When Coincidences Continue
Whether the fake lady and the people of the ducal house who had lived happily with her until now felt disillusioned upon learning the truth or not, it was none of Pay’s concern. They could sort out their feelings on their own.
Pay’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Well, they probably don’t even realize I know who they are.
During her time as an Eina, she had surprisingly few opportunities to speak with knights from the imperial palace or noble households. She had only been allowed to interact with those the duke and duchess introduced to her.
Even when she accepted Holtdein’s request, it had come with the condition that she would only work within the capital’s district. If they had asked her to visit the imperial palace, Pay would never have agreed.
Klein Duke…
Klein Duchess…
She never wanted to see their arrogant, cold faces again. Just thinking of them was enough to make her feel as though she had swallowed ice.
“Understood. I’ll pass it along as you said.”
“Thank you.”
Time passed, and the day before the Fruit Festival arrived.
Cassel chose to wear ordinary noble attire instead of his armor or knight’s uniform. Though he called it “ordinary,” the garments befitting the eldest son of a ducal house gleamed with polish and were far from plain.
He casually pushed away the accessory a servant tried to fasten on him.
It was a gold brooch inlaid with the family’s lion emblem.
“Remove that.”
“Cassel, a single brooch is hardly excessive. Consider your position.”
“This will suffice.”
He gestured to the sparkling silver pin already fixed to his cravat.
The duchess found even that unsatisfactory since it was not gold, yet she rose on her toes and kissed her son’s cheek.
Even dressed modestly, Cassel’s appearance was striking, and pride welled within her.
Since her precious eldest son had returned to the capital a month ago, he had not once mentioned going back to the border. She wished he would never leave again, yet every day felt like walking on thin ice for fear that mentioning it might make him decide to depart.
“You’re going into the city?”
“Yes. Since tomorrow marks the start of the festival, I intend to make a quick inspection and return.”
“Very well. Go ahead. If anything catches your eye, feel free to look around.”
The duchess offered a bright smile.
Though it was late summer and the timing felt slightly off, the imperial palace had decided to hold the Fruit Festival anyway. It was at the Crown Prince’s command, who still remained secluded from high society.
Cassel appeared to have taken on a reasonable share of the festival’s management, even if it was not an official duty.
She hoped this would help her son grow more attached to the capital.
“There is no particular area that interests me. Mother, I will see you later.”
“Take care.”
As Cassel left the Klein Ducal House, a quiet satisfaction lingered on his face.
Nearly a month had passed since his return, and the woman named Dorothea, who had been sent to the Selpia House, was in a difficult position.
The scholar Poshet, brought in to act as her tutor, had shaken his head after only a single day.
She could mimic etiquette well enough on the surface, but it was little more than a superficial imitation. Rather than learning from the tutors here, she seemed to be repeating manners she had known before.
Poshet’s sharp eyes were not easily deceived.
And she shows no interest in the new knowledge Poshet offers her.
Even among nobles, those in the capital possessed a vast array of knowledge and common sense they were expected to cultivate.
Poshet had judged that Dorothea was more desperate to learn only what interested her than to absorb anything new.
For instance, when the conversation turned to marriage proposals, engagements, or even trivial details about the secluded Crown Prince, her eyes would gleam like a wolf in the dark.
Yet the moment the topic shifted away from rare jewels, the rise and fall of noble houses, or gossip about romance and marriage, her expression would turn indifferent at once.
In short, she lacked the mindset required to become the perfect Eina the Klein family demanded. She was simply one of those people intoxicated by wealth and power.
She only wants to worm her way into high society. We cannot leave her be. If Tiana ever returns, having such a cunning girl hovering around our parents would only make her feel alienated.
Cassel knew all too well how much pain people with innocent natures endured when others looked down on them.
The harsh days at the border had transformed him into someone entirely different from the man he had been before leaving the capital.
The duchess’s true feelings were unclear, but Klein Duke, who knew exactly how distinguished a scholar Poshet was, had clearly grown distant after hearing the tutor’s constant criticisms of Dorothea.
Given more time, Dorothea would naturally fade away.
Once our Tiana returns, we will make sure she lives well even without an Eina.
“This must be the place.”
Having ridden swiftly to the ice storage district where festival preparations were nearing completion, Cassel looked around.
“Ah…!”
A soldier who recognized Cassel in civilian clothes began to salute, but Cassel raised a finger to his lips.
“I’m only here for a light inspection today. Carry on as usual.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are the ice preparations proceeding without issue?”
“They are. The human mage from the Magic Tower is stacking them neatly. She looks quite young, but her skill seems reliable.”
“Hmm.”
Despite the imperial family’s repeated requests for cooperation, only one mage had been sent, and the elves—who had the largest numbers—had not even considered the request.
Cassel’s brow furrowed.
Human mages typically specialized in one attribute, rarely two. Among them, those gifted with water affinity were scarce even within the Magic Tower.
Could she be an exceptionally talented mage forced here against her will by the Tower’s demands?
I should at least offer some encouragement. Is she over there?
Cold air continuously seeped through the gaps of the large warehouse door.
With a sharp, indescribable sound, countless blocks of ice formed before the eyes of the black-robed mage standing with arms outstretched.
The soldier in charge of the warehouse was lavishing praise on her.
“My, my, Miss Mage, you’re incredible. Can you make shapes like swans or eagles too?”
She shook her head.
The sight of her shaking her head was rather endearing from where Cassel stood.
“No. I only recently joined the Magic Tower, so I cannot manage such delicate work yet.”
“If the ice storage looks fine by tomorrow morning, you’ll be free to enjoy the festival, Miss Mage. I’ll be heading off now, so thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes.”
That voice sounded familiar.
Just as before, the soldier emerging from the door startled and moved to salute. Cassel once again raised a finger to his lips in a silent gesture before approaching the mountain of ice.
The dim warehouse received no sunlight.
Rounded ice, square ice, thin sheet-like ice, and thick blocks—every variety had been prepared by this young water mage.
The smallest, roundest pieces would surely delight many when placed in drinks.
Yet what he anticipated most was something else entirely.
A clear voice that lifts the listener’s mood.
A pleasant premonition told him this would be a special meeting.
Cassel spoke.
“Pardon me, Miss Mage.”
“Yes?”
When she turned, her clear green eyes struck him squarely in the chest.
Only then did the brilliant pink hair come into view.
There was no way he could fail to recognize her.
Could she truly be the same girl he had escorted to the Magic Tower a month ago? What an unexpected reunion!
Cassel smiled from the heart.
“It’s good to see you again.”
“Oh my?”
She seemed to recognize him as well.
“It has been a while, Mage Pay.”
Cassel rarely added honorifics when addressing others, but he made an exception for this adorable young mage. Even the formal speech he seldom used came naturally.
Pay pointed behind her as though the cold from the ice did not bother her at all.
“Sir Knight! Have you been well? I made all this ice myself.”
His smile faded as his brow furrowed.
“Judging by the quantity, you’ve been worked far too hard.”
“Worked too hard? I’m fine. I have some skill with water magic, after all… Hehe!”
She spoke with evident pride.
Who would guess that this bright, capable young mage was the same monastery girl who had sat quietly behind the coachman a month ago?
“Is that so.”
“Will you be on duty during the festival tomorrow as well, Sir Knight?”
Cassel Deuplion Klein had no need to handle menial tasks. Even today’s inspection of the ice storage was something he could have skipped.
Yet he told a small lie.
“Yes, something like that. I plan to patrol the grounds.”
“That’s unfortunate. I only need to check the ice stock until noon, and if there’s enough, I’ll be free afterward.”
“Since you were dispatched from the Magic Tower, do you have separate lodging arranged?”
“Yes. I’m staying at an inn called ‘The Blue Butterfly.’”
Where was that?
As a high-ranking noble, Cassel only frequented the finest hotels in the capital, so the name meant nothing to him.
Given how unfamiliar it sounded, he could only assume it was either very small or had opened during his absence.
“Will you be all right on your own? No other mages came to assist you.”
At his concerned tone, Pay burst into bright laughter.
“Ahaha, I’m fine! I made a friend at the Magic Tower—Holtdein. He told me that if I went to work, the knights from the palace might act arrogant, so I should put them in their place.”
As the heir of a ducal house, Cassel had never heard such roundabout insults before. No one dared mock the very nature of knights in his presence.
Yet hearing it now, he felt no offense whatsoever.
Perhaps because it came from Pay. Smiling, he watched as she suddenly asked,
“Oh, did that upset you?”
“Not at all. More importantly, once noon passes tomorrow, would you care to look around the festival with me, Pay?”
He gently coaxed her.
“Hmm… I’m not sure. I’m supposed to return to the Magic Tower by evening, so until then would be all right.”
“Understood. Then I’ll come fetch you at the inn tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
Having secured what was not quite a date with Pay, Cassel left with a quiet chuckle to inspect the other areas.
Around the same time, someone at the Selpia House was feeling slightly better, though not as much as Cassel.
“Sob… Duchess.”
“Dorothea, a lady does not show her tears so freely. You must always remain a refined Eina, mustn’t you?”
“Y-yes.”
It had been quite some time since the Klein Duchess had visited the Selpia House. In truth, this was nearly the first time since Dot had been expelled from the main residence.
This is all because of Cassel, the young duke!