~Chapter 61~
A few days later, Leah heard that Dorothea had returned.
She left Raphaella with Pola and headed to the Magic Tower.
Surprisingly, Raphaella didn’t insist on tagging along.
She was completely hooked on sword training these days and didn’t want to miss a single lesson with Veronica.
“Leah! Long time no see!”
Dorothea greeted her warmly at the Magic Tower.
“Dorothea, did your trip go well?”
“Yep! The Dewdrop Flower colony was just as magical as ever.”
Dorothea clasped her hands and looked dreamy.
“Oh, and I brought a letter from your friend, Alma.”
She handed Leah an envelope with Alma’s name on it.
“Thank you.”
Leah smiled as she held the letter from her dear friend.
“By the way, what’s that in your hands?”
Dorothea pointed to the rattan basket giving off a sweet smell.
“Oh! It’s a little gift for you.”
“A gift?”
“Yeah.”
Leah placed the basket on the table and started taking out desserts from it.
“I wanted to thank you for going all the way to get the Dewdrop Flowers for me, so I asked the head chef for a favor.”
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been craving the galette bretonne from the Blumhardt mansion—it was torture!”
Dorothea gasped as soon as she saw the pastry.
“Really? I should’ve brought it last time then.”
“Oh no, don’t worry! But Leah, this makes me so happy right now.”
“Go on, try it.”
“Then I will—thanks!”
Dorothea cut a piece of the galette and took a bite.
“Mmm!”
She looked delighted and went for another bite.
Leah felt glad.
‘I’m really glad I asked the chef for help with this.’
She brewed tea using the leaves she brought and placed cups in front of both of them.
“Mmm, the tea smells amazing too,”
Dorothea murmured, finishing the pastry and sipping the tea.
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
“Fancy desserts like this feel even more special when you only have them once in a while.”
“True, if you eat something tasty every day, it stops feeling special.”
Leah took a sip of tea and replied.
‘How should I bring it up…?’
She bit her lip a little while watching Dorothea enjoy another dessert, smiling brightly.
“…It was so good, Leah. I kind of feel bad for eating it all myself.”
Dorothea scratched her head, noticing the empty plate.
“It was for you,” Leah said with a gentle smile.
“…Now that the Dewdrop Flowers are collected, all that’s left is a demonstration in front of the other mages, right? Then your healing potion can finally go out into the world.”
Dorothea wiped her lips with a napkin.
“Yes. I hope it can be distributed to patients soon.”
Samuel had told her the demonstration would be held tomorrow.
“With Blumhardt’s money and distribution network, it’ll reach the patients in no time.”
Dorothea winked.
“Right? Hey, um…”
Leah hesitated.
“What’s up, Leah?”
“…Dorothea, do you know almost everything about magic?”
“Pretty much, except for stuff that hasn’t been made public yet.”
“Then, um… do you know anything about dark magic?”
“Cough, cough!”
Dorothea choked hard on her tea.
“Are you okay?”
Leah rushed over and patted her back.
“Sorry, I just got really surprised.”
After her coughing calmed down, Dorothea took a careful sip of the new tea Leah poured and spoke.
“Why are you asking about dark magic?”
Her face looked a bit stiff.
“I read about it in a magic book recently.”
“In a book?”
“Yeah. And it reminded me of something my grandmother once said.”
“What did she say?”
“She said that dark magic has developed really drastically compared to the past.”
“…Your grandma sounds like a secret master mage.”
“Dorothea, has dark magic really gotten that advanced?”
Leah leaned in.
“…Unfortunately, yes.”
“But didn’t the royal family ban it from the start? And they even execute people for it—how could it grow?”
“Well… there are always blind spots in the world.”
“How advanced is it now? Can it… kill people?”
Leah stopped mid-sentence.
Dorothea looked terrified, as if a giant monster had appeared.
“Are you okay? Was my question too—”
“I’m fine. But Leah, you seem really
curious about dark magic.”
“…Well.”
She couldn’t say anything more.
Not yet.
Not when she had no solid proof—only suspicion.
Not when it involved something as huge as the Empress and her maid possibly being tied to dark magic.
“I’ll tell you the reason once I’m more certain.”
“…Just to be sure, you’re not thinking of using that magic, are you?”
“No! Never! I actually wish dark magic didn’t even exist.”
Leah quickly shook her head, her eyes full of sincerity.
Dorothea relaxed a little.
Her face softened.
“…You’re right. It’s a horrifying magic that should never exist in this world.”
She picked up her teacup with a sad expression.
“Leah, you asked how far it’s developed, right?”
“…Yes.”
Leah nodded.
“…Dark magic now… can kill people.”
Leah swallowed hard and clenched her trembling fists.
—
Meanwhile, Johann was at his desk going through documents.
No matter how much he read every day, the paperwork never ended.
His eyes felt sore, so he rubbed them gently, then stood up when he heard noise outside.
He opened the window slightly and saw Raphaella and Penelope running around the garden.
Nearby, his mother was sitting and reading a book.
‘I never imagined… Penelope would one day run around and play like this with Raphaella.’
The peaceful scene made him smile softly.
His mother’s face no longer had that dark shadow it used to.
That made him feel at ease.
‘If it weren’t for that woman, Leah…’
Penelope and his mother wouldn’t be smiling like this.
And he wouldn’t have gotten to witness it either.
“…”
She said she went to see Dorothea today, didn’t she?
At some point, Johann had started keeping track of Leah’s schedule just as much as Raphaella’s.
Well, she was Raphaella’s mother, after all. Of course he’d pay some attention.
Nothing more than that.
‘It’s not like I have any feelings for her.’
That would be ridiculous.
“…Your Grace.”
Samuel approached him as he leaned against the window.
“What is it?”
“There’s Lady Raphaella’s birthday in May. How would you like to handle her gift?”
“…What?”
Her birthday’s in May?
That’s not far away!
“Her birthday? It’s in May?”
Johann looked genuinely surprised.
“You didn’t know? It’s on May 13th.”
Only about two weeks left.
Not a lot of time to plan a party.
‘Her first birthday in this place…’
He swallowed a sigh.
“When did you find out?”
He shot Samuel a sharp look.
‘How did he find out before me?’
“She told me yesterday when we were playing for a bit.”
Johann looked frustrated.
‘Damn it. Why didn’t I think to ask about her birthday?’
He pressed his fingers to his temple.
“Tell the butler, the head maid, and the chef to start preparing for Raphaella’s birthday.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Make sure they put extra care into it since it’s her first birthday here.”
“Don’t worry. Everyone will do their best.”
“Good. They are better.”
He waved his hand to dismiss Samuel.
“…Wait, hold on.”
Just as Samuel was about to grab the doorknob, Johann stopped him.
“What are you getting her?”
Johann tugged at his cravat, clearly annoyed and flustered.
“Well…”
“Are you supposed to ask what she wants and give it to her? Or do you just pick something yourself?”
He cut Samuel off with another question.
Samuel thought his master seemed oddly flustered—but somehow, it suited him.
“Your Grace, about gifts…”
