Chapter 122

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 122

Chapter Title: Secrets of the Ballua Mansion

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I headed straight to the Ballua mansion with the Chairman.

Dad, Henri, Nos, and investigators from the imperial palace were waiting in front of the estate.

Since the Ballua mansion's ownership had been transferred to me, the search warrant had been delivered to my guardian, Dad.

Henri had come along with Dad because he was the one who had seized the Ballua mansion on my behalf.

The lead investigator held a large sheet of parchment.

'The interior blueprints.'

Buildings had to be reported to the relevant department when constructed or modified, and what the messenger held was the very blueprint submitted when the Ballua mansion was built.

"If there are any expanded areas beyond what's marked on the blueprints, please inform us in advance. Discovery during the search will result in unavoidable punishment."

"We were not informed of any expansions during the estate transfer."

Nos handed over documents signed by Duke Ballua confirming no expanded spaces existed.

The search began.

Pretending to watch out of curiosity, I trailed after the investigators.

The Ballua mansion was enormous, featuring a three-story main building, four annexes, servants' quarters, barracks for the capital's knight order, and a standalone grand library.

Though over a century old, it was impeccably maintained, exuding a mature elegance without any signs of decay.

I carefully ran my hand over the central courtyard stairs.

[Good grief, Nils. Running around like that, you'll bump into something. Let me see, my little one... What are you staring at like a rat pup! Get inside this instant! I can't stand the sight of you, you wretched girl.]

[S-Sorry, Mother.]

Me at eight years old, burning with fever, unable to even stand properly.

When I'd snuck down stealthily for just one pill, the duchess had been tenderly checking on Nils, whose forehead was slightly flushed.

I remember how my hunched shoulders felt heavy as boulders, and the hot breaths I'd carefully exhaled to avoid panting.

"No irregularities from the central courtyard to the first floor's south wing."

"And the dining room?"

Following the investigator into the dining room, I saw an old sideboard.

The dining room I'd sneaked into late at night, stomach growling fiercely.

At six years old, I'd wolfed down the dry, stale bread, only to hear footsteps outside and dive under the sideboard in panic.

My throat clogged tight.

My body trembling uncontrollably.

I recall pounding my chest only after the footsteps faded away.

I gazed blankly around the mansion.

Visions appeared.

A clumsy, curly-haired child version of me clutching a glass of water, tiptoeing down a hallway carpeted with an aged rug.

Me at seven, shattering a vase and helplessly picking up the glass shards with bare hands.

A slightly older me, curled up shaking in a narrow corner by a display cabinet.

I clutched the hem of my dress and bowed my head. My breath kept coming faster.

That was when my vision blurred white.

"...Little One."

"..."

"Little One."

A gentle voice called out.

Lifting my head, I saw Lea kneeling to meet my eyes.

She smiled warmly and brushed my cheek lightly with the back of her hand.

"Why does my little one look so down?"

She said.

[Let me see, my little one.]

She'd spoken the words the pitiful Leblain of my second life had longed to hear just once.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"...No."

I shook my head vigorously, and Lea stood, holding me close and patting my back soothingly.

"Don't hide it if something hurts. Even a single scratch on you pains my heart."

"...Okay."

"Such a good girl."

"Yeah, Lea."

I buried my face in her chest.

Lea was a wonder. She always took my hand exactly when I needed it most, when fear left me paralyzed.

Just like a mother.

I clasped my hands to my chest and whispered.

"Hey, Lea."

"Yes."

"I'm not scared of anything when you're here. Weird, right?"

"..."

"Being next to you makes me happy, warms my heart. That's love, isn't it?"

Lea kissed my cheek and chuckled softly.

"I love you too, Little One."

I threw my arms tightly around her neck.

As we smiled at each other, a loud ahem came from nearby.

It was the Chairman.

I hopped down from Lea's arms, and as she stepped back a bit, he whispered.

"The investigation is wrapping up, but they still haven't found that place."

"These idiots."

I dashed down the hallway with pattering steps.

In the library, the lead investigator studying the interior blueprints let out a thoughtful "Hm..." and stroked his chin.

'Bookshelf, bookshelf.'

Uncle, look over there!

I screamed inwardly with wide eyes, but the investigator's gaze remained fixed on the blueprints.

Then, other investigators entered the library.

"No issues in the servants' quarters or barracks."

"Same for the third floor. The only find was the duchess's secret ledger."

'You fools, there's a secret space right behind you!'

I was dying to pound my chest in frustration.

No choice then.

I yanked books from the shelf at random and flung them behind me, one after another.

"Hey!"

The investigator yelled at me, and Dad, Nos, and Henri all looked my way.

Putting on an innocently childlike expression, I shouted cheerfully.

"I'm gonna play blocks! Gotta stack 'em as tall as Daddy!"

One investigator nodded toward the Duvered group, as if telling them to handle me.

Nos came rushing over.

"Deciding to stack books quietly instead of running around—how thoughtful of you, Little One!"

Grinning broadly, the doting fool picked up the books I'd thrown and handed them back to me. The investigators' faces soured.

"Your Grace, this area is under imperial decree for investigation. Please send the child away."

One investigator spoke politely, and the other doting fool—seated sternly alone on the sofa—replied.

"My daughter wants to stack books."

Dad glared, and the accompanying Duvered doting fools 3, 4, 5, and so on fixed the investigators with blazing stares.

Not even the Emperor could rein in Duke Duvered, let alone some mere investigators.

Emboldened by my doting fools, I hurled books with gusto.

'The button to open the passage to that bookshelf must be around here somewhere.'

"Little One."

The Chairman called me, nodding urgently toward his watch to signal time was short.

The investigators were preparing to leave one by one. Even the lead seemed ready to stand, figuring nothing had turned up.

I scanned the bookshelf anxiously.

Strange.

'Why isn't it here?'

This was definitely the same bookshelf from Ballua's secret warehouse, but no matter how I searched, there was no button to open the entrance.

'Did they not build a basement in the mansion? No, Duke Ballua's reaction proved there's a ritual site here!'

"Thank you for your cooperation. The investigation is complete, so we'll take our leave."

The investigators bowed to Dad.

The Chairman whispered urgently.

"If this is how it goes, at least expose the secret warehouse in the shopping district. Experiments were conducted there too."

"It's been over ten days already. Even the trace mana in the air would have dissipated. The summoning circle is mostly erased too—it won't serve as perfect evidence."

Only by combining the ritual space and secret warehouse in the Ballua mansion with the demon I summoned could we pin Duke Ballua down completely.

"But what choice do we have? Miss this chance, and we may never corner Duke Ballua. Better to raid the secret warehouse before the summoning circle fades entirely."

I bit my lip hard.

'What should I do?'

The investigation of the Ballua mansion concluded.

Duke Ballua laughed heartily, raising a toast.

"That's right. They didn't find it in the end. In the end...!"

I couldn't even guess how worried he'd been that they might uncover the "ritual site."

But the investigation team left empty-handed.

"Glad it ended without incident."

The gloved man smiled, and Duke Ballua slumped onto the sofa, swirling his glass.

"Indeed."

"Now that your worries are eased, time to plan the next move. What will you do now?"

Duke Ballua grinned slyly.

"Theodor seems quite immersed in his fatherly role, that heartless man without blood or tears. Imagine how that self-righteous face of his would twist if we destroyed his most precious treasure."

"Then...?"

Duke Ballua leaned forward, quirking a brow.

"I'm thinking of crushing one impudent little girl."

"The Child of Destiny? But her guards are no joke. How exactly...?"

"We know an easy, quick method, don't we?"

Duke Ballua tugged the bell cord, and the butler dragged in someone with a cloth over their head.

"P-Please, spare me! Spare me! S-Sis! Please...!"

The cloth-covered boy wailed and begged, but the men in the room didn't twitch an eyebrow.

Duke Ballua rose with glass in hand and patted the boy's shoulder twice.

"Alchemy."

"...The method from nine years ago?"

"Yes."

Just as he twisted his lips,

Bang!!

The door flew open as imperial soldiers poured in.

"Surround them!"

Duke Ballua looked around in panic.

"What... What is the meaning of this audacity...!"

"By imperial decree, we arrest you for threatening the palace with forbidden sorcery!"

What?

"They found nothing in my former mansion. Why target me...!"

A small girl toddled in through the imperial soldiers.

"Child of Destiny? What business do you have here...!"

As the duke's face hardened, Leblain beamed and shouted.

"Here to watch Uncle get arrested!"

'You thought I couldn't find it, didn't you, trash? Even if you hide it perfectly, there's always a way.'

"The Ballua mansion's basement warehouse."

"...What?"

"Curious how I found it?"

Leblain glanced back, and someone cautiously entered.

Duke Ballua's eyes widened at the sight.

"How... How are you...!"

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