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The Duke was curious about what Aresia was doing in her room. If he knew the truth, he’d realize that Aresia wasn’t truly reflecting; she was more of a typical “I won’t admit my mistake, I dare you to challenge me” type.
Unaware, the Duke was being deceived by his servants.
Aresia appeared to be genuinely reflecting on something, which pleased the Duke. However, until Aresia recognized her mistake, he wouldn’t allow her out of the room, a restriction he struggled to enforce.
Suddenly barred and her husband unwilling to reveal the reasons, Grysenna felt both indignant and concerned, suspecting her husband might not be capable of educating their child.
“Why is she locked in her room if you won’t tell me why? Don’t you think it’s your inability to educate her properly? You’re good at leaving things alone, but this time, you’re intervening.”
The Duke’s head throbbed. He vaguely hinted to Grysenna that Aresia had engaged in something dangerous and hadn’t informed them.
Grysenna, unaware of the truth, redirected, “Was it contact with dangerous magical experiments? Instruction is indeed necessary, especially with Isis’s support, so she doesn’t go astray.”
The Duke’s silence tacitly agreed with Grysenna’s assessment.
As Grysenna complained about the punishment, she began to feel it might be too harsh.
Grumbling about Aresia’s continuous confinement, she also hinted at upcoming preparations like new school uniforms and winter clothes. However, she stopped short of mentioning their return to Holy Lotean City and whether Aresia should remain locked in the castle.
Grysenna’s persistence met resistance from the Duke, who didn’t buy into her tactics. Despite Grysenna’s agitation, the Duke was somewhat swayed by her suspicion about his strictness.
Based on reports from the servants, the Duke believed Aresia might be reflecting, and his disciplinary thoughts began to fade.
Aresia had been confined for barely three days before being released by the Duke himself.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
“Yes, Father, I know my mistake, and I promise not to engage in dangerous experiments.”
Aresia, bowing and admitting her mistake, managed to deceive the Duke with her apparent obedience. If he had reacted quicker, he would have realized she wasn’t reflecting in her room at all; instead, she was intensifying her alchemical work.
Deceived by his daughter’s apparent obedience, the Duke’s anger subsided a little.
The Duke’s knowledge about Aresia’s risky behavior was far from accurate; even though the Legacy Memory provided multiple safety measures, it couldn’t account for every potential danger in the world.
It was time for the Duke to offer some guidance, seeing Aresia’s head bowing lower. Eventually, he sighed heavily and said, “Aresia, I know you’re a strong-minded child and might not heed my advice. But please, consider not causing concerns for others, won’t you?”
“…Yes, Father.”
Aresia could sense her father’s concern now, which made her feel ashamed. Despite knowing, she had the power to perform risky experiments without her father’s guidance, she felt embarrassed but not enough to change her behavior that worried her father.
To admonish herself, she decided to be more discreet next time.
By the time Aresia regained her composure, several days had passed.
Grysenna decided it was time to prepare for their return to Holy Lotean City. Not only them, but the Duke’s Gryphon Legion was also heading back.
Having stayed for quite a while, the Emperor was likely sending reminders. When Aresia returned to the Duke’s territory, she had initially flown on a magical beast but used a teleportation array on the way back.
While some of the Legion had used the teleportation array and already escorted the awakened Gryphons, the remaining knights had a fruitful time. The Duke’s territory, mostly plains, housed suitable magical beasts, the primary targets of the Legion.
With several thousand soldiers scouring the plains, high-level magical beasts were either captured or driven away. This provided a sense of peace for a significant period around the castle, except for occasional beast attacks, which were rare.
Even though the departure of a five-thousand-strong army required time, Aresia and her mother returned first, while the Duke, along with Amos and his troops, remained behind.
Grysenna wasn’t one to make empty promises. She had already arranged for Aresia’s new school uniforms based on her measurements. Grysenna had invited a tailor to prepare several beautiful dresses for Aresia.
While Aresia sat in the guest room flipping through the tailor’s designs, she glanced out to the lawn where the teleportation array continuously emitted knights. Clad in heavy armor that weighed twice as much as an average person, a hundred of them could be teleported at once. The process repeated several times, possibly fifty or more, but it was uncertain if they would finish today, requiring substantial preparation to complete the transportation.
For heavier loads, like transporting more materials, Aresia noted that magical trains or airships would be more suitable than the teleportation array, which had a weight limit.
“Aresia, how about this one?”
Aresia turned to Grysenna, examining the catalog she presented. The pages displayed trendy attire and hats, fitting for the current season, with autumn wear transitioning to heavier winter garments.
Although Aresia’s new school uniforms had been prepared, she had grown significantly since, rendering the autumn and winter outfits a bit short. They no longer fit her properly, leading to suspicion that perhaps the Duke’s household had become desolate, unable to provide fitting clothing.
For Aresia, if she continued to grow, the current clothing would soon be unwearable. Some haughty nobles or merchants refrained from donating old clothes to others, choosing instead to dismantle them, destroying the old attire directly.
But for some, like Aresia’s old clothes, if they were still wearable and made of valuable fabric, they were given to the subordinates of the Duke’s household. Those that were too costly or classic, like formal gowns, were preserved, either for younger individuals or the next generation.
People perceived these actions differently. In reality, clothes bestowed by higher-ranking nobles were considered an honor by the lower-ranking ones.
Aresia’s current formal attire was somewhat too elaborate and not entirely wearable. Grysenna had ordered the servants to sort through them, disposing of the ones Aresia didn’t favor. Except for two dresses, one of Karina’s pink gowns and another with a style Karina liked, Grysenna intended to present these to someone else.
Grysenna’s chosen style maintained a grandeur reminiscent of her taste: intricate, vibrant colors, and adorned with beautiful gemstones.
Though beautiful, the dresses were a bit burdensome to wear.
While Grysenna picked joyously, Aresia nodded; after all, the prevailing trend for such attire was the more extravagant, the better.
Aresia, needing unusual clothes, sought assistance from Grysenna. The tailor shop seemed unaware of Aresia’s recent changes in taste, so they kindly offered a simple yet elegant everyday clothing catalogue. Aresia chose several sets while inquiring whether they could craft a magical robe.
The shop’s owner, also their main tailor, responded, ‘We make similar robes, but if you need magical effects, it’s better to visit a specialized store.’
True magic robes aren’t classified as regular clothes; they’re items of magical equipment and sold in specialized stores.
Aresia had previously purchased a few magical robes from such a store, so she wasn’t disappointed and planned to visit again when time permitted.
‘Is it for your teacher Isis?’ Grysenna asked, feeling regretful. “Oh, I should have invited her.”
For convenience, Aresia had her clone as Isis’s identity accompany them back to Holy Lotean City, settling into a room arranged by Aaron.
Grysenna had limited interaction with Isis, likely due to Isis’s reserved nature. She was a powerful mage, several times older than Grysenna.
Grysenna’s apprehensions and her frequent interactions with Isis, an elder temporarily residing in her abode. While respectful, their closeness was insufficient, creating a peculiar yet warm bond that Grysenna couldn’t name.
“Even if we invited Teacher Isis, she might not come.”
Despite Aresia’s reassurance, Grysenna felt somewhat rude. Yet, as the host, she had a duty to entertain her esteemed guest.
To make up for her earlier lapse, on Aresia’s advice, she tailored regular clothing for Isis to wear beneath magical robes. From style to size, Aresia had it all well-documented; no further inquiries were necessary.
While choosing Aresia’s clothes, Grysenna forgot about her husband’s size. “Viamos’s clothes are worn out, and Amos’s clothes, though not damaged, require frequent preparation. Despite being made of spider silk, they’re incredibly durable compared to regular fabrics. However, spider silk isn’t suitable for autumn or winter wear due to its lack of warmth.”