Chapter 7 – The Master and the Disciple
November 7, 2023
A few days later, Cordelia was chatting idly in Leonard’s bedroom as usual when the door suddenly burst open without warning.
“Craig!”
“Godmother.”
Only one person in this estate could act so rudely.
Cordelia immediately stood and offered a polite curtsy toward Helena.
Naturally, Helena ignored her entirely and marched straight up to Craig.
“So you can stand and move around now?”
“…”
“Oh, Craig. Seeing you alive and moving like this—I’m so, sniff, so relieved. Do you know how worried I was?”
Helena forced out some tears. She reached out to hug her son, but Leonard subtly dodged her.
Before the atmosphere could grow any more awkward, Cordelia quickly stepped in between them.
“He’s gotten so much better. He’s even moving around quite well now.”
“Craig, do you remember me at all?”
“Hmph.”
He tilted his chin in an arrogant, disrespectful way—but surprisingly, Helena seemed delighted by it.
“Oh my. Even if you can’t remember the past, your personality is just the same. I’m sure your memory will return soon.”
Thanks to his uncooperative attitude, her suspicions were lessened.
Really, how many people would actually believe that another soul had taken over a man’s body just because he came back from the brink of death?
“You’ll be able to handle it when Jared comes, right? Hm? I believe in you, Craig.”
“Jared?”
“Oh, he’s your cousin. Jared Abrams.”
“One of those jackals who came running at the scent of blood.”
Helena cut off Cordelia’s explanation and chimed in quickly, wiping away her fake tears as she spoke.
“Craig, you can’t let Jared take your title as Count.”
“Uh… sure.”
“You have to get back on your feet and show him you’re still strong. That’s the only way I’ll be at peace.”
And so, Helena unleashed an endless stream of nagging disguised as concern.
Leonard, of course, didn’t even pretend to listen.
“I’m tired.”
He had been wearing a disinterested expression the whole time, and when her monologue went on too long, he finally spoke.
“Oh dear. Cordelia, what are you doing? Let Craig rest.”
“Yes, of course.”
As if she’d forgotten that she was the one monopolizing him, Helena naturally blamed Cordelia.
Cordelia helped Leonard back into bed.
“Then rest well.”
Helena looked Leonard over from head to toe, quite satisfied, and finally left the room.
The moment the door closed, Leonard grimaced.
“Was I close with her before?”
“No. You weren’t on good terms at all, even in the past. But ever since the previous Count died suddenly, she has no one else to lean on, so she’s acting all affectionate now.”
“Figures.”
He glared at the door Helena had just exited through with eyes full of contempt. Cordelia laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
“Anyway, your body’s really recovering fast. I heard you even went out to the garden alone yesterday?”
“Yeah, but I had to come back in less than an hour.”
“The physician said even being able to stand on your own was a miracle.”
“A miracle? I guess you could call it that. A living soul inhabiting a dead body, moving around without rotting.”
Leonard replied bluntly. The phrase “dead body” made Cordelia stare at him closely.
“Wait… Are you saying Craig was completely dead?”
“This body? Yeah. The soul had already left it. That’s why I could enter it.”
“Oh… really.”
“Really?”
“That’s a relief.”
The unexpected words tumbled from her mouth. Cordelia smiled with genuine relief.
“I was scared that if the Lord returned to his original body, he might regain his old mind again.”
“…”
“I feel reassured knowing he’s really dead.”
Leonard stared at her profile, eyes persistent.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Cold-blooded.”
“Oh come on, what do you mean? You’re the cold-blooded one, not me.”
Cordelia smiled innocently like a child. Leonard let out a scoffing laugh, almost incredulous.
“You’re more warm-blooded than someone who said it’s a relief her husband is dead?”
“Excuse me, but I’m not the one who turned away a poor grieving wife crying and begging for even a scrap of magic help. That’s the one who has no heart.”
“No heart? Ha! Do you think magic is some child’s toy? That I should just hand it out to anyone who begs?”
“But you said I have talent. Isn’t it a waste not to nurture it? I could end up making history in magical studies!”
“Say that in public and people will think you’re some kind of prodigy. Look—being able to see magical energy and being able to use it are completely different things.”
“Still, it does give me an edge in learning magic compared to others.”
She wasn’t wrong. If he had met her when she was five, Leonard would’ve taken her in as his disciple without hesitation.
“You’re too old to learn magic. You have to start before ten years old to expect any meaningful achievement.”
“I’m not trying to become some great magician! I just want to be good enough that people can call me ‘mage teacher’ or something. Isn’t that fine?”
“No way. Not under me. If you’re going to be my disciple, you should at least be able to earn a star! Don’t waste my name with such mediocrity.”
“A star? What star?”
“…Forget it. Why am I even arguing with someone who doesn’t know what a star is? Get out. I’m tired.”
Leonard, who had unconsciously raised his voice, paused when he saw his reflection in the window.
A bitter laugh slipped out. The reality of his pitiful fall hit him. Had he been himself, he’d never even entertain such ridiculous arguments with her.
“Already? I just got here… Fine. I won’t mention magic again. Not even the ‘ma’ of magic.”
“I said get out. Why don’t you understand plain words?”
Despite his cold tone, Cordelia held her ground. She forced a smile and changed the subject again—and luckily, he didn’t push her out any further.
“By the way, did you hear? Lily’s coming soon.”
“Who?”
“Craig’s half-sister. Helena’s real daughter. She’s now married into the Count of Dahlia’s family—Countess Dahlia. And she’s really fond of you.”
“Wow. Good to know. I’ll give her a hug when I see her.”
Leonard replied with dry sarcasm. Cordelia giggled behind her hand.
“And she hates me. Possibly more than anyone else in the world.”
“Why? Did you lure her in and stab her with a knife too?”
“‘Too?’”
He tapped his belly. Only then did Cordelia realize his younger brother had stabbed him.
“Wow… No, I’ve never done anything that extreme. But she hates me like I did. Kinda unfair, really. I never stabbed anyone.”
“So what did you do?”
“Nothing. Honestly, she just hates me for being Craig’s wife.”
Cordelia shrugged. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Lily had made her life hellish—enough to test even her patient nature.
“By the way, why did your younger brother try to kill you? To take your title?”
“Who knows? I’ll have to ask him if I ever see him again.”
Leonard’s voice suddenly dropped. At first, he had only felt hatred toward Maximilian. But as time passed, other questions emerged.
Why had Maximilian made such a drastic choice? Why would he kill the brother who shared his blood?
“But the Council isn’t stupid. If it’s clear it was murder, they wouldn’t allow him to inherit the title, right?”
“Even if they reject him, they can’t leave the position vacant forever.”
“Couldn’t they appoint another heir?”
“There isn’t one. And even if there were, Maximilian wouldn’t leave them alone.”
“True. A family as prominent as Atillais can’t leave the seat empty for long. In the end, time is on his side.”
“Exactly. That’s why I have to take it back. My title.”
He clenched his fist with a determined tone. Cordelia, seated in a chair beside his bed, nodded solemnly.
“It’s really unfortunate. I wish I could be of help. Like, say, helping you as your disciple…”
“What?”
“Well, I can see magical energy, right? Who knows—if an assassin attacks with magic, maybe I’ll throw myself in the way and save your life!”
He didn’t even know where to begin criticizing that.
They had just been having such a serious conversation—and now she was trying to sneak in another attempt to become his disciple. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey! You’re smiling. You are smiling, right?”
“Shut up.”
“Are you laughing because the idea of having a reliable disciple is comforting?”
“Be quiet already.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to have one trustworthy disciple?”
Later…
“Roti. What should I do?”
Cordelia crouched in a corner of the stables. In front of her, a scruffy, shabby-looking gray dog was gobbling down some meat.
“How can I make that man take my side—or not even that. I’d be happy if he just taught me a few scraps of magic.”
The dog had finished the meat and was now sniffing the hay, clearly disappointed.
“All done already? I should’ve brought more.”
She reached out to pat the dog’s back, but it flinched and backed away. Cordelia pouted in disappointment.
“We’ve known each other over a year now, and you still won’t let me touch your head?”
She had even named him and fed him regularly, but the dog still hadn’t opened up to her.
“That’s okay. Just stay healthy and live a long life.”
Her first “Roti” had died after sustaining wounds during a fox hunt with her father.
Her father had scolded the dog for being weak, never once trying to treat it.
Young Cordelia had stayed by its side day and night trying to save it, but in the end, it passed away cold and still.
The second Roti shared nothing with the first but his gray fur—yet she found herself drawn to him.
“Wait here a second. I’ll go get some more meat.”
Grrr.
Just then, as Roti sniffed around for scraps, he suddenly growled lowly at thin air.
“What’s wrong?”
“Greetings.”
“Eek!”
A human voice echoed through the empty stables. Cordelia spun around in shock.
But no matter how hard she looked, there was no one in sight.
“Ah. Over here, Countess.”
“Over where?”
Floating above a water-filled trough was a palm-sized, whitish creature, waving its tiny hand enthusiastically