“Sister, it’s here too!”

My goodness, the treasure vault was indeed a treasure vault.

“Noel, there’s so much here, right?”

“Yes!”

Why are you happier than me? Diana smiled happily, watching the cheerful Noel.

Diana had requested access to the family’s vault from the Duke.

It was a bold request, especially since she wasn’t engaged to Roderick yet and was still an outsider. She didn’t expect to be given a whole set of keys.

This caused the aides and servants to be in uproar once again, but neither the Duke nor Diana minded.

“Why does this family have so many cursed objects?”

The vault contained everything from historically significant artifacts to various weapons, artworks, and all sorts of trophies.

It was as large as a museum’s exhibition hall.

Everything was organized by category, and surprisingly, there was no scent of old dust, even without ventilation.

The steward who managed and maintained all these deserved respect.

He had taken on all the duties of a housekeeper since the time of the late Duchess, despite his knight-like appearance.

“Sister, sister.”

Noel busily moved around the vault, sensing magic.

He took Diana’s hand, lost in thought, and led her to an ornament radiating the strongest magic.

It was a brilliantly shining emerald necklace inside a glass box. The box seemed more expensive than the necklace itself – or was it just her feeling?

Unlocking it with the key the Duke gave her, Diana placed her hand on the necklace.

The magic from the necklace slowly merged into her body. Her once-dull pink eyes gradually regained their liveliness.

“Phew. This should be enough for today.”

There was so much, and so many objects were cursed, she wouldn’t feel discomfort moving her body until Roderick’s return.

“Noel, do I still look sick?”

Taken aback by the sudden question, Noel’s red eyes rolled sideways.

“Uh, um. Sister, you’re pretty.”

Ah, so I do look sick. Unable to lie and trying to deflect, Noel’s cuteness made Diana lightly pinch his chubby cheeks.

“Hehe.”

Even that small touch made the child laugh happily.

Bending down to rub his soft cheeks, Diana continued walking, her expression turning grim.

Despite telling the Duke she wasn’t sick, he had seen her condition and assigned his personal physician to her, making her take bitter medicine regularly.

She hated the medicine. The bitter taste lingered in her mouth, making her grimace even after eating honey-dipped fruits.

Though she didn’t say it, it seemed the Duke had noticed she was in pain if she didn’t absorb curses.

That was fine. The most important fact was still hidden.

“Noel, don’t you feel uncomfortable or stifled not using magic?”

She had also hidden the fact that not absorbing curses could kill her and that Noel knew how to use magic.

In this era, magicians were highly valued assets. If this information leaked, she didn’t know how the child might be exploited.

Roderick also knew this and hadn’t told the Duke.

“It’s okay! If I don’t use magic, I accumulate a lot of magical energy. Then I can use big magic later.”

No, Noel. You won’t need to use big magic.

Diana swallowed her words, patting his head affectionately.

Noel often tried to prove his worth, especially when he feared being abandoned by Diana. Whenever he trembled with anxiety, she would hug him tightly.

“You are precious to me even if you do nothing.” Whispering so, the child would laugh and cling to Diana, not letting go.

After repeatedly reassuring and eliminating his anxieties, Noel seemed to gradually trust her words.

“Sister, sister. Look at this suit of armor. The wrist joint is slightly open.”
It was a full suit of armor, complete with a helmet. Despite being empty, it seemed as if it could come to life at any moment.

“Is that so?”

This usually indicates a secret passage mechanism. How does a child with no family training know this?

It was a subtle seam that most people wouldn’t have noticed.

“Do you want to try it?”

“Yes!”

Ah, so that’s why you mentioned it. How cute. Diana stroked Noel’s gray hair.

Holding Noel, Diana lifted him up to the wrist of the suit of armor placed on the pedestal.

As Noel twisted the wrist, the wall behind the armor disappeared, revealing a passage.

With the emergence of the passage, the candles along the wall lit up one by one. The dim light guided the way.

Diana’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the passage.

What could be inside? A tremendous treasure, or perhaps the shameful secrets of the ancestors? Or maybe even an object with a powerful curse.

It didn’t seem like a scary, dark basement. The candles provided enough light to make it less frightening.

“Shall we go?”

Noel nodded vigorously.

“Let’s go!”

How long had they been inside? Diana soon regretted it.

Oh no. Where is this? Diana, with a distressed face, found Noel, who was lost.

“Noel, where are you!”

The passage was larger and more complicated than she had thought. It was like a maze. As she walked aimlessly, the concentration of magic in the air grew thicker.