Episode 7: “Execution, They Say!”
After the day Sir Rotia and I talked, Sir Rotia came a little closer to my room. As if the distance between us were no different from the distance in our hearts, he really barely moved closer. Now, when I open my door, instead of just a swish of his cloak, I can see his back partially hidden by the wall. Yet he still never looks toward me. He just stands there like a statue. I want to see those pretty magic-eyes again.
“Sir Rotia, aren’t you going to rest?”
At my words, Azelta shook her head.
“He rests from time to time. If you don’t like Sir Rotia, I can call a different knight.”
She clearly heard my words as “get rid of that guy.”
I shook my head quickly.
“No, I like pretty eyes.”
A magician can’t help but be instinctively drawn to such pure magical eyes. If I didn’t have to hide the mana around my heart, I would’ve tugged on his clothes and begged him to play with me. I am a little kid, after all! Even when I look in the mirror, I’m cute! No matter how strong his heart is, if a cute little girl tugged on his hem, there’s no way he’d endure. If only my heart were fine… I stared longingly at Rotia’s back.
Also, I was curious. A family that passes down magic-eyes by birth? In this region, no one seems to like people with magic-eyes, but for a magician like me, not being interested in such a family would be weirder. Mana mist on the streets, and now a family born with magic-eyes? The more I peel back, the more this place is like an onion—endlessly fascinating.
“I’m glad you like him.”
Azelta smiled. Unlike Mare, she didn’t seem to have any discomfort toward magic-eyes. Maybe it’s just Mare who hates magic. I tilted my head.
“Is there something you want?”
Azelta leaned down and asked. I nodded immediately. Everything here was unknown. I needed information about this world so I could decide where to run later. Leaving such precious land hurts, but maybe somewhere else is better. Magicians don’t flock here—there must be a reason.
“I want to see books.”
I wanted to say, Bring me a book describing the continent’s climate and vegetation in detail, but instead I changed the wording:
“A book with drawings and lots of words! Pretty pictures! Trees! Sky!”
Only getting a picture book would be bad, so I said it vaguely.
“You wanted to read a book!”
Azelta clapped happily and gestured to Mare outside. While Mare went to fetch a book, Azelta brought me a small toy box so I wouldn’t get bored waiting. Inside were a hamster-shaped squishy ball and necklaces with large jewels. Everything sparkled. Were these real? I picked up a necklace with a blue gemstone threaded through a golden chain. Should I bite it?
“We’ve brought it.”
The moment was ruined by the arrival of a book. The jewels weren’t going anywhere… and if I ever escaped the mansion, they might serve as emergency funds. I turned my attention to the book.
“A Trip Around the Continent with the Fairy!”
It looked like a children’s book. But it couldn’t be helped. I took the book happily. — Thud! The hardcover hit the floor loudly. Even holding it with both arms, I couldn’t embrace the book fully—yet it was surprisingly light.
“Heave-ho.”
I turned to the first page. And then froze.
“His Majesty Millian I, the First King to Ban Magic.”
…Ban what?
Magic? Banned?
I blinked hard. Sure, maybe one or two countries wouldn’t like magic. It can happen. I leafed forward, trying not to panic. Still, it was strange—there were no magicians in this huge mansion. Strange indeed. Monsters appear often here, there’s mana mist everywhere, and precious elixir herbs grow like weeds, yet no magicians?
— Flip.
The next page had more text.
And among that text:
“Long ago, His Majesty Millian I could no longer tolerate the tyranny of magicians and banned magic from the entire continent.”
“Some magicians suggested, ‘Let’s ban only magic that harms people!’ but His Majesty banned all magic~.”
The fairy in the illustration had such a cheerful face that I wanted to punch it.
Magic is… illegal?
What happens if you use it—?
“Since then, anyone who uses magic is sentenced to death~.”
…They put execution in a children’s book?
My face drained of all color.
“There are still bad magicians who secretly use magic! But don’t worry, the imperial family always tracks them down and defeats them!”
Nothing about this was reassuring.
I couldn’t stand. A magician = execution? Good thing I hid my mana.
My plan had been to stay low until I learned why the duke took me in. If I had bragged about magic, I would’ve been executed—cheerfully.
My chest tightened painfully.
— Boom.
Something collapsed inside my head. Like someone plucked a thread connected to my magic.
Someone had entered the giant shell.
Meaning someone might have found my magic.
My face went pale. The barrier wasn’t just breached—it was shattered.
“Ah…!”
Like a warhorse slamming into a wooden door. The sensation hit several times. But with maids watching, I couldn’t just run off. If someone discovered the magic circle, I’d die before ever enjoying life here.
I swallowed hard.
The shock of the book was enormous, but I couldn’t show it.
‘Reading made me tired. I wanna sleep.’
Just like that, nap time was secured.
After the maids left, I opened my eyes.
“I almost fell asleep for real.”
Why give someone such a soft pillow and blanket?! I pushed the star-shaped pillow aside and slapped my cheeks lightly. Stay awake. Then peeked outside.
“Rotia…”
He was still there at the end of the hall. A statue.
“For heaven’s sake, go eat something!”
Someone had invaded the giant shell just moments ago. Since nothing happened yet, maybe they didn’t find the magic circle—or couldn’t report it yet. I needed to erase the magic circle right now. But to sneak out, I had to avoid Rotia and his magic-eyes. Invisible magic? Useless—magic-eyes would see right through it.
Only one option remained.
After confirming I was alone, I reached for the window.
— Slide…
Cold air rushed in.
‘Go out, erase it, and come back!’
Resolve firm, I drew in mana from the mist. If Rotia spotted me, I’d return. If not, I’d use invisibility + flight and erase the magic. My body lifted—then breathing suddenly tightened.
“Hngh…!”
Just a little more. Just a little.
Outside the window, I quickly descended—landing with a loud thud. Thankfully, no one noticed. After a few breaths, my heart calmed.
“All right…”
I muttered softly and walked toward the giant shell.
And then froze for two reasons.
First: someone was still inside.
Second: that someone was the Duke of Iter.
— Scene shifts (Duke’s POV)
When I was young, what did I want the most?
That thought had been appearing often lately, much to the duke’s annoyance.
Thinking of the giant candy was irritating. He smashed it into eight pieces and distributed it to maids and knights. Somehow, the gift he sent ended up not with his daughter, nor even himself, but with others. It bothered him. Perhaps she didn’t like it. She even vomited after eating candy. Maybe food isn’t a good gift.
He set aside documents.
[Fog Movement Tracking Report]
Soon, fog from the mist-sea would cover the mansion, and monsters would crawl out. He remembered the terror well.
And the shell Nasia was found in—it was the same place where he first encountered monsters as a child.
He remembered closing the shell, shaking in fear inside, scratching sounds covering the outside. Monsters disguised as humans had tried to claw their way in.
‘There’s a sword you wanted. I hid it there.’
His older brother had laughed kindly that day. But no one warned him he should never go there. All except his brother were now dead.
The duke stood, recalling what he had read about Nasia’s life. The baron’s house never treated her as human—just because she was ill. The doctor said her illness was curable with a certain herb, but no servant bothered to remember its name.
Anger surged. And yet… when thinking of the child, his heart still felt strangely soft. He wanted to take her hand, guide her, give her things she wanted. He wanted to see her smile.
“…Wait for Delphi’s examination results.”
He left the room.
He thought about asking Nasia directly why she went to the shell, but the child had clutched her heart in fear. He didn’t want to frighten her further. She was still prickly, like a hedgehog.
He walked toward the mist-sea.
— Back at the shell —
It remained just like his childhood memory. He tapped the ornament. The shell opened. Damp air entered. There was sand and dried weeds gathered neatly—as though someone had collected treasures.
He touched the dried weeds. They didn’t scatter. Strange, but not unusual around here.
He hated magic. Magicians twisted the world and harmed people without guilt.
— tap tap tap!
Footsteps approached. Small ones. A child.
Only one person could be that child.
He turned.
“Nasia?”
The footsteps stopped.
