“But what’s the problem? If you turned that monster back into a human last year, you can do the same this year.”

Nelia let go of her hand, and her fingers fiddled with each other.

“I can’t be sure… whether it will work again this time.”

“Don’t you have confidence?”

“If it were a usual day, maybe. But that day is very important. If I turn into a monster again and lose my reason, I won’t be able to take the exam that Jeunuite mentioned. That’s why I’m asking Jeunuite for help.”

Jeunuite shrugged his shoulders.

“I understand your circumstances, Nelia, but as I explained earlier, it’s impossible in this form.”

In this form…?

“Do you have a different form? Can you do it in that form?”

Nelia’s sinking eyes quickly sparkled again.
“……No, what I meant was, as the current me, freed from the seal, it is impossible.”

Ah, so that’s what you meant. I guess I was expecting too much for a moment.

“Yes… I understand.”

It was regrettable, but if she herself said it was impossible, there was nothing to be done.

Nelia thought she should talk to the Duke about how to deal with turning into a monster on the day of the lunar eclipse this year.

Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside.

“Nelia, are you inside?”

It was Duke Hart.

It would be good to talk to him about the lunar eclipse right away. Perfect timing.

“Yes, come in.”

With Nelia’s permission, the door opened soon.

“Duke, what brings you here?”

“My mother sent a letter.”

“A letter…?”

Duke Hart and the Duchess rarely communicated to the extent that it felt strange.

‘There’s no way to bring up the topic first…’

When Nelia had seen them before, they didn’t seem to have a bad relationship despite their bickering.

But why did she send a letter? Nelia cautiously asked.

“Did something happen to the Duchess?”

“No. My mother sent a letter asking me to come down to the estate.”

I see. It was better if it was for such a reason.

Since the Duke’s mother, who had only one son, wanted to see him, it was not a big deal to ask him to come down to the estate once.

Moreover, since the estate was managed by the Duchess in place of Duke Hart, it was appropriate for her to occasionally go down and check it herself.

While Nelia nodded silently, her movement suddenly stopped.

‘No.’

It was not good now, as the lunar eclipse was in two weeks. Even if she didn’t know exactly where the estate was, it would take several days just for the travel time.

Reading Nelia’s worried expression as if he understood her thoughts, the Duke sighed and said.

“The reason my mother invited me to the estate at a time like this is related to preparing for the lunar eclipse.”

Nelia’s eyes widened.

“It’s related?”

“Yes. My mother recently found an unused cellar and discovered a book related to our family’s curse. Perhaps we can find helpful information. However…”

However…?

“The book is written in a language other than the imperial language, and she says she can’t read it. So my mother suggested that I come and read it for her. I’ve learned various languages since I was young.”

Discovering valuable information but unable to read it. It would be better for Duke Hart to go and inspect it himself immediately.

“Then, of course, you should go!”

“But the problem is… I can’t go alone.”

Ah…

Come to think of it, for such a long-distance journey, she would naturally have to go with him. Since she couldn’t be separated from the Duke’s body.

“Let’s go together. I don’t mind at all.”

In fact, the news of discovering a book related to the curse was very welcome for Nelia, so she could readily accept his proposal.
“Thank you, Nelia.”

Finally, the Duke smiled as usual. Nelia, who had been smiling face to face, realized that there was no time for this.

“How many days will it take to get to the Duke’s estate from here?”

“If we ride a carriage, it will take about two days.”

Quite a long time… Considering the size of the empire, Duke Hart’s estate was relatively close to the capital, but traveling for two days by carriage would not be easy.

She would have to sleep in the carriage, and meals would probably be roughly filled in the villages they passed.

‘It might be quite challenging.’

She was a bit worried since she had never traveled such a long distance.

At that moment, she noticed that the Duke’s gaze was directed at Jenuit, who was silently listening to the conversation.

‘Perhaps the Duke thinks it’s difficult to take Jenuit to the Duke’s estate…?’

Taking a child to such a distant place could be troublesome.

However, she knew that the Duke, with his personality, wouldn’t bring up such a topic first.

“Duke, while you visit the Duke’s estate, could you ask Tonne to take care of Jenuit?”

Tension ran through, and Jenuit’s eyes felt it, but Nelia pretended not to notice.

If the child didn’t want to stay here in its small dragon form, it would follow her in an invisible form anyway.

Unexpectedly, Duke Hart made a surprising suggestion.

“If Nelia is okay with it, let’s take Jenuit with us.”

Nelia asked with a puzzled look, “Is it okay to take Jenuit to the Duke’s estate…?”

“Of course. The journey may be a bit difficult, but leaving Jenuit alone in the mansion while you’re away wouldn’t be good for Nelia’s peace of mind.”

Not at all… But traveling with Jenuit in its child form could be quite tiring.

Nelia conveyed her reluctance not to take it along.

“I’m worried that taking Jenuit might be inconvenient for the Duchess.”

“My mother likes children. She’ll surely like Jenuit, who is such a cute child.”

Nod.

“Taking Jenuit on a long journey might be a bit difficult, though…”

“The travel carriage is quite well-equipped. You can stop by villages along the way.”

The Duke promptly and calmly replied.

‘Why does it feel like he wants to take Jenuit with us…?’

Realizing that the atmosphere was tilting toward taking Jenuit, Nelia pretended not to notice and continued the conversation with Duke Hart.

“Can Tonne handle the situation while we’re away?”

“I believe she can. She is fond of Jenuit as well.”

He looked at Jenuit happily, who was imitating the movements of a pleased child by bouncing in place.

Nelia’s forehead narrowed.

She was already worried that Jenuit might make a mistake in front of the Duchess.

Although Jenuit had been of great help to her, it had also confused her quite a bit.

Especially for someone important like the Duchess…

Nelia’s train of thought abruptly stopped.

‘No, why did I get the idea that the Duchess is an important existence in my head?’
Nelia couldn’t understand why she found the Duchess so difficult and conscious of her. After all, the Duchess was exceptionally kind and gentle to her.

“Nelia, first handle urgent tasks at the palace and get ready to go to the Duke’s estate.”

“How long will you stay at the Duke’s estate?”

“It’s not certain yet, but I don’t plan to stay for a long time. Think of it as leaving the mansion empty for about a week.”

Nelia nodded.

Considering the long distance they were going to travel, she thought it would be good if they could find out more about the curse.