TRST 36

Chapter 36

The next morning, I received a message from Grandfather.

Delivered by Rachel, the letter was penned by a servant on Grandfather’s behalf, detailing the time and place for the introduction he had arranged for me.

Three days have passed since I received the letter.

While waiting for the meeting, I practiced moving mana as Master Cesare had taught me. It was a productive way to pass the time and helped me develop a better affinity with mana.

During this period, I reflected on my experiences at the Graham Ducal Mansion.

Fortunately, after I had declined the Tieria flower pot Ains gifted me and returned the fountain pen, he had shown no significant reaction.

I had expected Ains to come back to me out of pride, but to my surprise, he remained silent.

Perhaps he was the first to end the exhausting emotional tug-of-war between us.

Or maybe it wasn’t even about him. He hadn’t expressed interest in me for a long time; instead, he found me burdensome.

His repeated visits to the Viscounty and his interest in me seemed fleeting.

A sense of relief washed over me. Ains and I were destined to drift apart.

I reminded myself once again that we had never truly connected emotionally over the past decade.

“Madam, it’s all done.”

Rivet, who had been helping me get ready, spoke with confidence. I shook off my thoughts and turned to the mirror.

“Wow…”

I was always amazed by Rivet’s exceptional skills. It felt funny to say it myself, but on days when she put in extra effort, I was often surprised by the beautiful reflection staring back at me.

“How is it? Since you mentioned meeting someone new today, I put in a bit more effort.”

“It’s wonderful. Thank you, Rivet.”

“You’re welcome.”

Rivet beamed at my compliment, then checked the time and quickly got busy.

“You need to go now. You’ll be late.”

“Already?”

“It’s not just already; it’s past 11 o’clock.”

I had been so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed the time slipping away. The meeting was set for 11:30, so even if I left immediately, I would barely arrive on time.

Although I planned to express my refusal after the meal, I couldn’t afford to be late, especially considering Grandfather’s reputation.

I hurried outside and climbed into the waiting carriage. Since I had informed them of the destination, the carriage departed as soon as I closed the door.

Meeting someone for the first time through an introduction made me a bit nervous. Honestly, I was more anxious about how to refuse without offending the other person than excited.

After a busy ride, the carriage arrived slightly late at the meeting venue.

It was a well-known upscale restaurant in the capital. Taking a deep breath at the entrance, I slowly stepped inside.

“Good day, Madam. Do you have a reservation?”

The waiter greeted me politely. I nodded while scanning the interior of the restaurant.

“There should be a reservation under the name Damon Graham. Can you confirm?”

“Yes, I’ll guide you. This way, please.”

Following the waiter, I walked inside. Oddly, there was no table with a man sitting alone.

Could it be that the other person was running even later than I was?

I preferred this situation; waiting for the other person felt more comfortable than the embarrassment of being late.

Following the waiter, I found myself in an unexpected scenario.

“This is your table. Please let us know when you’ve decided on your menu,” the waiter said before bowing and leaving.

I cautiously addressed the person seated at the table.

“Are you the one introduced by Damon Graham?”

The woman looked up at me and smiled warmly.

“Yes. First, please sit down; standing will tire your legs.”

This was unexpected. I had assumed Grandfather was referring to a potential remarriage partner, but instead, I found a middle-aged woman waiting for me.

She had long, fine red hair tied up high and wore a glamorous dress that flattered her figure. However, among the nobles I’d encountered, none had quite her appearance.

Despite my confusion, I took a seat across from her.

“It seems Damon didn’t explain properly.”

“Pardon? Oh, yes. He just mentioned he would introduce me to someone good…”

As I hesitated, the woman burst into hearty laughter.

“Well, let me introduce myself first. I am Versena Dielman, one of the elders of the Magic Tower.”

“…What?”

I was taken aback by her unexpected identity, my eyes widening. An elder of the Magic Tower. Versena Dielman was one of its long-standing masters.

Currently, Master Cesare led the Magic Tower, but I had heard she was the previous head.

“I’m Cecilia Marves.”

“I know. I’ve heard about you from Damon, and I’m informed about your situation through Cesare. That old fox Damon even asked me to call you Cecilia. Is it alright if I do? I’m not very formal.”

Seeing her speak so casually, I nodded. As a former master and elder of the Magic Tower, she wasn’t someone of lower status who would bow to me.

In fact, she was one of the highest-ranking individuals in the Magic Tower, someone whom even the royal family couldn’t treat lightly, making her a rather formidable figure for me.

“Anyway, it seems Damon is quite concerned about your condition. He even asked me for a favor. He’s not fond of that young Master Cesare.”

“I see. I had no idea.”

“It’s alright. It’s enough that you know now.”

“Then what should I call you?”

Addressing her as Elder felt too awkward, and using her name or surname seemed too difficult. Unsure of what to say, I asked cautiously.

She shrugged slightly and replied, “Just call me Master Belle. That’s what everyone does. What would you like to eat? I know the best dish here. May I order that for you?”

“Yes, anything is fine with me.”

I agreed, and Master Belle called the waiter to place the order, with me following suit.

“After the meal, I’ll introduce you to the Magic Tower. It seems Cesare only teaches you mana at the mansion? The Magic Tower has excellent facilities for training novice mages, so it’s better to learn there.”

“Yes, Master Cesare did mention that I should visit, saying it would be beneficial.”

“It certainly is. There are many mages there, so you can experience various types of mana, which makes it easier to understand its properties.”

Master Belle leaned her arms on the table, smiling warmly.

“Damon earnestly asked me to help you. He said you’re like a granddaughter to him and begged me to assist in your recovery.”

“Grandfather did…?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here. Normally, I don’t take on trivial requests, but Damon said this was his last wish, so I had to agree.”

At her words, I felt tears welling up.

I had foolishly thought Grandfather was merely introducing me for a casual meal, but it seemed he had reached out to his connections out of concern for me, bringing Master Belle along.

Feeling both grateful and remorseful, I held back tears, knowing I couldn’t cry in such a setting.

“May I ask what your relationship with Grandfather is?”

When I asked cautiously, Master Belle paused for a moment before offering a vague smile.

“Well, we’re friends?”

Hearing her refer to Grandfather as a friend made me lower my head awkwardly. She looked like a middle-aged woman, but if she considered him a friend, she must be older than she appeared.

Just then, the door burst open, and someone entered the restaurant. The atmosphere quickly turned chaotic as the intruder scanned the tables, seemingly searching for someone.

Seeing who it was, I quietly exclaimed, “Ains?”

Ains had entered, looking around angrily. Upon spotting me, he strode over.

“What are you doing here?”

Surprised by his sudden appearance, I asked, but Ains gritted his teeth, opening his mouth to speak.

“Cecilia, are you really here to meet someone else…!”

But as he began to speak, he froze in place upon realizing that the person sitting across from me was a woman.