GDOSL 12

Chapter 12

It was the back mountain she arrived at after flying for ten minutes.

The view of the sea from the cliff of the mountain was even better than she had imagined.

“This should be a good spot.”

Meia sat down in front of the cliff.

“It’s sparkling and beautiful. I’m really glad I came to see the sea.”

The sea she had only ever seen in paintings was mysterious and beautiful.

The refreshing air and the crisp, salty scent of the ocean.

Everything she was seeing and experiencing for the first time pleased her greatly.

Meia took a deep breath in.

“Hoo…”

After breathing deeply for a while, Meia carefully took out a picture frame from her magic bag.

The picture in the frame was a portrait of her parents.

With a longing expression, Meia gently wiped the frame once.

Holding the portrait to her chest so that her parents in the picture could see the sea instead of her, she turned toward the ocean.

“Father, Mother. It’s the sea.”

After her coming-of-age ceremony, once her political marriage was decided, she had promised to go on a trip to the sea with her parents.

“I really wanted to come here with you, Mother and Father. Mm…”

She had resolved to accept the farewell that meant she would never see her parents again, but the thought that she truly could no longer see them filled her with a dreadful longing, making her feel as if she were wandering alone in a maze.

Trapped in a complicated maze, with no answers and no idea which direction to go.

If she missed them too much, would she be able to see them at least in her dreams?

Her happy memories, her lingering disappointments—various recollections mixed together inside her heart, leaving it in complete disarray.

Even so, within that chaos, there was one thing she could feel clearly.

“I miss you, Mother, Father.”

‘I was trying not to cry.’

But tears kept falling.

“Hic…”

She had been trained to cry only when alone, and to always smile in front of others.

Since she was alone now, it was only natural that she couldn’t control her tears.

Thinking that way made her feel a little more at ease.

And yet, more tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect the position of fiancée you left for me. But… even if I become Empress, you wouldn’t be by my side to be happy for me. So rather than feeling like I had to protect it, I wanted to give up. I’m sorry.”

Meia gazed at the sea for a long time, feeling the wind brushing against her face.

Holding the frame tightly in her arms, she quietly shed tears.

Only the wind that passed by Meia wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks.

—

For a while, Meia held the frame tightly and cried as she stared out at the sea.

As she wiped away her tears and touched around her eyes, she could feel that they had become swollen.

“I should’ve learned some healing magic.”

Being alone made her realize that she had been avoiding the fact that she was grieving and longing for her deceased parents.

After carefully wiping the frame, Meia put it back into her bag, stood up, and brushed herself off.

“I should go back to the room and slowly enjoy the view of the sea.”

Leaving behind a bit of regret, she cast the ‘Fly’ spell and flew toward the window of the top-floor suite where she was staying.

“Huh?”

She tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge.

“No way?”

Even when she grabbed it again and tried to open it, it didn’t move at all.

“What? It won’t open.”

It seemed the servants had locked the window while cleaning.

“I guess I’ll have to go down like this. I should’ve left a note telling them not to lock it.”

With no other choice, Meia began descending to land on the ground.

And then—

The hotel window she was passing by suddenly swung open, and a familiar voice reached her ears.

“We meet again by coincidence.”

Theodore, whom she had met the night before, leaned out the window as he spoke.

Perhaps he had just woken up late—his hair was messy—but his appearance was still dazzlingly handsome.

“I know, right? The window suddenly opened, so it startled me.”

“My apologies if I startled you. I only opened the window, but seeing a mage there surprised me as well.”

Who would have thought? She never imagined they would run into each other like this.

“Where are you coming from, Mage?”

“Yes, I was just coming back from seeing the sea.”

After answering, Meia realized her mistake.

By saying she was coming back, it was practically the same as revealing that she was staying at this hotel.

Smiling brightly like a sunflower, Theodore spoke.

“Since we’ve run into each other by chance, would you tell me your name and join me for a meal, Mage?”

“Last time, you said it would be coffee, not a meal.”

“Then how about lunch and tea afterward? Mage, I ask of you.”

“Alright. I was about to eat anyway…”

At Meia’s consent, Theodore’s face flushed red, and he nodded vigorously, unable to hide his excitement as he opened the window wider.

Through the wide-open window, Theodore’s fair, smooth skin filled Meia’s view.

His broad shoulders and chest, well-defined muscles, and toned abdomen were all visible.

Meia covered her eyes and turned her head away.

It was her first time seeing a man’s body in real life, and she felt extremely flustered and embarrassed.

Of course, she had received basic education, but seeing the firm muscles of a man’s arms and chest up close like this was a first.

“Mage? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Then shall we meet on the first floor? Or shall I come escort you?”

“I’ll see you on the first floor.”

“Yes! Mage.”

—

After going down to the first floor, Meia followed a guide and went back up to the VVIP room.

She also repeatedly instructed the servants not to close the window.

From her magic bag, she took out a light beige dress and simple accessories.

After giving appropriate tips to the maids, she was helped with her grooming and changed into the dress.

When she went down to the first floor, Theodore was already waiting for her.

“Mage!”

Theodore approached Meia in an instant, wearing a flushed smile.

Meia lightly held her dress, bowed her waist, and greeted him with the refined etiquette only noble ladies could perform.

Receiving her restrained and elegant greeting, Theodore also properly followed etiquette and bowed to her.

Seeing this, Aeton widened his eyes and looked at Meia.

From the way she greeted him with etiquette only noble ladies could perform, he realized she was no ordinary mage.

“Your etiquette is excellent.”

“Yours is as well, Mage. This is my aide, Aeton.”

Standing beside Theodore with a surprised expression, Aeton inwardly admired Meia’s refined greeting and politely greeted her in return.

“Hello. I am Aeton of the Ricoton family of the Sirius Empire.”

“Shall we move to another seat, Mage?”

Theodore extended his hand, and Meia lightly placed hers on it in response.

“Let’s.”

Theodore, Aeton, and Meia were guided by a servant into a private room.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I ordered everything for now.”

“I’m not picky.”

“Um, Mage, may I know your name?”

Meia thought for a moment.

Even if it was another empire, the noble world could be both small and wide.

She had considered giving a false name, but since one never knew how connections between people might turn out, she decided to reveal her real family and name.

“I am Meia of the Hatzbellua ducal house of the Carpen Empire.”

Aeton was startled by her introduction.

“The Hatzbellua ducal family?!”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a knock, and delicious dishes began to be set on the table.

“Grand Duke Theodore, I’ve eaten and told you my name.”

“Would you also tell me where you’re headed?”

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t given up on trying to scout me to the Florence Grand Ducal House?”

“No, for some reason, I just can’t give up.”

Theodore, who had been staring blankly at Meia, snapped back to his senses and answered.

Watching him from the side, Aeton looked at him as if frustrated.

As the meal was nearing its end, Theodore spoke.

“Lady, would you truly consider coming to our Grand Ducal House?”

“Are you telling a ducal lady like me to work as a mage for your house?”

With his face flushed red, Theodore lowered his head deeply.

Unable to bear his frustration, Aeton finally stepped in.

“Your Grace, there’s no way a ducal lady would take a position as a mage in a Grand Ducal House.”

“Do you not have any mages in your Grand Ducal House? Wouldn’t there be many willing to come if you inquired at the Mage Tower?”

Aeton shook his head.

“Currently, the Rockbellion ducal house of the Sirius Empire has recruited nearly all the mages. Even the mages affiliated with our house paid penalties to leave and join Rockbellion.”

Hearing this, Meia was reminded of her master Puring, who had returned to the Mage Tower because of the mages heading to the Sirius Empire.

“If they left even after paying penalties… then the Rockbellion ducal house must be offering rewards that mages can’t refuse.”

“Yes. Since the reward is magic stones… they have no choice but to go.”

The reason mages earn money is to buy magic stones. If they are given magic stones instead of money, no mage would refuse.

“The Florence territory is surrounded by sea, so pirate invasions occur frequently. That’s why we need artifacts for offense and defense made by mages.”

“So that’s why you tried to scout me the moment you saw me.”

“That’s correct. It may have seemed rude, but we need the power of a mage that much.”

“Your Grace, perhaps you could speak to Duke Rockbellion and ask him to send just one mage…”

“Aeton, Brother Yan is about to engage in a territorial war, so he said he can’t spare any manpower.”

“Duke Rockbellion is quite cold.”

“He said it’s because he has to protect his fiancée, so I couldn’t keep asking him to send a mage.”

Theodore let out a deep sigh.

Meia listened to their conversation and inferred that Theodore and Duke Rockbellion were close.

“I see… Still, once the territorial war ends, won’t the mages from the Mage Tower return?”

“We don’t know when the territorial war will start, nor when it will end.”

“I see.”

“So I tried to recruit you after meeting you, but I had no idea you were a ducal lady.”