Home/My Youngest Keeps Bringing Me Male Leads/ch 10

Chapter 10

"Agnes! You're coming back soon, right?"

"You're not leaving and not coming back, are you?"

"I heard Agnes is getting married now! So she's not coming back to us—that's what the maids said!"

"That's not true, right? Agnes can't get married because she has no money!"

"If Agnes leaves, we have to go to boarding school!"

"We won't play tricks anymore, okay? Please don't go!"

The twins, who had never shown much reaction when she went on leave before, grabbed onto Agnes's skirt.

Agnes hurriedly shook her head at the absurd talk.

"What are you saying?"

"Then why are you leaving? You suddenly said you're going because those people came!"

The clinging touch felt unfamiliar. Looking back, she had always thought she was the only one chasing after the children, but perhaps that wasn't the case.

Their tone was still harsh, but for some reason, it made her smile. Agnes patted the two children in turn.

"I'll come back. Don't skip your studies just because I'm gone!"

"Okay, Agnes!"

"You promised! You have to!"

Leaving the two children waving their hands behind her, Agnes boarded the carriage.

Cesenor and Silmare were already inside.

'Did they hear what the children were saying?'

She was worried, but Cesenor was gazing out the window with an expressionless face, and Silmare looked sulky.

His fine brows were deeply furrowed, and it seemed he didn't like the carriage.

"To confine a free spirit like this, in such a contraption!"

"Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to travel."

"Mage, use teleportation."

"It's tiring to move three people. Especially you, it's more difficult."

"Aren't you a Celesta? You can't even use magic that well?"

It was clearly a disparagement of Cesenor's abilities, and Cesenor furrowed his brows in return.

'Ah... suffocating.'

Hiding a sigh, Agnes deliberately smiled brightly.

"It's fine, it won't take long. It's only half a day's journey to the Laverose estate."

The two men continued to bicker, and as Agnes tried to mediate, the carriage soon crossed the border of the Waldemar territory.

Once past the territory's boundary, the scenery changed noticeably. The farmlands were overgrown with weeds due to neglect, and the roads were rough, making the carriage jolt.

The two men looked out the window without much comment, but Agnes felt her heart tighten for some reason. Even though it was a road she had traveled countless times, she now felt strangely embarrassed.

"After the Cracks, there was a lot of emigration from the territory..."

As she muttered defensively, the two replied at the same time.

"These days, it's likely the same everywhere."

"It is better not to meddle unnecessarily with nature given by the World Tree."

She knew they were trying to comfort her, but Agnes flinched and lowered her gaze. Fidgeting with her wrinkled skirt, she tried to calm her restless heart.

The carriage passed through a village that looked decayed no matter where you looked, and headed toward the estate. The villagers occasionally glanced at the carriage, but most seemed indifferent.

Even though they must have known that the carriage belonged to Agnes, the eldest daughter of the lord, since carriages rarely came and went.

The carriage soon stopped in front of the estate. The tight feeling in her chest spread into a dull pain, and now she could barely breathe.

She tried to act composed as she accepted Silmare's escort out of the carriage, but at the sight before her, Agnes squeezed her eyes shut.

The Laverose estate was truly desolate.

The walls were mottled with patches of moss, and overgrown rose vines were tangled and growing haphazardly. The garden, which must have once been quite elegant, was overrun with weeds.

Beyond the garden, most of the mansion's windows were shuttered, and no one was seen coming or going. It looked as if no one lived there.

This was the 'Laverose estate' that Agnes had protected even by working as a governess.

She pulled the rusted doorbell, and soon someone came running out of the mansion.

It was a man with scattered white hair—Alfred, the butler of this estate.

When he spotted Agnes, his face broke into a smile, and he hurriedly opened the gate.

"I had no word you were coming!"

"I came in a rush. It's been a while, Alfred."

"I received your last letter! Good heavens, Lady Amy is alive!"

"Yes. Rupert is well too."

Mindful of the guests behind her, but eager to share the good news, Agnes showed him the letter Rupert had written.

Alfred's eyes turned red and welled with tears.

To lighten the mood, Agnes gestured to the guests behind her.

"These two met her personally."

"Oh my, thank you! For bringing such joyful news...!"

Seeing Alfred so overjoyed, her gloomy and embarrassed feelings eased a little.

Wanting to surprise Alfred even more, Agnes brought a small box from the carriage.

"You'll be even more surprised when you see this!"

"What is this? It's so heavy, you should have told me."

When Alfred opened the box, he was utterly astonished, causing a brief commotion. Only after she explained everything did Alfred laugh, as if he might cry.

"Heh heh heh, our youngest young lady... Just what happened in that Crack!"

"In any case, with this much, could we hire some workers?"

"Workers?"

"Yes. On the way here, it seemed like we were short on labor. That's why the farming isn't getting done, right?"

"It's not just the farming. Everyone is preparing to run away any day now... Oh dear. I shouldn't be saying this in front of guests."

"Well, they didn't come here without knowing the situation. We need to prepare a place for them to stay right away."

"Indeed. I have no idea what to do, as nothing is ready."

Agnes spoke gently, as if soothing the troubled Alfred.

"So, here's what I'm thinking. Use this to hire people. Workers, maids, servants—whomever we need."

"But this won't be enough to hire people for long, will it?"

Assuming the money in the chest was all there was, Alfred tilted his brows in concern. Cesenor stepped forward.

"It seems I'm needed after all."

"Pardon?"

"It's time to fulfill the contract. Rupert mentioned that this estate has a large basement. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's right. There is a basement."

She remembered it because they had sold off the items that once filled the basement to pay off debts.

Of course, now it would be empty, with only a few food supplies remaining.

"Then please lead the way."

Alfred left, saying he would prepare the guest rooms, and the three of them headed toward the basement.

For some reason, Cesenor looked pleased.

His face was as indifferent as usual, but his eyes were noticeably sparkling, and the corners of his mouth were slightly lifted.

"I'll create a vault using magic that only Lady Agnes can access."

"How? Right now?"

"Of course. I am Cesenor of the Celestial Tower. It's a common spell used for storing important things."

Saying this, Cesenor stood before one wall of the basement. He placed his hand on it, and golden powder rose from his fingertips, inscribing a magic circle.

"This is a good opportunity to show you my magic."

He seemed to have been provoked by Silmare's remark about "can't even use magic that well" for a Celesta.

After completing the magic circle, Cesenor took five mana stones from his pocket. As he embedded them into the five points of the circle, it began to glow brilliantly.

Sparkling motes of light gathered at the center of the magic circle.

With Cesenor standing at the center, a blindingly intense light burst forth.

Fwoosh!

The ground rumbled. The earth beneath their feet shook. It felt as if the basement might collapse. As she staggered, Silmare quickly came over and steadied Agnes by the shoulder.

Cesenor, catching this from the corner of his eye, twitched his brow slightly.

Finally, when the tremor ceased.

"It's all done now."

Cesenor declared in a heavy voice.

Agnes gazed at him, standing in the midst of the halo, with wonder.

It seemed as if wind lingered only around him. His long hair fluttered, and his dark eyes sparkled like amethysts.

The shimmering golden light circled him as if paying homage, then vanished as if drawn into his chest.

The basement soon darkened. Only the mana stones embedded in the wall emitted a vivid glow, different from before.

"Would you like to open the door now?"

"How?"

"Place your hand on the central circle there."

Agnes placed her hand on the circle at the center of the magic circle. The magic circle responded and began to move.

Without light or sound, the circle rotated halfway. Beyond the wall, a spacious chamber came into view.

The cavern, filled with a soft, ambient light, shone brilliantly even with just a small light.

"Good heavens... it's more than the empire's annual budget, they said..."

Just as Cesenor had said, gold coins were piled there in a 'mountain.'

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