Chapter 19

Chapter 19
## Chapter 19
“Well, in any case, I personally give you my thanks.”

After chatting for a while, Leigh spoke seriously in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“Lately, things at home are going well. It seems my brother Valerian can finally focus on the affairs of the domain, and our father, though he doesn’t show it much, seems satisfied.”

“Really? It is difficult to understand the Grand Duke’s feelings.”

“Well, it’s difficult for me too. Heh.”

Leigh crossed his legs in a relaxed posture, stroked his chin a few times, and then sighed.

“Yes, I suppose I have to accept what must be accepted.”

“…”

“People can change. Especially those in that age group, even more so.”

Leigh, with a gaze lost in the distance, seemed to be remembering the past.

It wasn’t difficult to guess why he held a grudge against Diella, but delving into that particular incident was another story. He didn’t like Diella, but after their last duel, he had to acknowledge her personal growth. At that moment, he seemed to have changed his previous opinion of her, which had been very negative.

“She uses first-tier magic, but her way of channeling mana is unique. It’s like… how should I put it?… like painting.”

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“Did you notice the difference?”

“Of course, I saw it firsthand. I don’t think Diella learned the rules and system-based theories that we nobles follow.”

Leigh was more perceptive than expected. After all, he was a child prodigy born into the Duplain family.

His achievements might not compare to those of his brother Valerian, but his innate sensitivity to mana was not inferior at all.

“Does Diella use magic differently?”

Yes. Mana consumption in the Savage Academy varies considerably from person to person. Perhaps… once she reaches a certain level, she will no longer need me to teach her; she will be able to learn on her own. At that point, honestly, any supposed “instruction” could become an obstacle.

“That by itself sounds quite special.”

Leigh closed his eyes tightly.

He seemed to be reflecting on Diella’s past, a past plagued by failures that led her to isolate herself in silence in the pavilion.

Then, with a voice that was neither too emotional nor too cold, Leigh said:

“Undoubtedly, the days will come when we see the light.”

***

And so spring arrived.

If life had four seasons, lately it seemed like an eternal spring.

At least for Diella.

While other members of the family might be busy with inheritance matters or more important issues… for Diella, who could dedicate herself exclusively to training, the whole world seemed like a warm paradise.

Her magic skills seemed to progress with every practice session. As often happens when learning, once you start to feel your own progress, it becomes more rewarding than any other form of entertainment.

The humanities classes also turned out to be more bearable than expected. She greatly enjoyed playing the piano and arranging flowers, so she practiced in her room even in her free time without anyone asking her to.

Strolling through the garden bathed in warm sunlight, the servants no longer got nervous upon seeing Diella. Sometimes, some daring servant would comment on how good the weather was, and Diella could now respond with genuine elegance.

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The servants working in the pavilion began to sincerely believe in Diella and followed her, maintaining an impeccable appearance and behavior. The butler Delron would greet her with a kind smile, and Diella, in turn, could reflect on how much she had grown since her childhood.

She, who previously showed no interest in worldly affairs, now began to pay attention to her surroundings. The low-ranking servants, who always seemed to be observing her, were actually more admirable and skilled than she had imagined.

How busy and competent the housekeeper Katarina was. How early the reprimanded servants began their daily tasks in the mansion.

How delicious the soup prepared by the chef who once worked in the royal palace was. The quality of the spices sprinkled at the end. The subtle flavor of the black tea served at teatime. The intensity of its aroma.

She picked up the brush again.

Sometimes, when she had time, she would take her easel and canvas to the garden, painting the diligent gardener or the profile of the great house at sunset. Most did not understand her style, full of empty spaces, but she didn’t care and painted what she liked.

As she dipped her brush into the well-mixed paint and slid it across the canvas, she felt as if time stood skull. Once, while painting the blue sky behind the mansion, she realized the day was already turning to dusk.

Time continued to pass, but the warm sensation of an eternal spring never faded. After a long winter, perhaps an endless spring was not such a bad idea.

That was the thought Diella always had.

“You have become accustomed to manifesting magic faster than I expected. Your progress is faster than I anticipated. You no longer need to practice further.”

“I told you I could do it if I tried, didn’t I?”

Many flowers bloomed in Diella’s world, but even so, the time she spent with Dereck was the longest.

Who could deny it? That boy was the spring that came to Diella.

He taught her magic, discovered her talent, showed her the right path, and stood firm in his duty even in the face of her family’s indifference. However, he always did so with his usual impassive face, simply fulfilling his role.

Diella felt grateful to Dereck, but, as a teenager, she was clumsy at expressing her feelings. As always, in front of Dereck, who praised her just as she was, Diella narrowed her eyes like a cunning cat and, with a victorious expression, put her hands on her hips.

“Hmph!”

“…”

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“Every time I act with pride, do you always look at me with that expression of pity?”

“It’s not pity… Sometimes I simply envy your innocence.”

“You have a very peculiar way of saying I am naive about the world.”

“How could I speak so frankly to a lady of the Duplain family? You have noble blood.”

It was undeniable. This boy seemed to comply with all formalities, but he never uttered empty words. In fact, that quality was comforting. In the world of nobility, plagued by hollow words and pretenses, someone like Dereck—polite but sincere—was worth more than gold.

What a blessing it was to find a mentor to trust and follow. Without realizing it, Diella caught herself humming a melody whenever she strolled peacefully.

She enjoyed the scent of the flowers by the roadside or gazing at the immense blue sky. When she had time, she drew for the servants of the mansion.

At first, the servants posed awkwardly, but over time, they began to look forward to her drawings.

After a month, and then two, Diella was remembered among the servants as a caring and dignified woman. She had been a pure and innocent child, and although she had gone through a rebellious stage, letting herself be carried away by her emotions and acting impulsively, she soon reconsidered and returned to being a woman worthy of her lineage.

In this way, Diella’s wandering stage was hidden. If one lived in the present and moved forward with determination, a brief detour in life would be just a small deviation.

Even Lady Miriela, who at another time had looked at Dereck with disapproval, had to acknowledge his achievements, and when they crossed paths in the hallway, she simply closed her eyes and continued on her way.

Seeing scenes like that, Diella felt there was nothing in this world too difficult for her.

“Hello, Dereck.”

At the end of spring, while Diella absentmindedly watched the butterflies fluttering among the flowers in the garden, she asked:

“Dereck, you have led a wandering life as a mercenary.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then you must have lived in truly harsh environments, nothing like this noble mansion. After all, the magic you use is based on the theory of the Savage Academy.”

“That’s right. Most mages of the Savage Academy are like that. It is rare to find the theory of the Savage Academy in such a noble setting. You are special.”

Special.

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Upon hearing that word, Diella felt an inexplicable satisfaction and smiled radiantly.

Dereck, absorbed in a three-star magic book he had borrowed from the library, asked from across the tea table. Books and literature.

“But why do you ask?”

“Just… I wanted to know how you lived.”

Although Diella had never shown interest in her surroundings before, her perspective had recently broadened, and she began to care about Dereck.

“Dereck, you probably already know this, but I think noblewomen live in a similar way. There might be some differences based on their status or prestige, but in general, they live like I do. But that doesn’t apply to common people.”

“It’s true. The lifestyle of common people is very varied. The values they most appreciate differ from person to person, and they are freer than one might think. Of course, most live mired in poverty instead of enjoying that freedom.”

“Yes. That’s why I asked about you, Dereck. I just wanted to know.”

Dereck listened in silence to Diella’s words and then spoke as if nothing had happened.

“I only wanted to become a high-level mage. That is my only goal now.”

“Really?”

“The only thing I’ve done is fight to survive from the bottom, and my only talent is handling magic well.”

Dereck spoke with a sincere tone, as if it didn’t matter, but Diella listened intently to her mentor’s words, blinking with bright eyes.

“Live by doing what you are good at. That is all I think. There is no special reason behind it.”

“I think that is quite important. Dereck, for a commoner, you use magic at an extraordinary level.”

“That is only by the standards of common people. For nobles born as mages like you, Lady Diella, it is a world you will reach in time.”

In Diella’s eyes, Dereck seemed like someone whose skills were much greater than she had imagined.

“If you want to dream, you have to look beyond. That is not something I can say openly everywhere.”

She couldn’t help but think: that was very typical of Dereck. Every time Dereck spoke of his ambitions, Diella felt a strange sense of disconnection from him.

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Their origins and approaches to life were very different. Even so, following in his footsteps was an exciting adventure. Diella, who had previously wandered aimlessly through life, felt that she had finally found a landmark, and before she knew it, she always smiled with satisfaction.

***

“Miss Diella, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

“Really? In fact, yesterday I almost mastered first-tier magic. Did Valerian also reach this level at my age? Perhaps I do have talent?”

“Of course. The magical progress you have achieved in recent months is extraordinary. There is no doubt you will become a mage on par with Master Valerian.”

Early in the morning, the maid brushing Diella’s hair smiled at her kindly. Diella responded enthusiastically to her words. The maid’s praise was not in vain: Diella’s magic skills, progressing rapidly, were truly exceptional.

It was said that mastering several first-tier spells before reaching adulthood was considered a great talent, and starting to practice second-tier magic was practically a sign of a prodigy. Even by noble standards, this level of development was clearly unusual.

Diella had completely assimilated the techniques and methods of mastery that Dereck taught her, and it seemed she would soon learn a new first-tier spell.

“Today I have magic class early. In the afternoon I have to study geography, so I want to practice as much as I can in the morning.”

“The weather is also pleasant this morning, so I will prepare the tea table in the garden. How about you take the class there?”

“Yes!”

Diella responded cheerfully and then stepped out into the hallway with a light gait. There was still time before her morning class, but she left early, carried away by the excitement.

At that hour, her magic instructor would likely be locked in his room, absorbed in a thick spellbook. He was someone who always practiced magic in his free time. If she arrived early and pressured him to start the lesson sooner, he would sigh as if he had no choice and let himself be led outside by Diella.

Since the morning weather was so pleasant, why not enjoy the warm sun while receiving a new transmission of first-tier magic?

With that thought in mind, Diella hummed a melody and set off with a light step.

*Creeak*

Without a second thought, she entered Dereck’s private room and raised her voice, full of excitement.

“Dereck! It’s time for our morning magic lesson! I’ve been waiting for this all week because we only had humanities classes!”

“…”

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Upon opening the door, as always, there was the boy in his mercenary attire, sitting at his desk.

However, today, her older brother, the noble Valerian, was visiting his room. Occupied with domain matters, what had brought him here?

“Oh, uh. Brother.”

“Oh, Diella. Good morning.”

Valerian greeted her with a kind smile, but a strange uneasiness unsettled her. He seemed to have been talking about something with Dereck. Surprised by the unexpected visit, Diella hesitated for a moment but then continued with a more animated tone.

“Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a separate appointment with Dereck for magic classes this morning.”

“No. I haven’t come for a class. I just came to ask him something.”

Should I come back when you’re finished?

It was Dereck who stopped her.

“No problem, Lady Diella. We were talking about your magic classes.”

“Eh? A conversation about my lessons?”

While Diella tilted her head in confusion, Dereck spoke with a slight bow.

“Actually, I no longer have anything more to teach you.”

Such was the season.

Just as there is no eternal winter, there is no eternal spring.