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Jafflin Alain Astrid was leading a rather monotonous life these days. Or rather, he might have considered these everyday moments to be normal, but ever since he appointed himself as the duchess’s teacher, he felt his time in the palace had become more meaningless.

In the past, he might have gone wandering to alleviate such boredom, but now he couldn’t do that as it would mean abandoning his role as the duchess’s teacher, and he didn’t particularly want to do that.

‘Hasn’t she succeeded yet?’

If things were going to be like this, he should have waited until he succeeded in magic before coming. He thought she could master it quickly due to her innate talent for interpreting runes, but it seemed this ability was different from that one.

Unintentionally, Jafflin was born with a talent that led people to call him a genius in all areas of magic, so he couldn’t comprehend the pace of ordinary people.

“Should I just leave?”

Since the duke was away on an expedition, he wouldn’t receive any reproach for leaving when not conducting lessons.

…He might hear something about it later. He shouldn’t have watched the duke fight that time. Since then, Jafflin, who had no intention of fighting him, sincerely didn’t want to face him anymore.

Feeling somewhat dejected, Jafflin glanced at the letters that the servant had placed on the table.

It was then that he noticed the seal he had been hoping to see. It was the Bannister family’s crest.

Could it be? Jafflin quickly opened the envelope and read the letter, his previous lethargy completely gone.

Indeed, it was a letter from the duchess. It stated that she had succeeded in the magic of creating fire. Finally, he had a reason to go. He immediately sent a note via a bird, stating that he would come for the lesson today.

As he left the palace with a genuinely happy heart for the first time in a while, he saw a familiar figure in the near distance.

“Brother.”

There were only two people in this world who called him by such a title. His biological sister Veronica and his half-sister Sophia. Since his biological sister was currently studying abroad, there was only one person in the palace who could call him that.

“Sophia.”

His relationship with his half-sister was neither good nor bad. If not for his mother, it might have been a rather pleasant relationship. She had an aloof impression but was strangely soft-hearted in certain areas. Much like his student, though she was more eccentric and cute in many ways.

Sophia was with someone. It was a man dressed entirely in black. He recognized the respectful bow the man gave him. Ah, he had seen him before. A guard? He was called a protector knight. He remembered him because, despite being a commoner, he stayed by the princess’s side. He believed his name was Jace.

His momentary thoughts were interrupted by his sister’s clear voice.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to a lesson.”

A genuine smile, not just a formal one, spread across Jafflin’s face. He truly enjoyed teaching magic. He was beginning to think he might want to change his career to teaching. Whether it was the act of teaching or the person he was teaching that he enjoyed, he wasn’t sure.

Sophia’s eyes widened slightly as she asked,

“A lesson? Are you going to learn something?”

“I’m going to teach.”

“Who are you teaching?”

“Duchess Bannister. Very discreetly, I might add.”

Sophia seemed momentarily stunned by Jafflin’s playful smile before bursting into laughter, realizing it was a joke.

“Oh… ha. I see.”

Her eyes, reminiscent of a cat’s, gleamed with a bit of welcome. Jafflin realized once again that the duchess had a charm that drew people in. Even his rather picky sister seemed to have opened her heart.

“And what are you doing, sister?”

“Just taking a walk.”

Just a walk, he thought.

Jafflin’s eyes sparkled oddly. He noticed a slight blush on Sophia’s pale cheeks. A secret rendezvous disguised as a walk? But with whom…?

Although he felt a bit of curiosity about his sister’s unusual romantic affair, something else piqued his interest more at the moment, so he set aside his curiosity for now.

“Well then, I must be going. See you later.”

“Take care.”

Once they were out of sight, Jafflin used a teleportation spell to appear in front of Bannister’s mansion.

“Oh my goodness!”

A maid, seeing a person suddenly appear out of thin air, was so startled she fell backward.

“Are you alright?”

“A g-ghost?”

A ghost? He was too handsome to be a ghost. Hearing the maid’s murmured words, Jafflin replied with a smile,

“Not a ghost, but a mage.”

“A mage? Who…?”

“In terms of status, I’m the second prince.”

“W-what? The second prince?”

The maid, who had been staring at Jafflin in disbelief, quickly bowed her head as he showed her his golden identification badge and led him inside. The steward with a neatly slicked-back head went to inform the duchess of his visit.

“Jafflin, is that you!”

“Hello there!”

Small faces he hadn’t seen in a while came into view.

“Hello, fairies. You remember my name. Have you been well?”

“Well!”

The fairies were now quite familiar with the mansion’s interior, freely roaming around as they pleased.

“I’m here for another magic lesson today. By the way, where is the Duchess?”

“If you’re looking for Delis, she’s on her way down,” one of the fairies replied.

Right on cue, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Your Highness?”

“Oh, my student. I heard you finally succeeded with the magic? I’ve been eagerly waiting for the news.”

Delis made a show of wiping sweat from her brow with her fingers, and Jafflin could hardly suppress his laughter at her exaggerated expression.

“Ha, I don’t know if you realize how much effort I put in. I really succeeded through my blood and sweat.”

“Did you even shed blood?” Jafflin asked earnestly, making Delis’s face fall into a dry expression.

“…It’s just a saying, you know. A saying.”

“Then please, show me. The magic you succeeded in with your blood and sweat.”

“Lindar Selbaum.”

From Delis’s fingertips, a crimson flame shot up. She watched the fire rise and then dissipate, as if she couldn’t quite believe it herself. The fairies clapped their tiny hands in applause.

“Wow, it actually worked.”

“It seems the Duchess has significant mana potential. You’ve created such a flame in such a short time.”

“But maintaining it is difficult.”

“To keep the magic going, you need to constantly infuse it with mana. That also requires practice.”

***

“More practice…”

I sighed in despair, hanging my head low. Jafflin added in a teasing tone,

“That’s how life is.”

I let out a dry laugh. Anyone would think he’s lived through it all.

“Oh, really? How long have you lived?”

Jafflin’s eyes crinkled into a smile as he responded to my sarcasm.

“I plan to live a lot longer.”

Every time I see that smile, I think it must have attracted a lot of women.

“Yes, yes. I sincerely hope you live a long and prosperous life, Master.”

Live until you paint the walls with filth. I muttered inwardly, unsure if it was a curse or a blessing, as I looked at Jafflin. His chuckle turned into a look of sudden realization as he asked,

“Oh, by the way, did you not know, Duchess?”

“Know what?”

“Mages typically live a long time.”

“What?”

I replied in a higher-pitched voice, completely unaware of this fact.

“How long?”

“It varies with the mage’s ability, but typically about 1.5 times longer than ordinary people. The more skilled you are, the longer you live. So in my case, I could live up to twice as long as an average person.”

“Well… does that mean I will live 1.5 times longer as well?”

“Probably.”

“It can’t be…”

I uttered in a more despairing tone than before.

So, if Roan lives to be 100, that means I have to live to 150? How will I endure that time? Even though it’s far in the future, the thought of Roan dying someday seemed incredibly difficult.

“Why the expression? I thought you’d be happy to live a long life.”

“That means I’ll live at least several decades longer than Roan…!”

At my words, Jafflin made an unexpected face and then looked momentarily pensive.

“Hmm…”

Jafflin’s eyes gleamed as if he had found a solution, and he opened his mouth.

“Then you can live with me when that time comes.”

At Jafflin’s remark, I had a look on my face as if my brain had stalled, unable to process what he had said.

And a few seconds later, I shouted.

“…What?!”

“I’ll live as long as you or even longer, so there’s no need to worry about me dying first.”

What kind of bombshell statement was this? I was so taken aback that I couldn’t speak.

I tried to say something, but it came out stuttering, as if my brain still wasn’t working properly.

“W-What kind of joke is that?”

“Why do you think it’s a joke?”

Jafflin’s face was so serious when he said that, that for a moment, I was at a loss for words.

“No…”

Then, if this isn’t a joke, what is it? I screamed inwardly.

Jafflin silently watched me, who was temporarily frozen.

“…”

Then his expression changed, his face breaking into a smile.

“…Pfft. Hahaha.”

“…?”

He threw his head back and burst out laughing. What is this?

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