Chapter 52

Translator and Editor: Bunny and Einna

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Chapter 52

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“Shushu.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you curious about if there were some people coming and going from the Grand Duchy?”

Wyndert, who was quiet all the way back to the mansion, asked in a cautious voice in front of my room.

I glanced at him with my head tilted because I was confused as to why he asked. Perhaps because he noticed my confusion, he patted my head softly.

“I knew our Shushu is very smart, but today, I just saw how smart you are. Would you go to the information guild to ask about something you don’t know about if you’re not smart?”

This. My eyes widened as I closed my mouth.

Am I a little suspicious now because I’m too smart for a six-year-old kid?

Of course, Wyndert is my guardian whenever we’re out together so I may not be able to hide everything.

I thought about it for a moment, then slowly grabbed Wyndert’s sleeve and said, “Even though Teacher Rima was already caught… the person behind her was not.”

I was talking about the Empress and Wyndert seemed to understand it.

“That person tried to poison the Grand Duchy. We won’t know if they will try to do anything else later…… but just in case they wanted to, they have probably used wizards as their errand boy before and will again.”

It was in fact for another reason, but explaining it using the poison incident as an example seemed to work, Wyndert nodded slowly.

“If your reason was because you had something you were curious about while studying, it would be best for them to not actually tell you about such dangerous things. No, you are not allowed to do anything even if you do know something.”

Wyndert spoke in such a soft manner with his ear getting red and murmuring, ‘Because father and I will protect you.’

“But it’s also my job.”

“But still…… Even if you know, don’t act rashly. Protecting you is the most important thing.”

“Yes.”

Wyndert really seemed to be worried about me. Somehow, my heart felt tingly and warm so I nodded. I don’t intend to dive into something very dangerous in the first place even if Wyndert doesn’t say it, because living with my family longer is an extremely important matter!

“Dad will know for sure that we went to the information guild because he has someone report to him about your everyday whereabouts, for safety purposes.”

“Really?”

“Hmm. I’ll have to tell him about your thoughts, as well as how you were really intelligent earlier while making a deal.”

I covered my warm cheeks at Wyndert’s kind words. I guess he knew that I was secretly nervous since we left the Information Guild!

“Take a rest now, you must be tired. Do you want me to bring you something sweet?”

Wyndert asked as he opened the door. It was considerate of him to think of me even if he was also tired from going out with me.

“No need oppa, you’re also busy. It’s alright, I’m not feeling hungry anyway.”

Wyndert’s job as my escort added to his pile of duties as the Grand Duke’s successor.

We already returned to the mansion so I don’t want to take more time from him.

I smiled at him so I wouldn’t worry him anymore, telling him to see me at dinner, and closed the door.

You kept your promise.

A report was laid on the table sealed with wax so no one could quietly read the contents besides the receiver – me.

Who put this here? Either Edgar, Lucy, Nina, or Franc.

I don’t know what they could have thought while putting this suspicious report on my desk but it would be here no matter what, because the Grand Duke had already turned a blind eye. I opened the report with the paper knife next to it.

It didn’t take long to read through the reports organized by the Information Guild.

I was biting the tip of my pen out of worry while I was sifting through the report’s contents.

‘There is a person who was sent to the Grand Duchy from the White Magic Tower?’

There weren’t only one or two wizards wandering out of the tower for the sake of their research resources. Nevertheless, a wizard is a valuable resource themselves, so there seemed to be someone from the guild’s network who had taken note of that information.

The report didn’t state what their purpose was, why they came here or if it’s just because they were interested in the Grand Duchy. Anyway, they had very little time to dig around and find out information so I was satisfied with the report for now.

‘I have to find this person.’

What was special about the Grand Duchy, and why did they send over someone here at this time.

The Grand Duke’s territory is a relatively normal and barren place for magical interests. The only place the wizard could be interested in was the forest of demons. However, the White Magic Tower focuses on ‘healing’ so there would be no reason for them to go to the forest of demons. I intuitively realized that I might be the one they were looking for.

‘This situation wouldn’t have been created in a day or two.’

It is almost time for them to completely transform a living thing.

It was impossible for humans to create a monster that did not exist because it defies the rules surrounding creation.

The documents from the archives also said that already existing plants and animals could only be transformed into new animals, those are the new creatures that are not created by nature.

Moreover, it would be impossible for a human wizard in the past, so they have been conducting various studies on the compositions of living things so they can transform them into evil creatures.

[They should be developing from now on so it will be ready in time for New Year.]

If you think about the period when animals and plants were transformed in the forest of the demons, it was roughly around this period of time.

As I organize my thoughts by writing them all out on a piece of paper, I feel a little clearer in my head.

If you think about it, the portion of time for them to prepare the magic was too short after the monster subjugation was over.

It would also be risky to use magic in the middle of the subjugation squad fighting with the monsters, so it seems the best way they decided on was to start to develop the spell earlier and proceed slowly with its development.

“Scary people….”

It made me grit my teeth.

This would have to have been prepared in advance for a long time considering the time it took for them to come up with the idea of transforming other living things into evil creatures.

The Empress was the only person who could detonate a bomb in the plot and really throw things off track, so I was worried about that.

‘But it’s better for me to start working early.’

I will have a longer time to prepare if I find some evidence before that happens.

[How should I go to the monster forest???????]

I want to go to the forest of the monsters, but it’s common sense to not let a little girl go there alone, and I also don’t want to risk my safety.

No matter what situation comes, the safety of me and the Grand Duchy comes first.

Just imagining the scene of me dying alone in that forest leaving the family I love that I have barely spent time with yet was terrifying.

I have to take the Grand Duke and my brothers with me somehow.

While contemplating whether or not there is a better way, Nina knocked on the door.

“How was your trip? You must’ve been tired after studying and going out today.”

‘Well…….’

I was really running around freely today.

Didn’t I use the excuse of going to the archives room to study history and then even went to the back alley? Where did my plan of enjoying life and relaxing go? It seems like I have to fight first so I can enjoy a peaceful life.

‘Oh, wait a minute!’

Come to think of it, Nina was very proud when I said I was going to study the history of the Grand Duchy. Wouldn’t other people feel that way?

“Nina, is there any other way to design a paper with something shiny like glitters on it? I wanted to write an invitation for Daddy.”

I suddenly had a good idea and when I asked Nina about it, she pondered for a moment before answering.

“Jewels could be that something shiny on the invitation.”

Nina said she would go to my private warehouse on the third floor.

‘I’m only trying to make an invitation for Dad, but can I really use jewels……?’

I was thinking of making an invitation for my birthday to give to the Grand Duke and asking him to take me to the forest of monsters as a birthday gift.

I think it would be a pity to put jewels on an invitation where you only look at it once or twice at best.

“I’m just trying to decorate the paper, so wouldn’t it be too much? It will be thrown away anyway.”

Nina tilted her head and asked me when I told her that.

“Throw it away? The master will never throw away something that the young lady made yourself.”

“Is, is that so?”

“Moreover, the things in that room are yours anyway. If you need it now and you don’t use it, then when will you use it? Master will have probably filled up that room even more when that time comes.”

‘I heard he’s constantly looking for new things to give you as a gift,’ Nina said as she shook her head, and I was very surprised.

“Oops, this is a secret I’m supposed to keep from you young lady. I forgot it was a secret.”

She’s trying this hard because the Grand Duke is spending a lot of money on things for me. I discarded all my thoughts and laughed out loud. (T/N: LOL hahaha)

“Don’t worry. When he gives me those gifts, I will make a surprised expression as if I’ve never heard of it before.”

Nina laughed as she pretended to be surprised with an exaggerated face saying ‘Heok, how can you do this all of sudden!’

As soon as I had finished changing my clothes, I asked Nina to bring me some jewel powder.

I have lived in a place where it is a basic skill to save everything up for a rainy day. However, as Nina said, I decided not to spare the expense on necessary moments.

This is my first birthday invitation – I will decorate it beautifully and give it to the Grand Duke.

* * *

Dinner time is almost over.

‘I have to speak now while everyone is gathered.’

I took out the invitation from the small pocket in the hem of my dress.

It doesn’t have elegant writing but a card made to express my ‘invitation’ in my own way.

“Dad, brothers.”

“Hmm?”

The meal was almost over, and all the members of the family who were eating dessert turned their attention to me.

Then I frowned when I saw that there was still food left on my plate.

“Shushu, you should eat all your food.” The Grand Duke said seriously to me.

He seemed to be very strict about table manners, but it wasn’t that different from him genuinely worrying about my health like normal.

‘What should I do if this doesn’t work?’

I couldn’t eat my food well because I have a mission to announce for my birthday and I was anxious to achieve my goal of receiving what I wanted as a gift.

“I am full.”

“I’ll give you this when you finish eating!”

Deleign served his dessert to me. I felt I should be a little appeased somehow and eat a little from it.

“That’s my brother’s favorite brownie. More than that, I have something for you.”

My face kept hardening due to the tension. I know that both the Grand Duke and brothers will like it, but still….

‘It’s my first time to ask them to congratulate me for my birthday!’

I took a sip from my glass of water and slightly dampened my lips.

I felt very awkward and I guess they felt very confused seeing that they were all waiting for me to start talking.

“M-my birthday is coming soon so I made this to spend time with you all.”

I felt my body twisting as I was trying to talk.

Now that there were people to celebrate my birthday with, I am happy.

“Your birthday?”

A surprised Deleign screamed. Hearing this high-pitched voice of a child, the Grand Duke frowned.

“Uhm, this.”

I stood up from my seat approaching the Grand Duke and my brothers, handing them out the invitations I made.

“My birthday is on January 1st, so I’m asking you to celebrate that day with me……. And I made this myself.”

The Grand Duke read the words on the invitation.

I also included a picture of the Grand Duke, my brothers, and I holding hands while smiling happily.

I don’t know if it was well drawn because I haven’t learned how to draw properly yet, but the Grand Duke seemed satisfied with it.

He didn’t mind getting the glitter powder on the tip of his finger, as he touched the picture he was holding.

‘He likes it, right?’

My cheeks turned red as my heart pounded.

Since the day we went out together, his eyes looked complicated everytime he looked at me and his mood seemed calm, but that strange atmosphere had left now.

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