“Is it because you’re concerned about the young lady’s safety?”
“I can’t say that’s not part of it.”
“Very well, I accept your condition. But if the treatment fails, we’ll take custody of the young lady.”
It didn’t sit well with Alexis, but since Elia nodded her agreement, he had no choice but to accept it.
She had given him a look asking him to trust her.
“Then we’ll do as Elia wishes.”
With a soft smile, Elia signed the contract.
“I’ve signed it.”
She took a copy of the contract identical to Lapis’s and stood up.
“The contract is sealed. I’ll be heading off now. Please bring your sister safely to the Duchy.”
“Understood. I’ll see you again soon, Guardian.”
Elia whispered to him quietly,
“Don’t call me that in public.”
“I have that much common sense, young lady.”
“Then, see you later.”
Smiling brightly, Elia turned to Alexis.
“Your Grace, let’s go buy some more books.”
“Books?”
“Yes! We came all the way here, it’d be sad to leave without buying any.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Alexis didn’t seem to mind either.
Elia took Alexis’s hand and headed back toward the book market.
Lapis quietly watched the two of them go.
At that moment, someone appeared behind him.
“Phew, I thought I was going to suffocate. Brother.”
“You held up well, Nicholas.”
Nicholas was Lapis’s right-hand man, a master of stealth techniques.
He had been hidden next to Lapis the entire time, silently guarding him while Elia and Lapis conversed.
“But, Brother, are you really okay with this?”
“With what?”
“I mean… can that young lady really cure Razli’s illness?”
“We’ll have to trust her. Would the Guardian of the World Tree lie?”
“But can we trust the Duke?”
“We thoroughly investigated House Cartellani before coming. Meeting him in person, he’s not the type to play dirty tricks from behind.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Masters can sense something called aura.”
“Aura…?”
Lapis gave a small laugh. Some things just couldn’t be explained.
“It’s a thing. And Tom?”
“Just as you instructed, I bought him some picture books—he’s completely hooked. When did you even teach him to read?”
“From the day I brought him in, step by step.”
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders. Picked it up quickly, I guess.”
“Let’s go back. We have to bring Razli.”
“I really hope she can be cured…”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Still, it was pretty shocking… The Guardian of the World Tree is just a child…”
“Don’t go around blabbing. Unless you want to die by my hand.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“The Duke even noticed you using stealth. So be more careful in the future.”
Lapis couldn’t forget the intense gaze of the Duke as soon as they had entered the house.
He must’ve sensed Nicholas’s presence but didn’t show it—probably because he was confident he could deal with him.
“If Nicholas had shown killing intent toward the Guardian, he’d be dead by now.”
This Guardian had quite the protector.
“But who knows how long the Duke’s protection will last.”
The Guardian was someone everyone coveted.
If word spread that the Guardian of the World Tree was under House Cartellani’s wing, they could become a target of the entire world.
Lapis couldn’t help but wonder—how long could the Duke protect her?
Back in the carriage, on the way home…
Elia had to endure a long lecture from Alexis.
“Elia, revealing your identity was far too rash.”
“If I hadn’t, he would’ve just dismissed me as a child and never believed a word I said.”
Who would believe a random child claiming they could cure someone’s dying sister?
But it was different if that child was the Guardian of the World Tree.
If the Guardian said so—then it must be true.
“Still, you should have discussed it with me first.”
“I’m sorry for not telling you in advance. I didn’t want to make you worry.”
“Stop doing that. From now on, consult with me about everything. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Elia understood how much he worried about her.
“And seriously think about becoming part of our family too.”
Elia stared quietly at Alexis. His eyes were serious.
“You haven’t given up?”
“Why should I? I said I’d wait, that’s all.”
“Then… give me a bit more time to think.”
“As much as you need.”
She didn’t know why those words made her heart so warm.
Seeing Elia’s expression, Alexis grinned playfully.
“That look—you’re touched I said I’d wait, aren’t you?”
“I am not!”
She quickly turned her face away.
Back at the Ducal Mansion
Meryl greeted them at the door and blinked at the stack of books Elia was holding.
“You bought a lot of books!”
“Uh, His Grace bought them for me.”
Alexis smiled and gently patted Elia’s head.
“You said you didn’t want fairy tales, but you bought only fairy tales.”
Elia’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“I-I bought them because I was curious!”
Come to think of it, she hadn’t read any fairy tales in her past lives either.
Even after being rescued by Raoul, she had no time for storybooks—she had too much to learn.
Raoul once said she was too unrefined in etiquette, speech, and academics to accompany him in public.
Wanting his approval, she studied and trained like mad.
But in the end, none of that paid off. Only Raoul benefited from her efforts.
Just thinking about it put her in a foul mood.
“Elia, what’s with your face?”
“My face? What about it?”
“You look like you want to kill someone.”
“Why are you always staring at my face?”
“I’m always looking at you.”
“Please, spare me the excessive attention.”
“Think of it as affection.”
She was stunned.
“Meryl, I want to take a bath.”
Trying to escape the awkwardness, she grabbed Meryl’s hand.
“Good night, Your Grace.”
“Huh?”
As Elia disappeared down the hall with Meryl, Alexis watched with a faint smile.
“You really seem to like the young lady, Master.”
“Norman.”
“I like her too. Since she arrived, this house has felt so much brighter.”
“You think so too?”
“Just look at the staff’s faces—you can tell.”
Alexis glanced around.
Everyone looked delighted whenever they saw Elia—like they couldn’t get enough of her cuteness.
That night, after a bath and dinner…
Elia sat in bed with a sandwich and opened a fairy tale book.
Alexis had been busy and couldn’t join her for dinner, so she ate alone in her room.
Meryl explained that the sandwich was packed with nutrients, specially made by the chef, who insisted that kids needed to eat well to grow strong.
The first book she picked up was The Witch’s Candy House.
Gaji, reading over her shoulder, muttered:
[What a messed-up story.]
“Be quiet.”
[Seriously! Who dumps kids in the woods?!]
“Let me read or I’ll throw you out the window.”
[How could you say that after all I’ve done for you…?]
“You know my personality, right?”
[Ahem… I’ll be quiet now.]
Only then did Gaji go silent.
Then the bracelet hummed.
[Seems someone’s lacking a few brain cells.]
Stella clucked her tongue at Gaji.
[Hey, snake! Was that aimed at me?!]
[Didn’t know you could hear me. And I’m Stella, not snake, you dunce.]
[Dunce? You picking a fight with me?!]
With both spirits bickering in her ears, Elia snapped.
“I said be quiet! I can’t even read my book! Keep it up and you’re both getting thrown out.”
[I was being quiet, Master.]
[Tch…]
“If you argue one more time, I really will toss you both out.”
That finally shut them up.
