~Chapter 10~
But the young lord merely grinned, his round eyes, taller than mine by a head, curling teasingly.
“Enough with the greetings—let’s get inside. The wind grows chilly as the sun sets.”
Leviathan gently rested his hand atop both mine and Void’s heads, then furrowed his brow.
“The height difference…”
It was quite noticeable.
Though he muttered under his breath, I was too focused on watching Void.
“And the late duke?”
At Leviathan’s question, a dignified butler wearing exquisite spectacles stepped forward.
“The late duke has been unwell lately and has remained in the northern annex…”
The words were barely above a whisper. Leviathan nodded shortly.
“I see. I shall pay him a visit later.”
His tone was familiar, as if this was routine.
“First, let us clean you up and get you something to eat—the journey was arduous.”
“Yes, we shall prepare at once.”
The butler bowed politely.
“Um… Father, may I visit your study later?”
Void shyly wriggled, his gaze blending respect and awe at seeing his father again after so long.
“Of course.”
Smiling brightly, Void bounded up the stairs.
“Elto! Where is my perfect exam paper? And my swordsmanship records?”
“Goodness, young master! Do not run! And there is no perfect score!”
His energy was boundless.
“You’ve grown quite close with the young master.”
The butler chuckled softly while Leviathan rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed.
“Well… yes.”
“Huh? You weren’t close?”
“I was more avoiding him.”
“Then?”
“Well…”
The butler bent down, matching Void’s eye level.
“The young master was often brought to tears upon seeing you, so he kept his distance out of consideration…”
“Ah.”
“Well, that’s your fault. Who wouldn’t be frightened if a grown man stared like that?”
The butler playfully raised his index fingers to mimic wide-open eyes.
“Right?”
With a gentle, kind smile, I nodded vigorously.
Indeed, I knew well my own sour temperament.
“The awkwardness has only just begun to fade. The lady has been mediating.”
“Adolf, you’re unusually talkative today.”
Leviathan scolded.
The warmth inside the house made me flush. The butler gently removed my cloak with a smile.
“That is why everyone is so surprised.”
“Huh?”
“This is the first time a child has so easily nestled into the lord’s arms.”
“Oh, it’s more comfortable than I expected…”
Suddenly I realized—
I should have walked here myself! I should have looked dignified in the North!
“More comfortable, huh? And how well you talk back.”
Leviathan ruffled my hair until it stood on end like a lion’s mane.
“Stop that!”
“See? A beast, I tell you.”
Leviathan’s mischievous chuckle grated on me; even the butler adjusted his glasses and laughed.
“Well then, shall we bathe and have something to eat? Hazel.”
The brown-haired maid stepped forward.
“Rubian, would you like to bathe first?”
“Bath!”
I welcomed the word but hesitated.
Frozen in indecision, Leviathan spoke up.
“Bathing and dressing are only to be done with Rubian’s permission.”
The servants exchanged concerned glances.
Leviathan reiterated firmly,
“Do not force her.”
At times like these, he was less cantankerous.
“Understood, my lord.”
I cleared my throat dryly and took the maid’s hand.
Slowly, we ascended the stairs.
Jebert Castle, despite its austere exterior, was bright and warm inside.
Golden chandeliers illuminated every corner; well-kept carpets and softly gleaming marble corridors stretched before me.
“This way, Rubian.”
Looking upon the Jebert family crest embroidered everywhere, I felt a strange mix of emotions.
Had I truly entered the Jebert domain?
‘Now begins the true game: finding the cause of my lord’s demise.’
“Should I wait outside?”
I nodded meekly.
“If there is any trouble, ring the bell.”
The maids looked back anxiously multiple times.
‘I understand their worry because I appear young.’
Yet I had bathed countless times alone in both my past and present lives.
I even found it more comfortable this way.
‘Such a pleasant scent.’
The bathing room was filled with gentle steam and fragrant oils. I removed my clothes and slipped into the tub.
The frothy bubbles were exceedingly soft.
Leaning back, I relaxed deeply.
“Ah, this is nice…”
As I enjoyed the comfort, Kalid came to mind.
Alone, I pressed my earlobe and called him—but no response.
‘He really blocked me.’
I grew genuinely annoyed.
Honestly, I feared he might suddenly appear—he was unpredictable.
I soaked a little longer, then rose.
My reflection showed a gaunt, fragile frame, the scar running across my right side.
‘Not entirely a lie.’
There were minor scratches, but this wound was the largest.
Though I could barely recall where it came from.
‘It must have hurt…’
Perhaps I was lucky to forget.
Turning slowly, I checked my back.
“This is the real problem.”
The Arcadian Mage Kingdom’s crest was stamped on my spine.
‘I must do something about this.’
I had to prepare for any eventuality.
It must not be known that I am the fugitive mage sought by Arcadia.
Leviathan’s cause of death was still a mystery, and I had yet to avert the ruin ending.
I pondered.
‘The worst fate is to have my identity as a mage and my power revealed.’
That would be the true bad ending.
I would be expelled back to the Mage Kingdom, unable to fulfill any goal.
Destruction would be inevitable.
‘What if my participation in the war is uncovered?’
I looked again at the scar.
That meant I was the Arcadian child soldier.
The likelihood of being exposed as a mage was high.
Again, the bad ending.
‘What if they discover I’m a girl?’
That was the lightest secret I kept.
Since the fugitive mage was widely known to be female, there was no need to raise suspicion unnecessarily.
‘Besides…’
I recalled Leviathan from the original story.
Yes, indeed.
‘I had considered confiding everything to Leviathan.’
But I could not bring myself to.
He lost his child in the carriage accident caused by the fugitive mage.
“She was a girl…”
More precisely, the child Lady Rosetta bore in her womb.
The duchess had given birth to a deceased child.
All within the empire knew this.
‘I knew better than anyone how deeply Leviathan despaired.’
From then on, Leviathan and Rosetta began adopting children.
‘But all were boys.’
The eldest and second sons.
The meaning was clear.
“Sigh…”
I did not want to become Leviathan’s trauma.
Nor be reminded of his dead daughter.
Moreover, the whole North came to despise mages because of that tragedy.
‘I do not want to be hated…’
Leviathan is kind at heart, so he will not immediately reject me.
But if he shows any sign of reluctance…
‘I think I won’t be able to bear it.’
So, at least while I am here—
“I will be an ordinary child.”
Though burdened with many secrets, there was no choice.
Splash! I splashed water to clear my mind.
‘Fortunately, this place is not as mana-thin as the capital.’
Perhaps because it was once the land of beasts.
I tried to move my mana cautiously all the way here, without feeling winded or weak.
‘Maybe that’s why I could even communicate with Kalid.’
Though blocked.
Damn it.
“Alright. First, stealth magic.”
I wielded mana.
Though my internal channels felt blocked, drawing ambient mana made it easier.
Stealth magic was the most basic of basics.
I cloaked myself in a thin veil matching my skin tone, hiding the mage’s mark and side wound.
‘I can maintain this as long as I’m not too weak.’
After all, I was a fairly accomplished mage.
My mind held countless spells and circuits knowledge.
Though not richly gifted with mana, my knowledge earned me respect in the kingdom.
‘If ambient mana falls short, I struggle.’
Anywhere but the imperial capital, I was fine.
This was sufficient.
‘If I link this to circuits that sync ambient and internal mana in real time…’
My mind raced.
Glancing at a mirror, my eyes swirled with a reddish glow.
When invoking my knowledge rather than standard spells, my pupils changed thus—for reasons unknown.
A brief flare of magic pulsed and vanished.
I completed a new glyph to sustain my stealth indefinitely.
This way, even if I suddenly shed my clothes, it wouldn’t matter.
‘Still must be careful though.’
I blushed, looking downward.
‘Luckily, Northerners know little of magic.’
The thrill of exerting power unseen—exquisite!
“Rubian? Have you been in there too long?”
“I’m coming out!”
I dashed out hastily.
“Please don’t run! It’s dangerous!”
The maids’ anxious voices followed me as I left the bath.
It had been a meaningful first bath.
Upon emerging, Hazel awaited.
“Rubian, let me introduce myself again. I am Hazel, your attendant.”
“Hello, Hazel!”
“You may speak comfortably.”
“I will take it slow.”
Hazel smiled knowingly.
It seemed the lesser-known characters in the original story were shy.
“Shall we have dinner?”
“The chef put a lot of effort in knowing you arrived.”
Hehe, really now.
As Hazel wiped water from my arms and legs, she frowned.
“Hmmm… these clothes are too large. We should have prepared smaller sizes.”
The maids nodded in agreement.
None of the pre-prepared outfits fit me.
“They were sized for young master Void. We’ll have to order new ones.”
“I’m fine like this.”
I folded my long sleeves neatly.
“This will do!”
“Ugh…”
Hazel groaned, wiggling her ten fingers.
“You’re adorable, but no! You must wear properly fitting clothes. I’ll contact the boutique immediately!”
Hazel’s eyes flamed with passion.
I had no idea why this was such a big deal.
So I stayed silent.
“Shall we eat?”
“Yes!”
Hazel and I descended to the dining room.
“But what about sir?”
“Your lord said he had pressing matters, so he would dine separately.”
“Oh, I see.”
He must be overwhelmed after so long away.
I took my seat quietly.
Shortly, the lord’s second son, Void Zebert, appeared.
