Chapter 012
Chapter 12: The Master and the Apprentice (6)
“Master, can I take a look at this?”
“Yes.”
Leonard nodded nonchalantly. Cordelia began reading the document carefully.
Surprisingly, it contained details of the corruption committed by nobles who were enemies of the Abrams family, including Helena.
“Is all of this true?”
“It would be true unless the baron has gone senile.”
“I thought you made it up to bring down Lady Helena.”
Because Helena’s lovers, who were said to have been imprisoned in the dungeon that day, were not in the castle.
When Helena’s truth was exposed, she jumped in anger, claiming Leonard had fabricated it to ruin her reputation, but it was already too late.
“Since she admitted with her own mouth that she had lovers, the matter is settled, isn’t it?”
“Since she confessed with her own tongue that she had lovers, it’s over.”
“So, is it true that she illegally sold tax collection rights to merchants, as written here?”
“That’s just a sample of the crimes she committed. She has done many atrocious things.”
The report detailed how much money Helena had made by selling tax collection rights to merchants.
“If we expose this, I could get a large alimony.”
Cordelia said jokingly, placing the report on the table. Leonard glanced at her and said indifferently:
“If you want it, do it.”
“What? Really? Can I really take it?”
She asked with sparkling eyes. Leonard waved his hand in a bored manner.
“Do whatever you want with it, whether it’s blackmailing them for a large alimony or not, but don’t let wine be poured on your head again.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What if your weak head actually gets damaged by the wine?”
Leonard said in a mocking tone. Cordelia was about to retort, but the baron suddenly appeared and clicked his tongue.
“Oh, my lord, you could’ve just said you were worried about her.”
“Worried? No, it’s because I’m embarrassed to say she’s my apprentice.”
Leonard said, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the chair.
“Others started studying at the age of five. If you want to catch up with them, you need to put in double the effort.”
“What? How can I catch up with them? I just want to learn simple things to become an appraiser…”
Her simple dream was to learn some magic to help her become a magical appraiser and live a quiet life.
But Leonard frowned deeply when he heard the word “appraiser.”
“What? A magical appraiser? Are you really thinking of becoming a magical appraiser or something like that?”
“Yes, and what’s wrong with being a magical appraiser?”
“Nonsense. That’s impossible.”
“Why, why…?”
The life plans she had carefully laid out were rejected in an instant. Cordelia tried to protest, but as always, Leonard paid her no attention.
“You’re my first apprentice. So you should be able to manage at least one star by the age of twenty-five.”
“Master, only five sorcerers in history have managed a star by twenty-five. And Cordelia is only turning twenty this year.”
“Five years is enough.”
Cordelia was no longer surprised by the baron’s sudden appearance from glasses of water or basins. She asked the baron with narrowed eyes.
“I said before, but what does it mean to manage a star?”
“It means establishing a magical school in your name after achieving great accomplishments in the study of magic.”
“What? Establish a school? And by twenty-five? Wait, I just want to learn magic to help me…”
“Baron, why are you so pessimistic? We haven’t even started yet.”
“That’s the problem; you haven’t started. It takes a lifetime to achieve. Do you think it can be done in five years?”
“Hmm. If she’s my apprentice, it should be expected. If you read five research papers a day and sleep only three hours, you’ll get it done quickly.”
In their conversation, a word came up that Cordelia couldn’t ignore.
“Wait a minute, Master? If I sleep only three hours a day, I’ll die. I don’t want to manage a star; all I want is to learn some simple magic…”
“Three hours? That’s not enough. Even adding one more hour would be too little.”
“Then one hour of sleep is enough for you. No need to worry about it. If you’re my apprentice, you should expect this.”
Suddenly, Cordelia’s sleep time was cut by seven hours. She screamed internally.
At that moment, the baron suddenly disappeared. At the same time, a maid’s voice was heard outside the room.
“Viscount Dillon has arrived.”
Before Leonard could give permission, Arnold Dillon burst into the room.
As soon as he saw Leonard, he smiled exaggeratedly and approached him.
“Oh, Craig! How have you been?”
“Who?”
“It’s me, your uncle. Oh, it seems you haven’t fully regained your memory yet.”
A glint appeared in Arnold’s eyes; it was clear what he was thinking.
Cordelia gave a light greeting, but as usual, Arnold didn’t pay her any attention.
“Did you come to check how much of my memory has returned?”
“Haha. Of course not. I came to see my nephew’s face and talk with him after a long absence.”
“But why didn’t you offer a greeting?”
“A greeting? If you mean a greeting, I gave one when I saw you earlier.”
“If the viscount saw the lady beside me, he should have greeted her first. Isn’t that obvious?”
“…”
Arnold’s face turned red instantly. But he quickly regained his composure and greeted Cordelia with a cheerful smile.
“Yes, Cordelia. Haha. It’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
This was the first greeting Cordelia had received since living in this house for a full year. She accepted it very awkwardly.
It was amusing how he hadn’t acknowledged her before, but as soon as Leonard spoke, he immediately changed his attitude.
Arnold lowered his voice and approached Leonard.
“But, Craig, I have something important to discuss.”
“Since you’ve already decided to talk to me, I can’t stop you. Say what you have to say.”
“Ha, haha. But it seems your way of speaking has changed a bit. As I said, I’m your uncle, Craig.”
“Alright. How lucky I am to have an uncle who hasn’t visited his sick nephew for five months.”
“That’s because I was very busy. Maybe you didn’t realize it while you were lying down, but Abrams can’t function for a single day without me. During the five months you were bedridden, I was extremely busy.”
Arnold boasted and went on at length. Then Leonard reluctantly cut him off.
“So, what’s the important matter you want to discuss?”
“The most important thing I wanted to say is that you can’t do anything alone. Do you know how many people are opposing you now? If you’re not careful, Gerald Abrams will take the title from you!”
“Hmm.”
“Russell, Vincent, and Manias have all sided with Gerald. Those fools who don’t know their place.”
As Arnold spoke passionately, Leonard seemed increasingly bored.
“I’ll handle it myself, so there’s no need for your concern.”
“Craig! Why would you say that? Why shouldn’t I worry? We’re your family. We desperately want you to become the count.”
“My family? Who are you referring to?”
“Me and Helena, of course! I heard about what happened to Helena. It’s truly shameful. But she’s still your mother. If you focus on these small matters now, you’ll miss the bigger things.”
“Does embezzling the family’s funds illegally seem like a small matter to you?”
“Oh, I looked into it, and it turns out there was a misunderstanding. I swear nothing like that happened. I don’t know who told you that, but they’re mistaken.”
Arnold said brazenly.
Although Leonard had plenty of evidence of Arnold’s embezzlement, he didn’t bother to pull out those records.
“Hey, did you say your name is Viscount Dillon?”
“What’s with that rude tone, huh? Craig, I’m your uncle…”
“Don’t act like family when there’s not a single drop of blood between us. It’s disgusting.”
The air suddenly froze. Perhaps Cordelia was the only one who felt it. She stared at Leonard and Arnold, stiffening.
Arnold’s face turned so red it looked like it might explode. He seemed like he wanted to scream, and his fist was trembling.
But Leonard paid him no mind.
“If you’ve said everything you have to say, get out. I don’t need your help.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Alright, I understand, now get out.”
Leonard waved his hand as if shooing away an annoying fly.
Arnold left the room in a rage, and before he closed the door behind him, Cordelia asked hesitantly.
“Is it really okay to do this? What if Viscount Dillon joins the other side?”
“Let him join. Do you think I can’t hold onto the count’s title in this small, rural place?”
“I suppose so.”
Of course, Leonard wasn’t helpless against Arnold, but she still felt uneasy about it.
***
“What an impudent child!”
As soon as he entered his room, Arnold began throwing things around. A vase shattered with a sharp sound.
Even after breaking things, his anger didn’t subside until the room was completely in disarray.
“Arnold! My goodness, what happened here?”
“What happened? Do you know what Craig just said to me?”
Helena entered the room and looked stunned at the mess. Arnold began recounting what Craig had said.
Helena spoke when she heard something unexpected.
“Did Craig tell you to greet Cordelia?”
“Yes. He told me to bow to that woman who was bought with money.”
“That’s strange. Something’s not right.”
Helena muttered, wiping her face with her hand. Arnold kicked the couch impatiently.
“Not just strange, it’s like his mind is completely scrambled.”
“No. I think Craig didn’t say that on his own.”
“If he didn’t, then who did?”
“That woman is definitely behind it.”
“Who? You mean the Vasquez woman?”
“Yes. Don’t you find it strange? How Craig suddenly changed?”
Indeed, Craig’s personality had completely changed. He distanced himself from all his favorite mistresses and kept only Cordelia by his side.
