Chapter 48. Forbidden Territory

Why… I looked at Enoch, conveying my bewilderment. The two dismissed candidates also seemed dumbfounded. They were suddenly dismissed without any clear criteria or reasons.

But Enoch continued speaking without any explanation.

“Dona Renève, you will stay at this mansion starting tomorrow. Discuss the lesson schedule with my fiancée.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Dona Renève, the chosen teacher, seemed visibly surprised by her dramatic acceptance. She also looked pleased, though.

Hubert, who had approached quietly, escorted the two male candidates out of the drawing room, and Dona Renève signed the contract handed to her by Enoch.

I still felt puzzled, but I politely addressed the person who had become my Katarian teacher as of today.

“Well… I look forward to working with you, Miss Renève.”

“Yes, I look forward to working with you too, Lady Ellenore.”

After that, the procedures were swiftly completed. Once Dona Renève had left the mansion, Enoch and I exited the drawing room and headed to the living room.

Walking beside him, I cautiously asked what had been bothering me.

“Why did you suddenly dismiss those two? Did Your Highness—”

“Enoch.”

“What? Oh, sorry. Enoch, did you dislike their impressions?”

“Yes, I didn’t like them.”

…That’s it? I expected more of an explanation, but Enoch closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say.

In the somewhat uncomfortable silence, we walked quietly until we reached the living room and sat at the tea table by the window.

Afternoon tea had already been prepared for us. A maid approached and poured the tea, filling the white porcelain cups with steaming reddish tea.

I gently lifted the cup and took a sip of the warm tea. The pleasant aroma brought a smile to my lips.

After another sip of tea, I spread jam and clotted cream on a freshly baked scone and ate it. I’m not usually fond of snacks, but I liked scones. Though I rarely ate more than one due to my small appetite.

As I steadily emptied my teacup and slowly finished the scone, I felt the persistent gaze of the person sitting across from me. Why is he staring so intently? His gaze was so intense it felt burdensome.

“You’re eating that well.”

“Sorry?”

“You have a small appetite.”

I was surprised that he knew that about me and widened my eyes. It seemed he had a knack for observing others. Well, knowing about others can be useful, especially in noble society.

“Do you not like Dona Renève?”

I put down my teacup at his sudden question. I tried to gauge his intentions, but it only deepened my confusion.

“No, I like her. She seemed like a good person. She has experience staying in Katar too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But why…”

“How about the other two?”

I paused, reaching for another scone. How about the other two… Why ask that now? The interview was over, and I wasn’t given a choice.

“…The other two seemed fine as well. They made good impressions, their Katarian skills seemed solid, and their voices were gentle and pleasant to listen to.”

Enoch’s lips curled into a slight smile at my answer. …It felt somewhat artificial.

“I didn’t like them.”

“…What?”

“They kept smiling at you, and it annoyed me.”

“……?”

…That’s the reason? Smiling at me? Was it really like that? It seemed like just polite smiles, trying to hide their tension and gauge the interviewer’s reaction.

If that bothered him, Enoch Bayern must dislike sycophantic attitudes. But wouldn’t most people become sycophantic in front of him? Now that I think about it, Dona Renève did seem relatively composed… Ah, is that why she was chosen?

“I thought, how dare they flirt with you. You’re mine, after all. Right?”

“……”

I felt like I was being treated as property, but it wasn’t the first time in my life, so I just nodded. Enoch looked at me with satisfaction, like someone proud of a newly acquired possession, as I quietly drank my tea.

The afternoon tea time ended quickly. I was thinking of heading to the study. Before parting ways with Enoch, I politely expressed my gratitude to him.

“Thank you for finding a Katarian teacher for me. I will work hard to become proficient in Katarian.”

It felt a bit silly to say this, as I had no grand vision for the future involving Katarian. I simply wanted to decode my mother’s diary. It’s a secret I won’t tell anyone.

“Really? Are you truly grateful?”

“Of course. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Then I should get something in return.”

“…What?”

His eyes seemed dangerous somehow. I involuntarily shrank back and glanced around, and Enoch smiled and moved closer.

“Why are you so scared? It’s nothing much.”

When he lowered his head, our lips almost touched. I inhaled sharply and froze. I thought his teasing, pretending to kiss me, was quite mean.

“Your foresight magic.”

“……!”

The moment I heard those words, my heart dropped. I looked up at him, my eyelids trembling. His golden eyes met mine with cold curiosity.

“Let’s see you use it for me.”

After parting ways with Enoch, I went up to my room. Jasmine looked at me worriedly, noticing my pale complexion, but I had no energy to respond.

The conversation I had with Enoch echoed in my mind.

‘That was the contract in our condition. You will use your magic of foresight for me.’
‘…Yes.’
‘So use it. What will happen to me in the near future?’
‘Well, right now… It’s difficult here. I need to go back to my room… and focus alone.’
‘What a troublesome ability.’
‘…I’m sorry. I’ll go to my room now, look into the future, and then come back to tell Your Highness what I saw.’
‘Fine, do that.’

And I fled to my room. I felt like I was falling into a panic, my breath catching in my throat, but I couldn’t let anyone notice my state. Not anyone.

Turning my back to Jasmine, I slowly calmed my breathing and then turned to her.

“Sorry, Jasmine, but I want to be alone for a while. Could you leave the room? Please don’t let anyone in until I allow it… Even if it’s Enoch.”

Jasmine seemed surprised by my firm request but quickly agreed and left. She kept glancing back at me with genuine concern, which made me feel guilty.

How nice would it be if I could truly reciprocate that concern? But I’ll only be pretending to be the Grand Duke’s wife for a year, I won’t be the real Grand Duchess. This fact always weighed heavily on my heart.

“Sigh…”

I entered the bathroom, closed the door, and exhaled deeply. I went to the bathroom to avoid leaving any traces in the room. It would be troublesome if blood splattered on the carpet or wallpaper.

Just in case, I wrapped a bathrobe over my clothes. If blood stained the bathrobe, I planned to burn it in the fireplace. No one would find it suspicious if a bathrobe or two disappeared in the vast Bayern grand ducal mansion.

I composed myself and sat on the edge of the rectangular marble bathtub. It’s okay, this is my choice. I came here to avoid the worst future. If I could live and die as a human being for the remaining time… that would be enough for me. Just that.

I don’t need to be happy.

I don’t need to have dreams.

So, please…

…Don’t cry, Ellen.

I held back the tears that were about to fall. Pressing my eyes with the sleeve of the robe, I took a deep breath and looked up.

I had asked not to be disturbed, but I couldn’t take too long. I needed to hurry.

I stretched out my hand and focused. My magic responded immediately, writhing within me. I imagined the power flowing through my arm and gathering at my fingertips.

One thing I realized after obtaining magic is that a mage needs imagination to use magic.

Perhaps even the forms of magic are concretized by imagination. So, the colorful mirror floating above my palm might be…

It might be a shape created by my subconscious.

‘…What I wish to see is…’

Enoch Bayern’s near future.

Hoping foolishly that the cost in lifespan would be minimal for glimpsing a ‘near’ future.

Once again, I stepped into the forbidden territory.

Soon, the surface of the mirror began to ripple ominously.