I felt as if my mind had come to a halt. I couldn’t believe that Ains was kneeling in front of me, pleading. I hesitated and took a half-step back.

I needed to respond, but strangely, no words came out. The only thought I managed to have was that I should at least get Ains to stand up.

“Duke, please stand up,” I said to Ains with an awkward expression, but he looked at me resolutely, as if he wouldn’t rise unless I accepted him.

“Duke, I…” I struggled to speak, still unsure of what to say.

“Haven’t we already finished our conversation?”

I had already decided to leave Ains. This wasn’t a sudden change of heart but a conclusion I had reached after long contemplation and conflict.

It was the best choice for me. And now, I finally felt like I could breathe a little away from his side.

If I hadn’t chosen to divorce Ains, I might have withered away alone in this large mansion. I might have even taken my own life.

That’s what it was like for me, being by Ains’s side.

Ains asking me to come back now didn’t sway my heart so easily.

It seemed he didn’t understand that.

“I understand that it’s hard for you too, Duke. Your grandfather passed away, and now you’re alone. But I don’t want to go back because of that.”

“…”

“I know you’re not the same as before. I know you don’t ignore or mistreat me like you used to. But that’s not a reason to return. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to.”

After repeating the words over and over in my mind, I cautiously continued.

“…”

There was no response from Ains.

I let out a small sigh as I watched Ains, who still refused to get up.

Just as he couldn’t force me to stay, I couldn’t force him to stand.

“I’m sorry.”

In the end, that was all I could say to Ains.

I bowed politely to him, who remained on the ground, and then turned away.

It might have seemed harsh, but it was the best choice I could make.

I couldn’t accept him with a softened heart. I knew better than anyone how painful it was to gloss over things with such a half-hearted mindset.

I boarded the carriage first, and soon Rivet followed. However, the coachman hesitated to start the carriage.

“Rivet, tell the coachman to depart.”

“What? Oh, yes!”

Startled, Rivet opened the window to the coachman’s seat.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The coachman responded belatedly, and the carriage began to move slowly forward.

I wondered if Ains was still standing there or if he had finally returned to the mansion. I was curious, but I didn’t check.

Perhaps because Rivet had witnessed everything earlier, she remained silent. I was the same. I didn’t have the energy to talk about anything else in the current situation.

As a result, the carriage was filled with the ordinary noise of the horse’s hooves clattering and the wheels rolling across the ground.

I was aware that it was just the usual noise, but for some reason, it kept bothering me.

* * *

When we arrived in front of the Liet Hotel, the staff who had been waiting greeted us. Some of them guided the employees to their accommodations, while others moved the luggage packed in the carriage.

“The room for the Viscountess is this way.”

The room the staff showed me to was spacious and luxurious. Although it was smaller than the room I had used at the Graham mansion, it was at least as large as the bedroom at the Marves estate.

As soon as I entered, I walked through the living area and headed straight to the bedroom, where I lay down on the bed.

“Madam, please call me if you need anything. I will be waiting,” Rivet said, noticing my foul mood and excusing herself.

I heard the door close, and silence enveloped the bedroom.

I curled up quietly and closed my eyes, wishing to escape the thoughts cluttering my mind. I hoped that if I fell asleep, I could at least forget about Ains for a while.

But contrary to my hopes, as soon as I closed my eyes, the image of Ains looking at me desperately appeared vividly in my mind. I still remembered the tears welling up in his reddened eyes.

Moreover, he had even knelt down.

I couldn’t believe that someone as proud as him had set aside his pride and kneeled.

“……”

I sighed deeply at the thought.

How long was I going to keep thinking about Ains? I felt pathetic for not being able to mentally detach myself from him.

* * *

For the first three days after arriving at the Liet Hotel, I did nothing. Although I was scheduled to learn magic at the Magic Tower, I didn’t have the energy for it, so I asked Rivet to postpone the training sessions.

Fortunately, Master Belle was understanding. She was aware of the recent explosion incident and that I had left the Graham mansion. Understanding my situation, she gave me time to rest.

However, simply lying in bed didn’t last long.

The more I lay there, the more sluggish my body felt, and my mood became increasingly gloomy. I felt like I needed to do something, anything.

So, I decided to visit the Magic Tower earlier than planned, taking a carriage along the way.

Since I had visited a few times before, the staff at the Magic Tower, who were familiar with me, opened the tower doors as soon as I approached the entrance.

As I slowly walked inside, the familiar hallway came into view.

After being in the unfamiliar Liet Hotel, arriving at a familiar place felt somewhat reassuring.

I headed straight to Master Belle’s laboratory inside the tower.

Knock, knock.

I gently knocked on the door. I hadn’t announced my visit, so I wondered if she might not be there.

To my relief, the door opened silently. It was Master Belle who opened it.

“Cecilia?”

Master Belle’s eyes widened in disbelief at my unexpected visit. Since I had never visited anyone without prior notice, I gave an awkward smile.

“Have you been well, Master Belle?”

“I’ve been well. Come on in.”

Master Belle invited me inside.

For the first time, I entered her laboratory. Various potions filled the shelves, and empty flasks were neatly arranged on the table.

“Come over here and sit down,” Master Belle said, gesturing to a sofa in one corner of the laboratory. I carefully sat where she indicated.

“Is black tea okay?”

“Yes, anything is fine.”

“Alright. Just a moment.”

In no time, tea was prepared. A cup of red-hued black tea was placed in front of me.

“But Cecilia, what’s brought you here today? I thought you were taking a break from training. Did something happen?” Master Belle’s voice, filled with concern, put me at ease.

“No, I just felt suffocated staying at the hotel. I wanted to see someone, and the people who came to mind were Master Belle and Master Cesare.”

“I’m oddly flattered that you thought of me during tough times.”

Master Belle smiled warmly. Her smile had a comforting effect on those who saw it. It was a skill more magical than any spell.

“By the way, I heard you left the Graham mansion. Are you alright?”

“……I’m fine.”

Leaving the Graham mansion was a decision I made myself. Although Ains’s final image still lingered in my mind, I had no regrets about the decision.

Yes, the problem now was that Ains’s last image kept haunting me.

Master Belle quietly observed me. Her eyes were deep and thoughtful, as if she could read my innermost thoughts.

“I won’t press further if you say you’re fine. But Cecilia, if you ever need help or someone to talk to, come to me anytime. We’re friends, and I’ll always be here for you.”

Her kind and warm words stirred something in my heart, bringing a rush of emotion.

I paused, holding my breath. I felt that if I didn’t, I might end up crying pathetically in front of her. And I feared that the emotions I had been suppressing would burst forth.

“……Thank you, Master Belle.”

That was all I could manage to say. But Master Belle seemed to understand, gently patting my shoulder.

It took quite some time for me to calm the storm of emotions inside.

I shared many conversations with Master Belle. Previously, our talks had mainly been about my magic, but this time, we focused on each other’s stories.

I had the chance to learn how she came to study magic and how she became acquainted with my grandfather. It was an opportunity to slowly address my curiosities through conversation.

“By the way, I heard the repairs on the Marves estate are nearly complete.”

“Is that true?”

It was rare good news.

“Yes, according to Cesare, they should be finished by the end of this week.”

“That’s a relief. I was thinking I couldn’t stay at the hotel forever.”

Although I still had plenty of money left, I couldn’t spend it recklessly, not knowing what might happen in the future.

In such a situation, the news Master Belle brought was incredibly welcome.