Chapter 45: Would You Become a Mage for Me? 1

From a very young age…

He had always been by her side.

Laughing and crying together, he was her constant companion, forever at her side.

Having been together since birth, she believed they would remain inseparable forever, a conviction that never wavered even as she grew older and developed her own judgment.

However, one day…

He tightly grasped her hands and bade her farewell.

He told her he was leaving to become a Holy Knight.

That he would never return.

At that moment, she could not fully comprehend the meaning of his words.

Yet, she understood that the person before her would disappear, prompting her to plead tearfully, doing whatever she could to stop him from leaving.

And…

In response to her persistent actions, he ultimately made one final promise:

That although it might take time, he would surely return.

He would come back and protect her, just as he always had.

With tears in her eyes, the young girl could only watch him depart.

From that day onward, she waited.

For the moment when his promise would be fulfilled.

For the day when he would return and smile warmly at her, just as she had yearned.

.

And on that day…

A day that had seemed no different from any other.

He finally appeared before her.

Just as he had promised, in the very form she had envisioned…

No, even more splendid and noble than she could have imagined…

Witnessing this with her own eyes, she was gripped by profound excitement and joy, yet ultimately could not outwardly express it.

Excessive joy is often challenging to convey, and moreover, having entered adolescence, she found it increasingly difficult to openly display her emotions compared to her younger years.

Regrettably, she failed to offer him a proper greeting, the one she had so longed to deliver.

In her heart, she had yearned to embrace him, overwhelmed with joy, just as she had in the past, but ultimately could not.

Inwardly lamenting her inept expression of emotions, she began seeking an opportunity.

An opportunity to reconnect with the one who had returned…

Her one and only elder brother, to forge a bond even deeper than before…

And to achieve this, she conceived of a plan…

Cazeros walked along the corridor.

Following the revelation of Santana’s status as the Lord’s son, Cazeros, as his companion, was being treated as an esteemed guest within the Lord’s castle.

Although she could not roam freely in her Holy Knight attire within this central domain of the heretical forces, aside from that, her living accommodations were comfortable.

Lavish meals were consistently provided, and her assigned attire was impeccably clean.

She even shared a clean two-person room with Polena.

However, despite these physical comforts, Cazeros’s inner state was far from tranquil at this moment.

The cause did not stem from external factors but rather her own lingering concerns.

Even days into their stay, one thought refused to leave her mind.

‘Is this truly alright?… For me, a Holy Knight, to remain here like this?’

Regardless of the circumstances, Cazeros maintained her status as a Holy Knight.

Although she had likely been excommunicated, it had not been officially confirmed.

Moreover, even if she had truly been excommunicated, Cazeros remained a devout follower of the Church, her faith ingrained within her very being.

For her, being treated as an esteemed guest within the heretical forces was an inherently discomfiting experience.

While she firmly believed in not discriminating against heresy, actively embracing it herself was another matter entirely.

Essentially, it meant abandoning her personal faith – an undoubtedly daunting prospect that periodically filled her with unease and discomfort.

Nevertheless, Cazeros strove to adapt to this challenging situation, no matter how arduous.

For his sake…

The one who had brought her here and shown her the true path.

She could not allow him to suffer any harm.

‘As difficult as it may be, I must endure… For Santana’s sake, I must persevere…’

With these thoughts in mind, Cazeros ignored the subtle glances of those around her as she continued down the corridor.

At that moment…

“…Ah…”

“Welcome, I’ve been waiting for you.”

The person who greeted her before her chamber was none other than Santana himself.

Upon seeing him, an expression of tranquility momentarily graced Cazeros’s features, mingled with curiosity.

“Santana, what brings you here?”

“I merely wished to inquire about how you’ve been faring lately. I also wanted to converse casually, if you don’t mind.”

“No, I don’t mind at all.”

Cazeros responded with a faint blush at Santana’s words.

Subsequently, they strolled together through the castle’s inner garden, conversing.

“How have you been adapting to life here?”

“My living conditions are… quite favorable. The servants have been kind, and they have attended to my needs with utmost care and generosity.”

“That is a relief. Truthfully, I harbored some concerns. Being a stronghold of the heretical forces, I wondered if you might find it uncomfortable.”

“…”

Caught off guard by Santana’s unexpectedly perceptive remark, Cazeros fell silent.

As if fully aware, Santana gently stroked her head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“You need not burden yourself unduly. Take your time to adapt. There is no need to rush; acclimate gradually and naturally.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Reassured by his familiar kindness and affection, Cazeros felt her inner burden lighten slightly, her cheeks flushing faintly.

However…

At that moment, neither Cazeros nor Santana noticed the presence of another observing their tender interaction.

After her conversation with Santana, Cazeros felt considerably more at ease.

It was upon returning to her chamber following their parting that the incident occurred.

“…?”

The next moment, a young woman came into view.

Appearing around Cazeros’s age, with hair and eye colors resembling Santana’s, she surmised this might be his sister.

Recognizing this, Cazeros took the initiative to offer a slight bow and courteous greeting.

“Good day. Forgive me, but might I inquire as to your identity?”

Cazeros posed the question politely.

However, the woman responded curtly.

“…I’m Dust. Are you the one called Cazeros?”

“Yes, that is correct. I am Cazeros. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Dust.”

Cazeros spoke with her characteristic warmth towards the woman before her.

As Santana’s apparent sister, it was only natural for Cazeros to feel a sense of familiarity, despite their first meeting.

Yet…

“…How noisy… Mind your place, wench.”

“…E-Excuse me?”

The next moment, Dust addressed Cazeros with a chilling tone.

Taken aback by her unexpected response, Cazeros’s expression briefly registered bewilderment…

Regarding her with a gaze that seemed to transcend coldness into sheer hostility, Dust uttered one final remark.

“Let me warn you, do not continue clinging to my brother as you were earlier. Someone of your lowly station is unfit to associate with him.”

“…”

Rendered utterly speechless by her words, Cazeros could only stare at Dust with wide, azure eyes.

Having said her piece, Dust unceremoniously departed, leaving no room for a response.

‘How dare a lowly wench like you… My brother belongs to me alone… I shall not relinquish him to anyone.’