Chapter 10.2

Seeing Brienne so devastated, he felt he’d made a mistake. Even though he’d expected it, even though he’d thought it would happen someday, he couldn’t just accept it.

The world of mages was not so romantic.

Herace had seen countless students enter the Academy every year with high hopes, only to eventually face despair.

Unlike Herace, who saw magic as an escape, those who dreamed of it were quickly broken.

That’s why he wished Brienne wouldn’t come to the Academy.

He wanted to protect her dream. He wanted to protect her fantasy about mages.

He hid the truth about magic, hoping she’d remain ignorant. But maybe that was just deception.

Brienne’s disappointed face, and her question, proved that.

“If you can’t even save one person, if you need the Temple’s permission to use your power, what’s the point? Is this…… really the fate of mages that everyone dreams of?”

“No. Absolutely not, Brienne.”

With a bitter smile, Herace gently placed his hand on Brienne’s cheek.

He could feel Brienne’s emotions so clearly. Even though her disappointment and anger weren’t directed at him, Herace felt his heart burning.

Maybe.

……Just maybe, he could create the world she wanted.

Suddenly, that vague hope arose.

Because he must never let Brienne cry again. Because the desire to protect the dream of the person he loves would never change.

“……You will be different.”

Brienne’s precious cheek was cradled in Herace’s hand as he turned to gaze at the library.

The smile faded from his face, and a quiet voice escaped his lips.

“I promise you.”

* * *

“By now, Roeta Academy must be in chaos.”

Earl Bailey, wearing a clear smile, looked at Duke Bannon seated across from him.

“Of course, that’s only if the person you mentioned actually carried out the plan, Your Grace.”

Even as he offered freshly brewed tea, the Earl didn’t forget to gauge the Duke’s mood.

The reason, of course, was because Duke Bannon had visited his estate. Even after years of holding Bannon’s trust, this was the first time something like this had happened.

The Duke hated wasting time more than anything, and considered sitting down for tea and conversation to be the epitome of wasted time.

“The aroma is pleasant.”

Noticing the Earl’s concern, the Duke lifted his teacup and spoke willingly.

“No matter what variables occurred, that plan must have succeeded. Before leaving for Roeta, that man made a promise to me that he simply could not break.”

“A promise… you say?”

Earl Bailey, who hadn’t heard about this, asked again.

But Duke Bannon only changed the subject with a mysterious smile.

“Earl, I’m more curious about tomorrow morning’s news. This incident will surely be another Bailey Newspaper exclusive, won’t it?”

“Yes, it’s truly fortunate. It’s an honor to be on the same side as you, Your Grace.”

The Earl quickly nodded and bowed his head in respect.

Bailey’s newspaper had been able to dominate Rontiano’s press entirely thanks to Duke Bannon. So many exclusives, so many scoops. For decades, the Earl had received high-level information from Bannon.

And now, he was using the media he’d built to favor the noble faction.

Serving as Bannon’s reliable eyes and ears.

“Speaking of which, Your Grace, it’s about Ford.”

Duke Bannon tilted his head, as if to prompt the Earl to get to the point.

“I’ve heard that Marquis Ford is being appointed to the temporary aide position in place of Earl Harrington.”

“Marquis Ford, that man?”

“Yes, it’s confirmed information from an agent I planted in the Imperial Palace.”

The Duke nodded, as if considering something.

“Interesting. Marquis Ford, who once sat beside me, now sits at the Emperor’s side.”

“It seems Earl Harrington isn’t ready to give up his son. I’ve even heard rumors that he might resign from the aide position. Apparently, the Emperor is also keeping a close watch.”

Earl Bailey spoke carefully, wearing an awkward smile.

“By the way, Your Grace… did you really get rid of him?”

“You mean Derrick Harrington?”

The Duke asked indifferently, and the Earl nodded.

“Yes, I just worried that if there was any evidence, it might cause trouble… Forgive me, I was being presumptuous.”

“No, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time too. It would be a shame to dispose of him just in case.”

“So then…”

“It means I haven’t killed him yet. Seeing Earl Harrington so desperate, I thought maybe that man could still be useful someday.”

With a rare smile, Duke Bannon leaned back deeply in his chair.

“Earl Bailey.”

“Yes…”

“Isn’t human greed just like an ever-flowing spring?”

At the somewhat vague question, the Earl looked at the Duke, not understanding. The Duke brushed back his pale hair, closing his eyes as if recalling the past.

“It’s been ages since Rontiano conquered the small nations and became an empire, but the young still yearn for the knowledge of the Holy Kingdom. Young Master Belif, my own son, Ford’s daughter, and even Derrick Harrington—all of them insist on stepping into that place. It’s truly regrettable.”

After a moment of silence, Duke Bannon opened his eyes and stared at Earl Bailey.

“Derrick Harrington should be drifting on a ship bound for Roeta by now, just as he wished. No one will find him, so don’t worry. If you happen to meet Earl Harrington, don’t waste your pity.”

Even a worthless insect can be useful someday.

On the day Duke Bannon met Melosi Bailey alone, he decided the fate of Derrick Harrington, which had been on hold.

It was because he saw unexpected potential in Melosi Bailey.

In fact, isn’t it true that people only grow in the face of dire circumstances?

For the first time in ages, the Duke felt a great thrill.

“If it’s a ship bound for Roeta, then you’re saying you let Derrick Harrington set foot in Roeta just as he wanted?”

“To be precise, not exactly.”

“Then what on earth…?”

A look of doubt appeared on Earl Bailey’s face, but Duke Bannon didn’t answer easily.

No matter how much he trusted the Earl, there was no need to spill unnecessary information and risk ruining things.

Victory belonged to Bannon anyway.

Soon, Bannon would rise again and reach his golden age.

Just as he had planned for so long.

However, Duke Bannon didn’t realize that Melosi Bailey was eavesdropping on their conversation right at that moment.

In a small room connected to the drawing room, Melosi hid herself inside a cabinet, covering her mouth.

‘So he really does know where Kaiden is…!’

Melosi’s eyes trembled as she held her breath, worried that any sound might escape. She had been putting up flyers all over the capital in search of Kaiden Bannon.

But no one ever contacted her, and the flyers always disappeared at just the right time.

A few days ago, the Earl summoned Melosi and strictly forbade her from going out.

He said everything would be resolved in due time, so she should stay quiet.

‘Could it be that Father is hiding something with Duke Bannon?’

Melosi’s growing suspicion eventually led to an unmanageable plan.

Serving as a go-between for Bannon and Bailey, Melosi tricked Duke Bannon into coming here.

Having learned what she wanted, Melosi decided it was time to leave.

At least before Duke Bannon and her father caught on to her scheme.

“Did you call me here just to deliver this news? Why not through your daughter as usual?”

“Pardon?”

A brief silence fell over the large drawing room.

Earl Bailey, tilting his head in confusion, stammered out his words.

“Wasn’t it you, Your Grace, who said there might be a spy in the Bannon family, and that you were coming here…?”

At that moment, Duke Bannon’s eyes glinted strangely as he looked at Earl Bailey.

“…A spy, you say.”

The Duke leisurely stood up, looking around the drawing room.

“Interesting. Your daughter has done something quite bold.”

“Surely you don’t mean…”

Earl Bailey’s face began to pale as he understood the situation. Furious, he leapt up and yanked open the curtain to the adjoining room.

“Melosi Bailey! How dare you…!”

But there was no sign of anyone in the dark room. The Duke’s footsteps echoed as he passed the stunned Earl and entered the small room.

Step, step.

Finally, the Duke stopped in front of a small cabinet. Judging the size of Melosi’s petite figure against the cabinet, the Duke smiled and looked back at the Earl.

“Earl Bailey, shall we make an interesting wager?”