Chapter 37……………………
Beric entered the study at some point, cradling a heavy stack of hardbound books in his arms. He set them down in front of me with a grin.
“You have talent as a mage, my lady.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’ve already studied quite a lot, and your magical instincts are excellent as well. Once your mana stabilizes, you’ll rise rapidly in no time.”
“Beric…”
How long had it been since I’d last heard praise?
I almost burst into tears from happiness.
“So, here’s some additional homework.”
…If only I hadn’t heard the rest.
He dropped the thick books onto the desk in a pile.
“This is the History of Magic: Origins and Legends series. It’s required reading for eight-year-old children just starting magic, but you hadn’t read it yet. Since you understand magic quickly, you should finish it in a few days.”
There were twelve volumes.
“……”
Jace let out a shallow sigh and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Beric. Can’t she read something like that after the banquet? What she urgently needs right now is etiquette and memorizing information about the nobles. She doesn’t need history.”
“Oh, come on. That’s nonsense. A solid foundation in magic makes understanding noble lineages much faster.”
“In that case, it would be better for her to read Mahares’ Humans: The Abyss of Existence. My lady, I recommend that book instead. You’ll understand what psychology drives nobles.”
“What? Why would she waste time reading such a filthy book? That’s the real waste! My lady, my recommendation is far more useful—and fun. This series is full of metaphors nobles use in conversation.”
The two of them began arguing over whose book was more important.
My hand holding the fountain pen trembled violently.
After bickering for quite a while, they both turned to me at the same time.
“My lady, you choose!”
“Which one will you read?”
They stared at me intensely, demanding I pick a side.
Snap.
Somewhere inside me, something broke.
***
“So you’re saying… the desk split in half?”
The Duke of Northdian came to my room earlier than usual that evening. He must have heard what happened during the day, because the moment he saw me, he asked that question.
“…Yes.”
I lowered my head like a puppy that had caused trouble.
He’d gone as far as making me a study room so I could focus, and I destroyed the desk in only a week.
Even with ten mouths, I had nothing to say.
“The desk made of ebony wood? The hardest wood there is?”
For some reason, his voice sounded amused.
“It was that impressive? It just… crumbled apart.”
I laughed awkwardly and scratched my cheek.
The part that touched my mana had shattered like breadcrumbs, so I hadn’t realized it was something special. I’d assumed it was just moderately priced furniture since I’d only be using it for a year…
Apparently not.
“I did hear reports that your mana density was unusual…”
He muttered something under his breath, then let out a quiet laugh.
Then he approached, gently cupping my cheeks with both hands and making me face him.
“You look pale.”
His dark crimson eyes gazed at me so steadily it felt like he could read my heart. I quickly looked away.
“…My mana is running wild.”
“Then we’ll bind it first.”
The Duke gestured toward the bed, telling me to lie down.
Ever since I broke the desk, my heart had been racing nonstop.
At this rate, it felt like it might leap out of my mouth.
If I leave it like this, it’ll overflow again.
A dull ache had already begun to form in my chest, so I obediently followed his instructions. I didn’t want to destroy any more property.
As soon as I lay down, the Duke sat beside me on the bed.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. Beric quickly put up a barrier, so no one was injured.”
“That’s good.”
The Duke removed his white glove and placed his hand over my left chest.
No matter how many times it happened, I couldn’t get used to the sensation of a man’s firm hand against my body.
His hands, always hidden under gloves and untouched by sunlight, were pale like carved jade.
The strange ticklish feeling made my face heat up, and I bit down on my lip.
“By the way… why is Jace called Baron, but Beric is just Beric?”
“Huh?”
It was completely out of nowhere.
“I was just curious.”
“Ah…”
Maybe he was trying to ease the awkward mood.
“Beric told me he wanted to be called by his name. When I called him Lord Holson at first, he looked like he’d bitten into a bug.”
“…That fool will have his pay docked again this month.”
“What?”
I stared up at him in surprise, and he wore a chilling smile.
But he quickly returned to normal and spoke calmly.
“Now then… I’ll begin infusing aura.”
“W-Wait. How did the conversation suddenly—”
He smoothly ignored me and raised his aura.
Golden light rippled at his fingertips, and I immediately shut my mouth.
“Breathe in slowly.”
Like a doctor performing a procedure, he always kindly explained what he was about to do, as if soothing me not to be afraid.
The gentle golden glow slowly seeped into my body.
It felt warm… yet also cool.
“Ugh…”
The tight pressure remained, but it didn’t hurt. I focused on controlling my mana, trying not to block the path of his aura.
His aura shifted—like fabric fluttering, then transforming into a cord that began binding around my heart.
At the same time, a strange sensation swept through my body, making chills rise along my skin.
“Almost done. Just endure a little longer.”
“Hngh!”
At the peak of the pressure, the remaining aura slipped away.
“It’s finished.”
“Haa… haa…”
Only then could I breathe properly again.
I exhaled deeply in relief as my mana calmed and my heartbeat steadied.
Now I would finally be able to sleep peacefully tonight.
I hope my mana stabilizes soon…
Doing this bizarre thing with the Duke every day was embarrassing enough to kill me.
“You did well.”
The Duke patted my head lightly, then leaned back into the chair beside the bed.
His forearm, rolled up on purpose for the infusion, caught my eye.
His muscles are really handsome.
His face was handsome too, but somehow his muscles seemed even more so.
If given the chance, I wanted to strip him down just to admire them.
Ahem. Purely artistic appreciation, of course. Not like that day will ever come… haha.
Guiltily, I covered my flushed face with both hands.
Then the Duke asked quietly:
“…Were you scared?”
“Huh?”
“Your expression wasn’t good. I wondered if… you were afraid of me touching you…”
The question was sudden.
I quickly waved my hands.
“Of course not! If you didn’t help me, I’d be the one in trouble.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
He smiled brightly, as though reassured by something.
Soon, he returned to his usual relaxed demeanor and spoke about my condition.
“It would be best to increase the time you spend using the fountain pen. If your mana continues growing like this, incidents like today will happen often. And as you know, I sometimes must leave the estate for work.”
At the phrase incidents like today, I flinched.
Since I practiced mana control nearly all day, my skill would improve soon enough.
Still, something had worried me since noon.
“Um… will the repair cost be expensive?”
“Repair cost?”
“The desk. It wasn’t even mine, and I broke it. I should fix it.”
I tried calculating the expense in my head.
Do I even have enough money? Noble furniture isn’t cheap…
“Who says such things?”
“Huh?”
“Who dares mention repair costs to the Duchess of Northdian?”
The Duke’s face had hardened frighteningly.
“N-No one… but I’m not the real Northdian. If I broke something expensive—”
Wasn’t that a perfectly rational thought?
But the Duke frowned.
Because he was always smiling, even that small expression looked far more terrifying.
I’d often been told by Ripei that I lacked common sense…
Had I said something wrong again?
“…Did I say something wrong?”
When I asked cautiously, the Duke suddenly smiled.
It was the beautiful smile he sometimes wore when we first met—
one where his eyes didn’t smile at all.
A chill ran down my spine.
“That won’t do.”
“…Huh? What won’t?”
The Duke rose from the chair and stepped closer.
He twirled a strand of my hair around his fingers, then looked down at me.
I couldn’t move, like a deer caught in a snare.
His voice dropped low, almost seductive.
“Come to think of it… I’ve never properly told you what Northdian truly is. Very well. This is a good opportunity.”
He leaned closer.
“I’ll show you what kind of family mine is… and what kind of man I am.”
“H-How?”
Why did teaching me sound so terrifying?
“Tomorrow, come somewhere with me.”
“…Where?”
This time, he didn’t answer.
He only smiled at me dazzlingly bright.
***
And the next morning came, inevitably.
“Waaah! I’m so excited, my lady! A date with the master!”
“…A date… right?”
So… I’ll come back alive, right?
Tears streamed down inside my heart.
Now that I think about it, we swore to protect each other’s secrets… but I don’t think he ever promised not to kill or imprison me. Should I have included ‘don’t murder me’ in the blood oath?
After the Duke’s ominous “wash your neck and wait” energy yesterday, I’d spent the entire night shivering until morning.
My face looked utterly hollow.
