Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: You Mature as Much as It Hurts - 1
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***
The party ended, and those who wanted to rest went off to do so, but Lucille couldn't.
It was only natural, given that the heads of the Ain tribes—or at least their representatives—had attended, along with key figures from the duchy and city-states.
Gathering like this wasn't easy, so it wasn't strange that a meeting about the continent's future would follow.
The only regrettable part was that she had to attend.
It was a natural duty as the queen's successor.
"Teacher..."
Lucille looked around. Among the crowd leaving the party hall, she spotted her teacher.
He was the one who had drawn everyone's eyes at the party earlier, now hidden under a white robe as he walked out. Spotting him, Lucille hurriedly asked Lukel.
"Wizard Lukel. Teacher is..."
"Hmm. The Sage doesn't need to join this time. It's related to the kingdom's policies, after all."
"But..."
"We can't rely on the Sage every time. He's Your Highness's teacher, not your proxy."
Besides, the Sage was friends with the city-states, nobles, and Ain tribes.
Hadn't they seen it just last night at the pre-party?
Starting with the Sage's suggestion, the Ain tribes and nobles who trusted and owed him freely offered their precious tribal treasures without hesitation.
So, even if the Sage attended this meeting, he wasn't likely to speak up for the royal family.
He always tried to stay neutral in such matters.
"...Still."
"Don't worry too much. The meeting won't drag on."
"What is it."
The queen's voice rang out. Unable to wait any longer, she gave Lucille a wry smile.
"Come on. Let's go, Princess."
"Yes..."
She couldn't throw a tantrum anymore. Wasn't she the disciple of that great Sage?
She had to show the demeanor of a successor who would lead the kingdom.
That would only make her teacher's reputation shine brighter.
But the regret was unavoidable.
Today, the Sage had faithfully escorted her as her partner.
That sweetness felt like a dream, making her body heat up at the thought of facing reality now.
So, Lucille passed on a message to see him later and followed the queen with reluctant steps.
As expected, the meeting was quite boring.
If it were just matters solvable by goodwill, that would be one thing, but with budgets and interspecies interests involved, it couldn't be interesting.
"Whew. Then let's end it here for today. If it's alright, I'd like to hold another meeting tomorrow. Can those who can stay until tomorrow do so?"
Some said they'd stay, others that they'd send representatives later.
As the meeting wrapped up, Lucille tried to stand quickly.
"And about what we discussed yesterday. That mace, you know."
Everyone who was about to leave sat back down immediately. Unlike before, they all eagerly voiced opinions.
Everyone except Lucille.
"Oh. Lucille. You can go. This is tribal alliance business."
"Ah... Yes!!"
How long had she waited for those words?
Quite some time had passed already. What if her teacher was asleep?
She hurried out of the meeting hall toward the annex.
The sound of crickets was pleasant, the night air cool.
The starlight was beautiful, and the whispers of maids and servants in the garden sounded like a song.
'I'm happy...'
Her breath grew ragged with anticipation as she neared the annex.
Before the party, when the queen had left her alone with the Sage, their conversation kept coming back.
Her mother.
The queen of this land had suggested the Sage join the royal family.
That meant she saw him as a potential partner for her.
Royals, especially successors to the queen, couldn't marry just anyone.
They had to maintain noble bloodlines and ensure the kingdom's legitimacy.
Yet, to take the Sage—whose bloodline wasn't even certain—as a royal husband?
It was a truly groundbreaking proposal.
Proof of just how great the Sage was.
Ahh. As expected of Teacher.
You are truly amazing.
As your disciple, I am so happy.
And at the thought of a deeper relationship with you...
She pictured a wedding in her mind.
A white wedding dress, her and Teacher in a handsome suit.
Ruling the country together, having two sons and two daughters.
The children, wise like their father but without greed, wouldn't covet the throne and would build a happy family unyielding to hardship or adversity.
Then, the eldest son would become a proud successor, inherit the throne after marriage.
After becoming a benevolent king, he and his queen would visit her and Teacher in retirement, holding their grandchildren.
She'd hold the grandchild, decide a name with her beloved and respected husband, bicker a little, then make up right away.
Her mind grew hazy imagining a happy old age with her beloved teacher.
That's when Lucille stopped and took a deep breath.
The fluffy, warm hope froze in an instant.
"Ahaha!! Dance properly!"
"I'm dancing perfectly fine, aren't I?"
Bright, lively voices, met with joyful responses.
Lucille stared blankly at the man and woman, then staggered to lean against a large tree, hiding herself.
Ah.
The magic had broken.
The magic to monopolize Teacher was limited to her birthday.
Her birthday had already passed.
She had known.
"Ahaha! Hyunwoo! Do it right! Like you did with the princess earlier!"
"It's because you can't do it."
"But you said it's okay if I can't!"
"No, there's a limit... Ow!!"
"What did you say?"
"You're stepping on purpose?! Faster now!"
"Kyaa~!"
She had known.
"Ahaha~! Hot. Dancing is way more fun than I thought~?"
"Hmph. Then, Cardinal. How about a dance with me?"
"Sure! Marquis Raysi. Hyunwoo. Play something?"
"That much is nothing."
She had known this would happen.
"Uhaha! Sage! What was that?!"
"Hmph. How's that?"
"Puhahaha!! Hey! Sage. Want to do an ensemble? Ensemble?"
"Haa... haa... Ah. This is fun. Sage! Make me a cocktail."
"Wait. Where's the liqueur...?"
She had noticed it back during the raid on Leydin.
She had just been ignoring it until now.
Lucille slowly hid in the shadows, leaning her back against the large tree.
He was more vibrant outside than when teaching her in the palace.
He shone brighter with adventurers than when teaching her in the palace.
And.
More than her.
Cardinal Veronica.
Suited him better.
More than her.
Cardinal Veronica could make him happier.
So, Lucille closed her eyes.
She closed them to endure the pain rising in her chest.
To hold back the tears about to burst.
Wasn't she different from before?
Different from the her trapped in inferiority and jealousy, lost in her own world.
So, she endured.
"..Haa... haa..."
Lucille barely swallowed her tears and took a step.
She mustn't cry.
She was the great Sage's one and only disciple.
She must never be weak.
She had to endure.
Endure.
Only then could she grow stronger.
That way, Teacher would be satisfied.
In the end, Lucille couldn't bring herself to go to the brightly lit Sage's side and trudged back to Baekam Palace.
"Princess...?"
"I'm sleepy. I'll rest first."
"...Yes."
The waiting maid didn't mention removing makeup or changing out of her dress.
She simply extinguished the lights calmly, closed the door, and left.
That consideration.
Even seeing her hands clenched white, asking nothing. It was so grateful.
Only after being alone did Lucille release her grip.
Drip. Drip.
Had her nails cut her?
Blood drops like her hair color fell instead of the tears she held back.
Staring at them blankly, Lucille swallowed the surging something.
Jealousy, perhaps. Self-loathing, maybe.
Or envy.
She gulped down the pathetic fantasy of imagining herself in Veronica's place, enjoying it.
This won't do.
She mustn't show it.
Teacher never showed worry or concern, even in hardship or problems.
As his disciple, she must do the same.
Afraid even a moment's lapse would let those old negative emotions surge, Lucille lay in bed and squeezed her eyes shut.
Please.
Let this night pass quickly.
Thus ended the night of ecstatic, dreamlike magic.
Lucille hurt.
And matured accordingly.
"...Ah."
Her eyes opened at the usual dawn.
Had she fallen asleep without removing her makeup?
Fortunately, no tears, but her skin was quite irritated.
It was a face that would earn a scolding from the maid, so Lucille trudged to the vanity.
The red-haired girl in the mirror was a total mess.
Smeared makeup blackened her eyes, red lipstick stained everywhere.
Not just that? The skin-vitalizing cream had lost effect, making the Lucille in the mirror even duller.
Tangled, matted hair.
Dull skin.
A face barely smiling.
A mess, like when she feared the world and wanted to be alone in this room.
But why?
Looking at that pathetic, low-self-esteem girl's face in the mirror, she felt like laughing more and more.
Not feeling miserable in this state must be because, unlike then, a great pillar remained by her side.
"...Time to wash up."
She called the maid for a bath, did simple makeup to erase the ugly sight, and headed to the annex.
"...Ah."
The annex garden was a total disaster.
Adventurers aside, Marquis Raysi, Beastkin Tribe Chief Leo, and Dwarven City Mayor Marax were all asleep clutching bottles, showing how much they'd eaten, drunk, and played.
"...He's not here."
The one she wasn't sure she could face right now if they met.
Fortunately, Cardinal Veronica wasn't there.
Off to dawn prayers?
Or perhaps...?
The image of Veronica beaming and chattering with the Sage last night surfaced.
The well-matched pair enjoying the night festival.
Drinking heavily, then heading to a room...
"...No way."
Anyone else, maybe, but Teacher wouldn't act on impulse like that.
Calming herself, she reached a corner of the garden.
The spot where she always took lessons was spotless, unrelated to the mess.
And in its center.
As always, one man sat cross-legged in meditation.
"...Haha."
As expected.
She laughed.
Teacher. You're always the same.
You have no idea how reassuring that is.
"You're here?"
"Yes."
"We skipped lessons dancing until now, so we'll start properly today. Meditation first."
She knew what to do.
Lucille walked slowly, not to her usual spot beside the Sage.
But demurely in front of him.
Now, it was time to face him.
"...What?"
He looked puzzled, and Lucille swallowed hard.
Tension made her feel like vomiting.
What she had to do now.
Was to tap the cracked shell.
Breaking out might hurt more.
Might bring even greater pain.
But.
She had to change.
Grow.
"Teacher."
Her voice trembled.
Her eyes gazing at the Sage, her teacher, her crush, brimmed with affection sweet as honey.
"I love you, Teacher."
"Is that so?"
Even to the girl's confession of a lifetime, the Sage was as composed as ever.
That composure was so enviable, so heartbreaking.
"Will you date me, with marriage in mind? Marry me. Rule this kingdom with me?"
Her first confession ever.
Hands shaking, heart pounding wildly.
Yet Lucille didn't avert her gaze.
Meeting those earnest, upright eyes, the Sage.
"Sorry."
Replied just as earnestly and uprightly.
Ah.
Rejected.
Yeah. I figured.
Because she had expected it?
The hurt wasn't as bad as thought.
Just deep enough to never fully heal.
The price was the single tear she'd barely held back until now.
"...Teacher always looks at me straight. Even when rejecting..."
"I've never once ignored you. You're my one and only disciple, and always will be."
She already knew the special seat of lover by his side wasn't hers.
That's why she had to do it.
Hatch this egg.
The bird hiding here had to break out and properly define her relationship with the Sage.
"...You won't take another disciple?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"If you want, I can swear it."
Those words brought joy.
No matter how much she grew or changed, he would maintain their master-disciple bond as unique.
That trust lifted the anxious, newly hatched Lucille.
"...Then. Can I take pride in being Teacher's disciple?"
"Of course."
"...Thank you."
Lucille smiled.
The anxiety of even this being rejected.
The faint hope of maybe.
The emotional residue born from misery—all gone now.
The Lucille who had hatched and become an adult faced her one and only mentor squarely and declared confidently.
"Thank you, Teacher. 'Your Teacher's most cherished and beloved one and only disciple' will now begin training."
"...Huh?"
"Did I get it wrong?"
"No. Not wrong. But from the start, most cherished or whatever, you're my only disciple..."
"But it's true, right?"
Be confident.
Don't back down.
Even if it's her teacher.
That must be the her Teacher wants.
"....Hah. Checkmated. Yeah, you're right."
The baffled Sage chuckled, and Lucille matched his playful smile before closing her eyes.
***
"'Your Teacher's most cherished and beloved one and only disciple' will now begin training."
"...Huh?"
What was she on about?
Lucille smiled at my bewildered look.
So naturally, so comfortably.
The confusion and anxiety she'd held until now seemed completely gone.
"Did I get it wrong?"
"No. Not wrong. But from the start, most cherished or whatever, you're my only disciple..."
"But it's true, right?"
Hah. Really.
She left me speechless.
"....Hah. Checkmated. Yeah, you're right."
Grinning brilliantly, Lucille closed her eyes and began meditating.
What a change.
Growing overnight to the point she leaves me without words.
Impressive, Lucille.
With that mental fortitude, she can handle anything alone now.
Once I help her learn the ultimate technique as her graduation gift and final lesson.
I smiled at the new message in my achievement window.
[S-Rank Mentor Achievement unlocked.]
Now I can leave without worry.
Author's Note (Afterword)
I try to catch typos but miss so many...
Sigh... See you at 10! Bye~!