The Fake Princess's Soul Contract Duke

Chapter 5: A Strangeness

That night, in her room, Alianora was sitting at the table with a serious face.

The white paper that had been scribbled had been filled with names and also black circles, especially in the name ‘Noah Lex Lumiere In Agris’.

From what Mary had said, it seemed like Prince Noah was a reclusive.

He tends to stay away from the upper class, and is also never too the center of attention of people. The nobles almost never knew, how the princes of the two kingdoms looked like, except for the upper-class nobles like the four duke families.

So, it was only natural that the aristocrats who wanted to lick the king's feet next, mostly chose to side with Prince Roberto, because they were convinced that the seat of leadership of the Kingdom of England would inevitably fall into his hands.

However, Alianora knew that what the nobles hoped for did not happen because of the evidence, King Tyrion will be more in favor of the second prince and even formally introduce Prince Noah as one of the candidates for the crown prince.

This would make the feud that ended in the splitting of the aristocratic stronghold into two parts.

But it will still happen in the next few years, and if Alianora wants her goal to succeed, she will have to speed things up as quickly as possible, at least before Prince Noah made his official debut in high-class society at the age of eighteen. He needed to scent the name of Prince Noah, there was no need to be too conspicuous, at least until the nobles all knew, what kind of person referred to as ‘The Second Little Light of the Kingdom of Agris’ was.

“But for that, I should make an effort to approach him, hm.”

This certainly had to be done in a fitting way, Alianora would not be able to look for him at some party, or tea ceremony commonly held by the upper class nobility, he said, because it was a waste, because Prince Noah probably wouldn't be there.

On the contrary, the most reasonable and the only way that he was most confident of paying off was through the high academy for the nobles, Aethergarde, the best academy in the entire corner of the Angris Kingdom, even in international kanca, this academy is still one of the best.

There, all the noble children with high talent, went to explore their talents.

And an educational institution required for the royal family.

Although Prince Noah refused to socialize, he could not possibly refuse what was required of him.

This is where Alianora will take advantage of the opportunity to approach him.

“But...magic, hm?”

Inevitably, to be able to enter there, the chosen noble child must be truly brilliant, in a sense, they must have talents that are considered special, perfect, and clearly useful to the kingdom.

And magic in the Kingdom of Agris, is considered like a god's blessing. A special talent that should be possessed by nobles, who are the blessed ones.

But it's impossible to get by Alianora right now.

From the three lives of Thalia, Alianora witnessed for herself how Thalia attempted to develop her magical talent.

How he practiced day and night, clinging only to a false hope he created from a denial, that he could also be like any other noble child, possessing a pent-up magical talent.

But of course it didn't happen.

Alianora already knew that, instead she could already sense that there was no mana flowing within this small body.

Hm?

Wait, something seems strange.

From the beginning he was conscious, but he didn't pay much attention to it, and because of that, he missed the most important thing.

There's no where? How could?

The one in the body right now is Alianora. Alianora who had permeated the entire soul essence of the Apostle dedicated to her. The mana he should have right now was a combination of his mana and also Thalia mana.

It was impossible if he could not feel any mana flowing at all.

"Mana is not bound to the body, but to the soul. It should be, this body is not like this."

At that instant, Alianora's eyes widened. He looked straight at his hand with his mouth slightly open.

No. gabe. Hold still.

It is not bound to the body.

But with soul.

Alianora felt her throat dry.

All of this..what really happened?

Whether or not someone in magic was gifted was determined by their soul, it was because mana came from the core of the human soul. So if one's soul was able to flow mana from their soul core to the rest of the body, then they would definitely be able to control magic.

Thalia was an Apostle Soul, meaning she should have been gifted in magic, but what happened to Thalia was the opposite.

He would be known to the death as one who had no magic, even in three lives.

Something that logically would never happen.

But why? Why would an Apostle soul with holy mana, not have magic abilities?

He could still sense the mana gathering in his soul, yet this body, was empty. Nothing is flowing.

With a feeling of confusion and surprise, Alianora frowned towards her hand which she had just smitten.

"What's going on here?"

If it wasn't Thalia's soul.

Thenwhat?

Geck. Geck. Geck.

Alianora who was still fixated looked at her own hands, while searching for the answers of the thousand questions that appeared at once in her mind, was shocked to hear the sound of knocking from outside her bedroom door.

He saw the clock on his desk, it was nine o'clock in the night, in his mind the face of his servant, Mary, appeared.

"Well, it's been a night like this, what does she need?"

As Alianora did not immediately open the door, the knock was repeated again, but this time it was accompanied by a subtle voice that faintly muttered, "sister?".

"uh? These sounds? Thalia's sister...? If it's not wrong-named-"

"Sister? Is my brother inside?"

Alianora immediately rose to the door.

"Ah, yes, please come in, Estelle."

When the door of his room opened, there appeared a cute and cute little boy in front of him.

That innocent and cute face showed a sweet smile towards her.

Estelle La Sheridan, Thalia's adoptive sister who is currently eight years old, the second meeting this time then Alianora can see clearly the form of this child.

"Good night, brother. Is brother busy?"

Alianora shook her head, trying to show a smile that was no less pure as well.

"Ah, no, what's up Estelle-"

Ah, looks like I mispronounced that part, hm?

"Eh, Elle?"

This child was Thalia's dearest sister, and usually Thalia always called her by the name of 'Elle', but when she heard Alianora calling her unusual, a slight flickering on Estelle's eyelids, even if it's just a glimpse.

"Hehe, there's nothing important anyway, I just want to bring this for brother."

Estelle approached Alianora's table, and placed a small plate of orange pudding coated with a milky-white liquid and a strawberry on top.

Alianora looked at the food in confusion.

"Mango pudding? For me?"

"Uh-huh. Brother's favorite pudding, right? I told the waiter to make it, and I'll bring it here."

Alianora nodded in response to Estelle's reply, hoping that Estelle would finally leave her alone. After all, the need here is done, right?

But as it turned out, Estelle remained standing in place without showing any signs that she was leaving, clearly leaving Alianora clueless as to what else Estelle needed in her room.

Ah, did I just throw this kid out? Subtly, perhaps?

But before Alianora let out a sound, Estelle had already cut him off.

"Uhm, actually, I want you not to think about what happened this morning, and don't be sad anymore."

"Sad?"

Estelle nodded, her facial expression showing her worry and a hint of pity that made Alianora a little irritated.

Be sad? Why grieve just because of something like that? Am I a kid? What the fuck is this kid?

"So morning, mom was too hard on sister. I.. do not agree with the punishment given by my mother to my sister! That's not fair, hmph!"

Alianora chuckled and patted Estelle on the shoulder.

"It's okay, Elle, it's also because I've made my room fall apart."

"No brother, obviously brother is not wrong! The food had indeed smelled, if that brash waiter had brought it to me, I would have done the same."

Alianora could not say much, just watching how the little boy in front of her was grumpy to something that was not her business at all.

Is a boy like this?

Alianora became worried what her now calm behavior like this even looked too mature for a boy her age.

"Only, I don't understand with mom's attitude, she instead made sister clean up sister's room by herself. After all, I've been over, haven't I?"

Estelle looked at Alianora, her face as if asking Alianora to say nothing of her talk just now.

Seeing this, Alianora became even more confused by Estelle's attitude.

What, then, should he answer?

Do I have to say 'yes' that?

Fortunately, Alianora was still able to hide her confusion well.

"Ah, Elle, come on, I'm fine. After all, it's just cleaning the room, it's not that hard."

Alianora hoped that with this Estelle would soon calm down and finally leave her room, but what Alianora received was even the expression of the horror face that Estelle gave.

"Sister, what are you saying? It's obviously just a servant's duty, not a noble's duty like ours, right? You can't just agree to it."

The more here, the direction Estelle talks even more to make Alianora surprised.

Actually, what does this kid want to say, and what is his purpose?

He doesn't understand at all.

"Elle"

"It's always like this, isn't it?  If there is a problem, you are always to blame. Neither father, nor mother, they have ever defended brother."

Estelle walked around the table and stood right in front of Alianora who was sitting dumbly staring at her. The look on his face was indecipherable, his blue eyes fixedly on Alianora.

"Dad, mother, it's always unfair. Isn't that right, brother? Whatever you do is always wrong, like this morning, you don't take your side. It's so sorry."

Wait a minute, is there a problem in this kid's head? What's he talking about?

"But mom and dad can't be blamed either, right?"

"In this house, it was always father, mother, me."Estelle leaned her body so close that Alianora could see her strange expression, "and then sister. Do you understand, brother?"

??

"Father and mother love a gifted child. I have magic, but brother can't give it."

"Pity of father and mother."

after saying the last sentence, Alianora's face did not look sad at all, but rather a crooked little smile, then she smiled widely which made Alianora slightly jerked.

"But it's okay, brother, I'm here. I'll always be on your side, no matter what. I will always accompany you, it is because I love you so much. So you don't have to be sad, because I will always be with you. Even though mom and dad are like that but still, we're basically family right?"

After that Estelle stuck out her arms to carry Alianora in her arms for a moment. Alianora who was still confused just let her body just like that while continuing to think about what was really going on, until Estelle let go and returned to smiling innocently as usual.

"Then brother, eat the pudding yes, I want to go back to the room first. Good night brother!"

That way, Estelle then walked out of the room and left Alianora who was staring straight at the door of her room with a serious expression.