Chapter 41
The piece Jaina was currently learning was far beyond her level—in fact, it was so difficult that even among children her age, only a handful could play it.
“If you can perform this perfectly, you’ll naturally be able to play the piece that flows from the necklace as well.”
Even at such an unreasonable demand, Jaina complied without protest. This was the exact opposite of what Charlotte had expected; she had assumed Jaina would resist at least a little.
Instead, Jaina seemed to enjoy herself while playing the harpsichord, a faint smile always tracing her lips.
“…You’ve improved a little.”
Moreover, despite the lessons being disorganized and inflexible, Jaina’s skills steadily improved. Her past-life experience playing the piano helped, but it was mainly due to her diligence and perseverance. Whenever she was corrected, she would come to the next lesson having completely fixed the mistakes. She was deeply absorbed in the harpsichord. Charlotte could no longer find any faults to criticize.
“Is there nothing else to correct, teacher?”
“…At this point, we can move on to the next lesson.”
For a student like this, a teacher might naturally feel fond of her, but Charlotte felt nothing of the sort. If anything, the fewer mistakes Jaina made, the more irritated she seemed, often nervously biting her nails.
–From beginning to end. Annoying.
Izren, seemingly displeased with Charlotte, would bluntly comment in such a manner. He disliked how she only complained without any enthusiasm for teaching, but since Jaina remained silent, he could do nothing.
“Are you okay?”
One day, Izren furrowed his brows and spoke to Jaina. She blinked her large eyes and asked,
“Are you worried about me?”
From her completely calm tone, Izren realized something: she wasn’t enduring or tolerating—it simply didn’t bother her at all. She was probably accustomed to this kind of harassment.
‘What kind of life did she live until now?’
In truth, he had only goodwill toward Jaina; he didn’t really know much about her, or rather, he didn’t care to. He was merely a faithful dog assigned to guard and monitor her by Diarmid’s command. But for a moment, his curiosity got the better of him.
“Why don’t you say anything?”
“…Huh?”
“Ask for a replacement teacher.”
“There’s no need. Regardless of personality, Charlotte is an excellent teacher for me. So please don’t report it to the Master of the Mage Tower.”
Jolt.
Izren, secretly feeling guilty for keeping watch over Jaina, shivered slightly.
“…You knew.”
“Master of the Mage Tower wouldn’t assign a bodyguard for me with good intentions.”
“Then why tell me not to report it…?”
“As you know, Izren, I made a promise with Master of the Mage Tower. I promised to perform the piece for him.”
“Then all the more reason to want another teacher…?”
Jaina tilted her small face slightly.
“Do you really think that?”
“What?”
“It’s hard to find a teacher with Charlotte’s skill. Even if someone were offered a lot of money, few would risk their life to come to this Mage Tower. And Master of the Mage Tower’s mood could change at any moment. So for me, Charlotte is the best option.”
Izren wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. What she said was true. Even he wouldn’t have come all the way to the Mage Tower as a subordinate if he weren’t of a different race.
‘Damn it.’
Thus, Izren had no choice but to further torment his own fingers.
A few days before Jaina’s birthday, the three of them set off on a commemorative trip.
“Of all days, your birthday is a public holiday, so we can’t go anywhere. The gates aren’t operating either. How is it that your birthday coincides with the Emperor’s birthday? Only those recognized by the Emperor can use the gates that day.”
Technically, using the Mage Tower’s name could allow them access, but that was only possible for the Master himself.
‘If only that brat had a little more power, he could have opened the gate as the heir apparent.’
Feeling Mikael’s gaze, Rozian smiled faintly.
“You can’t look at me so intensely, brother. I’m not interested in men.”
“Who said anyone’s interested in you? Useless kid.”
Mikael furrowed his brows. That heir only caused trouble, couldn’t gain recognition… a hindrance rather than help.
“I won’t be able to leave the palace on Jaina’s birthday because of grandfather’s birthday party. You weren’t planning to go off somewhere alone with her, right? That would make me upset.”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“Shall I explain it step by step?”
“Enough, shut up. Don’t keep bothering her. If it weren’t for your mother, you’d already be dead by my hand…”
At that moment, a small hand grabbed Mikael.
“Mikael, we’re going on a trip to celebrate my birthday.”
When he turned, Jaina’s gentle eyes blinked up at him.
‘Damn, why does this kid look at me like that?’
Her eyes were tadpole-like, calf-like, chick-like… Somehow, looking at them always softened Mikael’s heart.
‘If my past self saw this, I’d faint.’
Mikael rubbed his temple. How had he ended up being in charge of watching over a child?
“This is my first time at the summer sea.”
Jaina’s eyes sparkled like stars. She couldn’t tear her gaze from the sea.
The sunlight glinting off the sky-blue waves, the faint sound of waves crashing on the shore, seagulls crying in the distance—everything shimmered beautifully in this moment.
Jaina squinted against the reflected sunlight. Her eyes hurt, yet she wanted to keep looking at the scenery.
‘When was the last time I went to the sea? Was it the tidal flats on the west coast in elementary school?’
Thinking of a past life where she could hardly even dream of a trip, this was a luxury.
Jaina’s excitement was apparent, while Mikael strutted, arms crossed.
“Yes, summer is the best for the sea.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Jaina carefully walked along the sandy shore. The fine sand pressed under her feet in a strange, satisfying way. Touching the glittering sand, she sat down, then startled and stood up.
“Ah!”
“Idiot, why sit on the sand? It’s hot from the sunlight!”
Mikael quickly ran up from behind and scooped her up.
“Sorry, I didn’t know it would be hot.”
“You’re ten years old, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’re so clumsy, you look like a toddler who can’t even walk yet. Stop whining and look ahead.”
Held in Mikael’s arms, Jaina followed his gaze toward the distant horizon.
“Wow… it’s beautiful.”
“Shall we walk along the beach a bit?”
Mikael had her small arms looped around his neck and strode forward.
Behind them, Rozian watched silently. Though he smiled outwardly, he was slightly annoyed. Every time he tried to approach Jaina, Mikael would beat him to it.
Shaking his head, Rozian followed and gently tugged Jaina’s small arm.
“Jaina, do you like the sea?”
“….”
“Jaina?”
But Jaina was lost in thought, not responding.
“Hmph-hmph-hmph.”
Embarrassed, Rozian cleared his throat. Meanwhile, Mikael smiled gently at Jaina nestled in his arms.
‘See that?’
It was as if he was saying, ‘You can’t hold her like this, can you?’ Rozian’s face twisted in frustration.
Walking along the beach, Rozian followed Mikael and spoke.
“If you keep holding her like that, she’ll get hot.”
“Are you ignoring my magic? Temperature control is basic.”
Rozian scoffed.
“Actually, the cloak I gave her already regulates her temperature… you’re wasting magic unnecessarily.”
Jaina had the cloak Rozian gave her draped over her shoulders like a cape. The magic activated automatically whenever it touched her body, so it didn’t matter.
“Hmph, my magic is better than any cloak spell.”
“Well, this cloak was made by a more skilled magician than you, brother. No need to cast a weaker spell; just wearing it is enough.”
“What…?”
Crackle.
Mikael and Rozian glared at each other. But the standoff didn’t last long; Jaina interposed herself between them.
“The sea must be beautiful in other seasons too, right?”
“Let’s come again in autumn, Jaina.”
“But leave that heir behind then.”
Mikael smiled.
“Or maybe the mountains would be nice in autumn? With the autumn foliage… Actually, the sea in autumn is nice too. Let’s just go to both. Where else should we go…”
Mikael racked his brain, but having spent his life studying magic, he didn’t know much about tourist spots. His only visits to the sea had been for magical research.
As Mikael muttered quietly, Rozian interjected.
“Do you know Lake Deisan? It’s beautiful. And there’s the Keikar Cliffs…”
Having wandered across the empire for a long time, Rozian knew all about local sites and events. He hadn’t been called a playboy for nothing.
“The festival we went to last time was fun, but there’s one I really enjoyed…”
Jaina’s eyes sparkled at Rozian’s words. Mikael, keeping silent, watched as Rozian chatted excitedly, then suddenly fell quiet as if remembering something.
