Chapter 42

At that moment, one of the Ethics Committee members stepped forward and shook his head.

“Professor Natalianne, the accused must remain unharmed until the charges are resolved.”

“Gh… guh…!”

Orléans flailed, his hands trembling violently. His face twisted as if he could barely breathe. The committee member spoke again, his tone grave.

“Professor Natalianne.”

Natalianne clicked her tongue, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.

Then the man hanging in midair dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Khoff—cough… kuh…!”

Collapsed on the floor, Orléans clutched his throat and gasped for air.

His blurred vision slowly refocused on one person.

That crazy witch.

…And.

That orange hair.

Crack. A grinding sound came from between his teeth as he glared at Melissa.

He would never forget this humiliation.

Never. That lowborn wench—

“Let’s go.”

The knights lifted him by both arms, dragging him to his feet.

Orléans struggled furiously, shouting incoherently as they hauled him away.

But his voice was swallowed by the cheers echoing through the square and the sound of ice breaking apart.

“Long live Lady Natalianne!”

“Long live the Lady of the House!”

“Glory to the House of Eisenhart!”

People bustled about, carrying chunks of ice, their faces glowing with curiosity and hope for the Grand Duke’s new future.

* * *

“Hm hm hm~”

Melissa hummed as she strolled down the hallway.

After such an eventful day and a refreshing bath, she felt both relaxed and pleasantly drowsy.

So much happened today.

Her lips curved in satisfaction, her mood soft and warm like water at just the right temperature.

Riding a wave of magic in the morning, how could any day top that?

Then a thought suddenly struck her, and a faint crease appeared between her brows.

I wonder if he got back safely.

Professor Orléans, Natalianne’s colleague, had screamed so much his neck veins had bulged and his eyes had turned bloodshot. He really didn’t look well.

What were some remedies good for the eyes again?

Worried for Orléans’s eyesight, Melissa tried recalling a few herbal mixtures and decided she’d send him some through Natalianne later.

“…Um.”

She stopped when she heard movement behind her.

Oh? That voice.

Turning happily, she saw a woman cloaked in a black veil standing hesitantly nearby.

The woman seemed nervous, avoiding direct eye contact. Melissa tilted her head.

“Lady Natalianne, is something wrong?”

“Well.”

Natalianne hesitated for a moment before blurting out,

“Are you alright?”

“Sorry?”

“Your body, I mean. Are you hurt?”

Oh my.

Melissa’s eyes widened before she broke into a bright smile.

“I’m perfectly fine. Thank you for worrying about me!”

“I—I wasn’t worried or anything!”

Natalianne’s voice shot up, sharp and defensive, but her face beneath the veil was flushed red like a ripe apple.

How adorable.

Melissa pressed both hands over her chest, feeling her heart flutter.

How could such an adorable creature exist? Actually, make that two adorable creatures.

Oh?

Speaking of which, Shilen, the other cute one, had been cooped up in their room all day lately.

That child usually liked coming out to the garden or visiting the stables. Was something wrong?

When she had checked earlier, Shilen had looked fine, though she did seem startled whenever Natalianne’s name came up.

Melissa was still wondering about it when a small voice reached her ear.

“Um, by the way.”

“Yes?”

“When I… when I used that spell earlier, you said it reminded you of your childhood.”

“Yes.”

Natalianne suddenly lifted her head and stepped closer.

“Were you… abused as a child?”

“What?”

Natalianne’s voice rose with urgency.

“If that’s the case, you can tell me right now. I can help!”

“Oh, no, not at all.”

“You don’t have to hide it. Whether we go to the guards or take personal revenge, if you want, I can—”

“Ahahaha!”

Melissa laughed and waved both hands.

Natalianne blinked, looking utterly baffled. Melissa smiled softly.

“Really, it’s nothing like that. One of my mothers was a mage, you see.”

“A… mage?”

Natalianne blinked rapidly, taken aback.

“What was her name?”

“Rima.”

“Never heard of her.”

Natalianne muttered to herself thoughtfully.

“Maybe she wasn’t affiliated with any tower. A freelance mage, perhaps. Most register for research funding, but there are some who work independently. There are also secret research groups, so…”

Her voice trailed off as she became lost in thought.

Melissa watched her quietly and then noticed the book in her hand.

“Oh.”

That book.

Seeing it here felt like running into an old friend. Her face lit up.

“You’re reading that book?”

“You know this book?”

Natalianne lifted it slightly, surprised.

The corners of the leather cover were worn smooth, and the pages were smudged with black fingerprints. Melissa nodded with delight.

“Of course. My mother wrote it!”

“…What?”

Natalianne stared, unable to believe her ears.

That was impossible.

This book was written by the current Master of Nerencia, the greatest of all magic towers.

The undisputed pinnacle of magical study.

The most brilliant genius in history, known as the greatest living mage, Archmage Al Kidma.

Though she had vanished decades ago during her travels, the Tower kept her title unfilled, believing she would one day return.

And now this girl was claiming that that person was her mother?

Natalianne blinked a few times, then suddenly laughed.

“Ahahaha! Your mother must have a wonderful sense of humor. Sounds like she’s a fun person.”

“She really is. She was always so funny.”

Melissa’s innocent tone made Natalianne chuckle again.

“I see, that’s nice.”

She looked at her with the fond patience of an older sister humoring a child’s tall tale. But Melissa smiled shyly and went on.

“I learned the basics of magic theory from her when I was little. I never had any talent for magic, but I still finished that beginner’s textbook.”

“Ah, I see… huh?”

Beginner’s… textbook?

Natalianne’s smile froze.

That’s impossible.

This wasn’t a beginner’s textbook.

It was an advanced theoretical volume that even senior professors struggled to interpret.

The language was so complex that reading it felt like needing to relearn the very foundation of linguistics.

And she was calling it basic?

Natalianne’s face turned to stone. Melissa, unaware of her shock, kept speaking brightly.

“Mages are amazing. I can sense mana a little, but I can’t cast at all. Still, the book was really fun.”

“You… found this fun?”

“Yes. Once I understood it, it was fascinating.”

Natalianne could hardly breathe.

“You understood it all? The entire book?”

“Yes.”

Lies.

That was impossible.

But… this was Melissa.

So, just maybe—

If it’s true…

Natalianne flipped rapidly through the pages.

“What about this section? Did you understand this part?”

“Oh, here? It’s tricky.”

Melissa nodded seriously, just as Natalianne expected.

As she thought.

Melissa wouldn’t lie, which meant her mother must have been the one spinning tales.

A mage, huh.

Of course, if she herself was a mage, she might have wanted to pretend she was the great Al Kidma before her wide-eyed, adorable child.

Natalianne could imagine it easily. She even sympathized with the woman, feeling an odd warmth in her chest.

Then Melissa said lightly,

“But it’s easy to understand if you think of it through the Parkrist Orbit.”

“…What?”