Until the Exiled Duke’s Daughter, Wilhelmina, Becomes Happy

Chapter 20: Magic stone hunting

I returned the book to its original position and after a while Alex-sama returned.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back, Alex-sama.”

The meal is at the table with me and Alex-sama. Senni, who is the servant, of course cannot sit at the same table, but there are only three of us and it is a small house. She eats in the kitchen at the same time so that we can hear each other’s voices.

For the pre-dinner prayer, I will finish the meal as usual and tell Senni to take the dishes down before going upstairs to talk with Alex-sama.

“Alex-sama, may I have a moment of your time?”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Excuse me for being presumptuous, but I read the book that Alex-sama owns and I also took a look at the research notes while organizing them.”

Alex-sama nods.

“It really helps to have someone organize the documents. You even categorize and compile the notes I wrote on scraps.”

“On that note, I would like to ask if Alex-sama’s research is to accumulate magic elements in the atmosphere and crystallize them, in other words, to artificially create a magic stone.”

Alex-sama’s face is colored with amazement. His large brown eyes are wide open behind his messy hair.

“How did you… You understand? Although there’s nothing directly written about it here!”

“The content of the research book here is diverse, but I judged that from the places where you put sticky notes, the research contents where Alex-sama was awarded a medal, and several fragmentary notes.”

Alex-sama nods.

“That’s right, I want to make a magic stone from scratch, or strictly speaking, from magical elements.

“This is groundbreaking research. Enough to leave a name in history.”

“That’s over-the-top.”

“No, it’s not at all. It could turn the world upside down.”

Alex-sama laughed with a ‘hahaha’.

I continued my words.

“By the way, I would like to ask, is it still a long, far-off time before the research produces results?”

“…I don’t know about that. Whether my theory is correct or not, and whether it’s something that can be put into practice.”

Hmm, if you’re saying that, it means…

“So, the theory is complete?”

“Yes, but I can’t verify it.”

“Why is that so——? Why hasn’t your research been validated in the laboratory where you work?”

“That’s because…”

“Stop.”

I interrupt Alex-sama’s words.

“Alex-sama, when we were first brought here, what were you lamenting about being broken? The materials for your research, right?

If your research is proceeding greatly at the laboratory, there is no need to secretly experiment at home.”

Alex-sama rubbed his head irritably.

“There’s also a budget at the laboratory, and there are also other research projects besides my own. My research, as a commoner, is always put on the back burner.”

Research by a young, decorated researcher is put on the back burner?

And when I think about the fact that I was married to him…

“So you’re being coldly treated at the laboratory?

For example, you’re being estranged from the higher-ups, such as the director or the board of directors. Is that because you’re a commoner, Alex-sama?”

“…Yeah. Especially because I was in an orphanage for a while.”

Ah, so that’s why he never talked about his parents before.

I lower my head.

“I apologize for asking such an impolite question.”

“Well…there’s no problem. It’s a story from when I was young.

My parents were both adventurers who hunted for magic stones. They were apparently very skilled, but one day they never came back. That’s all the story is.”

“And that’s why you’re in the orphanage?”

“Yeah, at first I thought I would train my body to take revenge on the monsters, but I was bad at sports. I gave up on revenge. On the other hand, I was able to study, so after graduating I received a scholarship and was able to receive higher education.

…But the research institute was filled with the third or fourth sons of nobles. I couldn’t really do the research I wanted.”

Hunting for magic stones means hunting powerful demon beasts or diving into the depths of a dungeon to mine. If you can get your hands on a huge stone, it’s a job that can make you a fortune. But it’s also a job where many people get injured or killed.

I also saw these children well when I once visited an orphanage in my territory for a condolence visit.

“Alex-sama, you haven’t given up on revenge. Revenge has evolved. If this research progresses, the number of people who die from hunting magic stones will decrease. The number of wives and children left behind will also decrease.”

Alex-sama sighed heavily.

“Well. That does make me feel better…but the research has been stopped. They can’t give me the budget or the manpower.”

I slammed my fist strongly on the desk.

No, I just slammed the newly acquired checkbook today.

“…what is this?”

“It’s a considerable amount of money. Let’s use this to fund the research. Alex-sama, please complete the research.”