagrin approached me before I could.

"Ah......"

I looked regretfully at the Duke walking away before turning to Leagrin.

But......

"I heard from the Lord."

His face was strangely flushed.

His glasses sparkled brightly in the sunlight. It was just like Leagrin's eyes.

"You chose to study at home instead of entering the academy."

"Ah."

It seems the Duke told Leagrin. It wasn't wrong, so I nodded.

"Yes."

"That's a great choice!"

Leagrin shouted excitedly.

The usually neat and strict butler suddenly shouted, causing the passing servants to stare in surprise, but he didn't care.

"Of course, the educational level of the academy is the best in the empire, but as all the nobles' children from the center gather, it is difficult to pay attention to individuals, which is a disadvantage."

He adjusted his glasses. He spoke with more gravity than ever before.

"Now that Miracle and Bansis have entered the academy and there is no home schooling, we can use that time to organize the Lady's classes more densely, which is much more efficient in terms of learning."

"Ah, yes."

I nodded.

Certainly. I heard that he reduced his main job while taking on my classes, so if Miracle's and Bansis' class time is also reduced, he will have quite a bit of free time.

Leagrin was saying that he would use that time for me.

"Thank you."

I like it.

Although I can't learn magic or swordsmanship from Leagrin, his classes are also very interesting and fun.

I learn about the stories of the world I don't know and broaden the scope of my thinking.

"Therefore, we plan to resume classes from next week. I will share the class schedule with the Lady soon."

"Yes."

"Before that, it would be good to do some preliminary study...... Ah, come to think of it."

He said as if something had occurred to him.

"The repair of the library has been completed and you can use it again from today. Giles Smore also returned yesterday. Come to think of it, he seemed to want to meet the Lady."

"Ah."

I nodded.

I happened to have something to do with him.

"And......"

Leagrin's atmosphere, which had been full of enthusiasm, changed.

He looked at me with a somewhat bitter expression.

I felt like I knew what he wanted to say just from that.

"Commander Aen Rixus......"

I pressed my lips tightly.

In fact, I wanted to ask about him too.

During the changing of the seasons, Aen did not return. There was not even news.

Rumor has it that he left the Rodbel Knights altogether.

But I don't think that's likely.

'Because you have to go through the magic severance ceremony to leave the Rodbel Knights.'

The 'Severance Ceremony' is a procedure that any magic knight leaving Rodbel must go through, and as the name suggests, it is to make it impossible to use the magic that was enabled through Rodbel's ceremony.

If someone of Aen's level had undergone the severance ceremony, the rumor would surely spread, but since that rumor hasn't spread, he probably hasn't left Rodbel yet.

But that's just my guess. I couldn't be sure.

Before I knew it, my heart was pounding. Leagrin's lips moved.

"I don't know exactly, but I have confirmed that he has extended his leave of absence."

"Ah......"

"He hasn't left altogether, but when he will return......"

"......Yes."

I nodded, trying to be nonchalant.

It's okay if he doesn't come back. If Aen can live by that......

But......

'He's alone now.'

Aen said once. Cherish is his only family. He said that he didn't have any close acquaintances because he was so busy running to get the Book of Isla.

'That's why the Lady is more precious.'

He said that......

"......You don't even know where he is?"

Leagrin shook his head with a pitiful expression.

"This is all the information I can tell the Lady......"

"Yes, thank you."

Still, I'm glad I could hear the news like this.

When I thanked Leagrin, he made an even sadder expression.

Strange. Since when has that man been so emotional?

The atmosphere quickly turned gloomy.

Not wanting to be in this situation any longer, I smiled brightly and said.

"Great. I just wanted to read a new book. I should go to the library right away."

Leagrin also responded with a brightened face.

"Since the weather is nice today, it would be nice to take a walk."

"Yes, I'll be back."

"Come back safely."

After bowing, I left the spot.

And quickly headed to the library.

---

After Lucia left first, Leagrin was about to leave too.

"Ah, that's right."

He stopped in his tracks at the sudden thought.

"There was more I wanted to tell you."

He had forgotten to tell the news of Aen Rixus.

This was also important news, so he was going to tell her right away, but Lucia had already left.

"......"

He thought about following her right away, but Leagrin stopped.

It was because Lucia's expression when she heard the news of Aen Rixus remained in his mind.

She tried to smile as if she was okay, but she couldn't be okay. Weren't the two of them so close......

'I should tell you later.'

After making a decision, Leagrin turned his feet away from Lucia and left for where he was originally going.

However, he didn't know.

What kind of results that news he hadn't delivered would bring......

---

"Wow."

I exclaimed as I stood in front of the library.

The building, which had been half collapsed, had been restored to its original state in a few months.

I was impressed by the technical skills of Rodbel and climbed the stairs of the library.

I was reminded of the memory of almost dying when the library collapsed, and I became careful.

Bang!

The door opened wide from the inside.

I was startled and took a step back.

"Oh, Lady Lucia Rodbel! You're here!"

A familiar voice full of joy came from inside.

I recognized the owner of the voice right away.

"Sir Giles?"

"Yes!"

He walked out step by step.

But......

'Is it the same person?'

His complexion was pale from not seeing the sunlight, there were dark shadows under his eyes, his eyes and tone were sharp, and his body was thin......

"Lady!"

......it was.

The man in front of me looked so healthy and full of energy.

It's strange. His face is definitely Giles Smore?

"Who are you?"

Maybe he's his brother?

As I asked, thinking that.

"Haha! You're so good at joking."

Seriously, who are you?

"It's me, Giles Smore. I was moved by the Lady's words and came back changed!"

He spread his arms wide.

No, what did I say that made him change so much?

As if reading my thoughts without me saying it, he said.

"The previous me was a narrow-minded and short-sighted foolish human. So, I went back to my family home and thought about it. How can I change myself?"

"Yes......"

"As a result! I realized that my mind was not healthy. So, I tried to train my mind, but I found a big problem."

"A problem?"

"That's right, my body is not healthy!"

"Ah."

"I was weak, so even if I tried to train my mind, I would get tired and exhausted quickly. So, I trained my body first. Then, naturally, my head became clear!"

He looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Ugh, burdensome......

"I really wanted to show the Lady my changed appearance. Because it was thanks to the Lady that I changed."

"W, congratulations......"

"Haha, I still have a long way to go. So, did you come to see a book?"

I shook my head.

I told Leagrin that I was going to see a book, but the real purpose was something else.

I said with a serious expression.

"I have something I want to ask Sir Giles."

"Oh, if the Lady is curious, I'll answer it! Ask me anything!"

He responded cheerfully.

I nodded and parted my lips.

"Do you know anything about the pendant of the first head of the family?"

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