First of all, the awakening of her full power had to be recognized by Johanna, the current elementalist.

As she commanded, the carriage veered to the other side where Johanna’s mansion was located.

The gatekeeper, puzzled when he found the carriage, approached them.

“May I know who you are? This place is…”

Keira: “It’s me.”

“Lady Keira?”

His eyes widened at the sight of Keira sticking her head out the window. 

“What happened all of a sudden? I wasn’t informed that you were coming… No, before that, when did you return to the capital? I’ve been told you went on a long trip.”

Keira: “I just returned.”

“Have you seen the Grand Duke? Rumors are circulating secretly that His Grace is waiting for Your Ladyship to return.”

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Keira: “Still, I came here as soon as I passed through the gates. Tell Great-Aunt I have something to show her. Then she will know.”

“…?”

He had no idea what Keira meant, but Keira stood by her statement. 

After a while, she was given permission to enter the drawing room.

‘A lot has change when I wasn’t in the capital.’

The only thing worthwhile was that Johanna’s mansion had been under construction once due to an explosion that had occurred before.

It looked like they had renovated the interior while constructing the collapsed building.

“Please come in.”

As she entered the door, she saw Johanna sitting on a chair with a blanket around her knees.

Johanna spoke first.

Johanna: “You just arrived?”

Keira: “Yes.”

Johanna: “Is my guess right that as soon as you arrived at the capital, you came to me instead of going home, and you had something to show me, right?”

Keira: “Of course. I thought Great-Aunt would recognize it.”

Johanna: “Oh, my God, show me.”

Johanna asked in anticipation.

Keira placed her left hand on the table, and summoned a spirit on her palm.

Although it was a small form, Johanna, the elementalist, clearly recognized it.

Keira: “If I call on Beatrice, the whole area will become a sea of water.”

Johanna: “Have you talked to her?”

Keira: “Yes.”

Johanna: “Looking at this now, it’s ridiculous what Count Weinberg did in the past. Tsk.”

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Johanna clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was an expression that could not be easily seen due to her gentle demeanor.

Johanna: “In the end, it will be like this, so I don’t know what he was thinking when he did it. He ended up committing s*icide, didn’t he?”

Keira: “He might have had something up his sleeve. Or he might have been possessed by the devil.”

Johanna: “A devil… You say terrible things. He must have really done that. Otherwise, there would be no way he could have k*lled himself so vainly.”

At those words, a subtle smile crossed Keira’s face.

However, Johanna continued cheerily as if she had not noticed.

Johanna: “May I assume that the reason you returned to the capital was to reveal your abilities? Now that a new elementalist has appeared, I can be at ease. I was worried about when I would collapse since I’m old.”

Keira: “Don’t worry, you’ll continue staying healthy in the future.”

Johanna: “How do you intend to inform people, by the way?”

Keira: “How did Great-Aunt do it?”

Johanna: “I made them see Beatrice in the rain.”

Keira: “Then I can do the same. It’s the time to hold the autumn memorial service.”

Unlike the private spring service, the autumn ritual was a nationwide festival.

One might think it’s not good to rain on the day of a big event like this, but it was different here.

The fact that it rained on dry land caused by the demons’ curse was nothing but a blessing.

Johanna: “Then you can hold the service instead of me. As expected, I feel comfortable with one more elementalist.”

Johanna smiled and said as if she remembered.

Johanna: “Oh, come to think of it, you said you came straight here without stopping by your house?”

Keira: “That’s how it happened.”

Johanna: “I heard your father was looking for you.”

Keira: “Ah, that’s what I heard too.”

Johanna: “I don’t know what’s going on. Do you know why he’s been looking for you?”

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Keira couldn’t exactly tell her the truth. She smiled awkwardly and replied.

Keira; “Well, wouldn’t it be because he wants me to do something?”

Johanna: “It didn’t seem like that…”

Keira: “I don’t think he was looking for me because he missed me.”

Keira laughed bitterly as she said her near-truth hypothesis.

In fact, the reason she came here in the first place was that she didn’t know how to treat Ludwig.

Ludwig sacrificed himself to turn back her time.

Whether it’s to save the world in crisis or for his dead daughter.

‘If only it were the former reason. If that were the case… you wouldn’t have chosen to make me keep my memories.’

So she didn’t know how to deal with a father who had completely regained his memories of the past, and a father who sacrificed himself for her.

Of course, the wounds she received didn’t disappear. But that didn’t change the fact that he had atonement in his own way.

Johanna: “…ra? Keira?”

Keira: “Ah, yes!”

Keira was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even hear Johanna calling her name.

She nodded and answered.

Keira: “I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”

Johanna: “It’s nothing. I was just trying to tell you to go back quickly because many people are looking for you.”

Keira: “Anyway, I thought I should go home now.”

Johanna: “Good.”

A long time has passed since the last time she saw her family. It was about time.

Keira: “Then, I’ll go back.”

Johanna: “I’ll let you know about the memorial service schedule as soon as I hear the details.”

Keira: “Thank you.”

Keira said goodbye to Johanna and left the room. When she came out, she realized it really was time for her to go home.

‘…What should I say when we meet?’

It would definitely be awkward and uncomfortable. 

She didn’t want to forgive so easily. However, it was hard to turn a blind eye to his sacrifice to return her memories and give her another chance in life.

‘Whether it’s this way or that, I still feel uncomfortable.’

As she returned home, her face was clouded with worry.

Keira: “I’m back.”

Zeke: “Noonim!”

“Did you enjoy your trip?”

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Perhaps news came from Johanna’s mansion since some employees and Zeke were at the front door to meet her.

Keira gave Zeke and small hug and pulled away.

Zeke: “You’ll be in the capital for a while now, won’t you?”

Keira: “Hmm.”

Keira paused for a moment at that question.

She had a reason to meet Erez sooner or later. She needed to go to the City of Scholars, where the tower was, to meet him.

Keira: “I don’t know. But I have work to do for the time being.”

Zeke: “Work?”

Keira: “I’ll be doing the autumn service instead of Great-Aunt. So I’ll have no choice but to stay here until the harvest season is over.”

Zeke: “You’ll be doing it instead?”

Unlike the services held inside the temple in the spring, rain was required for the autumn memorial service.

Then Zeke realized something… She couldn’t take the role unless she was an elementalist.

Zeke: “Then, don’t tell me you’re back in the capital because…”

Keira: “It’s because my abilities have manifested. I thought it would be better to announce it sooner to prevent a second Cosette from appearing.”

Zeke: “That’s a relief! Then you can summon the spirits now, right? I missed it!”

Keira: “You won’t be able to see them even if I summon them anyway.”

Zeke: “…Oh, that’s right.”

Because Zeke’s voice was so loud, the servants passing by glanced at them.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled as if they had guessed that Keira could summon spirits. A special ability was always awe-inspiring.

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‘It’s not a secret anyway, so it wouldn’t matter if the rumors spread first.’

Keira: “By the way, where is the Grand Duke?”

Zeke: “He hasn’t come back yet. Why?”

Keira: “No, it’s just that. I didn’t see him.”

Keira would appreciate it if he was out. She excused herself and told her brother she’d see him at dinner.

She had to take a bath and breathe before eating. After all, long carriage trips were always exhausting.

She stopped just as she was about to tell her maids to prepare her bath water. First, she wanted to test her new abilities.

When Keira said she would wash her body but didn’t ask for bath water, a maid who thought it strange asked.

“I, milady. Didn’t you just say you’re going to take a bath?”

Keira: “I did. I couldn’t bathe during the carriage trip.”

The thought of taking a dip in the warm water after a long time made her feel cozy.

“Then shall we prepare bath water?”

Keira: “No.”

“…?”

The maid looked bewildered as if she had not heard Keira’s conversation with Zeke just before.

Keira walked into the bathroom alone, wearing nothing but a thin gown.

The bathroom, which Keira hadn’t used in a long time, gave off a chilly vibe even though it was still warm.

Keira: “Give me some water.”

As she said that, a flood of water fell from the air. Water splashed out of the bathtub as well.

She dipped her finger in the water to feel it was as cold as an ice field.

Keira: “It’s too cold. Warmer.”

The water, as cold as ice, soon became warm enough to steam.

‘It’s a really handy ability.’

It’s her ability, but she was still amazed. She sat in the bathtub and played tricks, making water droplets.

She didn’t have to worry about the bath water getting cold while playing since she could always heat it again.

It was a long time later that she eventually left her bathroom.

It was because the maid, who had temporarily taken care of her, came in anxiously.

As she came out of the bathroom, she looked out the dark window.

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Keira: “Is it this late already like this?”

“I was worried that Your Ladyship might have fallen into the bath water, but you didn’t come out at all, so what did you do with the bath water?”

Keira: “It’s an elemental art.”

“Pardon?”

Keira: “It’s called elemental art.”

“Wow! Congratulations. Shouldn’t we have a party?”

The maid made a fuss about holding a banquet, saying that this news should be widely known.

Keira dissuaded her from having to do so because she would soon reveal her abilities at the autumn memorial service anyway. Then she left the room right away. 

It was time for dinner. Zeke might be waiting for her.

But soon after her plans to get down to the dining room quickly began, she ran into trouble.

Keira: “Ah.”

At the same time, she just ran into Ludwig, who had returned to the mansion, on the stairs. He had just arrived and had not yet taken off his coat.

Surprised, Ludwig spoke.

Ludwig: “You’re back.”

Keira: “Yes, you must be surprised at my sudden return. I’m sorry about that.”

Ludwig: “No, I was the one who wrote you to come back.”

Keira: “Have you heard from Great-Aunt Johanna?”

Ludwig: “I don’t know what’s going on, but I haven’t been contacted.”

Keira: “She must have thought I’d inform you myself.”

Ludwig: “What do you mean?”