Chapter 79

“There are cases where a child who inherits the abilities of two special bloods is born with one ability, or one ability grows, and another disappears instead of being born with both abilities.”

“Yes.”

“Other than that, there are cases where they can use one ability, but the other ability can be used later. Both are very special cases.”

Gabina proudly said she found an old book that hadn’t been sorted out while organizing the warehouse. She even excitedly said that there were a few more secrets that she didn’t even know and that she had been very busy lately putting them back together in the new book.

“That means they can use two abilities.”

“Yes. It was a mistake that only one ability could be inherited. I will correct it. Um, so I guess I just answered your question, right?”

“Yes, I was curious about that. I think I fit that part. Although one of my abilities has already been lost.”

Then Gabina’s eyes widened. “Really? How did you find out?”

“…I met someone who knew my past. I also discovered the person who survived after I used my ability.”

“Oh my god.”

“So I want to ask you one more question.”

Gabina leaned so close to me that her butt was sticking out of the sofa.

“Say anything.”

“No matter what ability it is, does the person who received that ability feel a crush on the other person for no reason? Except for the ability to imprint.”

“Except for the ability to imprint? Um… I’ve never heard that before. Why? Did the other person show a crush on you?”

“…I think so.”

After thinking about all kinds of things, I had that kind of thought. If I saved Valery, maybe that’s why he got a crush on me for no reason. In fact, it was like he might not be sincere in liking me. I didn’t know why I felt that way.

Gabina’s eyes narrowed a little. “I think it’s just because you’re beautiful. That’s why they have a crush on you. There was no such case. On the contrary, those who have experienced Paramasa’s ability hate them. It’s not because of their ability, but because of the fact that their life was taken away.”

“I see… By any chance, you don’t have a genealogy, right?”

Gabina’s eyebrows frowned. “It wasn’t that I had no intention of searching for it. I tried several times, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find it. All I have is a memo containing information from my mother’s clan and a few acquaintances, so it won’t help. There is also no information about Perenya,” said Gabina cooly, as if she knew what answer I wanted.

“Thanks to you, I’ve almost solved all my questions.”

“I’m also honored to hear from myself what I’ve learned. Can I also add what you said?”

“Of course.”

I was the one who asked Gabina, but Gabina even asked me to shake hands, saying thank you more. She even said that she was going to move the information to the book for the time being, so she wouldn’t be going out for a long time. If I called her at any time, she said she would happily come.

I had already solved my curiosity, so it was time to go back. But somehow, my feet didn’t move far, so I sat on the sofa again and found that Shale looked at me suspiciously.  

“You always disappear like the wind, but you’re not today.”

“There are days like this and days like that.”

“That means you want to go on a date with me, right?”

“No, it means it’s time to go.”

Anyway, he really didn’t give me a break. When I really stood up, Shale put on a pitiful look.

“I won’t be here for a while.”

“Are you busy?”

“Yes. If you need anything, I will deliver it through Mook, so you can use it.”

“…Thank you.”

Then Shale was surprised and jumped. “Why are you suddenly saying something you won’t say?”

“I just thought of it.”

“…You always do what you want to do.”

“I just say thank you, but it’s such a mess. Ah, you know, Shale.”

“What?”

“I will leave this to you. And I heard that Count Ariandel is coming soon. Find out more information about him.”

Hearing all my words, he seemed to be about to nag me, so I immediately returned using the teleportation stone.

Fortunately, Sir Shubart didn’t come the next morning. I got up slowly and moved, thinking I didn’t want to see him for a while.

I had quite a lot of trouble last night. Should I let my mother know I found out and tell her the truth to stop her? Or should I stop my mother like now? Or did I just think about organizing everything by myself and leaving after that?

I was attracted to the latter as time went by, but I couldn’t help it. Even if I knew all the facts, she couldn’t easily stop. Stopping my mother was no longer important.

“The real idiot is me.”

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and went down the stairs.

* * *

I couldn’t see Valery for a few days. Although I received several letters from him, he seemed preoccupied with the ceremony of crowning the crown prince. He said he would come to see me even though he was busy, but I purposely said I was busy.

All of that was because a decision had to be made before the ceremony for crowning the crown prince would be held. If Valery became the crown prince, his every single action would be caught in the eyes of everyone, even more than now, so it wouldn’t be right to be with him even if the empress didn’t oppose it. I thought that if he stayed as a prince, I would be able to stay with him a little longer, but it seemed to be my only wish.

After two weeks, the ceremony for the crown prince was held. There was a lot of speculation until the end. However, the emperor’s choice had been set on the second prince, Valery. That was because not only did Valery fulfill all the things the emperor ordered but also because the first prince unofficially gave up his right.

In the first place, Delkian was the only one who wasn’t greedy for the crown prince position. Even if he gave up his right to become the crown prince, no one would know until the crowning ceremony for the crown prince was held later.

Valery wasn’t too different from Delkian at first. He thought that one of the two of them should be more suitable for that position, and at some point, he seemed to be patiently waiting for the crowning ceremony for the crown prince.

I had a vague idea why he became like that. It must be because he wanted to gain strength to keep his promise to me. And he wanted to grant my wishes. However, I felt uncomfortable because I could see it would be a big wound to Valery later.

I didn’t expect to worry about him this much. That’s why I only checked him out from afar at the crowning ceremony. It was a big event like any festival, so there was also a place where many people gathered.

As expected, when I arrived at the place after dressing up, there was a line of carriages at the entrance. With my hair hanging down unadorned, I wore a wide-brimmed hat deeply and glanced out of the window.

“It’s going to take quite a while.”

People gathered more than usual when holding banquets, so the carriages naturally lined up. Eventually, after waiting a little longer, the carriages in front began moving slowly one by one. Only after about an hour had passed that I could set foot in the imperial palace.

As soon as I got off, the sound of a magnificent musical instrument resonated strongly around me. I hadn’t heard that Sir Shubart would appear here, but I couldn’t relax even for a moment in case things went wrong.

By the time everyone gathered, the ceremony was finally held. As soon as the emperor entered, the eyes of everyone gathered here turned to one place. The emperor was seated on the highest and largest throne, and next to him was the empress. She was smiling gracefully but suddenly looked stiff. I blended more into the crowd to avoid being noticed.

Carbella Rudbihi was treated like an illegitimate child anyway. Blake Ariandel wasn’t a high-ranking noble in the first place, so I had nowhere to hide as my place was almost in the back row.

Soon there was applause here and there, and Valery appeared. He looked very handsome with his insignia and full uniform. The Emperor and the chancellor constantly talked about something, but I couldn’t hear it. I only looked at Valery Ahibara Kashinev.

Finally, the emperor stood up and picked up the crown used for crowning the crown prince with both his hands. Soon a solemn voice rang out.

“Valery Ahibara Kashinev, kneel down and meet the heavy crown.”