Chapter 83
“The Stolen Mine Rights”
Alicia borrowed a carriage under the excuse of going to buy herbs. She then stopped the coachman just before he got on.
“Take me to the Marquisate of Pereshte, not the city.”
“The marquisate? Ma’am?”
“There are herbs you can only get there.”
The coachman had been told by the maids to head to the local market. He scratched his head awkwardly. Going somewhere not approved could get him in big trouble.
“Then I’ll need to get new permission.”
But Alicia was prepared. Without flinching, she lied smoothly.
“This is a personal errand for Her Grace, the Duchess. She said to hurry.”
She pressed a gold coin into his hand, silently telling him not to ask questions.
“Well then…”
Tempted by the coin, the coachman got in and they set off.
Soon, they arrived at the Marquisate of Pereshte. Alicia stepped down from the carriage.
“Wait here.”
Avoiding the market area, she headed toward the mine, slipping into a secluded forest to change clothes.
She disguised herself as a man, covering her face with a robe. That way, even if something went wrong, no one could trace her identity.
Clutching the stolen mine operating rights, she entered the mine.
She came back out holding a heavy pouch, filled with fist-sized diamonds.
Meanwhile, Calypso was sorting documents for his new business.
Thanks to Diana’s check, he had bought the “Laurel Bender” seeds.
All that remained was to go to the mine, show the operating rights, and retrieve enough diamonds to purchase land.
“Finally, our Ernst family will shine.”
Surprisingly, warmth bloomed in his heart for Diana.
“Maybe I misjudged her.”
She had proven her loyalty—borrowing money despite her noble status.
He smiled faintly, packing up everything… and then looked for the mine rights.
But—
“They’re… gone?”
He searched frantically. The shiny gold-lettered paper was nowhere to be found—not on the desk, not in the drawers.
“Butler!”
“Yes, sir?”
“Did you move the mine rights from my desk?”
“No, sir. Not at all.”
It wasn’t likely any servant had taken it. Commoners couldn’t use mine rights—they had no legal value without noble status.
Still, Calypso was panicking.
“Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the mine—fast!”
At the mine, workers were hard at work. Calypso pulled one aside.
“Did I leave my mine rights here?”
“Didn’t you send someone already?”
“What?!”
“A man came with your orders and took all this month’s diamonds. He showed the official mine rights… It looked real.”
“Impossible! Did you see his face?!”
“No, he was in a robe. Said he was acting under your command. Had a noble’s seal too.”
“Seal? Which house?”
“Sorry, I didn’t notice…”
Noble seals were magically protected—only real ones could activate their effect. But this one had slipped by undetected.
“I’ve been robbed…”
With mine rights and diamonds both stolen, Calypso felt like he’d been hit in the head.
“Back to the manor. Now!”
Back at the estate, Calypso burst into Diana’s room.
“Diana!” he shouted, throwing the door open.
Diana frowned at the rudeness, but calmly asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“The mine rights… are gone!”
He was a mess—sweating and panicked.
“Did you lose them?”
“I left them on the desk, but they’re gone! Someone stole them and the diamonds too!”
Diana was unimpressed.
“Calm down. Just look again.”
“I did! Someone took them and used them!”
She sighed. Who could’ve stolen them?
Only someone connected to the Ernst family or Pereshte…
There were only two suspects: Catherine or Alicia.
Just then, a knock sounded.
“Mother, it’s me. Aicel.”
“Come in.”
Aicel opened the door. Her expression darkened slightly at seeing Calypso there.
“Oh… Father’s here too?” she asked sweetly.
“Yes…”
“Are you feeling okay? You don’t look well.”
She reached out and touched his collar with concern.
“I… I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“The mine rights you gave me… They were stolen. I was supposed to use them today to sign the land contract.”
He felt shame looking at her. He had wanted to return her favor tenfold.
But Aicel just stared at him.
This was his best look—defeated and full of despair.
She wanted to shove him even deeper into misery.
But not yet. The higher he rose, the harder the fall.
“Father.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t worry. There’s a way.”
“A way?”
Calypso’s eyes lit up with naive hope. Aicel had to hold back a laugh.
“When Grandfather gave me the mine rights, he whispered something.”
Calypso nodded, curious.
“He said he cast a spell on them.”
“A spell?”
He hadn’t expected that.
“If someone unworthy tried to steal it, the spell would activate and let us track it down.”
(Grandfather had suspected you would steal it, Father.)
Inside, Aicel was burning with hatred. But she kept smiling.
“Your father was a visionary!” Calypso exclaimed.
Relief washed over him.
Still smiling, Aicel picked up a piece of parchment from Diana’s desk and whispered the magic words her grandfather taught her:
“Alpinde, Mordiate.”
A bright light burst from the page. When it faded, a map appeared—marked with a red X.
“This is…?”
“The location of the stolen mine rights.”
Calypso’s eyes blazed.
“So a rat was hiding inside our own estate.”
“But…” Diana murmured as she looked at the map.
Her words faded as she recognized the location.
Calypso looked too—and his face twisted in shock.
“It’s… the doctor’s room.” Aicel finished calmly.
Alicia’s room.
Aicel and Diana met each other’s eyes.
Soon, Alicia would be abandoned by even her lover.
They both smiled.
test