Chapter 90

Natalianne blinked, staring blankly down at the box in her hands.

For a long moment, her mind froze. Then she quickly lifted the small black box, turning it around to inspect every corner.

What in the world?

She had done everything she could to open this thing earlier.

She hadn’t forced it with magic since it had been labeled as dangerous, but she had thoroughly examined it for any magical devices or seals.

And now it had opened on its own?

By itself?

Her eyes darted across the box in disbelief.

“…Huh?”

Something caught her attention.

Faint, pearly light was rippling across the markings carved densely into the box’s surface.

‘…It wasn’t like this before.’

No, it definitely wasn’t.

Natalianne immediately rejected the thought.

She had studied this object carefully for several days.

She had never seen anything like this. Not even when she had secretly infused a small amount of mana into it.

‘There was no reaction back then.’

So why now?

‘What changed?’

She retraced the sequence of events in her head.

That little troublemaker had fallen from the window, Melissa had jumped after her, and then…

‘No way.’

A single image flashed through her mind.

That kid, staring at the air and muttering something under her breath.

Could it be?

‘Did she do something?’

Her eyes slid toward the window.

There, Roro was crying in Melissa’s arms, her face buried in her shoulder.

Whatever she was crying about, Natalianne couldn’t tell.

She narrowed her eyes, then looked back at the box.

‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’

If the box’s sudden reaction was somehow linked to that brat, uncovering the connection wouldn’t be difficult.

For now, though…

Natalianne’s long fingers hovered above the box as her gaze hardened.

“Shield.”

Whooong

A low hum rippled through the air as a transparent barrier surrounded the box.

Even if poison, hidden weapons, or a trap spell were to trigger, this would at least serve as a basic layer of protection.

‘I need to investigate this before my master returns.’

She must not allow even the slightest danger to reach Melissa.

Natalianne’s cold eyes focused sharply as her hand moved forward.

Zzt, zzt

A faint crackle echoed as her hand passed through the barrier.

Sparks flickered along her fingertips, but she didn’t flinch, resting her hand on the lid.

Creak

A harsh metallic sound scraped the air.

At last, the small box opened.

Inside was…

“…A ginkgo leaf?”

A single, dried ginkgo leaf lay within.

What?

Natalianne frowned, picking it up carefully.

The thin, yellowed leaf rustled softly as she twirled it between her fingers, light as air, like a fragile butterfly.

“…Brother?”

A voice came from behind her.

Startled, she turned around.

Standing there was Demius, eyes wide and unfocused.

His crutch clattered to the floor as he strode forward.

“How…”

His trembling blue eyes fixed on the leaf in her hand.

That shape, that color, he knew it.

The ginkgo butterfly.

It was the same kind his missing brother Asellion used to make.

‘No way.’

His gaze snapped to the black box.

Was this truly something his brother had left behind?

Demius’s breathing quickened as he reached out and snatched the box from Natalianne’s hand.

“Hey!”

Natalianne’s voice rose sharply, but Demius ignored her, placing his palm flat on the lid.

Zzzk

The barrier crackled with sparks, but he didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed locked on the faint inscription carved across the surface.

If you look inside, you may never turn back.

“…This handwriting.”

He murmured under his breath.

No.

This wasn’t Asellion’s handwriting.

It resembled it, graceful and refined, but the lines weren’t drawn long like his brother’s distinctive strokes.

It looked similar, almost eerily so, yet not the same.

In fact…

Demius frowned, his mind reaching back into memory.

Yes.

He had seen this handwriting before, a long time ago, in some old journal.

He had thought it was Asellion’s at first, but after reading a few pages, he realized it wasn’t. It had been some sort of childcare diary.

And he had closed it right away, uninterested.

As Demius tried to recall more, a bright voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Your leg healed!”

He froze and turned.

Melissa stood there smiling warmly, holding Roro’s small hand.

Demius’s gaze flicked toward the door where his discarded crutch lay uselessly on the floor.

His mind raced. Then he shouted with perfect composure,

“Not yet!”

Natalianne’s dry voice cut in immediately.

“This liar.”

Demius’s brow twitched, but he didn’t give up.

“Not yet. I’m just balancing on the other leg.”

He gave Melissa a weak smile.

“Could you please hand me that crutch? I still can’t quite move this leg.”

Natalianne crossed her arms.

“Oh, so now you cough less but act more?”

Melissa nodded innocently.

“Of course. Wait, I’ll get it for you.”

As she walked toward the door to retrieve the crutch, Roro squinted thoughtfully.

‘Hmm.’

Her eyes rolled back and forth between the three of them.

Then she stretched out her leg.

Whack

Her kick shot straight toward Demius’s ankle.

But before it could hit, his supposedly injured leg moved smoothly, dodging with perfect balance.

The motion was so natural it could only belong to a highly trained knight.

“Oh my.”

Melissa, now holding the crutch, stopped in her tracks and blinked.

A drop of cold sweat ran down Demius’s neck.

“This is…”

He tried desperately to come up with an excuse, but Natalianne’s triumphant shout came first.

“Caught you!”

Demius’s eyes darkened as he glared at his smirking sister.

Then his gaze dropped lower.

To Roro.

That sharp little brat. Why did she have to get involved now of all times?

Roro flinched, then shuffled backward nervously.

Natalianne laughed and crooked her finger.

Roro darted behind her in an instant.

Natalianne smirked, looking down at the girl.

“You’re pretty quick-witted, aren’t you?”

“Heehee, please use me as you wish, milady.”

Roro bowed deeply, rubbing her hands together.

It was an obvious choice.

She glanced at the three of them again.

First, the orange-haired lady, kind but hopelessly gullible.

Sure, she’d saved Roro’s life, but Roro had already decided to repay that debt in a way that wouldn’t cause her trouble.

Second, that absurdly handsome man, too scary, and clearly only interested in the orange-haired lady.

Which left one answer.

“Please call me your assistant.”

“Not bad.”

The veiled woman’s red lips curved in satisfaction.

Roro grinned and bowed lower.

This was it.

This woman wasn’t just powerful, she was sharp. The best person to stick close to.

‘I hate trouble.’

Better to serve one powerful master than get stabbed in the back trying to help others.

Roro chuckled quietly under her breath.

At that moment, Melissa returned with the crutch and glanced at Demius’s leg.

“Um, is your leg really alright now?”

“…Ah…”

Demius’s eyes darted wildly, sweat pouring down his temple.

Boom

A sudden explosion erupted from where he stood, sending up a thick cloud of smoke.

A shining blade burst through the haze, slicing it apart.

A flash of steel came flying toward Natalianne.

“You idiot!”

“See? Perfectly fine.”

Natalianne moved with effortless speed, the acceleration magic already cast on her body letting her dodge with ease.

Clang Crash

The siblings exchanged several swift blows before Natalianne smirked, pointing at Demius’s leg wrapped in bandages.

“How long were you pretending? Three days? Four? Or maybe from the start?”