Capitulo 93

Episode 93

Andrew had heard of Karina.

Although she was the daughter of a prominent duke family like the Pioneers, her life seemed humble.

A princess who had lost her lover time and time again to a woman named Tatiana.

Every time they parted, men cursed this woman.

Karina was notorious enough to reach the ears of Andrew, who was not interested in such things.

Rumors of being jealous of Tatiana, clinging badly to men and using money and power to force men they didn’t like to be with them.

Hey, if there’s nothing to do here, would you mind giving up your place?

Uh? ah… Yes.

He quickly got up from the bench and gave up his seat to Karina.

She didn’t even know it was lunchtime because she had skipped class.

She started eating sandwiches in a remote place where no one visited her.

As if she was used to this kind of thing, she didn’t even care for their gaze.

Andrew, on the other hand, didn’t want to eat alone, so he skipped lunch.

Maybe that’s why it was unfamiliar to see Karina finishing her meal with determination in a place like this.

«Isn’t it hurting her self-esteem?»

Eating alone, even avoiding the gaze of others.

She couldn’t understand.

She turned her head and asked if she had finished her portion of food.

If you haven’t had lunch, would you like one?

Saying that, he handed her an unopened sandwich.

Then he walked away as if nothing had happened.

I never thought he was hungry, maybe because he saw her earlier.

After thinking for a moment, Andrew took a bite of the sandwich.

It’s delicious.

He ate the sandwich in an instant.

It was a satisfying meal after a long time.

From that day on, Andrew went to the place to meet Karina at lunchtime.

She looked at him reluctantly at first, but gradually began to loosen the boundaries.

Contrary to her first impression of being tough and arrogant, she was quite a cheerful person.

It was hard to believe the bad rumors about her.

Andrew slowly began to open up to Karina.

Despite her princess status, she did not look down on him.

She treated him as if she had met Andrew before.

When he was with Karina, he felt as if he had returned to his old self.

Is that the reason for his feelings?

Andrew fell in love in an instant.

He loved the time he spent with her as if I was missing the past.

But it was a fantasy that didn’t last long.

Did you hear the rumors? Are they saying that you’re dating a man whose name you don’t know and that the princess’s self-esteem has collapsed?

Oh that… . are you talking about a man with a vague impression?

Karina was surrounded by strange rumors as she dined with her.

Andrew couldn’t lift his head.

As soon as he met her, Karina instantly became the butt of ridicule.

Andrew was then able to face his miserable self for the first time.

How insignificant he was.

How they could insult someone even when they weren’t dating.

He no longer went to see Karina.

This is a miserable life.

This is the life of a prince who didn’t ascend to the throne.

But he had to be grateful just to keep his life.

Andrew’s life, which seemed to shine for a moment, darkened again and the light faded.

Returning to the same life as before, the nobleman’s name, which had been on people’s lips, was quickly forgotten.

Why don’t you come for lunch these days?

Then, one day, after class, Karina appeared in front of him.

The blue eyes that looked at him burned with an unfamiliar warmth.

That that…

The people around him once again murmured about them.

However, Karina didn’t blink even when she received that knife-edge look.

I’ll be waiting for you.

After saying that, she turned her back on him and disappeared.

Andrew stared at the back for a long time.

* * *

From that day on, the two of them didn’t care about other people’s looks or words.

No, they didn’t even have time to worry about it.

Andrew couldn’t control his feelings for the first time.

I love you.

Karina, who whispered love to him without hesitation, was more precious than anything else.

Her eyes, which he thought were cold, were incredibly warm.

He thought he would be happy like this forever. With all the freedom.

Until Tatiana appeared.

* * *

After talking to Ethan Cassel, I realized this was not something that could be resolved on my line.

I quickly sent a telegram to my mother, writing the story of the seasonal winter mine and the Cassel family.

Contrary to my expectation that a reply would come soon, my mother showed up here a few days later.

Karin!

Oh… Mom?

I couldn’t help but open my mouth to see my mother smiling broadly with a trunk in both hands.

Behind her, servants brought by my mother anxiously loaded the luggage.

I looked at him blankly, then came to my senses and asked him what had happened.

What’s going on here all of a sudden, what’s with the tower?

I came here because I thought it would be difficult for you to figure it out on your own. And you don’t have to worry about the tower work anymore.

Freya said that and sat down on the couch.

She picked up the cookie that was on the plate and took a bite, then said.

You really did a great job. Raymond, you seem to be fully aware of this incident, so you are anxious to take the next class.

Raymond?

Yes. So it’s been a while since I’ve taken a vacation. The Society elders were also pleased that Raymond had come to his senses.

How could he change like that when he knelt before me once?

«Was he that embarrassed?»

If he had behaved properly like that, everyone would have agreed with the appointment of him being the tower master without saying much.

Anyway, it’s all thanks to you. Maybe all the mages in the tower will help you if it’s your business?

Is that so?

No doubt about it.

It seems Raymond’s evil deeds were more than I had imagined.

I’ve said it all to the extent that those old eccentrics say they have very little talent and don’t think they can make it.

The more I look at it, the more I see it.

Right? But what’s the Cassel family story you sent me?

I told my mother what I had discovered in the meantime.

It’s pretty famous that the Kassels and Raymond have a bad relationship.

Yes, they do. They’re so eager to kill each other.

Because the wizard and the alchemist don’t get along. There are wizards who object to Raymond Cassel being of this family and becoming the master of the tower.

I had no idea what the Cassel family was thinking.

After finding out who was behind the assassins who broke into the Duke’s house, we sent a letter of protest to the Cassels.

They pretended not to know until then.

They come to me now and ask me to arrest Raymond. I mean, it looks like something was going on. It doesn’t seem to be something that I proposed once or twice, believing it would be done.

The proposal was strange and Ethan’s attitude questionable.

Believing I can control that selfish Raymond just because he swore loyalty to me.

It would have been much quicker to ask Tatiana instead.

Let’s put that topic aside… I want to talk to you about the seasonal stone mines.

My mother’s eyes sparkled when she said that.

Did you come all this way for that mine?

No, not at all.

My mother blushed and laughed as if she was embarrassed.

The magician needed a lot of money for research. This is because the cost of various materials is enormous.

However, the seasonal stones could not be obtained simply with money.

The quantity in the market was also small and most of the seasonal stone mines were in the hands of the imperial family.

To maintain the rarity of the seasonal stones, the supply was always insufficient compared to the demand as the distribution was adjusted.

Therefore, most of the items from these private mines were sold according to the familiarity of who owned.

Perhaps my mother was not the happiest person when I found the seasonal stone mine.

It was something I had to ask my mother anyway.

I opened my mouth carefully.

That, distorted magic I mentioned earlier.

Her

I think it came from that mine too.

My mother’s face became serious when I explained about the crazy knights.

Can I take a look at them?

It won’t do any good. All the distorted magic they had was gone.

According to Fio, it was.

But how the hell do you know so well?

Do you?

Last time, he said it was a rumor, and he knew better than me, the owner of the tower. As if someone was saying it.

My mother’s eyes narrowed.

I looked away as if looking for a mistake.

Karina Pioneer. You’re not looking directly at my face?

That’s right…

[Ahem!]

When I arrived, Fio was sitting at my feet.

My mother looked at Fio and was silent for a moment.

You! Did you know what it was?

Yes… In fact, it was that beast who told me about the distorted magic.

How crazy!

As soon as he finished speaking, Fio’s surroundings began to distort.

It was my mother’s specialty, space distorting magic.

Aren’t you moving right now?

Fio is on our side!

I quickly hugged Fio and shouted.

[Yes, human!]

Freya’s mouth dropped open as Fio even howled as if it was unfair.

Ha. The beast just said something.

Fio is not just an ordinary beast. Because he helped me

Fio seemed to have gained courage from my words, so he stood proudly in front of her, raised his tail and shouted.

[Kneel down, human, I am God’s agent… ]

But that impulse didn’t last long.

Before my mother’s fierce gaze, his tail slowly descended.

He hid behind me with frequent steps and poked his head out.

[That person is scary.]