The Duke stared silently at the paper Lucia had handed him for a moment.
An academy entrance application.
It hadn’t been long since he had given it to her, and she was already bringing it back.
'She must have liked it.'
When he had received the application, Lucia's reaction had been lukewarm, and he thought she hadn't been very impressed, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
A subtle smile played on his lips as he took the application and said in a casual tone.
"The uniform tailor will be visiting sometime this week. When Miracle and Vansis are getting their uniforms fitted, you too-"
However, he didn't finish his sentence.
His eyes were fixed on the entrance application.
Specifically, the blank name field.
[Name: ]
It was empty.
All the blank space was pristine.
The Duke stared at the entrance application, which had returned to its original state, and then gazed at Lucia.
Noticing his cold gaze, Lucia slowly lowered her head.
Her neatly arranged, jet-black hair cascaded down.
"I appreciate the thought, but…."
She raised her head.
In the moonlight-mixed darkness, her red eyes shone resolutely.
"I don't want to enter the academy."
"Do you realize what kind of opportunity you're turning down with that choice?"
He countered without giving her a chance.
Lucia hesitated for a moment before calmly replying.
"Honestly... I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"And yet, you won't enter?"
He didn't hide his derision.
He couldn't possibly understand Lucia's choice.
No, beyond understanding, he felt she was being foolish.
Did she even know what kind of opportunity this was for her before spouting such nonsense?
It wasn't simply about losing the chance to learn.
For Lucia, a bastard child and a future sacrifice to Rodbel, entering the academy was a chance to broaden her world and perhaps even change her destiny.
What he had given Lucia was not just a simple entrance application but also Rodbel's future.
It was his—Ego Rodbel's—impulsive decision, one that would never happen again in his life.
She didn't even know the deep thought he had put into it before handing it over.
He was growing increasingly resentful of Lucia. At the same time, he was deeply disappointed.
Until now, he had believed that Lucia, being wise and intelligent, would surely seize this opportunity.
"What's the reason?"
That was why he couldn't help but ask for the reason.
Even while considering her foolish, he also thought that Lucia couldn't have made such a decision without a reason.
At the Duke's question, Lucia's gaze lowered.
Beneath her long eyelashes, the Duke couldn't decipher what was reflected in her red eyes.
"Actually, I've always wanted to enter the academy."
"…."
"So, when you gave me the academy entrance application, I was surprised and very happy. I thought I had finally achieved my wish…."
Her red eyes, which had been emitting a clear light, turned to him.
The gaze that looked up was unwavering and straightforward.
"I know it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But I... I don't think what I want will be there."
"What you want?"
What could she desire more than enjoying the rights as a Rodbel?
"There's something I'm looking for, and I don't think it will be there."
"…You can't find it at the academy?"
At his question, Lucia smiled faintly.
The Duke didn't think that smile looked like that of a ten-year-old child.
It was the look of someone who had overcome far more hardships, experienced more anguish, someone on an equal footing with him.
"…Are you confident you won't regret it?"
"I'd be lying if I said I was confident… but I won't regret it. Because it's my decision."
Not a decision made by others.
Her tightly pressed lips and determined eyes seemed to be saying just that.
"Hoh…." The Duke let out a hollow laugh.
But that was all. He couldn't say anything else.
She wouldn't go, she was rejecting his offer, so what could he do?
'I see.'
He belatedly realized.
He had greatly underestimated Lucia.
He had simply thought that if he gave her something she would like, she would be happy.
She was interested in learning and had not properly enjoyed the life of a noble, so he thought that if he let her enter the academy, she would surely be pleased.
But Lucia's heart couldn't be won with such simple thoughts.
More than anything, from the start.
'Why was I trying to see that child's happy face?'
Since when? Lucia's face, which only didn't show expression in front of him, was extremely bothersome.
That smile, which she freely showed to Aen Rixus, to the maid who had betrayed him, and even to Ligrin, disappeared without a trace only in front of him.
It was so bothersome, so he wanted to draw it out.
But was it too late? He couldn't make that child happy with this anymore.
"Then tell me something else."
"Yes?"
But the Duke was persistent.
He was the kind of person who couldn't rest until he got what he wanted.
He took a step closer to Lucia.
His shadow loomed darkly over the girl's head.
"I said, tell me what you really want, not to enter the academy."
"Why…."
Lucia, as if trying to escape his shadow, took a step back and asked with trembling eyes.
"Why?"
"…."
"Why are you trying to give me what I want?"
Lucia asked cautiously, like a child wary of a stranger luring them with food.
The Duke stared for a moment, then let out a small breath and replied quietly.
"Because I don't want to leave it as a debt."
"Yes?"
"Since you rejected entering the academy, you still have that much of a share left. It would be troublesome if you used it to hold me back later, so I'm just trying to settle it now."
"Ah…."
Lucia still looked like she didn't quite understand, but she didn't question further.
Soon, she was deep in thought with a serious expression.
Would it take a while?
Just as the Duke was about to turn around and tell her to come back later when she had something she wanted.
"There is something... something I really want."
"…What is it?"
Lucia raised her head.
The moment he thought her ruby-colored eyes were quite alright, Lucia spoke.
"I want to learn magic."
"…Magic?"
The Duke made a puzzled expression at my words.
I nodded earnestly.
"Yes."
To be honest... I didn't expect things to go so smoothly.
'I was planning to ask for the magic thing later as a condition when the time was right.'
The Duke was so cooperative that it felt like all the thinking I had done for half a day was for nothing.
No, from the start.
'It was strange from the moment he said he would let me enter the academy.'
The original Duke would never do such a thing.
He would know what I would learn at the academy and what kind of people I would meet. That place was full of variables, and the Duke hated variables.
Above all, I was destined to be sacrificed as soon as I turned twenty. For me, learning was so meaningless.
So I never even imagined that I would be able to enter the academy.
Of course.
'I wanted to, though.'
In order to learn what I wanted, I had to go to the academy, which was said to have the best faculty in the continent.
If I went there, I would be able to learn magic, more than anything else.
If it were before, just a day ago, I would have chosen to enter the academy without much hesitation.
But…
'That won't do.'
Because I had a new goal, I couldn't achieve my goal by just learning magic at the academy.
Above all, Miracle is there.
'It's safest to stay away as much as possible right now.'
With that in mind, I gave up entering the academy.
'It would be a lie to say I'm not disappointed…'
But I never thought the Duke would say he would give me something else.
I didn't know what kind of whim it was, what he was thinking when he said those words.
Having given up entering the academy, I couldn't miss this opportunity.
Above all, the man in front of me would make the impossible possible.
"I want to learn magic."
Comments
Post a Comment