Chapter 203.5: Interlude: The Southern Ducal Family's Secret

(Note: This time is from the perspective of Francois, the daughter of the Southern Ducal family and Eddie‘s fiancée.)

My brother-in-law William‘s Production Skill is amazing.

Recently, I received a communication device he newly made, and it was something incredible.

To be able to talk with someone far away—my thoughts froze when I heard the explanation.

If this spreads to the world, breakthroughs will occur in both military and commerce.

At this point in time, it is an item classified as a state secret.

Since I became engaged to William‘s older brother, Eddie-senpai, it seems I was gifted one as a member of the Fairchild family.

I am genuinely happy to be accepted as family by the people of the Fairchild house.

And the exploits of William that I was told about as family were amazing.

The development of new varieties of wheat and a specific medicine for tuberculosis, enchanting weapons and armor, and bringing forth Golems, which are made public, are remarkable achievements alone, but…

To think he also proposed non-exploding Magic Stones, created Magic Stones by purifying the Mana Cores dropped by monsters, and even discovered the new material “plastic” that has been the topic of conversation recently.

I was also surprised by the grand tale of Light and Darkness.

Even though I had heard that William was the Savior.

I didn’t know that the forces of Light and Darkness were opposing each other in this world, and that once every few hundred years, the forces of Darkness would grow stronger and plunge the world into crisis.

Though my mother, the head of the Siltikheim Ducal family, might know.

And William, chosen as the Savior of the forces of Light by the World Tree, is striving alongside the Apostles and Elves to protect the World Tree and suppress the forces of Darkness.

I was surprised that the kind and gentle William is bearing such a heavy burden.

I want to help as much as I can too.

So, I asked William and received one more communication device to give to my family home.

Since the Northern and Southern Ducal families will likely be given communication devices by the Royal Family in the near future, William agreed that it was fine for me to bring one to my family home a little earlier.

It’s not like I’m trying to score points by being useful to my family home.

By receiving a precious item from William, I thought of obtaining a return gift from my family home for it.

The Siltikheim Ducal family also owns several precious magic tools.

As thanks for the communication device, I was able to obtain one of them.

“William-kun, thank you for the precious communication device the other day. This is a return gift from the Siltikheim family.”

“Is this… a magic tool?”

“Yes, it’s something that finds ancient ruins.”

“Whoa? Is it really okay for me to receive something so precious?”

William‘s eyes widened.

This unjaded side of him is also favorable.

“Because the territory of the Siltikheim Ducal family has already been surveyed. I thought it would be good if you could put it to use in the undeveloped lands.”

“It’s true that new ones might be found in the undeveloped lands. Even so, to receive something so rare…”

Precious magic tools are sometimes found in ancient ruins.

I hope it helps William, who bears a heavy burden as the Savior.

Besides…

“I am personally grateful to you.”

“To me?”

“That’s right. Because you confided various things in me as family, I think I will tell you the truth as well.”

This is a secret of the Siltikheim family that can absolutely never be told to others. Perhaps even within the Royal Family, only His Majesty knows.

But I believe William will keep the secret.

Besides, I don’t want to keep secrets from the people of the Fairchild house who accepted me as family.

That is why I got my mother’s permission to tell the secret.

“Actually, the reason I can use attribute magic is thanks to a magic tool that came from the ruins. My true skill is the Commerce Skill.”

“Eh!? Is that so?”

“The reason my grades are good is the result of training my Commerce Skill.”

“It’s famous that you’re a prodigy, Sister-in-law, but it was the result of polishing your Commerce Skill?”

“I’m sorry for keeping quiet about it until now.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I completely understand why you couldn’t talk about it.”

“Seeing how the people of the Fairchild family cherish you, who were blessed with a Production Skill, I felt it would be okay to tell my secret, so I was able to marry in with peace of mind.”

In fact, when I confided my secret recently, the Duke and Duchess not only accepted my secret, but hugged me, saying I must have had a hard time.

“Is that how it was?”

“Also, there is one more thing I am grateful to you for.”

“When my cousin, Her Highness Flora, was blessed with the Commerce Skill and was suffering, I couldn’t reveal my secret and couldn’t do anything. Thank you for saving her.”