How To Save A Time Limited Young Master

He let go of Heloise’s hand as he knelt down and began to feel around the top of the drawer.

“Zenon?”

“……Heloise.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’d just told you. My father would always keep important items in this compartment.”

“Mhm.”

“I think I’ve just found something important.”

“What?”

“I’ve been questioning why Uncle kept confining me in the mansion all this while.”

“What’s that…?”

“And I think I’ll discover the reason for that today.”

At the same time, white light began to emanate from Zenon’s body.

It was magic.

“Zenon!”

Surprised, Heloise grabbed him by the shoulder and tried to pull him away, but perhaps because Zenon had done something to her, she couldn’t even approach him.

With a frown, Zenon put his hand in the cabinet and drew out the mana in his body.

From the visible light alone, it was an explosive amount.

It might be a lot more than the amount released at the dry fountain previously.

In other words, it meant that the aftermath would be greater for Zenon.

Sure enough, Zenon was already beginning to clutch his chest in pain.

“Zenon!”

“Keugh…”

“Let go of it! Zenon!”

Zenon clutched his chest tightly and clenched his teeth, and only when blood began to trickle out from between his clenched teeth, the magic that was binding her disappeared.

“Keugh.”

As soon as Heloise was released from the magic’s custody, she ran towards Zenon and hugged him.

At the same time, Zenon fainted.

Perhaps due to the sudden movement of a large amount of mana, the slightly convulsing Zenon and Heloise, who was in contact with his body, felt as though they had been struck by lightning, and an enormous shock engulfed them.

Even a person like Heloise, who didn’t have magic, was affected this much, so she couldn’t even estimate how large the aftermath was for Zenon to fall unconscious.

“Sob… Argh…”

Heloise let out a painful groan and slumped to the ground while holding Zenon’s head.

“Is there… Is anyone there?”

Within Heloise’s voice that was looking for a servant, a crying tone could be heard.

Zenon looked like a mess.

She was really afraid that he’d die like this.

It wasn’t an item or regression, it wasn’t any of that, but just the fear that Zenon Lionerik was about to die.

“Someone……anybody……”

At this moment, that was what Heloise was most afraid of.

⋄────∘°❃°∘────⋄

The Lionerik Duchy’s successor, Zenon Lionerik, collapsed once again due to the side effects of using mana.

However, unlike previously, the situation was slightly different.

As a large amount of mana was suddenly pulled out of his body, and his body couldn’t hold out.

The head physician diagnosed the situation as such.

His condition was so serious that no matter how much the Marquis of Velks tried to keep the situation under wraps, it reached the vassals’ ears.

“What kind of superiority is this! It didn’t happen somewhere else, but Lionerik’s successor collapsed twice in this year! And due to the side effects of using magic at that!”

“Apparently, he might have died there and then, if it weren’t for his playmate that was with him.”

“Did the Marquis of Velks hide the Young Master’s condition once? How can the Marquis proudly say that you’re acting as the Young Master’s guardian?”

At the urgent vassal’s conference, each of the vassals vented their anger with each of their words

Half of it was to hold it against the Marquis of Velks, and the other half was merely to vent their anger.

Although they called Zenon Lionerik their Young Master, if they were asked about whether they had truly thought of him as the heir, the answer would still be negative.

“Marquis, the official guardian, explain yourself now. Why does the Young Master keep collapsing?”

“That’s because Zenon’s body isn’t well…”

“I’d also heard that before he collapsed, the Young Master was investigating the study and found something strange.”

The eyes of Marquis Velks, who was seated like a sinner, widened.

“I heard that there was a sealing stone installed within the drawers of the cabinet. What am I supposed to take this for, Marquis?”

The oldest and most experienced of those present, Marquis Findersden, asked quietly, with eyes gleaming under his thick white eyebrows.

At that, the others that were talking rowdily fell silent.

It was the Marquis’ turn to explain.

As he was surrounded by dead silence, Marquis Velks opened his heavy mouth.

“……It’s true that there are mana sealing stones in Langbert Mansion.”

At that, the meeting was abuzz with confusion.

So far, Zenon’s illness was unknown.

It was an incurable illness caused by excessive use of manna

However, there were sealing stones installed within the mansion he lived in.

It could have been the key to uncover the secrets of his illness, and it also meant that the Marquis kept his mouth shut even though he was aware.

“Were you the one that planted it?”

The Marquis of Finderson asked straightforwardly.

This caused the Marquis of Velks to jump out of his seat, and slam the desk with his fist.

“If I had a talent for magic, would you have disregarded me to such an extent? What do you mean I planted it? Those words are inappropriate!”

“……”

“That sealing stone was made by Brother when he was alive. It wasn’t me, but Brother that made it for his son.”

“What?”

As another younger vassal tried to step up, the Marquis of Findersden raised his hand to stop him and nodded his head at the Marquis of Velks.

It was a gesture for him to continue talking.

The Marquis of Velks gritted his teeth and continued.

“Ever since he was born, Zenon had a lot of mana in comparison to his vessel. That’s when my brother started focusing on sealing magic.”

“The reason for the Young Master’s collapse was due to the sealing magic? The mages and doctors said that the overuse of mana reached to a point that it began to drain his life energy!”

“I said that it’s a seal, but it’s actually developed as a magic crystal that sucks in mana infinitely. And installed in Langbert Mansion.”

“……”

Brother was afraid that his son would be consumed by the deluge of mana before he could grow up, so he made preparations in the mansion beforehand. I was just following my brother’s will.

“It was the previous Duke’s will to seal the Young Master’s magic?”

At someone’s query, the Marquis of Velks replied proudly.

“That’s right. Since Zenon would lose his life every time he uses magic, wouldn’t it be better for him to stay in the safe house that his father had prepared for him and control his mana?”

“I heard that because of the sealing stone that sucked away his mana, he’s leading a life that’s more burdened than other wizards by ten times.”

“Since he’s unable to control himself, he can’t help but be like that.”

“That’s why that small boy collapsed twice in a single year.”

Marquis Findersden sneered, but Marquis Velks remained unmoved.

“As you’d just mentioned, Zenon is still young. He must remain in Langbert Mansion as per Brother’s preparations.”

“Even if Langbert is the mansion that was prepared by the previous Duke, those that have passed on can’t speak. Who knows if he wouldn’t have taken the Young Master out when the time was right and shifted him to Odelin Mansion, where the Marquis is currently staying?”

Langbert Mansion was once the most splendid mansion in the capital, and had a vast figure to match.

An endless garden unfolded past the golden gate that was engraved with an open-mouthed lion, and dozens of servants were lined up and bowed in unison.

Heloise ruminated on her first encounter with Langbert Mansion in the past.

Then, which mansion was the most splendid in the capital currently?

It was the Odelin Mansion, which Marquis Velks resided in.

Which was prepared for the Duke of Lionerik.

Zenon wasn’t particularly dissatisfied at being unable to live in that mansion.

But it’ll be a different story if measures to seal Zenon’s magic were planted in Langbert Mansion.

Marquis Findersden, the head of the vassals, seemed unwilling to let this incident slide easily.

“In any case, I have deemed it extremely dangerous for the Young Master to be entrusted to the Marquis of Velks.”

“So what do you plan on doing?”

“The Young Master has reached sixteen this year, and isn’t at the age where he’s unable to control mana anymore. As such, I believe that the Young Master should move to Odelin Mansion.”

“What did you just say?”

Although Marquis of Velks’ face reddened like he couldn’t concede on that point, the other vassals weren’t lacking in vigour.

“Why? The Young Master is already an adult, is there a reason why you have to live in that mansion?”

[T/N: the ‘Young Master’ here is referring to Marquis Velks, since he’s also part of the ducal family.]

“T–that’s….”

Marquis Velks was rendered speechless.

Marquis Findersden, the most cunning amongst the vassals and the longest-serving vassal, concluded.

“Our position remains unchanged. For the safety and future of the Young Master, his place of residence must be moved to Odelin Mansion.”

“What about Langbert Mansion?”

“Whether you’ll live here or not, do as you will.”

“Findersden! Do not forget that I’m currently the Lord’s proxy!”

“You’re right. I’m aware that you’re just a proxy to manage the family’s affairs, until the official successor takes over.”

“How dare you disparage me in such a manner…!”

The Marquis’ face was flushed with anger.

The veins that protruded out from his tightly clenched fist made it seem like something was about to occur, but there was nothing he could do here.

“Marquis, don’t be mistaken. The Duchy’s heir apparent is still Zenon Lionerik, and not you.”

“…….”

“If you want to become our Master, take Lionerik’s Castle. Do you understand my words?”

“You’ve been like that since Brother’s time, and continued to disappoint me till the end…”

“Let’s end this meeting here.”

Marquis Findersden pretended not to hear his last words and suddenly got out of his seat with his cane.

Marquis Velks tried to refute further, but it was practically a ripple effect.

Heloise, who had been watching the meeting through a crack in the door, was surprised when the adults showed signs of getting out, and pressed herself tightly to the wall.

At that, the door opened with a loud slam and the vassals began to stream out, with Marquis Findersden taking the lead.

Heloise’s father, Viscount Lorca, took up the rear of the group.

Viscount Lorca recognized Heloise at once and stroked her hair with a faint smile.

“Daughter, what are you doing here?”

“I was just passing by.”

“You shouldn’t hang around when the adults are talking.”

It was a tone that said, ‘Even though I’m aware, I’ll let it slide.’

When Heloise nodded quickly, Viscount Lorca hurried after Marquis Findersden.

Heloise looked unfamiliarly at the gradually disappearing silhouette of her father.

Her father had always sided with and cared for Zenon.

It was strange that he didn’t say a single word at the conference that had just taken place in the Lorca Viscounty.

It was the first day that she found her father unfamiliar.