Chapter 60: You Spoil Her Too Much

‘Nothing useful? It’s useful—extremely useful!’

Hearing that she could receive two magic crystals for free every week, Celeste almost couldn’t contain her joy.

However, Rose was right.

As the “Grand Witch” Nightingale, how could she be moved by such a small benefit?

Wouldn’t that result in a loss of face?

Celeste remained silent.

To Rose, promoting her to a core member of the Witch Council was the best bargaining chip she could offer.

If Nightingale wanted more, she simply couldn’t afford it.

Seeing that Celeste didn’t speak, Rose thought for a moment before explaining, “Each Councilor of the Witch Council is personally selected by the Empress herself. Even I have no way of making you a Councilor.”

It made sense.

Even promoting Nightingale to a core member was technically a form of disrespect toward a Grand Witch.

Since Rose herself was a Grand Witch and a Councilor, why should Nightingale only be a core member?

To prevent Nightingale from overthinking, she offered the explanation.

Nightingale was quite understanding.

“In that case, time is pressing. Lady Rose, please hand over the Heart Gem to me.”

She had agreed.

Rose breathed a sigh of relief and then couldn’t help but chuckle.

Her impression of Nightingale improved by several degrees.

“Won’t you stay for a cup of tea and take your time?”

“No. Otherwise, it will be quite a nuisance if the Inquisition comes knocking later.”

Rose paused for a moment.

Then, she covered her mouth and laughed.

“The Inquisition coming to the door? Nightingale, you are a Grand Witch no less powerful than I am. Could you actually be afraid of the Inquisition?”

“It’s just a bit of a hassle,” Celeste replied indifferently.

‘Afraid of the Inquisition? I almost slipped up.’

With the strength of a Grand Witch, there really was nothing to fear from an Inquisition office within an Earl’s territory.

However, the Inquisition of Hela City…

That was hard to say.

With Mephia there, even a Grand Witch might not be able to gain the upper hand.

Rose looked at her but didn’t pay it much mind.

She then slipped the ruby ring off her ring finger.

The moment the ring left her fingertip, it began to slowly transform.

The light from the ruby grew more intense and brighter, eventually condensing into a fist-sized red halo.

The halo dissipated.

A heart-shaped gem, as crystal clear as congealed blood, lay quietly in Rose’s pale palm.

Rose placed it gently on the table and pushed it toward Celeste.

“Take it.”

Her voice returned to its lazy tone, as if the moment of gravity and testing from before had been nothing more than an illusion.

Celeste’s gaze fell upon the gem, and then she looked up.

“Pardon me, but I must ask the two of you to step away for a moment.”

The Grey Cat’s eyebrows shot up, and an inscrutable light flickered in her cat-like eyes.

She looked from Celeste to Rose, then finally shrugged.

She hopped down from her chair and walked toward the door with her hands in her pockets.

“Understood.”

Rose gave a small smile and waved her hand, vanishing from the VIP room instantly.

It was normal to ask for privacy at a time like this.

After all, the method for unlocking a Witch Gem was a secret that no Grand Witch would allow others to witness.

Now, Celeste was the only one left in the VIP room.

After confirming multiple times that there was no one else present, she grasped the Heart Gem.

The Eros Energy within her body began to surge wildly, and a line of text appeared before her eyes.

**[Target: Heart Gem]**

—

On the other side, within the Harris Manor.

The lights in the study were still burning.

Earl Harris sat behind his desk, an account book that hadn’t been turned in a long time spread out before him.

His gaze was fixed on a point in the empty air, his thoughts unknown.

Behind him, rows of bookshelves were shrouded in the thick night.

Within that darkness, it seemed as though countless figures were hidden, silently watching his back.

A very soft knock sounded at the door.

“My Lord.”

Margaret pushed the door open and entered, carrying a steaming cup of tea.

She had changed out of her formal daytime dress and was now wearing a simple, dark-colored nightgown.

Her hair was loosely pinned back, giving her an indescribably charming aura.

She placed the milk gently on the edge of the desk, far from the account book.

“You’ve been working all day. You should rest early.”

Earl Harris withdrew his gaze from the air and looked at the tea.

He glanced at it but didn’t pick it up, instead shaking his head.

“I’m not very tired. If I go to rest this early, I’ll only end up unable to sleep.”

He paused, then suddenly looked up at Margaret.

“How about this? Come with me to check on Tia.”

He stood up from his chair.

His movements were a bit slow, but his back remained as straight as ever, carrying the dignity and temperament of a nobleman.

As he spoke, he walked around the desk toward the door.

“If she dares to try and sneak out at this hour, I’ll break her legs the moment she gets back.”

He didn’t sound like he was joking.

After all, it was a simple matter to heal a leg after breaking it.

Margaret didn’t follow him immediately.

She stood in place, watching his back, a helpless and wry smile touching her lips.

“My Lord,” she said softly, “I just ran into her in the hallway half an hour ago.”

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the conflict between the Earl and his daughter had become increasingly intense lately.

If the Earl truly broke Tia’s legs, there might be no possibility of reconciliation between them.

Earl Harris’s footsteps paused.

He didn’t turn around, his voice carrying a hint of stubbornness from ahead of her.

“Hard to say. Sometimes you spoil her too much.”

Margaret sighed softly.

‘Spoil her too much? Perhaps.’

When she first became the Etiquette Tutor for the Harris Manor, her attitude toward the Young Lady, Tia, had been very strict.

However, she was slowly conquered by the girl.

Tia might be a noble young lady, but she had none of the typical noble flaws.

She was even kind to a point of naivety.

Margaret worried that if the girl went out alone, she would be kidnapped and sold the very next day.

Facing such a pure and kind young girl, how could she find it in her heart to reprimand her?

Besides, the girl hadn’t done anything wrong.

She was extremely obedient!

Except… when it came to the matter of going outside.

“If you don’t believe me, My Lord, then go and see for yourself.”

Since Earl Harris insisted, Margaret, as the Etiquette Tutor, couldn’t keep blocking him.

Moreover, she had confirmed just half an hour ago that the Young Lady was in her bedroom.

Was it possible she had escaped right after being checked?

That was impossible.

Walking ahead of Earl Harris, Margaret spoke with a hint of concern, “It’s just that it is so late; I’m afraid the Young Lady has already fallen asleep.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll just take a peek. I won’t disturb her.”

Following behind her, Earl Harris gripped his cane and replied casually.