"How can I say it so boldly?"
He stared at Meldenik's face, trying to read any signs of lies. But her smile was spotless. She said, grabbing a piece of confetti that had risen from her hand, "And I think tomorrow will be even happier."
A free idealist. A woman full of things he couldn't understand, from one to ten. A person who seemed to be completely opposite to his own life. But…
Cassian scratched his neck, a gesture of discomfort, and whispered softly, "I hope you continue to be happy too." He looked down at Meldenik, who was looking at him. Her face had a few pieces of gold confetti on her cheeks. His green eyes held a puzzle that could not be hidden. He took off the paper from Meldenik's cheek one by one, rolled his eyes, and smiled.
"Because it looks good."
It was better to see Meldenik, not Hesmann or Babyloa, happy. There was one reason. It was better to have a society where idealists like Meldenik and immature children were happy than a society where the nobles and corrupt were happy.
But at my words, Meldenik looked surprised. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
She smiled at his concise answer, baring her rabbit-like front teeth, and immediately took a step back. I grabbed both sides of the dress and bent one leg to greet him.
"I also hope that His Highness the Crown Prince will always be happy. Because they are valuable customers!"
Passionate and free people shine. Until now, Cassian thought it was just an ordinary comment. Double-sided colored paper was flying around out of nowhere, and the woman in front of him was only excited about running her store.
"Please continue to visit our stationery store many times in the future!"
It was even a ridiculous situation where his little brother was giggling from a distance. One side of his heart swelled. It felt like an arrow with a blunt tip stuck in it.
He quietly turned his eyes and called out to the servant behind him. Not long ago, Cassian heard a secret rumor circulating in social circles.
It was a story that the Marquis of Kinnoa was not of cursed blood.
It was a strangely curious topic. Despite being very busy with his daily schedule, he began to learn about the Marquis of Kinnoa. It was just a kind of academic enthusiasm. While Meldenik was visiting the closed room, he ordered his attendants to take out the books in the palace.
"This is the genealogy of the Marquis of Kinnoa from the closed room of the Imperial Palace Library."
In that genealogy, Cassian found an unusual point. Contrary to the widely circulated rumors, the curse of the Marquis of Kinnoa was exaggerated in many parts.
…This kind of favor is fine.
He couldn't stop or help her from being excommunicated from the Babyloa family. Cassian was an unequivocal principled person, and Meldenik could not be his complete exception. To help her think positively about herself, this was a very light favor that he could show to a friend.
"Please check it out." After hesitating, he cautiously added, "I have read it too. Personally… I didn't think that the Marquis of Kinnoa was a cursed family." Cassian was nervous. He looked at her strangely and felt a sense of confusion in his heart.
Meldenik's eyes widened as she looked at the book. "Thank you! The genealogy of the Kinnoa family, it's a rare copy recorded by the imperial palace officer himself. Can you give me something like this?" Meldenik's eyes sparkled.
"Yes, the rumor of being cursed by the dragon is the only remaining record of the Marquis of Kinnoa after the Don (likely a specific event or period)." At his words, Meldenik nodded. I thought it was definitely material worth digging into.
"It's a bit frustrating that the dragon curse that was on me suddenly disappeared." He would soon be awarded the title of Marquis of Kinnoa, so it was correct that he should have a genealogy book. Meldenik, who thought it was the perfect gift for the very occasion, greeted him brightly.
Behind the two smiling face-to-face, Axion giggled.
After a fun day at the Imperial Palace, the morning of the excommunication trial finally dawned. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and rubbed my swollen eyes with ice. In order to relax, I decided to read the book "The Genealogy of the Marquis of Kinnoa after the Curse" that Prince Cassian handed me yesterday.
However, in this book, there were sentences that bothered me even more.
"Dominic. It is written in this book that if you are cursed by a dragon, your skin will change color and you will have a dark skin disease on your hands."
"…Is that so?"
"And when the dragon's power is manifested, something like a black magic circle appears and disappears in an instant."
"Hmm."
"There is only one case where I have lost mana at all, Marquis Kinnoa… If you look at this genealogy book." I tilted my head and clenched my chin. "…From generation to generation, there have been those who have had the blood of the marquises who have awakened even a little bit of special ability. Do you know what happened to them?"
I took my eyes off the genealogy book and looked at Dominic.
"They all died within a few months."
"That's a ghost story, right?"
Dominic frowned. "If you look at this genealogy, yes. The person who made a name for himself as a genius painter died right away, and the genius pharmacist also died."
I trembled. It was truly a creepy ghost story.
No mana, or no death altogether. It's either extreme or extreme.
According to what is written in this genealogy, there is a high probability that I, as an alchemist, will die soon. I put my hand on my regularly beating heart and tried to suppress it.
No matter what happens, I will never die.
I will definitely survive, punish the adulterous man and woman, and survive as the owner of a large stationery store. There is only one thing I can do right now. After escaping Babyloa and receiving the title of Marquis of Kinnoa, I officially get to know the people in the family.
Finally, I entered the Imperial Court to finish with the Babyloa family and the Court of Justice.
What is this feeling? Even though I came yesterday, I feel like it's been a long time since I've been here.
I tried my best to maintain an expressionless face and entered the courtroom. The atmosphere inside was too unsettling.
To be honest, there is only one person here who is looking forward to my downfall.
But I don't intend to fall as they expected. No one here knows. The key to this game is that I hold it. If I fall for a while, it will be a stepping stone for a higher leap.
I remembered what Isaac had said.
Because we are on the same side.
Maybe it's because it's the first time someone has ever said that to me.
I don't have to ask for help today. I'll do it alone.
However, I was left with some doubts. I didn't even ask Isaac for help, so why did he bring a model bird? However, I really liked that the inner pocket of the dress was sturdy.
Is it better to think of it as a talisman for now?