[Chapter 101] Jewel Inside, Revealed

Neris blushed at her own expression that came to mind. Lovely?

She knew better than anyone how different Jewel Inside was from the eyes of ordinary people. While one could admire or fear it, no one saw it as lovely.

"...Strange, isn't it?"

She felt embarrassed. For some reason, she felt very embarrassed. So Neris blurted out awkward words and immediately regretted it, even as she spoke.

But Cledwyn just smiled in response.

"It suits you."

"Really?"

Something so precious? To someone like me? Neris thought he had said something nice to her. But Cledwyn gently spoke as if he could see through her heart.

"Your eyes may be beautiful in any case, but now they speak of how well-crafted a gem of a person you are."

Neris's cheeks reddened even more.

It was strange. If someone else had said that in that manner, they would have been criticized for being oily-tongued, but because it was Cledwyn... with that face, that voice, that tone...

It felt like the most sincere compliment.

"Who you choose to reveal the truth about your eyes to is up to you. I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Yes. After spending a few days in the castle, how do you feel? Can you reveal it? Oh, either way, your safety is guaranteed. It's the place we've made."

Indeed, that was the feeling. Looking back on her life so far, even now, the castle's inhabitants seemed truly honest and perhaps even innocent.

After some thought, Neris nodded.

"Then I'll just reveal it. It's not a big deal if it's known that my eyes are a bit unusual."

As long as she didn't reveal her abilities. Until now, she had been hiding how Cledwyn would react to Jewel Inside. Since she couldn't always wear a veil, she might as well decide on the timing of the revelation herself.

Neris finally sipped the tea that Gilbert had brought. The tea was cold but very fragrant.

'Interesting.'

She murmured to herself. Even though she had such an easy thing to use... and he was telling her to decide everything.

It was so fascinating.

❖ ❖ ❖

After finishing the conversation in the study, Cledwyn went into a meeting with his subordinates regarding the results of this expedition. He seemed like he might stay up all night, while joking that Neris should go in and sleep first.

Neris had never heard the phrase "I'll work, you sleep" in her previous life. She naturally argued that as the castle's advisor, she had the right to attend the meeting, but it was not accepted.

In the end, she returned to the West Wing with a slightly resentful heart. And for a walk, she put on a simple dress with just a shawl and walked the now darkened corridors of the West Wing.

Beyond the delicately crafted frame, the dark trees received the moonlight through the glass window. In one corner of the West Wing garden, there was a silver iron greenhouse, which seemed to have been left unattended for a long time, judging by the rain stains."

Please note that the translation provided is a condensed version to fit the length constraints.

"Here has been empty for a long time," Neris asked, lost in thought. Dora replied meekly, "Yes, miss."

"Why wasn't it used before? The East Wing was full of people."

It was truly a place where 'it didn't matter who used the empty space.' Why hadn't it been used yet?

Dora, with a puzzled look, earnestly replied, "I don't know either. When I arrived, the West Wing had been empty for a long time."

"Is that so?"

Neris was gradually becoming familiar with the architectural style of the North. Small windows, low ceilings, and large fireplaces in each room.

However, unlike the typical Northern style of the Main and East Wings, the West Wing was closer to a 'Southern' style. With larger windows and relatively long corridors.

Was it because it was built to suit the person who lived in this building before?

Lost in thought, Neris continued walking unknowingly. When she came to her senses, she was in front of a door on the innermost part of the second floor, adorned with golden pieces shaped like magnolia leaves.

It was her first time venturing this deep into the West Wing.

While all the other rooms in the West Wing were either empty or covered with cloth on the furniture, they were completely open. However, the handle of this luxurious and quiet door was firmly gripped by sturdy chains. And it was securely locked with a large padlock.

"...Who was locked up here?"

Although she didn't hear any human sounds, Neris asked, knowing the possibility was low. Dora shook her head.

"No. As far as I know, no one has used this room since the late Duchess Dowager passed away."

The late Duchess Dowager.

Ah, Neris understood. The unusual luxury of this building, the Southern-style architecture, and the reason it had been empty for so long. Didn't they all point to one thing?

But why was this room, which seemed to be the Duchess Dowager's bedroom, sealed so carefully?

"Why was this lock put on?"

"I apologize. I don't know. As I mentioned, I only entered the West Wing long after it was empty. But perhaps Lady Ellen would know. Shall I bring her?"

"No. I'm not that curious."

The lady was already busy, and on the day the lord returned, there would be no time to spare. Neris didn't want to disturb her deliberately for something that could be looked into later.

Rejecting Dora's suggestion, Neris looked elsewhere.

The door with the engraved golden magnolia leaves was locked, but the one right next to it was not. However, it was equally adorned with elaborate decorations. After hesitating for a moment, Neris entered.

As soon as she opened the door, the smell of old cloth filled the air. The North was not humid even in summer, so it wasn't too strong, but it was enough to conclude that this room had not been touched by human hands.

The candlelight from the lantern spread thick darkness like a scream wherever it reached.

It was a small antechamber.

The small lumps covered with white cloth seemed to be furniture like chairs or tables, judging by the shape of the legs protruding from under the cloth. The walls were lavishly decorated with red backgrounds and golden cartouches and landscape paintings."

"In the middle of the room, a large and ornate fireplace was covered with curtains. It seemed like the curtains were hiding something big, like a large painting or a mirror.

As if spellbound, Neris approached that side. After hesitating for a moment, she pulled the golden cord hanging on the curtain.

Swish. The emerald green curtain split apart, dispersing dust on both sides. Inside was a...

Large portrait.

With glossy reddish-brown hair and blue eyes tinged with green. A determined nose and a strong gaze.

Knowing Tifian Marquis and Cledwyn, Neris could identify who she was.

She was the late Duchess Dowager.

With her hair color and eye color not resembling her son's, the late Duchess Dowager was very different from Neris's imagination. She had expected her to be similar to the high nobles she met in society, like the old man's precious daughter who pretended to be grand.

If one were to nitpick, she resembled Neris's mother. Playful and lively.

It might be the painter's personal interpretation, but at least in this painting, she seemed free. While she bore a strong resemblance to Tifian Marquis in appearance, the feeling was completely different. And in a good way.

Neris's speculation that the late Duchess Dowager might have faced considerable pressure in the North just by looking at the size of the portrait was evident. To paint such a large and beautiful portrait, special effort and expense were required.

Was it painted and sent by Tifian Marquis? It didn't seem likely. Because the background of the portrait was the Main Hall of the Main Palace, a place Neris was familiar with.

Neris found something that looked like a chair and removed the cloth covering it. Once again, something that surprised her appeared underneath.

It was the same chair that was in the Academy's library, her secret space.

The chair that Cledwyn had given her before graduating was still neatly placed in the Academy's library, pretending to be an ordinary chair. But most likely, the chair was meant to be placed in this antechamber along with a few other chairs from the beginning.

It felt strange. Very strange.

"Have you been in this room before, Dora?" Neris asked, and Dora shook her head.

"No, I was instructed that this area does not need cleaning."

"By whom?"

"Lady Ellen, miss."

...Ellen.

It was late, and there seemed to be a heavy layer of time's dust settled in the room, which should not be touched carelessly. Neris hesitated and cautiously walked out of the room.

And as she returned to her room, she instructed Dora, "Do not tell anyone that I found this place."

❖ ❖ ❖

"It's fortunate that His Grace has returned safely."

"He has dealt very decisively with the traitors. We can now rest assured."

The first meeting held after the Duke's return.

The meeting room where all the managers and subordinate lords who had gone to greet the Duke at the castle gate the day before gathered was quite lively."

The lords and managers, they were all Maindland people. They fought and competed among themselves, but fundamentally, their pride lay in their homeland, Maindland, prospering.

It was a joyous occasion to have finally thoroughly purged those who dared to betray the great Duke and shake the rightful successor's position.

"The Duke is coming."

The noisy meeting room fell silent in an instant at someone's words. Everyone quickly straightened up, checked their attire, and stood up.

In came Cledwyn, dressed in a conquering outfit, complete with a black cloak. The room was filled with a solemn silence to the extent that the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. His eyes were so chilling that they could make one's skin crawl, yet despite that, there was an irresistible beauty.

The Maindland people did not think of Cledwyn as a mad monster like the Southerners did. However, they also believed that he was something beyond human.

But what could one say? If he was a monster who ruled his people peacefully, wasn't he better than foolish humans?

The people in the meeting room raised their hands to their chests with a sense of pride, a gesture of worship offered to the highest authority.

Seeing their proud demeanor, Cledwyn smiled faintly. It was the usual timing for him to say, 'Please be seated.'

Then, another person passed through the door.

This had never happened before. The Duke was always the last to appear, not someone waiting for his subjects. People looked at the newcomer with a sense of awkwardness and something amiss.

And they were shocked as if struck by lightning.

With a petite stature, slender figure, platinum blonde hair like the dawn, graceful steps, and straight posture, there was no doubt that the newcomer was the familiar new advisor.

But what surprised them was the face under her veil that they were seeing for the first time.

"...Jewel Inside..."

Someone murmured, and someone held their breath.

There were various speculations about the face under Neris Trued's veil, but no one thought of Jewel Inside. Moreover, in that amethyst-like color?