ICTWG 10

Chapter 10

Miti blinked in confusion and looked up at Ella.

Ella’s face had turned pale, and her chin was trembling.

“Why are you reading something like that, my lady?!”

“Why not?”

“Of course not! Give it to me right now!”

She spoke like scolding a child playing with something dangerous.

When Ella even tried to snatch the book, Miti hugged it tightly to her chest.

“What is it? Why?”

“Why? If Madam finds out you’re interested in magic, she’ll faint!”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“Oh, honestly! Why have you been acting like this lately, my lady?”

Ella put her hands on her hips and sighed deeply.

“Do you still have a fever?”

She even touched Miti’s forehead and compared it with her own.

“You don’t have a fever…”

“What are you doing?”

“I should be asking you that.”

Ella puffed her cheeks.

“Madam is already worried because no good marriage proposals are coming for you. And now magic? You can’t even join the Magic Tower anyway, so what are you doing?”

Miti’s eyes widened.

‘What did she just say?’

She thought carefully.

‘But the Count told me to join the Magic Tower…’

Yet Ella was certain she couldn’t.

Miti decided to ask more carefully.

“Why can’t I join the Magic Tower?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Female mages are looked down on. Do you really think your parents would allow you to join?”

“Female mages… are looked down on?”

“Oh dear… our lady is so innocent.”

Ella sighed again.

Miti stayed silent and let her continue.

“The Magic Tower is full of men. If a woman goes there, people will obviously gossip!”

Ella noticed the magic books on the table and began gathering them.

“Oh my, you brought so many. I’ll return these to the young master. If you’re bored, I’ll get you other books.”

“Ella.”

“Yes?”

“What if… just suppose… someone—a man—told me to join the Magic Tower. What would that mean?”

“What?! Is he crazy?”

Ella’s face twisted.

“What kind of madman tells a woman to become a mage? He’s not in his right mind.”

“Could it not mean something good?”

“Of course not! He must be mocking you. Besides, the Magic Tower exam is still three years away.”

Ella counted on her fingers and laughed.

“That’s not even teasing—it’s an insult. He’s looking down on you as someone who doesn’t understand the world.”

Miti had no choice but to believe her.

‘Now that I think about it… Mirhel too…’

He told her to hide it from their parents.

That made Ella’s words more believable.

And the Count had every reason to mock her.

‘Of course. There’s no way that man would make a good offer to me.’

Miti let out a hollow laugh.

She felt angry at her own naivety.

No matter what happened later, right now—

there was no reason for the Count to feel anything for Minachelti.

She had already caused him huge damage.

‘If he just demands compensation, my family would withdraw their investment to pay him.’

He had no reason to be kind.

‘So everything he said yesterday… was just to mock me.’

She threw the book onto the table.

‘How foolish I must have looked.’

Thinking about it filled her with humiliation.

She swallowed down the burning feeling in her throat.

“Whoever said that to you deserves a slap.”

Ella added firmly.

That was enough.

“Ha… I can’t stand this!”

Miti slammed her fist on the table and stood up.

The snacks jumped with a loud noise.

“I need to confront him!”

Her eyes burned with anger.

She immediately ordered a carriage.

“Where to, my lady?”

The driver looked nervous.

“To Count Kirchhoff’s mansion!”

* * *

Renelren was working as usual.

He was always busy, and the pile of documents waiting for his signature was high.

“Um… Your Excellency.”

His aide spoke carefully.

Renelren didn’t look up, but stopped writing.

“Lady Sestol has… stormed in.”

“…Stormed in?”

He raised his head.

The aide looked very troubled.

Renelren immediately put down his pen and stood up.

He rarely stopped work suddenly.

Even royal summons didn’t interrupt him.

“Where is she now?”

“In the drawing room…”

“I’ll go see her.”

He walked quickly.

When he arrived—

Minachelti was really there.

‘“Stormed in” is the perfect description.’

She wasn’t sitting.

She stood in the middle of the room.

She barely reached his chest in height—

yet she stood like a warrior ready to fight a dragon.

‘…Or a rabbit that lost its hay?’

To him, she looked ridiculous.

“Why did you come in such a hurry?”

“Why?”

Her eyebrow twitched.

He smiled calmly.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“You didn’t come to my house because you were truly worried.”

“I truly was worried.”

“For now.”

She took a short breath.

Like a knight preparing for battle.

‘…Or maybe a hamster that lost its peanuts.’

She crossed her arms and lifted her chin proudly.

“I came to return the visit, since you came to see me.”

“I see. Then you may leave now. I’m busy.”

“I also have something to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

He gestured to the sofa.

But since she didn’t sit, he remained standing too.

“If I slap you right now, would you sue me?”

“Why do you think I would just stand still and let you?”

“If you came all the way to upset a sick person with that Magic Tower condition, then you wouldn’t have the right to complain.”

Renelren understood why she came.

‘From a woman’s perspective, it makes sense to be angry.’

But he had been serious.

Her gaze sharpened.

“But thinking about it… a busy man like you wouldn’t come all this way just to mock me.”

“So you want to confirm whether my offer was genuine?”

“Yes.”

She answered firmly.

‘As expected.’

“I had no intention of insulting you or making you a target of gossip.”

‘This is different from the rumors.’

He spoke honestly.

Surprisingly, her expression softened.

“Then convince me.”

“What did you just say?”

“If your offer wasn’t a joke, then convince me.”

She looked calmer now—

but her words were a clear challenge.