Saying that, Sarah raised her mana without Ethan having time to say anything. Azure magic rose like a haze all over her body.
"......Countess Millen!"
Ethan stood up in surprise seeing her trying to use magic with her ill body. Sarah looked up at him and smiled.
"[Become a chain]"
A starting word made of runes was activated between her lips. At the same time, the mana emanating from Sarah took shape and became a single magic circle.
"......!"
Ethan could understand what Sarah was trying to do. His expression, which had a dull look as if he was wearing a mask, was distorted. Sarah liked it so much that she smiled more brightly.
The basic skill of a magician was to do things arbitrarily and succeed it beautifully. Moreover, Sarah Millen was a great magician. What she was doing should be done on a large scale, without failure, with great success. This was the part Sarah cares most about, and she was more confident than anything else.
"My Lord!"
When a huge wave of mana shook in Ambrosia's mansion, a group of knights who sensed it quickly entered the room and surrounded Ethan. Some tried to bring the sword to the nape of Sarah's neck, who was using the magic.
"Stand back!"
At Ethan's cold command, the knights did not lose their vigilance and still drew their swords.
"[Stay.]"
The magic circle spinning round and round above Sarah's head snapped and stopped rotating as if something had come together. And all at once, it was sucked into the ordinary ring Ethan Ambrosia was wearing.
"......That!"
The magic circle was engraved on the ring with a bright and vivid glow. The magic circle that emitted such a bright light for a while quickly permeated into the ring and disappeared.
"The, the artifact, so quickly…..."
The knights who were watching all these scenes and the servants who rushed in could not close their mouths.
"......How?"
Ethan also couldn't speak and examine the ring on his finger. In an instant, peace enveloped his body. Six years ago, the artifact Sarah handed over, which was stronger, could suppress Ambrosia's curse. His thirst, which seemed to devour him just a moment ago, seemed to be quenched in an instant. It was like being just a normal human being.
"Why do you think I haven't been in front of Young Master Claude for six years?"
Sarah looked at Ethan's eyes with a confident smile. While sweating with a pale complexion after bleeding a lot, an unknown spirit flowed from her.
"For six years, I've done my best to study the power of Ambrosia. I'm sure no one knows about it as well as I do. Of course, including the Duke who wields it."
"......"
"I don't know how great the Duke's power will be, but it doesn't matter. I promised Young Master Claude a happy future, and in that future, you must also be there."
"Why…..."
"Because Young Master Claude loves you. Do you think Young Master Claude would want a future without his beloved father?"
At Sarah's words, Ethan stiffened as if he was shocked. For him, the love of his father was always accompanied by pain.
'If you want to increase the power of Ambrosia, you must know how to long for it. Starting today, don't give Ethan a sip of water.'
'Hit him until he dies. He won’t be able to win, and the power will come out to protect its host.'
'Contact is useful, but there are limits. If you cut the flesh and hold it in your hand, something may be different…… Ah, I'll only do it to the point where you won't die, so don't look at me like that, Son. I'm not strong enough yet to kill you like this.'
A father who was constantly resonating and drawing strength to develop Ambrosia's power. A father who regarded abuse as love, which made him endure the pain of power that made him covet vitality. Growing up thinking it was father's love, Ethan didn't want Claude to suffer like he did. So he never imagined that the child would want him.
"......Ha."
He looked down at Claude sleeping, sweeping his complicated face with his palm. The expression of the child sleeping in someone's arms looked calm.
"I didn't know much about Claude."
He looked at the ring on his finger once again. Her power resembled salvation. It was an emotion he had never tasted, but now he thought he knew a little. If this was what Sarah Millen could do, then even if he was by Claude's side, the child wouldn't get hurt. Such a life, could it be allowed?
"Tell me the price. I don't believe in favor without a price."
Sarah's face brightened at Ethan's words. Finally, she received Ethan Ambrosia's approval. It was a markedly different attitude from how he had been gently drawing the line even though he had said that he had completely entrusted Claude's education to Sarah.
"I've already received the price. Young Master Claude."
Sarah gently stroked Claude's head. As the child gradually opened the door of his heart, she was able to forget little by little the guilt that she had made Dieline unhappy, the guilt that she created a sprout of misfortune called Claude Ambrosia with her own hand. That was the price she received.
"Nevertheless, if the Duke wants me to give you a price to make you feel at ease, there is one thing I want."
"Say it."
Ethan's face, which had been hardened at Sarah's words, loosened as if he had become more comfortable. He was willing to listen to whatever Sarah asked.
"From now on, please call my name."
However, this request was not what Ethan was prepared for.
"You mean your name?"
"Yes. Would it be difficult?"
Sarah tilted her head and asked. A cold sweat was forming on Sarah's forehead, who was staring intently at Ethan. It must have been because she was overusing her mana with a bad body. Ethan couldn't speak to Sarah, who was looking at him with big, clear eyes.
"My name isn't that difficult, right?"
"That's right, however."
"I'm Young Master Claude's nanny, and I'll serve you as my Lord until he grows up."
"......"
"Please help me so that Young Master Claude can be comfortable with me. If the Duke is extremely polite to me, how can Young Master Claude treat me comfortably?"
The knights, who had been quietly listening to Sarah's words, nodded their heads as if trying to say that was true. If the father, Ethan, who was also the head of the family, was polite to Sarah, then how could the son, Claude, treat her as how he should treat his nanny? The servants also nodded because it made sense.
"You can’t?"
Sarah was now looking at Ethan with her hands folded. When a beautiful lady with a pale face asked for such a request, there was probably no man who could refuse. Ethan finally nodded his head with a deep sigh.
"Okay, Sarah."
In an instant, Sarah's face brightened. Seeing the bright smile that bloomed on her beautiful face, Ethan lost a moment and looked at Sarah. It was as if a never-before-seen light was pouring down on Sarah, who could smile like she felt happiness in such a small thing.
"It's exciting! I can just ask Young Master Claude to call me by my first name using this as an excuse."
Sarah lay in bed hugging Claude, who was sleeping tight despite the fuss, with a very excited face. Then she waved her hand at Ethan and the knights, who were still staring at her blankly.
"I think I should get some rest now. Can you all go out? I'm a little tired."
It was a neat and sudden attitude as if there was nothing to see anymore. At that moment, the same thought ran through everyone's mind.
'Will all the magicians be like that person?'
They couldn't shake off the idea of her putting people in the palm of her hand and playing with them easily.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to see you off. I'm so sleepy."
Sarah yawned loudly and closed her eyes. Ethan closed his eyes and looked at Sarah, who looked peaceful as if she were sleeping.
"......"
Ethan held his hand near his heart for a moment, then quickly clenched his fist and stood up. He had an unknown look on his face.
"Then make yourself at home, Sarah."
"Yes."
Sarah smiled faintly, thinking it was good to hear her name as he spoke in a heavy, soft voice. Ethan Ambrosia was a man who kept what he promised no matter how she behaved. He didn't give a line easily but allowed her to play freely on the line he once allowed. It was quite different from Sarah, who had a selfish side.
"Let's go."
When Ethan turned around and left the room, the knights also followed their Lord and left the room. One of the knights who had briefly put a sword to Sarah's neck was restless, but he too followed suit.
"......"
And after the room fell silent like that, Sarah looked around for a moment.
"......Cough, oof!"
Then she vomited up a terrifyingly dark red lump of blood.