Chapter 9
“I never imagined that filthy old man would dare set his sights on my daughter. I’ll deal with him properly.”
His voice was ice cold.
Since Baron Milpianne is already being dealt with, isn’t this the perfect chance to expose everything Mariposa has done?
No, no, no, Giselle. Calm down.
It was the first time anyone had ever taken my side, and I almost got carried away.
The stage isn’t fully set yet. The newspapers, the servants, and the nobles are still on Mariposa’s side. Even if I expose her now, she’ll find a way out.
Even if Count Floret and Mariposa weren’t particularly close, he was surely grateful that she had managed the family during his long voyage.
If I want Mariposa to truly pay for everything she’s done, I need to build it up first.
For now, getting rid of that old man was enough.
“Yes! Please make sure you deal with Baron Milpianne!”
I smiled brightly while absentmindedly touching the necklace.
Count Floret noticed and spoke.
“…Ah, that’s right. I should explain. That necklace is actually a magical artifact for disguise. It contains a spell that changes your appearance. There probably isn’t another artifact in the Empire that can disguise someone this perfectly.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I’ve heard it also has a hidden function.”
“A hidden function?”
“That’s right. Count Sehera was always like that. He loved hiding interesting features inside his magical artifacts.”
So besides changing appearances, it may have another ability.
I nodded while touching the necklace Count Floret had given me.
Still…
Ugh… I only tried using it for a moment, but it’s draining my mana so fast.
As expected of a keepsake left behind by my father, who had been a Grand Mage. The amount of mana it consumed was incredible.
Breathing heavily, I looked back at Count Floret.
“Thank you. I’m sure it’ll be useful someday.”
“Your mana is exceptionally pure. If you train properly, you’ll definitely become strong. It would be even better if you attended the Academy, found a capable teacher, or at least received help from magical artifacts.”
But the Academy, a skilled private tutor, potions, and proper magical artifacts…
All of them cost astronomical amounts of money.
To study under a great master, travel around training at my own expense, buy potions and magical equipment, enter the Magic Tower, and even bribe people to climb the ranks… Becoming an ordinary mage would probably cost a billion gold. Becoming a Grand Mage? Around ten billion.
In other romance fantasy novels, magical education was practically free.
Not in this Empire.
Just then, Count Floret made an appealing offer.
“It’s late, but I’ll find you a magic teacher.”
Judging by his expression, if I made a good impression now, I’d definitely earn his trust.
I still have one potion left that I secretly took from the restaurant.
“What kind of teacher is he? Can I meet him right away?”
* * *
“Hmph. You were thinking, ‘What could a lady who’s never even attended the Academy possibly know?’ Weren’t you?”
Freelance mages capable of teaching others were extremely rare in this world.
Hasan, one of those rare freelance mages, flinched as he looked at Giselle.
There’s no way I accidentally said that out loud…
Giselle arrogantly replied,
“You were thinking it. Go ahead and test me.”
What is she, a prophet?
Already overwhelmed by her confidence, Hasan awkwardly scratched the back of his head before speaking.
“Most beginners can’t do this. People without mana can’t either. It’s fine if you fail. Let’s begin with mana breathing.”
“Mm. Already did.”
“What? In one second?”
Hasan frowned as he looked at her, then suddenly froze.
He could see the flow of mana around her.
W-What? That’s the standard breathing technique… and she’s doing it perfectly.
Abisan, Giselle’s cousin, had spent years unable to properly perform mana breathing.
Yet Giselle acted as though it were completely natural, as if she’d practiced it before.
Well… maybe she has a little more mana than I heard.
Perhaps it’s just beginner’s luck.
Blinking, he pulled an artifact from his pocket.
“You know that the maximum amount of mana a mage can possess is something they’re born with, right?”
“Yes.”
“But training isn’t meaningless. The more circles you create around your Mana Heart, the stronger your magic becomes. Grand Mages usually reach ten circles. They possess truly overwhelming amounts of mana.”
“So?”
“Well… I won’t expect too much. I don’t want to put pressure on you.”
Mana was the energy that filled the air.
People with the potential to become mages possessed a special organ capable of storing mana.
People called it the Mana Heart.
The size of one’s Mana Heart determined how much mana they could absorb.
I’m sure there won’t be anything special…
Without expecting much, Hasan took out a square-shaped measuring artifact and placed one end against Giselle’s hand.
“Not even one circle—”
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening.
Right. She hasn’t even reached one circle yet.
But… what? This woman… she wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Her Mana Heart was enormous.
Even talented mages struggled to reach five circles.
Only truly exceptional mages ever reached ten.
Yet the size of Giselle’s natural Mana Heart far surpassed that of an average five-circle mage.
No… this can’t be right.
This is Giselle.
Lady Mariposa always said she had absolutely nothing.
He frowned as he looked at Giselle, who simply stared back without concern.
She must have cheated somehow.
Count Floret just returned. She’s probably trying to fake her talent so he’ll acknowledge her.
With a cold expression, he said,
“That’s enough for today. I need to report this immediately.”
* * *
“Well?”
“I don’t think there’s anything left for me to teach her.”
Count Floret nodded proudly, looking every bit like a satisfied parent.
He’d only ever seen his nephew Abisan bring home failing results.
Now he suddenly had an incredibly gifted daughter.
Was this the amazing thing Giselle mentioned? Her magical talent awakening?
He remembered her final words before they parted.
“Count Floret.”
“Yes?”
“Up until now, people have probably thought I was timid and weak.”
“Maybe.”
“But that’s changed!”
“How so?”
“I’ll prove that I’m different from before. With something that’ll shock everyone.”
Thinking back on those words, she truly seemed like a completely different person.
A satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.
Then Hasan spoke with obvious displeasure.
“She seems to have used some kind of trick.”
“So you’re saying my daughter performed that well?”
The corners of Count Floret’s lips lifted even higher.
“No, of course not! Giselle has never studied magic at the Academy! Besides, she’s famous throughout high society for not having any mana at all!”
Hasan continued belittling Giselle.
As though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Even as the Count’s expression gradually darkened, he couldn’t stop talking.
“I think we should continue observing her. She may even be using forbidden dark magic.”
The moment those words left his mouth, something felt deeply wrong.
Count Floret quietly stared at Hasan before speaking in an almost gentle tone.
“Forbidden dark magic?”
“Yes! T-That’s right.”
“In that case… you’re fired.”
