Chapter 019
Chapter 19: The Master and the Apprentice (13)
Cordelia was in a state of confusion due to the sudden shift in attitudes, but she quickly realized that this person already knew Leonard was the real one. He was angry because he wasn’t the first to be summoned, so he pointed his sword at Leonard.
She thought about it and found it absurd. It seemed Leonard felt the same.
“Are you upset because the baron was the first to know I’m still alive, more than the fact that I’m alive?”
“My master will not die. My master is not someone like that.”
Bellucci spoke with confidence, showing an unbreakable trust in Leonard.
“When others heard I had died, many changed and broke their promises. I can’t guarantee you’re not one of them.”
“Master! How can you compare me to those traitors? If you order me to die here, I’ll stab myself with a smile.”
Bellucci held his dagger, as if ready to stab himself immediately.
Leonard wasn’t surprised, as if this situation was familiar to him. Instead, he made an astonishing gesture with his hand.
A miracle happened: the broken windows and shattered furniture returned to their original state without a single scratch.
“I didn’t ask you to stab yourself, so put your sword away.”
“Just give me the order. I’ll cut the traitors to pieces and feed them to the dogs…”
Bellucci looked ready to rush out. Leonard sighed.
“Just do what I order you to. Don’t say unnecessary things.”
“But, Master! Ramio and Demersil are visiting Maximilian’s room too often. They need to be torn apart and killed.”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
Bellucci lowered his head and fully submitted, unlike his demeanor just minutes ago. Cordelia couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.
“And what about Jashil? Don’t tell me he’s here too.”
“Lord Jashil is not here.”
The baron, who had regained some strength, spoke. Only then did Bellucci’s face brighten.
“Really? So he doesn’t know my master is here?”
“Is that so important?”
“Of course. It means I’m my master’s right hand.”
“Yes, the master ordered Bellucci to be summoned first.”
When the baron echoed Leonard’s words, Bellucci looked as happy as if it were a sunny spring day. His facial expressions were strikingly transparent.
The fight that nearly killed them all seemed like a thing of the past. The baron, who had been split in half, and Bellucci, who had bled from his ears and nose, acted as if nothing had happened and continued talking.
It was hard for Cordelia to understand the relationship between these three.
While she stood at a distance, Leonard beckoned her with his hand.
“What are you doing there? Come here.”
“Oh, um…”
“Who is this woman? She sent me an impudent letter.”
“I sent the letter, Bellucci. In Lady Cordelia’s name.”
“But why use my name?”
Cordelia looked at the baron, but the answer came from Leonard.
“Because you’re my apprentice. It’s common for a master to send letters in their apprentice’s name.”
“And it was important to get Bellucci’s attention. If I sent the letter under the Abrams name, he would’ve thrown it into the fire without opening it.”
“Oh, I understand.”
Cordelia agreed hesitantly.
“Wait, what? Your apprentice? What does that mean?”
Bellucci couldn’t keep up with the conversation. He looked back and forth between Cordelia and Leonard.
“What’s not to understand? She’s my apprentice. Cordelia Vasquez.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“But when Duke Lavitchi begged, you didn’t accept him as an apprentice. It’s very hard to take someone as an apprentice after the age of ten, so why this woman…?”
Cordelia was about to respond but stopped herself.
“Bellucci.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Your insolence knows no bounds.”
Leonard’s voice was cold, freezing the atmosphere. Bellucci realized this and bowed deeply.
“I was just worried that my master’s reputation might be harmed.”
“Reputation? If I cared about my reputation, I wouldn’t have kept you, the illegitimate son of Engrion.”
“…”
“Are you insulting her presence or my judgment?”
“I’m sorry, Master. I overstepped my bounds.”
Bellucci bowed deeply, acknowledging his mistake.
Though Leonard didn’t directly defend her, Cordelia was inwardly happy that he had acknowledged her as his apprentice.
Leonard, uncomfortable seeing Cordelia standing silently, said to her:
“Say something.”
“What?”
“You usually talk a lot in front of me, so why are you quiet now?”
“Because I feel comfortable with you… but this person.”
“This person? No, say this scoundrel.”
“This person started choking me as soon as I said your name, so how can I talk to him?”
“What did you do?”
Bellucci quickly raised his head with a snap, glaring at Cordelia with intense anger. He didn’t speak, but it was clear what he was thinking.
Naturally, Cordelia didn’t care what he thought.
She clearly showed her neck to Leonard, revealing the marks of the choking.
“Goodness, the marks are very red now. Are you alright, Lady Cordelia?”
“He choked me so hard I couldn’t breathe… I really thought I was going to die.”
Cordelia knew she wasn’t good at acting innocent without reason. With the baron’s enthusiasm beside her, she started coughing.
Leonard’s face returned to a cold expression. Without taking his eyes off Bellucci, he placed his finger on Cordelia’s neck.
With a faint glow of light, Cordelia felt warmth around her neck. She couldn’t see the wound, but she knew it had healed. Then, without looking away from Bellucci, Leonard said:
“Baron.”
“Yes.”
“Take Cordelia to her room.”
“Oh? I can go by myself.”
Why would Cordelia need an escort in her own home? As she wondered, the baron quickly stepped in front of her and opened the door.
“The master has something to say to Bellucci.”
“Oh.”
Cordelia understood Leonard’s intention and followed the baron out of the room. The baron turned into a semi-transparent form so others wouldn’t see him and perched on Cordelia’s hand.
“Don’t take Bellucci’s words too seriously. He speaks without thinking.”
“Why would I care about the words of someone I met for the first time today?”
Cordelia smiled sharply, and the baron winked slowly.
“Well, that’s good. Bellucci is excellent at swordsmanship, but his knowledge and personality don’t match the master’s level. That’s why I suggested we summon Lord Jashil instead of him…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Some servants passed through the corridor, pausing the conversation for a moment. When they entered a quiet place again, the baron changed the subject.
“How do you find learning magic?”
“Fun. Incredibly so. Though I’m still learning to distinguish between carrots and potatoes.”
“Haha. It’s good that you’re enjoying it. Magic is a discipline that requires continuous learning. Only the joy of learning can make one endure years of patience.”
“Right. Maybe that’s why the master exhausts me so much. To teach me patience.”
The baron smiled slightly at Cordelia’s words. They quickly reached her room.
“It seems the master’s health has improved thanks to you, Cordelia.”
“Me? All I’ve done is annoy him daily.”
“Though he hasn’t said anything, he was often in pain due to Maximilian’s betrayal and the loss of his body. But since he took you as his apprentice, he doesn’t get angry every day like he used to.”
“But he feels a lot of frustration for taking on a stupid apprentice.”
“We can only take the good things in life.”
The baron didn’t deny that she was a “stupid apprentice,” which made Cordelia feel a little sad.
The baron didn’t notice her feelings, smiled, bowed, and then completely disappeared.
***
“Your tongue is too long.”
“Goodness.”
Cordelia was startled to see Bellucci’s face right in front of her the next morning. She tried to close the door immediately, but Bellucci was faster.
“You told the master everything about what I did to you? You’re exaggerating.”
“Good morning, Bellucci.”
“Who said you could call me by my name?”
“I can’t call you the illegitimate son of Engrion, can I? Bellucci is a very nice name.”
Veins popped out on the back of Bellucci’s hand, which was holding the door. His emotions were very clear since yesterday.
“I warn you, don’t expect to be treated as the master’s apprentice. That won’t happen.”
“I think I’m already receiving that treatment. So, you’re here to greet me this morning, Bellucci.”
“You think I’m here to greet you? What a fool.”
He laughed mockingly and looked at Cordelia with disdain. Despite this, Cordelia didn’t lose her smile and stared directly at his face.
“You look worse than you did yesterday. It seems you received a harsh punishment from my master.”
“Punishment? Me?”
Bellucci laughed so loudly that the corridor shook. Then he suddenly stopped, lowered his voice, and spoke in an ambiguous tone.
“I already heard from the baron. The master felt pity for you, so don’t think you’re important.”
“So, did you hear that I can see magical power too?”
“What?”
“The master said I have a rare talent that appears once every thousand years.”
