Outside the office, Malin stood feeling the chill breeze and realized— it was Colin’s tily appearance that saved him when he sensed danger.
Yes, soone was watching him in secret with malice, and likely with the intent to kill... Simple jealousy and dislike among apprentices were not enough to make Malin feel threatened, because those students simply weren’t a match for him.
Colin’s arrival must have been at the behest of his ntor, Hoffman... Thus, the ntor must know sothing.
Yet, he also knew that this matter wasn’t fit for him to know from the start, which would explain the need for such a conversation. He’d never understood the saying, "It’s not the thief who steals that is to be feared, but the thief who covets," as deeply as he did today.
With this thought, Malin felt a bit upset— but also sowhat relieved.
He was upset because Hoffman thought he shouldn’t know about the matter, but he was relieved... because it was clear Hoffman was willing to protect his apprentice.
This was significant. Without Hoffman’s recent intervention, Malin was certain the situation he’d be facing would be a life-or-death struggle.
Whose skull would be smashed in was the question.
.........
"The Queen is really making a ss of things, thinking she can manipulate soone else’s fate when it’s not even her own daughter. Does she still think she’s living three hundred years ago?" Watching Malin leave the educational area, Colin furrowed his brows and turned to his ntor, "Teacher, we must communicate with Lady Anna."
"Then I’ll leave the matter to you," said the old man without lifting his head.
"Eh, why !" Colin, pointing to himself, wore a face full of question marks.
"Silly boy, one day you’ll have to face that Lady Anna. Margaret is the child born to His Majesty and Lady Mannier, and she was brought up by her. She will be your greatest adversary in marrying Margaret, so why not try to confront her?" The old man lifted his head to regard his apprentice, "Look at Malin, so young yet more capable than you. Surrounded by girls, he hardly has space to stand. If you keep being so dense, you should be careful that Margaret doesn’t slip away from you."
"Hey! Teacher! That’s too much! I’m not unsightly either!" Colin felt his teacher was being unfair. How could he compare with Malin, the Church’s number one darling, cute and strong in equal asure? Girls from higher grades liked him too, not just those in the sa year.
"Colin, everyone is different. If you don’t make an effort, the differences and injustices bestowed by fate on each person will amplify a hundred, a thousand tis. So why not give it a try? Here is my letter to Lady Anna, telling her that if she doesn’t want her little Faye to beco a young widow, she needs to get better control over Queen Leman and the vicious hound at her side." Throwing the sealed letter to Colin, Hoffman leaned back in his chair.
Watching his student fumbling to catch the letter, the old man smiled, "Go on, Lady Anna generally resides in the villa. If Lady Anna is not there, you can explain the situation to her Head Maid, Lena. She has ways to contact her imdiately."
After speaking, he closed his eyes, "Let rest a bit, lad. Go quickly and return swiftly."
.........
"My mom has co back." As Faye walked into the villa’s hall and noticed that only Lena was present, she imdiately complained, "Lena, where is my mother?"
"Your mother is still in the North. She will return tonight, or perhaps tomorrow morning," Lena, busy polishing a vase on the table, replied without looking up, "By the way, miss, how did you know the Queen has returned?"
"Malin bumped into old Jason when he went to my room to get so fruit wine. When he ntioned the old man and the dog, I knew there would be trouble... Tell my mother to co back quickly. I’m afraid my other mother will act impulsively against Malin," Faye said and then fell silent for a mont, thinking Lena might dismissively say that for an adopted orphan, death would be inconsequential.
However, to her surprise, Lena stopped her work, "This is indeed a problem. I will inform your mother imdiately, and I will see Mr. Jason right away, hoping he doesn’t do anything foolish. Your dicine has been placed in your room; please don’t forget to drink it, miss."
Faye had not yet reacted by the ti Lena left the living room— Wait, was Lena going to contact her mother?
Wait, why is it that when she ran away from ho her mother wouldn’t co looking for her, but if sothing happened to Malin, she could be contacted?
Hey, Lena, who is the real daughter here?
.........
Seated in the carriage, the old woman was pondering. Her husband’s trip to Carterburg was probably for Lady Mannier’s eldest daughter’s betrothal— Margaret was already sixteen and at marriageable age. And that boy Colin, who was previously in love with her, should have been persuaded to give up by now.
After all, Lady Anna didn’t like him either, so the key was getting Lady Anna to agree to Margaret’s betrothal to her own grandnephew— that was Queen Leman’s main reason for coming to this city.
Of course, there was another more important reason— Faye. Unlike Margaret, she was Lady Anna’s own firstborn, though outwardly claid as the second daughter, but Leman knew it was just to keep Margaret happy and prevent her from overthinking.
Hmph, nothing but the progeny of uninvited bandits.
But Faye was different; the girl possessed exceedingly high Spell Talent, and though frail, she remained the child her brother had high hopes for. The Leman family, Rowe, wanted to arrange for Faye’s betrothal to the Rowe family’s primary heir at the sa ti as Margaret’s betrothal.
But upon arrival, Leman imdiately noticed a problem—history seed to be repeating itself.
People should not... at least they should not make the sa mistakes, so this ti Leman showed no rcy. According to the timing, old Jason should already have accomplished his task.
Glancing at the pocket watch in her hand, the old woman furrowed her brows. Just as she was about to have her coachman stop the carriage, a hand rested on the window, and in the next mont, her old butler appeared outside the window.
"Madam, I failed to fulfill your wishes. Please forgive ," said the butler, loyal to the Mowish family and equally loyal to her, falling silent after speaking.
Leman was neither angry nor even annoyed because she knew there must be a reason Jason spoke this way. A true Noble should not bla their incompetence on the servants who work for them.
So she raised her head and looked out the window, "I’m listening to your explanation, Jason."
"Madam, Cain Dodge intercepted , and old Hoffman called the boy over... he is his Apprentice," Jason explained.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Leman, who had been a bit irked, suddenly smiled, "Ah, so it’s that inhuman old thing’s little Apprentice. Had I known this earlier, I wouldn’t have needed you to kill him."
"Madam, that boy..." old Jason hesitated, causing Leman to frown, "Is there an issue, Jason?"
"I could see the magical mark on the back of his neck, a beacon placed by Lady Anna. Even if Cain Dodge hadn’t stopped , it would’ve been impossible for to kill him. The mont he was hurt, accident spells and protection spells would separate us imdiately, and Lady Anna would arrive on the scene in no ti... Based on what I know about Lady Anna, she would have surely killed ," Jason said with a sigh. "Madam, there is sothing wrong with that boy."
"You’re a butler of the Mowish family; she has no right to kill you. But what you’re telling is indeed very interesting. That boy... could it be..."
"He’s not her illegitimate child. The dominant genes of the Chevic family are Elven and also include golden eyes. That child has dark hair and looks more like a Thanan. So, I think he might be the illegitimate child of so Noble within our country. Of course, this needs investigating, Madam."
"Then I’ll leave this matter to you. Withdraw any funds you need from this card," the true mistress of the nation handed a card through the window. Once the old butler took the card, the old lady smiled and closed her eyes, "How much longer to the other garden?"
"A quarter of an hour, Madam, perhaps even slower since today is the fourth day of the Harvest Festival."
"Hmm... I do hope Anna is at the other garden, so I can have a proper talk with her about the Faye issue."
As she spoke, Leman shifted to make herself more comfortable. Although her aging had not affected her daily life due to her past as a Transcendent, who would refuse a chance to sit more comfortably?
.........
Turning her head to look around, Anna realized the different kind in her hand was the last one. She dissipated the fla Longsword, then threw the different kind’s head she was holding onto the ground. Applause arose from the battleground, and more people joined in the cheer after having successfully repelled the Chaos offensive. The lady, standing firm, received a cup from a dical soldier who ran over and drank the Holy Water inside.
Exhaling white mist, Anna prepared to pull out of the fight—her husband should have arrived at Carterburg by now, and this ti she decided to give Colin a chance.
After all, it was Colin’s good luck to have t Malin. Anna genuinely hadn’t wanted Margaret to marry him otherwise.
Not that the boy was clumsy or dull, but because he was old Hoffman’s Apprentice.
Because the Nobles all knew that this boy was rely... At that thought, Anna saw her Magic Pet—a Golden Eagle—descending from the sky. It landed on her shoulder, with a small canister on its leg flashing with light, a ssage from Lena.
Pulling out the small slip of paper, Anna opened it.
Both Majesties have arrived.
At the first sentence, Anna smiled. It seed her sister Leman was quite eager.
Malin has made contact with Jason.
At the second sentence, Anna’s smile stiffened.
Old Hoffman had Colin send a ssage through the fixed teleportation portal, saying Jason waited for Malin in the corridor but was stopped.
At the third sentence, Anna’s smile completely disappeared. She returned her Magic Pet to her Mage’s special small space and then opened a teleportation portal.
The Queen, you are... rather impatient, aren’t you?
Impatience is an ailnt that must be cured.
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