The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 60 - Let Me Go To The Capital

Chapter Sixty

"Not now, Daddy."

Lily’s voice was soft but firm, grounding the sudden ambition of opening a boutique. I blinked, looking from the royal-standard sketch in my hand to the two girls sitting on the bed.

"But why, baby?" I asked, gesturing to the paper. "Think of all the pretty clothes you could make. With Lune’s eye for design and your sewing technique that you’re learning, we’d dominate the Empire’s fashion in a month."

Lily shook her head, her gaze drifting to Lune, whose amber eyes had lost their focus on the fritters and replaced it with a clouded look. "Can we give this a thought after Big Sis Lune is okay? She’s still hurting, Daddy. I want Big Sis to be able to speak when we do open a clothing store."

I looked at Lune. She didn’t look up, but her ears gave a small flick. "Lune?"

"Krrrhh," she trilled softly as if a quiet plea for rest, making a sigh pass my lips.

The black magic was still a parasitic weight on her soul, and no amount of honey-glazed treats could scrub that away entirely.

I really need to find that curse guy. Where is Zein? I thought he’d be around here. What is that brat doing instead of guarding Lily?

I let out a long sigh. "Alright. I suppose the fashion world can wait for its revolution. But," I raised a finger, "on one condition."

Lily tilted her head, her soft curls bouncing. "What condition, Daddy?"

"You and Lune have to teach me how to draw and sew these outfits. Deal?"

Lily looked at Lune. Lune looked at Lily. A silent, telepathic conversation passed between them, no idea how. Finally, Lily turned back to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"We’ll do it if you bring some tasty snacks every time you visit to learn. Like the cloud-bread!"

I barked out a laugh, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Deal. You’ve got yourself a private chef and an apprentice designer."

Knock. Knock.

The heavy wooden door groaned on its hinges. "Princess? I brought the wildflowers you asked for—"

The door swung open to reveal Zein.

There is he. Roaming around doing useless stuff.

Zein stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes darting from Lily to Lune, and finally landing on me. His boyish smile vanishing in an instant. "Your Grace. I didn’t realize you were here."

"We haven’t had a chance to talk properly, Zein," I said, my voice losing its playful edge.

"How was Your Grace’s trip?" he asked. His eyes cold as ice.

"There were lots of unexpected gains. It’s a pity you couldn’t come along," I said, leaning back against the bedpost. I couldn’t resist a small, petty jab. "Since you’re essentially useless in your current state, right?"

"Daddy!" Lily gasped, her face flushing. "That’s mean! Take it back right now! Zein is not useless. He’s been helping me so much."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what has our little shadow been doing?"

"He brought ’wildies’ to make soup for the injured people!" Lily said, grabbing a bunch of the purple-petaled flowers from inside the basket Zein was holding.

"Wildies?"

"Yep!" Lily nodded vigorously, holding one up to my nose. It had a faint, peppery scent. "When the orphanage kids got hurt back home, we boiled these flowers in hot water and gave the tea to the kids. It eased their pain and helped them sleep. Zein went back to where the orphange was to get them."

I looked at the flowers, then at Zein who was smiling while hiding behind Lily.

Haah... So, this lil shit was trying to impress my money bank while I was away. Fuck. I’m losing to a child.

"Ah... My baby is so smart," I murmured, kissing her forehead. "Thank you for looking out for the people, Lily."

"Hehe! Thank you, Zein!" Lily beamed at the boy.

Is there a way to kill a nerocomancer and make his soul a slave for eternity, Sysi?

[Ping!]

[Host is being unreasonable.]

I’m not. He’s older than Lily, technically. He’s a pedo.

...

Sysi, come on!

Zein gave her formal bow while smiling dreamily at Lily. "No problem, Princess."

"Well," I stood up, smoothing out my cloak. "I’ll take my leave now. Zein? Come with me."

Zein’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, Your Grace."

"Bye, Daddy!"

"Bye, baby."

Thud.

The door clicked shut behind us. I walked in silence for a few minutes, my boots clicking against the floor, before Zein finally spoke.

"Where are we going, Your Grace?"

"The Library."

"I see. Why did you ask me to follow you?"

I stopped and turned. The corridor was empty. "You felt it, didn’t you?"

Zein stared at me, his expression a void. "I don’t know what Your Grace is talking about."

"Cut the crap, Zein. The black magic curse coursing through Lune. You smelled it the second I brought her through the gates."

Zein’s shoulders didn’t drop, but his gaze turned icy. "It’s best if Your Grace drops that stray wherever you picked her up from. She is trouble."

"And an eleven-year-old is going to tell me how to run my house?"

"The curse on her is not a simple one," Zein sighed. "You can’t just help her because you want to. It’s soul-woven. And look at the state she came in... it’s obvious the fox-kin abandoned her. You’re simply inviting more trouble than you can deal with."

"That’s exactly why I want you to come to the training grounds this afternoon. But first, I want you to dispel those rings around your heart. You must know how suicidal that method is."

Zein flinched, his hand momentarily twitching toward his chest.

"There is no other method to control mana. I can’t just dispel it because you want me to."

"So, you know it’s called mana at least."

"I’ve lived two lives, trying to find a way to revive Lily. I’m probably more than four hundred years old in terms of age. Of course, I know. What I don’t know is the complete new way to control it. I was just that focused on reviving Lily."

"I see. Then I’ll let you make a final decision after the afternoon session," I said, turning back toward the library. "I have a duel scheduled." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"With Sir Kaelen?"

I paused. "How did you know?"

"It’s not just me. Everyone knows," Zein sighed. "The maids are gossiping, and the knights are already placing their bets. Sir Kaelen is the favorite by a landslide."

I sighed, feeling a pang of genuine drama. "No one placed bets on me? After everything I’ve done? How sad. My own people don’t believe in their Duke."

"I did."

I stopped dead. "What?"

"I used my entire savings to place a bet on you," Zein said plainly.

I blinked. "You trust me that much?"

"Not at all," Zein replied, crushing my ego instantly. "But the payout for an upset victory is enormous. I need some quick money since Lily’s birthday is in a week. If you win, I can go to capital and afford something proper."

I stared at him. What a cold-blooded little gambler. "You are very sly."

"I’m being practical," Zein countered. "I’ve lived two lives. What do you expect? If you want, I can investigate the black magic case for you in the Capital if you let me go. I know a few people who move in those circles. I can find the origin of Lune’s curse."

I let out a breath, the weight of the Duchy settling back onto my shoulders. "Haah. Fine. I’ll allow it. But remember we need to capture the person responsible alive."

"I’ll see what I can do," Zein said. "But I hope Your Grace remembers... if any harm befalls Lily because of your games... there will be no Halcrest Duchy left to rule. I will burn it to the ash myself."

I didn’t blink. I met that dark gaze with the calm of a man who had already seen the end of the world.

"I don’t need a lecture on how to keep my Lily safe from someone who already lost her once. Besides, you’re not strong enough to threaten me, Zein. You know that too. Your attitude is nothing but a big, useless bluff.The only reason you’re still alive after talking to me like that is because Lily likes you. Or else, you’d be six feet under."

The hit landed. Zein’s eyes flared with a spark of guilt before he turned away from my cold gaze.

"Haah... I apologise, Your Grace. I’ll watch my words. The Library is here," he muttered, his voice returning to that of a bored child. "I’m going to go eat something and help Lily."

"Sure. See you at duel."

"I truly wish Sir Kaelen beats you. I won’t regret losing my coins."

"We’ll see, champ."