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After Luria and the others left, the villager who had been bowing until the very end hurriedly ran back to the village.
A servant, who had been entrusted with handling Amalia’s affairs, asked the villager while accompanying him.
“Is the rain really that important?”
“Of course. Our village grows wheat and vegetables, but our main crop is, as expected, medicinal herbs—”
The villager spoke proudly and happily about the village’s specialty, which was high-quality medicinal herbs.
“Our herbs are indispensable in the production of high-end healing potions.”
“I’ve also benefited from those healing potions myself.”
“Thank you.”
The villager explained that while wheat and vegetables could be watered, the medicinal herbs could only grow with rain.
“Haha, we don’t fully understand it ourselves, but they say the power of the spirits is in the rain, haha.”
The villager, out of breath from running, spoke with shining eyes. Apparently, the herbs grew with the power of spirit-infused rain, making them highly effective.
“Haha, this land is protected by the spirits,” the villager said proudly.
When the servant and the villager arrived at the village, the villagers were all focused on their farming. The rain that had started falling was getting stronger and had become almost a torrential downpour, but they paid it no mind.
After inspecting the village, the servant returned to report.
The villagers continued their work, praying to the spirits as they did so.
(Holy Maiden…) (The youngest daughter of the Duke is the Holy Maiden!) (Thank you, Holy Maiden.)
Everyone was thinking about Luria in their hearts. What a humble, honest, and charming Holy Maiden she must be.
(I was told not to say it, so I mustn’t speak of it.)
The villagers, who were truly grateful to Luria, didn’t speak it aloud.
Instead, they simply began saying, “Thank you, my lady,” every day in gratitude.
Who was this “my lady”? Why were they thanking her? If outsiders asked, no one would speak.
◇◇◇◇
That evening, after removing the boulders from the waterway, Amalia gently stroked Luria and Sara, who were fast asleep in the sitting room, tired from playing.
“Truly adorable.”
The maid smiled and said before asking, “What were those goats from earlier?”
“Who knows? What exactly were they?”
“They were divine, like something out of a mythical story.”
Amalia stroked Daru, who was lying next to Luria with his belly exposed.
“I think you understand this, but…”
“Yes, I understand. We must not speak of Lady Luria. Right?”
“Thank you.”
Amalia smiled as she thought.
She had known that Luria was a special presence, but it seemed she was even more extraordinary than she had imagined.
Those goats were definitely not normal animals.
(Just by tracing them, the boulders broke, and the rain began.)
This region was said to have strong spiritual power.
The village’s specialty of high-quality medicinal herbs was said to be more effective due to the spirit-infused rain.
Whether the spirit rain was real or not, it was undeniable that the medicinal herbs had high healing properties.
(Could it be… that she really is the Holy Maiden?)
Once, a Holy Maiden had been born in the Sacred Royal Family that ruled this country.
And the current royal family was a branch of the Sacred Royal Family.
Since there was blood relation, it would not be surprising if a Holy Maiden were born.
Amalia, deeply troubled, was considering all this when—
“…A rhinoceros beetle? Is it delicious?”
Luria murmured in her sleep.
“Luria, rhinoceros beetles aren’t delicious,” Amalia said, smiling.
“…Not delicious, huh… mumble“
As she stroked Luria, Amalia continued to think.
Would it be better to continue raising her carefully in the mansion?
Or would it be better to let her gradually experience going outside, like today?
(Even if I think about it, I can’t come to a conclusion.)
Amalia and Graf had thought about this even before taking Luria to the Baron’s estate.
There was no doubt that Luria possessed extraordinary powers.
…But was it alright to continue this way?
(Luria has extraordinary powers, but no common sense.)
Luria didn’t understand that it was unusual to tame giant goats.
That’s why, even though there were many witnesses, she did it without hesitation.
It was also strange that she had destroyed the patterns on the boulders just by tracing them.
But Luria didn’t really care.
Since she was confined to the mansion, it was natural that she didn’t have common sense.
(What should I do?)
Amalia decided to take Luria to a public place to give her a chance to learn some common sense. Unlike nobles, the villagers had little prejudice against red hair, and there was less risk of encountering ill will.
Moreover, because Luria was still in isolation, there would be a safe distance between her and the villagers.
With excellent servants to protect her, Amalia felt reassured.
So, she took both Sara and Luria there.
(Luria is much more extraordinary than I imagined.)
Extraordinary powers could bring misfortune.
Even if she wanted to protect Luria as a parent, she knew she couldn’t protect her forever.
Parents die before their children do.
Luria was still five years old. Normally, at that age, she would be protected under her parents’ care.
Thinking this, both Graf and Amalia had kept Luria inside to protect her from ill intentions.
(Should I teach Luria how to protect herself… not just with swordsmanship but in other ways as well?)
No one knew when King Luria’s grandfather would bring up a marriage proposal.
In a few years, she would need to enter society as the daughter of the second prince.
Maybe it would be better to gradually let her experience the outside world.
As she listened to the sound of the rain tapping fiercely against the window,
(I need to consult with Graf.)
Amalia began writing a letter to Graf.
◇◇◇◇
The being had been there for decades, centuries, or perhaps even thousands of years.
And for all that time, it had endured unbearable pain.
(Why must I suffer like this?)
It was dark, cold, painful, and lonely.
The reason it was there was becoming more and more vague in the depths of its memory.
It felt like being thrown naked into a snowy mountain.
It hurt as if its entire body was being rubbed with rough sandpaper.
Its organs screamed in agony. Intense nausea overwhelmed it, but there was nothing to vomit. Its head throbbed.
In its ears, the sound of someone cursing someone else echoed endlessly.
(I can’t take it anymore, help me… someone help me. It hurts… I’m so lonely.)
Once, it had held noble aspirations, but over time, those had inevitably faded.
It began to curse the world.
When it cursed the world and simultaneously begged for help, Luria destroyed the cursed magic circles etched into the boulders.
(…?)
A crack appeared in the space above its head, and something like light reached it.
It wasn’t physical light, but something akin to the glow of spirits.
(Can I escape from there?)
The light was hope for the being.
The unbearable pain that had been consuming its body eased, just a little, a tiny bit.
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