# 56
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“Eleanor.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess.”
“I owe you my life. Thank you so much for saving me.”
Tidian, who was following the Grand Duchess, slowly raised his head and rubbed his tear-streaked face.
“Thanks, heck, thanks.”
"decent."
Elinor replied politely.
“On the contrary, thanks to the Grand Duchess who protected the child until the moment of the fall, the child was not harmed and was safe.”
“But it was you who saved us, Elinor.”
The Grand Duchess smiled sweetly.
Her gaze turned to the little bird that was flying above Elinor's head.
“This is definitely a sacred beast, isn’t it? The scriptures say that a small bird of a ruler always accompanies the saint that the ruler loves.”
“I knew from the beginning that my sister-in-law was a wonderful person.”
“Thank you so much for saving my mother.”
As Tidian and Cornelia expressed their gratitude one by one, everyone in the room bowed to Elinor.
Except for Matthias, who was with her, and Agares, who knows the truth.
“Doesn’t this belong to the child?”
Agares whispered with his lips as his eyes met Elinor's.
'He summoned something with his holy power, right?'
Elinor pursed her lips softly.
That meant staying calm and not talking unnecessarily.
'It's the worst situation, but it's not quite the worst.'
Fortunately, people believed that the holy power the child displayed was Elinor's.
At this time, the scene was so chaotic that they couldn't concentrate, and Elinor, the child, and the Grand Duchess were hugging each other tightly.
Most importantly, the golden bird that saved them was hovering around Elinor.
As if he was declaring that Elinor was his mistress.
'But I don't feel anything at all.'
She felt something warm and pure.
But that was all.
Does the child feel something different?
If this was truly a sacred beast like the Grand Duchess said, then it should be even more special for the child.
“As I expected from the person I chose.”
Agares laughed in a playful tone, and in the end, he decided to agree with Elinor.
He put his arm on Elinor's shoulder and said:
“Her understanding of magic is high, and she knows how to use holy power. She is perfect in every way. It would be great if she lived with me… ugh!”
Suddenly, the golden bird, which was hovering around Elinor, began to quickly peck Agares' forehead.
Agares stepped back, waving his arms.
“Ugh, ugh. Holy monster? What is this holy monster with a bad disposition?”
“Who is this by the way...?”
“It's Agares Esial, Master of the Mage Tower, mother.”
Matthias said, looking at Agares with a cold look.
The Grand Duchess was surprised when she heard the word “Master of the Mage Tower.”
“He visited the Duke’s Palace a few days ago as well.”
“That's right, ma'am. Our first meeting with the Duke was pleasant.”
“Interesting...”
"I felt like something exciting was going to happen, so I stayed for a few days. And now this happened today? Who was the magical monster that just tried to attack Ellie?"
“It wasn't a magical monster! It was my friend's mother...”
Cornelia stopped talking, feeling angry.
She wiped her red eyes and continued.
“She was my girlfriend’s mother. And according to my brother, my girlfriend too...”
“Oh, your friend also became a magical monster?”
“Please be careful with your words, Tower Master.”
Matthias warned in a cold tone.
“It is a tragedy for our family to lose people we were close to.”
“However, they were the ones who cursed Ellie and tried to attack her, and the Duke is very kind.”
"Cursing? Matthias, what does that mean?"
“…I will explain later.”
“Okay, talk about that later.”
Agares smiled, his yellow eyes narrowing like crescents.
“Ellie saved the Duke’s family, and I saved the people, right? I want a reward for helping me clean up this situation.”
“Is there something you want, as you are the Master of the Mage Tower?”
“Even the Tower Master doesn't have absolute authority. Well, maybe in the Tower, but anyway, I want something for my research. Just give me one corpse.”
Cornelia's eyes widened upon hearing Agares' request.
she shouted sharply.
“Grace is forbidden!”
“Then give me something else.”
Agares said indifferently.
“Or if you don’t like it, you can give me what the Duke has hidden.”
“What is my brother hiding?”
“When we met a few days ago, his hands were redolent.”
Cornelia looked at Matthias.
She didn't know what he was talking about, but her eyes said to hand him over now.
'He knows about black magic.'
Matthias's gaze sank.
He had suspected it since Grace's form collapsed and Agares suddenly appeared.
Maybe he smelled contaminated soil.
He was carrying a portion of border soil to find a way to purify black magic.
'But.'
Matthias looked at Elinor.
Elinor, meeting his eyes, quietly avoided his gaze.
The warm, bright light that exploded out of her, covering everything in front of her.
The holy water provided by Charlotte was effective in purifying the polluted land.
But Elinor's power was much stronger.
Matthias had a lot to ask Elinor.
You had holy power and you hid it.
You had a close relationship with the Master of the Mage Tower, who knew about black magic, but you claimed you didn't know it.
Doesn't that mean you already knew what I was going to ask, and what hardships Hilliard was facing?
“Cornelia and Tidian, go out with the servants.”
"no!"
“I don't want to either!”
Cornelia and Tidian resisted fiercely.
Their will was strong not to retreat any longer.
Matthias sighed.
After exchanging a short look with the Grand Duchess to get her opinion, he ordered the servants out.
“Miss Elinor.”
Elinor tensed.
"Yes."
“I have something I would like to say frankly… to Cornelia and Tidian as well.”
He would have preferred to end the matter himf if possible. If that wasn't possible, he relied on the help of Logan, the second brother.
After choosing his words carefully, he spoke.
"To clarify the situation, Miss Elinor has been cooperating with me. My target is Charlotte Winston, Miss Elinor's sister."
Tidian's head tilted in confusion.
In return, Cornelia remembered the conversation she had with Elinor earlier.
'Also then, Elinor said she was looking for her sister with my brother.'
"Miss Elinor seems to think I'm looking for Charlotte because I like her, but that's not true. I just need her."
“Why?”
“Because I need her sacred power.”
“Holy power?”
“…The Border Land is being tainted by black magic and rotting quickly. Perhaps in a few years, even this Duke’s Palace will no longer be safe.”
Cornelia and Tidian were surprised by the new news.
After the confusion, came anxiety.
“That's why I didn't want to tell you.”
But he couldn't back down now.
As well as his relationship with Elinor.
Until morning, she had been a woman he wanted to get close to in person, but now she had become a savior he had to cling to.
Normally, Elinor was averse to even the touch of his hand.
What if he revealed his feelings openly and upset her?
What if because of this you decide not to help Hilliard?
Matthias decided to hide the feelings he realized.
Anyway, it's not a love to live and die for, just a mild crush, so it won't be a problem.
“Miss Elinor.”
He was capable of doing anything.
“Please help Hilliard.”
If it would save the dying province.