Chapter 66

“…I see. Welcome to the North.”

Agnes smiled softly, keeping her composure despite her confusion.

As she observed Louis Sepion, she couldn’t help but grow curious about what kind of place the Imperial Magic Division truly was.

Had the Imperial Family carefully chosen someone to send, only for such an eccentric man like Louis to appear? Or was it possible that this assignment wasn’t as important as she had initially thought? It was hard to tell.

“Please rest for a while. I’ll bring my son to meet you later in the afternoon.”

“Oh, I’m fine meeting him right now!”

Agnes had said it out of courtesy, assuming he would be tired after traveling for two days straight from the capital. But Louis immediately waved his hands in refusal, his head shaking vigorously.

She was momentarily taken aback by his energy, then replied with a graceful smile.

“Noah is still studying. If you wait a little, I’ll bring him over once he’s finished.”

“Ah, he’s studying. Then I’ll wait until it’s convenient for you.”

Louis bowed politely before entering the annex.

Agnes turned to Gavelin and whispered, “…At least he doesn’t seem dangerous. I suppose that’s a relief.”

“He seems like the type who might cause trouble by accident.”

“That’s true.”

“Still, His Grace assigned Sir Daren to guard him. There shouldn’t be any major issues.”

“Yes. Please also remind the maids to be careful.”

After exchanging brief words, they went their separate ways.

As Agnes walked toward Noah’s room, she thought back to her conversation with Gavelin and realized something. They had actually talked quite comfortably today.

She turned back for a moment and caught a glimpse of Gavelin’s retreating figure. The sight made her smile.

She had once believed she would never be able to get along with him, but that worry now felt lighter.

* * *

A few hours later, Agnes held Noah’s hand as they headed to the annex.

According to the maids, Louis had collapsed into bed as soon as he arrived, sleeping so deeply he hadn’t moved an inch since.

Hearing how Sir Daren, who had been ready to guard him seriously, ended up feeling awkward about the whole situation made Agnes chuckle.

Still, it made sense. Louis wasn’t a knight, and after pushing himself to reach the Vasteron territory so quickly, exhaustion was only natural.

She briefly considered letting him sleep a bit longer, but her curiosity about Noah’s test results won over her patience. She had already instructed the maids to wake him.

When she entered the drawing room of the annex, Louis was sitting on the sofa. His face looked more refreshed, though his hair stuck out slightly in every direction.

Did magicians not bother to brush their hair after waking up?

Agnes wondered for a moment, then quickly dismissed the thought, realizing it might be rude.

But since she had never met a magician before, she couldn’t help but assume that the man before her somehow represented all magicians.

“It’s an honor to see you again, my lady.”

“I hope I didn’t come too soon. Did you rest well, Louis?”

“Of course, of course. Magicians only need about three hours of sleep each day.”

Agnes tried to hide her uneasy amusement at his words and gently placed a hand on Noah’s shoulder.

“This is my son, Noah Overhen. Noah, this is Sir Louis Sepion from the Imperial Magic Division.”

Noah looked startled by the stranger and instinctively hid behind his mother’s legs, peeking out shyly.

Louis, however, smiled brightly and bent down toward him.

“Young Master Overhen, as the lady said, I am Louis Sepion. I study magic for the Imperial Magic Division.”

“Hello…”

Noah’s voice came out barely above a whisper, and Louis’s lips twitched with delight.

“Many magicians are shy around new people. It seems you already have a magician’s temperament, young master.”

Agnes wasn’t sure whether that was meant to be a compliment or not.

Louis, oblivious to her expression, didn’t seem to notice her at all.

In fact, from the moment Noah appeared, Louis’s attention had shifted entirely to the boy.

It was as if Agnes no longer existed. His fascination rested solely on Noah, who might one day awaken as a magician.

“However, magicians never feel shy around other magicians. The power we sense in each other is far too interesting for that.”

Louis removed his gloves and held out his bare hand toward Noah.

For a second, Agnes thought he was asking for a handshake, but Noah only stared, his eyes wide and shining with curiosity.

“Noah?”

Even when Agnes called softly, he didn’t respond. All his focus was on Louis’s hand. Without realizing it, he stepped out from behind her, peering intently at it.

Watching that, Agnes suddenly remembered Noah’s gift. Louis must have used some form of magic, and Noah was seeing it clearly.

“What’s that?”

Noah reached out and brushed his fingers over Louis’s palm as he asked. The innocent gesture made Agnes’s heart jump.

“This is something anyone can do once they start learning magic. Especially here in the North, it will be even easier. You’re not originally from here, are you, young master?”

“Not from here?”

“Didn’t you move to this wonderful place just recently?”

Noah nodded several times, listening intently.

Agnes had thought she would need to help guide the conversation, but at some point, both Louis and Noah had completely forgotten she was in the room.

Smiling faintly, she took a quiet step back and told a maid to bring refreshments before sitting down on the sofa.

Each time Louis moved his hand, Noah’s eyes sparkled, his small fingers reaching forward as if to touch the unseen.

What could he be seeing right now?

Was it something beautiful, like the jewel he once said he saw inside Dylan’s heart?

Agnes had been suspicious of both the Imperial Magic Division and Louis, but seeing Noah’s fascinated expression made her realize something. The one who knew least about this world of magic was her.

Noah looked completely enchanted, lost in the illusions Louis was showing him.

After a long while, their silent exchange ended. Louis gently patted Noah’s back and guided him back to the sofa.

Noah sat beside Agnes, his cheeks flushed and eyes bright as if he had just been playing outside.

When she stroked his back, she could feel his small heart pounding rapidly beneath her palm.

Agnes watched him for a moment, then turned to Louis.

The playful atmosphere had to give way to a more serious discussion.

At her signal, Lizzie stepped forward, pulling a folded document from her apron and laying it neatly on the table.

It was the result of Noah’s magical aptitude test, sent from the Imperial Magic Division.

“I’d like you to explain this in detail. As you know, it’s not easy to find a magician, and it’s hard for us to understand these terms.”

Finding magicians outside the Imperial Division wasn’t impossible, but most unaffiliated magicians barely understood their own powers. Magic was still an obscure field.

In the end, if she wanted to understand what the terms like ‘Kyronic mana’ or ‘etheric field’ meant, she needed help from the Division itself.

Louis smiled brightly at her request.

“I imagine the overly formal reports must have been quite a headache. Let me explain right away.”

After offering a quick apology, he placed a finger on the paper.

“When you requested your son’s test, you mentioned that his power seemed to push or pull objects. Correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She also knew that Noah’s biological father, Hasel Overhen, had possessed a similar power. Because of that, Agnes had assumed Noah’s ability must work in the same way.

But Louis shook his head.

“That ability is what we call Kyronic mana. It allows one to move or repel objects with magical energy. However, anyone with even the faintest magical talent can use it, though only in the smallest amounts.”

His comparison was a little crude, but Agnes managed a polite nod, pretending not to notice.