Chapter 13

Translator and Editor: Effe and Tea

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Chapter 13

The chest from Miriam was full of jewels, and the chest from El was full of gold coins.

“You better open this yourself.”

Natasha lifted the most lavishly crafted chest from Arya’s hand and handed it to Celine.

She guessed what was inside, so Celine’s hand trembled slightly as she opened the chest.

Click.

Red, yellow, green, blue, purple…….

The rainbow of magic stones radiated light and showed off their presence. Celine suddenly got dizzy and immediately closed the chest. She could feel Natasha’s eyes full of anticipation.

Celine swallowed nervously.

She didn’t know if it was the right time for her to say this now, but she didn’t think things would be different if she postponed it.

Celine bowed her head politely to Natasha.

“Thank you for the favor. But I can’t be the Grand Duchy’s wizard.”

“…… Raise your head, Celine!”

Celine slowly raised her head.

The same sapphire eyes as Leonhardt were staring at her sharply.

“These are just gifts. I’m not asking you to become a wizard in our family, Celine.”

“However…….”

“Just think. How can you tell someone who dies from wearing a corset to take on a dangerous task?”

If she’s a wizard, it might be possible.

Celine muttered to herself.

Magic.

[Celine’s Nightmare] Among users, Karl Vuiland’s nickname was the all-rounder key.

He rescues the protagonist from a situation where they must have died, and brings the dying protagonist back to life. Even if that is not enough, he gives them a key item to break through the difficulties.

In the game, Karl’s omnipotence was described as being a powerful wizard.

Of course, if she could become even half as powerful as him, she would not die if she had to die.

‘Come to think of it, the branch to the true ending was an early meeting with Karl.’

Karl appears for the first time well after the main game is in progress, but according to the strategy, they were able to meet Karl at the beginning of the game.

Celine really hated spoilers, so she decided to just watch the guide up to that part, and play afterward.

Her disappointment and her regrets seized her.

‘Really, why did I…….’

Celine touched her forehead and realized that Natasha was right in front of her, so she straightened her body.

In fact, she didn’t have many options.

If she refuses the gift, she declines the favor of the Grand Duke’s family, and she is embarrassed by her position as she has no choice but to stay here.

If she accepts the gift…… She will one day become a wizard of the Grand Duchy.

Celine stared intently at the chest.

But if she rejects them, and even if she does, she would continue to entrust herself to the Grand Duchy, and she will have to continue with the Grand Duchy’s support.

She bowed her head again to Natasha, trying not to let her thoughts overwhelm her.

“I was too worried. Thank you.”

“Celine.”

Natasha held Celine’s hand lightly.

“It’s been a few days since I met Celine, but I’m very worried. You don’t need to do that!”

Natasha lifted Celine up.

“Come on, change your clothes, and let’s go see Father. He told me to come as soon as you wake up.”

Immediately the escort maids began to remove the wet clothes from her.

Half dazed, Celine followed their lead. All she could think was how she would react in front of the Grand Duke.

But a brilliant idea did not come to mind, and Celine faced the benevolent smile of the Grand Duke.

“No need to be so nervous.”

The Grand Duke started the conversation in a soft tone.

“It is welcome that you, the family guest, have turned out to be a wizard.”

“Thank you for the grace.”

“I haven’t done anything yet, but what?”

The Grand Duke smiled slightly, and held out a piece of parchment to her.

“…… !”

Celine’s eyes widened.

It was a certificate.

A deed stating that she is a guest of the North, and that if it is a place with friendly relations with the North, she should receive hospitality wherever she goes.

“It’s Leonhard’s idea.”

Celine raised her head in surprise.

“No matter what I say, you will be under the auspice of being my wizard.”

“…….”

“You can go anywhere with this. Wizards will be welcome wherever they are, so you will be safe. Whether you stay here or leave is entirely up to you.”

“…… re, really…….”

Celine was speechless.

When she leaves Bernoulli Castle, she is out of sight of Leonhardt.

What that means is probably best known to Leonhard himself.

“You don’t have to answer me right now.”

“No.”

Celine’s voice no longer trembled.

“If it’s all right, Your Excellency, I’d like to stay in the North.”

After a while, Celine carefully closed the door to the Grand Duke’s office and stepped out.

She saw a familiar figure.

The sleek and huge man she was more familiar with than anyone in the world.

“Have you been waiting here?”

Instead of answering, Leonhard looked at the parchment in Celine’s hand.

“Oh, I heard. Leonhardt’s thoughts.”

“…… Have you decided?”

As Celine nodded her head, she saw a spark in his eyes.

“I want to stay.”

Leonhardt involuntarily stretched out his hand to her, and then pulled back with a flinch.

“Think carefully. You may regret it.”

Celine suddenly felt confused.

She thought the certificate was just Leonhardt’s consideration to give her options; now he seemed rather wanting her to leave the North.

Celine’s eyes slowly met Leonhard’s. Leonhard turned his head slightly to avoid her gaze but succumbed to her intense stare.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“…… That’s not it.”

Leonhard rubbed his chin with his right hand.

“Just…… I am worried that you will feel unnecessary pressure.”

“Of course I do! Why can’t I feel it?”

Celine deliberately raised her voice.

“But, I want to stay because I have a stronger feeling of wanting to be here!”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Celine reassured Leonhardt with a calm tone again.

Leonhard sighed in relief. He really didn’t want her to leave.

But he didn’t want her to stay if she felt pressured to be the Rute of the family.

“Then…… Good luck.”

Celine aired the doubts that remained in her heart.

“If I leave, I will worry that you may continue to have nightmares. How were you planning to handle it?”

“I meant to go with you.”

“Yes?”

Celine looked at Leonhard with her mouth agape.

“As…… As far as I know…….”

Leonhard smiled very slightly.

“As the successor of the North, would you say that it is too irresponsible? However, all the territories you can go to with that certificate are near the northern part. I can protect you enough while doing my duty.”

“Does the Grand Duke know?”

“No.”

Leonhardt replied seriously.

“If he had known, he would have definitely been against it.”

Celine was speechless and looked at Leonhardt. What he just said wasn’t a joke.

“I’m glad I stayed. For everyone.”

“That’s something you don’t know.”

Leonhardt spoke slowly.

“Tell me if you want to leave anytime. I will go with you.”

***

The wizard who would become Celine’s teacher arrived at the castle in two days.

Introducing himself simply as “Emile”, the wizard had gray hair on his wrinkle-free skin and she couldn’t tell his age.

Their first training was a disaster.

“Aacck!”

Celine opened her eyes, bewildered at the sound of Emile’s screams. She apparently did what Emile told her.

With her eyes closed, she felt the magical energy flowing through her body, creating a small spark.

Recalling the blue flames blazing on the blade of Lashir…….

But when she opened her eyes, the spark she had imagined was nowhere to be found.

On a hot summer day, a strong wind blew through the entire space like a haze on an asphalt road.

Emile’s condition was even worse.

He grabbed his gray hair and muttered words she couldn’t understand.

Celine was terrified and afraid of anything she had caused, but the heat only grew stronger.

“Rute Emile! Calm down!”

But when Emile heard her voice, he hurriedly ran to the door that led to the top of the castle tower.

Celine let out a desperate scream, but Emile didn’t even look back.

She slowly suffocated from the heat she had created.

Celine felt it. She was dying

“Rute Celine!”

She would have been really dead had it not been for a familiar, but not very, unfamiliar voice.

In an instant, the heat disappeared, and a cold winter wind enveloped her.

Celine got up as she realized that she had been writing on the cold stone floor.

The warm green eyes of Karl Vuiland stared at her.

“I felt an unusual magic and came here…… It was going to be a big problem. How could such an idiot guide Rute Celine ..… !”

Karl spoke in a furious voice and approached Celine.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, no.”

Celine gasped for a breath of the cold air with her head still spinning, then she slumped to the floor.

“Oh, thank you.”

Karl snorted.

“The person you should be grateful to is the one who abandoned Rute Celine and ran away. If something had gone wrong, his neck would have paid.”

“Why? I was the one who did something wrong…….”

“No.”

Karl shook his head.

“It can happen to wizards who try magic for the first time. That idiot just didn’t respond properly.”

Karl glanced at her.

“Or maybe he underestimated you.”

“Un, underestimated?”

“Listen well!”

Celine got up, placing her hands on the stone floor. Karl’s voice had the power to focus the attention of even those who were about to die.

“Rute Celine, the magic stone you came in contact with was the highest quality. Your potential to absorb all that magical energy and have no side effects…”

Karl paused for a moment, as if he couldn’t find the right expression.

“That much…… was amazing.”

“…….”

Celine was stunned, unable to say anything.

Her heart was still pounding from the shock that she had been on the verge of death, and the fact that her own potential was outstanding gave her both anticipation and apprehension.

“It’s dangerous. For me.”

“Yes.”

Yes, for courtesy, he could have denied it, but Karl immediately nodded his head.

A look of concern and expectancy crossed his face.

“Rute Celine, I told you it wasn’t possible, but…… Is it alright if I take over guiding you?”

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