Chapter 23
“No, it’s my fault.”
“What did you do wrong?”
“Clearly, this happened because I taught something wrong. Uncle was right. I can’t even dream of magic without uncle…”
Roland’s shoulders slumped. Karina was momentarily speechless. Roland has always surprised her, but never as much as he does now. She chooses her words slowly. She was afraid that she would hurt Roland’s heart even more by trying to comfort him.
“But I’m fine!”
Suddenly, Melissa screamed and pushed Roland away. Karina was startled and called out to Melissa.
“Melissa!”
Karina wasn’t the only one who was surprised. Roland also looked at Melissa with his eyes wide open. Melissa just pushed him away, but she didn’t look angry or sarcastic at all. Melissa shouted at Roland in a sharp voice.
“Why, why Roland is saying it’s your fault? I’m fine!”
“Melissa!”
Roland freaked out and shouted.
“It was mom’s first time learning! I should’ve done better! Uncle…”
Melissa’s lips trembled as soon as Lord Renke’s story came out.
“Always uncle, uncle! If you like uncle so much, go back right now!”
(T/N: Damn, I know they’re fighting but why does it sound like a couple arguing HAHA)
“What did you just say?”
Karina had no idea how to deal with this situation.
It was because she had never argued with another child when she was young, and she understood both Melissa’s and Roland’s position and didn’t want to scold either side.
The reason Roland blamed himself was understandable. Teaching Karina and Melissa magic was the first step out of Lord Lenque’s shadow.
Since that first step failed, it wasn’t unreasonable to think that Roland himself had a problem. And Melissa…
‘Melissa is more concerned about Roland than I am. The most precious person to Melissa is Roland.’
It didn’t feel bad at all. It was rather fortunate. There’s nothing more bitter than being the culprit that separates siblings from each other.
But she couldn’t just let the children fight. In fact, while Karina was lost in thought, the quarrel between the two children was getting out of control.
“Roland, Melissa.”
After making the decision, Karina called the children in a stern voice.
“…”
“…”
The two children kept their mouths shut and glared at each other as if they had made a promise.
“Let’s talk one by one. Melissa, what’s the matter?”
“…Roland is wrong.”
“No, Melissa is wrong!”
Karina sighed. It’s rather a question without an answer, so she wishes she could say that both of them were right and give them a warm hug. But for now, she had to take Melissa’s side.
“Mr. Wilder explained everything. It’s absolutely not Roland’s fault.”
Roland didn’t look upset at all, even though Karina had given Melissa a hand. Rather, he just opened his eyes wide and looked at Karina.
“…Isn’t it my fault?”
“Yeah, Roland didn’t do anything wrong.”
“If it was my fault, I would never try to use magic in the future.”
“Roland.”
Karina shook her head slowly.
“It was my problem.”
“Mom…?”
A disbelief voice came out of Roland’s mouth. Melissa nervously pulled the hem of Karina’s skirt.
“It’s not your fault, but it’s my problem. I was born with a condition that can’t use magic.”
“…!”
The children’s faces turned blue in shock.
“Mom…”
Melissa mumbled as she buried her head in Karina’s skirt.
“Aigoo, Melissa.”
Karina noticed that her skirt was getting wet, took a handkerchief from her pocket, and wiped Melissa’s face.
“It’s never Roland’s fault. I’ve always had a physique that’s not supposed to use magic. I just found out about that a while back.”
“Th-that’s not fair.”
Roland tried to protest in a trembling voice.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before. From how much I’ve learned, there’s nothing in uncle’s books that mentioned it!”
“Lord Lenque doesn’t know everything.”
Karina didn’t say that Lord Lenque knew very little or that everything he had said to Roland was wrong. Like it or not, Roland learned a lot from Lord Lenque’s teachings. If she degrades Lord Lenque too much it would only confused Roland, who’s still young.
“Uncle… doesn’t know everything?”
“Yeah.”
Karina answered firmly.
“And he wouldn’t have told you everything he knew.”
“Ah…”
Roland then murmured as he nodded his head, finally had been convinced.
“I believe in Sir Wilder too. But mom…”
Karina cut off Roland’s words.
“I don’t mind if I can’t use magic.”
Melissa grabbed Karina’s arm and looked up at her face.
“Mom, you really can’t use it at all?”
“I can’t use it. No, I’m not able to. And I really don’t mind.”
Karina let out a few words without breathing. It was heartbreaking to tell a painful lie.
“You’re much more precious than magic.”
This was the truth.
* * *
The Duke of Tors, Claude Deviathan Tors walked slowly through the room. His handsome forehead wrinkled and his eyes which had always shone intelligently wandered through the air, anyone who saw him could tell he was deeply troubled.
So it was only natural that the butler who had worked for a long time in the Duke’s family carefully asked for the cause.
“Your Grace, what worries do you have?”
“…Nothing.”
Claude blankly looked around the hall.
“This time it’s all my fault.”
“I assure you, that won’t be the case.”
“Thank you, Sir Chichester.”
Claude forcibly raised the corners of his lips. The old butler, who was loyal to the Duke’s family long before he was born has always been generous to him. But Claude was no longer a ‘young master’ in need of comfort.
“But I can only say that my current situation is my problem.”
“Your Grace, what do you mean…?”
“I failed again.”
Claude replied bitterly. Karina Bloe rejected his offer at the drop of a hat again this time. No, it was worse than being rejected in the face.
He sent her the Duke’s invitation, but she didn’t even reply. It made him even more bitter because it was an official invitation sent with the flowers grown in the Duke’s house.
This wasn’t the first time he had failed to recruit talent and it won’t be the last. But Karina Bloe had such a yearned talent that it was very disappointing.
“Who is it this time?”
The butler’s eyes narrowed. He seemed to have noticed the situation immediately. Needless to say, if you were a member of the Duke family you couldn’t be unaware of the young Duke’s obsession with talent. Claude sighed heavily.
“…Mrs. Bloe. Wilder’s assistant.”
“Wilder didn’t let her go. That ungrateful…!”
The butler’s eyes lit up. He terribly hated Wilder, a commoner who uttered rude remarks to Claude. If it was that Wilder, he thought it wouldn’t be strange if he held his assistant who was delighted with the Duke’s offer.
“No.”
Claude shakes his head.
“How could Wilder not let her go when it’s my name. The lady refused.”
“Oh my god.”
The butler’s mouth opened wide.
“Does she know who Your Grace is and refused?”
“Actually, she tried to run away as soon as she knew who I was.”
Claude laughed bitterly.
“She must be scared. I didn’t think I looked that scary.”
“No way. Your Grace is very handsome.”
The butler shakes his head in denial, but Claude just let it slide. Sir Chichester had a strong affection because he’s been taking care of him since he was a baby.
“Or maybe I looked like a lustful man who would covet a widow with two children.”
This one was more likely. He often had to deal with problems caused by the lords of the duchy, there was also the case of a lord who ignored a female doctor’s intention and desire her. He could tell that it wasn’t just a problem in the South even without hearing rumors.
(T/N: I totally didn’t expected that 0_0)
“It’s unlikely. It’s hard for anyone here to know who the Duke is.”
“She’s not from here. So I don’t know much about her.”
Claude digs as much information as he can from Wilder to identify Karina Bloe. Sadly there wasn’t much useful information to use, but it was better than nothing. The butler’s eyes narrowed.
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“She’s not from here?”
“Yes. She’s from the North, but she said she originally planned to go to the capital. It seems like she came here by chance.”
“…Your Grace.”
Claude raised an eyebrow. The butler sounded like he had made up his mind on something.
“I’m against the recruitment of Mrs. Bloe.”