"Linda~"

She turned her head towards the call to see Edwin waving toward her. She also turns to the source of the soft footsteps from none other than the duchess, Rebekah, who is now smiling fondly despite her natural villainous yet beautiful appearance.

"Momma. Brother."

She gave out a small smile and trod towards them.

"Lindy~ My lovely daughter. I would love to satisfy, this naughty brother of yours, curiosity~"

She playfully spoke as she poked the top of his nose. Edwin grumbled, rubbed his nose, and looked away.

Linda couldn't help but giggle as she grabbed Rebekah's hand. She looked up and responded with a mature attitude.

"Brother must have bothered you for you to spend your time with us outside of your work, it seems."

Rebekah chuckled and hummed in response not minding their out-of-age tones after getting used to having intelligent children.

'And of course, it must be from me.'

She nodded at her thoughts and her smile widened. The twins couldn't help but glance at the duchess's bright and proud expression.

They didn't question it and just shook their head after glancing at each other. The trio walked silently before reaching the door Edwin got caught at.

"Hm. Hm. Then shall I show you what's behind this?"

She gave a fond smile with a mysterious aura surrounding her making them curious. Edwin already saw what was inside but only that portrait and couldn't get a clear look inside of that room so he was more curious than his sister.

Rebekah swiftly pushed the door with her foot making them surprised due to not seeing her open the door knob.

But that was only for a moment, the state of the room grabbed their attention. If there was one word they could describe it, it's 'magnetic.'

The twins were shocked and stunned at the many portraits that were held inside the room and many jewels, gold, and... some strange items and weapons. They give off a strange aura so they aren't sure.

Edwin bounced on Rebekah's arm, informing her he wanted to get down and explore the room while Linda had already let go of her hand and went near the portrait that held two beautiful people as a couple.

Rebekah smiled at the sight and placed down Edwin to the ground to see him dash to the jewels and golds. She was satisfied with her children's reactions and walked towards her daughter who was staring at that portrait seriously.

"They are the previous imperial couples..."

Linda looked up with wide eyes at her sudden words. Rebekah stared at the couple with a soft yet sad smile. She could guess why the duchess was looking at them that way due to the similarities between that woman and herself and her brother's appearance.

She couldn't help but frown. She went and hugged her leg in comfort due to her loss(?). She isn't sure what happened to them as they didn't explain much in the novel. But she did read in one of the history books of the two's sudden disappearance leaving their two children to fend off on their own.

"Hah..."

Linda read those books for nothing and unlike her brother, she was researching and reading as many books as she could about this world and its state.

She suddenly felt her go tense. She looked up to see her alarmed expression as she scooped her into her arms before doing the same to her son.

The two were bewildered about what was going on until they reached Drew and Nadia who were also looking at Rebekah in alarm.

"Your Grace!"

Edwin and Linda were dropped onto Drew's arms as he stared at his master with worry.

"You don't need to worry as that didn't occur within our territory but two territories southeast from us."

She reassured the two who heaved a sigh of relief. Nadia quickly went and came back after a few minutes with a long slender sword into Rebekah's hand.

"Thank you, Nadia."

"...Be careful."

The twins blankly stared at their interactions, puzzled at what was going on. Linda unconsciously held onto the necklace hidden under her dress and Edwin uncomfortably shifted in his seat in his arms.

They could guess what was going on in this fantasy world.

'Something must've triggered their attention.'

———

Rebekah quickly used her mana, running towards the impact she had gotten her triggered. She jumped from house to house, carefully and swiftly not leaving a mark.

The particles in the air were suffocating as they should be but she could understand this due to the distance that was still far for her to reach.

Mana Rampage.

It was rare to suddenly sense a strong mana that was on a rampage. A rampage can end up in an explosion that will show no mercy to any beings surrounding its vessel. She couldn't help but feel a slight terror due to something she experienced while she was at war with the Demi-humans.

Pak—

She stopped before placing a roaring of her chaotic mana onto her legs making her upper body loosen due to the mana that was supposed to flow in her veins now being out of balance.

Rebekah frowned at the uncomfortable feeling. She couldn't get used to as much of the feeling of being sliced and the metal taste that was rising from her throat. But she needed to be fast and finished with whatever that was.

Feeling all her mana flowing only on the lower part of her body, she turned back to her heels and ran in that direction even faster.

'Nothing can be brought harm to the empire. Any harm shall be executed if not able to be tamed.'

She quietly recited the teaching she learned in the past. Feeling the strong mana rampage even closer, her eyebrows wrinkled making her expression even more vicious due to worry.

She could feel its vessel to be very small as she examined the location with her remaining mana. To add to that, there seem to be multiple strong users and mages surrounding that place.

She didn't like the sight she saw in front of her after arriving. What stood out to her was a very familiar face that stood behind those strong users. She couldn't help but feel her expression crumble in pure anger.

What stood before them was a little girl with pink hair breaking down in front of a dead youngster with similar hair color. Surrounding them are damaged homes and panicking citizens.

"Those bastards..."

She seethed in anger, her aura blazing more rapidly as she dangerously stepped toward them.

AKS