OHNIR – Chapter 78
Chapter 78: Encounter
“Sorry to keep you waiting—I think I’ve finally sorted out the relationships.”
After Tina had been sitting primly for a long while, Kelusta finally let out a heavy sigh, looked up, and said to her, “So, the late Duke Amirium was my maternal grandfather, and the current duchess in power is my maternal grandmother. Your mother is my mother’s cousin, my grandaunt, and you are my older cousin… Phew, it’s so complicated, but am I right?”
“And Lewis,” Tina smiled, not forgetting to include her brother. “He’s your older cousin.”
“…Alright, older cousin.” Although she was reluctant to admit that someone as foolish as Lewis was related to her, now that Kelusta had digested this fact, she had to accept that she had leaped over the dragon gate—
From a poor girl who couldn’t even afford a grand dress, she had suddenly transformed into the granddaughter of the current head of a ducal family.
No wonder Lewis had said something like, “It’s just a mere dress, she won’t be unable to afford it in the future”…
“There’s one thing I’m very confused about, Tina.”
The daughter of the count, whose name had been called, looked up and said gently, “Please, go on.”
“Last time on Newlinya Queen Avenue, judging from what your brother said, it seems you all knew my true identity long ago?” Kelusta asked. “So, can you tell me when you found out that I was Ricana’s daughter?”
“Hmm… well, actually, everyone found out at a different time.”
Tina smiled slightly and explained, “I was the last to know. Because my brother was rude to you and Lady Gloria last time, it seems to have caused some displeasure. So, my grandmother hesitated for a long time before finally giving me the task of delivering the invitation—which is why I’m here today.”
In fact, Duchess Amirium had originally intended for Lewis to contact Kelusta. After all, before Kelusta officially decided to return to the family, she didn’t want the fact that “this commoner girl is the daughter of the former Miss Ricana” to be known by too many people, to avoid complications.
But unexpectedly, the boy got carried away after accepting the important task, his mind filled with “Ah, there’s a day when I’m valued more by grandmother than Tina.” He couldn’t even resist showing off in front of Gloria… So, that very night, Duchess Amirium summoned Tina to the ducal mansion, patted her hand, and without hesitation, had this steady girl take over her brother’s job.
…There was no need to mention how much Lewis regretted it afterward.
Tina didn’t elaborate on her brother’s embarrassing deeds to Kelusta. She just paused and asked, “I heard that my brother had a chance encounter with you during the semester?”
After Kelusta nodded in confirmation, the black-haired girl clapped her hands, smiled faintly, and explained, “It was that time. From the color of your eyes, he roughly guessed that you were a direct descendant of the Amirium family.”
At her words, Kelusta couldn’t help but raise a hand to touch her own eyes, hesitating, “The color?”
“Yes,” Tina said. “The surname ‘Amirium’ is derived from ‘golden stream.’ It refers to both the pure golden eyes of each direct heir in this ancient family and the fact that every Amirium is an outstanding water mage.”
Besides the Amirium family, there was no other bloodline in all of Nobili that could produce such pure and dazzling golden eyes.
As for magic attribute… Kelusta vaguely remembered her father mentioning that her late mother was indeed very skilled in water magic.
“But Tina, if I remember correctly, you’re a wood mage?” The brown-haired girl frowned, looking at the palm from which the other had once conjured a sapling, and asked in a daze.
“That’s why I’m not an Amirium,” Tina explained gently. “My surname is Hippol, and the Hippol family has been a line of wood mages for generations.”
Kelusta patted her head, exhausted. “Alright, I was confused… Please continue. Who else knew my identity before I did?”
“As far as I know, besides my grandmother, my brother, and myself, there should also be Lady Gloria,” Tina said with a frown. “However, as for when she received the news, I have no idea…”
“Alright, let’s put Gloria aside for now,” Kelusta pursed her lips and asked tentatively, “but you still haven’t told me when the Duchess found out about my existence.”
This time, however, Tina didn’t answer her as readily as before.
The noble girl, sitting upright and dignified, gave a faint smile. She raised her hand, pressed her fingertip on the white invitation with gold patterns, and slowly pushed it in front of Kelusta.
“As for the remaining questions… I’m sorry, but I think it would be more appropriate for grandmother to tell you herself.”
Kelusta looked down at the envelope placed before her, pursed her lips, and reached out to pick it up.
“Alright, I will be there as scheduled,” she said calmly. “Because I also have many questions that I need to ask in person… of the esteemed Duchess Amirium.”
After seeing Tina off, Kelusta leaned back alone in the chair she had just been sitting in, tilted her head back, and stared silently at the white ceiling above.
When she was silent, she looked terrifyingly detached. Her eyes, no longer sparkling as they usually did, appeared indifferent and empty.
“…Temporary Host,” the System said with concern, “are you alright?”
“…”
Those brilliant golden eyes dimmed slightly, losing all their light. The brown-haired girl, who had just learned her identity, took a deep breath, wiped away the faint tears at the corners of her eyes, her voice filled with a heart-wrenching grievance.
“I’m not alright.”
The System let out a soft crackle, as if short-circuiting.
It felt a pang of heartache, yet at the same time, it thought—
As expected of you. Even when you’re sad, you’re just as ruthless, not giving anyone an inch.
However, the System didn’t actually need to try and burn out its own motherboard to comfort her… because Kelusta didn’t seem to need anyone’s care. She just needed a listening ear.
“So, all these years after Mom passed away, I wasn’t alone with just Dad.”
“I have a grandmother, an aunt and uncle, a pair of cousins…” She counted on her fingers, her eyes slightly red, sniffling with each person she named. “To think there are so many people connected to me by blood. Honestly, I never even dreamed of it.”
She had depended on her father since she was a child and had never thought that she should have so much family affection, that she should have the chance to be loved by so many people.
The brown-haired girl curled her legs, hugging her knees to her chest, her slightly trembling voice holding a barely audible sob. She lowered her head, and two long-held tears fell with a “pat” onto the fabric of the bench, soaking the reddish-brown velvet and dyeing it a deeper shade.
“But why—why did she take so long to find me?”
She sobbed softly, burying her face in her crossed arms, her low murmurs filled with unconcealable sadness and dejection, as if complaining about the grandmother she had never met, and also about herself for being so ignorant until now.
“It’s been too long. My father and I have been lonely for too long.” Kelusta let out a low laugh, covering her eyes with her hand. Tears flowed through her fingers like dewdrops in spring, each drop laden with genuine sorrow. “They think it’s a twenty-year separation, but for me, it’s been an endless cycle of countless lifetimes…”
The Kelusta in the game never learned her identity, nor did she ever meet her other relatives.
She had stood numbly amidst the ruins of Seaside Town countless times and had wandered to every corner of the kingdom.
—It seemed the savior who bore the world’s fate was often destined for a lonely life, never qualified to enjoy a complete family and wholehearted love.
“I have to ask my grandmother.”
Kelusta took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “I have to ask her if the reason she’s acknowledging me is… just to get a tool to inherit the family.”
Years of being ignored made it difficult for Kelusta to easily judge whether this invitation was filled with cold interests or sincere affection.
She had to get to the bottom of all her doubts.
Only then would she know… whether that high and mighty duchess was qualified to be the “dear grandmother” she could rely on and respect.
Duchess Amirium had written in the invitation that she hoped to meet with Kelusta after all her exams were over, on the morning of the first day of the holiday.
The invitation detailed the address of the Amirium ducal mansion and stated that the Duchess herself would arrange for a carriage to pick Kelusta up. The latter didn’t need to worry about anything; she just had to walk out of the school gate at the appointed time and would be taken directly and comfortably to the ducal mansion’s entrance.
“The Duchess has arranged everything for you down to the last detail,” the System said cautiously on the way to the potion exam, trying to read Kelusta’s expression. “The tone and wording in the invitation are also very intimate. I don’t think it’s the worst-case scenario you’re expecting.”
“…Let’s wait until we meet,” the brown-haired girl sighed, her eyes fixed on the list of potion ingredients personally written by Teacher Gloria, feigning absentmindedness.
She hadn’t told Gloria about Tina’s visit… because Kelusta felt it was her own business, and there was no need to drag someone else into her troubles.
“As a listening ear, having you, Old Sy, is enough.”
She blurted this out, leaving the System completely baffled. “Temporary Host, what did you say?” it asked, confused.
“Nothing.” Kelusta blinked, a light smile on her face. As she walked towards the academic building, she held the list and recited it under her breath, cramming for the last time.
The cold early winter air had blown most of the leaves from the branches, leaving only a few scattered ones swaying in the wind, stubbornly clinging to life. But the pine and cypress trees planted further back still wore their green coats, showing no signs of withering, making the path still seem full of life.
Behind the pines and cypresses was a low gray wall, looking very old and not very sturdy—perhaps because this path was rarely trodden, the severely indebted school pretended not to see it, unwilling to spend even half a gold coin on such a trivial matter.
“The hemostatic potion requires a spoonful of milk with a moderate amount of honey added at the final stage… This is actually a required test point? Potion masters really have too much time on their hands. On the surface, they look like they’re brewing potions, but secretly they could all be first-class chefs.”
She complained cheerfully, her steps hurried. She wrapped her cloak tighter and started taking a shortcut, turning a corner and stepping onto the layers of dead leaves covering the path.
Kelusta had woken up unusually early today—because the guillotine of the “Grade B in Potions Exam” requirement was still hanging over her neck. She planned to study a bit more before entering the exam room, for one last cram session.
Therefore, in the early morning when the east was just beginning to lighten, the path shaded by the woods was silent except for the faint chirping of birds; not a single human voice could be heard.
“The hair growth potion, with knotweed as its main ingredient, is currently the best-selling potion available to the public in the kingdom—it seems the era of universal baldness is no joke. This question has appeared on the final potions exam for three consecutive years,” Kelusta said in admiration. “Looks like I should buy a couple more bottles to send to Dad in a few days. I think he’s going bald soon.”
System: “…”
What on earth are you all being tested on?
Just as Kelusta was engrossed in her recitation, oblivious to her surroundings, a hand suddenly reached out from behind her. Clad in a white glove, it gently tapped the brown-haired girl’s shoulder.
“—!”
Kelusta shuddered and jumped to the side. Her reaction was extremely fast; in just half a second, she condensed a water ball in her hand and raised it to throw, aiming straight for the unknown person who had touched her without a sound.
However, unexpectedly, before Kelusta’s water ball could even touch the corner of the person’s clothes, a loud “crack!” resounded in the air!
A sudden bolt of lightning, like a sharp blade, slashed through the air, mercilessly shattering the water ball. It was as if a torrential downpour had fallen on this small patch of land, with puddles of water flowing everywhere, seemingly still crackling with a few purple arcs of electricity.
Lightning magic?
Kelusta’s eyes widened, and she gasped, abruptly looking up. She saw a handsome man standing not far away, smiling and bowing to her. His sun-like golden hair was lifted by the gentle breeze, and his eyes were a clear, translucent blue, full of warmth, like a cloudless sky.
“I’m so sorry, did I startle you?”
The future heir to the kingdom gave her an apologetic smile and said politely, “Good morning, Miss Kelusta.”
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