Chapter 47
“Riel, or should I say Lu… nice to meet you. But… how did you end up here at the Duke’s estate by Ruery’s recommendation?”
Diana squinted her eyes and asked him. Ruery, wearing his usual mischievous smile, answered smoothly.
“I was looking for a job… and the great Lord Ruery here highly recommended this place, where the saint of Perechete resides.”
Claiming himself to be “great”—that was so typical of Ruery. Diana held back a laugh and cleared her throat.
“Ahem, well then, I look forward to working with you, Lu, no, Riel, teacher. Everyone, please greet him.”
Catherine gave Riel a quick once-over, her eyes scanning him up and down. Even though he was a mage, could someone like him really come to the Duke’s estate looking like that? It was almost insulting.
But she couldn’t let that show on her face. After all, she needed to impress the teacher and earn more favor than Icel.
She hid the trembling corners of her lips and stepped forward first.
“Hello, I am Catherine of the House of Ernest.”
“Hello, Teacher. I am Icel of the House of Ernest.”
Icel, who had been looking at Catherine with a look of disdain, introduced herself lightly, never forgetting to flash a sly smile. She was just as intent on impressing the teacher and humiliating Catherine.
But Riel’s reaction was rather strange.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at Icel. No, it wasn’t just a stare—it seemed as though he was carefully observing every detail of her.
Particularly her hair and eye color.
He stared at her for a long while, then finally looked away. A strange, almost relieved smile appeared on his face as he turned to look at Catherine and Icel.
“It’s nice to meet you all. Well then, let’s start with a simple test. I’ll see what kind of magic power you have. Who would like to go first?”
Icel and Catherine exchanged glances. Catherine stepped back, as if to let Icel go first.
Is she yielding? Icel thought, a little suspicious, but she couldn’t read Catherine’s intentions until her plan was revealed.
Icel stepped forward and immediately began to release her magic. She had already learned basic magic at the Duke’s estate.
A blue aura surrounded Icel’s body. The mana swirled around her, forming ice fragments that glistened like jewels, but as sharp as blades.
In an instant, she felt like cutting the throats of Alicia and Catherine, who were staring at her uneasily.
But if she wanted to do that, her mother would have already handled it.
They needed to suffer more. If she killed them now, death would be an easy escape for them.
Icel stopped. The ice shards instantly melted and disappeared.
Riel blinked rapidly. Diana’s daughter had far more talent than he’d expected. Perhaps even more than his own.
“Impressive.”
“Icel, when did you…”
Diana was also surprised, her mouth falling open.
Since returning from the cabin, Icel had been practicing magic release every night, afraid that her weakness would prevent her from protecting herself and her mother again. Thanks to that, Icel had made tremendous progress in just a few days.
“It’s still not perfect.”
Icel slightly lowered her head, humbly. But she already knew the vast talent her mother had passed down to her.
That knowledge filled her with even more confidence. It was clear that Catherine would not be able to perform any magic at all.
“At this level, you should have no trouble qualifying as a junior mage.”
Compliments were always pleasant to hear. With Riel’s praise, Icel smiled widely.
“Oh, really? Mother, did you hear that?”
“Yes, I heard. I’m so proud of you, Icel.”
Diana walked up to Icel and gently patted her head. She was genuinely proud of her daughter. Even though she was just budding, seeing her progress this far was enough to make Diana feel good about her potential.
Did you see that, Alicia? My daughter is on a completely different level.
Diana glanced toward Alicia. She couldn’t hide her nervousness, biting her nails. Diana shifted her gaze to Catherine. Naturally, she thought she’d see her looking defeated.
But Catherine had a confident smile, just like Icel’s.
What’s that expression? Diana wondered, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Catherine.
For a moment, Diana and Catherine’s eyes met. Catherine smiled smugly, as if to say she had something to show as well.
Diana’s brow furrowed. What was she planning? It was hard to predict.
“Well then, shall we check this young lady’s skills? Catherine, was it?”
From the previous test, Riel already knew that Catherine had no magical power.
She had no magic, yet she had come forward for the lesson. That kind of courage deserved some praise.
“Yes, Teacher.”
But Catherine answered confidently and stepped forward, closing her eyes as if focusing on something.
No way her magic will appear now… Icel thought, chuckling to herself as she watched her final attempt.
But then something strange happened.
“Huh?”
Mana light started to flare around Catherine’s body. It was even stronger and deeper blue than the one Icel had released.
The lights scattered around her, and in an instant, sharp ice fragments appeared.
It looked just like the magic Icel had used, but the difference was that Catherine’s ice was much larger. And while Icel’s ice was clear and bright blue, Catherine’s was dark and cloudy.
What’s going on? Diana frowned. A few days ago, Catherine had no magic. There was no way Riel had made a mistake. What could have happened in just a few days?
Alicia was just as shocked. Catherine had never said anything about this. A triumphant smile quickly spread across her face.
Look, Diana. My daughter has created something bigger than yours!
For the first time since their return to the Duke’s estate, this was the moment Catherine finally surpassed Icel.
Diana quickly turned to look at Riel. His face was contorted as if he had seen something unpleasant.
“Mother, did you see? I did it!”
Catherine ran to Diana just like Icel had done before. Her eyes shone with excitement, wanting praise.
“…I see. Amazing. But how? Just the other day…”
“I must have been too nervous last time.”
Catherine answered nonchalantly as she shrugged her shoulders in response to Diana’s questioning.
“What do you think of my magic, Teacher?”
Catherine asked Riel. Riel had a serious face for a moment, but then quickly relaxed.
“That’s an amazing display of power.”
“I’m curious about how good I really am, Teacher.”
The size of the ice fragments Catherine had created was clearly larger than Icel’s. She wanted to hear Riel say that she was better than Icel.
Riel stared at her just like he had done with Icel.
“Teacher?”
She was desperate for praise. Catherine urged him once more, her eyes glinting. Diana and Icel both turned their heads toward Riel.
But Riel didn’t seem to want to give her the answer she was hoping for. Instead, he gave her a slight smile, with no trace of humor in it.
After the lesson ended, Catherine, Icel, and Alicia each dispersed to their rooms. Only then did Diana find herself alone with Riel.
Under the pretense of wanting to talk more with the teacher who was teaching the children, she led him to her room.
The quick-witted Shane entered and set up tea on the table.
“Thank you, Shane.”
After Shane left, Diana closed the door and turned around. Her expression had become quite serious.
“So, what exactly happened?”
Riel lightly brushed his face with his large palm. His short brown hair changed into long, red locks, revealing his true face.
“Riel.”
He answered with the same mischievous smile.
“I knew you would recognize me, sister.”
“Well, you did wink quite blatantly…”
“My winks aren’t for just anyone. You can only receive them because you’re my sister.”
Riel said this as he plopped down on the sofa. Diana couldn’t help but smile as she sat across from him.
“More importantly… Why is Riel here? And—”
“You’re asking how Catherine, that lady, could use magic, right?”
Diana silently nodded, impressed by his quick perception.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Riel took a sip from the steaming tea cup and savored it. Then, he slowly spoke again.
“The answer to your first question is that I had something to check.”
“Something to check?”
“You mentioned adopting a child.”
“Yes.”
“I wanted to see that child properly.”
Of course, last time, Icel had been unconscious, so it was hard to get a clear look at her. But why was Riel so concerned with Icel? Diana looked at him with a suspicious gaze.
“Why… Riel?”
“Why, you ask?”
Riel responded as if perplexed by her question.
“Well, naturally, I’m worried about you, sister.”
“…What?”
Diana couldn’t hide her surprise and asked, her heart racing again.
Riel’s words sounded as though he actually cared for her.
He had been like this from the start. He had said things like he liked her style right away, and helped her without any conditions.
This, too, was just typical Riel behavior.
But why was her heart pounding now?
She had always been the one to sacrifice herself for others. But Riel was offering his help solely for her. Whether it was concern or interest, she wasn’t sure what kind of emotion it was. But one thing was clear—Diana was his priority.
Why…?
“I was worried you might have adopted a strange child. But luckily, she seems like a good one.”
“But Riel, you’re the Grand Mage of the Tower.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Aren’t you busy?”
Diana, trying to calm her racing heart, focused her attention on the innocent tea cup.
“Of course I’m busy.”
“But you came all the way here just to see the child you adopted…”
“But to me, you are more important.”
The playful glint in Riel’s eyes vanished. Sometimes, he looked at Diana with that faraway, wistful expression.
Even though there were so many questions surrounding him, when he looked at her with that gaze, Diana could think of nothing else. It was as if her mind went completely blank.
Her temples began to throb again, a familiar ache.
