~Chapter 59~
“Don’t smile like that when you’re not actually okay.”
Johann slightly corrected what he said.
“I wasn’t forcing a smile.”
“Ask Raphaella. She’ll tell you if that was a fake smile or not.”
“…”
Leah stayed quiet and looked away.
“…Sorry. I was trying to apologize, but I said it the wrong way.”
Seeing her like that made his chest ache again, and he let out a sigh as he spoke.
“You didn’t know I’d run into the Empress, so there’s no need to apologize.”
She replied with a confused expression.
“Still, it was my mistake. And honestly, I just feel uncomfortable about it, so just accept the apology.”
He said firmly, then told her they should head to the carriage.
‘She just says everything’s fine no matter what…’
About her illness, about the Empress—none of it’s actually fine.
But she never showed it.
That unreadable attitude of hers was starting to annoy him.
‘But why do I even care how she feels?’
Johann suddenly stopped walking.
Leah, Raphaella, and Samuel, who were following him, looked surprised.
“Your Grace, did you forget something?”
“…No. Let’s go.”
He avoided the question and started walking again.
‘She says she’s fine, so I shouldn’t worry.’
On the way back to the mansion, Johann just stared out the window the whole time.
Leah also blankly looked outside.
They both responded to Raphaella’s chatter, but with a noticeable delay.
* * *
The next day, Leah spent the whole day in the Blumhardt estate’s library.
“It’s hard to believe someone could be killed with perfume….”
But if time travel is possible, then this doesn’t seem that crazy.
Desperate for answers, she read every magic book she could find.
Looking for any dangerous spells that could harm someone through a medium.
“…Huh?”
While reading a relatively recent book, Leah’s finger stopped at a passage.
“Normally, the mana granted to humans by the goddess Hecate can’t be used to hurt others… but about 50 years ago, someone made it possible with a dangerous idea.”
Her hands began to shake.
‘I think I actually found something…’
Eyes filled with hope, she focused on the text again.
“A cruel method of extracting mana from someone who has it—this magic was named ‘black magic.’”
She flipped the page.
“The first person to create black magic was a noble who wasn’t born with mana and did this to gain it.”
Leah lowered the book onto her lap.
“…Black magic, huh.”
Her grandmother had mentioned something like this once when she was younger.
“Is there magic that is terrible?”
“Yes. But from what I learned, black magic hadn’t developed far enough to actually kill someone. The imperial family found out early and banned it by law….”
Her grandmother took a breath.
“Anyone caught using it is executed on the spot.”
All the books that had instructions were supposedly confiscated and burned.
“But… I can’t shake the feeling someone has secretly made it more powerful.”
Her voice was filled with anger and resentment.
Leah was shocked.
“Who?”
“…That woman. She wasn’t even born with mana.”
That last part was barely a whisper.
Her grandmother had told her to forget the conversation, but she couldn’t.
Her grandma had been so serious that day.
“She was sure someone improved it. Could it really be strong enough to kill now?”
If so, then maybe the Empress’s maid had used black magic.
And maybe… the Empress even knew about it.
If she did, then she might try to use it on Leah again.
‘But maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.’
50 years isn’t a long time—could black magic really advance that far?
‘I’ll have to ask Dorothea. She’ll know if I’m just being paranoid or if it’s actually possible.’
Even though it was forbidden, Dorothea was a curious mage, so she might know.
Leah wanted to meet her right away, but Dorothea was out collecting raindrop flowers on Mount Lorem in her place.
So she had to wait.
—
“I’m Veronica Lerner, a knight of House Blumhardt.”
She was the niece of the knight commander Arthur Lerner, and she bowed to Leah and Raphaella.
She had short, dark hair with a blueish tint and deep blue eyes like the ocean.
Even in uniform, her strong frame and trained muscles were clear.
“By order of the Duke, I’ll be teaching the young lady starting today.”
“Wow, knight lessons!”
Raphaella clapped excitedly.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ll do my best.”
Veronica smiled and made eye contact with her.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Veronica!”
Leah also smiled.
“I’ll make sure to teach her safely, Miss Leah.”
Veronica replied with a serious expression.
She looked about 20, still young, but very reliable.
“Hehe, can I call you Master from now on?”
“Master? Oh, I’m not worthy… that’s too much.”
Veronica looked embarrassed and scratched her head.
“But you’re teaching swordsmanship, so you’re totally a master! Master Veronica!”
Veronica’s face turned bright red.
Raphaella, who had recently taken an interest in swordsmanship after horseback riding, was thrilled.
Yohan had suggested it.
“Isn’t she a bit too young to start learning?”
“I started around her age. She takes after me—she’ll handle it fine.”
He tested Raffaella’s grip strength as he spoke.
“Don’t worry. I know the perfect teacher for her level.”
Leah didn’t know much about sword training, so she trusted Yohan’s judgment.
“Ahem. Shall we go, young lady?”
“Yes! Mom, I’ll be back later!”
“Listen to Sir Veronica and have fun, okay?”
Leah smiled as Raphaella entered the training yard.
Then she turned and headed to the library to double-check for any more books about black magic.
She kept thinking about black magic, the Empress, and the maid as she walked.
So much so that she didn’t notice someone in front of her.
“You were so deep in thought you didn’t even see me.”
A voice snapped her out of it.
“…Who—Your Highness the Prince?! M-May the holy light of the heavens shine upon you, Hic, Your Highness.”
Leah hiccupped while trying to greet Prince Florian.
“Haha, did I surprise you so much you hiccupped?”
“…W-What brings you here, hic.”
Leah tried to change the subject.
‘Well… I was just thinking about the Empress, so that’s not surprising.’
And he showed up without any notice, so of course she was startled.
“It was scheduled for today. I heard my sister even contacted the Duke’s house in advance.”
“I thought it was next week…”
Leah finally stopped hiccupping and replied.
“Well, I just came along with my sister.”
“…”
Something felt off.
She had planned to meet Raphaella and Dorothea next week when he was supposed to visit.
But she figured the prince wouldn’t explain further.
“The Duke is busy with my sister, and the Duchess went out with her daughter. Looks like you’re the only one left to keep me company. What do you say?”
Florian smiled charmingly.
That smile could probably win over anyone—men and women alike.
“I’m not someone worthy of entertaining a royal like you, Your Highness.”
But Leah didn’t even flinch and simply bowed politely.
“…I’ll show you where the butler is.”
If the Empress really did try to have her killed, then she needed to be cautious around the prince too.
She still remembered Johann’s warning.
“Do you have bad eyesight or something?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, how can you just stare at me like that when I’m smiling?”
Florian tilted his head, confused.
“I’m sorry. I’ll take you to the butler…”
She couldn’t get involved with him.
‘No telling what might happen if I do.’
She took a deep breath and started walking.
Tap.
“I came here to see you, though?”
Florian grabbed her wrist.
“…What?”
His smile was still there, but only his lips were smiling—his eyes were cold.
“Come hang out with me, yeah?”
Leah got chills down her spine.
