Chapter 08
“I missed you…”
Levin whispered as he ran at full speed and threw himself into my arms.
“Ugh.”
I couldn’t speak at first, as if I’d been struck in the chest, but soon I reached out and stroked Levin’s hair, soft and thread-like against my chin.
“Really? Mommy missed you too.”
As I said this and hugged him tightly, I could feel him burrowing closer into my embrace. He smelled of vanilla, butter, and sugar—probably from the cookies he ate before coming.
“How could I have ever thought of letting a child like this die?”
I couldn’t even bear to look down at him, closing my eyes tightly. My chest ached.
Even though this was a novel, it felt just as real to me, yet I had entertained such a terrible thought.
“…What were you doing?”
Trying to calm myself, I asked Levin. He lifted his head slightly from my embrace to look at me. His pale green eyes met mine and curved beautifully, before a bird-like, babbling voice emerged.
“I was going to see big brother.”
“Big brother?”
Had he only just come out after I left the reception room? I tilted my head, and Levin nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, big brother said he was practicing sword.”
He stepped back a few paces from my arms and pretended to swing something. He was still small and clumsy, but the seriousness in his eyes suggested that he could become a swordsman if he grew up well.
Or, with enough mana… if he could just obtain a magic sword…
I recalled what I had learned about mana at the academy.
In this world, mana is pure energy and can’t be used directly. A medium is necessary.
There are two main ways to manipulate mana.
The first is the use of magical tools. A ‘path’ is designed within the object, and mana is channeled through it, activating the energy as planned.
Magic swords are considered such tools, though currently, restoration is impossible, leaving only three points as a limitation.
The second is the use of verbal spells. This is the common method of chanting words to cast magic. Ancient times primarily relied on this, but today, only a few surviving verbal spells exist, and engraving a ‘path’ into intangible words is extremely difficult. Newly developed verbal spells are rare.
‘Using verbal spells required not just mana, but a special aptitude or talent.’
Only a very select few can use them, and they relocate to the eastern continent for life-long research, developing new spells—a near-legendary tale.
‘Then Levin probably can’t use verbal spells either…’
Still, some magical tools exist as small, accessory-like forms. If he awakens enough mana, he might be able to protect himself. Swordsmanship could also be a good defense even without a magic sword.
I decided to discuss this with the Duke later. Smiling, I held out my hand to Levin.
“You’re doing great, Levin. Shall we go watch together with Mommy? Help me get up.”
Levin grasped my hand. His small, warm, soft hand felt comforting.
“Yah!”
I took a deep breath and rose. Things might actually go smoothly.
Meanwhile, in training…
Thwack!
The wooden sword struck the scarecrow’s shoulder, bouncing back strongly. The Duke spun in response and swung toward the scarecrow’s waist.
Snap!
The straw broke and scattered, even from the blunt wooden sword. From afar, I watched with Levin.
Sweat-drenched black hair clung to the Duke’s forehead.
“Phew…”
The Duke exhaled, brushing his forehead. Light poured onto his face, and his shining red eyes today looked like a perfectly ripe apple.
‘Why is that?’
My breath caught. In that instant, Levin ran forward.
“Big brother!”
“Levin!”
At Levin’s voice, the Duke turned. A smile appeared on his face—cheerful and healthy, nothing like the sinister smile I had seen before.
He tossed the wooden sword aside and lifted Levin in his arms. His broad, muscular body made the small Levin look even tinier.
He opened his mouth.
“How did you get here! Uh…”
Before he could finish, our eyes met. I smiled as I watched his sunny smile fade slightly.
“H-hello…”
I stammered, unsure what to say in front of Levin. Though I had told him to call me Mommy confidently, I felt embarrassed now.
I rolled my eyes and simply bowed my head. The Duke nodded silently in return.
“What brings you here?”
His tone was refined, full of courtesy. It was especially clear in front of Levin. I answered gently.
“Levin wanted to see his big brother, so we came along. I hope we didn’t interrupt your training.”
“No need to worry about that. I was just about to take a break.”
He glanced behind me, where two knights and a maid, who had accompanied Levin, stood.
He gestured to them.
“You may leave now. I’ll take Levin to his room myself.”
“Understood.”
The silver-armored knights raised a fist to their chest in salute, and the maid knelt slightly. A strand of red hair fell from her cap.
Our eyes met briefly. Her deep navy eyes curved gently toward me.
‘Huh…?’
Her red hair reminded me of someone, but her eyes were different. Plus, that person should be at the academy. The timeline didn’t match.
While puzzled, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“…Mother.”
I turned to the unbelievable voice. Unlike the hesitant, almost breaking voice, the Duke’s expression was calm. Flustered, I stammered.
“Uh… yes.”
“I am Dorian.”
“Yes, Dorian.”
The conversation was clumsy, but Levin didn’t seem to notice anything strange. He leaned on his brother, smiling warmly like spring sunlight.
“I need to talk about Levin.”
I broached the topic, watching the Duke’s eyes, which were emotionless—so different from when he looked at his own son.
“Before that, haven’t you been using formal speech since I received the dukedom?”
Unexpectedly, he pointed this out. Was he upset?
I felt my palms sweat and said,
“Yes… I suppose.”
“Then, what brings you here?”
I hesitated, then blurted out.
“…Levin’s mana reserves are surprisingly vast.”
Surely he’d be grateful for the useful information?
But his gaze quickly turned icy.
“How do you know that?”
His eyes flickered menacingly. The fresh apple-like brightness vanished, replaced by a faint, metallic scent of blood. I felt as if his gaze could cut me.
I hurriedly continued.
“Levin also inherited the Brecht bloodline, so with even a small magic tool…”
But before I could finish, the Duke cut me off.
“So you knew that…!”
He spoke through clenched teeth, suppressing anger. The reaction was severe; a shiver ran through my veins. Was this killing intent?
I quickly recalled the original story. The protagonist had learned this from the Crown Prince.
The Brecht family’s vast mana reserves had always been a tightly held secret. Only when the protagonist suspected the Duke while investigating the capital’s drug incident did the Crown Prince reveal it—a very secret piece of information.
I felt the color drain from my face. The Duke’s threatening aura warned me that this might have indeed been a major plot point.
At that moment:
“Mom…”
Levin’s voice made both the Duke and me freeze. His eyes were red from fear. I hastily tried to conclude calmly.
“It’s getting late. I’ll leave first. We’ll meet again later.”
“…Yes. I’ll come to you then.”
Even as the Duke softened his tone, his gaze remained sharp. I swallowed nervously.
Oh no. I had completely forgotten that I had been given a terminal-like judgment at the academy.
I turned and quickly left the training grounds.
I thought: the Brecht family is related to the royal bloodline, so how could their mana be a secret? Mana flows through blood, and only the royal family and the Brechts have such exceptional mana.
In any case, I had no choice but to eventually tell the Duke about my special constitution. I had planned to reveal it slowly, but now it could become a weakness.
“Phew…”
There was nothing I could do. I had made a mistake. I also suspected that the relationship between the royal family and the Brecht family might be secret. After all, it was the Crown Prince who told the protagonist.
Returning to the mansion, I stopped one of the knights who had offered to escort me.
“Is the Brecht household close to the royal family?”
