# 115
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“Oh my God.”
I didn't mean to make fun of Askart.
The Archduchess smiled awkwardly as she looked at her contemplative son.
Is it because we've been away for a long time or does he look depressed and cold?
Her son didn't seem to notice her joke at all.
Of course, it seems that this is partly because she inherited not only her good looks but also his innocent personality from her husband.
The Archduchess shook her head slightly, recalling memories of enjoying teasing the tactless and immature Archduke before her marriage.
Now that I think about it, it seems like it's been a very long time since we've had such a fun conversation.
At that moment, the corners of the Grand Duchess's mouth, which had slowly risen, returned to their original state.
It was because I thought of my daughter who might be crying even at this moment.
“It is fortunate that the Archduke has a conscience!”
At that time, when the Duke felt relieved, even though he clearly knew that the Archduchess's words were a joke, the Duke said as if he had been waiting.
“Duke, I will not ask you to be my daughter-in-law, so relax. However, since our families are very close, there is something I would like to ask you cloy.”
Duke Elad also blushed on the face of the Archduke, who still had a gentle expression but a nervous smile.
Naturally, there was relief that Diana's safety had been secured.
“Please speak.”
“Okay, let me be honest, Rin and I want to be the princess’s godparents.”
"Yes?"
“It's not a strange suggestion, is it? The Imperial nobles, or at least the Emperor, think it's worth it.”
“That's true, but...”
The Duke confirmed but made a strange expression.
There was no mistake in what the Archduke said.
Most nobles knew of a certain age that the Archduchess, who was the daughter of the Marquis of Diabelle, was Duke Ellard's only friend.
At one point, there was talk that the two were not just friends but lovers.
Of course, those words vanished in an instant when Dominic appeared with Ethel, leaving the Emperor, who had been trying to get a girl for the Duke, stunned.
However, given the friendship that subsequently continued between the Duke and the Archduchess, this suggestion was not surprising.
But the problem is: why now, when the child has not just been born? ...Why didn't you bring it up?
Even without this pretense in the first place, the relationship between the two families has remained strong until now.
When he lost Diana not long ago, he immediately asked for help, and even the Grand Duchy sent Bianca and the magic swordsman without a second thought.
“What is the reason?”
“H—this...”
When the Duke asked again, puzzled, the Archduke hesitated, wondering if his mouth would drop.
But after a while.
After making his decision, the Archduke's mouth opened.
“Soon, the prices of all magical items made in the Principality will be reduced, and I will release them all to the empire. I plan to gradually spread it throughout the continent.”
“Yes? No why in heaven’s name...”
The Duke could not understand why the Archduke would want to take the loss by devaluing the magic artifact.
“It's to find our Adriana.”
The Duke's doubts were answered by the Archduke.
“What do you mean by Heaven’s Creator? Please explain in detail.”
Marquis Diabelle, who was quietly focusing on his meal, opened his eyes and spoke.
The Archduke bowed his head slightly as if he was sorry that he had not told him earlier and began to explain.
“Meanwhile, we first looked for the pink-haired children, then went to the temple and conducted a paternity test, but this method is very ineffective, so from now on, I will use Mana to find Adriana.”
Not only the Marquis, but also the Duke, Duchess, and Bianca showed expressions of incomprehension at the Archduke's words.
As he said, searching for a pink-haired girl and then doing a paternity test using the temple relics took too long and wasn't very effective.
In addition, sending people across the continent every year to search for the Grand Duchess required an enormous amount of money and manpower, and since it was done by the people, it couldn't be perfect.
but … .
“Are you looking for a kid with mana?”
When the Marquis asked with a trembling voice, the Archduke answered.
“The sacred relics of the temple are used to distinguish between flesh and blood, and based on this, I created a magic circle that can recognize blood relatives through mana.”
"What?"
Ignoring the shocked voices, the Archduke continued his explosive statements.
“And I will add a magic circle that tracks mana and engrave it on all magical tools made in the principality, so you can instantly know if Adriana's mana has been detected around you.”
My mouth dropped open when I heard the story, which was so amazing that I couldn't even imagine it.
“Is this really possible....?”
“It was difficult in theory, it took longer to implement.”
The Archduke took a short breath and explained.
“I don’t know most people, but everyone has unique characteristics and colors. Currently, we have not collected all the samples, but we have collected enough samples and completed experiments to determine if there is some degree of correspondence between blood relatives. So, first, we plan to track down Mana, who is presumed to be Adriana, then find the child and conduct a comprehensive examination at the temple.”
After finishing speaking, the Archduke calmly turned his head and looked at Askart.
“Askart, you have put in so much effort. Instead of me, he came to the empire to collect mana samples and even research magic circles, you really tried hard.”
“...I just did what I had to do.”
Askart spoke firmly, although his ears were red as if he was embarrassed.
In fact, the empire's magic level didn't match Askart's, but after hearing his father's plan, he was willing to go to the empire first.
Of course, like other places, the principality could send patrons, but the Imperial Academy was the largest academic institution on the continent.
It was a place where talented people gathered, regardless of whether they were nobles or commoners, so it was the most suitable place to collect mana samples from many people.
In the end, the Archduke had no choice but to send his most trustworthy son.
“Indeed, it is said that Askart received help from a maid during the process of developing the magic circle.”
Hearing the Archduke's words, the Grand Duchess and the Marquis trembled at the same time.
Bianca's eyes widened when she remembered the sweet letter from Leia, who bragged that she had met Askart at the Academy Festival and he had praised her for being smart.
I had no idea that I would be helping find the missing princess.
". … Is this correct?"
Likewise, the Duke laughed helplessly when he remembered that Rhea said that in exchange for offering a little help to Ascart, she received a magic circle that injected magical power into Spliceia.
“They said it was little help.”
At the time, they said that once Spliceia was commercialized, they would send a separate thank you letter to Ascart.
In fact, it seems like Leia should be receiving thanks.
"also !"
At that time, a loud voice came from beside me.
“Our Leia is a bit lucky, she surprises people with unexpected things, and she is too beautiful to die for.”
The Duchess put her hands together and spoke in an emotional voice.
I felt prouder than ever when I heard that Lucio had graduated early from the academy without missing out on the highest honors every year.
However, it was a bit inappropriate to say that while talking about a serious and huge story.
“Kyo, kioh.”
The Duke, who was clearing his throat in embarrassment, paused for a moment as the surrounding atmosphere seemed strangely positive to the Duchess's words.
Come to think of it, the Archduke and Askart, who had received help from Leia, were smiling softly, and the Marquis Diabelle, who loved to make jokes, as well as Bianca, were nodding quietly.
Then the Duke shrugged his shoulders and silently joined in the phrase, “Proud of our baby girl.”
“A little Leia like that, he is indispensable to our Elad Duchy.”
In addition, I couldn't even dream of taking her to the Principality of Pylos.
The Duke, who was trying to ignore Ascart's blurry face, remembered what the Archduke had said a moment ago and realized something again.
“You really think the princess is alive.”
Otherwise, how could such a grand plan be put together over such a long period of time?
However, for nearly ten years, such convincing evidence has not been found anywhere.
Instead, it was very likely that the princess, who was a mass of blood, had already been dead a long time ago.
However, the Duke did not voice these questions and assumptions out loud.
It was an expression of respect and appreciation for those who put all their effort into something that might have gone in vain, killing the doubts and fears that were growing every moment.
“Can you tell the difference just by having a magic tool nearby?”
Instead, she asked carefully and the Archduke answered.
“That's not it. Whether it's magic power or aurora, you have to use the body's inherent mana to distinguish it. If you use too little mana, it's difficult to be sure."
The Archduke had a grim expression as he answered the inevitable restrictions.
Then the Archduchess lightly tapped the Archduke's hand.
“Don’t worry, Adriana’s energy was enough to collide with mana even when she was in the stomach, so she must be purer and have more mana than other people. If you are like me and Your Highness, you will definitely be able to use mana.”
The Archduke also nodded at the Archduchess's words.
Askart's expression was dark, but he definitely agreed.
The reason my father and I had to evacuate the castle in the first place was to look for snowflakes that would help stabilize the mana in case my younger sister's mana power increased once she was born.
At that time.
The Duke suddenly thought of a child with high purity and a huge amount of mana.