AME 73

Chapter 73

Alesia stepped into the office and immediately came face to face with Leonidas. He stood by the window, arms crossed, gazing outside. At her arrival, he turned slightly to look back at her. His brown eyes, darkened in the backlight, now reflected Alesia.

Even without comparing him to other women, his tall frame and expressionless face carried an air of intimidation. Though his black hair gleamed blue under the sunlight and his sharp eyes resembled Kaon’s, there was nothing else about him that was similar.

Their demeanor, personalities, and approach to others were all completely different.

A hard person to win over.

That was the simplest way to describe Leonidas Ferdinand. Even Baroness Robert, who had drawn a clear line as a fellow noblewoman, couldn’t hide her hostility—but Leonidas, from the very first meeting to now, had never once shown such signs.

Someone like Yvonne, who wore their emotions on their sleeve, was much easier to deal with. You could guess what they’d do next and prepare accordingly.

But Leonidas was different. He kept his emotions tightly locked away, making it difficult to read him. Despite several conversations, she still couldn’t gauge him. With people like that, the only way to get close was to prove your usefulness.

“Alesia Ingelos greets Lord Leonidas of Ferdinand.”

Suppressing her nervousness, Alesia offered a polite smile and bowed. Leonidas gave a faint smile and gestured for her to join him at the table in the center.

Once seated, Leonidas tapped the table a couple of times, and soon a maid arrived with tea. The rising steam carried a clear reddish hue. The scent was subtly bitter, so Alesia expected a sour taste—but it was surprisingly sweet.

“This tea was brought in from the East. They say adding honey helps with recovery.”

Leonidas offered an explanation as she took another sip, finding the taste more pleasant than expected. So the thick sweetness came from honey.

“Madeleine was right. She said you had a sweet tooth.”

“…Embarrassingly, yes, I do enjoy sweets.”

“I’ll be sure to keep it in mind so you can keep enjoying them.”

Alesia’s hand, just setting down the cup, stiffened slightly. This was the first time Leonidas had ever spoken about her future. It was too intentional a comment to dismiss as casual.

“I wondered if I might have summoned you prematurely, before you’d recovered. Have you been able to rest properly?”

“Thanks to your generous care, I’m feeling much better. I’m truly grateful for your concern.”

“You retrieved Ferdinand’s sword. Ferdinand simply did what had to be done.”

Alesia blinked in surprise. She had expected some level of gratitude since Baroness Robert had changed her attitude—but not for Leonidas to be this direct.

“Ferdinand doesn’t easily forget favors or grudges. That’s something our late father always emphasized. It seems our knight failed to do his part and caused you hardship. I offer you my sincere apologies.”

And he didn’t stop there. Leonidas even began to bow. Alesia hurriedly raised a hand to stop him, flustered. She hadn’t expected the acting head of a noble house to go so far over one knight.

“Please don’t, Lord Leonidas. That day was so chaotic, no one knew what was happening. Anyone else in my place would’ve done the same.”

It wasn’t that Lewick had let his guard down, or that the knights lacked discipline. It had simply been an unprecedented situation that caused momentary panic.

Of course, for a knight, it was still a grave mistake. But it was also somewhat understandable. For over a hundred years, the monsters hadn’t changed. A sudden shift like that would’ve rattled anyone trained under the old assumptions.

“Another knight, yes, perhaps. But Lady Alesia, you’re not a knight. You’re a mage from Ingelos, are you not?”

“…True, but I only…”

Alesia trailed off. She could easily make up a convincing lie.

That she did it out of affection for Ferdinand. That she wanted to protect the land she now lived in. That she simply couldn’t abandon a knight in danger…

She could name several plausible reasons on the spot. Reading the room and saying what the other party wanted to hear was one of her specialties. That’s how you earned favor.

In fact, she didn’t even need to try. She could just accept his apology and enjoy the benefits of her injury as natural compensation.

But strangely, she found herself unable to speak before Leonidas. Maybe it was those eyes that seemed to see right through her. Or maybe it was because his face resembled Kaon’s in an oddly disarming way.

“The reason doesn’t matter much. It’s only your actions in that moment that hold meaning.”

Leonidas relaxed his posture and leaned back in his chair. It was a small gesture, but it noticeably lightened the atmosphere.

Suddenly, Alesia realized: he was testing her. Trying to read her heart by probing her motives for saving Lewick.

“Lady Alesia, I wouldn’t dare call it a reward, but I’d like to grant you one wish.”

Alesia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t even answered the first test—and now he was giving her a second.

She hesitated, then met Leonidas’s dark brown gaze. If she declined, saying the offer was too generous, he would surely bring out the next option he’d already prepared. Maybe that was his plan all along.

But what if not? What if this was his way of figuring out who she truly was and what she truly wanted in staying at Ferdinand?

I must not refuse.

Alesia made a snap judgment. Though called an acting head, Leonidas was the de facto lord of Ferdinand. He wouldn’t make such an offer lightly, just to return a favor.

What wish was she expected to make? Granting gold would’ve been far easier. Instead, he was giving her a choice.

As if saying: if you want, I’ll help you choose your future freely.

Maybe she was overthinking. But maybe not. Leonidas surely knew that Alesia received no support from Ingelos.

Even minor nobles would pull strings to get their child treated well—but when Ingelos sent Alesia here, they didn’t even pretend to care. Not a single coin of dowry, not even proper luggage.

Kaon might be too simple to notice—but Leonidas almost certainly had.

If this offer accounted for that reality, then it was an opportunity Alesia couldn’t afford to miss.

“Must I answer right now?”

When she asked, Leonidas raised an amused eyebrow and smiled.

“Of course not. Anytime during your stay in Ferdinand. If it’s within my power, I’ll do everything I can.”

“In that case… I’ll keep your kindness close to my heart.”

As Alesia replied, having made her decision, Leonidas’s smile deepened. She had given the answer he was looking for.

A few days later, Alesia was sitting beside Kaon at his desk, turning a candle flame on and off with magic to decode a spell.

“You call this a triangle or a circle?”

“It’s obviously a circle.”

“What kind of circle has corners like this?”

Alesia, having held back as long as she could, finally snapped. Kaon was trying to copy the magic circle hidden in a ring, but his drawing was so bad she couldn’t stay silent.

“Didn’t you say your mother enjoyed painting? What about you? Are you using your hands or your feet? Aren’t those hands on your arms?”

“Well, my mother’s my mother, and I’m me. Parents and children aren’t always alike… And feet? Really? Have you ever seen a foot like this? For a first try, I think it’s pretty—”

Kaon trailed off, pointing to his own drawing. Apparently, his conscience wasn’t quite dead yet.

Alesia shook her head. Because Kaon had to constantly drain her mana for each attempt, she figured he was trying to finish quickly—but hadn’t considered his own lack of drawing skill.

“Koda could do better with her tail.”

“…I’m probably still better than her. Maybe…”

When she scolded him, Kaon glanced at her sheepishly. Like a big dog being scolded and whining in response. That made her feel too sorry to keep scolding him.

“Forget it. Just hand it over.”

Instead of criticizing him further, Alesia pulled the paper toward her. She pulled out a fresh sheet and began redrawing the messy symbols.

“This—square or circle?”

“Square.”

“And this one?”

“That’s a circle…”

“What did you even write here? Is this a letter or a drawing?”

They were right in the middle of what felt more like deciphering ancient code than copying a spell when—

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.