Chapter: 59
It’s quite perplexing how the Duchess insists on making her own brand of dad jokes. What kind of torture is this? It feels almost unfair. I sometimes have the urge to quip back, but I hold my tongue, while the identity thug right in front of me seems to have no qualms about letting loose.
‘Maybe it’s because of her age.’
Even when I feel wronged, as soon as I think of the Mage Duchess’s age, a sense of pity washes over me. She’s led a single life without even the prospect of a partner until now; if making such silly jokes brings her joy, then it’s a young person’s duty to just grin and bear it.
“Baby? What are you thinking about?”
It seemed that my sympathetic feelings toward her were all-too-visible, as she tightened her grip while still petting my head.
“I was just thinking that I should develop a sense of humor like yours, Your Grace, so that my subordinates would follow me more willingly.”
“Oh dear, you must be having a tough time then. Don’t worry, my baby, everything will work out with time.”
‘I’d prefer not to.’
The Duchess seems to have branded me with the horrifying curse of “you’ll turn out like me as you grow older.” They say that words of wizards who have ascended to a high plane carry weight, and that thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Yet, despite both my worries and impressions, the Duchess’s smile only deepened as if she’d genuinely enjoyed my remark.
“It’s been eight years since I last saw that child you mentioned. That was the only time I ever taught anyone magic.”
“Is that so?”
That’s a relief. If Louise was the sole individual she’d taught, then at least there aren’t secret disciples lurking in corners everywhere. If there were many, that would be a problem, but one? That could plausible be just a whim or hobby of the Duchess.
Even the Emperor’s suspicions wouldn’t likely extend to such trivial matters. I had been concerned that he might start casting suspicious glances at the Duchess as well. But then again, being a Duke, she must have considered these possibilities herself long before I did.
Anyway, eight years ago means that Louise was around nine years old.
‘What a coincidence, just one year apart.’
The free chapters only mentioned her story up to her eighth birthday. To think that weirdly enough, the paid chapters would include the part where she learns magic through her encounter with the Duchess!
“Unfortunately, that child is unaware that the one who taught her magic was you. It’s such a pity that she doesn’t realize the stroke of luck she’s had.”
“I didn’t wish for things to get loud since I was traveling.”
With that, my last question was also settled. It appeared that she hid her identity simply to avoid disturbances during her travels. It’s rather bothersome to have noise when on a trip meant for rest.
Now, I finally felt a sense of relief. Although being forced into an unplanned meeting with the Duchess was initially shocking, at least I could hear the truth directly from the person involved. The Duchess wasn’t the type to lie about such matters.
“How is that child doing?”
“Oh, yes. She is doing well and healthy.”
Having removed her hand from my head, the Duchess inquired about Louise’s wellbeing. Even if she had taught her on a whim, it seemed that fondness had developed.
“I’m glad to hear it. When I first saw her, the poor child had such a gloomy expression despite her age.”
I quietly nodded in agreement with her words.
The truth revealed by the Mage Duchess ended up being a rather mundane tale of the heroine from a romance novel accidentally encountering her destiny. Given our serious discussions previously, I found the outcome rather underwhelming. Well, at least it was a lesser hassle than tackling a major incident.
Now that our business was done, it was time for me to return to the Academy.
“Baby, pour me another cup?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
But, ma’am, why aren’t you leaving?
Suppressing the urge to blurt out my thoughts that floated to the tip of my tongue, I carefully poured tea into the cup.
The reason the Duchess summoned me here had originally been due to an invasion of privacy issues. I’d received her forgiveness already, and we had talked about Louise, so there wasn’t much left to discuss. However, the Duchess didn’t appear to be in any rush to leave.
“How’s life at the Academy?”
For a brief moment, it felt just like a grandmother asking her grandson about school. But this wasn’t something I could express out loud, so I merely kept it to myself.
“I’ve gotten used to it as time passed.”
“Oh, is that so? I was so excited to hear that you were going to the Academy!”
“Haha.”
It seemed my suffering had turned into entertainment for the Duchess.
“When I attended, it was…”
The Duchess trailed off as nostalgia kicked in while sipping on her tea. Meanwhile, I simply lowered my gaze.
It’s an open secret that the Mage Duchess is reluctant to mention her age. Though elves are typically indifferent to their age, she is a half-elf. Having lived among humans, her values lean more toward human nature.
No matter how much her mind accepted her great age as natural, her human heart would definitely resist that reality. That must be why she shied away from discussing her school days so often. Regardless, most people are likely aware of her age anyway.
‘Did she graduate about a century ago?’
Again, that was not something I could carelessly bring up, so I resolved to keep it to myself. There’s simply no telling how she might react if a mere heir like me were to tread into such territory.
“I’ve heard the Academy has undergone significant changes. I would love to visit someday if the opportunity arises.”
“I’m certain the Principal would be thrilled if you did.”
“Really? I wonder if there are any teaching positions available.”
Oh no.
I couldn’t suppress the twitch of my eyes from her unexpected statement, and the Mage Duchess chuckled lightly.
“But I’m quite busy with the Magic Tower, so it would be hard for me. Still, it’d be a nice chance to spend more time with my baby.”
“I feel the same way; it’s unfortunate.”
With a gentle smile, the Duchess finally put down her cup and got up from her seat. Noticing that she was eyeing my arm, I prepared to get up to see her off.
“Do you need a hand?”
“No, it’s fine. I have more than enough left.”
As I rolled up my sleeve, the Duchess waved her hand to refuse. It probably made sense since she’d drawn blood not long before my Academy dispatch. Before I entered this body, I recalled that the blood donation cycle was about two or three months long. So it seemed a bit liable to draw again too soon.
“I feel good results are on the way soon.”
“I’m glad my blood seems to be valuable.”
“It’s a relief that you think so. Be sure to drop by the Magic Tower later. Make sure you travel back comfortably.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
With that, the Mage Duchess left the Prosecutor’s Office. Her immaculate white hair glittering like sunlight as it trailed on the floor was always striking. They say it doesn’t get dirty, no matter how much it drags, due to a spell she’s cast on it.
‘A robotic vacuum cleaner…’
Seeing how the space she’d just occupied remained spotless proves how remarkable the magic’s effect truly is. She’s practically a living vacuum cleaner.
As I entertained thoughts that could be deemed irreverent, I settled back into my seat. Now that I think about it, she did mention good results might come soon.
‘That’s faster than I expected.’
The war up north revealed aspects of my own physical traits that I hadn’t previously recognized. Remarkably strong lifeline and astonishing recovery capabilities. Thanks to these, I’ve survived countless dicey situations up north, and the Duchess had also taken notice of my unusual physique.
I was utterly shocked when the Duchess suddenly proposed selling my blood for an experiment. However, having traded my blood for two Choco Pies before, I had no problem embracing this. I had no reason to refuse a legitimate exchange.
‘But how long does ‘soon’ actually mean for her?’
For a half-elf with over 120 years of experience, her standards of ‘soon’ probably differ greatly.
Before long after the Duchess left, there was a knock on the door.
“She’s gone. Come in.”
As soon as I replied, my subordinates came rushing in. There were exactly five of them. It seemed they were all here, not a single one wandering outside. Or maybe they had been hurriedly summoned due to the Duchess’s visit.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh, I’m fine. No problems here.”
I nodded at the Senior Manager, who asked on behalf of the others. It really was a conversation that ended without any significant issue. Therefore, the Senior Manager sighed with relief at that.
“Executive Manager, did you come here because you missed us? You sure aren’t being honest, huh?”
The 1st Manager began joking as she realized that the meeting wasn’t serious. The way she dashed forward while waving her hands was rather irritating.
Uuubb—!!
“Don’t fret! We didn’t meet for work-related matters, it was personal. Just keep doing your duties like usual.”
I pinched the cheek of the 1st Manager while explaining to my other subordinates. This meeting was genuinely due to my own blunder, rather than any professional duty, and recalling that still made me mad at that bastard who heads the Secret Service.
“But why would the Mage Duchess herself come here? She’s a hard person to meet outside the Magic Tower.”
The 2nd Manager stroked his chin as he asked. I wanted to keep it private since it dealt with the Duchess’s personal life, but since she told me, it seemed fine for the Prosecutor’s Office to know.
“There was a noble who learned one of the Duchess’s unique spells. I was trying to gather more information when she kindly came to me directly.”
“One of her unique spells? Whoever it is hit the jackpot. If you’re a disciple of the Duchess, they must want to recruit you without hesitation.”
“It’s Louise.”
Upon hearing that, the 2nd Manager bit his lip and grimaced. Everybody knew that Louise was the president of the club I guided. It was unclear whether to laugh, marvel, or console me regarding the miraculous odds of being the Duchess’s pupil.
“That’s astonishing.”
The Senior Manager quietly muttered those words, which probably encapsulated everyone’s feelings.
Ubb—Uub.
“Oh, right.”
Just as I was about to sigh, I heard a pathetic groan from the side. I had initially intended to pinch but ended up holding her longer than expected.
“Are you heading back right away?”
“I have nothing scheduled for the morning. Might as well take a breather before returning.”
“Understood.”
The meeting with the Duchess that I never wanted was over. I’d also informed the Principal, Vice Principal, and Villar that I might be late. Plus, the club hour wasn’t starting for a while. So taking a quick breather seemed fine. Consider it a small reward for myself after all I had endured.
As I relaxed, my communication crystal suddenly began glowing vibrantly.
“Oh.”
Was word spreading already, even though I’d only just gotten back?
I really should’ve returned at once instead of trying to soak up a moment of peace.
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