episode_0004

It wasn’t as though I hadn’t anticipated my mother’s opposition at all.

I had thought that if I explained my talents well, getting her permission wouldn’t be difficult.

But my mother was more stubborn than I’d expected.

“No. Even if my daughter is a genius, the answer is no.”

“But, Lady Ella.”

My teacher tried to persuade her, but—

“Rachel.”

—Zzzt.

A single sharp glance from my mother was enough to silence her.

‘By the way, what exactly did my mother do before?’

Now that I thought about it, there were many strange things about her.

It was already surprising that she had hired a genius like the Vice Tower Master as a private tutor,

but the way she acted now made it seem as though she was the teacher’s superior.

‘Why do I get the impression that Mom is the boss here?’

Of course, back on Earth, the parent-tutor relationship would make sense, but this was another world.

There was no reason for a high-ranking figure like the Vice Tower Master to bow so submissively to a noblewoman.

‘Is our family… not just moderately wealthy?’

We had lived comfortably since I was young, and while my father was a marquis,

a Vice Tower Master—rarer than the dozens of marquises in the empire—was naturally more prestigious.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I glanced at my mother.

—Stare.

Fortunately, she noticed my gaze and pulled me into her arms.

—Hug.

“Oh my, my Serena. Why are you staring at me like that~?”

“Um, well. Is it really okay for you to treat the teacher like this?”

“Hmm. Of course. It’s fine, it’s fine.”

But why is it fine?

When I gave her a bewildered look, Rachel stepped in to explain.

“Serena. The truth is, your mother and I have some… personal history. That’s why it’s fine.”

“Ah.”

So she owed her something in the past.

I don’t know what happened, but it’s an interesting connection.

“The debt I owed back then was quite large… Ahem.”

“Huh?”

“My family’s circumstances weren’t the best at the time. Cough, cough.”

Wait.

‘Was the debt literal money?!’

Suddenly, Rachel’s image plummeted from “cool, beautiful, warm mentor” to “debt collector.”

Perhaps sensing my icy glare, Rachel hastily added,

“Ah, no! That’s all in the past! Of course, I’ve repaid everything by now! I only came here because of my friendship with Lady Ella…!”

Her desperate tone bordered on pitiful, so I couldn’t help but comfort her.

“Of course. I understand your feelings, Teacher.”

“H-How did the conversation turn out like this…?”

Though the topic had strayed, the important thing now was getting permission to go to the Magic Tower.

Rachel already seemed mentally defeated, so I was the only one left to persuade my mother.

“Mom. Can’t I go to the Magic Tower? I really want to learn magic quickly.”

My mother usually granted most of my requests, but today was different.

“Hmm… Even if you bat your eyes like that, the answer is still no.”

“Ack.”

I tried everything after that.

Hugging her abruptly.

Promising not to complain about side dishes.

Vowing to do chores diligently.

Throwing a tantrum.

But nothing worked.

‘This is really bad.’

Just as I was about to give up, my mother asked me,

“Serena. Why do you want to go to the Magic Tower so badly?”

For a moment, I heard worry, guilt, and curiosity in her voice.

“Even if you don’t go, Rachel will come once a week to teach you magic. Is there really anything more you’d gain by going to the Tower?”

What could I gain from the Magic Tower…?

“Yes.”

There was.

Definitely.

I lifted my head and looked at her.

“Teacher said that if I go to the Tower, I’ll attend the same classes as the princess.”

“…Of course, becoming close with the princess would be beneficial in many ways. But.”

“Mom.”

I cut her off and spoke.

Then, for the first time, I turned the question back on her.

“Are you… afraid of me going to the Magic Tower?”

“…!”

“If you are, why?”

Her eyes widened briefly before returning to normal.

After hesitating, she finally spoke.

“Yes… I’m afraid of letting you go to the Tower.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve seen too much.”

She hugged me tighter and stroked my hair as she continued.

“I’ve seen too many children—gifted with dazzling talent at too young an age—raised high in the Tower, only to fall. Too many.”

Though she was speaking to me, her gaze seemed fixed on something from the past.

“Even if they didn’t fall, many had their personalities warped or were dragged into the mudslinging of adults.”

‘Ah.’

It wasn’t the act of going to the Tower itself that scared her.

It was the uncertain future I might face after going.

“So, even if I don’t know what you truly want, I’m afraid you might end up on the wrong path.”

A worry so quintessentially parental.

As someone who had been an orphan in my past life, this was an unfamiliar experience.

Honestly, I wavered slightly—was going to the Tower really necessary?

But.

‘No matter how I think about it, I have to go.’

The benefits were too great to pass up.

Yet, as a child, I also had a duty to ease my parents’ worries.

I hugged my mother tightly.

—Squeeze.

“Mom.”

“Yes, my daughter.”

“I still want to go to the Magic Tower.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. But I’ll come home once a month.”

“What?”

Coming home once a month.

By modern standards, that would sound laughable, but here, it wasn’t.

“Sweetheart. Do you know how far the Magic Tower is?”

“Mm. Teacher mentioned earlier that it takes a really long time to get there.”

“Even using portals, it’ll take at least four days just to go back and forth.”

Spending two days traveling home and two days returning to the Tower every month.

It wouldn’t be easy, but I remained calm.

“It’s okay. If it eases your worries even a little.”

I should do my duty as a daughter properly.

Coming back once a month to share my progress…

‘Will this be enough?’

I anxiously watched for her reaction.

After staring at me for a long moment, my mother hugged me again.

This time, it was tight enough to nearly suffocate me.

“Serena. You really are an angel…!”

“Ghk…! M-Mom. I can’t… breathe…!”

“If my daughter is willing to go this far, refusing would make me a failure as a parent.”

She turned her gaze to Rachel.

“Rachel. You know what to do, right?”

“Of course. I’ll teach her carefully and personally escort her every time she returns.”

“Good. I’ll compensate you separately.”

Gently stroking my hair, she whispered,

“My daughter. Always be careful. And if it’s too hard, you don’t have to come back every month.”

Leaning against her shoulder, I replied,

“I will. But I’ll come back once a month no matter what.”

“Oh my, you’re so precious. Who did you take after to be this lovely?”

“Mm. You, Mom.”

“Sigh, you’re going to be the death of me.”

I stayed in her embrace for a long while after that.

Convincing my father took some effort, but in the end, my journey to the Magic Tower was settled.

I also set a short-term goal for myself:

To recreate the sound of a piano with magic within a month.

Then, I’d return home and play it for my mother.

‘If I can’t manage it in a month, I’ll just learn to play a real piano.’

Wait for me, Magic Tower.

This time, I’m really coming.

Some time later.

Rachel and I arrived at the Violet Magic Tower.

As expected, the journey was long and arduous.

‘Even with multiple portal jumps, it still took this long.’

The thought of repeating this trip every month was dizzying, but I had no choice.

A promise is a promise.

Still, arriving at the Tower filled me with fresh excitement.

The sight of the Magic Tower for the first time was—

‘Like something out of a webtoon.’

A towering spire, exactly what one would imagine when hearing “Magic Tower,” stood imposingly.

Around it, violet mana stones pulsed with energy, maintaining intricate magic circles.

‘This is the Magic Tower.’

I turned to Rachel and asked,

“Teacher. When do I start learning magic?”

“Hmm. Rest today. We’ll begin tomorrow. Ah—call me ‘Master,’ not ‘Teacher.’ You’re not just any ordinary child.”

“Yes.”

“Master” did carry more weight than “Teacher.”

So, starting tomorrow…

‘Does that mean I’ll meet the princess tomorrow too?’

What kind of person would she be?

A dignified young lady?

A rude villainess?

Or a timid girl?

‘Hehe. I’m looking forward to it.’

Since it was my first day, I didn’t do much besides rest in my spacious, clean private quarters.

The next morning, as soon as I woke up in the Tower, I began simulating.

‘Let’s prepare for any type of princess.’

Even during breakfast, I ran through scenarios in my head.

Following the schedule Master had given me, I headed to the classroom.

‘This must be it.’

Originally, Rachel’s only student had been the princess.

‘But now there are two of us.’

Carefully, I opened the classroom door.

—Creak.

As expected, only one person sat inside the spacious room.

The princess appeared slightly older than me, around ten years old.

Her wavy golden hair cascaded down, and her dignified aura gave off an air of nobility.

She lifted her gaze from the book she was reading and turned it toward me.

Her golden eyes, shimmering like sunlight, momentarily stole my focus, delaying my greeting.

‘Oops.’

Snapping back, I hurriedly bowed.

“I greet the radiant star of the empire. I am Serena Lier, who will henceforth receive Master Rachel’s guidance.”

Now.

Time to find out.

‘What kind of princess is she?’

After what felt like an eternity,

the princess finally spoke.

“You may raise your head.”

As I did, her expression remained unreadable.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lier.”

With those words, she seemed to lose interest, returning her gaze to her book.

This was it.

‘The dignified, aloof princess—bingo!’