“...What?”
With his arms folded across his chest, Elvadin looked at Noah as though he were hopelessly ridiculous. Unfazed, Noah continued speaking.
“Golden hair and golden eyes—the traits only members of the imperial family possess! And isn’t it said that the Empress has been hunting down and killing every woman favored by the Emperor? There’s a chance an illegitimate child was born somewhere in the middle of all that!”
Riat immediately chimed in from the side.
“So you mean someone may have cast a spell to hide the child’s hair and eye color—the characteristics of the imperial bloodline?”
“Exactly!”
As expected of Riat! Smart as ever!
Giving him a thumbs-up, Noah praised him before continuing.
“To protect the child born to a woman he cherished, wouldn’t that make perfect sense?”
“Hm, it does sound plausible.”
Riat nodded thoughtfully.
At that, Elvadin, who had been silently listening the entire time, leaned against the window frame and pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose.
“Refrain from saying such pointless things. If one of the Empress’s aides heard you, they’d probably come to drag the child away.”
Noah snorted.
“Grand Duke, ninety percent of what I say is pointless. If you tell me not to say things like that, you might as well sew my mouth shut.”
“Noah.”
Elvadin called his name again, a faint warning woven into his voice.
Only then did Noah shrug.
“Fine, fine. But still.”
Leaning lazily against the armrest of the sofa, he tilted his head.
“That little kid has incredibly pure mana. And the amount of mana she possesses is astonishing for someone her age.”
A child with such talent, and a concealment spell cast over her?
“She’s definitely not an ordinary child, right?”
“We’re still investigating that matter. We’ll uncover something sooner or later. Until then, focus on her training.”
“I intend to.”
A grin spread across Noah’s face.
“A child with mana like that is rare.”
He flopped backward onto the sofa, crossing his arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling.
“Heh...”
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
“If she receives proper guidance, there won’t be a single mage capable of matching her after her coming-of-age ceremony.”
Now this is exciting.
The corners of Noah’s lips curled upward mischievously.
Beside him, Riat carefully asked,
“...Is she really that exceptional?”
Noah nodded.
“Yep. At this rate, even the old man at the Magic Tower might have to start worrying.”
At Noah’s words, a faint crease appeared between Elvadin’s brows.
“That sounds more like someone who’s destined for mana rampage.”
“Hmmm.”
Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Well, that’s true. The odds are pretty high.”
“......”
“......”
The moment mana rampage entered the conversation, the atmosphere in the office darkened.
With a sigh, Noah suddenly sprang to his feet.
“I shouldn’t be sitting around here.”
He walked over to the robe hanging on the wall, took it down, and draped it over himself before turning back toward Elvadin.
“Anyway, I’ll do my best to teach her. Who knows? Maybe I’ve finally found the disciple I’ve been searching for all this time.”
As he headed toward the door, he raised a hand and waved casually.
“I’m off, Grand Duke. See you later, Riat.”
“Travel safely.”
“Mm.”
Kicking the door open, Noah strode out of the office with his usual energetic pace.
Feeling a flicker of fatigue, Elvadin rubbed the space between his brows before turning his gaze back toward the window.
Just then, he spotted Serdian heading toward the eastern annex.
Looks like he stopped by the training grounds first.
The cold northern wind tousled Serdian’s black hair.
Not every descendant of the Emperor is born with golden hair, Noah.
And so, Elvadin continued watching the child’s retreating figure until he disappeared from sight.
Returning to her bedroom with May, Lucilea sat quietly on the sofa, staring out the window.
Her head and eyes were directed toward the scenery outside, but her focus drifted somewhere far beyond it.
After everything that had happened in Elvadin’s office, she found herself thinking constantly about the spell placed upon her.
Who cast that spell on me?
The question had followed her ever since she left Mille Village.
Who?
Why?
For what purpose?
Was it really my mother, just as I suspect?
There was no answer key to this puzzle.
It simply seemed the most likely possibility.
If that’s true... then Mother might have been a mage.
Elvadin possessed aura, not mana, meaning there was no connection between his abilities and her own.
Which implied that her biological mother had been the one with magical power.
But that, too, was merely speculation.
Seriously... I don’t know anything for certain.
It was frustrating.
She knew the original story.
She knew the protagonists’ journeys.
She knew many of the events that would unfold in the future.
But when it comes to myself... I know absolutely nothing.
And it wasn’t as though she could simply walk up to Elvadin and ask.
The only option was to gather scattered clues and fit them together piece by piece, like assembling a puzzle.
It’s fine.
I’ll figure it out little by little while living at the Grand Duke’s estate.
There was no need to rush.
After all, she had only just arrived.
At least it’s a relief that no one can remove the spell on me.
For now, her identity would remain hidden.
Perhaps because that thought eased her worries—
“Yaaawn—!”
Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, Lucilea let out a huge yawn.
The sunlight tinged with sunset colors felt especially warm, and the sofa supporting her back and hips was unbelievably comfortable.
Maybe it was because she now had a child’s body.
Whenever she spent too much time thinking or worrying, sleepiness inevitably crept over her.
Immediately, May hurried over.
“You’re tired, aren’t you? Would you like to take a nap?”
Rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of her hand, Lucilea shook her head.
“Mmm... no. If I sleep now, I won’t be able to fall asleep tonight.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
May smiled.
“Then would you like to take a walk instead? The sunset from the Glass Garden is absolutely beautiful.”
She gestured toward the evening sky outside.
“Hm...”
After a brief moment of consideration, Lucilea shook her head again.
“But, May.”
“Yes, Lady Lucilea?”
Leaning back against the sofa, Lucilea spoke casually.
“I’m starting lessons tomorrow.”
A gentle smile curved May’s lips.
“Yes. Lord Noah already informed me.”
“So soon?”
Lucilea’s eyes widened.
May nodded.
“We spoke briefly before entering the office.”
“Ah.”
That explained it.
Lucilea slowly nodded in understanding.
Then May leaned forward slightly.
“What did you think of him? He’ll be your teacher from now on, after all.”
“He was weird.”
“Huh?”
There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation in her answer.
“He talks casually to His Grace the Grand Duke. He complains, gets irritated, and grumbles all the time. Is that really allowed? Isn’t he just a mage employed by the Grand Duke’s household?”
With her arms crossed and legs swinging slightly, Lucilea frowned.
May laughed softly.
“Well, he’s a mage of the Magic Tower.”
That answer only made Lucilea more confused.
“Mages from the Magic Tower can do that?”
“Most mages belong to the Magic Tower. It’s like how we belong to the Seraphium Empire as its citizens.”
“Oh.”
Lucilea’s eyes brightened.
“So it’s basically like another country?”
She raised her fingers above her head, forming the shape of a crown.
“Then Teacher Noah is kind of like a prince from the Kingdom of Magic?”
“Exactly!”
May’s face lit up.
“My goodness, how can you be this clever?”
“Hahaha...”
Lucilea blinked rapidly and laughed awkwardly.
May gently smoothed the tangled strands of hair behind Lucilea’s shoulder.
“Lord Noah is staying at the Grand Duke’s estate because he’s searching for a disciple. And honestly, isn’t this estate the perfect place to find one?”
That was true.
Many talented children chosen by the elite corps passed through here.
Lucilea nodded in understanding.
“So he’s not a bad person?”
“No. If anything...”
“If anything, what?”
“Hmmm.”
After a moment’s thought, May tapped a finger against her chin and tilted her head.
“He’s kind of an idiot.”
“...Huh?”
An... idiot?
Lucilea stared blankly.
May immediately placed a finger against her lips.
“Shhh!”
Then she flashed a bright, innocent smile.
“That’s our little secret, alright?”