TRST 22

Chapter 22

“Master, shall I bring you some painkillers?”

Rivet asked cautiously, watching me frown and sigh even after finishing breakfast. I gave her a small smile and shook my head.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll only take medicine when I really need it. I already have two whole bottles I’ll have to take anyway.”

I glanced at the two glass bottles sitting on the desk.

“But you’ve been in pain since yesterday. Wouldn’t it be better to take something?”

“I’ll tell you if it gets unbearable. Don’t worry too much.”

Even after I refused again, Rivet looked at me with lingering concern before finally stepping back.

I understood why she was worried. Ever since Ains had visited the mansion the day before, my head had started to feel heavy and throb, and I’d spent the whole night groaning in pain.

I had comforted myself thinking it would get better after some sleep, but unfortunately, the headache showed no signs of easing.

“By the way, I’d like to contact the Magic Tower today. Would that be alright?”

“The Magic Tower? Is it because of what Doctor Watt suggested before? About trying to learn magic…?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t really think it was feasible, but it felt better to try something rather than suffer helplessly from these aftereffects.

“I’ll write a letter, so please send it to the Magic Tower.”

“Yes, Master. Let me know when you’re done—I’ll go right away.”

I smiled faintly at Rivet as she clenched her fist in determination. Then I took out some paper from the drawer and placed it on the desk.

There was only one person I intended to send the letter to. Not only were there few mages I had contacted during my time at the Graham ducal house, but there was only one person who had the authority to accept or refuse such a request.

The master of all mages and the owner of the Magic Tower—Master Cesare.

Since he had been Ains’s business partner, I had regularly received high-grade mana stones from him before my divorce.

We were at least somewhat acquainted, so I thought he might accept a simple request for instruction.

I briefly explained my physical condition in the letter and emphasized the need to control mana due to the aftereffects of my illness. I also added that if he couldn’t personally teach me, I would be willing to hire someone capable of helping me manage mana for a certain period.

After finishing the letter, I sealed it with wax and handed it to Rivet.

“Here, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes! Since it’s important, I’ll deliver it myself.”

Rivet answered brightly and soon left the mansion. I stood by the window, watching her head toward the Magic Tower—when suddenly, I noticed someone at the end of the alley staring in this direction.

“…Ains?”

It was hard to tell from the distance, but the figure looked like Ains, watching me from afar.

Maybe I was mistaken—but his body and gaze were unmistakably directed this way.

And it wasn’t just that. Amid the flow of passersby, only he and his attendants stood still, as if frozen in place.

I stared back at him for a moment before finally drawing the curtains. My headache seemed to worsen.

Rivet returned about two hours later. It had taken much longer than expected for someone who was only supposed to deliver a letter.

And she wasn’t alone.

“It’s been a while, my lady. Ah—should I now address you as Viscountess Marves?”

With a gentle smile, the man bowed his head slightly in greeting. Caught completely off guard, I stared at him blankly for a moment before snapping back to my senses and returning an awkward smile.

“It’s been a while, Master Cesare. I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

At my words, Master Cesare let out a low chuckle.

“You were a long-time client of ours, Viscountess. How could I ignore your request? For now, shall we talk over some tea?”

“Ah, of course. Please, this way to the drawing room.”

I personally guided him to the drawing room. After inviting him to sit, I took a seat as well. A maid soon served tea and quietly withdrew.

The sweet aroma of tea gradually filled the room. Master Cesare lifted his cup with familiarity, savoring the scent before taking a sip.

“You use fine tea leaves. The aroma is excellent—and the taste as well.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

“Thank you for serving such a fine tea.”

With that, he set the cup down and folded his hands over his knees.

“In your letter, you mentioned wanting to learn magic. Is that true?”

He asked directly, without beating around the bush. Since I had been wondering how to bring it up anyway, I nodded readily.

“Yes. As I briefly explained, the mana in my body is currently unstable. I was told that the fastest way to harmonize it is to learn how to control mana properly. So… I contacted you, even though I knew it might be presumptuous.”

“Magic is not something one can learn simply because they wish to,” he said calmly. “However, there is something I wanted to confirm, which is why I came in person.”

“Something you wanted to confirm?”

“Yes.”

His meaningful smile made me slightly uneasy. Mages were known for being eccentric and thinking differently from ordinary people, so I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous about what he wanted to check.

What could he possibly want to confirm from someone like me—a mere sick person?

“May I ask what it is?”

“It’s nothing complicated. You’ve received quite a large supply of mana stones from us over time, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“High-purity mana stones are extremely valuable, even to mages. Depending on how they are used, they can enhance magical ability or increase one’s mana capacity. But according to your letter, it seems you used them to activate the mana within your body.”

“…Yes. As a temporary measure for my illness.”

“I supplied you with quite a number of those stones, so I grew curious. If mana stones are absorbed artificially, how well can one actually control mana? Normally, those unfamiliar with mana never awaken to magic at all. But you… may be an exception. That’s why I came to see for myself.”

It wasn’t as bizarre as I had feared, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“You’ll find out eventually during the lessons anyway, so there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s a relief. I was honestly a bit startled… just in case.”

As I spoke nervously, he let out a brief laugh.

“Then… how much will the lessons cost?”

Since it was none other than Master Cesare himself teaching me, it was bound to be expensive. Although I still had a considerable amount of alimony from my divorce with Ains, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.

“As for payment, that won’t be necessary. I came with my own purpose as well. Besides, if things go very poorly, you may not be able to use magic at all. Though, given that you’ve regularly absorbed high-grade mana stones, the probability is extremely low—at least according to my theory.”

I hesitated at his refusal of payment. Mages were highly specialized professionals. And yet, here I was, receiving instruction from the master of the Magic Tower without paying anything…

But Master Cesare merely shrugged at my hesitation.

“In return, I’d be honored if you served me tea of this quality—like today.”

“That, I can do as much as you like.”

“Then, since we’ve finished our tea, shall we begin?”

“Already?”

I had assumed it would start no sooner than the next day, so his suddenness caught me off guard. But he looked puzzled instead.

“Is there any reason to delay? That’s why I came today. Or do you have other plans?”

“No, not at all. I was just surprised.”

At my quick response, he smiled faintly.

“Then let’s begin right away. It would be best for you to learn as quickly as possible. For that, we’ll need an open space—do you have one?”

I thought for a moment before nodding.

“Yes, I’ll guide you to the garden.”

Leaving the now-cold teacups behind, I led Master Cesare outside.

It was sudden, but if I could, I wanted to learn magic as quickly as possible.

And more than anything—I wanted to escape this persistent, agonizing pain.