Solitudo nobilium filiarum

Note: Dungeons are regions formed as a result of fractures in areas with high concentrations of mana. The dense mana in the surroundings transforms into a core, and this dungeon core, possessing a certain level of consciousness, creates magical creatures to protect itself. The difficulty of the dungeon and the quality of the core increase depending on the intensity of the mana. Additionally, in dungeons where the core remains undestroyed for a long time, monsters may begin to leak into the outside world."You're not normal—what is this thing?"Theodoras's eye began to ache and bleed. The left side of the man's body was completely unaffected by decay, yet his ominous presence was unmistakable—the skin on half of his body was a deep, unnatural purple. Theodoras was too terrified to move. "Wow, not only have you already awakened your eye, but you're even controlling it to some extent. How magnificent you are, my exalted seed," said the strange-looking man as he reached toward Theodoras's face with his hand.Aduax Calendar, Year A.T.G.W 420As Theodoras recounted the events to Lily and Lucius exactly as they had happened, he began to sweat profusely. At that moment, the butler Montgomery entered, interrupting their conversation."Young lady, Sir Lucius has been assigned to a special mission by your stepmother, the Viscountess. It also has the Viscount's approval," Montgomery said. "What? But Lucius is my personal guard! You can't just assign him to some random task like that—especially when I'm supposed to leave for a journey tonight!" Lily protested, her voice brimming with anger and frustration. "You're right, young lady, but your father, the Viscount, has given his permission. There's nothing we can do. Please don't worry about me, my lady," Lucius replied calmly. "Sir Lucius, I'm sorry, but this is an urgent mission, and you must report to the Viscount immediately," Montgomery added. "Very well, Lucius, take care of yourself," Lily said, her tone tinged with an uneasy premonition, as though she sensed something bad was about to happen. "As you command, my lady. Until we meet again soon," Lucius said, and with a faint ripple in the air, his figure vanished. The elderly butler Montgomery gave a slight bow and said, "With your permission, I'll take my leave, Lady Lily." Like Lucius, Montgomery disappeared in an instant. Theodoras, whose complexion had begun to return to normal as he regained some composure, quietly wondered to himself, Is it normal for a butler to be this powerful?Lily was practically fuming—her anger so intense that Theodoras could see faint red particles emanating from her body. "Theodoras, go to your room. I need to be alone. I'll call for you later," she said, her voice trembling as she struggled to contain her rage. It was unsettling to see such a serious demeanor from a young girl—it didn't seem natural."Alright, Lily. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me," Theodoras replied. "Why would I tell you, you foolish slave?" Lily snapped back. "You're right, fair enough," Theodoras muttered as he retreated to his room.Viscount's PalaceThe Viscountess sat across from young master Elijah in one of the palace's grand salons, sipping coffee. A red carpet stretched across the floor, and two ornate armchairs faced each other in a space adorned with ostentatious decor. Paintings hung on the walls, and the high ceiling made the vast room feel both grand and imposing. Yet, the seating area occupied only a small corner, a reminder of how diminutive everything seemed in comparison to the room's scale. The opulence was dazzling, though to nobles, such extravagance was commonplace."Did you like the coffee, Elijah? Your mother had it smuggled in from Magia Terrea just for you," the Viscountess said with a smile, clearly expecting praise. "Thank you, Mother, really, but aren't you exaggerating a bit with this smuggled tea business?" Elijah replied. "Oh, come now, Elijah, don't upset your mother, sweetheart," she said, feigning sadness in a way that was painfully obvious—though Elijah, too innocent and naive (and perhaps a little dim), didn't catch on.Elijah's hands fidgeted nervously. "Mother, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you, I swear. The coffee's amazing—truly exceptional. I can feel my Qi rising as I drink it. Everything from Magia Terrea really does have magic in it."Viscountess Aleria Celestia: Viscountess Aleria was once a concubine of Viscount Jethro. Born as the daughter of a minor lord in the village of Domremy, she was taken captive by Jethro's late father some thirty years ago. Ten years later, she earned the position of the Viscount's concubine. When the former Viscountess, Camelia Celestia—Lily's mother—died giving birth to Lily, Aleria seized the opportunity to take her place and became the new Viscountess. With long black hair and striking green eyes, Aleria, now in her forties, retained her beauty despite her age. However, her sharp tongue and insincere demeanor laid bare the rot within her soul. Aleria would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, valuing her son Elijah and wealth above all else.Elijah Celestia: Unlike his mother, Elijah was a pure-hearted, innocent, and somewhat naive boy. At eleven years old, with red hair and green eyes, he was a member of the Celestia family, known for raising mages. Yet, despite his lineage, he possessed a remarkable talent for swordsmanship. This made him a potential heir to the title, though Lily, as a woman, held a stronger claim—a fact that deeply unsettled Aleria.Suddenly, the grand doors of the salon burst open, and Lily stormed in, her footsteps echoing with fury. "What do you think you're doing? Why would you send my guard on a mission as if there aren't plenty of other soldiers? I have a journey to the Lamprouge estate tonight—what are you plotting?" she shouted, her voice thick with rage. Elijah, alarmed, stepped between his mother and Lily. "Sis, calm down! I'm sure Mother didn't mean to upset you," he said, turning to Aleria. "Right, Mother?" Lily's anger flared even more, and she redirected it at Elijah. "Stop calling me 'sis'! I'm not your sister—stop it!" she snapped. Elijah was genuinely hurt by her words, though his sadness stemmed not from anger but from his failure to be a better sibling to her.Aleria placed a consoling hand on Elijah's shoulder, gently pulling him aside as she locked eyes with Lily. The fire in Lily's red eyes reminded her of the late Viscountess, Camelia—a comparison that infuriated her. She despised Lily, and every encounter with her seemed to ruin her mood entirely. "What are you staring at? Answer me!" Lily demanded, her voice piercing and grating. Aleria, with a look of disgust, met Lily's gaze. "You're just like your mother," she said coldly. The remark only fueled Lily's anger, though she forced herself to calm down. After a moment of reflection, she managed to regain enough composure to avoid lashing out."Lily, you know we have plenty of guards to protect you. We can't afford to waste a talent like Lucius. There's a monster threat at the southern border right now, which is why he had to go," Aleria explained. Waste? Lily thought to herself. What waste? What is this woman blabbering about? "What do you mean by 'waste'? What are you implying? Our soldiers aren't weapons or tools—they're people. And I'm the heir to this family. Any expense made for my safety can't be called a waste. What exactly are you trying to say?" Lily asked, stunned by Aleria's callousness."Lily, what am I implying? Oh, heavens, what are you saying? I'm your mother, aren't I? Why are you acting like this?" Aleria dramatically collapsed onto the sofa, pretending her blood pressure had dropped. Seeing his mother in distress, Elijah rushed to her side and grabbed her hands. "Mother, are you okay? I'll get a healing mage right away—please hold on!" he pleaded. Lily watched the pathetic act with disdain before turning and leaving the room without another word.Let me know if you need any further adjustments!

Extra: Lily's mother, Camelia, was nothing more than an ordinary knight. In his youth, Viscount Jethro fell in love with Camelia on the battlefield and married her—a true love marriage. However, Camelia, the beloved wife whom the Viscount cherished deeply, lost her life while giving birth to her own daughter, Lily. Despite knowing he shouldn't blame Lily for this event, the Viscount couldn't bear to look at her face for years because she resembled her mother so much. The only person who treated Lily kindly was her grandfather, but after losing him long ago, Lily was left utterly alone—until she met Lucius.

Author's Note:

Friends, first of all, I would like to apologize to all of you for the half-baked ending of the chapter. Thank you very much for reading. I am glad to have you all.I've mentioned before that this is my first article. Some parts may be ridiculous and the dialogues may be insufficient. I apologize. I'll try to improve myself. I'll post the new chapter tomorrow at this time.