Chapter 36 – Flower of the North Sea (8)

“Ugh… My body… it hurts…”

The return journey on the magic train was mostly peaceful, except for Lehel’s constant groans each time the train jolted. Despite the unexpected ease of resolving the situation, both she and Darling seemed relieved, though Darling’s expression remained complicated.

Staring out the window to distract herself from her motion sickness, Darling suddenly grabbed Louis’s sleeve and spoke.

“Store owner.”

“Yes?”

“I’m thirsty. Get me some plum wine.”

“Why don’t you get it yourself? And do they even sell alcohol here?”

“You’re the store owner; you should know where to find the best goods. Now go.”

“But you’re the head of a trading company…”

“And your title is similar to store owner! Now go, go!”

Practically pushed out, Louis left the compartment, leaving Darling and Lehel alone. The atmosphere in the compartment subtly shifted.

“Headmistress.”

“Yes, my lady?”

Lehel, with her inscrutable smile, was a master of magic, while Darling was a merchant, relying on logic and reason. Darling had questions about this situation that required clear answers.

“I’ve never had to advance such a small amount to cover your debts before. Wasn’t 80,000 gold a manageable sum even without cash on hand?”

“That’s true. But for some reason, the gambling hall insisted on immediate physical payment this time.”

“I see. But your timing is odd. You often travel the continent, but you returned after only two weeks with such a small amount?”

“Gambling has no bottom. This time, I was particularly unlucky.”

Lehel pondered, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

“Now that I think about it, there was something off about the gambling in Alsace. It seemed like the other players were focused on distracting me…”

“They were likely just dazzled by your appearance. You should be more modest.”

“Unlike you, I don’t wrap myself up to my fingertips. Still, it was suspicious how much I lost in Alsace.”

Lehel agreed with Darling’s suspicion. It seemed someone might have wanted to keep her in Alsace. If her safety was compromised, Darling Tokarev would have to act.

This wasn’t the first time, making it a plausible deduction.

“Could someone be targeting both of us?”

“Any suspicious signs on the magic train?”

“I don’t sense anything. Besides, this train is operated by the Merak Tower.”

“Then…”

A silence filled with unease.

“It seems bringing the store owner might have been a mistake.”

Was something happening in Farencia? The conclusion naturally led to this concern.

Knowing the purpose meant understanding the reason for the action. But to do that, they needed to identify the mastermind behind this situation—

“No way.”

“That’s absurd.”

Lehel and Darling laughed it off.

Who owned the gambling hall and underground auction? The Martiniqua Trading Company. And where was that company based? Under the control of the North Sea’s ruler, Rochear.

The idea that Rochear would turn their attention from Heljeb to Farencia was absurd.

Yet, as Farencia’s lord, Darling couldn’t shake a small sense of unease. Peace had reigned since the end of the great war ten years ago, but conflicts among nobles and territorial disputes were always possible.

“Just out of curiosity, Reincarnation Duke.”

“Yes, Viscountess?”

“Do you think you could defeat the Ice Duke?”

Who among the five dukes was the strongest? Could anyone beat Terra Ernestine? This was always a hot topic among mages.

“Oh, no way.”

Lehel waved her hand dismissively. She was certain.

“I could never beat the Ice Duke.”

“Really? You have more experience and mana.”

“My unique magic has a fixed limit regardless of the total mana and karma.”

A bitter smile spread across Lehel’s face.

“I used too much power during the great war.”

“In the capital?”

“Yes, you know well.”

“Anyone who doesn’t is blind. That was a time when humanity was on the brink.”

Despite common belief, Terra Ernestine’s participation in the war was quite late. After the fall of the Lavierre Front, humanity suffered immense losses.

Two dukes died, and Reincarnation Duke Lehel repelled the demons at the capital of Thessalon, sacrificing half her lifespan. Terra joined after that, around the same time Wiblet returned from Bachran with Nova, and the holy country dispatched Eris Prashura.

“Anyway! The new Ice Duke, who succeeded the late one, is handling the demons well. No need to worry.”

“It was just a thought. But—”

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted. Darling decided to wrap up the conversation.

“In your prime, could you have beaten Terra Ernestine?”

“Heh, well. This life is going backward…”

Lehel laughed, showing a much darker smile than before.

“If I were thirty years older, I might have had a chance.”

***

I managed to get to the end car of the train and bought the plum wine from the attendant, who looked at me like I was crazy for asking for a whole bottle in such a shaky carriage.

As I carefully carried the bottle back, Lehel and Darling stared out the window, not speaking.

“Viscountess? I got the wine.”

“Hmm? I don’t drink. Just leave it there.”

“…”

Then why did you ask?

As I sat down, I remembered something important.

I needed to ask Lehel something.

“Headmistress.”

“Yes?”

“Could you step out for a moment?”

“I’m not in the best shape to move.”

I helped Lehel out of the compartment, supporting her wobbly frame as we leaned against the corridor wall.

“Thanks. Is this what they call playing hard to get?”

“Not in the literal sense.”

“Anyway, why did you call me out? Need more rules?”

“No, it’s about Rochear. Do you know anything about their health issues?”

Lehel looked genuinely surprised.

“I didn’t think…”

“Yes?”

“Go on. What about Rochear?”

“I’m curious if there’s a genetic heart problem.”

“Not that I know of.”

So, Adela was just being dramatic. I sighed in relief, but Lehel’s next words were alarming.

“It wouldn’t matter. They’d just remove it.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear? They remove it. Like this.”

Lehel mimicked pulling something out of her chest. I was stunned.

“Why?”

“This is a sensitive topic… Can I see your hand?”

“Here.”

Lehel placed my hand below her sternum and pressed down gently.

“Can you feel it? This is my mana and karma, converted into electrical signals.”

“I can feel something.”

“If you look closely, you’ll see the energies twisting together in a spiral. They’re balanced perfectly. My unique magic requires an exact balance of mana and karma.”

She released my hand and shrugged.

“Each mage preserves mana and karma differently, but unique magic is more extreme. Do you know what Rochear’s ice magic represents?”

“No.”

“The pinnacle of white magic. Pure ice, free from karma.”

I finally understood what Lehel meant.

“So, removing the heart…”

“Without guilt, there’s no karma. Without emotion, the heart is pure.”

That’s why Rochear kills their emotions.

For the most powerful magic.

“Adela didn’t seem like that at all.”

“She hasn’t shown any magical aptitude until recently. Before the magic duel… Ah.”

Lehel paused, realization dawning, and looked out the window.

“Recently, the royal family sent a letter congratulating the first-year students for their victory in the magic duel.”

“….”

“Rochear must have received one too, right?”

***

“Are you going to the ball?”

Late that evening, an old butler met Adela, beautifully dressed in a gown, outside the dormitory.

Adela smiled brightly at his question.

“Grandfather, did you know? The acacias are already blooming in Bachran! Their honey is much sweeter and tastier than other flowers. Could you get some for me?”

“My lady…”

Tears welled in the butler’s wrinkled eyes. He had watched Adela since she was very young.

He knew the pain she had endured, pretending to be ignorant of magic and playing the fool to hide from her family.

“Isn’t it time to stop this…”

She had finally escaped Rochear’s watchful eyes and secured a connection with a count.

Despite his heartfelt plea, Adela fiddled with her left earring, as if unaware of his words.

“I really want to try it! Please… can’t you?”

The butler realized she was sending him away.

If her family discovered she had been pretending all along, her closest companion’s life would be in danger.

“I… I…”

His clenched fists trembled. Tears flowed.

He wanted to say he’d stay by her side.

But when he looked up and saw the deep sadness in Adela’s clear eyes—

He knew the only thing he could do was not to make her any sadder.

“I will bring the finest… bouquet from Bachran.”

So, the butler bowed deeply in respect.

“No matter how long it takes, I will.”

Even if his mistress changed beyond recognition when he returned, he quietly swore his loyalty would remain unwavering.