Chapter 111
Though trembling, the child didn’t hide, as if prepared to be caught.
“M-Meliana, Sister…….”
“What are you doing here? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”
“N-no! You’d know if I used magic, Sister. How could I even think of doing something like that…….”
Cirilla desperately shook her head. In truth, she had tried to eavesdrop despite knowing the risks. Although Evgenia had tightened control over her surroundings, rumors still had a way of spreading.
The news that Duke Futurum had accused Nepheli had quickly circulated among the maids and attendants, eventually reaching Cirilla’s ears.
‘Nepheli Sister might be in trouble.’
But since she couldn’t enter Evgenia’s palace, Cirilla lingered nearby, hoping to learn something. It was then that she spotted Meliana, Morris, and Duke Futurum leaving.
To avoid suspicion from the knights, Cirilla waited a while before heading to Morris’s palace.
Her frequent visits to Morris’s residence meant they let her in without question.
Once inside, Cirilla summoned her familiar, knowing full well the risk of being discovered. If she could glean even a little information to help Nepheli, it would be worth it. But she was caught before she could learn anything.
Still, she had prepared an excuse—and a small gift.
Swallowing nervously, Cirilla continued speaking.
“I just heard some nobles saying bad things about you and Duke Morris earlier. I got worried…….”
“Worried?”
“I thought you might feel upset, so I wanted to cheer you up. And also…….”
Cirilla fidgeted with her hands behind her back before bringing them forward.
“T-this. I wanted to give this to you.”
What she held out were a few wildflowers—ordinary blossoms that could be found anywhere in the palace grounds, with no notable name or significance.
“What’s this for?”
“They’re pretty……. I thought seeing them might make you feel better…….”
“As if looking at something like this could cheer me up. What a useless gesture.”
Meliana swatted the flowers out of Cirilla’s hands. Startled, the child froze, staring wide-eyed as the flowers fell to the floor.
“Ah…….”
Cirilla quickly crouched down to pick them up, her small hands trembling. Watching her, Meliana sneered and stomped on the flowers.
“Don’t pick them up.”
“B-but…….”
“Why bother bending down to pick up something so trivial? Use magic or have a maid throw them away.”
Cirilla hung her head, her small, round figure shrinking further. Seeing her like that, Meliana sighed, as if something had just occurred to her.
“By the way, Cirilla.”
“……?”
“Did Father tell you to spy on Nepheli? Did you get caught?”
“N-no! That couldn’t happen. Nepheli Sister can’t even use magic……”
At that moment, Meliana recalled what Morris had said earlier. Nepheli didn’t lack the ability to use magic—she chose not to.
But Meliana dismissed it as unnecessary caution.
Even if Nepheli could theoretically use magic, she would fall ill after casting even the simplest spell. What difference did it make whether she couldn’t use magic or simply didn’t?
In fact, Cirilla’s claim seemed more plausible. Nepheli couldn’t possibly detect Cirilla’s mana.
No matter how much mana Nepheli had been born with, it was all in the past. Her broken mana circuits rendered her unable to sense mana at all.
Yet still…….
“Sister?”
“W-what?”
“When did you start calling Nepheli Leta Anesis ‘Sister’?”
Meliana’s sharp question startled Cirilla. Since childhood, Cirilla had been conditioned to refer to Nepheli as ‘Lady Nepheli’ rather than ‘Sister’, reflecting the hostility ingrained in her.
“Oh… I must’ve picked it up from you, Sister. I didn’t even realize……”
It was a plausible explanation.
But for some reason, it felt off. Like she was hiding something.
‘Suspicious.’
Meliana narrowed her eyes.
Cirilla flinched but didn’t avert her gaze. After a moment, Meliana dropped her suspicion. Though she felt uneasy, she convinced herself…….
‘That timid child wouldn’t betray us.’
While Duke Futurum might spin all kinds of wild theories, Meliana thought they were absurd. Cirilla had been molded from a young age to obey, and her father held Cirilla’s very life in his hands. Betrayal seemed unthinkable.
Even Morris had dismissed Duke Futurum’s suspicions as baseless speculation.
“Don’t loiter around here anymore. Go back to your palace. If Father finds out, you won’t get off as lightly as I’m letting you.”
“Y-Yes. Thank you, Sister.”
Cirilla hurriedly left the scene, her movements flustered.
Watching the child disappear quickly, Meliana’s gaze dropped to the wildflowers scattered at her feet, and her brows furrowed.
‘How careless.’
Leaving flowers lying in the hallway where they might be discovered—how thoughtless of her.
Still, she decided to show some generosity. With a flick of her hand, the wildflowers scattered into dust, leaving no trace behind.
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