~Chapter 64~
The knights standing awkwardly behind Aisha hadn’t expected the door to suddenly open. When they saw me and Armin, they hesitated and stepped back.
“Can I get an explanation for what’s going on here?”
It seemed I was the cause of all this commotion.
Of course, there was a more urgent matter to address first.
“…Let’s eat first.”
Armin and Aisha were silent for a moment, then nodded at the same time.
“Alright.”
“Fine by me.”
5. First Step
“So, to sum it up…”
After about an hour of conversation over a meal, I put my spoon down.
“You want me to learn magic, right, Aisha?”
“That’s right! At the Imperial City.”
On the west side of the Imperial City was the Magician’s Garden—also called the Magic Tower. It was built by the Imperial Family to train talented magicians.
There were plenty of people in the empire who called themselves magicians, but many never made it past the Tower’s gates. You needed true skill to enter.
“Bella, you have the qualifications. And the talent.”
“But I’ve heard you need a mana test and an insider’s recommendation to get in—”
“I’m an insider, so it’s fine.”
“…”
“I’m Count Eblain. The second master of the Magic Tower. I can do that much.”
After a brief silence:
“It’s a bit confusing. When we first met, you said you were just a mercenary.”
“If I’d blurted out my status, you’d have been uncomfortable! And back then, I didn’t know what kind of person you were.”
I didn’t answer—just looked at her calmly.
“Alright, I admit it. I was wrong. I didn’t even tell my real name to my lifesaver, so I deserve to be scolded.”
“…”
“But what about you? You used a false name too. So we both deceived each other—”
“Bella did nothing wrong.”
Armin, who had been silent until now, spoke firmly.
“Bella lost her memory. So it’s only natural she couldn’t give the Count her real name.”
It was to protect me.
Aisha shrugged.
“Fine, I’ll be the only bad one here.”
She sipped water to hide her awkwardness.
“Anyway, let’s get to the most important question.”
Slowly, she stood, gripping the table, and turned to Armin.
“Your Highness. Why exactly is Bella staying at the Grand Duke’s house?”
“That’s…”
“If you’re going to say something absurd like ‘fiancée,’ drop it. I already confirmed you two aren’t engaged.”
“There’s no paperwork or ceremony between families. But we’re practically married—”
“Bella has no memories, right? Then you’re basically strangers.”
Armin pressed his lips together, and Aisha looked triumphant.
“I knew it was strange from the start! Someone as cold and expressionless as you wouldn’t love anyone. I thought the rumors were wrong. And I was right!”
She rattled off her words like a speech, then looked at me.
“You kept Bella here under the excuse of an engagement, didn’t you? Because she’s a talented magician! Even if you’re the Grand Duke, that’s a crime—”
“I’m not being held here.”
Aisha went quiet.
“I chose to stay here of my own will.”
Whatever the beginning was, standing here now was my choice. I wouldn’t make excuses.
“So don’t insult His Highness.”
Armin looked quite surprised.
Aisha stared at me blankly, then slowly nodded.
“…Alright.”
She sat back down, calmer now. But soon she was watching me again.
“Of course, I know how great an opportunity this is. I know the Count is showing me kindness.”
“Call me Aisha. You have the right to.”
“Alright, Aisha.”
I nodded.
“Would you give me some time to think?”
“…Fine. You want me to leave, right?”
Aisha stood, and the attendants followed her out of the dining room.
I waited until everyone left, then held Armin back.
“I’d like you to stay.”
He hesitated but agreed.
Silence filled the room once the others were gone.
I didn’t know how long we sat there.
When all the food had gone cold, I turned to him.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I’ll do whatever Bella wants. This is an important choice for your life.”
I knew it too—opportunities like this didn’t come often.
“That’s why… I do want to learn.”
“Good. Then let’s learn magic.”
His answer was clear and pleasant, but there was still one concern.
“So…”
“Is something bothering you?”
“If I become a royal magician, will I have to leave the Grand Duke’s house?”
“Do you want to leave?”
“It just seems like tradition.”
Learning magic was hard. Many lived in the Tower while training. Even the Duke of Durnar stayed at the Garden’s main building instead of his own estate.
Since I’d be entering as a novice, I thought I’d have to follow that tradition.
“So you want to stay here, Bella.”
“I guess it’s selfish. I don’t want to give up either.”
That’s when he took my hand and kissed the back of it, smiling.
“That makes me happy.”
While I was dazed by his flower-like smile, he kissed the same spot again—twice.
“It means you want me by your side, no matter what. Right?”
He was showing pure joy.
To him, I seemed like someone worthy of love—different from the real me.
“Don’t you think I’m selfish?”
Armin tilted his head and asked:
“Why do you want to learn magic, Bella?”
“To become strong.”
I had other reasons, but that was the most basic one.
“Not selfish at all.”
He laughed, as if satisfied.
“I also learned the sword to become strong. With power, you can protect yourself and have more choices.”
“…”
“And I don’t dislike Bella becoming stronger.”
Because that’s what you want.
“Learn magic, Bella.”
“…”
“And at night, come back here. To our home.”
Our home…
“Can I call this our home?”
When he’d acquired this house, I hadn’t contributed anything.
“I want this to be our home. That’s why I brought you here.”
To sit at the same table every day, to sleep in the same bed and wake up together. That was what he wanted.
“Our home…”
Two years ago, I lived at the Count of Rohilton’s estate. Before Armin came for me, I was in the attic of my shop.
Both places had the elements of a home, but I had never thought of them as mine.
Rohilton’s house was Charlotte’s, and the shop was a temporary place I could leave anytime.
“Our home…”
The word Armin gave me felt strange.
“But… I like it.”
It was exciting too—like having somewhere to return to when tired or weary.
I repeated “our home” several times, and Armin patiently held my hand, waiting for me to get used to it.
The Magician’s Garden was a paradise for the chosen few, but even there, ranks and divisions existed.
On the far right edge was the training building, where those not yet official magicians repeated study and practice to hone themselves.
Usually, the only sounds there were the flipping of pages or practicing of spells.
“Lady Aisha has a new student?”
But today, it was noisy.
The source of it was apprentice magician Lian.
“Who is it?”
Ganesha, sitting opposite, shrugged.
“I don’t know. Just that it’s a girl. Oh, she looks young—barely past adulthood, I think.”
“You saw her?”
“She just went into the test room.”
Other magicians nearby joined the conversation.
“Sure you didn’t see wrong? That lady rejects any magician brought to her.”
“No, I heard it clearly. She even introduced her as her student in front of His Majesty.”
Aisha might be bold, but she wouldn’t lie in front of the emperor.
“…Guess it’s true then?”
