Second Seal
"What are you talking about Aunt Camille?" Maxwell asked the Marchioness.
"That would be impossible for this little girl to have that magical powers Milady." A well-built servant spoke.
"Don't judge the book by its cover." Marchioness Camille quoted.
Maxwell wanted to refute his Aunt but he remembered his Aunt to have an ability of clairvoyance. She can perceive some of the past of the person she touches. He looked at Erella astonishingly, who was looking on the ground nervously. Then he recalled when they did their mission to find the bandits who were kidnapping kids to sell as slaves in the forest, he found the little girl lying on the ground with a trace of powerful mana. He thought she was just glazed by the mana of the person who helped the kids so he ignored it. Then now, his aunt was telling him that the skinny little girl was the one who destroyed half of his manor? He couldn't believe that the skinny little girl had powerful mana within her! If he didn't put a prompt barrier around the room where the little girl was, surely not only half of his manor was destroyed.
"Max, stop staring at the young lady. You are making her uncomfortable." The Marchioness scolded him because it seemed to her, Erella wanted to run away. Maxwell felt ashamed of what he did. His face turned red beet again and in a low voice, he said.
"I apologized for my rude attitude young lady." Maxwell apologized. Erella didn't hear what they were talking about. Her mind was full of how could she pay for the damage that she had done. She didn't have any money. Her stepmother surely had no money too. But even if she had, she will not pay it. Could she just run away? But surely, they will capture her immediately if she ran. Especially the Marchioness. She looked like a powerless woman but she could feel something dangerous within her.
'I will not take chances. I don't like to die yet.' She thought. She knew she recently obtained a strong power, but she couldn't fight all of them, especially the woman who has a dangerous aura. She took a deep breath and turned forward to the handsome man.
"I'm sorry handso------- I ----I---I mean milord. I'm sorry for destroying your house." Erella frantically apologized to Maxwell.
"I don't have money to pay you but please don't sell me. I can work for you to pay the damage I had done!" Erella begged Maxwell.
"Huh? W--what? Sell you?! I would never do such an atrocious thing!" Maxwell exclaimed. Erella wanted to say more but suddenly, Marchioness Camille clapped her hands.
"Okay, everybody the show is over. George, take care of this mess.-------- Marchioness Camille instructed the butler. Then she looked at the two kids.------------- Max and little girl follow me." She said. The two teens obediently followed her in Maxwell's office in another annex.
Erella was aimlessly walking in the garden. It was already a day pass that the Marchioness talked to her and the young duke. She still couldn't believe what the Marchioness said yesterday.
Yesterday.....
"Lady Astley, you have tremendous power within you and the first seal just broke recently. And as I can see with you, you don't know how to control it. It will be a problem if the second seal will break. Maybe not only an entire duchy, you will destroy but also the entire kingdom if you don't know how to control your power." Erella's eyes went wide.
'What I still have one more seal within me?! And if the second seal will break, I can destroy the whole kingdom? GOSH! This body is too strong!' Erella was stupefied about the information she received.
"You need to study in Magia Academy so you can learn how to use and control your power." The Marchioness instructed her.
'Magia Academy?! That's where my stepsisters studying. And I heard from them that the institution was really expensive.' She thought.
"I don't have money to attend that prestigious school."She said. Then she felt irked when she realized her stepsisters were studying in that prestigious school but they couldn't get a single maid to help her do the chores at home.
'Darn those evil witches. So they have money to attend that school but they made me work alone in that big house. Even though they can still get at least 5 servants at home. I promise I will get my revenge when I come back home.' She promised herself. Mana in her body suddenly was going out.
"Calm down dear. You need to learn too how to control your emotions. Negative emotions will make your mana go out of control."The Marchioness said when she felt mana escaping from Erella's body. Erella immediately tried to calm down. Now, Erella understood. The pain she felt in her chest was not the cause of the heart disease but the mana that was going out of control.
When Erella was already calmed, the Marchioness thought of giving Erella a scholarship to enter the Academy because she wanted Erella to be with her nephew's side. She's always worried about Maxwell because of his nature. Even though he had strong power, he was almost killed for giving mercy to those who didn't need mercy because of his kindness. Also, he was easily deceived by the assassins the enemies sent to him. It was a good thing her trusted knight was always with him or else she's already mourning the corpse of her beloved nephew. Marchioness Camille sighed and shook her head. Maxwell was too kind, pure-hearted, and naive. How will her beloved nephew survive in this harsh society? Thank heavens they found Erella. The Marchioness knew despite Erella's lovely appearance, she had wickedness within her if provoked. She heard from one of the knights who went together with Maxwell in that forest, all the bandits died mercilessly. She knew the one who did that was Erella. She will feel relieved if this girl will be by her nephew's side especially when he's having his missions. She smiled at the little girl and was about to say that she will cover everything so she could study in Magia Academy when Maxwell spoke.
"Don't worry Lady Astley, I will cover all the expenses you need for studying in Magia Academy." Duke Maxwell butt in.
Erella's mind went back to the present when she heard a rustling sound behind the bushes. She went to check what was that. But before she could come near, a person behind her covered her eyes.
"KYAAAAAAAAA!"She screamed.