My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 53

Huge thanks to Lilium for the kofi! (1/1) ✨

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After the Parta, Princess Lilica Nara Takar’s notability skyrocketed in an instant.

Everything she wore on her birthday, from her clothes to her accessories, shoes, and socks, became in vogue.

The story between Lilica and Lauv, dubbed ‘Oath of the Pearl’, has already been adapted into songs and plays that were being used in various places.

As they listened to that story, people of all ages would light up with excitement.

The popularity of pearls also surged. It became a trend to use pearl rings as engagement rings.

Of course, the most popular story amongst kids was “The artifact, Magical Girl.”

The story was fascinating not only for the kids but also for adults.

— An artifact that allowed one to experience the feeling of becoming a wizard.

Everyone engaged in discussion about the artifact.

Can it make her fly in the sky?

If it emits light, how bright would it become?

Can she use attack magic?

The scene where the magic circles sparkled while music resounded was a thrilling topic of discussion as well.

A pair of beautiful, lake-coloured eyes beneath plain brown hair.

Stories about the lovely princess were quite popular everywhere.

Noble families rushed to order panniers, while the fluffy and light panniers were well-received amongst the younger girls.

Of course, due to the exorbitant price, only high-ranking nobles could afford to have dense and abundant panniers made like Lilica’s.

Lilica also keenly felt the extent of her popularity.

After the Parta, letters poured in like a tide.

“Can I go out and play?”

Lilica asked Altheos.

With the reason of teaching her to use the artifact, they could now meet in broad daylight.

The private garden was still peaceful during the day as it was dense with trees, giving the impression of being within a deep forest.

The only sound that could be heard was the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Altheos replied, “Ask your mother.”

Lilica glanced at Altheos.

The pendant in her hand was spinning in circles and reflecting small specks of light.

“If His Majesty says that…”

“I’ve already suffered a lecture because of that artifact. Because I’d given something dangerous to a kid.”

Altheos leaned back in his chair obliquely and continued speaking with a somewhat annoyed tone.

“If I make Ludia angrier, it’ll be a loss for me.”

Lilica nodded helplessly.

Her mother was being overprotective, so Lilica wanted to borrow His Majesty’s power out of fear that she’d refuse.

But it seems like it’s impossible.

She shook the pendant frustratedly.

The small clusters of light escaped out of the pendant, and disappeared between the trees like fireflies.

She spoke.

“But my pendant feels quite strange. It feels much heavier than before.”

“That’s because I’d placed a restriction on it.”

“A restriction?”

“Yes.”

Altheos reached out and tapped on her pendant lightly.

She didn’t know how he did it, but the pendant suddenly began floating upwards along with a strange vibration.

“Hiiik!”

The tingling sensation spread from her hand to her entire body, and Lilica shivered.

Altheos let out a chuckle.

“It’s rather dangerous for novices, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

Altheos got up from his seat as he spoke.

“I’ll run over to attack you from over there, so do whatever you can.”

Leaving the bewildered Lilica behind, Altheos distanced themselves reasonably.

As soon as he raised his hand as the starting signal, goosebumps rose throughout Lilica’s entire body.

All of a sudden, she was unable to breathe.

“—!!”

The alarm bell in her mind began ringing loudly and frenziedly. Under his imposing momentum, her entire body was taut with tension.

What should I do?

What should—

The distance between her and His Majesty decreased instantly.

The moment he reached out his hand, Lilica shouted.

“Ke, kentana (Steel Shield)!”

The word popped out of her mouth without hesitation.

Altheos came to a stop.

His bloodthirsty aura vanished. However, Lilica wasn’t able to take down the shield.

With trembling hands raised, she faced Altheos.

He smiled with understanding and used the back of his hand to tap on the round milky-white sphere before his eyes lightly.

Lilica was taken aback by the sudden development.

Altheos asked.

“Did you calculate how much power to put into the spell just now?”

She shook her head.

Lilica took a deep breath.

She had simply put all her strength into it out of fear and helplessness.

She couldn’t even think of the phrase, much less calculate anything.

Now that her body had calmed down slightly, she took down the shield, feeling the drain to her strength.

She plopped down into her chair and said

“I was so frightened.”

“Not many can detect the power of a dragon.”

Lilica tightly clenched and unclenched her trembling hand.

Altheos continued.

“That still happened even though I’d warned you that I would attack. So, if this happened for real, do you think you would’ve been able to recall the spell properly?”

She didn’t even need to think about it.

Lilica shook her head weakly.

“Then, let’s say you’d just used it without controlling your power. If, for example, you tried to push someone away instead of defending with your magic, and ended up blowing them away with your magical power, do you think you’d be able to use magic safely from then onwards?”

“!!”

Lilica’s eyes widened.

It was something she’d never imagined.

Altheos nodded like he’d already expected that her reaction would be like that.

“Well, some people might be able to do that. But not you. If you’d experienced something like that, you might never be able to use magic again.”

“Which is why you’d placed restrictions on it.”

So that even if she’d poured in her magic recklessly, it wouldn’t surpass a certain level of force.

It could be considered a safety feature.

“I understand.”

She nodded.

Altheos continued speaking.

“Still, when you’re in a critical situation and your mind is still working clearly, it’s simple if you want to use a powerful spell when your mind isn’t clear. Just concentrate and say ‘Release’.”

“Got it.”

Lilica gripped the pendant tightly while speaking earnestly.

She’d never thought of hurting someone with this power.

She hoped that such a situation would never happen in the future.

‘But maybe, in order to protect someone, I might need to use it.’

Lilica decided that she would keep practising her spells until she could control it with ease.

‘Oh? Come to think of it.’

It felt like she’d suddenly discovered the right answer to a long-standing question from what His Majesty had said.

After pondering it over for a moment, Lilica asked cautiously.

“Did the same thing happen to Atil too?”

She’d never seen Atil use his power before.

If Atil possessed Takar’s power, it was something that he could use while showing off instead of hiding it.

With astonishment, Lilica realised that he’d never done so.

Lilica had wondered about it, but she had never asked him.

It would’ve been rather troubling for Atil if he didn’t have the power.

“You’re right.”

Altheos folded his arms.

He frowned.

“I’d witnessed him use his power too strongly, and it ended uglily. Since then, he hasn’t been able to use it.”

“I see.”

Altheos chuckled.

“That punk, even if his mouth was torn open, he probably wouldn’t say something like this to you.”

Lilica nodded in agreement.

Altheos ruffled her hair roughly.

“That’s why this is considered a safe ‘toy’.”

Although Ludia said it was dangerous.

“I’ll use it well.”

Upon hearing Lilica’s words, Altheos replied, “Good.”

“Now, let’s go and show it to your mother.”

“What?”

“Show that it’s not dangerous to your mother. What you’ve shown me today should be enough.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Since I’d helped you use magic comfortably, you should stand on my side once.”

He pushed his finger against her forehead.

Lilica burst into laughter at his words.

* * *

“Sesedansu (Dance of Butterflies).”

Various light butterflies fluttered up from the pendant in a graceful dance.

“Kentana (Steel Shield).”

A translucent milky-white half-sphere appeared and disappeared.

After demonstrating various types of magic, Lilica pretended to take off a hat and bowed.

Ludia clapped her hands.

“Oh my, you really look like a wizard. My adorable magical girl, my princess.”

“Right?”

Lilica dashed towards Ludia.

Ludia smiled brightly and hugged her daughter.

Although the gaze directed at Altheos behind Lilica’s back was still sharp, he could tell that her gaze was already relaxed.

Ludia waved a hand in dismissal.

With her gesture, the maids that were watching raptly took their leave quickly.

With a gentle smile on her face, Ludia held Lilica’s hand.

“Altheos, would you come a little closer?”

“Mm, what’s wrong?”

When he approached, Ludia also took a hold of his hand.

She smiled radiantly and said.

“You two, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

“!!”

Startled, Lilica looked back at Altheos.

Altheos met Ludia’s gaze calmly.

“What do you mean?”

The curve of Ludia’s smile deepened even further at his question.

It had been ages since Lilica felt how frightening her mother was.

“Are you really not going to tell me?”

Ludia’s voice turned cold.

Altheos maintained his composure, but Lilica’s palms were sweating.

“I don’t know what you mean by hiding something.”

At his reply, Ludia turned to look at Lilica sharply.

“Lily, do you also not understand what Mom is saying? Are you going to continue lying to Mom?”

“Um, about that…”

Lilica dithered while stealing a glance at Altheos nervously.

Altheos clicked his tongue.

“Why are you bullying the child?”

“!!”

Ludia jumped up from her seat and poked her finger at Altheos’s chest.

“Bullying the child? You’re the one that’s bullying her! What are you using Lily for?”

Ludia yanked on Lilica’s hand and pulled her behind her body.

Ludia growled.

“It’s fine if you take advantage of me, as it doesn’t matter since that’s part of the contract. But stay away from my daughter! Get lost!”

Ludia’s last words were low, and her pupils looked like a frozen lake on fire.

Lilica watched the two of them helplessly.

‘Uhm, uhm—’

Altheos shifted his gaze towards the flustered Lilica.

He spoke softly.

“Lilica, leave.”

Ludia took a deep breath.

She couldn’t get angry with Lilica here.

Anger welled up at the thought of the two talking in whispers behind her back.

Above all, she was extremely angry with Lilica.

It was possible for Altheos to do this.

But Lilica… her daughter…

She’d deceived her.

If it was usual, she would have slapped and scolded her right away.

But Ludia was arduously holding back.

As such, she needed to redirect her anger towards someone else.

That someone was none other than Altheos.

He must have blackmailed Lilica to deceive her. Otherwise, Lilica wouldn’t have done this to her.

Just that alone was enough for her to hold back.

When the artifact ‘Magical Girl’ was presented at the Patar, others might be unaware, but Ludia could tell.

Lilica’s surprised expression was borne out of feelings of excitement or joy.

Moreover, this was an artifact that she’d never seen before regressing.

If such a thing had existed, there’s no way it wouldn’t have been taken out of the imperial family.

That weasel that should’ve taken this place in her stead had already raided the imperial family’s artifacts.

So, that meant…

That meant…

Ludia had to put a lot of effort so that she doesn’t grab onto Lilica or speak harshly.

It might be an easy task for someone else, but not for Ludia.

As such, Ludia didn’t look at Lilica.

She felt her daughter hesitating.

Ludia couldn’t even say things like “Go out,” so she just waved her hand while keeping her gaze fixed on Altheos.

She heard Lilica leaving the reception room hesitantly.

Clack.

Once the door had closed, Ludia immediately raised her voice.

“What have you done to Lilica!”

“Wait a moment.”

“Wait a moment? What do you mean, wait! You charlatan! Swindler!”

She pushed him as hard as she could.

Her lips trembled.

“Traitor.”

Didn’t you say that you loved me?

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

It’s not like she believed him. She had never believed him.

In any case, words of love that were spoken by a man are lies.

That’s right.

“Ludia.”

Altheos frowned.

He reached out, but Ludia stumbled backwards.

“Don’t come any closer.”

She wiped her tears away with both hands and hissed.

Altheos frowned.

As he reached out his hand, she took a step back spasmodically.

“Don’t come any closer.”

As she wiped away her tears with both hands, Ludia sighed.

What could be more foolish than holding a conversation while crying?

“What did you do to Lilica?”

At her question, Altheos fell silent for a moment.

He felt suffocated. He didn’t expect such a strong reaction.

“I was wrong. She’s your child, and yet I’d told Lily to hide it from you.”

“Of course you did.”

“Can’t we sit down and talk this through calmly?”

“I’m already calm enough, so go ahead and speak.”

In response to her words, Altheos let out a deep sigh.

“Lilica is a wizard.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s a pure-blooded human.”

Ludia’s eyes narrowed.

In the next moment, her lips parted slightly.

Astonishment and understanding flitted across her face.

“H, how is that…”

Ah, right.

That’s it.

Shock and understanding collided within Ludia’s mind, creating a complex mix of emotions.

Ludia’s strength seemed to drain from her body.

As she staggered, Altheos quickly stepped forward and caught her.

“Are you alright?”

“Not at all.”

She groaned.

As she tried to bite her lips, he gently pressed his thumb against them to stop her.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I thought you were sharing some power you had, or it was some skill that she’d learned from you.”

As it was something that’s beyond her expectations, her words tumbled out smoothly.

Wizard.

A pure-blooded human.

With a sigh, Ludia pushed him away and plopped down onto the sofa.

Her thoughts became even more complicated.

Ludia used both hands to wipe her face and asked.

“But why did you hide it then?”

“The fewer people that know about the secret, the better.”

Ludia’s sharp eyes scrutinised Altheos.

Altheos met her gaze confidently.

Ludia spoke.

“If you try to use Lily in any way, or, no.”

She closed her eyes again.

“I’m fine with you using her. But do so in a transparent manner. And if you cause any harm to befall upon Lily, I won’t forgive you.”

Altheos asked.

“Is using her acceptable?”

“To use something in return for a just payment is called a ‘deal.’ When I say ‘transparently,’ it means that you’re not to use her unilaterally as your payment. It must be done with mutual agreement.”

“Indeed.”

Altheos chuckled briefly.

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