# 116
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“Impossible, Leia... No, is this possible?”
The Duke laughed and shook his head.
I got rid of the silly thoughts that came into my head.
Because Leia didn't have pink hair, which was a basic requirement for The Lost Princess.
Furthermore, since she was kidnapped without warning immediately after birth, the color of the missing princess's eyes cannot be confirmed, but if she resembles her parents, they are likely pink or green.
‘Whether he is from her mother’s family or her father’s family, it is impossible for him to be brown.’
However, even as he shook off his thoughts, the Duke felt uncomfortable for some reason.
“Really....we really need to find our Adriana...”
At that time, Al-Mazarquis, who had been silent for a long time, was unable to continue speaking and closed his eyes tightly.
He had no idea that his daughter and her husband were planning something like this, so honestly, he was almost desperate to find his granddaughter.
Of course, when I returned to the capital after handing over my title, I thought about walking around the Information Guild and asking for orders, and I felt like I was grasping at straws.
“Dad, I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you in advance because I wasn't sure how long it would take or if it would really go as planned.”
The Archduke apologized in an apologetic voice.
The Marquis didn't make a fuss at the moment and just nodded, saying it was okay and thanking him for his hard work.
At this time, the Duke, whose mind had been somewhat organized, asked in a low voice.
“Your Majesty the Grand Duke. When you accepted the invitation to dinner today, did you mean to tell this story from the beginning? That is why he said he wanted the children to eat separately.
Once the Archduke nodded, the Duke continued speaking.
“But I don’t understand, what does this have to do with your decision to be Diana’s godfather?”
Then the Archduchess smiled coldly and said:
“A short while ago, when I said that I would release all of Belos' magic tools to the empire, he seemed like he couldn't understand. And perhaps others think so too, especially since the Emperor, as you know, is very interested in the Principality of Pylos.”
“That's it. ….”
The Duke, who was about to announce that he was interested in something else instead of the Principality, kept his mouth shut as he looked at the Archduchess who frowned as if she did not want to hear it.
“But what do you think will happen if the Emperor finds out that I am searching for my daughter with a magical tool?”
Although the level of Imperial Magicians was said to be lower than that of the Principality, the possibility of their interpretation of the magic circle could not be ruled out.
Then, the magic tool may be misused for no reason or something unexpected may happen.
“We just want to find our daughter quietly, so I need an excuse to do that without a doubt.”
"Does that make you Diana's godmother?"
“Yes, then the Emperor and others will also think, Ah, Archduke Belus has finally given up on that, and instead, he has decided to treat Princess Elad like his own daughter, so much so that all the magical tools are released to the empire at a low price.”
“Titles of duchies, fiefdoms, mines, jewels... I will give the princess anything she wants, I can make her the most precious child in the empire, or even on the continent, more than the princess.”
When even the Archduke joined in and announced, Duke Elad snorted slightly.
“There is no need for that.”
He said coldly.
“I don't like it, I feel like they are using my daughter.”
“Dominic!”
"my dear ."
The Archduke and Duchess called out to him in voices surprised by Duke Elade's words.
Looking at the shocked faces, as if he had not expected such an answer at all, the Duke let out a long sigh.
“...I want to say it, but I can’t refuse.”
“Ha...”
As soon as she finished speaking, sighs of relief came from all around.
The Duke looked indignant but spoke as if he had no choice.
“If this causes trouble for Diana, she will be held responsible.”
“Of course, but that won't happen, thank you, thank you very much.”
The Archduke smiled brightly, his green eyes suddenly becoming moist and sparkling.
This dazzlingly beautiful figure looked as sacred as a noble statue in a temple, so much so that Duke Elad, who was usually unimpressed by its appearance, paused.
So he thought tremblingly.
The reason why the magicians on the continent were so excited about Prince Belos and wanted to see his toes might not just be because of his magical abilities.
* * *
“Ah”
“...oh!”
"Yes."
“Yaa!”
Oh, surprise!
I looked up in surprise to see Allen screaming.
“Master, I was surprised, why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this? Do you know how many times I called for you? Why didn’t you eat and sigh?”
Allen said with a frown.
Now that I thought about it, Diana, who was sitting next to me, was also looking at me with a worried face.
"I apologize ."
When she apologized awkwardly, Allen frowned even more.
“The problem isn't that you're sorry, it's that I'm curious as to why you did that.”
However, I could not easily answer Allen's question.
Right now, I was disappointed that I couldn't attend the meal, and since then, I was depressed because I felt at a loss regarding how to prove that I was Adriana in the future.
'No one will believe Diana's words and my claims alone...'
In fact, yesterday I asked Diana not to tell me that I looked like the Archduchess because that was a “secret.”
I didn't know why I was only visible to Diana, and if I told this story in a situation where there was no solid evidence, I might end up embarrassing the child.
“I anointed my face and body with mana last night, but there didn't seem to be any signs of me being particularly enchanted.”
The Archduke, also known as the Wizard, didn't say anything when he saw me, so I wasn't sure, but I thought it was really a curse. The same applies to the fact that holy power was not effective in the past.
After that, I wondered if I should go to the temple, but I didn't feel like it when I thought of the priest who was surprised to see me expelling the holy power from the duke's castle.
'It would have been nice to at least know what was being talked about in the dining room.'
Maybe I met him briefly earlier and didn't notice anything strange.
If I had known this would happen, I would have tried to unleash my magic in front of the Duke, but I regretted it.
"You . … ".
At this time, Allen narrowed his eyes as if he was suspicious.
Even though he couldn't have noticed my concerns, it still bothered me.
"Is it because of the Archduke? Because we can't eat together?"
"Yes?"
How did you know that?
My eyes widened in surprise, but then I remembered something he often said.
“It is true that the Archduke is really handsome, but it is not because of his face.”
“Hmph, who said what? Anyway, it’s true that it’s because of the Archduke, and isn’t it because you admire him like the other wizards?”
Surprisingly, I got a normal answer and nodded my head in confusion.
Obviously I'm also someone who's interested in magic, so it was natural to see it that way.
The mages who had recently descended into the duchy with Lucio, especially Chief Healer Thelin, were the ones who were always shouting, “Mage Duke Belos, great genius!”, so they felt extremely shocked to suddenly descend into the duchy.
When I thought about it, I shrugged.
My father is probably the only great wizard on the continent who is admired by all wizards.
“Master.”
“Huh, what?”
“Do you know anything about the missing princess?”
As the topic of the Archduke came up, I couldn't resist and asked him directly.
“The Lost Princess? Oh, Ascart’s younger sister?”
Allen tilted his head, as if the title of Lost Princess was unfamiliar to him.
“Yes, how did she disappear and who did it? Or some kind of characteristic, does she have a mole on her body or something like that symbolically? ...”
"I don't know."
Allen cut me off mid-sentence.
He looked a little embarrassed.
“The adults didn’t tell me that. There was also no evidence that the missing princess was kidnapped somewhere as soon as she was born.”
"Yes . … ".
“No one told me, I didn’t get to meet Askart as often as I used to, and even when I did, he didn’t show it, which is why I often forget that he has a younger sister.”
When she seemed disappointed, Allen quickly made an excuse.
I also nodded slowly.
Yes, I could not tell this story in detail to my children.
“But why are you so curious about that?”
“Just...I'm just curious.”
I smiled bitterly and answered harshly.
“As expected, it would be faster to ask Askart or Bianca directly.”
It would hurt the wounds of both peoples, but now is not the time to discuss such matters.
“Right, Leah, you should come to the training center sometime around!”
“Training ground? Why?”
“Today, my father asked Mrs. Marietta to watch Jack’s sword skills with me.”
“To Bianca?”
“Hah!”
Aline's eyes sparkled like wizards who were excited to hear the news of the Archduke's arrival in the empire.
He also seems to be impressed by the magical swordswoman Bianca Maretta.
“Well, Bianca is someone skilled in both magic and swordsmanship, so she will handle mana more sensitively than other Auror users.”
It was clear that the Duke also wanted to ask Allen for help in showing his compassion.
“Leah, you should come, okay?”
“Diana wants to go too!”
“Yes, our Diana should come too.”
I don't know why they called me to train, but I was grateful.
So, I was about to reply that I would definitely go to Yen, who was touching Diana's cheek with a puffy face.
I stopped when I looked in the mirror opposite the table in my room.
'. …There was a symbol.’
Something that might prove I'm the lost princess caught my attention.