Chapter 17

The book was written by the Mage Tower Master.  

Iberia briefly wondered if it was a counterfeit, but there was no way a fake book would exist in the academy.  

The academy’s library only accepted books that had undergone multiple inspections. They even had specific personnel dedicated to reviewing them. On top of that, the Mage Tower Master’s signature and the Mage Tower’s seal were unmistakably genuine.  

Even though Iberia was unsure, she decided to take a closer look at the book’s contents.  

***

The next morning, Iberia asked Cynthia, who had just finished preparing to go out.  

“Cynthia, are you going to breakfast?”  

“Yeah, I’m heading there now. Are you planning to eat too?”  

Cynthia tilted her head slightly as she asked.  

Iberia tucked her hair behind her ear. Normally, she stayed in her room in the morning and went straight to the academy, so she still had a few things to prepare.  

“Yeah. Can you wait for me for a bit?”  

“Did the sun rise from the west today or something?”  

Cynthia’s eyes widened in surprise.  

Iberia’s face flushed with embarrassment.  

She had occasionally eaten tea and bread for breakfast before, but she didn’t expect Cynthia to be so shocked just because she said she’d go to the dining hall.  

That day, Iberia ended up having both breakfast and lunch with Cynthia. Not only Cynthia but the other students who usually ate with her were also surprised to see Iberia.  

Eating three meals a day made it feel like the entire day was spent eating.  

Iberia headed to the dining hall to have dinner with Young Master Nesferos. As always, he arrived precisely on time.  

Young Master Nesferos slowly observed Iberia, who, for some reason, seemed unusually excited.  

They picked the menu and found a suitable place to sit.  

A faint smile appeared on Iberia’s face.  

For once, a proper dinner was placed before her. Young Master Nesferos, sitting across from her, carefully lifted his utensils without making a sound and asked lightly,  

“Is something going on these days?”  

“Huh?”  

Iberia paused, about to put a small piece of meat into her mouth, and looked at him. Young Master Nesferos glanced at her plate and then back at her face.  

She understood what he was asking. Iberia lowered the fork she was holding slightly.  

“Oh.”  

“I was just curious because you’ve been eating so well lately.”  

Iberia hesitated for a moment, wondering how to respond, and then opened her mouth. Even during that brief pause, his gaze didn’t waver from her.  

“I thought it would be good to eat well if I want to practice magic.”  

Young Master Nesferos nodded as if it were obvious. Iberia, feeling inexplicably shy, lowered her gaze. He leaned forward slightly and chuckled softly.  

“I wish you’d practice magic all the time.”  

“Huh?”  

Iberia raised her head at his sudden—though not entirely unexpected—remark. Young Master Nesferos was looking at her with an affectionate gaze.  

“I mean, I like seeing you eat well.”  

“Oh… I see.”  

Iberia answered awkwardly and quickly dropped her gaze back to her plate. Her ears turned slightly red.  

***

“It worked!”  

Iberia smiled, her entire body drenched in sweat. A faint white glow hovered at her trembling fingertips.  

She had managed to control her magic more strongly than before while using a small amount of magic as a medium. Instead of completely transferring the core, she split it.  

Since she hadn’t fully transferred the medium, she still needed to take care of her body, but Iberia couldn’t help but laugh. If she could use magic properly, what wouldn’t she endure?  

Like a madwoman, she kept laughing in satisfaction.  

Her legs gave out, and Iberia collapsed onto the floor. The coldness of the ground seeped into her legs and hips.  

It was already quite late. She was so drained she could barely take a step.  

After sitting there for a moment, Iberia moved to the entrance of the practice room and grabbed a towel and water.  

She drank water in a corner and roughly wiped her face with the towel when she sensed movement at the entrance on the opposite side of the practice room. Iberia was in a corner where portable targets were stored, obstructing her view of the entrance.  

Who could it be?  

For the past few days, she had been the only one in the magic practice room at this hour. Feeling a rare sense of curiosity, Iberia stretched her neck to check the source of the presence.  

It was Young Master Nesferos and the Crown Prince. They seemed closer than Iberia had expected.  

The two entered the practice room, continuing their conversation, seemingly unaware of Iberia’s presence. 

Iberia, holding the towel, began to move. She planned to greet them and leave quickly. There was a rack for new towels and water bottles near the entrance, along with a bin for used ones, so her exit route was convenient.  

The voices of Young Master Nesferos and the Crown Prince grew closer. Hearing their conversation, Iberia froze in place.  

“I don’t understand why you’re so obsessed.”  

“I told you, it won’t be easy to escape.”  

Young Master Nesferos spoke formally, while the Crown Prince used casual speech. This dynamic was natural for them, but Iberia couldn’t shake off an uncomfortable feeling.  

He wore an expression Iberia had never seen before. His face was rigid, his muscles stiff. His slightly lowered eyes carried the cold demeanor of a noble.  

At that moment, the distance between her and Young Master Nesferos felt immeasurably vast. Unconsciously, Iberia took a step back.  

The sound of her shoe against the floor was barely audible.  

Young Master Nesferos’s gaze flickered briefly in her direction. At the same time, a monotonous voice filled with disbelief resonated in the space.  

Iberia stiffened her shoulders.  

“Aren’t you afraid of losing authority?”  

“No one here cares about that, Ermite. It’s surprising that a genius like you doesn’t understand this.”  

The Crown Prince smiled genuinely, while Young Master Nesferos smirked cynically. Or was it that the Crown Prince’s smile seemed tinged with pity?  

It felt like she was hearing something she shouldn’t hear and seeing something she shouldn’t see.  

Iberia took another step back. Her back touched the cold wall, snapping her back to reality. Her blue eyes glowed faintly.  

So far, she hadn’t fully understood what they were talking about, but it was clear that staying longer would be dangerous. Her survival instincts screamed at her to leave.  

The two were now only a few steps away.  

Young Master Nesferos knew she was there. Whether the Crown Prince knew or not, there was no guarantee Young Master Nesferos wouldn’t tell him.  

Iberia quickly made her decision. She stepped into a more visible area and tightened the cap on her water bottle. Young Master Nesferos’s eyes widened slightly as he noticed her.  

Iberia deliberately dropped the water bottle with a loud thud. It was more like she slammed it down.  

The sound of the water bottle hitting the floor drew the Crown Prince’s gray eyes in her direction.  

Young Master Nesferos wore his usual smiling expression. She didn’t have time to see the Crown Prince’s face.  

Iberia clasped her trembling hands together and bowed her head.  

Their presence drew closer to her. Then, she heard Young Master Nesferos’s usual voice.  

“Hello, Iberia.”  

“Hello.”  

Iberia couldn’t lift her head. The Crown Prince’s enigmatic voice struck her ears.  

“Practicing this late at night? Impressive.”  

It was a roundabout way of asking why she was still in the magic practice room.  

Cold sweat ran down her back. The sweat she had shed earlier had already dried from the tension. Iberia swallowed hard and bowed deeply.  

Come to think of it, she hadn’t properly greeted the Crown Prince. Where was her mind? She briefly scolded herself and forced strength into her trembling voice.  

“I apologize.”  

The Crown Prince’s gaze bore into her. Her entire body felt as if it were screaming in agony, frozen in place.  

Young Master Nesferos looked at Iberia for a moment before turning to the Crown Prince. His curt voice was directed at the Crown Prince, clearly displeased about something.  

“Aren’t you going? Didn’t you say you were going to practice?”  

“Honestly, you’re crazy. You really don’t see anyone but her.”

The Crown Prince replied in a dry tone.  

One presence gradually faded away. Only then could Iberia relax slightly.  

After the Crown Prince had completely left, Young Master Nesferos spoke to Iberia.  

“Iberia, look up.”  

Iberia straightened her back but kept her eyes lowered. Her long lashes veiled her fear-filled blue eyes. Would Young Master Nesferos harm her? She didn’t know.  

Not knowing, she had to act submissively for now. The image of Young Master Nesferos’s earlier expression flashed through her mind.  

He sighed and said,  

“You didn’t do anything wrong, so why are you apologizing?”  

“I’m sorry…”  

“Iberia.”  

Her reflexive apology was cut off by his firm voice. Iberia felt something rise within her.  

Young Master Nesferos, with a faint smile, looked into her blue eyes, which were shadowed by unease.  

“Have you been practicing since dinner?”  

“Yes.”  

“You look exhausted. How about stopping for today?”  

Although it sounded like a suggestion, it was clearly an instruction to leave the practice room for the night.  

Iberia slowly nodded. Her bright blue eyes met his curved ones. The warmth in his gaze was the same as usual. Iberia felt an unexplainable sense of relief and replied softly.  

“…Okay.”  

“I’ll walk you back.”  

For a moment, Iberia wondered if it was mere coincidence that no strange rumors about her and Young Master Nesferos had spread.  

Could this, too, be because of something Young Master Nesperos had done?

Perhaps he had intervened or was currently intervening. Not in a noble way, but in a manner similar to how the previous incident had been reported in the newspapers.  

If that were true, then she had been incredibly naive, even foolish. A tight pressure gripped her chest.  

Iberia gathered the notes she had written on a few formulas and left the building with Young Master Nesferos.  

The quiet air enveloped them. It felt strange to Iberia, as it wasn’t always this silent when she was with Young Master Nesferos.  

The academy’s female dormitory was a space where men were not allowed. As they neared the dormitory building, Young Master Nesferos slowed his steps and spoke.  

“For the time being, stick to places with lots of people. Got it?”  

“Yes.”  

“I’m just saying this as a precaution, so don’t be scared. It’s nothing serious.”  

Iberia clenched her still-trembling hands together and forced a faint smile.  

For someone like her, a commoner, it wasn’t something trivial. The Crown Prince’s earlier aura had made that clear.  

Young Master Nesferos studied Iberia’s face before suddenly asking a question. His tone was light, as it had been in the past.  

“Should I go around with you?”