Chapter 12
Before she knew it, a week had flown by. During that time, Diana had ceaselessly practiced mana emission. Thanks to her innate talent, she soon became capable of manifesting small ice crystals.
Is this enough?
Diana gazed with satisfaction at the beautiful ice crystals floating above her palm.
But the reason she had been looking forward to this day wasn’t the completion of these crystals—it was something else entirely.
Catherine, who had stubbornly insisted on learning magic despite having no talent for it.
Diana was intensely curious about what method Catherine and Alicia would use to manifest magic.
No matter what they had prepared, one thing was certain—it was going to be highly entertaining.
How are those two so alike? Watching Catherine was like seeing Alicia’s childhood all over again.
Despite being the daughter of a mere baron, supported by Diana’s own household, Catherine mimicked her in every way possible. If Diana received a jewel from her father, Catherine would starve herself to buy one from the same brand. If Diana bought a dress, Catherine would scrape together every coin to purchase a similar design.
Back then, Diana had dismissed it as a sign of friendship. Because we’re close, because we’re friends—maybe that’s why she wants to imitate me.
But looking back now, it wasn’t affection at all. It was nothing but filthy jealousy and sheer stubbornness.
The corner of Diana’s lips curled slightly. A scornful laugh slipped through her red lips.
Then, suddenly, she thought of her own daughter—the one who had vanished without a trace, as if she had never existed.
Would that child have resembled me?
She had sworn to herself never to cry again, to stay strong. But every time she thought of her child, that resolve crumbled to dust.
A cold tear slid down her frozen expression. Though she didn’t even know her daughter’s face or name, Diana was still a mother.
The mere thought of her child suffering somewhere, the memory of those tiny, withered hands—it made her chest ache as if it would tear apart.
And the ones who had caused this pain—they had to suffer the same agony.
Calypso. Alicia. Catherine.
Diana clenched her fists, her emerald eyes flashing with icy fury.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. A glance at the clock told her it was time for Catherine’s arrival.
“Mother, it’s me. Catherine.”
Sure enough, Catherine’s voice rang out. After being forced to read for hours every day for a week, her once-clear voice had already grown hoarse. She must have truly fallen for Prince Sawyer’s charms.
Diana quickly wiped her eyes and answered in a gentle tone.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
With permission granted, Catherine stepped inside with graceful, light footsteps.
“Today, we’ll go over these books.”
Though they were the same books she had read over and over all week—almost to the point of memorization—Diana wanted to hear them again in that rough voice.
A clear, canary-like voice didn’t suit Catherine, whose heart was uglier than anyone else’s.
“Yes, Mother.”
Obediently, Catherine began reading.
And so, the tedious reading session dragged on. The magical clock’s hands raced toward eleven, and as soon as the hour struck, a clear chime echoed through the room.
Diana stretched and spoke in a kind tone.
“Well, let’s head down now. It’s almost time for the teacher to arrive. How about we have lunch first?”
“…Mother.”
“Hmm?”
Aisel still wasn’t ready to manifest magic in her stead. Catherine’s face was visibly tense as she asked,
“Can we start next week instead? I’m a little tired.”
So, they haven’t found a solution yet. Diana studied Catherine’s face before suddenly breaking into a relaxed smile.
“Alright, I understand.”
Catherine stared at Diana for a long moment before finally turning and leaving for her room. Diana sneered at her retreating figure, then cleared the books from the table.
Ever since her regression, she had never once gone down to the dining hall for meals—she couldn’t stand the sight of their disgusting faces any longer than necessary.
Just then, Milan’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Your Grace, I’ve brought your meal.”
“Thank you, Milan.”
Milan entered, pushing a trolley laden with warm dishes. After setting the tableware and food, she bowed and left.
Diana was about to pick up her fork when a faint tap-tap sound came from the window.
“Huh…?”
Outside, she caught a glimpse of fiery red hair fluttering like scattered embers in the wind.
The one knocking on the window was none other than Rueri.
“It’s me, Noona! Open up!”
The moment she heard his voice, Diana unlatched the window and swung it open.
“It’s not time yet…”
“Yeah. I came a little early. Didn’t want those pests interfering again.”
He grinned, his white teeth flashing mischievously.
“Last time, I couldn’t even teach you properly because of them.”
“Thank you, Rueri. But…”
“Hmm?”
“Have you eaten lunch yet?”
Come to think of it, he hadn’t. He tilted his head back and forth before shaking it firmly.
“Let’s eat together. Here, sit.”
She had wanted to talk with him leisurely at least once. Diana fumbled exaggeratedly as she pulled out a chair.
“Huh? I came to give you extra lessons, though.”
“I’ve been wanting to have a meal with you at least once. There’s so much I’m curious about.”
“Oh? Really?”
At that, Rueri’s expression brightened in a strangely pleased way. He pressed down his rising smirk and took a seat.
“The food’s just been served, so it should still be warm.”
“…Yeah.”
Rueri stared intently at Diana. His gaze was oddly wistful—as if he had finally reunited with someone long lost.
Feeling awkward, Diana averted her eyes to the food. Rueri really had a way of making people feel like they were being mistaken for someone else.
“Shall we eat?”
“Yeah. Looks delicious.”
Given that he was a mage of the Magic Tower, unbound by status or decorum, Diana expected him to eat boisterously. But surprisingly, his table manners were impeccable—almost unnervingly so. It was as if he were dining at a royal banquet, not a single clink of silverware out of place.
“Are you eating?”
Even though she had just witnessed his flawless etiquette, Diana pretended not to notice.
“Huh?”
“I don’t hear a single sound.”
“Ah, I learned it late.”
“Late?”
Diana tilted her head in question. A shadow flickered across Rueri’s face.
“I grew up in an orphanage.”
“An… orphanage?”
“Yeah. I found my parents eventually, though.”
Realizing she might have touched a sore spot, Diana forced an exaggerated response.
“But finding them is what matters! That’s wonderful!”
“Right. As long as I found them. And honestly, my time at the orphanage wasn’t so bad. Thanks to someone.”
“Someone?”
“Yeah.”
The moment he answered, Rueri fixed his gaze on his food and quietly resumed eating.
Diana couldn’t bring herself to ask more. The look on his face as he said “it wasn’t so bad” was unbearably sad.
Had it actually been painful for him? Diana fell silent, stirring her now-cooling soup.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
After a week of relentless practice, Aisel had barely managed to succeed in emitting mana. Though all she could produce was a tiny shard of ice, it was enough.
Alicia smiled in satisfaction.
“Alright, let’s do one last practice run.”
Catherine squeezed her eyes shut as if summoning mana, then suddenly snapped them open and thrust out her palm.
At that moment, Aisel released her mana above Catherine’s hand.
A small piece of ice clattered down.
“It worked!”
Alicia cheered, clapping as if Catherine had genuinely succeeded.
“This should be more than enough!”
Catherine, too, beamed as she looked at Alicia.
Diana’s so-called “teacher” didn’t seem all that impressive, and since this was real magic, there was no risk of getting caught.
“It’s almost time. I’ll come with you.”
“Yes, Mo— I mean, Doctor.”
Catherine, who had nearly called her Mother out of habit, quickly corrected herself after glancing at Aisel.
“Aisel. Stay focused. Understood?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Her shoulders were slightly hunched with tension. Catherine shot Aisel an uneasy glare before descending to the garden with Alicia.
In the garden, Diana and Rueri—who had already finished lunch—were waiting.
“Hey there, little lady. And you are…?”
Rueri’s gaze lazily drifted toward Catherine and Alicia.
But unlike when he looked at Diana, his eyes were icy cold—the same way Diana herself looked at them.
What’s his problem? He’s only met me three times. Does he know something? It was almost as if he knew her past.
“Hello. I heard Her Ladyship was learning magic, so I came to watch. Is that alright, Your Grace?”
Alicia smiled brightly, her tone friendly. Diana raised a brow but nodded graciously.
“Of course. You’re my dearest friend, Allie. Watch to your heart’s content.”
Go ahead and smile now. Let’s see what you’ve prepared.
Diana gave Rueri a subtle nod. He clapped his hands together and spoke.
“Alright, let’s start with a quick test for this young lady first.”
“Okay.”
Catherine gulped at Rueri’s words. She glanced toward her room, where Aisel was undoubtedly watching from behind the curtains.
“We’ll begin with mana emission. If you have mana, you should feel it circulating in your body. Do you feel it, young lady?”
“Yes.”
Catherine answered confidently.
“Oh?”
Rueri smirked, as if he already knew something. He continued slowly.
“Then, try drawing that mana to your palm. It’ll obviously be ice-attribute.”
I can do this. No need to panic. That lowborn will use magic for me.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Catherine tightly shut her eyes. She wore a serious expression, as if genuinely feeling mana flow through her.
Then—she snapped her eyes open and flung her palm outward.
If all went as planned, a small piece of ice should have formed.
But her hand remained empty.
Alicia and Catherine’s eyes met in midair, wide with disbelief.
How utterly pathetic.
Amid their stunned expressions, Diana was the only one smiling.
