Chapter 10
Mernelia had to be cautious around her guest, the Marquis of Verden.
And yet, her daughter was striking the Marquis’ most cherished nephew. The boy… was he Jerthermion’s student? If so, perhaps he was following his master’s orders to sabotage Mernelia.
Seeing the Marquis’ face contort in anger, Mernelia hurried to separate the two boys.
But as a mother who had only ever dealt with her own daughter’s accidents—like knocking over a snack basket on the table—she lacked the skill to handle aggressive boys.
“Stop it.”
At that moment, the deep voice of the Marquis of Verden boomed as he grabbed Caligo by the scruff of his neck.
Caligo, who could withstand Jerthermion’s power, could not resist the Marquis’ strength and was lifted away from the boy he had pinned.
The Marquis examined both Caligo and his own hand with curiosity.
“Who are you exactly? Who… are you?”
“I’m sorry! He’s a friend who studies magic with me. Jerthermion, the master of the Northern Magic Tower, brought him here, but he can’t speak.”
“I’m sorry, Marquis. Are you hurt?”
Mernelia asked the boy as he brushed himself off.
“I’m fine, Princess Royal.”
The boy spoke bravely, then turned toward Erkina.
For a moment, Erkina closed her eyes.
Brown hair, green eyes.
This ordinary-looking boy held no malice toward her now.
But before her regression, he had resented and hated her. He had believed that Erkina was the cause of abandoning his dream to become a knight.
When his mother died, he had even thrown stones at Erkina, who had been left alone.
“When we met again as adults, he was hostile too.”
Once he realized Erkina was Mernelia’s daughter, he had acted as if he would strangle her.
Erkina felt both guilt and fear toward him.
Even though the future had changed, those old emotions did not vanish easily.
“Ah…”
Her sleeve tugged sharply.
Opening her eyes, Erkina saw Caligo looking at her with concern. Had he realized his mistake?
Erkina turned toward Ilyas, the Marquis’ nephew.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stop my friend’s mistake.”
“Oh, no! Princess! How can I forgive the one who saved my life?”
Ilyas hurriedly prevented Erkina from kneeling and helped her stand.
“But you’re hurt. And Caligo can’t speak to apologize, so as his friend, I must apologize on his behalf. Right, Caligo?”
Erkina looked at Caligo. The boy lowered his head with a sullen expression. At least he was showing remorse.
Erkina smiled faintly, then turned back to Ilyas.
“I will ask for forgiveness for my friend’s mistake, so please don’t hold a grudge.”
She bowed politely, and Ilyas stared at her in surprise.
Then he nudged his uncle and whispered softly,
“What should I do?”
Erkina struggled to keep from laughing.
‘Was I really scared of someone like him?’
A bit of relief and disbelief mixed within her.
Of course, at the time, he had every reason to hate her. After all, it had seemed like she had destroyed his dream. Even while resented, Erkina had tried to save Ilyas—sending him south when the Magic Tower collapsed.
#-I don’t need your help!-#
He had been so stubborn until the very end.
So he hadn’t listened to her…
‘I can’t remember that either.’
Perhaps the memory had faded due to the trauma of that day. Even the final moments with Ilyas were blurry. Something remained in the fog of her mind…
Erkina was lost in thought when the Marquis spoke gravely.
“You are not at fault, Princess, but those who resort to violence must be disciplined.”
The unmarried Marquis cherished his only nephew, born to his deceased sister, more than anyone.
Before her regression, he had nursed a grudge against Erkina and Mernelia for ruining his nephew’s life, eventually siding with the First Prince. When the neutral Marquis chose a side, the succession struggle shifted drastically.
At one point, Mernelia had been pointed at as a villainess, unjustly accused, and facing certain death.
This time, the Marquis must not be lost. But should she abandon Caligo?
For a brief moment, she considered it, but she could not. The weight in her chest from meeting Caligo had not yet lifted.
“Um, Marquis?”
“But if there is a reason, that changes things.”
Erkina’s eyes sparkled at the fair and noble appearance of a knightly figure.
She had expected the Marquis, like Mernelia, to unconditionally take her side—but he too would act for his nephew.
“Wow… amazing.”
She couldn’t help but mutter in admiration.
“Thank you, Princess. But you won’t be able to hear the boy’s reasons…”
The Marquis looked to his nephew.
“Ilyas, tell me. Did you do anything to make this boy hold a grudge against you?”
“No! This is the first time I’ve….”
Ilyas stopped mid-sentence and glanced at Erkina.
She wore a worried frown, looking at the boy who had struck her.
Seeing this, Ilyas glanced at his noble uncle, then nodded decisively.
“Ah, I think it was the other day in an alley… I stepped on him and didn’t apologize, right?”
Ilyas scratched his head.
“Ilyas.”
“I’m sorry, Uncle! I guess I deserved it!”
Ilyas’ smile widened, revealing that despite a missing canine, his other teeth were perfectly aligned, making his smile appear cheerful and untroubled.
“Hey, Master of the Magic Tower, you’re late.”
Jerthermion, returning to the magic laboratory in the capital, encountered an unexpected visitor at the entrance.
“Without an appointment, what brings you here, First Prince?”
Jerthermion bowed, hiding his emotions.
“Were we supposed to meet only with a scheduled appointment? Where have you been?”
He feigned ignorance, though he had been informed yesterday.
“I have been teaching the Princess Royal at her residence.”
“Oh, you said you’d be my nephew’s tutor from today, right? How is Erkina’s skill?”
Pailrod’s eyebrows twitched like snakes.
But he quickly smiled warmly. His golden eyes resembled Erkina and Mernelia, but unlike theirs, there was no warmth in them.
“It’s the first day, so I’m not sure yet.”
“I see.”
Pailrod crossed his arms, unimpressed with Jerthermion’s response, but soon relaxed his posture, smiling faintly. He tapped Jerthermion’s shoulder.
“You know I’m on your side, right?”
Why this again? Didn’t yesterday’s conversation end it?
Jerthermion frowned.
“I appreciate your unwavering support.”
“I see… very well.”
The deep lines on Pailrod’s forehead grew, yet the corners of his lips still held a fixed smile, as if pinned in place.
“Let’s get to the point.”
Jerthermion, showing discomfort, finally prompted Pailrod to harden his expression.
“Do you understand the significance of a royal who can use magic?”
“I’m afraid I have no interest in politics, so I wouldn’t know.”
“So the time has come for you to keep that promise—the one to repay me, isn’t that right?”
Pailrod raised the corners of his mouth.
Jerthermion’s previously calm magical energy surged violently at that moment.
