The luggage was loaded onto the carriage.

Michelan checked each item written on the parchment one by one, nodding.

“There’s one book missing. Understanding Magic is not here.”

“It’s in carriage number two!”

“All books should be gathered in carriage number one. It’ll be easier to find them later. Which carriage has the clothes?”

Today was the day Balzac, Joshua, and I were leaving for the factory.

The twins were spending the remaining ten days at the jurisdiction castle.

“Shall we tidy up the residence now?”

“Yeah. We can come here during the rest period.”

After tidying up even the residence,

I ran up to Michelan, shaking his sleeve eagerly.

“Michelan, Michelan.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“How about Han?”

I meant Han Jihyeok.

Since he’d be my hands and feet, I preferred him to be nearby.

“He’s on the list for deployment to the factory.”

“Great!”

The 3rd generation can each bring one guard and one nanny.

But since I had no nanny, I was allowed to bring Han Jihyeok instead.

‘I tried to find a nanny...’

I smiled inwardly.

I already had someone in mind for nanny.

“Baby, it’s time to depart!”

Balzac waved to me from afar.

He had recently started calling me “baby.”

He used to call me “hey,” “tiny «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» one,” or “shorty,” but after getting scolded hard by Father, the nickname “baby” stuck.

I answered, “Okay!” and trotted over.

Before the carriage Balzac, Joshua, and I were to ride stood a crowd of servants, soldiers, and managers.

Betty and Heidi were crying as if the world was ending.

“Waaahhh! Our lady, when will we see you again...!”

“Waaahhh!”

They’d been crying since three days ago and continued to sob until we left.

“We’ll come back during the rest period.”

“It’s so, so far away...!”

“Miss, please eat well, cover yourself with blankets when sleeping, don’t kick them off even if you feel hot...!”

I endured the maids clinging to me and sobbing with blurred eyes.

‘They must be totally smitten.’

It wasn’t only the maids.

Managers and soldiers watched me with tearful expressions.

‘Why are you all like this...?’

“The payment you gave for the wall repairs... we won’t forget it.”

“Also for replacing those ragged armors...!”

They must have had a really hard time.

While surrounded by employees, managers, and soldiers giving farewells, Balzac suddenly scooped me up.

“When are you getting on?”

“We should start soon, Erilot.”

Joshua, who was already on the carriage, smiled at me.

‘Joshua’s really become kind.’

Originally, his life had only enemies and minions.

Curious which side I was on, I asked,

“Joshua, am I a minion?”

“What?”

“No?”

“Erilot, you’re siblings.”

“And Balzac?”

“Your names are listed together in the Astra registry.”

“......”

...Well, that was that.

“Let’s go quickly, quickly.”

“Erilot, let’s go.”

“Can’t I see Mommy before I leave?”

I looked toward the castle gate with drooping eyebrows and a sulky expression.

Some foreigners crossed the border again, and Father had gone to deal with them, but hadn’t returned for three days.

Soldiers said awkwardly,

“You’ll get a letter.”

“They’re so scared they’re tied up at the border. They even made you unable to see them off—they’re raging—”

“Quiet down, will you?”

Seeing the soldiers pale, Father must be very angry.

I said “Okay” and got on the carriage.

Then, waving my hand flutteringly, I looked out the window.

“Bye~!”

“Come back safely!”

“Make sure to cover yourself with blankets when sleeping!”

“If anyone bothers you, send a letter!”

People chased the departing carriage, shouting.

Joshua chuckled.

“Popular, aren’t you?”

“I like our castle Sarans too.”

“Yeah.”

Joshua reached out to stroke my cheek, but Balzac grabbed me and growled.

“Today’s my turn!”

“I was hardly by your side yesterday because I was packing.”

Lately, those two had been constantly bickering over who’d play with me.

They fought so much it felt like the castle might collapse.

So I set the schedule:

One day for Joshua.

One day for Balzac.

And one day for Father.

...Father had no idea why the kids were fighting.

The carriage equipped with a Gaho stone was very fast.

Normally, it would take two full days by horse, but this carriage took only five hours.

Without stopping, exactly five hours later,

We arrived at the factory entrance.

There were an enormous number of carriages lined up at the castle gate.

“Wow...”

“Don’t be surprised. These are all kids coming for bloodline training.”

At Joshua’s words, Balzac groaned in disgust.

“Why does Astra have so many kids?”

“It’s a legacy from previous generations.”

“Huh?”

When Balzac asked what that meant, Joshua gave him a disdainful look.

“The previous generation was crazy about collecting Gaho. You don’t know how many nobles he had children with just to see his grandchildren?”

“Oh... Grandfather forced marriage nine times. So it’s no wonder the place is so crowded.”

“Well, the previous generation was really obsessed with bloodlines, but most noble families have lots of kids. Gaho is property, after all.”

‘Wow...’

I blinked looking at Balzac and Joshua.

‘They’re so young but know so much about family matters.’

They understood seniority and precedence well.

No wonder adults didn’t get so shocked when I used difficult words.

Anyway, we had to wait a long time to pass the gate.

After barely passing, we couldn’t even unload before heading straight to the hall.

Standing before the hall, a guard shouted loudly,

“Balzac Astra, Joshua, and Erilot arrive from Daymond’s jurisdiction!”

The huge doors opened.

As soon as we entered, at least twenty kids focused their attention on us.

“Balzac’s scary again today.”

“Joshua placed second last time, right?”

“What bad luck.”

“Kyaa... the brothers are here!”

Amid the whispers, someone said,

“Dirty blood.”

All eyes suddenly turned to me.

There was mockery in their gazes; some grimaced in disgust.

Then—

Bang!

Balzac kicked the table.

“Joffrey. I warned you not to speak carelessly.”

“B-Balzac.”

Joshua glanced around.

“What are you doing losing your courage after just a few months apart?”

The boy called Joffrey shouted angrily,

“Was I wrong?! And it’s none of your business!”

“Brother.”

“Brother.”

Balzac and Joshua said in unison.

‘They really look like twins at times.’

The hall buzzed with noise.

Even in Possessed.Granddaughter, the twins kept stressing ‘no attachment to others.’

Cousins watching must have been quite confused hearing that.

‘Wait, does this mean... I have backing now?!’

Of course, Father was my backing, but he couldn’t directly intervene in the 3rd gen training.

‘So I needed backing at the training ground...!’

A bell rang loudly in my mind, and fanfares exploded.

I covered my cheeks with both hands.

‘Good job, me!’

Most Astra bloodline children have offensive Gaho.

My Gaho is reading comments, which doesn’t help much in emergencies.

But Balzac and Joshua boast the best strength among these 3rd gens.

‘Tiny brothers, reliable indeed.’

I chuckled to myself.

Then,

“Marquis Debussy arrives!”

‘Marquis Debussy?’

The guard shouted loudly.

Balzac, Joshua, and I quickly sat down.

Marquis Debussy entered with people wearing black robes and mortarboards.

Debussy climbed onto the platform and said,

“I am Oberic Debussy, in charge of bloodline training.”

I looked at Marquis Debussy in surprise.

Originally, someone else was in charge of bloodline training.

Debussy was the closest retainer of Grandfather, and his role was policing.

I tilted my head in confusion, then nodded,

‘The other person couldn’t handle the 3rd gens.’

So they put Debussy, who has influence among the 3rd gens, in charge.

“According to family tradition, everything will be distributed through hierarchy. Your rooms, servants, even allowances.”

A girl with a bob cut sitting in front raised her hand.

“We haven’t unpacked yet because no rooms have been assigned. Is that why?”

“Exactly.”

Hearing that, the kids started asking questions eagerly.

“Is the division based on last quarter’s ranking?”

“I wasn’t here last quarter because I was sick... what if I don’t know my rank?”

“Last quarter’s ranking is rubbish! I got hurt in external training and couldn’t take the test!”

As it grew noisy, the professors behind Debussy looked troubled.

Then Debussy tapped the microphone twice.

“Rooms will be assigned based on today’s exam results.”

Today?!

The hall grew chaotic.

Balzac, resting his head in his clasped hands, clicked his tongue.

“No rest for us.”

Joshua sat upright and said calmly,

“The cousins probably prepared a lot during the rest period, so it’s good to check from the start.”

Debussy smiled, looking around the confused kids.

“From now, you will have a treasure hunt.”

“Treasure hunt?”

“Treasure?”

“Yes. We have hidden notes with numbers at each place. The more precious the place, the higher the rank. Find as many notes as you can before the evening banquet.”

Debussy flipped over a huge hourglass on the platform.

Sand poured down to the bottom.

‘When the sand runs out, the test ends.’

The kids immediately left the hall.

Balzac and Joshua stood up.

“Joshua, where are you going?”

“Who’s stupid enough to reveal tactics to the enemy?”

“Tsk.”

Balzac, arms crossed, asked me,

“Baby, where are you going?”

“Hmm... Bimiriya.”

“Good, then it’s a bet on who finds the notes first.”

The three of us quickly left the room.

We passed the new building used as the 3rd gen training center...

“What are you guys?!”

“You first.”

“Huh?”

We ended up walking side by side.

‘Do we have the same destination?’

Not just me, Balzac and Joshua’s eyes narrowed.

“......”

“......”

“......”

Without waiting, we started running.

And where we arrived was...

‘Grandfather’s study.’

That’s right.

We weren’t the only ones at the study.

Most kids who arrived first were camped in front of the study.

‘They all caught on.’

If Astra’s most noble place isn’t the head’s room, what is?

“When will the family head come out?”

“Don’t push.”

“Is he inside? Can’t we enter?”

They whispered.

I silently stared at Grandfather’s study.

The place everyone expected.

Hierarchy.

Test.

Combining Debussy’s clues, the answer was clear.

‘Use everything you have to open that door.’

Kids with powerful family ties would contact their parents.

Kids with good connections would use their networks.

Those physically strong would sneak into the study.

It was a real ‘hierarchy’ treasure hunt.

“Ah.”

I heard Joshua chuckle beside me.

The smart one had also caught on.

Only Balzac,

“Why? What? Why does everyone else look like they know but not me?”

—looked puzzled.

As time passed, the higher-ranked kids began to figure out the purpose.

They scattered to devise plans.

Joffrey frowned.

‘What? Where is everyone going?’

Isn’t this the most precious place?

Frowning, Joffrey nudged the girl beside him.

“Hey, messy hair.”

“W-what?!”

“Where are they all going?”

The girl with jet-black, poodle-like curly hair was Dionera.

Ugly and timid, but sometimes clever.

“Where are they going?”

“I think they’re trying to find a way to get into the study...”

“A way?”

“Yeah. Because entering the study is the real test...”

When Dionera spoke in a timid voice, Joffrey frowned again.

“Why are you saying that now?!”

“J-Joffrey asked just now...”

While Dionera stammered, Joffrey ran off quickly.

‘I saw that dirty blood too.’

It made me angry remembering how Balzac put him in his place.

He seemed to head toward the annex.

‘Looks like he separated from the twins...’

Joffrey smiled grimly.

It was his first time at the bloodline training center, so he wanted to make an impression.

He wanted to make sure the ‘dirty blood’ understood his place.

Joffrey cautiously approached the annex.

I spotted Erilot sneaking into the corner.

Following, I saw her slip inside a storage closet for cleaning supplies.

‘Hah, she’s going to the storage?’

Since there was no way into the study, she seemed to be aiming elsewhere.

Joffrey smirked and quietly crept toward the storage.

And the moment Erilot went inside—

Bang!

He slammed and locked the door.

“You’re staying here until the banquet ends. It’s the price for dirty blood daring to come to Astra Castle!”

Chuckling, he left without looking back.