Chapter 61

A few days later, Lia heard the news that Dorothea had returned.  

She left Rafaella with Paula and went to the Mage Tower.  

For some reason, Rafaella didn’t insist on coming along this time.  

Perhaps it was because she had become so absorbed in swordsmanship these days that she didn’t want to miss even a single lesson with Veronica.  

“Lia, it’s been a while!”  

Dorothea greeted Lia warmly as soon as she arrived at the Mage Tower.  

“Dorothea, did you have a good trip?”  

“Yes! The Dewflower colony was just as mysterious as ever.”  

Dorothea clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling in ecstasy.  

“By the way, I also brought the letter your friend gave me.”  

The envelope she handed over had Alma’s name written on it.  

“Thank you.”  

A smile formed on Lia’s lips at the letter from her dear friend.  

“Lia, but what’s that in your hand?”  

Dorothea pointed at the rattan basket, which was filled with a sweet aroma.  

“Oh! This is a little gift for you, Dorothea.”  

“A gift?”  

“Yes.”  

Weaving her way through the still-chaotic drawing room, Lia placed the basket on the table and started taking out the desserts one by one.  

“You went out of your way to collect Dewflowers for me, so I asked the chef for a favor.”  

“Oh my, I’ve been missing the Galette Bretonne from the Blumhart estate so much it’s been t*rture!”  

The moment Dorothea saw the Galette Bretonne Lia took out, she exclaimed in delight.  

“Really? If I had known, I would have brought some the last time I visited.”  

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that for me. But Lia, I’m just so happy right now.”  

“Please, have some.”  

“Thank you, I will.”  

Dorothea cut the Galette Bretonne with her fork and brought it to her mouth.  

“…Mmm!”  

With a flushed face, she took another bite.  

Lia had been wondering what would make a good gift.  

‘I’m glad I asked the chef to prepare these.’  

Lia brewed tea with the tea leaves she had brought and set a cup in front of both Dorothea and herself.  

“Mmm, even the aroma of this tea is different.”  

Dorothea muttered as she drank tea after finishing the Galette Bretonne.  

“I’m glad you like it.”  

“These luxurious desserts are best enjoyed only occasionally—they seem even more heavenly and sweet that way.”  

“That’s true. If you eat something delicious every day, it loses its novelty.”  

Lia took a sip of tea and replied.  

‘How should I bring it up…?’  

Watching Dorothea eat another dessert with a smile full of joy, Lia bit her lip lightly.  

“…Thank you for the delicious treats, Lia. Somehow, I feel a bit guilty for eating them all by myself.”  

Dorothea scratched her head, having finished all the desserts on the table before she knew it.  

“I brought them just for you, Dorothea.”  

Lia smiled softly.  

“…Now that we’ve collected the Dewflowers, once we hold a demonstration in front of the other magicians, the medicine you made will finally be released to the world.”  

Dorothea said as she wiped her lips with a napkin.  

“Yes, I hope it gets distributed to patients as soon as possible.”  

Samuel had told her that the demonstration was scheduled for tomorrow.  

“With Blumhart’s finances and distribution network, it’ll be made and delivered to patients in no time.”  

Dorothea winked.  

“Right? But, um…”  

Lia parted her lips.  

“What’s wrong, Lia?”  

“…Dorothea, do you know almost everything about magic?”  

“I know most things, except for those that haven’t been made public yet.”  

“Then, um… do you know anything about black magic?”  

“Cough, cough.”  

Dorothea, who had been drinking the remaining tea, suddenly started coughing violently.  

“Are you okay?”  

Startled, Lia approached and patted her back.  

“Sorry, I was just surprised.”  

After her coughing had subsided somewhat, Dorothea carefully sipped the fresh warm tea Lia had poured for her and spoke.  

“But why are you asking about black magic?”  

Her expression was rather stiff.  

“I came across it in a magic book I read recently.”  

“In a book?”  

“Yes. And as I read, I remembered something my grandmother once said.”  

“…What did she say?”  

“She said black magic seems to have advanced dramatically compared to the old days.”  

“…Your grandmother sounds like a hidden master.”  

“Dorothea, has black magic really advanced that much?”  

Lia leaned in closer to Dorothea.  

“…Unfortunately, I think so.”  

“But the Imperial Family banned it early on, and even executes offenders on the spot. Is it really possible for it to develop?”  

“…Yes. There are always blind spots everywhere.”  

“How much has it developed? Is it possible to… kill someone?”  

She asked quickly, then stopped.  

Dorothea looked as if she were staring at a giant monster, terror-stricken.  

“Are you all right? Was my question too—”  

“…I’m fine. But Lia, you seem very interested in black magic?”  

Dorothea asked carefully.  

“…Well.”  

She couldn’t tell Dorothea that she was harboring suspicions when nothing was certain yet.  

That the Interim Empress’s lady-in-waiting and the Interim Empress herself seemed to be involved with black magic—such a shocking story.  

She had only circumstantial evidence, no proof.  

“I’ll tell you why I’m asking once I’m more certain.”  

“…I’m just saying this out of concern, but you’re not thinking of dabbling in that magic, are you?”  

“Never, absolutely not. In fact, I wish such terrible magic didn’t exist in this world at all.”  

Lia shook her hand, her eyes sincere.  

At her honest expression, Dorothea’s shoulders relaxed.  

Her previously tense facial muscles, too.  

“…That’s right. It’s a dreadful magic that should never exist in this world.”  

Dorothea picked up her teacup with a sad face.  

“Lia, you asked how much it’s advanced, right?”  

“…Yes.”  

Lia nodded.  

“…Black magic, you see, …it’s now possible to kill someone with it.”  

Lia swallowed dryly and clenched her fist.  

Her hand was trembling.  

* * *

Johann was sitting at his desk in his study, looking over documents.  

No matter how many documents he reviewed every day, the work never seemed to end.  

He rubbed his tired eyes lightly with his fingers, then stood up when he heard a noise from outside.  

Opening the window slightly, he saw Rafaella and Penelope playing in the garden.  

Nearby, his mother was reading a book.  

‘I never imagined it. That Penelope would end up playing with Rafaella…’  

The sight was so harmonious that a gentle smile formed on his lips.  

He could no longer find any trace of the shadow that used to cover his mother’s face.  

That put his mind at ease.  

‘If not for Lia, that woman…’  

Neither Penelope nor his mother would be smiling like this now.  

Nor would he be able to enjoy such a scene.  

“……”  

Didn’t she say she was going to meet Dorothea today?  

Before he knew it, he was keeping up not just with Rafaella’s daily life, but Lia’s as well.  

Well, she was Rafaella’s mother, so it was only natural to care a little.  

He had no other feelings.  

‘How could I possibly have feelings for that woman?’  

Ridiculous.  

“…Your Grace.”  

Samuel approached him as he leaned by the window.  

“What is it?”  

“Rafaella’s birthday is in May. What do you plan to give her as a present?”  

“…What?”  

Her birthday is in May?  

And May isn’t far off, is it?  

“Birthday? Rafaella’s birthday is in May?”  

For once, he couldn’t hide his flustered expression.  

“You didn’t know? I heard it’s May 13th.”  

There were only about two weeks left.  

Not much time to prepare for a birthday party.  

‘It’s her first birthday here…’  

He swallowed hard.  

“When did you find out?”  

Johann glared at him sharply.  

‘How did you find out before me?’  

“I asked her briefly while playing with her yesterday.”  

Johann looked dismayed.  

‘D*mn, how did I not think to ask about her birthday?’  

He pressed his temple with his hand.  

“Tell the butler, the head maid, and the chef to prepare for Rafaella’s birthday.”  

“Yes, understood.”  

“Tell them to pay extra attention since it’s her first birthday.”  

“Don’t worry. Everyone will do their best.”  

“Good, they’d better.”  

Johann gestured for him to leave.  

“…Wait, hold on.”  

Just as Samuel was about to grab the doorknob, Johann called him back.  

“The present, what are you planning to give?”

Johann, sounding frustrated, roughly loosened his cravat.  

“I…”  

“Are you supposed to ask what she wants and give it to her? Or do I pick something myself?”  

Johann interrupted Samuel and asked again.  

Samuel thought his master seemed oddly distracted.  

But for some reason, he liked it.  

“Your Grace, about gifts…”