I stared at the door with a stunned expression.

‘That voice — that has to be the Joffrey from earlier, right?’

The boy who had called me “dirty blood” first in the hall.

For a moment, I thought about Grandfather’s children:

First son Grimie

Second son Daymond

Third son Deconz (became third son after the death of Uncle Lissian)

Fourth son Balderic

First daughter Basile

...

‘Joffrey is the child of the fourth son, Uncle Balderic.’

No wonder he acts just as petty as his father.

‘And just as dumb.’

We were supposed to find notes hidden in the precious places, so why on earth would I enter a storage closet full of cleaning supplies?

“Isn’t that Master Joffrey?”

A mature male voice came from beside me.

I turned my head upward and saw Conrad waiting.

He frowned as he looked at the door.

“Are you being bullied?”

“Yeah.”

From the first meeting, he had talked about “dirty blood,” and now he had locked me in a closet.

Perfect bullying.

“Should I tell the Duke?”

I shook my head firmly.

I do enjoy tattling sometimes, but it depends on the time and place.

They put us together to compete, and if I cried for help here, I’d just look weak.

Conrad seemed to think the same and didn’t ask twice.

He smiled gently, bowed, and met my eyes.

“It’s truly been a while, Miss.”

“I was at the stronghold.”

“That was quite some time ago.”

It wasn’t that long, though.

But I was already noticing Conrad’s excessive loyalty, so I let it slide.

“I’m glad you found me. Is there anything I can help with?”

I gave the note to Conrad, who was in the office, asking him to bring it here.

Passing notes was easy, since I had Han Jihyeok, who was my hands and feet.

“Let’s go treasure hunting.”

“Yes. You’re looking for notes with rankings, right? The note for first place is in the Duke’s study. But...”

Conrad’s face grew troubled.

“Retrieving it for you might be difficult.”

‘Of course.’

Conrad’s fondness for me was well known, but openly helping me was out of the question.

He was Grandfather’s man.

If I openly accepted his help, people would think it was Grandfather’s intention.

‘If rumors spread that the Duke wants Erilot as heir...’

I would become a public enemy among the direct heirs.

Accepting small favors was fine — that was the ideal balance.

‘Otherwise, even Grandfather would look upon me unfavorably.’

An aide leaking information.

A grandson eating it up.

I wouldn’t like that either.

“Okay!”

“What kind of help should I provide?”

“Go meet the four cousins by the door.”

“Yes.”

“Tell them the first place note is inside, and that you’re counting on them.”

“Yes?”

Conrad tilted his head.

“It’s not difficult... Yes, understood.”

His answer made me smile brightly.

Then I said,

“Then open the door now.”

I’m only three and don’t have the strength to open it.

Demanding firmly made Conrad chuckle.

Crack.

Conrad broke the latch completely and opened the door.

It was an old, dilapidated storage closet for cleaning supplies, so it was possible.

I quickly ran out, waving my hand.

“Bye!”

“Yes.”

A servant pushing a cleaning cart stopped in surprise.

“The door...!”

“Ah, someone played a prank and got locked in. Please notify management to fix it.”

“Oh, yes.”

Conrad handed the latch to the servant and returned to the office.

Several people were causing trouble in the aide’s office.

“I told you to use the communication stone!”

Joffrey, who locked me in the closet, was one of them.

“Castle communication requires permission. We manage it strictly to prevent leaks...”

“I’m going to communicate with Father! You can watch!”

“We cannot break regulations...”

The clerks flustered and didn’t know what to do.

Many 3rd gens were throwing tantrums to use communication.

‘Really.’

Conrad shook his head lightly.

He knew about Marquis Debussy’s test.

The real challenge was to open the fortress door using all connections, Gaho, and abilities.

‘But ignoring the Duke’s rules isn’t allowed.’

Rules are lines that mustn’t be crossed.

Breaking them to open the Duke’s study door won’t gain anything.

‘It would just put me in the Duke’s bad graces.’

They were too young and short-sighted.

On the other hand, our lady...

‘Clearly understood how far to use me.’

She used me without crossing the Duke’s boundaries.

Could a three-year-old do that?

‘So clever, wise, and lovely...!’

Conrad smiled broadly, making another aide glance at him awkwardly.

“Conrad?”

Conrad cleared his throat.

“It’s nothing. Please continue your work.”

After saying that, he took the documents the Duke ordered and headed down the hall.

At the study, many direct heirs were gathered.

Surrounded by their intense gazes, he entered.

Some kids peered through the door crack, swallowing nervously.

The Duke inside watched the window expressionlessly.

Murmurs came from outside.

“Really? Your maternal grandfather is contacting the patriarch?”

“Of course! My maternal grandfather adores me. He said he’d get the note.”

“Ugh, what’s our maternal grandfather doing? When is Mother coming? If this goes on, someone might steal the note.”

They whispered, but the slightly open window let the voices through.

Conrad, sensing the Duke’s mood, closed the window.

The noise stopped.

The Duke spoke in a flat voice.

“How pathetic.”

Marquis Debussy, who had been with the Duke for two hours, shrugged.

“You’re still young and have no choice but to rely on your parents.”

“That’s dependence, not reliance.”

“Well, I was surprised too.”

I never imagined it would be this bad.

“They don’t plan solutions and just plead with their parents.”

They even chattered near the study, unaware words might be overheard.

“How did it come to this?”

The Duke asked; Debussy sighed.

“There were no professors able to handle them until last quarter.”

“I thought they were exceptional.”

“They have incredible physical ability. Astra blood is no ordinary blood.”

They were all born with tremendous Gaho.

“Their academic level isn’t bad. So much so that ancient language is part of the curriculum.”

“Their parents are passionate about their education.”

“Yes... it’s superficial. They memorize but don’t understand. When we try to teach, the 2nd gens come running and cause a ruckus...”

“That’s why we sent you to the training room.”

Debussy raised a teacup with a tired look.

“But the top seven ranked are quite impressive. Young Master Joshua, Miss Selene, Young Master Blizen, Young Master Balzac, Miss Loreina...”

At the factory, kids ranked in the top seven were called the “7-ranking group.”

The same names had held the top spots for two years.

‘Looks like those «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» seven are the ones to watch.’

Debussy narrowed his eyes and sipped tea.

Conrad quietly set down the documents.

“These are the orders.”

“Alright.”

He bowed his head and left the study.

The direct heirs waiting at the door rushed forward.

“You there.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Is there a note or something in the room?”

The direct heirs’ gazes focused on Conrad.

“Tell them the first place note is inside, and that you’re counting on them.”

I remembered what I said.

Conrad slowly opened his mouth.

“There is a note with first place inside.”

“......!”

“......!”

There was a note!

The kids erupted excitedly, talking all at once.

Some who had given up on the study returned.

The rumor spread quietly, and most direct heirs gathered in front of the study except for a few.

But I showed no sign of stopping.

Time passed, and the sun began to set.

No one had found the note inside the study.

“What should we do? At this rate, we won’t find any notes at all.”

“I don’t care. I’m going to find another one!”

The kids who had been clustered at the study’s door finally dispersed.

Less than thirty minutes later, the hourglass ran out of sand.

It was time for the evening banquet.

Once every quarter,

All of Astra’s direct heirs gather for a banquet.

Usually, they meet on the first day of the rest period before entering the training center.

There were two huge tables in the banquet hall.

One for the 2nd gens, and one for the 3rd gens.

As soon as the kids entered the banquet hall, the adults began calling their children over and questioning them.

“How did it go? Who got the first place note?”

Some kids had successfully threatened castle employees and communicated with their parents.

So the rumors spread rapidly.

Some parents actively interfered in their children’s tests.

The kids answered with sad faces.

“I don’t know. It got late, so I went to find another note. But until then, no one came out with a note.”

Some even had people sent from their maternal families, but the Duke refused to meet them.

Just as the hall grew noisy, a tall man strode in.

“Brother Daymond is here...!”

“Did the sun rise from the west today?”

Daymond never came to the bloodline banquet.

Not only had he come, but he was formally dressed.

Wearing a robe embroidered with Astra’s crest, he shone splendidly even among the direct heirs.

He looked around casually, ignoring others’ gazes.

“Mom!”

Erilot jumped down from her chair at the 3rd gen table and hurried over.

“Is the battle over now?”

“Yes.”

“It ended quickly.”

Then the twins Balzac and Joshua also approached Daymond.

“Didn’t it take quite a while?”

“It ended earlier than expected.”

“I hurried to finish because I couldn’t see you off.”

...See off?

See off?

See─off?!

I never thought Daymond would say something like that.

What was this parent-child atmosphere?

Daymond gently stroked Erilot’s head.

She nuzzled his hand like a happy cat, giggling.

Then,

“The Duke has arrived.”

Everyone returned to their seats and stood.

The Duke and Marquis Debussy walked in one after the other.

Only after the Duke sat did the direct heirs take their seats.

Everyone from Astra’s direct heirs were gathered except for the eldest son Grimie, who was in the capital.

The Duke glanced around and saw Daymond.

His eyebrows twitched.

“What business does the one who never shows up at banquets have?”

“I heard there were some who chased after the kids.”

Daymond rolled his eyes and glared at some siblings.

Those who met his gaze flinched and shook their shoulders.

They were the ones who had done the treasure hunting for their children.

“Their heads may be empty, but I came fearing my children might get involved.”

The twins looked wide-eyed at Daymond.

He didn’t say “children.”

He said “my children.”

‘So he didn’t come just to see Erilot.’

Balzac cleared his throat loudly, and Joshua barely lifted a corner of his mouth.

Marquis Debussy chuckled.

“It’s nice to see such a happy family. Since it seems you all know about the test, shall we see the results?”

He looked at the Duke, who slightly nodded.

Debussy turned to the 3rd gens and asked,

“Who found the note for 21st place?”

“Me!”

Erilot shot up her hand.

People openly laughed.

“Sure, what could she find with just a Gaho to read ancient language?”

No one expected anything from Erilot.

Gaho to read ancient language.

Commoner mother.

From the Twelfth Tower.

No one thought she could do anything.

Daymond glanced at the mockers.

Those who met his gaze flinched and looked away.

“Well, it’s commendable just to find something.”

The Marquis kept asking.

“Who found the note for 20th place?”

“Um, me...”

Dionera’s timid voice answered.

Her father, Count Parmant, grimaced.

“19th place?”

“That’s me...”

“18th?”

“......”

“None?”

“17th place.”

“Me!”

The crowd stared surprised at the voice.

It was Erilot again. She raised her hand and smiled at Marquis Debussy.

Debussy smiled kindly.

“You found two notes. Now, who found 16th place?”

“Me!”

Again Erilot raised her hand.

“Three notes... then 15th place?”

“That’s me too!”

“14th?”

“Me too!”

“13th?”

“Me!”

“12th?”

“Me!”

Erilot kept raising her hand every time.

“......!”

“......!”

“......!”

People gasped, staring at the unstoppable girl.

Even Marquis Debussy looked very embarrassed.

Erilot opened the small bag she carried and pulled out bundles of notes.

She spilled them all on the table.

Out of the 21 notes, a whopping 14.

Erilot smiled brightly.

“They’re all mine.”

‘Nobody said I could only find one note.’

Using Conrad, I gave the kids hope.

There was a note for first place in the Duke’s study.

Knowing the top note was there, the kids wouldn’t leave easily.

I fixed their gaze on the Duke’s study and found the rest of the notes.

Marquis Debussy’s mouth dropped open.

‘How could she...!’