Chapter 34

Chapter 34

* * *

As the winter grew colder, Kallen and Jade began to leave the manor more often. Naturally, I took charge of looking after our home, but I also had my own work to do: studying. Every morning, my governess visited me and taught me how to read and write, as well as some basic knowledge.

I enjoy taking lessons with my teacher, but I get bored in the afternoons… Seeing me moan and wallow, Sion suggested I complete my homework in the first floor’s largest parlor.

Ah, this is the best… The entire manor was cozy, but I always ended up curled in front of the roaring fireplace. I enjoyed playing outside, but such warmth provided a different kind of comfort.

“Mana stones are spread throughout the manor, which is how it maintains its warmth in the winter,” Sion had explained. “The entire staff sings their praises of the wonderful working conditions.”

He gathered a heap of plush cushions and arranged them in front of the fireplace. The warmth that emanated from the hearth made me drowsy, even while standing still. Here, I would often lie down on my stomach or back and do my homework. Today’s homework was to illustrate and color the manor’s scenery.

“Which color will you use over here?” Sion asked.

“Hmm… Light blue.”

“I see. You must be drawing the manor during the daytime then. Not at night.” He continued to kindly ask about my assignment. “You did a terrific job of drawing this spire. It belongs to one of His Grace’s favorite structures. Why don’t you show him when he gets back?”

“No way. I’ve heard that Dad excels in both fine arts and music. He’ll probably laugh at my terrible drawing.”

Sion smiled faintly. “Even the lousiest drawing is perfect if it’s done by you, my lady.”

“Wow, Sion. You sounded like Dad just now.”

Do masters and servants always resemble one another? I noticed Sion’s usually pale face was slightly flushed. It was unusual to see his handsome, statue-like face change expression. I finally understood why Kallen enjoyed teasing him.

“I simply thought your drawing was adorable, my lady.”

I stared at my picture, which was made up of crooked, squiggly lines, and then looked up at Sion. “Aren’t you very busy?” I asked him. I was grateful that he was looking after me, but he was also responsible for the entire manor in Kallen’s stead. He didn’t have time to review my homework or play with me throughout the day.

“Well, no. Taking care of you is an important part of my duty, Lady Leticia.”

“But won’t Dad scold me? He’ll say that playing with me isn’t your job.”

Sion smiled gently. “It’s quite the opposite,” he said.

“I’m sorry?”

“If His Grace and Master Jade discover that I’ve been, shall we say, keeping you to myself—I mean, taking care of you while they were away, they will surely scold me instead.”

I tilted my head. “Why would they scold you?”

I don’t always understand His Grace and Jade, but because Sion has been serving them for a long time, he knows them far better than I do. Sion chuckled.

“They get quite jealous. When they become fond of someone, they grow very attached to them.”

“Oh…”

“All right, then. Is this your only homework today?”

“Nope. I also need to read a storybook on my own and write a poem.”

“It appears you are quite busy.”

“I’ll finish quickly, but writing the poem will be a challenge.” I had been labeled as gifted, but that didn’t change the fact that I had received little education up to this point.

Writing poetry and drawing are entirely absent from my past life memories… In fact, my past life has few advantages to offer. I only recently learned how to read and write, and my homework is as elementary as it gets.

“I just don’t understand poetry,” I said. “What is a rhyme?”

Of course, owing to my past life, I had a larger vocabulary than other children my age. But poetry isn’t about how many fancy words I can squeeze into a line. Why do nobles learn to write poetry anyway? If I had to compose a poem right this moment, the best I could come up with is, “Roses are red, violets are blue.” Wait, scratch that. I’m pretty sure that poem was written by an adult. Does this mean I’m doomed?

“As someone who has learned poetry, I advise you to take it easy,” Sion said. “If you don’t understand rhyme, think about your favorite sounds or objects in everyday life. Of course, you should still adhere to the structure taught by your governess.”

My favorite object? Hmm…

“Chocolate cake?” I blurted out.

Sion stifled a laugh. “Yes, that sounds wonderful. An ode to the sweetness of chocolate cake,” he said.

“Did you go to school when you were young, Sion?”

“I was an orphan who grew up at the temple. Fortunately, the priests provided me with an excellent education. I studied ancient languages, literature, and even music.”

My eyes widened. That’s a lot… And here I thought becoming a butler didn’t require extensive study.

“You seem very knowledgeable, Sion,” I said.

“Is that a compliment? Thank you, my lady,” he responded warmly. “Do you not have any etiquette to practice, then?”

“Nope! My governess said I no longer needed to practice holding a fork or greeting others properly.”

“I see. And you can now read storybooks on your own, correct?”

I nodded shyly. “Have you already read this fairy tale?” I then asked, showing Sion my picture book.

He shook his head and smiled faintly. “The priests weren’t very fond of magicians, so I wasn’t allowed to read any books about them when I was younger.”

Am I imagining it, or does Sion look a bit sad whenever he talks about the temple?

“Would you like me to help you read the story?” Sion asked sweetly.

I shook my head firmly and replied, “That’s alright. I can read it aloud by myself now. If you haven’t read this one, would you like me to read it to you?” I tapped the book about magicians in my hand, which I had chosen for today’s homework.

Sion looked at me strangely. “Why?” he finally asked. “I mean, I sincerely appreciate the offer, but if His Grace and Master Jade find out…”

“Will you get in trouble for helping me with my homework?”

“That’s not the problem…” Sion took the storybook and swept his hand across its cover. “The story of the bad magician and the good magician… It’s the most famous fairy tale in the kingdom.”

“Yes! My teacher insisted that I read it.”

“I see. That makes sense, given that this tale is also about the Leweltons.”

I tilted my head. “The Leweltons? Is one of the two magicians a dark magician, then?”

“That is correct.”

In this kingdom, dark magicians are exclusively born to the Lewelton family.

“Is the bad magician related to this family?” I asked curiously.

“Ah, Lady Leticia…” Sion chuckled and shook his head. “While it may be true that His Grace’s actions are not exclusively good, it is the legend of the good magician that revolves around House Lewelton. In other words, the good magician was the family’s earliest ancestor.”

I flipped open the storybook. Sion nodded gently as if encouraging me to begin reading.

“Once upon a time, the kingdom was home to both good and bad magicians. The bad magicians, driven by greed, desired to enslave the kingdom’s people.”

The story was simple. The bad magicians wielded considerable power, and they captured commoners to experiment on and worked them to death. The ancient magicians had used mana stones to their hearts’ content, which made them far more powerful than the magicians of modern day. Commoners and nobles then banded together to defeat the bad magicians, resulting in the War of Vanquishing Evil.

“The magicians were divided into two factions, and each fought until the bitter end. It was a full-scale war.”

The good magicians were those who fought for the freedom of the common people.

“And the dark magician who led the good magicians was called Lewelton.”

The kingdom eventually won the war with the help of the good magicians, and all the bad magicians were executed. The good magicians had been dark magicians, and the bad magicians had been those of light—all of whom had died. Even the beggars in the back alleys knew this story.

“Therefore, all the magicians we know today are kind. They hide their powers and only use magic for good to avoid causing harm to ordinary people. The families of all good magicians are friends to the kingdom. Meanwhile, all the bad magicians are dead and buried deep in the earth. The end.”

I closed the storybook.

“That was wonderful, Lady Leticia,” Sion sang as he nodded. “You read the entire story without pausing even once.”

I giggled. I still struggle to accept compliments, but they do make me feel proud of myself.

“My governess said I had to read this fairy tale because it was about House Lewelton.”

For just a moment, Sion clenched his fist until it trembled. “I see,” he said finally, “and you read it superbly.”

I tilted my head, perplexed by his reaction.

“Anyway, I was able to hear a wonderful fairy tale today thanks to you, Lady Leticia. I knew about the history of magicians, but it was refreshing to hear it from a storybook. I’ve learned a great deal.”

During my time on the streets, I hadn’t received a compliment even once. But things in this home came so easily. I was often praised, and each day there was some small thing that warmed my heart. However, I thought Sion was just as incredible for telling a young child that he had learned a lot from them.

“Thank you, Sion. But don’t you find this fairy tale a bit... odd?”

“Yes, it seemed so to me as well. It was a bit…”

We looked at each other for a brief moment.

“Cruel,” we then said in unison.

I mean, a bunch of magicians were slaughtered, weren’t they? To think someone created a storybook with cute illustrations to depict such a cruel tale. I flipped open the book and stared silently at the depiction. The good magician was tearing the bad one to bits.