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“No, I’ve never done that before. This just got translated.”

“It just got translated?”

Jafflin, looking confused, asked again. I started explaining my linguistic abilities, leaving out the part about it being a possession buff. After I finished, Jafflin exclaimed.

“No way, that’s really unique. I said it was unique, but…”

Jafflin opened a book on the desk, as if to confirm with his own eyes.

“What does this say?”

“Um, ‘Disle’?”

“What does it mean?”

“If it’s ‘Disle’… does it mean ‘child’ in the imperial language?”

“…Huh.”

Jafflin ran his hand through his hair, looking incredulous.

“Perhaps you’re a genius student?”

“What?”

“An ability to instantly translate Lena.”

Ah… I recalled the language section scores from my exam days, which I preferred to forget.

No, that’s not it. I shook my head heavily. Seeing me, Jafflin spoke.

“Well, I didn’t think that was the case either.”

This guy? Knowing it but hearing it out loud was annoying.

“Ha.”

Jafflin let out a short laugh and said.

“Anyway, that will speed things up a lot. This is fundamental, but it’s expected to be the most time-consuming part.”

“Oh. So, what now?”

“I’ll teach you the most basic magic spell first.”

<Linda Selbaum>

‘Ignite the flames.’

“It means to create fire, literally.”

“Linda Selbaum.”

Jafflin flinched for a moment. But nothing happened.

“…It’s not working?”

Jafflin relaxed his tense body and joked.

“Ha ha. I thought you were trying to use magic on me.”

…Well, I did try to use it on you.

“Why didn’t it work?”

“It’s obvious. Saying Lena without feeling the flow of mana is like swimming in a place without water. You need to sense mana, the magical power, to create magic when you speak Lena.”

Of course, why was he so scared?

“How long does it take to feel the flow of mana?”

“I don’t know. I only thought you’d sense it quickly because you have a lot of mana. It varies from person to person. That’s why some talent is essential for magic. You need to understand the numerous Lenas, feel the flow of mana, and arrange them.”

“So, are you saying some people might never learn it?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

I was doomed. Feel the flow? How? I lived in a place where mana didn’t even exist until recently.

Jafflin saw me sinking into the swamp of despair.

“Don’t worry too much. God wouldn’t give you such a genius ability to let it rot.”

“You’re religious?”

“No, not really.”

“……”

“You have talent. If you take your time and consciously try to feel it, you’ll know at some point. When you think you’ve got it, recite the spell. If you’ve felt it right, it will work.”

“Okay, I’ll try even if it doesn’t work.”

“You have a good attitude.”

After the lesson with Jafflin,

<Linda Selbaum.>

I kept practicing, and the spell almost became second nature to me.

As a result of continuous attempts, I felt nothing.

“It’s not working.”

Maybe I really don’t have talent or anything.

The number of times I chanted the spell feeling like ‘this is it!’ must have exceeded a hundred. I kept feeling it, but there wasn’t even a hint of fire before me. Not even a wisp of smoke.

Whew. Fine, let’s see who wins.

At some point, I noticed the slanted rays of the setting sun coming through the window. The sun was gradually sinking below the horizon.

***

Before dinner, Roan arrived at the mansion. His slightly disheveled collar spoke of the fatigue from his duties.

“Roan, you’re here?”

“Yes. Was everything okay?”

“Yes, though… your mother has come.”

Roan’s gaze shifted to someone standing quietly behind me.

Alexandra’s calm voice resonated through the mansion.

“Roan, it’s been a while.”

“…Yes, it has, Mother.”

Alexandra greeted him with the same expression she used with me. Roan’s face was equally composed.

“Nothing has changed. You’re still the same.”

“You too, Mother.”

Their words were cold and empty. Who would think this was a conversation between a mother and son reunited after a long time?

Then, Alexandra suddenly glanced at Roan’s waist.

“Did you change your sword?”

“Yes.”

Roan gave a short answer to her question. Feeling more explanation was needed, I added,

“It’s a sword made by Reb, the dwarf who’s living here now.”

“…I see. If it’s from a dwarf, the quality is guaranteed.”

She seemed interested in Roan’s sword for a moment, then quickly looked away.

The awkward atmosphere persisted even during dinner, as if it would never end.

“…….”

“…….”

What should I do about this atmosphere? The two people eating silently didn’t seem to feel the oppressive weight of the silence.

“Duchess.”

“Y-Yes?”

I was a bit flustered as I didn’t expect Alexandra to speak to me.

“You mentioned earlier that the dwarf was unwell.”

“Yes. But fortunately, he’s much better now. When we first brought him from that place, he was really… Oh my.”

“That place?”

Confusion was written on Alexandra’s elegant face.

“Now that I think about it, I once heard that dwarves are a rare species. Where did you bring him from?”

“From the… slave market.”

Roan answered her question while I hesitated.

“The slave market? Why there?”

A delicate frown appeared on Alexandra’s fine forehead.

“Actually, we went there to find the sword you mentioned.”

I explained the events to Alexandra in detail.

After a few minutes, Alexandra, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

“So, the Duchess went to that wretched place to get a sword and ended up like this.”

Unlike some nobles who frequented the slave market as if it were a common activity, Alexandra seemed to detest the place.

“That’s strange.”

“Excuse me?”

“Why would you do that?”

Alexandra looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you two planning to separate anyway?”

…What? Did I hear her correctly? Alexandra’s words completely contradicted everything I had believed in. It was so unexpected that I was momentarily speechless.

Mother, where did you get that idea? I’ve been living with the sole determination to avoid the divorce route. Her belief was so contrary to mine that it left me stunned.

Roan broke the silence.

“No, Mother.”

Roan denied it with a voice as cold as perpetual snow. He then added firmly,

“There will be no divorce.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories