TNDOBM 13

Chapter 13

“I conducted my own investigation, and there were no traces of magic. Additionally, the manager confessed that the building hasn’t been repaired in quite some time.”

In other words, it meant it was indeed an unfortunate accident.

“That can’t be!”

“No matter how powerful Dilansher is, she wouldn’t dare pull tricks inside the main temple. Father should know that best.”

Knox added a sly, pointed remark.

Unable to deny the statement, the Marquis’s face crumpled instantly.

Before the two men’s futile argument could drag on, Ceciliah casually opened her mouth.

“By the way, about that new bird. I heard it flew in from outside and hit a window?”

“Well, I’m not sure. The second prayer room happened to be empty at the time. They said the bird was found outside the building. Why, is that important?”

“No, just curious.”

‘*Outside, huh.*’

It wasn’t perfectly satisfying evidence, but she could piece together a reasonable guess.

The glass would have been excessively thick, and the bird was only about the size of a palm. Since force is proportional to mass, even if it delivered enough impact to cause a crack, it probably couldn’t have broken through.

In that state, if the impacted area was subtly tilted outward, it wasn’t impossible for most of the fragments to fall outside.

Ceciliah, having roughly assessed the course of the accident, nodded vaguely.

She decided not to consider other possibilities.

‘*Above all, there were no traces of magic.*’

The Marquis’s argument wasn’t very logical on several counts.

“I must contact His Majesty directly.”

The person in question didn’t seem to have let go of his suspicions yet.

‘*It seems the business is over. Can I go back to my room now?*’

With her slight interest fading, Ceciliah scratched behind the ears of the groaning Charles.

Just as she looked away, appearing indifferent as if it wasn’t her concern, her gaze landed on the newspaper the Marquis had tossed aside.

The front page of the capital-issued newspaper featured the resounding success of a new material project co-invested and promoted by the Princess and Dilansher, along with lavish praise.

‘*Ah, so this is what had him in a foul mood.*’

Easily guessing the Marquis’s inner feelings, Ceciliah let her eyes drift downward.

Another article occupied a corner of the front page prominently.

‘*This is…*’

<The one identified as the mastermind behind the illegal private gambling ring is the Magic Tower Master? Where is the noble truth of the Magic Tower heading?>

Beneath the rather provocative title, as Ceciliah carefully read the scathing article, she picked up the newspaper.

“Father, may I take this newspaper with me?”

The edge of the clenched article crumpled audibly in her hand.

—

Returning to her room, Ceciliah tore off the bottom section of the newspaper. After roughly stuffing the crumpled paper pieces into her pocket, she immediately put on her coat.

“I’ll have today’s lesson at Rien’s mansion.”

“Pardon?”

Melanie was horrified at the news that she was going out again, even though only a few days had passed since the accident.

“Miss! The Marquis said you should refrain from going out for a while because it might be dangerous…!”

“It’s just next door. Anyway, I’ll be back.”

“Miss!”

Leaving the dissuading Melanie behind, Ceciliah slipped through the dog door. Then she boldly knocked on the mansion’s door.

*Thud!*

A loud noise came from beyond the door, and soon it swung wide open.

“Lady Ceciliah! Wh-what brings you here at this hour…?”

As if he knew exactly who the uninvited guest was, the homeowner himself, not even a butler, greeted her immediately.

Of course, he was still wearing his robe.

‘*He’s still wearing that even at home.*’

After gazing somewhat reluctantly at the dark piece of cloth, Ceciliah spoke up nonchalantly.

“I thought I’d have today’s lesson here. We’re friends, so this should be fine, right?”

It was a good two hours earlier than their scheduled lesson time, but he nodded eagerly without hesitation.

“Of course! By all means.”

“Then excuse me.”

Knowing she was being rude, Ceciliah nonetheless brushed past his side and strode into the mansion.

She had often visited the garden, but this was her first time inside the mansion. The interior, as grand as the Weberdin mansion, lacked flashy decorations but possessed its own antique charm.

As Ceciliah was admiring the carvings on the pillars and ceilings, she suddenly noticed a broom standing upright against the hallway wall.

‘*A broom?*’

Looking closer, she saw a rag resting beneath a window, and a bucket of clean water placed in a corner of the hallway. Yet there was no one using them.

She finally realized the source of the odd feeling that had been nagging at her since earlier.

In this vast mansion, there was strangely no one around.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see any servants.”

Her voice echoed through the wide hall.

As if struck by her voice, Rien flinched, his shoulders trembling.

“Oh, t-today happens to be their day off.”

“All of them?”

“Y-yes. I give regular holidays for work efficiency. I don’t mind living alone.”

“You’re a good employer.”

Rien, scratching his robed head awkwardly, guided her to a small room at the end of the hallway.

“The only space I mainly use in this mansion is here. It’s, well, quite messy.”

‘*It’s less messy and more just lacking furniture.*’

The room, about half the size of her bedroom, contained only a sofa and a desk.

Still, it seemed true that this was his main space, as a thick blanket and small cushions were scattered on the leather sofa, and the dark brown wooden desk was piled high with thick books whose titles were unreadable.

‘*And why a fireplace?*’

The strangest thing about this otherwise unremarkable room was the fireplace that occupied one wall.

Inside the hearth, firewood blazed brightly, despite the season, yet strangely, no heat could be felt.

“You’re not unwell, are you? I hope I haven’t intruded when you’re not feeling well?”

As Ceciliah tilted her head, Rien immediately threw dirt from beside the fireplace onto the logs.

“No! I-it’s just that the butler had left the firewood, so I lit it for fun.”

*Hiss*, thin smoke rose from the extinguished wood. Ceciliah peered beneath his robe, wondering if he truly had a cold.

His partially visible face wasn’t flushed, so it seemed her worry was unfounded.

Relieved, Ceciliah plopped down onto the sofa.

“Today, you said you’d teach me social dancing, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Nodding, Rien rummaged through the pile of books on the desk and soon brought over a few volumes.

*《Beginner’s Guide to Social Dancing》*

*《Read This and Become a Dance Master》*

*《Dance God, Dance King》*

‘*…What is that last one?*’

The title was too intimidating to even touch.

Though she felt sorry for Rien, who proudly presented the textbooks, she had no intention of sitting quietly and attending the lesson today.

“You’re going to teach it as a theory class too?”

“Pardon?”

“Why don’t you just show me directly, Rien?”

Ceciliah lightly tugged at his wrist. Only when his face was inches from hers could she meet his violet eyes.

“Is that not allowed?”

Her now-habitual sly tricks flowed as easily as breathing. As she lowered her grip from his wrist to cover the back of his hand, Rien hesitantly tried to pull back.

No, he tried to, but failed.

It wasn’t as if she had a leash around his neck. Yet Rien couldn’t move an inch, like a beast caught in a snare.

Letting out a short breath, he murmured as if sighing.

“Is it alright for me to touch you, Lady Ceciliah?”

“Of course.”

You’re already touching me.

After opening and closing his mouth a few times, Rien abruptly stood up. The books he was holding clattered to the floor, and his relatively free right hand was suddenly extended towards her.

Ceciliah took his hand, was led to the center of the room, and stood facing him, the sequence flowing seamlessly.

“First, please follow my movements.”

“I will.”

She wasn’t very confident in physical activities, but Ceciliah simply nodded.

Inside the small room, with no audience or orchestra.

From a device resembling a phonograph, a slow, calm melody flowed.

Accompanied by the intermittently crackling music, Rien slowly moved his feet.

Perhaps because he was being so considerate of her, a beginner, it wasn’t too difficult to follow his steps.

However, whenever the distance of about a handspan between them decreased due to her mistakes, the man’s chest would heave roughly.

Ceciliah, gazing up at his blatant agitation and the rosy blush blooming on his cheeks, suddenly parted her lips.

“Rien.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think about the Magic Tower Master?”

Instantly, the man’s smoothly flowing steps came to an abrupt halt, like a broken toy.

It was an out-of-the-blue topic to bring up during a lesson. However, this was also the very reason she had barged into this mansion unannounced.

His hand, tinged with bewilderment, began to tremble slightly.

“Wh-why do you ask?”

“I happened to read a newspaper from the capital today, and there was a special report about the Magic Tower Master. It said he’s a truly wicked person.”

As soon as the utterly biased statement ended, Rien immediately denied it.

“It’s probably just a rumor.”

“Is it?”

“Yes!”

He probably didn’t realize it, but his grip on her hand tightened.

This level of reaction was answer enough.

Before the music even ended, Ceciliah cleanly released his hand and stepped back a few paces.

“…Lady Ceciliah?”

And then she cut straight to the chase.

“Rien, you’re a wizard, aren’t you?”