LDLDE 02

Chapter 02

• She’s a little girl with incredible talent for magic. I want to take this child as my disciple and raise her properly.
• Magic? Just how strong is she for you to personally step in like this?
• Oh my, didn’t you feel it too, Duke? She’s overflowing with such delicious mana.
• ……
• If I teach her basic magic and she receives the best education at the Imperial Academy, she could become someone comparable to the Great Mage Albert LeBleon. Or perhaps even surpass the disciple of that great mage……
• That’s enough. I don’t need to hear any further. So, what you’re saying is this child needs my support?
• Yes, that’s right. Of course, I can support her too, but it would be better for this little lady to receive House Windriche’s backing.

After a long silence, the man who had been looking at me with a displeased expression finally made his decision.

• One year.
• …Pardon?
• I don’t invest in things without value. So, kid, prove your worth for the next year. If I decide you’re useless when I see you again after a year, I’ll send you back without hesitation.

To be honest, I never wanted to become a mage. Meeting Uncle Ricardo wasn’t even my own choice.

Even if he stopped supporting me after a year, it didn’t really matter.

As if reading my rebellious thoughts, the uncle added casually:

• Indeed, in this Barony of Cornel, it’s rare to see mages. So it seems you don’t understand just how valuable your talent is.
• …?
• Even an average mage can live quite well in most territories. It’s a far better life than doing menial work in a noble household.
• …!
• If you truly become someone comparable to Albert LeBleon…… then yes, there would be nothing you couldn’t do in this empire.

“Nothing I couldn’t do.”

That sentence captured my heart.

• Then… can I find people too?
• Is there someone you want to find?
• Yes! My dad. He said he was going somewhere for a short while three years ago, but he still hasn’t come back.
• That’s……
• I know what you’re thinking right now. But my dad would never abandon me. Something must have happened to him, so he can’t come back. So……

Before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes, and Uncle Ricardo looked flustered for the first time.

• So I need to find my dad before it’s too late.
• Haa……

The uncle sighed, rubbing his forehead, then handed me a handkerchief.

• Fine, stop crying. If you want to find your father, I’ll help you.
• Really?
• Yes. So, kid, don’t think about anything else and just focus on your studies.

After that, I worked hard at the Imperial Academy to make a good impression on Uncle Ricardo.

Because until he found my father, I needed his support.

Whether it was true that I had talent as a mage, or simply the result of my effort, I managed to surpass all the other children and become the top student in the magic department after just one year.

• Duke, I ranked first!
• Are you expecting praise right now? Isn’t that only natural since I supported you?
• …Yes.
• Still, I suppose you did work hard.
• Yes! Hehe.

After that, I continued receiving Uncle Ricardo’s support.

Over time, the two of us grew closer. I followed him like a daughter follows her father, and he treated me like his own child.

I thought I was the most unfortunate person in the world, but Uncle Ricardo was no less unfortunate than I was.

Long ago, he lost his wife to an unknown illness, and during that process, he had a major misunderstanding with his only son, and they ended up living like strangers.

The duchess had asked that her illness be kept secret so as not to worry her son, who was studying at the Imperial Academy. Because of that, Killian Windriche could not be by his mother’s side when she passed away.

Because of this, he grew deeply angry at Uncle Ricardo and nearly cut ties completely.

Fortunately, Killian kept the name “Windriche,” but he had no contact with his father at all.

Even knowing his son’s anger, Uncle Ricardo made no effort to clear the misunderstanding.

• It’s true that I didn’t contact him, and because of that, he couldn’t be there when Diana died. What is there to misunderstand?
• But you did it because the duchess asked you to! And because you were worried about him……!
• Kid. No matter the reason, what I did cannot be undone.

I felt sorry for the broken relationship between the father and son.

If it were me, I would have tried to fix things with my dad.

If I could meet my father again, I would tell him I was sorry for being difficult, and that I truly, truly loved him.

But I still couldn’t tell my feelings to my father. He was still missing without a trace.

On the other hand, Killian Windriche was different. He still had a chance. A chance not to regret like me.

Fortunately, we both attended the same Imperial Academy.

I didn’t miss that chance and approached Killian.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

• You’re receiving the Duke of Windriche’s support? That man who didn’t even care about his own child suddenly changed his mind?

His eyes were cold as he looked down at me.

Killian, who had been thinking for a moment, soon scoffed.

• Ah, I see. So I’m supposed to be a spy watching him?

If that’s the case, give up. You won’t get any information the Duke wants.

But I was the most persistent student in the academy.

Even though he looked at me like I was dirt, I kept following him without caring.

Thanks to my persistence, he gradually started letting me stand by his side.

Seven years passed like that.

During those seven years under Uncle Ricardo’s support, my magic skills grew like sprouting beans, and I was called a genius.

However, even with House Windriche’s intelligence network, I still couldn’t find my father. Before I knew it, I was about to graduate from the academy.

The only good news was that Killian had finally opened his heart to me, and he was thinking about finally speaking properly with Uncle Ricardo.

• Your graduation is soon. About a month left, right?
• Yes. Time really passed that quickly.
• Have you decided where you’ll go after graduating?
• Not really. I’m not sure yet.
• Then……

Killian hesitated for a moment before making a suggestion.

• After graduation, would you like to come to the Windriche territory with me?

It didn’t seem like that was what he originally wanted to say, but I was so surprised that I didn’t notice the words he swallowed back.

He hadn’t once returned to the Windriche territory since his mother died.

• Really?
• Yeah. If you come with me, I think I might be able to talk with the Duke… no, with my father.

For the first time in almost ten years, Killian said the word “father,” and his ears turned slightly red.

I almost burst into tears from emotion but held them back.

• Of course! I’ll definitely go with you! I’m sure Uncle will be very happy too!

Finally, was my long effort about to pay off?

I was happier about the upcoming reunion of the Windriche father and son than if it were my own matter.

But that didn’t happen.

Because three days before my graduation ceremony, bad news arrived.

It was news that Uncle Ricardo, who had gone to the monster subjugation war according to the Church’s request, had been killed by a monster.

• Haa……

Killian’s expression, as he delivered the news while suddenly bursting into laughter, looked so painful.

Just remembering the face he made at that time still……

“……h?”

“Pardon?”

I, lost in thought, looked blankly at Uncle Ricardo’s sudden question.

“Why is it daughter-in-law instead of daughter?”