DKVM Ch 34

Chapter 34

Early in the morning, Karlz was getting ready to leave.

It was his first day back on the mainland since coming down to the village months ago.

He may have stepped down from central politics, but he was still the center of the aristocratic faction.

It was a bit of a nuisance, but it kept him in power.

The greater his influence in politics, the harder it would be for the emperor to cross Rahel.

Once he was dressed in his best, Owen, who was waiting by his side with a robe, interrupted him.

Karlz pulled on his robe and instructed.

“At this time, take care of the villa. And Rahel as well.”

“With pleasure.”

Tipping his hat, Karlz headed for the door.

Owen followed him and asked.

“By the way, what’s your timetable for getting home?”

“Well… we’ll have to see, but I don’t think I’ll be back until after the festivities are over at the earliest.”

“With all due respect, why don’t you come back a little earlier and spend some time with the young lady?”

At Owen’s suggestion, Karlz thought for a moment, then asked.

“Are Vivian and Rahel up?”

Last night, the three of them had dinner together because Vivian was staying at the villa for a while.

Then he excused myself to give the girls some time alone.

“Vivian went to the lady’s room and slept with her, so I guess she hasn’t woken up yet.”

Karlz chuckled when he heard the news from Owen. Then he replied to the suggestion from earlier.

“I’m sure they’d rather have this old man out of the way.”

Especially Rahel, that rascal.

Owen let out a small ‘aha’ as if he understood what Karlz meant.

“Did you already have your grandchild’s daughter-in-law in mind?”

Karlz paused at his question.

Clearly, as far as he could see, Rahel’s feelings for Vivian had the potential to develop into something more than friends.

‘Vivian doesn’t know Rahel is a boy yet, so her feelings will be the most important thing when she finds out the truth.’

If that’s what the two children wanted, he wasn’t going to make a big deal about the difference in status.

‘More important than that…’

Outwardly, Rahel is a girl.

He didn’t think about how long he could pass Rahel off as a girl.

For him, Rahel was his last promise to his daughter, a promise he would keep until the day he took his last breath.

If he could only keep her as a girl, he would keep her hidden forever.

‘But that’s not what Rahel would want.’

But that child could be in danger if his power and true self were revealed.

‘Can I send him out into this dangerous world?’

To him, his grandson was still an unhatched egg.

Like an egg that could crack at any moment…

Karlz’s thoughts were quickly dismissed.

‘Though there’s no reason to worry about that now.’

Nothing was set in stone yet.

There was no need to worry about it in advance.

“Then I’ll head out.”

Leaving the room, the two descended to the manor’s entrance hall.

There was a line of people waiting to see them off, including Sally and Margaret.

But, as Owen had told him, the two children were nowhere to be seen.

Karlz turned away without a trace of regret. He hadn’t planned to wake them up to greet him.

But then.

“Your Grace!”

Vivian and Rahel appeared from the second floor with urgent voices.

Vivian hurried down the stairs, running a hand comb through her frizzy hair.

“You’re going to trip.”

Karlz lightly scolded her, but whether he did or not, Vivian jumped down and stood in front of him.

“Take care, Duke!”

Rahel, who descended behind Vivian a beat slower, added.

“Goodbye, Grandfather.”

Karlz stood still, staring at the two children in front of him.

What had seemed like a superficial ritual when he and Rahel were alone, just to keep the “family” facade going, felt different today.

“Do you both need anything?”

“Do we need anything?”

“Or is there anything you want to eat?”

Rahel thought for a moment, but she didn’t really have any wants or needs.

Partly because she grew up with no material needs, but mostly because she wasn’t used to asking her grandfather for things.

Vivian, who was watching Rahel’s face, replied.

“I’d like dessert, then.”

“Dessert?”

“Yes, “Yes, I want to try the most famous and delicious dessert in the empire!”

“I’ll try.”

Anticipation colored the girl’s cheeks.

Over the child’s giggling face, a now blurry image of Isela’s childhood was superimposed.

Karlz watched for a moment, then smiled and patted Vivian on the head.

Then he turned to Rahel, who stood at his side.

“Rahel, are you sure you don’t need something?”

Reading the subtle anticipation in Karlz’s eyes, Rahel thought for a moment before answering.

“Then…please buy me more books.”

“Books?”

“Yes, I mean more of the books that grandfather buys me each time.”

The books Karlz bought Rahel every time were spellbooks of all kinds.

Rahel didn’t want to reveal in front of all of the servants that she was practicing magic, so she said it in a roundabout way.

Karlz realized that Rahel was being careful not to disappoint him, not because she really needed the spellbooks, but because she didn’t want to disappoint his expectations.

“I’ll be back.”

He stroked Rahel’s head the same way he’d done Vivian’s.

At the same time, for the first time in a very long time, he realized that he must return to the manor.

Karlz left the porch and climbed into the carriage. The sound of distant hooves could be heard faintly beyond the closing door.

The assembled servants returned to their daily routines.

“We should go too, Rahel.”

Rahel and Vivian chattered as they headed back upstairs.

Margaret watched them go, her eyes cold.

* * *

After breakfast, Rahel took Vivian to the library.

Vivian followed closely behind Rahel as she headed deep into the library in search of a book.

“What are you looking for, Rahel?”

“I’m looking for a book on elementalists.”

“Elementals? Why all of a sudden?”

“That aura you’ve been feeling, I thought it might have something to do with elementals.”

Vivian’s eyes widened at Rahel’s words.

‘You were paying attention to what I said last night.’

She could have dismissed it as hearing things, or simply being frightened.

Rahel was seriously trying to get to the bottom of it.

“I’ll help with looking too!”

With that, Vivian joined in, and they returned to the desk with a stack of books on elementals.

Sitting down, the two girls began to read their respective books, searching for information.

As she read in silence, Vivian found the information she was looking for.

 

Elementalists can usually only contract with one elemental.

The elemental makes a contract with the contractor in exchange for mana, and the elemental can only exert as much power as the contractor provides.

Once you’ve made a contract with a spirit, you’ll be able to hear its voice. It’s not exactly a voice, but more of an aura. The elementalist can use that energy to communicate with the spirit.

Although it’s rare, some people hear spirits even before they sign a contract.

 

Vivian’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she considered the possibility that her symptoms might be spirit-related.

“Rahel, you were right! Some people hear the voices of spirits even before they make a contract with them.”

Hearing that, Rahel stepped up to Vivian’s side.

Vivian pointed to the passage and spoke up.

“It says here that the spirits take my mana, so if I really become an elementalist, will that also cure my illness?”

Then she wouldn’t have to bother Rahel anymore, would she?

Vivian was excited.

From what she’d heard from the maids, Rahel hadn’t been attended to by maids since she was a child.

‘She had a nanny when she was very young, but even now she does everything herself.’

Rahel was so reluctant that she refused to be touched by anyone, but she held my hand. It must have been annoying and unwanted.

‘She probably did it because I’m sick.’

I’ve even collapsed in front of her before, so I’m sure I owe her something.

Maybe she could take some of the pressure off of Rahel.

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat at the thought, but Rahel’s face darkened.