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nAfter sending the butler away, Hikan stopped working and went to his bedroom because of a terrible headache.

nDalia thought that it was her opportunity.

n‘I need to go see His Majesty.’

nNormally, without a nanny, she couldn’t go out without Hikan’s permission. However, the coachman must have recognized the seriousness of the situation and took her directly to the Imperial Palace.

n“Please tell His Majesty the Emperor that Dalia Pesteros is here.”

nThe Emperor called her directly to his office instead of the audience chamber.

nRecently, the Emperor was troubled by the diplomatic issues due to the new Pope appointment at the neighbouring Holy Empire.

nIn the office, the Emperor wore small business glasses and reviewed the documents, then when he saw Dalia, he took off his glasses and put them down.

n“Nice to meet you, Miss Dalia.”

nSomehow he greeted her with an awkward smile than usual.

n

n

n“Now that Miss Dalia is here, Hikan must be about to begin his mana awakening.”

n“……yes.”

n“Honestly, I’m guilty of this. At that time, I was so busy…….”

nDalia tilted her head at the unexpected confession. The Emperor waved his hands.

n“No, I gave him a little stress. Anyway, let’s say that’s what happened.”

nAfter beckoning Dalia to come closer, the Emperor began to explain by writing it on a blank paper with a fountain pen.

n“There are three stages of mana awakening. Before, start, end. People become sensitive and violent before they start. It goes for about three weeks, and when they start the awakening, they lose their mind completely and start smashing everything they see. This is for a week. It’s a month in total. And when they are done, they go around repenting for their sins and apologizing to those around them.”

nDalia tried to figure out when Hikan started to become sensitive.

nApproximately one week plus ten days, it’s already been more than two and a half weeks. Does that mean it’s not strange if Hikan starts to smash everything anytime now?

nThis is hopeless.

nEven now, she’s having a hard time, then what about when the awakening starts?

nThe Emperor smiled slightly when he saw Dalia’s expression.

n“I taught you the best way, but I guess you haven’t used it yet.”

n“The best way?”

nDalia looked at him with sparkling eyes. The Emperor smiled brightly and showed both of his palms to Dalia.

n“A hug of love.”

nDalia became depressed immediately.

n“………I don’t think that’s going to be possible…….”

n“Why?”

n“I was going to try it last time, but he was angry and asked me to not touch him.”

n“Well, maybe it’s because the love hasn’t been delivered properly?”

nThe Emperor’s expression was serious.

nIt didn’t seem like a joke, but Dalia shook her head because she didn’t dare to try again. The Emperor seemed to understand too.

n“Yeah, what if you get hit by angry Hikan while trying to do it? If Miss Dalia gets injured, it will be a national loss.”

nAlthough thankfully, Dalia did not think that the entire empire would be sad just because she was hurt.

n“Then this is the only way.”

nThe Emperor gestured.

n“Alfred, bring Miss Dalia ‘that’.”

n“Yes.”

nAn aide gave Dalia a pamphlet. The title of the pamphlet was《How to Successfully Prevent Mana Awakening Damage for Transcendent – At The Beginning of The Awakening》.

nDalia read the pamphlet carefully.

n1. Remove all sharp weapons from the mansion. Pay particular attention to the kitchen.

n2. Get the non-transcendent people out of the mansion. It is recommended that tasks, such as preparing meals, be handled outside the mansion as much as possible.

n3. Love and support are not helpful. Sometimes a beating is a medicine.

n‘…….’

nDalia looked at the Emperor with a suspicious look.

n‘I’m sure you said a hug of love would make everything better…….’

n4. If there is no other transcendent in the family to beat the person, provide sufficient drinking water and food, seal the door of the mansion using a high-end magic scroll, and wait for everything to pass.

n‘…… What kind of beast are they treating!’

nDalia shook her head in astonishment.

n“I, I can’t treat my brother Hikan like this. For a week…….”

n“That’s not Hikan. It’s a beast. If you need a magic scroll, I’ll give one to you that the imperial wizard made.”

nThe Emperor was smiling, but he spoke with a determined tone. Dalia’s pupils began to shake violently.

n‘F, for now, I’ll take it.’

nDalia nodded her head.

n“And I’ll write you a letter of appointment so that Miss Dalia can do some of the work for the Duke Pesteros for a month. Hikan won’t be able to think normally for a while.”

nThe Emperor took a form, wrote it, and stamped his seal at the end.

n“Once you get the employees out, make a copy of the work documents and move them somewhere else. I won’t have to specify it here, but considering Dalia’s age, I recommend you not to touch anything else. The butler of the Pesteros estate is competent, so if you ask him for help, he’ll solve it. Later, when Hikan comes to his senses, he’ll take care of it.”

nDalia took the documents and bowed.

n“Thank you very much.”

n“Why does this happen when there are only two Pesteros left. If you can’t stand it, you can always take refuge here.”

nThe Emperor smiled softly and put on his glasses again. Dalia still felt reassured by his presence.

nDalia returned to the mansion with a magic scroll.

nStill, she found a solution. She glanced at the scroll with a complex pattern on it, rolled it up and stored it.

nNow it was time to go to see the butler.

nFortunately, he was waiting for Dalia at the front door of the estate.

n“How’s everything at the estate?”

n“Yes. Nothing has happened so far.”

nDalia gave the butler the pamphlet given by the Emperor. He read it carefully and nodded.

n“The Emperor granted me some authority over the Pesteros Dukedom for a month. First, make a copy of the document and give the employees a month off. Including the butler. Do me a favor.”

n“Yes, most of these are also the instructions from the Duke.”

n“Is that so?”

n“Yes, I was wondering when I should tell you…… I’m so glad that you went to see the Emperor at the right time.”

nDalia nodded her head. The butler leaned over and whispered to her.

n“I am relieved that you have received one from the Emperor, but there are two more scrolls behind the library’s bookshelf. Really, really, just in case you need to know.”

n“Yes…….thank you.”

nReally, please, she hopes that she doesn’t need to use it.

nDalia thought deep within her heart, swallowing tears. The butler looked at her helplessly.

n“In the first place, this is not something that Miss should handle…….”

n“No, I’m a Pesteros too. This is my responsibility.”

nDespite Dalia’s confident words, the butler seemed uneasy. He is constantly struggling with worries. He slowly opened his mouth.

n“………the former Duke to the current Duke…… No, he hasn’t taught Master Hikan how to deal with this at all.”

n“…….”

n“Master too, because he hated the previous Duke and the Duchess.”

nDalia recalled her father, whom she could hardly remember. She didn’t feel anything.

nThe butler quietly told the story between Hikan and their parents.

nAfter hearing the story, Dahlia felt an indescribable emotion. The story that Hikan simplified as if nothing was wrong, and the story she heard objectively from a third party’s mouth was so different.

nHow did he feel when he was abandoned by everyone at that young age?

nShe never thought deeply about why Hikan was crazy in the original. But now, she knows too well why it happened.

nDalia regretted her past thoughts.

n‘He must be crazy because he didn’t receive love from his parents.’

nShe shouldn’t have thought of it, no matter how lightly it was. Absolutely not.

n“Miss, shouldn’t you evacuate with us too?”

nThe butler spoke cautiously. Dalia was silent.

n“……I’ll take care of that. Is my brother still sleeping?”

n“I think so.”

n“Then take care of everything today. I don’t know when he’ll be in the second stage.”

nDalia was determined.

nHikan opened his eyes the next morning. Even though he slept all day, he still had a splitting headache.

nStrangely, the mansion was quiet. After a long time, he felt peace in silence.

nBut the moment of peace was cut short, as he felt a severe thirst. There was a hot fireball in his head and stomach that seemed to burn both his brain and organs.

n‘Shit.’

nMana awakening has begun in earnest.

nThe voices that he had not heard for a while began to be heard again.

n《Everyone’s going to abandon you. Just like your parents.》

n《No one is there for you. You’re creepy. You’re not even human.》

n《How much longer will Dalia Pesteros stay by your side?》

n

n

n“Shut up.”

nHe emptied all the bottles of water next to the bed. But he was still thirsty. He rings the bell calling for a maid.

nNo one showed up.

nHe rings the bell even harder, while repeating swearing. But he could not overcome his strength and throw the bell to the ground.

nClank!

nA loud noise rang.

nHikan raised his head as he gritted his teeth. Then the door opened and his eyes met Dalia who was standing in front of the door while holding a tray holding a water bottle.

nShe was stiff with her rabbit eyes wide open. He didn’t believe this situation and spoke stupidly.

n“Dalia?”

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