Ch.363Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

Honestly, I couldn’t understand it.

It was because of Francesca’s behavior, calling the Grand Duchess “Grandmother.”

“Gr-Grandmother?”

One of the five most respected magicians in the entire world.

A brilliant commander who bombed sacred grounds and led armies to victory in unfavorable wars.

The symbol of the glorious magical society that ended the age of barbarism.

Freedom fighter, war hero, sage, politician, diplomat, imperial advisor, matriarch of the imperial family, and so on. The titles describing her were as numerous as grains of sand on a beach and shone brighter than stars in the night sky.

A figure recognized not just as an imperial hero but as a world-renowned figure. That’s who Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna was.

Regardless of my feelings toward the Empire, the Grand Duchess was someone who rightfully deserved respect.

Whether by age, position, or achievements, Alexandra Petrovna deserved nothing less than the utmost courtesy from anyone she met.

But “Grandmother”?

“……”

I stared at Francesca with wide eyes.

No matter how much Francesca might be a descendant of the Great Magician, addressing the Grand Duchess so informally was inappropriate.

Unless she was referring to her ancestor, “Great Magician Ranieri,” Francesca was in no position to address the Grand Duchess in such a manner.

But as with all things in life…

Accidents come without warning, and plot twists exist everywhere.

“What? Surprised that I suddenly called you here without prior notice?”

The Grand Duchess casually responded to Francesca’s words.

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

When faced with an incomprehensible situation, human thought tends to freeze.

It happened when I received a call from the personnel officer telling me to return to base immediately because Kim Jong-il had died while I was on leave, and again when I heard that my return flight had been canceled due to the COVID outbreak.

But reality always exceeds expectations.

“Let me introduce you. This is Grand Duchess of the Kien Empire, founder of the Elemental School, and the first president of the academy, Great Magician Alexandra Petrovna.”

Francesca introduced the Grand Duchess in a calm tone. Though the Grand Duchess was a world-famous figure, we had never officially met her, so this was a necessary procedure.

But the introduction didn’t end there. Francesca added matter-of-factly:

“And to me, she’s my grandmother.”

“Grandmother…?”

Camilla opened her eyes wide, looking back and forth between Francesca and the Grand Duchess.

“Um, are you perhaps family?”

“Not exactly,”

Francesca smiled gently as she corrected the misunderstanding.

*

There are many prestigious magical families in the world, but the “truly established ones” are in a league of their own.

The great magicians who led the war between the Magic Tower and the Church.

The direct descendants of those great magicians.

A prime example is the Lysidice family, the ancestral home of “Evangelos Lysidice,” who commanded the Magic Tower’s magical battalions in the north.

Such families are treated as the legitimate heirs of magical society.

Since the inheritance of a predecessor’s achievements is an absolute truth among magicians, the descendants who carry on the legacy of the founders who established the Magic Tower are seen as having the legitimacy to represent magical society.

That’s why the descendants of Great Magician Sulaiman, who returned home after the war and established the Ivory Tower, were recognized as the representative family of the magical society in the Mauritanian continent.

The Ranieri family was in a similar position.

Although they had lost their influence due to the coup and civil revolution that overturned Fatalia’s modern history, the people of the Ranieri family still commanded respect from magicians and maintained deep connections with other prestigious magical families.

This was precisely why the Fatalian government was so wary of the Ranieri family.

Which meant…

It was only natural that Francesca, who had a Great Magician as her great-grandfather, would have a close relationship with someone who had stood shoulder to shoulder with her ancestor.

“Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna and I are not blood relatives. However, since the Grand Duchess had connections with my great-grandfather, Count Ranieri, we’ve had frequent interactions since I was young.”

Francesca began in her usual voice.

“I can address her informally because of that connection, not because she’s actually my grandmother.”

“That’s correct,”

The Grand Duchess, wearing a gentle smile, stepped in to add her own words.

“Francesca has been with me for a long time. Although I cannot say we’ve had frequent exchanges due to our busy schedules, how could I not cherish the child of my dear friend?”

The Grand Duchess firmly established that she and Francesca were close. There was no room for doubt. One cannot ignore an elderly person’s words, and the Grand Duchess’s words carried a weight far beyond those of an ordinary elderly person.

When she herself says so, what can third parties like us say? We just have to accept it.

It was a kind explanation, but not one that was easy to digest.

Even in this age where living to 100 is common, how could one easily believe that a 100-year-old elder and a woman in her twenties were buddies?

Thus, even the open-minded Camilla failed to accept the situation before her without resistance.

“What…”

Camilla looked back and forth between Francesca and the Grand Duchess with an expression of utter disbelief.

It was hard enough to understand how a grandmother maintained the appearance of someone in her early thirties, but the idea that this grandmother and a woman in her twenties were close friends seemed to have short-circuited her brain.

As the two of them looked at her with expressions that seemed to ask if there was a problem, Camilla couldn’t hide her bewilderment and poked my side, asking for help.

“Say something…”

Of course, even if she pleaded pitifully for help, there was nothing I could do.

I didn’t understand the situation either.

“Uh, well…”

I quickly racked my brain, wondering how to process this situation.

I’d heard there were many eccentrics among magicians. Could they casually ignore an age gap of about 80 years?

No matter how I thought about it, that couldn’t be right.

This wasn’t some “Untouchable” scenario. How could a centenarian and a woman in her twenties build a friendship? By age or position, Francesca and the Grand Duchess were not people who could easily be connected.

But as if mocking my expectations, the two began to converse casually, like old friends catching up after a long time apart.

“Have you been well?”

“What troubles could an old woman who travels between the imperial palace and the fortress have? There’s no need to worry about me, child.”

“That’s good to hear. I heard Evangelos is still in the north. Have you seen him by chance?”

“I met Lysidice’s child some time ago. I was worried whether he could adapt to the harsh northern environment, given that he was sickly from birth. It seems my concerns were unfounded.”

The Grand Duchess conversed with Francesca as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Considering that the Evangelos they mentioned earlier was a descendant of the Lysidice family, it was clear that the Grand Duchess had connections with him as well, just like with Francesca.

From the Grand Duchess’s attitude of treating a high-ranking member of the Magic Tower and descendant of a Great Magician like a grandchild, I was freshly reminded of her elevated status in magical society.

“I received a letter from Sulaiman’s child. I heard you met Niazi recently?”

“Professor Niazi? Yes, I saw him in Fatalia. Speaking of which, how is Mayor Hussein doing these days?”

“Sulaiman’s child is always doing well.”

Hussein, whom the two mentioned, was also someone I knew.

Hussein bin Abdullah Sulaiman.

He’s a politician serving as the mayor of the capital city of the Tispon Republic on the Mauritanian continent.

Some might wonder why someone from a prestigious magical family like Sulaiman would be a mere mayor, but that’s a question only those unfamiliar with Tispon politics would ask.

The Tispon Republic is a country that overthrew its monarchy through revolution. In Tispon, which lost a significant portion of its territory due to coups and civil war between royalists and citizen militias, the position of capital city mayor is politically very significant.

Just as the mayor of Seoul is considered a strong presidential candidate in South Korean politics, the mayor of the capital in Tispon politics is a strong candidate for the next prime minister.

Even with rumors of a constitutional amendment to a presidential system, the mayor of the capital city, with its dense population, holds unlimited potential to become either prime minister or president.

In other words, Mayor Hussein was a rising dragon who could become a country’s top leader at any time.

Moreover, having served as the Minister of Land and Infrastructure and completely overhauled the capital’s urban planning, the capital of Tispon provided Hussein with a solid political foundation. If he were to run for prime minister, he would likely win against any opponent.

Yet Francesca and the Grand Duchess spoke of this politician as if he were a childhood friend they hadn’t seen in years.

“I heard he was having conflicts with the defense force leadership, but it seems he’s fine.”

“Of course, he’s not weak enough to back down from something like that.”

Francesca and the Grand Duchess continued their conversation for quite some time.

Like old classmates asking, “What’s so-and-so up to these days?” the two began inquiring about acquaintances.

Except for the fact that these acquaintances each held significant positions somewhere, the two appeared to be very close. That’s how it looked to observers, and that was indeed the reality.

“I was surprised when you suddenly came to the Church without notice. What brings you here?”

“No notice? I’m hurt that you say that. I sent an owl with a letter well in advance.”

“Yes, I received that letter. Right before you arrived in Laterano.”

“The owl was late. I definitely sent the letter before departing. The creature must have delayed by pecking at insects somewhere again.”

At the mention of an owl, I recalled the owl that had flown into Francesca’s hotel room. That must have been the Grand Duchess’s messenger.

I wondered why she insisted on such an outdated method in this day and age, but my curiosity was cut short.

Because Francesca suddenly posed a question to the Grand Duchess.

“By the way, why did you call us here today?”

It was the most important, core question.

*

Francesca said:

“You didn’t even send congratulations for Saint Veronica’s canonization ceremony, but you’re personally attending this one. I remember you never paid attention to sacred grounds.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s also strange that you stayed secluded even when issues arose in the north, but suddenly appeared after everything was resolved…”

As she tilted her head, luxurious purple silk cascaded down.

Francesca asked with a puzzled expression:

“What wind has blown you here?”

It didn’t take long for an answer to come.

The Grand Duchess calmly opened her mouth to resolve our questions.

“I have business with you.”

“Business?”

“To be precise, a reward.”

We had contributed to resolving the conflict with the demon race in the north. Although the imperial army led the actual resolution of the conflict, it was we who laid the groundwork for the offensive and defeated the demon.

The imperial family had even awarded medals in recognition of our contributions.

The others received the highest grade of medals, while I received a friendship medal typically given to ambassadors of allied nations. Camilla even received additional compensation.

As far as I knew, the Grand Duchess herself was directly involved in those awards. Apparently, she thought medals alone were insufficient.

She said she would give us a separate reward within her power.

“I know well what you did in the north. Although I failed to fulfill my duty as Grand Duchess, you resolved the situation in my stead, so it is right that you receive a reward from me as Grand Duchess.”

“Hmm… Is that all you came for?”

“Not quite. I also need to find someone to entrust with an important task. There are many matters that need to be resolved at the Church.”

She must be quite busy. If the Grand Duchess herself is taking action, something very important must have happened.

Then, the Grand Duchess added:

“And I also have business with that child.”

The Grand Duchess’s gaze pointed toward Camilla.

“…Me?”

Camilla pointed at herself, and the Grand Duchess nodded.

“Um… What business could you have with me…?”

“It’s nothing difficult, so don’t feel burdened. Listen comfortably.”

As if to alleviate any anxiety or worry, the Grand Duchess waved her hand gently.

Then she began in a rather serious voice:

“Child, would you like to learn magic from me?”

It was an offer of a master-disciple relationship.