CHAPTER 82…………………………………………
“I knew it would happen someday.”
“Huh?”
“Even if the Dark Magician is completely gone… don’t you find it hard to believe?”
Laseil thought so too.
After all, the Dark Magician’s specialty was pretending to be dead and then returning decades later.
“It’s actually a relief that the problem happened while I’m in charge.”
“What do you mean…”
“If the problem had occurred while Yujire was in charge, I wouldn’t have been able to solve it.”
Laseil couldn’t help but nod at that. She understood exactly why Ermeta was saying this.
“Anyway… there’s no need to worry too much.”
“No need to worry?”
“There’s nothing more foolish than being anxious when you’re innocent. Since you’re here, why not rest a little?”
‘I thought it would be something like this.’
Just as Yujire had said before Laseil came to the capital. There was a chance the Duke would suggest she stay in the capital for a while.
“It’s a kind of… show, I guess.”
“A show?”
Yujire’s explanation was roughly like this:
There’s a Third Knight Order in the capital that handles matters concerning the Dark Magician.
If she truly had any connection to the Dark Magician, she wouldn’t be able to stay long in such a place.
Conversely, staying in the capital meant she had nothing to hide from the Knight Order.
“At least no one would say some crazy stuff about you being connected to the Dark Magician.”
She had also advised Laseil to stay close to Irenes if possible.
“Isn’t it going to be too long?”
“You should stay at least that long.”
Since Ermeta and Yujire agreed, there was nothing more Laseil could do.
Finally, nodding, Laseil turned her gaze outward. She had been feeling eyes on her from beyond the door for a while.
“Who’s out there?”
“Ah… I told you not to peek. Valeria? Come in.”
“Yes!”
The person outside cheerfully responded and entered.
Her hair was a deep purple bob, and her eyes were silver.
It was Valeria Resean, the youngest of the Resean Duke family.
“Long time no see, sister! You should visit more often!”
Valeria shouted as she greeted Laseil with an enthusiastic hug.
“By the way, did you hear? I became an Elementalist!”
“Of course I heard.”
Valeria had sent a letter three pages long boasting about it. Though she had only signed the contract and didn’t yet know which type of elemental she’d have.
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks! Oh, aren’t you going to greet Miren?”
“Wait…”
“Mom, I’ll take my sister for a moment!”
After asking for permission, Valeria grabbed Laseil’s hand and pulled her along.
“Hurry, hurry!”
“Why so rushed?”
“Miren doesn’t spend many days at home!”
“Is the person next to you… Laseil?”
Contrary to Valeria’s words, Miren appeared as soon as they stepped into the corridor.
Her golden curly hair and silver eyes suited the word “beauty” perfectly.
“It’s been a while, Miss Miren.”
“Isn’t that still too formal? How’s Yujire doing?”
“She’s doing well.”
“Of course, she has my position now.”
Her tone sounded teasing, but it wasn’t serious. Yet Laseil couldn’t help feeling a bit concerned.
‘By rights, Miren would have become the heir.’
After all, she was the eldest daughter. She wasn’t entirely devoid of magical talent either. But in the end, the heir went to Yujire.
“Well, whatever. I like things the way they are now.”
Fortunately, Miren seemed to be enjoying the situation. She liked being able to indulge in luxury without obligations.
‘Still, her love life is a bit…’
Changing partners five times a month was, no matter how you looked at it, extreme.
It was consensual, so it wasn’t Laseil’s business to intervene.
“Say hi more enthusiastically!”
Valeria grumbled, seemingly unhappy with Miren’s calm reaction. She seemed to expect a more excited response.
“Do I need to hug you or something? That would be a nuisance.”
“No, not at all!”
Valeria puffed up in annoyance at being corrected, clearly irritated that her actions were deemed inappropriate.
‘She really is still a kid at times.’
Laseil briefly lost herself in thought and glanced out the window.
There was no sign of the knights in the garden.
“Laseil, who are you looking for?”
“The knights. Where are they?”
“I’ll guide you!”
Valeria replied brightly.
“You don’t really know what the Duke’s mansion looks like, right?”
“I haven’t been here often enough to memorize it.”
While Laseil knew the layout of the ducal lands’ estates, she didn’t know the Duke’s mansion well. She hadn’t come to the capital that much anyway.
“Since we’re only staying for a bit, only a few of us came up. This way!”
When Valeria opened the door to the room she was guiding Laseil to, familiar faces immediately appeared.
It was Berua, the vice-captain of the Resean Duke family’s Knight Order.
“Ella? What brings you here at this time?”
“I got some leave.”
“Leave?”
Berua looked puzzled for a moment, then quickly understood.
“Well, the young duke must have had a reason. How have you been? Growing taller in the meantime?”
“…I shouldn’t grow any taller now. I’m not a child anymore.”
Laseil had been an adult for a long time. The phase of growing a few inches every time she was measured was long over. But Berua always commented like this whenever he saw her.
“Right, well, you look healthy, that’s good.”
Berua seemed to ignore Laseil’s protest and turned his head.
“Sir Ajene! Sir Gineta! Sir Reffe! Come see who’s here!”
These were the knights Laseil had grown up with.
They had also trained her after hearing about the “knight-sister.”
Thus, after Yujire, they were the ones who had spent the most time with Laseil.
“Who… Laseil is here? Should we call you Sir Jaen?”
“You came early? It hasn’t even been a year, has it?”
“Still no progress with Sir Sieren?”
“Don’t ask all at once, I’m busy!”
Berua waved his hand irritably and turned back to Laseil.
“So, how’s the estate? Comfortable? …Nothing strange comes to mind?”
“It’s fine.”
It seemed to bother him that Laseil had once lived here with her father.
Laseil herself had almost forgotten, remembering the kindness of the estate’s people more than her father.
“It was nice to visit after a while; it brought back memories.”
“Good for you…”
“And why does everyone always bring up Irenes… Sir Sieren when they see me?”
It was always a mystery. They often spent time together, but it wasn’t clear if the relationship was developing.
‘Did we not seem that close?’
Some people thought using formal speech created distance. Laseil and Irenes were not such people.
“Stop talking nonsense about me!”
Berua waved his hand again.
“Just because you can’t date, don’t drag everyone into romance!”
“T-That’s not what I meant…”
Ajene flinched at the words. Laseil could immediately understand the situation from his reaction.
“You still haven’t confessed?”
“Do you think I would have?”
Berua continued, showing no shame in his scorn.
“He still can’t even properly say Miss Miren’s name.”
“Oh dear.”
It was well known among the knights that Ajene liked Miren. Laseil had also quickly realized it from his behavior and sometimes felt a bit sorry for him.
‘He’s always by her side, but…’
He had never had a chance to confess, even though he spent so much time with her as her bodyguard.
‘Will he still accompany her on dates?’
This often happened due to Miren’s complicated love life. The knights called it “a tearful incident.”
As a side note, Ajene genuinely cried the first time it happened… right in front of Laseil.
That was the main reason she still remembered his unrequited love.
‘He really cried his eyes out.’
It was the first time Laseil had realized that an adult could cry like that.
