TYND 39

TL: Motokare

After that, his master disciplined him many times. His master grew increasingly irritable, and he found himself being scolded more often. Those days remained vivid in his memory. Even now, after the war had ended. 

I can’t let them find out.

The world wouldn’t end now. All the fiends had retreated. But still, they couldn’t find out.

They’ll think I betrayed them. They’ll feel betrayed and hate me. I want to stay close to Theon…

The mindset his master had nailed into him remained deeply rooted.

As Theon said, the emperor announced that Yolone Sirin had taken in a young disciple late in life, and following his will, Theon Detre Falsen had married Yolone Sirin’s disciple. This happened a week after Rothy received the assassin’s visit.

“Hey, are you really an archmage? Archmage means seventh grade, right? Like an Aura Master for swordsmen!”

“Yeah… I’m a seventh-grade archmage.”

“That’s insane! You’re the youngest archmage in history! Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought you were just some average mage. Since when were you Lord Yolone’s disciple? You must know a ton of spells. Are you really sixteen? Aren’t you actually younger? What was Lord Yolone like? Heard he was really strict. It must’ve been hard for you when your master died. May he rest in peace. But did Lord Yolone and my uncle, His Grace, know each other? They say he specifically asked His Grace to look after you? Is that why His Grace got engaged to you? Well, I heard about it the first day, but it’s so strange now that His Imperial Majesty actually announced it. They must’ve been really close!”

Aeruhen burst into Rothy’s room right after knight training and fired off questions. Rothy’s head spun from all the question marks. He answered the part he could respond to most clearly.

“I really am sixteen. “

“How old were you when you became his disciple? “

“Probably ten… “

You became an archmage in just six years of learning magic? How? Are you a genius?”

“I’m not a genius… I just worked really hard.” 

“Are you kidding me? No one becomes an archmage in six years just by working hard. This is a genius scam! A deception against hard work!”

Aeruhen’s playful theatrics made Rothy’s green eyes look around helplessly. He glanced at Ultje for help, but Ultje just smiled without intervening. In the end, the one who saved a flustered Rothy was Theon, who burst through the door.

“Aeruhen, you’re being too loud! I could hear you all the way down the hallway.”

Aeruhen stood and bowed formally.

“I apologise, Your Grace.”

“As a knight, you should know composure’s essential.”

“Yes. I’ll practise my discipline.”

“I’ll check my nephew’s training myself soon.”

Aeruhen’s stiff face brightened.

“Yo–Your Grace… that means…”

“I need to speak with Rothy. Leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Aeruhen left with a proper knight’s salute. From the corridor, Rothy heard him telling the guard, 

“This is amazing! Uncle will watch my training!”

Theon clicked his tongue and closed the door and sat down in Aeruhen’s spot.

“Rothy, is Aeruhen always this noisy?”

“No. Aeruhen is fun. I like him. He’s kind like you.”

“…Kind like me?”

“Yes. You’re kind and gentle. That’s why your nephew’s kind and gentle too.”

Ahem. Ultje, who’d been quiet, cleared his throat to hide his laughter.

“Good thing the others aren’t here. Zey would’ve died laughing.”

“She’d definitely collapse and then the whole knight order would know within the hour.”

Ultje said with clear amusement. Rothy gave a small smile.

That’s right, Zey would tease Theon by saying stuff like ‘Your Grace’s kind and gentle’ in front of him and would only stop after receiving a scolding from Theon. Zey’s really funny.

When Rothy was on the battlefield…… Whenever he heard laughter and looked over, Zey was always there. Whatever she said, Xeon Hart and Barry Ribbler would laugh loudly, and Chungnip would laugh while saying, “Quiet, everyone’s watching.” Even Theon would look away with a smile. He’d always wanted to know what funny things they talked about. He’d wanted to join them. If he’d heard those stories, he’d wanted to tell them to Chi-chi and the children in the lab. Maybe then those children would’ve laughed too. But that’d remained just a fantasy. 

“Rothy, you must have heard about His Imperial Majesty’s announcement today. He also had a message for you.”

“For me…?”

“He asked me to tell you he’s sorry he hasn’t uncovered all that person’s crimes yet.”

Theon’s tone was gentler than when he spoke to Aeruhen. Rothy knew this difference well.

“No, it’s fine. If people find out, someone might try to make living magic stones again. Master was worried about that.”

“If Yolone Sirin had been so concerned, he wouldn’t have left research notes.”

But he was really worried… I don’t understand why he wrote those things.”

Rothy genuinely couldn’t understand. 

“I killed dozens of children to end the war. Would Seará still consider me Her follower? This must never happen again..”

Why’d someone who said that leave research notes behind…… 

“Now that your position as my consort’s officially announced, you’re formally a Northerner. People will visit to see you, and you’ll receive them as another master of this estate. Do you understand what this means?”

“It means I need more etiquette lessons…”

“Beyond etiquette, you’ll need to learn Northern history and laws. Consistently, from now on.”

“Consistently…”

Rothy placed his small clenched fist on his chest.

“I’ll work hard. I’ll be a good archduchess.”

Theon’s stern face showed a slight smile at Rothy’s determination with sparkling green eyes.

Screee!

Chi-chi, who’d been dozing on the table, crawled over and rubbed his fur against Rothy’s hand. Then, realising Rothy hadn’t put his hand to his chest from pain, Chi-chi yawned and sprawled across his lap.

“And you know what? Thank you so much, Theon. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”

Rothy clenched his fist tighter as he looked at Theon. His gaze was quite intense.

“If anything, I owe you.”

Theon smiled and patted his thigh. Rothy quickly got up and went to Theon, who then lifted him with ease and set him down on his lap. Perched on Theon’s rock-solid thighs, Rothy swung his legs like an excited child. 

Ultje quietly moved Rothy’s teacup and plate of cookies closer. 

“Theon, when are we going to the collapsed magic stone mine?”

“You’re curious about the mine?”

“I want to fix the collapsed part… I can do it well… I’ll restore it. I’m good at magic. I’ve practiced so much.”

“You must constantly make yourself useful. Make them think you’re valuable. Make them believe they can’t do without you, show them your exceptional magic abilities and help them. Understand?”

Before passing, his master had given him several precautions. A final kindness to his naive test subject who would’ve to live in a world without him.

The first was ‘Stay by Theon’s side no matter what.‘

The second was ‘Be useful.’

Rothy desperately wanted to find ways to help Theon. Until now, he’d been no help at all, only a threat.

If I restore the magic stone mine, they’ll think I’m useful.

Rothy didn’t know how large the mine was or how much had collapsed. But even if it was as big as the Falsen territory, he was confident. Moving huge boulders, lifting soil, overturning earth… These were spells Rothy had often used on the battlefield.

“I was actually planning to ask you about that. You’re very reliable.”

Theon stroked Rothy’s snow-white, fluffy hair with his large hand.

“We’ll go to the magic stone mine after the festival. Before then, Chungnip will analyse and report the damage and mine details, so you’ll have enough time to make plans.”

“Sure. I can do it well. Do you need magic stones for anything else? I’ve infinite magical power, so I can help a lot.”

“Heating magic devices, climate control barriers, the security magitools at the border area… There’s much to fix. After the festival, we’ll leave the estate for a while to check everything, so be ready… Are you that happy about having so many things to do?”

“Yes, I am.”

Theon’s hand went to Rothy’s cheek—he was smiling so brightly that his dimples showed.

“His eyes are sparkling. Like a child who’s just heard about future presents.”

Ultje smiled at Rothy’s reaction as well. In fact, both of them were pleased with his response, since they would’ve had to assign these tasks even if he’d protested.

“For now, shall we…”

Theon stood up while holding Rothy. The dozing weasel flicked its ears at the sudden movement.

“Have dinner together?”

“Yup!”

Rothy beamed, throwing his arms around Theon’s neck.