Chapter 1.4
“My goodness, is that true?! Rosena, are you really going to become the Grand Duchess Baltinart?!”
“Shh, shh! Quiet, Pernil!”
“They say you never know what life throws at you…!”
Everyone’s eyes instantly turned to them. Rosena scrunched her nose, begging her friend to keep her voice down. She was afraid someone might overhear.
Midday. A small cafe in the Baron’s territory.
Upon hearing the astonishing news as soon as they met, Pernil Deckermand narrowed her eyes. Though both women lived in the southern outskirts of the same Agzent Empire, their social standing was different. Pernil, the only daughter of Marquess Deckermand, knew the true nature of the nobility all too well.
Although she lived in the countryside, the position of Marquess wielded considerable influence in the Empire. Having lived as the daughter of a great noble and encountered all sorts of people, Pernil frowned in discomfort.
Especially if it was Cassian Baltinart…
According to Marquess Deckermand’s assessment, he was a ‘snake-like man.’ That alone was enough to guess what kind of man the Grand Duke was.
“What do you think of this proposal, Pernil?”
“What does your father say?”
“He said it was really strange.”
“Yeah. It smells fishy.”
And it wasn’t just a little fishy. If they dug into the truth, their noses would probably go numb.
Nobles never do anything that would put them at a disadvantage. Moreover, the reason for the proposal, that he fell in love at first sight at the academy, was a story that even a three-year-old child passing by would scoff at.
Anyone could tell that the reason had been deliberately fabricated.
After marriage, noble families shared their family name, so they were very sensitive about a person’s reputation when bringing someone in. A family like Baltinart would certainly know about Rosena’s past.
Pernil rested her chin on her hand and muttered.
“If we look at the conditions alone, it’d be a waste to miss such a good match.”
The House of Baltinart, even the imperial family had to bow their heads to them. They were the object of envy that everyone desired, while also striking fear into the hearts of nobles.
That’s why it was even more suspicious.
If the marriage between the two families was finalized, Rosena would gain a lot, but the Grand Duke, in fact, gained nothing.
If he wanted what the Leilia family possessed, he could get it all with just a nod or a flick of his hand, so why would he be so eager?
Rosena chewed on the unspoken condition in her mouth, then whispered softly.
“But he wants the wedding to happen within this month.”
“What? How long has it been since the previous Grand Duke’s funeral?”
“……”
“Could it be that the former Grand Duke and your father knew each other? Like, they promised your marriage even before you two were born?”
Rosena shook her head, saying it wasn’t like that.
Their eyes met in a resolute gaze. If that wasn’t the case, then…
Rosena and Pernil’s lips opened simultaneously.
“Is the Grand Duke crazy? Or is he being threatened by someone?”
“Maybe he’s actually seriously fallen for you.”
“……”
“…Let’s consider the possibilities, Rosena. Who in the Empire could threaten the Grand Duke?”
Pernil waved her hand, saying it was absolutely impossible.
Rosena drank her half-melted ice drink and vaguely recalled Cassian Baltinart. She had seen him from afar during their overlapping time at the academy, even if it was brief.
Cassian probably had heard about Rosena as well. If notoriety counts as fame, Rosena Leilia was quite famous at the academy. Yet, he was proposing marriage to the Leilia family?
Rosena’s blue eyes dimmed.
‘The Grand Duke would never make a move that puts him at a disadvantage. Something must have happened to Grand Duke Baltinart.’
The sudden proposal from Baltinart, who had been quiet about marriage until now, was suspicious enough. This is probably the truth.
Then, what will happen once that ‘situation’ is resolved?
There was no way of knowing. What was certain was that if Rosena had figured it out, Baron Leilia would also know this fact.
‘What is Father thinking?’
In fact, she was more curious about the Baron’s true feelings, as he had seemed happy as soon as he heard about the proposal, even more so than the Grand Duke.
The more Rosena thought, the more she felt like she was falling into a labyrinth.
Soon after, Rosena was enjoying a leisurely tea time with Baron Leilia for the first time in a while. Baron Leilia, savoring the fragrant tea, was the first to open the conversation.
“I declined the marriage proposal that came in last time, Rosena.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t it be difficult for the Grand Duke if we dragged it out?”
Baron Leilia, staring blankly at the garden, spoke as if in passing.
“Your father doesn’t regret missing out on a Grand Duke son-in-law in the slightest.”
“……”
“Your happiness is the most important thing, Rosena.”
“……”
He’s clearly clinging to it. And a lot, too. Rosena’s expression grew cold. Rosena slightly glanced at Baron Leilia with a disapproving look, then shrugged.
“It’s already over, so let go of your lingering regrets, Father.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Baron Leilia spoke with a tone full of regret.
“If things had worked out well, it would have been a heaven-sent opportunity for our clan to no longer live in hiding. But maybe things will still work out somehow.”
“…Huh? What did you just say?”
“What do you mean?”
“What you just said. What does that mean?”
“Ah, the core of the tracking magical tool is in the Grand Duke Baltinart’s estate.”
Rosena’s mouth hung open blankly, and the fork in her hand fell onto the grass. Rosena slowly blinked and looked at Baron Leilia.
What Baron Leilia had just said carried immense significance.
Rosena stood up in shock.
Thump! As she slammed the table, the teacups and saucers floated up and then settled back into place.
“W-w-why are you telling me something so important now! If I had known, I would have accepted the proposal unconditionally!”
“If I told you beforehand, it would seem like I was pushing you to get married. Like I was pushing my daughter into a death trap.”
“So you let this golden opportunity slip by? Without even telling me?”
Oh, my goodness! Rosena pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy.
The tracking magical tool was the reason the ‘Divine Clan’ had to live in hiding.
Rosena remembered that day clearly. The day the imperial search party came.
It was shortly after she had awakened her divine power. The imperial search party unexpectedly stormed into the Leilia Barony.
Rosena, seeing the knights marching in dazzling golden armor, quickly ran to the mansion.
This was to inform Baron Leilia of the news.
“Father! The Imperial Knights are in the barony!”
Rosena, who had resisted for days, refused to let her tooth be pulled out, sobbing and finally giving up her front tooth. Her pronunciation became slurred.
Out there, the Imperial Knights!
Rosena’s breath was quick and shallow, her blue eyes sparkling.
Baron Leilia, who was receiving Rosena’s cold shoulder and had heard her say ‘I hate you, Dad!’ due to the infamous ‘Leilia Barony Front Tooth Incident,’ greeted Rosena with a bright smile and hugged her.
He paused when the words ‘Imperial’ and ‘Knight’ came out of Rosena’s mouth.
“Is that so? Good grief, what a nuisance.”
Baron Leilia’s face twisted into a fearsome expression.
Huh? Did I see that wrong?
Rosena tilted her head and rubbed her eyes, and as if nothing had happened, the Baron’s face was full of smiles.
“You came to tell your father that the imperial search party is here and that it’s fascinating?”
“Yes!”
“But what to do? Father dislikes the imperial search party. He hates them more than anything in the world. Rosena, you also shouldn’t go anywhere near those damn… no, the imperial search party. Got it?”
“Why?”
Rozena blinked with wide, innocent eyes, clearly confused, so Baron Leilia gently explained.
“The imperial search party can recognize us. Did you see the ‘pendants’ hanging around their necks?”
“Pendants?”
Rosena recalled the rough black inverted triangle pendants that seemed out of place on the flashy golden armor.
She nodded, saying she had seen them, and Baron Leilia continued his explanation.
“Yes, those pendants are made to react to divine power. Your father told you, didn’t he? If our true identity is exposed, you won’t be able to come home. You won’t see your father for the rest of your life. You won’t get to eat the snacks you eat every day, and you won’t have toys. And for meals, you’ll only eat vegetables. Isn’t that scary?”
Hiccup. Rosena shuddered. To think that the pendant was such a terrifying object! However, Baron Leilia, still seemingly not reassured, asked another question.
“Rosena, you have divine power, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Try saying no.”
“…Rosena can’t.”
Tearfully, Rosena repeatedly moved her lips, and for the first time, despaired at the fact that she couldn’t lie. How could this be!
Baron Leilia soothed the devastated Rosena and held her in his arms.
“You don’t have to be too upset. The imperial search party is like poop. Is poop dirty or not dirty?”
“It’s dirty.”
“That’s right. So if you see it, just avoid it. Got it?”
“Yes.”
That day, Baron Leilia began to unravel stories Rosena hadn’t known, one by one, as if unpacking a bundle.
He said the imperial family had created a special tracking magical tool using ancient alchemy because they had no suitable way to distinguish the ‘Divine Clan’ from outsiders.
The method of activating the magical tool was simple yet cruel.
All they had to do was put the blood of the ‘Divine Clan’ into the core of the magical tool. When that magical tool was activated, the pendants would react.
However, it was ineffective for children who had not awakened their divine power. This was because the tracking magical tool was designed to detect ‘divine power’ in the blood.
Due to the existence of the tracking magical tool, the clan had been forced to live in hiding until now.
But one fortunate thing was that the imperial family had not been able to use the magical tool directly so far.
This was because the imperial family wasn’t the only one pursuing the Divine Clan. The pendants supplied to the knights by the imperial family had also fallen into the hands of the temple faction.
The moment the magical tool was used, the temple would also begin to move.
It was only a matter of time before the peace, which was maintained even if only superficially, would end.
Therefore, the imperial family couldn’t risk using the tracking magical tool. It would be a huge problem if the temple ended up finding the ‘Divine Clan’ first.
Likewise, the Divine Clan also dared not reveal themselves to the world.
The Divine Clan, pursued by both sides, simply wished to live peacefully. However, even wishing for a normal life was an excessive wish.
If they were even caught by a momentary mistake, everyone would be in danger, so there was no way they could dream of normality.
The only moment the Divine Clan would be free from anxiety was when they met their death.
Rosena would probably have to live that way too. Carrying the anxiety of never knowing when she might be exposed and dragged away, until her death.
Baron Leilia sadly stroked Rosena’s hair as she looked up at him with clear eyes.
“Then why don’t we just destroy the tracking magical tool?”
“Of course, we wanted to. But we failed.”
“Why?”
“We’re bound by many restrictions. Just like you can’t lie, Rosena.”
The situation was the same for the other members of the clan. And so, time passed in this uneasy peace.
And just now, Baron Leilia had dropped a bombshell revealing the opportunity for their clan to be free had been lost.
Rosena’s lips twitched.
“…But, you’re saying that tracking magical tool is in the Grand Duke’s estate, right now?”
“That’s right.”
“B-but even if you destroy the magical tool, they can just make another one, right? Is that why you rejected the proposal? Because you were worried about me being in danger?”
“Hmm, if it’s destroyed, they won’t be able to make it again.”
“Why! Why can’t they make it!?”
They should be able to make it! That way, I can give up cleanly!
Important documents like the magical tool’s blueprints should have been carefully managed and passed down through generations!
“Ah, we destroyed the records of how to make it.”
“……”
“Although we live in hiding, we have never let the powers bestowed upon us go to waste. We had to pay a price, but we did what had to be done to protect those we must.”
Baron Leilia’s expression, which had been playful, gradually became serious.
The mention of paying a price weighed heavily on Rosena’s heart.
She now realized that ‘we’ included her father, Orkan Leilia, and herself.
“Don’t worry too much about the marriage proposal, Rosena. I was the one who rejected it, not you, wasn’t it?”
“……”
“To be honest, I hope that you, Rosena, won’t have to live the rest of your life in fear. I just wavered for a moment and let my greed get the better of me.”
“There’s a reason for it, isn’t there? I’m not a child, I understand what you’re trying to say.”
Rosena knew why Baron Leilia hadn’t let go of his regret, even though he knew Rosena could be in danger.
Still, it would have been good to know beforehand.
Seeing Rosena’s still regretful expression, Baron Leilia smiled faintly.
“Don’t be too disappointed, Rosena. I left some room for the Grand Duke of Baltinart, just in case you might decide for yourself.”
At times, Orkan Leilia, who seemed to be looking into a far-off distance, was in possession of a power.
A power called prophecy.
