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Chapter 43
“Gone?”
“No. I can still see a few people. Ah—Flier just approached them and chased them off.”
“If they’re coming, it would be the big shots, right?”
Cecilia muttered to Juline. Juline just smiled.
“What can you do? That’s what fame brings.”
Recently, people had been gathering around Diaman multiple times a day. The explosion at the Magic Tower had become the talk of the capital. The authorities announced it as a ‘minor’ incident during an experiment, to avoid causing panic, but many had already witnessed that it wasn’t minor at all.
Those known to have been present at the scene were Cecilia, Riman, and the Master of the Magic Tower. Riman had hidden away under the protection of the Jeikal family to recuperate, while the Master of the Tower decided to stay in Diaman until the tower was properly restored. As a result, the noble families, sensing something unusual, sent spies to Diaman. All they could do was peek from outside.
But…
“Why isn’t Heinz here this time? Even one of Alec Phillips’ men seems to have come.”
“Even if they’re moving, it’s probably behind the scenes. The Ducal family rarely intervenes directly in most matters.”
“This isn’t exactly a minor matter, though.”
“It was announced as a ‘minor’ accident, wasn’t it?”
With the research presentation canceled due to the tower incident, there was no bait left to lure Ilrod, and the absence of Heinz among those gathered outside unsettled Cecilia. Sighing, she watched from the window as Flier politely kept the people at bay.
“So, what about Riman? Any news from your informants?”
“He’s still unconscious.”
“Still? I thought he had passed the dangerous stage.”
“Apparently his stamina can’t keep up during recovery, so he keeps fainting.”
“I told him to take walks in the tower garden….”
There was a reason she had emphasized endurance so much. Cecilia recovered quickly, but Riman was still weak.
“Well, at least he’s alive.”
Thinking of the one who had once annoyingly begged her to kill him in a desperate moment, Cecilia felt a complicated mix of emotions.
“And the Master of the Tower?”
“He seems to be in the annex all day. He brought Margaret along because he was bored. Royhan looked so disappointed.”
“Good for him, then.”
Originally, the Jeikal family had offered to provide temporary quarters for the Master, but Akla flatly refused. If he stayed there, a flood of strange, magic-obsessed wizards would come, insisting on solving magical problems together.
Of course, one of those strange wizards was herself.
Akla had simply smiled, saying she wanted to enjoy her time outside the tower. Cecilia remembered how hectic it had been while Cecile and Carla prepared the Master’s quarters. The family had treated it as a matter of prestige and practically fought tooth and nail to prepare the place.
Though they wanted to throw a welcome party, Akla refused, saying Riman still needed rest and it wasn’t the right time for festivities.
“Besides, you’d be troubled by other things.”
Referring to the news of the alchemy formula leaking from the Forbidden Archive.
Juline calmly nodded.
“The Forbidden Archive is a place I don’t know well either. There’s a limit to what information can be obtained there.”
“I heard it’s where prohibited research and academic materials that the kingdom no longer studies are kept. I don’t understand why they’d leave such things.”
“Maybe someone thinks it could be useful someday. I understand it from the perspective of handling information.”
“That’s usually called greed.”
Cecilia summed it up simply. They had no idea who had stolen the materials or how. They didn’t even know where the stolen formulas might be circulating. She wanted to wake Riman and ask, but he still needed rest.
“Only a very few people can enter there,” the Master of the Tower had said.
He also added:
“By the way, even I and the wizards of the Tower are forbidden from access. We possess the ability to perform forbidden magic.”
“I heard royal wizards can enter relatively freely.”
“That’s true. But juniors cannot. One needs sufficient experience to enter.”
‘…And’
Royal family members are allowed entry.
Cecilia knew one royal particularly interested in magic. In fact, he was highly likely to be at the center of any magical incident.
“He once almost destroyed the Magic Tower.”
She wasn’t sure if he was involved in this dangerous matter, but all possibilities had to be considered. The Second Prince had a talent for escalating situations.
‘Intentional or not.’
He might have caused the incident unintentionally and helped her to manage it. Cecilia decided to keep Krondel on her watchlist rather than remove his name from consideration entirely. She didn’t want to label him a prime suspect openly.
‘For now, there’s no way to investigate.’
Obtaining access to the archive was extremely difficult. The Master promised to notify her once the issue was resolved.
Cecilia planned to leave the investigation to others. She felt uneasy leaving the mastermind of the monster incident unchecked but didn’t want to do the legwork herself again. But…
“You’re pretty much the only candidate who can enter.”
“I’m not—”
“There’s a potion recipe that could keep three generations pampered just knowing it exists.”
“…….”
“There are some amazing methods for making magical items too. If properly sold, they might even save the kingdom. There must be someone to teach them to, right?”
“…I’ll do it.”
During their brief conversation, the Master had spoken as if reading her mind, listing tempting promises one after another.
“Then, while waiting for archive access, I’ll submit a visit request for Riman…”
Squeak. The door opened.
“You’re here.”
“Welcome.”
Someone entered the guest room where only Juline and Cecilia were present. It was Flier.
“What brings you here in such a hurry?”
“…Did it show?”
“Normally you’d have knocked.”
Flier smiled quietly, as if struck at the truth, reaching into his chest and pulling out something.
“I hurried because I wanted to deliver this to you as soon as possible. I brought it directly after receiving it from a servant. Please forgive the breach of etiquette.”
“There’s no breach between us. What is it?”
“You should see it for yourself.”
Cecilia realized Flier held an envelope. Written on it was a name…
She quickly took the letter and opened it, visibly excited. Flier looked pleased, sharing in her rare expression of delight. Juline, curious, peeked over.
“What is it?”
“A letter from my father.”
“Your father? Baron Roden Broneu?”
Cecilia nodded, opening the letter. It seemed the letter she sent had finally reached him. She had been worried since she hadn’t heard any news. She needed to know where her only family was. Finally, she had contact…
Crumple.
The letter slightly crumpled in her hand. Juline, noticing Cecilia’s frown, asked anxiously:
“Why? Bad news?”
Flier tensed slightly behind her. Cecilia replied reluctantly:
“…He’s on his way here.”
“What? When was the letter sent?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“That means he should have already arrived in the capital?!”
Knock. Another sound at the door. A servant from the Diaman family entered.
“Lady Cecilia, a guest has arrived.”
The three exchanged glances.
One of the Diaman family’s servants hurriedly went to a large tree in the corner of the garden, preparing refreshments for the newly arrived guest.
‘That person…’
Baron Roden Broneu.
A middle-aged man sat at a tea table under the tree. His low-saturation brown hair and black eyes didn’t resemble Cecilia, but his calm composure at the Diaman estate suggested his noble blood.
His attire was rather shabby for a noble, giving no impression of strength. But Cecilia remembered how she had first underestimated him at the Diaman estate. He could casually crush armor or bend a spear without flinching.
The wind rustled the branches, producing a clear sound. The Baron smiled softly. It seemed like a weary smile, but to the servant, it looked like the smile of a sage who understood the world.
‘He definitely has something going on.’
It was reportedly a rare father-daughter reunion. How moving it would be. The servant smiled softly. Their master, Viscount Flier Diaman, had first arrived and politely asked the servants to step aside.
‘Ah, I was curious about the reunion.’
They had no choice but to give them privacy.
A figure approached with fierce energy from across.
“Lady Cecilia….”
Hic.
The excitement made it hard to offer congratulations. The servant stepped aside, accepting the energy.
“……”
“Cecilia.”
As Baron Broneu rose from his seat with a smile:
Grab.
“Father.”
“Ci-Cecilia.”
Baron Broneu’s surprised voice echoed as Cecilia lifted him into her arms.
“It’s really, really good to see you again, but—”
Cecilia spoke seriously.
“You’ve been scammed again, haven’t you?”
