"You are worried" she scoffed at her husband.
"I'm not. She's old enough to know what she's doing." Evelyn answered too quickly leaving the Count to back down, but he did chuckle. Evelyn was never honest about her thoughts and that's what she's doing.
"do something about the blockage of mana flow," she changes the topic after all she can see that her husband understands her clearly and she doesn't want to point it out loud.
"Why? The anti-magic helps you to conceal your feelings though,"
"Did you wait for me to annoy me? Go and talk with Galan about your investigation"
"You're right. I almost forgot about my report," He scratches his head and turns away. The countess only shakes her head at the sight of her husband.
"Tsk, I knew it," Evelyn knows that his husband forgot about the report as soon as she sees him, "I will wait at the parlor"
Her voice was whispered like but the Count smiled upon hearing those, "I will be fast"
The smile vanished as he turned away, no smile like earlier can be seen on his face as he strode towards the Duke's office.
'mana blockage, drought...' he repeatedly recites this in his mind then stops in his tracks.
"Hmmm... I should investigate them..." his thoughts were disrupted by fabrics rustling behind the walls.
Louie scanned the area where he spotted at the corner a piece of fabric, a green one as it hurriedly hid her dress. Clumsy for sure and there's someone he was reminded of.
"I see that you came back Louie. Did you finish your investigation?"
Count Holton turned around to see the Duke with a grim face and he also greeted him by asking about his investigation.
'they really are related'
for how many days they have been greeting him like this every time he returns.
"Unfortunately, No. Let's talk inside your office."
---------------------------------------------------
"That guy has been there since yesterday."
even though he is not looking at me. I tried to tell the knights about it but they say that it must be a mercenary roaming around or guarding something and I shouldn't worry too much since there're a lot of nobles that hire mercenaries these days.
But why is he on the same spot ever since? There's something off about him. Every time I looked at him my heart suddenly beats faster but it's not unpleasant. It's more like I'm excited, somehow.
"Young Miss is there a problem?" Jemina slightly tilts her head and looks at me.
I shake my head as an answer. We are scheduled to go out this afternoon. Well, My mother and I planned to go to the Central Plaza. She will perform purification or blessing there as a Saintess. I guess being in a world with mana she's the one appointed as Saintess.
"I'm bored," I mumbled to myself and stared at the ceiling. I shouldn't expect that transmigration is cool. Besides the reality that I am stuck with this character, there is no wi-fi, and I don't have my precious phone where I have my games to comfort me.
And there's a lot of killing and dying.
A small picture book then appeared in my lap, "Young Miss I found this book earlier at the bookshop," a children's book.
We still have time before we depart might as well I immerse myself in reading. I carefully picked up the book, slightly touching the carved designs of its spine. Even the raised bands in it are quite attractive. I looked at the front cover and there was a faint gold crescent moon and a girl overlapping the title. For a picture book this is well-crafted.
'The Girl and the Moon'
Why do I feel that this book is like the story of chang'e in my past life.
"I heard that this book is popular among the children here in East. Because it was a myth here."
I read its first page. The story starts about a commoner girl who's dreaming to meet someone that will love her. Why, if it isn't a romance genre for children's books.
[She goes to Bakery as her work is the bakers assistant. Her day started off as usual, selling bread and cleaning the bakery. One day on her way home she found a rabbit laying on the side of the road.
The protagonist took it home to tend it. She named it Snow...]
"Just because its fur is white as snow"
typical way of choosing names for pets.
[The rabbit soon regained its health. She loved it so much that she even brings it at work. The store owner was kind enough to let her since it thinks that the rabbit is the one bringing fortune in the store.
One day, an unfamiliar man is in front of her home, a new neighbor with a basket of fresh fruits. The girl fell in love at first sight because of the smile he gave to her. She thought about him for a while and thinks that fate brought them together like the ones she reads in the book.]
"ugh, how fragile her heart is," commenting midway of my reading, the maids in my room laughs at my reaction. It is really romance
[The man always helps her every time she's troubled and eventually the two got closer. They even took turns in taking care of the rabbit. Days passed the girl came home. She saw how her house trashed, his lover being on the floor lifeless and her beloved rabbit with a farmer who was seen picking something in its forehead.
His eyes are glimmered with greed as he sunk his fingers on the skin of the rabbit. The rabbit cried, the girl rushed forward but the farmer brutally pulled out a gem imbedded on the rabbit.
The farmer saw how the girl froze in her place. A wicked plan he has in mind. The girl knew that she was next so she ran outside. It was dark and cold. With no light she let herself wander until she hears snarls and growls of wolves.]
Oh wow, this wasn't a romance genre at all! Why the hell does this book be considered children's books?! It turned into a horror scene! This is another scam like the author of this world!!
Look at this part! Why would the author write this to little kids? The only kids who will read this are my family, especially Caesar. I can clearly see him reading it to us before bed time.
"Young miss please drink your milk"
[With rage and despair for what's happening around here, she prayed all her might on the full silver moon, praying that she live and get her revenge on the human who killed her precious ones. Wolves start to dash forward and bite her to various places. She endured the pain and continued to pray.
A sudden figure from the moon smiled and said, "I heard your prayers. With this gift I bestowed, Live and free yourself"]
The story ends with the girl receiving magic that no one else can use, she got her revenge. She revived the rabbit and her beloved man. In exchange that she will replace the woman who gave her magic. As soon as the man opened his eyes he saw the woman's appearance. It was ethereal, he knew something was wrong and he instantly held her when his hand slipped right through her. Bubbles appeared everywhere and she was disappearing. She's smiling at him before giving him a last kiss.
It was really like Chang'e, but in a different version. Bullsh*t! I mean what am I supposed to feel now that I finished it? The last drawn picture was sad!
"You finished it already young miss?" I nod at Jemina and look outside. It was clearly time for lunch.
"Jemina this story is so wrong," she smiled at me and picked the book.
"Well, the story is about faith," you did not read the story. I can tell.
"Eat up Carina and Wren," Aunt Khloe— wife of Uncle Galan is the one attending us. At our table there were only two to three dishes in front. I notice that Aunt Evelyn is still here with her husband, I think.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?" Oppss! He noticed me staring at him.
"This is the first time you meet her Louie. That is Carina's daughter, Wren"
Wow, how nice of my aunt to introduce me like that. So that is Count Holton. How should I put this. He has air of... uhm... something.
"Oho"
"You see, Count Holton here is always away so you can't see him every time you visit East," Uncle Galan said and ate some meat.
"Yes, Yes because of a certain someone keeps dumping me more work"
"Take a look at my desk and dare say that again"
They look like best friends. Different from how father and Marquis Bright, "How lovely to see you are still close"
"Your closeness leaves me speechless," Aunt Evelyn says but I don't think she hates it.
"You will leave today, Louie"
"Right. You are too excited to kick me out Galan— hmmm?"
ale... he became quiet. Uncle Louie taps his fingers across the table with a serious look on his face. The others don't seem to notice as they continue their discussion.
"Yes. Because I have many things to do."
Uncle Galan said and stood up. They finished already eating. "I had urgent matters to finish so, Louie will come with you in my stead"
I can see why Count Holton says he was dumping his works on him. "Alright," and by the looks of it he doesn't have a choice.
"Well then, I will return home. Hugh said there was a problem at home"
"Oh my, what happened?" Mother asks the Countess
Aunt Evelyn wipes her mouth and puts down her spoon, "There was a rat inside"
A... rat?
"Hmmm..."
all of them became silent, "Problems like this are common because the lord and lady aren't home. They must think it was easy. You can go Sister"
with that, our lunch ended with a heavy atmosphere. We go to Central Plaza with Count Holton. He was sighing and tapped his finger in his thigh.
"You know... sighing makes your happiness go away"
Count Holton looks at my mother with wide-eyes just as I am. I heard that phrase from some anime I watched in my past life. I did not expect to hear it here.
"Haha, Alright, Duchess" Eh? he did not ask my mother?
She suddenly looked at me and said, "Don't think too much. It doesn't mean anything"
*****
As soon as we step in the Central Plaza. People swarmed around us. Just like how we got here, many people are outside, looking pale and skinny. For a short time they became like this.
No wonder they have high hopes for the saintess to help them. Amidst the crowd my mother walked in front of the fountain and clasped her hands. But... It should be working right? We waited for minutes and people started to worry.
"Is the Saintess all right, Mom?" I heard a kid ask his mother. She answers him in a hoarse voice "Yes. She will help us"
"But... she's sweating a lot and seems in pain"
Mother...
I look at Sir Antonio, he looks serious as he walks towards mother and stops her. Even Count Louie stepped up when he saw mother wouldn't budge.
---------------------------------------------------
Oh no, The more I try using my magic the more I feel that my body is being constrained. I've been doing this for a couple of minutes. Continuing this may put my unborn child at risk. I cannot let that happen.
even though I know that, Antonio and the count stops me. It was futile. Whoever did this, they made sure that the mana flow in this region is blocked. The question is, why?
"DUCHESS!" Louie's shout rangs in my head as he uses himself to shield me. There was a huge explosion that happened right in front of me and the first thing that comes to my mind is my children.
In the midst of the crowd she was alone looking frozen in her place. Jemina and a few knights are with her.
"Duchess, we should leave,"
"Wren... Go and..." my words cut off by loud explosions everywhere.
The people start to run off and take cover somewhere. People were panicking, pushing each other to take cover.
"Wren!" She did not hear me but It looks like Jemina will take her into safety. But, who are these?
"The saintess is here." This is bad. These men look like they are trained physically and I am their target it seems. Right now there is nothing I can use to fend myself. I can't use magic and I don't know swordsmanship
"You will not lay a hand on Duchess Vacarella," Louie draws his sword and protectively hides me from them.
one of their people rushed in and attacked us which Louie struck him.
"Duchess, run. Young Miss Wren might go back to the carriage along with Jemina," Antonio said to me. Without any second thought, I ran away from them. Their main objective is me. In my condition I will only be baggage. I have to find a route to regroup with Antonio. The other knights escorted me while fleeing away.
A shadow from above is right in front of me. I look up while running. Indeed, there was a person aiming for my life, "Saintess! This is where you will meet your end!"
Damn it! With my body I can't even run faster nor avoid it in an instant.
"MOTHER!!!!!" my eyes grew in horror as I saw my daughter having someone behind her, a long, pointed knife raised on top of his head as he looked gleeful with the thought of taking my child.
"Wren! Run!" I shout back at her. I ran as fast as I could to her. The man behind me is closing in. I can feel the loud beat of my heart.
"I told you not my mother!"
In front of me I saw a small fire become tall. Beautiful red flames surround Wren and I was scared to death thinking she was burned alive. But hearing her voice inside the flames made my heart calm.
"You cannot kill them!" The man behind me shouted in pain.
his whole body is covered in hot flames as he tries to put the fire out. I slumped on the ground and watched the flames devour each person who attacked the central plaza. The smell of burning meat rots in my head, containing myself not to vomit as I look back at Wren.
The shouts of pain suddenly ceased as the cackle of bones followed through. The flames around me are not hot nor dangerous. A large bird formed within the fire as it stared at me before slowly disperse. It revealed Wren, drowsy and sleepy while reaching out to me.
That is magic, the one she used... no... does this mean brother figured out where the Devices are?
"Duchess It seems that the anti-magic barrier caster is nearby."
Louie came right after Wren fell unconscious. He must have seen what happened to everyone who attacked. His gaze landed on my sleeping child. He must have an Idea of what happened. "She can use magic?"
"Apparently, yes."
I am unsure, but it seems my child has develop her unique magic. Antonio gathered the knights and cleaned the place. They also captured the remaining assailants.
"Now then..." I looked at them and said, "You will answer questions. This is an order and believe me, you will answer all of them"