Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Before she knew it, a week had flown by. During that time, Diana had been relentlessly practicing mana release.
Perhaps due to her natural talent, she was soon able to easily manifest ice crystals.
Was this enough?
Diana gazed at the beautiful ice crystals floating above her palm with satisfaction.
But this wasn’t the reason she had been waiting for this day. It wasn’t about perfecting the crystals.
Catherine, who stubbornly insisted on learning magic despite having no magical talent whatsoever.
Diana was very curious about what method Catherine and Alicia would use to simulate magic.
Whatever they had prepared, Diana was sure it would be entertaining.
How could the two be so alike? Watching Catherine reminded her so much of Alicia’s younger self.
Though just the daughter of a baron supported by her family, Alicia had always tried to imitate everything Diana did.
When Diana received a jewel from her father, Alicia tried to buy a similar one from the same brand. When Diana got a dress, Alicia would skip meals to afford a similar design.
At the time, Diana thought it was simply because they were close friends—wanting to imitate someone out of affection.
But looking back now, it wasn’t affection. It was nothing but wretched jealousy and stubbornness.
One corner of Diana’s mouth lifted slightly. A bitter sneer escaped from between her red lips.
Then suddenly, she remembered her own daughter, who had vanished without a trace as if she had never existed.
Was that child like her too?
She had promised herself not to cry anymore, to stay strong. But every time she thought of her child, that resolve crumbled completely.
A tear dropped from her icy eyes. Though she didn’t know her daughter’s face or name, Diana was still a mother.
Just thinking about the suffering her child might be enduring, about those thin hands—made her feel like her heart would break.
And the pain she felt—Alicia, Catherine, and Calypso—they needed to feel it too.
As Diana clenched her fists and her emerald eyes gleamed coldly, someone knocked on the door.
She checked the time—it was about when Catherine was supposed to arrive.
“Mother, it’s me, Catherine.”
As expected, it was Catherine’s voice. After reading to Diana for hours every day for the past week, her once-clear voice had grown hoarse.
She must really be infatuated with Lord Sawyer.
Diana quickly wiped her tears and replied in a gentle voice.
“Come in, dear.”
“Yes.”
With permission granted, Catherine entered gracefully, her footsteps light.
“These are the books for today.”
They were the same books she had read all week—practically memorized by now. But Diana wanted to hear that now-hoarse voice one more time.
Such a voice didn’t suit a girl as wretched as Catherine. A canary-like voice was far too pure.
“Yes, Mother.”
Catherine obediently began reading.
And so the dull reading session continued. As the magical clock hands neared eleven, the chime rang clearly right on the hour.
Diana stretched and spoke kindly.
“Let’s head downstairs now. The instructor should arrive soon. Shall we have lunch first?”
“…Mother.”
“Yes?”
Icell still wasn’t ready to perform magic in Catherine’s place. Catherine’s anxious face gave it away.
“Could we start next week instead? I’m a bit tired.”
So she hadn’t figured out a method yet. Diana studied Catherine’s face and then smiled lightly, replying leisurely.
“All right, that’s fine.”
Catherine stared at Diana for a long time before returning to her room.
Diana sneered at her retreating back, then cleared the books off the table.
Ever since returning, she had never once eaten in the dining room. The very thought of seeing their disgusting faces during meals made her sick.
Just then, Milan’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Your Grace, I’ve brought your meal.”
“Thank you, Milan.”
Milan entered the room with a cart full of warm food. After setting the table, he bowed and left.
Just as Diana picked up her fork to eat, a tapping sound came from the window.
“Hmm…?”
Outside the window, red hair fluttered in the wind like little sparks.
It was none other than Rueri tapping on the glass.
“It’s me, Diana! Open up!”
As soon as she heard Rueri’s voice, Diana opened the locked window wide.
“It’s not time yet…”
“Yeah. I came early. Didn’t want anyone interfering again.”
He smiled playfully, showing his white teeth.
“It’s our first class, but I didn’t even get to teach properly last time.”
“Thank you, Rueri. But…”
“Hm?”
“Did you eat lunch?”
Now that she thought about it, he hadn’t. He tilted his head, then shook it.
“Let’s eat together. Come, sit.”
She had wanted to talk to him in a relaxed setting at least once. Diana feigned hesitation as she pulled out a chair.
“Huh? I came here to give you extra lessons.”
“I’ve been wanting to have lunch with you. There’s a lot I’m curious about.”
“Hmm, really?”
His expression showed a strange happiness at those words. He suppressed his smile and sat down.
“It was just made, so it should still be warm.”
“…Okay.”
Rueri stared at Diana. His gaze was wistful, like someone reunited with a long-lost loved one.
Feeling embarrassed, Diana turned her eyes to the food. Rueri seemed to have a strange knack for making people feel things.
“Shall we eat?”
“Yeah. Looks delicious.”
Being a mage from the Tower who didn’t care about status or class, Diana had expected him to eat with reckless abandon. But to her surprise, he had impeccable table manners.
No, he was perfect—like a royal dining at a banquet. He didn’t even make a clinking sound with his utensils.
“Are you eating?”
Despite witnessing his flawless etiquette, Diana pretended not to notice.
“Hm?”
“There’s no sound at all.”
“Oh, I learned late.”
“Late?”
Diana tilted her head slightly and asked again. A shadow seemed to darken Rueiri’s face.
“I was from an orphanage.”
“O-orphanage?”
“Yeah. I eventually found my parents, though.”
Diana wondered if she had touched a sore spot and quickly exaggerated her response.
“But still, it’s really fortunate that you found them!”
“Right. It’s enough that I found them. Besides, my time at the orphanage wasn’t all that unhappy. Thanks to someone.”
“Someone?”
“Yeah.”
As soon as Rueiri spoke, he focused his gaze back on his food and quietly resumed eating.
Diana couldn’t bring herself to ask further. Rueiri said he hadn’t been unhappy, but his expression looked far too sorrowful.
Was it really painful for him? Diana also fell silent, stirring her cooling soup.
* * *
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
After practicing all week, Aicel had finally managed to release a bit of mana. It was just a tiny piece of ice, but—
That was enough. Alicia gave a satisfied smile.
“Alright then, let’s try one last time.”
Catherine closed her eyes tightly as though drawing out her mana. Then she suddenly opened her eyes wide and stretched out her palm.
In that instant, Aicel released her mana onto Catherine’s palm.
A small piece of ice dropped with a plink.
“That’s it!”
Alicia clapped her hands, cheering as if Catherine had truly succeeded.
“This should be good enough to avoid any suspicion!”
Catherine also smiled brightly and looked at Alicia.
The so-called master who was Diana’s teacher didn’t seem that impressive anyway, and since it was real mana, there was no chance of being exposed.
“It’s almost time. I’ll come with you.”
“Yes, Doc— I mean, Doctor.”
Catherine almost said “Mother” as usual but quickly corrected herself with a glance toward Aicel.
“Aicel. Do it properly, got it?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Aicel’s shoulders looked slightly tense. With a nervous look, Catherine glared at her one last time before heading down to the garden with Alicia.
In the garden, Rueiri and Diana, having finished their meal, were already waiting.
“Hello? Young lady. And that person?”
Rueiri’s gaze lazily moved from Catherine to Alicia.
But unlike when he looked at Diana, Rueiri’s eyes were cold and sharp when turned on the newcomers.
It was the same look Diana gave them. He had only met them three times—how could he already have such an edge to his gaze?
It was as if he knew their pasts.
“Hello. I heard Lady Catherine would be learning magic, so I came to watch. Would that be alright, Your Highness?”
Alicia smiled brightly, her tone friendly. Diana raised an eyebrow slightly but nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. You’re my dearest friend. Watch all you like.”
You can still smile like that now. Alright, then—let’s see what you’ve prepared.
Diana gave Rueiri a nod. He clapped his hands together sharply and began.
“Alright then, let’s start by testing the young lady over there.”
“Alright.”
At Rueiri’s words, Catherine swallowed hard. She glanced quickly toward her room.
Behind that drawn curtain, Aicel must be watching her carefully.
“Let’s begin by releasing your mana. If you have mana, you should feel it flowing through you. Can you feel it?”
“Yes.”
Catherine answered confidently.
“Really?”
Rueiri chuckled faintly, as if he knew something. Then he spoke slowly.
“Then try drawing that mana into your palm. I suppose your attribute is ice, naturally.”
I can do this. No need to be nervous. That lowly girl will use magic for me.
With everyone watching, Catherine closed her eyes tightly. She made a serious face, as if truly sensing mana coursing through her body.
Then, opening her eyes wide, she thrust out her palm.
If everything went as expected, a small piece of ice should appear—just like before.
But her palm was empty.
Alicia and Catherine’s eyes met in midair, fluttering like wind-blown curtains.
How pitiful. Amidst those helpless and bewildered eyes, the only one smiling… was Diana.
