Chapter 191
At Jien’s words, Ceres’s gaze shifted to the ring on the child’s finger.
Engraved on it was Arti’s initial, “R,” carved in a distinctive handwriting. It was the mark Artia always left on the things she made.
Even without that, anyone with even a slight interest in magic items would recognize that ring.
‘Our Arti must have bragged about that ring again.’
She had been immensely proud of her creations while she was alive, and even now that she was dead, a cursory search through biographies or records about her made it easy to find information about the ring.
‘So the one who kept coming to the orphanage was someone connected to an illegal auction house.’
Seeing the ring Jien wore, he must have immediately recognized its true value. Anyone tied to an auction house would have eyes sharp enough for that.
“Jien.”
Having more or less grasped the situation, Ceres called the child’s name and met his eyes. His deep green eyes looked especially clear.
“What do you want to do from now on?”
“…Pardon?”
Jien’s eyes widened. What he wanted to do—he couldn’t understand the question at all.
Why would she ask something like that of a slave?
“If it’s about this, don’t worry.”
Ceres took out the blood contract she had brought from the auction house. At the sight of it, the child’s expression darkened again.
The memory of being forced to cut his finger and press his blood onto the contract resurfaced vividly.
Riiip!
“……!”
At the sudden sound, the child looked up, eyes widening slightly. Ceres was tearing the contract straight down the middle.
“Why would you…!”
He blurted it out before realizing what he was doing, then flinched and hurriedly stopped. Speaking without being asked—what a mistake.
Why is she tearing that up?
Anyone who had stamped the contract with blood could never tear it. Only the owner of the contract could do so, thanks to the curse placed upon it.
Jien had also heard, with his own ears at the auction house, how much that contract had sold for.
Ten million gold.
He couldn’t even comprehend how vast that sum was. And yet she was tearing up something bought for that price as if it were nothing.
“So tell me what you want to do.”
After casually tearing up the ten-million-gold contract and tossing it into the fireplace, Ceres asked again.
‘A child chosen by Arti’s ring.’
Learning magic wouldn’t be bad. But she didn’t want to force anything on him.
‘Should I send him to the Academy first?’
Even if magic was optional, basic Academy education was necessary. That wasn’t a choice—it was essential for him.
“…….”
While Ceres was lost in thought, forming plans, the child’s gaze wavered endlessly as he watched her.
“Um… do I have to leave?”
“What?”
“When…?”
When would he be thrown out? Would he have to return to the orphanage? His face darkened instantly.
“What are you talking about? Do you want to leave? Do you have somewhere to go? If so, I’ll send you.”
“…Pardon?”
“……?”
Seeing the child’s eyes go wide, it was Ceres who looked puzzled instead.
“Um… is it okay if I stay here?”
Had she torn up the contract because she no longer needed him? Could he really continue living here?
“If that’s what you want.”
“…….”
At her calm reply, his lips parted slightly. His gaze trembled again, and then he spoke urgently.
“I want to stay.”
It was the fastest answer he had ever given.
Startled by himself, he flinched after speaking—but he didn’t stop.
“…I want to live here.”
“…I want to live.”
It was the first time.
The first time he had ever spoken his own wishes out loud.
Ceres silently placed a hand on his head and gently patted it.
At that touch, tears finally fell soundlessly from the child’s eyes.
As she continued to stroke his head softly, a silent sigh escaped Ceres’s lips.
‘…Yes. That really is the best way.’
She thought, once again considering how to deal with someone.
“So this is the best you could do?”
“Y-Yes?”
“And how much was your monthly salary again? Six hundred and fifty gold? That’s more than three times an ordinary person’s income… and this is the best result?”
“Th-That is…”
Joel, an employee of Crown Prince Aserian’s secretariat, swallowed dryly as he looked at the crown prince smiling faintly with his chin resting on his interlaced fingers.
Everyone in the secretariat knew by now—never trust that gentle-looking smile.
How many people had believed it, only to spend a full two weeks working through the night?
“I-I’ll dig more thoroughly!”
“Will you? I’d appreciate that.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
“Then I’ll wait until the day after tomorrow.”
“The day after tomorrow?!”
“Hm? Is that impossible?”
“…No. It’s possible.”
Thinking about yet another night of overtime, Joel cried internally and hurried out of the office. Better to grab one more investigation file than waste time lamenting.
“Our secretaries are really capable, don’t you think?”
After Joel disappeared, Crown Prince Aserian smiled and glanced to the side.
There sat Luca, secretary to Cheyenne, wearing an utterly fed-up expression.
Luca had come to the palace to submit a regular report regarding the Mage Tower and had happened to witness the entire scene.
“Lord Cheyenne says this about you—his brother is a very good person.”
“Our Cheyenne always speaks the truth.”
“……”
At the shameless reply, Luca stared at him incredulously.
“He was also convinced you must have been a model student at the Academy.”
“That’s true.”
“…Do you not remember how many times I attended classes on your behalf?”
“Haha, I had a lot on my plate.”
“You were busy threatening other students.”
“Threatening? I merely persuaded them. I recommended they recuperate somewhere with good air and water.”
“…Yes. You did.”
Which is why, by the time you graduated, the student body had shrunk by a third.
Of course, Luca knew well enough that Aserian hadn’t driven people out without reason.
Students who bullied poor classmates to the point of suicide attempts, those who harassed female professors or students, even those who spread mind-altering drugs within the Academy.
The reasons varied widely—but every one of them fled the capital. Some even defected to other countries.
Most still hadn’t returned, wary of the crown prince’s gaze.
“He also said you were considerate and very understanding.”
“I am quite understanding.”
“…You just told your secretary to finish the investigation by the day after tomorrow.”
“Well, at least it’s not tomorrow. Isn’t that overflowing with understanding?”
“…….”
…Let’s not even argue.
Luca gently shook his head. What kind of reaction would Cheyenne have if he saw this?
Like last time, he might stop eating and lock himself in his room, insisting that man isn’t my brother…
This had to remain an absolute secret.
“But why bring me up all of a sudden?”
“Lady Ceres asked about you, Lord Aserian.”
“She did?”
The crown prince’s smile deepened.
“Is she conducting a background check on me?”
“A background check is a kind of interest, you know.”
“…Excuse me?”
Luca narrowed his eyes.
What is this lunatic obsessed with now?
He clearly hadn’t shown the slightest interest when Lord Cheyenne was following her around.
