"Ellen, you don't know how thankful I am for helping my wife. You can ask me anything!" The Viscount generously offered with a serious expression.
"Then..." Ellendise obviously didn't refuse.
"I want him." She said, pointing at Valrug. "I want him to be my personal toymaker. "
Valrug gasped. "What! You're still--"
"Okay." The Viscount agreed without hesitation while pushing his son towards Ellendise.
"Hey! How could you do this to your own son!" Valrug complained with a sour expression as if he had swallowed a huge lemon.
"Didn't you promise me that you would do this?" Ellendise gave him a pointed look.
"What! I don't remember making a promise like that! You were demanding it in the first place!"
"Ah.. aren't you a man? Shouldn't you keep your promise? Uncle, Valrug is refusing me. He says he doesn't want to.." Ellendise dramatized shamelessly. Of course, Ellendise wasn't a goody two shoes who did everything from the kindness of her own heart.
She needed the future Scholar of Creations to build a steady flow of income. Ellendise planned to build her own business and not rely on the county for money.
This was also due to the fact that she would soon enter the academy at the age of fifteen which was five years from now.
Planning ahead and steadily building her own influence and power in the shadows would make her live life easier.
Valrug did not know what his cousin was tthinking behind the calm smile of hers but he looked between Ellendise and his father. The Viscount's glare made him tremble and made him want to faint.
This old man was looking at her as if he had been caught red handed with a failed mark in his test!
"A man should keep his words! Don't shame the Mierheart's name!"
Valrug felt that he was wronged as soon as heard this. His cousin was also giving him a rather peculiar look that made his skin crawl.
"Dear cousin, you don't have to worry. We'll definitely have lots of fun..."
Valrug unconsciously took a step back and gulped. She still helped his mom, right? And he did shouted that he would play with her and make some toys.
Valrug who was oblivious to Ellendise's train of thoughts was unaware that toys she was referring to were magical inventions.
"Why do you look so scared? It's not like I'm going to eat you? Anyway, regarding auntie's condition... If you have connections with a fortune reader, you would know that she is fated to live a cursed life and evil spirits will gather around. I've read a similar condition from a book once but I forgot the title.." Ellendise explained calmly as to not arouse suspicion.
"That pendant is magical and protects her body from being sucked dry. Through the years, those evil spirits were like parasites who lived off of her when the pendant disappeared."
"How do you know this?" A sudden voice asked. They were soon aware of an imposing presence.
A cloaked man with a white mask whose eyes and mouth were the only visible parts.
Ellendise trembled a little. Of course, it was a little suspicious of her to have known information that shouldn't be public.
But.. was there any other way to explain it?
"As I said... it was from a book. Moreover, I met Cestine and made a wish. I asked her to help aunt for my friend's sake. Cestine was also the one who found the pendant. I only gave it to Valrug and didn't do much. I'm not a very good mage and I lack training but even an idiot can tell that this pendant is special."
The man's lips twitched as if he had been insulted.
"Oh my lady! You're too humble!"
"Err.. Rachel?" Ellendise said in an unsure manner. Didn't she told them to wait in the carriage?
"My lady, please don't discredit yourself! Going to an alchemy shop and making a selfless wish to save the viscountess.. My lady is too admirable!" Jill exaggerated while crying and holding a handkerchief on her hand.
Rachel was also wiping her tears as if they were both feeling injustice on her behalf.
"Huh.." It was definitely a misunderstanding.
"I see..."The Viscount said with a look of misunderstanding as he stared at her filled with gratitude.
"???"
Valrug also looked at her with his eyes tearing up as if he was touched.
"It really came true.. and mom woke up. You didn't lie and even did that just so you could play with me." Valrug looked at away, pretending not to wipe the tears on his eyes.
"You probably don't have friends, huh? I see.. Don't worry. I'll be your friend from now on. We're cousins. There's no need to be shy."
"Wait.. This is a bit.."
"Huhu! It's true! The young lady put so much effort just so she could be friends with the young master!" Jill said dramatically once more.
"She paid an astronomical price for essence of dew so she could meet a fairy and despite knowing there was no guarantee... my lady bravely went alone to try! "
"Oh my.. The young lady is so courageous!"
Both Rachel and Jill sobbed together as they told an exaggerated story of the things she did. They even looked like they believe it, too...
Ellendise was considering what went wrong upon seeing this. She didn't do that much..?
"I understand. "The masked man said although his question wasn't really answered satisfactorily. Still, the drama between her maids was too carried way that made it hard for him to interfere.
"The lady is quite talented. To gain a fairy's favor is uncommon for humans. You are very special. Thanks to my lady's selfless act, the Viscountess was saved. "The masked man smiled at her before bowing.
"It was originally my duty to resolve her case but even I would have to admit that I wouldn't have thought of such a simple solution. In the first place, finding about her condition was already hard. And my lady recommended a fortune reader, right? My lady also happened to stumble upon a similar story from a book. It truly is very fortunate of the Viscountess. "
Ellendise smiled. She was immediately on her guard. This man was no joke and silently emitting an aura of hostility as if she had scammed her way through this.
Although Ellendise has met countless of people in her past life, the people in these world were similar but the cultures aren't the same which gave her a lot of restraints and also a bit of leeway..
Fortunately, she knew how to bluff her way out or she would have been sweating bullets while cornered like a prey.
Ellendise took a step forward and opened her fan.
The ten year old girl's smile instantly captured the occupants' attention.
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