Chapter 56
At the appearance of Marquis Hashir, Semela’s expression completely vanished from her face.
Laria had never seen Semela’s face like that before.
‘Even when Zenox came along, it wasn’t this bad…’
Marquis Hashir still kept his gaze fixed on Theodor as he spoke.
“What wind has blown you here? You attending a banquet… tomorrow the sun must rise in the west.”
Did her father know Marquis Hashir?
He was a fellow foxkin and a sorcerer, but her father no longer worked as one.
Even before Laria was born, he had been running an herbalist business and acting as a businessman.
So it was odd that Hashir acted like they were familiar.
“It’s been almost ten years, hasn’t it? It’s been quite a while.”
The Marquis narrowed his eyes as if measuring the passage of time.
To think they had known each other for so long… yet she had never heard any stories about Marquis Hashir from either her mother or father.
Unlike the puzzled Laria, Herdin seemed to know something; his expression mirrored Semela’s.
Herdin fixed his stiff gaze on the Marquis. Judging by his hand in his pocket, he seemed to be rolling a vial between his fingers.
Laria checked on Theodor one last time.
His face completely drained of color, Theodor could barely speak, his lips trembling.
The unusual sight sharpened her own eyes instinctively.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Marquis Hashir turned his head.
“Is this your daughter?”
“I’m Laria Rohan.”
“Ah… yes, I see…”
He left the rest unsaid. Laria thought she could roughly guess what he was thinking.
Laria was considered a half-breed among the foxkin.
Without any magical ability and unable to partially transform, she was well-known for different reasons.
“So she manifested as a sorcerer late, I hear.”
There was a hint of a mocking tone.
After sizing her up, the Marquis grabbed Siena’s shoulder.
Startled by the sudden touch, Siena’s eyes went wide.
But soon, she lifted her chin as if nothing had happened.
“I heard you are the same age as Siena. It would be good if you two can help each other.”
The Marquis smiled at Siena as though showing off the most expensive item in a display case.
“You may not be enough yet in my eyes… but since you are the youngest member of the Sorcery Bureau, contact me if you need help.”
Even the most polished nobles of society didn’t speak as indirectly as this.
‘So you weren’t even affiliated with the Sorcery Bureau, yet my daughter is this accomplished?’
The Sorcery Bureau? Laria had no interest, no matter how prestigious the place was among sorcerers.
Even when she was forced to visit because of Siena, it was underwhelming, leaving her disappointed.
But when the Sorcery Bureau was mentioned, Theodor’s complexion noticeably worsened.
It couldn’t get any worse… and yet now, he seemed on the verge of collapse.
Semela stepped forward, her gaze icy, staring at the Marquis.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“……”
“I don’t think you have the kind of relationship to speak to my husband this way.”
Her pupils sharpened, reflecting the Marquis.
Partial transformation often occurred when emotions ran uncontrollable, but sometimes it was deliberately revealed to intimidate.
Semela was definitely the latter.
Only then did the Marquis seem to notice her, turning his body slightly.
“Haha. I was just glad to see an old friend.”
The word “friend” made Semela’s eyes narrow sharply.
“I’ve been meaning to congratulate her for finally manifesting as a sorcerer, but I never got the chance.”
He turned his gaze back to Laria, a faintly sinister smile on his lips.
“She’ll be an excellent sorcerer, just like her father.”
Finally, Theodor, who had been unable to speak, opened his mouth.
“My daughter… will have nothing to do with the Sorcery Bureau.”
Semela, who had wanted to argue with the Marquis, remained silent, holding Theodor’s hand tightly.
“She might not even think that way herself.”
“You are correct, Father. I have no intention of joining the Sorcery Bureau.”
Laria’s blunt response caused the Marquis’ lips to twitch.
As the head of the Sorcery Bureau, he must have taken immense pride in his position. The certainty that everyone should aspire to the Bureau must have seemed ridiculous to Laria.
“That seems a rather premature judgment. Well, we’ll see about that later.”
He smiled as if he could already see a future where she would want to join the Bureau.
“Theodor, I am curious about your abilities. Now that you’re retired and have time, surely you’ve improved?”
Someone would think he had gone to the countryside for leisure.
But before he could get heated, Laria recalled something she had long forgotten.
She bit the inside of her lip.
To her, Theodor had always been an extraordinary sorcerer. That fact had not changed. But her father now…
‘Because of me, he’s lost half his power.’
Even thinking about it brought a sting of tears.
Satisfied with Theodor’s reaction, the Marquis smiled.
“You’ll visit the Sorcery Bureau soon.”
It wasn’t a request or suggestion—it was a command, as if speaking to a subordinate.
Theodor, who had avoided eye contact the entire time, finally spoke with difficulty.
“…I won’t go.”
“Is it shame that you fled?”
The Marquis’ words sharpened the eyes of Semela and Herdin.
Herdin, who had remained silent, now let out a dry laugh, sensing the tension.
“If you’re inviting us, you should clean first.”
Herdin raised a corner of his mouth and stared at the Marquis.
“Who would go to a rotten tower?”
“This… insolence!”
The usually composed Marquis’ mustache trembled.
It seemed like a fight could break out at any moment.
Before the Marquis could scold them about raising children, Semela intervened.
“Do you intend to call the Sorcery Bureau for a duel?”
“…It’s natural for sorcerers to spar with each other. Someone who isn’t a sorcerer might not understand.”
The Marquis sneered, dismissing Semela because she was not a sorcerer.
“Those who avoid duels are called cowards.”
For some reason, Marquis Hashir continued to provoke Theodor, as if desperate to gauge his skill.
Semela, lifting the corner of her mouth in disdain, lowered her eyes.
“Even snakekin duel using poison. Fair and square.”
The Marquis’ lips stiffened, as if she had struck a nerve.
Although Laria couldn’t fully grasp the conversation, it was clear that some past event existed between Marquis Hashir and Theodor that she didn’t know.
Annoyed at Semela’s interference, the Marquis clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
The sound was so familiar that Laria instinctively stared at him.
‘Where have I heard that…?’
‘Illegal auction house?’
It was the same sound as an unknown sorcerer using forbidden magic at an auction.
Of course, the click alone couldn’t confirm it was the same person, but once she suspected it, similarities became apparent: build, unconscious gestures…
Still, Laria shook her head, dismissing the thought.
‘The head of the Sorcery Bureau wouldn’t use forbidden magic.’
If caught, the punishment ranged from imprisonment to execution. Someone skilled enough to become the head would never commit such a crime.
Even without brainwashing, there were plenty who would obey a mere gesture.
Yet Laria couldn’t completely shake the suspicion, giving the Marquis a wary look.
“Since you dislike it, there’s nothing I can do.”
The Marquis, who seemed ready to step back, finally finished his nonsense.
“Then how about a duel between the children?”
