MCFATTKM

48

"Emperor Perseus is completely obsessed with his adopted daughter. I think, even if it's the throne, he would give it to her."

"That fellow... I shouldn't have sent Elizabeth to him in the first place!"

The old Duke's eyes were filled with anger and resentment. Carius also gritted his teeth, to the point that his clenched jaws were clearly visible.

"Yes, Father. Emperor Perseus is not qualified to be her biological parent! Not only did he not recognize Lelia, but he even made her run away..."

"That's right!"

"Do you know what he did in the castle?"

"...Did Lelia tell you?"

The Duke's brows furrowed. He knew the reason why Lelia didn't talk about her wounds. She must have been worried that her old grandfather might get offended by it.

Her heart and mind was too caring, for a mere ten-year-old.

He was heartbroken. She was forced to grow up so fast. Because she knew how the world treated her.

"Yes, she told me everything. But I won't tell you, Father."

"...What?"

The Duke's expression became more distorted. Carius raised his chin cheekily and said,

"Lelia told me not to tell you. You'll be heartbroken."

"Then, why bring it up in the first place? Are you making fun of me?"

"I'm just saying. I think Lelia knows too. I'm her favourite family member, after all."

"No, you son of a...."

Carius stopped making fun of his father and spoke in a serious voice again,"That's not the point right now. Did you know that Lelia had a talent for alchemy?"

"...Alchemy?"

The Duke's expression became serious.

Alchemy was widely perceived as heresy, but not everyone thought so. Only those who had no deep faith in Creutzism.

In other words, people who did not believe that God rated alchemy differently.

The Duke, who looked into alchemy for fixing his wife, was one of them.

Alchemy did not help him, but his perception itself was not negative. It leaned more to the positive side.

The two began to discuss the matter with serene looks on their faces.

If Lelia wanted to, the two would let her do whatever she wanted.

However, for the safety of the child, this talent must not be exposed to the temple.

In the midst of a long talk about alchemy, Carius suddenly slammed the table with his fist.

He now remembered what Lelia had been through.

"The more I think about it, the more I get angry! Emperor Perseus... Cedric, Damien, these men...."

When Carius grinded his teeth, the Duke squinted his eyes and said, "Why? Did they bother Lelia?"

"..."

"No, no. She must definitely have suffered a lot..."

The Duke felt foolish to not have thought of it earlier.

Carius said worriedly, "It's not just that. Those guys are just like their father. Obsessed with their new little sister... Those three rich siblings threw tantrums and made a big fuss."