‘As Mom’s relic broke, and I regained memories of my past life, there might be a connection.’

Finally, the third. What exactly is my mom’s duty, and what sacrifice did Dad make?

There were still too many things I couldn’t know.

In other words.

‘There is a lot to find out in the future.’

I was confident that I would persistently cling and hang on.
Slowly opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was Felix’s face overly close.

“You’re awake. Are you okay?”

“…!”

Surprised, I quickly sat up.

“Where is Duke Seres?”

Looking around the room, I couldn’t hide my disappointment. Despite my hope that he might have opened his eyes after glimpsing the Duke’s memories, he was still asleep.

“As expected…”

Dealing with sin and trying to wake up someone who fell into a state of unconsciousness just by touching them wouldn’t be possible.

Felix, who should be disappointed for not waking him up, showed no signs of such disappointment. Instead, he curiously asked me.

“The way you reacted, there must have been something… What did you see?”

“Is that important?”

“Of course, it’s important. It might be a hint to wake up your step-uncle. What did you see?”

It seemed like I hadn’t expected to wake up Dad from the beginning.

‘Whether he wakes up or not, that’s how it is.’

It was annoying, but thanks to that, my burden was somewhat relieved.

Felix asked again.

“So, what did you see?”

“His memories.”

I explained the scene I had seen as neutrally and briefly as possible.

Felix listened to my words with admiration.

“Actually, I asked you with a gambling mood, thinking you wouldn’t see the memories. It’s beyond expectations.”

“Is there a reason to wake up Duke Seres now?”

Just for being a nephew, I couldn’t understand an attitude so determined to wake him up.

There must be a reason why Felix, who has been overseas until now, returned.

Felix, who was stroking his chin meaningfully, opened his mouth.

“Well, I was trying not to say this because it seems like revealing the family’s disgrace, but I have no choice.”

“It’s already a disgrace that you’ve come here.”

Haha, Felix chuckled briefly at my words, and his face gradually lost its smile.

“The current Seres family is in a precarious state. Externally, rumors are blocked, and the entrance and exit of the mansion are controlled, so it may not be noticeable, but internally, it’s decaying. With the power of those who have taken over during the family head’s long absence, they are trying to engulf the family.”

It meant there were many piranhas trying to take over the ownerless family.

‘I shouldn’t reveal that I’m the Duke’s daughter.’

At least not until Dad wakes up.

If I’m exposed before that, the Seres family’s followers will try to eliminate me in any way possible.

Anyway, Felix and I shared the understanding that we had to wake up Dad.

“Viscount Hicklemyer. You mentioned that he fell asleep while dealing with sin.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What is that sin?”

Asking my question, I felt the greed chasing a butterfly from a distance looking at me.

Soon, Felix answered briefly.

“Pride.”

“Pride… then…”

“It’s the sin sealed by the Applet family.”

I squinted my eyes.

‘Of all things, it had to be the Applet family.’

The Applet family was now a nonexistent family like the Veyetan family.
That meant they couldn’t determine the whereabouts of the sealed stone they had been keeping. While the Veyetan family easily obtained the sealing stone that contained greed, there was no guarantee they could acquire the sealing stone containing pride. The plan to control pride after obtaining the sealing stone and try to wake up Dad faced a setback. However, I couldn’t give up without trying. ‘I should inquire about the sealed stone’s whereabouts.’ My already busy schedule got even busier.

“For now… should I leave?”

Felix, sitting on the floor, extended his hand to me.

I took his hand, stood up, and looked at him. There was still one unresolved matter.

“Viscount Hicklemyer.”

“Yes, Lady Ferdia.”

Felix responded with a cheerful smile.

“Earlier, you said your ability is to see the color of souls.”

“That’s correct.”

“Is it true that I’m the only person with a soul color similar to Duke Seres?”

“Yes.”

His answer confirmed my guess.

This man knows that I am a magician named Elvi.

Since Felix saw the color of my soul at the time we met in the Matop, it was after he had already seen my soul color at the Isthar Temple.

“If you saw it at Matop, why did you say it was our first meeting?”

“Because Lady seemed to be hiding it?”

“Then please pretend not to know until the end.”

“Sure.”

Felix readily nodded at my request.

“I’ll do that. It’s not a difficult request. It’s more fun that way.”

“Thank you.”

Just when I thought the conversation was going well, it wasn’t over.

“By the way, is Lady really a magician named Elvi? I’ve never heard any rumors about Lady Ferdia being a magician. Are you secretly active as a magician? Does Duke Seres know about this? Oh, can’t you give me a little hint about the next magical device to be released? We’re partners, after all.”

Due to Felix, a magical device maniac, bombarding me with questions…

It was the way back to the reception room, carrying greed again. But this time, instead of using the secret passage to the greenhouse, we took the external path where people passed.

“Is it okay to go this openly?”

“Yes, we’ve already been found out.”

Found out?

I realized Felix’s meaning not long after.

The meticulously tended garden was now completely overturned.

‘It was fine just a moment ago…’

The person who could turn this beautiful garden upside down in an instant was none other than me.

“Lady!”

It was this guy.

He was told to stay quiet, but in the end, he caused an accident.

Seeing Charlotte rushing towards me like a mad dog, I asked.

“Charlotte, did you do this?”

“I, I don’t kn-know…”

Charlotte rolled her eyes and avoided my gaze.
As I stared at Charlotte, who was stumbling through words like she was talking to herself, the lad approached and vigorously messed up my hair, shouting.

“It’s been a while, but you still haven’t come out! I couldn’t keep the Seres guys out either! I couldn’t help it. So, I went in, and you were nowhere to be found.”

Instead of continuing to speak, Charlotte stepped closer and grabbed my shoulders.

“…What the hell did that kid do?”

With a lowered voice, Charlotte glared beyond me at Felix.

I answered, detaching Charlotte’s hands clinging to me one by one.

“I went for a walk, a walk.”

“A walk?”

“They said outsiders couldn’t enter, so I tried to sneak in. Sorry, Charlotte.”

“Did you apologize…?”

Seeing Charlotte’s perplexed expression, as if she heard something she shouldn’t have, I glanced at her.

It was annoying, but there was something more important. I looked at Charlotte with a serious expression.

“Don’t tell anyone about what happened today. About us visiting the Seres Capital Mansion. That was the condition.”

If news of today’s visit reaches Duke Ferdia’s ears, it could be troublesome.

‘Duke Ferdia dislikes my biological father.’

It’s probably because of the history involving my mom.

I won’t get involved in the sticky family drama.

“You’ll keep it a secret, right?”

Responding to my question, Charlotte shouted confidently.

“Of course! Trust me!”

That night, Charlotte was unexpectedly summoned by Duke Ferdia.

“Charlotte.”

With a heavy summons, Charlotte’s body stiffened with tension.

“Yes, Father.”

It couldn’t be about Lady, right?

As if reading such inner thoughts, Duke Ferdia asked.

“Where did you go with Elodie today? Report your activities today. Everything, without missing anything.”

“Uh…?”

Charlotte froze in place.