Chapter 72

“A wizard. Shouldn’t they at least introduce themself?”

Leonhard grumbled calmly, but Celine just stared blankly at the golden writing. Her head was full and dizzy just from the story she had just heard, then came such an unknown invitation.

“Where, where is Flua?”

“I do not know.”

“….?”

The invitation without properly revealing who the sender was, the meeting place where that was unknown to Leonhard…

As she thought, Celine moved inadvertently, frightened by the writing that was following her.

“How do I get rid of this?”

“If you write a reply, it will disappear. I have also used it before.”

“How…?”

“Just write.”

She slowly wrote in the air as Leonhard instructed.

[ Who are you? ]

As soon as she wrote a reply, the golden letters melted away and disappeared. Celine couldn’t breathe and waited for a reply, but nothing came. Leonhard waved his hand where the golden letters had been.

“Never mind. Maybe they were trying to bother you.”

“Bother me…?”

“Yes.”

Celine swallowed a gulp.

“Why would they try to bother me? Not Leonhard…”

He answered honestly.

“You are the only wizard on a mission with me. They must be trying to bother me through you. I don’t know the exact reason.”

“….”

“Anyway, one thing is certain… Sooner or later, you will meet them.”

Celine thought that what he assumed was unknown, but Leonhard’s guess was correct this time as well.

The very next morning, a wizard came to visit.

* * *

“Nice to meet you. I’m Rose Park.”

“Really… Your name was Rose.”

“Of course.”

The young wizard, who looked about the same age as Leonhard, smiled slightly.

“Just call me Rose. Don’t need Lute or anything.”

Not knowing what to say, she just stared at Rose quietly.

Rose woke them up with a sudden slam on the guest room door. She still hadn’t said why she had come looking for Celine, or why she had sent the invitation in the first place.

“Why is this person here, and why did she come looking for me? Your expression seems to be saying that.”

“…Yes.”

Rose glanced at Leonhard, who was standing with his back leaning against a wall, seemingly quite far away from them.

“I wish I could talk about it in a place where the Lord isn’t around, is it okay?”

“Flua?”

“Yes.”

As Rose nodded her head, Celine hesitated for a moment. It would be foolish to follow someone she hadn’t known in less than an hour.

“How can I… trust you?”

“Oh, I didn’t know I’d look so suspicious.”

“I didn’t mean that.”

Celine’s words quickened.

“It’s just that I don’t know why you’re doing this to me…”

“You can trust her, at least she won’t harm you.”

At that time, Leonhard, who hadn’t said a single word until now, opened his mouth.

“Leonhard?”

“I remember hearing the last name. In the past…there was a lot of pressure to do the mission together.”

“….!”

Celine’s eyes widened.

If so, Rose must be one of the wizards who were severely insulted by him.

“It’s an honor that you remember.”

One corner of Rose’s mouth slanted upward as she went on.

“The last time I saw you, I think you asked me how I became a magician belonging to the imperial family with such skills.”

“….”

Leonhard said nothing.

Celine’s blue-gray eyes shook in confusion. Rose was hostile to Leonhard, and she had good reasons. Besides, she didn’t even bother to hide that fact. However, what confused her most of all was that he said she could trust Rose nonetheless.

“Anyway, don’t worry, I didn’t approach you to avenge an old grudge. I just have a suggestion to make. How about it? Would you like to go to Flua?”

Rose took the magic stone from her pocket. It must mean that they would move by magic.

Celine paused her breath.

Whatever Leonhard thought, this might be a trap. It could end… when she followed Rose, there would be a warlock waiting.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll give this to you.”

Rose gave her the magic stone.

She could feel the power of movement magic. Movement magic was a type of magic that went and came as a pair and was imprinted on the magic stone. With this magic stone, she would be able to return to the hotel at any time.

When she glanced at Leonhard, he was still staring at her, motionless.

‘…He’s going to leave it to me.’

Celine eventually nodded her head slightly.

The next moment, Rose slowly laid her own hand over hers, and her magic began to erupt. After a while, Celine’s eyelids trembled as she felt the flow of magic gently embrace her and transport her to a new place.

Unlike when she used the movement magic herself, it was a safe and pleasant movement.

“Can you open your eyes?”

Hearing Rose’s worried voice, she blinked her eyes. When she opened her eyes, a completely unexpected sight came into her eyes. Various flowers were blooming splendidly on the wide plain. In addition, sunlight poured blindingly over their heads.

‘It’s not an ordinary plain.’

Celine soon realized that it was no ordinary plain. The pouring sunlight, the warm air that was not like winter, and the flowers that were in full bloom that did not match the season…

Her eyes widened.

It was difficult to notice it because she was so large though she was blocked on all sides by a transparent glass. However, the place they moved to was inside a huge glass greenhouse.

“Flua… must have been a greenhouse.”

“Ah, this is the entrance.”

Rose started to take her steps somewhere, but Celine stopped.

“This is a place without Leonhard. As promised, tell me now… what are you proposing?”

Rose’s eyes sparkled strangely.

“I can’t talk about it here. Magic stone, do you still have it? As long as you have that, you can go back anytime, so be patient.”

“No, but…”

“You will know when you go.”

Celine frowned but didn’t complain at her words any longer. She slowly followed Rose, observing her surroundings. Even though she wanted to find a clue to exactly where this place was, all she could see inside the glasshouse were flowers.

After a long walk through the flower fields, Rose stopped in front of a small brick house. It was a very ordinary-looking house for a house in such a splendid greenhouse.

“Is this Rose house?”

“No way.”

Rose stopped at the door and knocked on the wooden door three times.

The door opened by itself.

“Come in.”

As soon as Celine entered, she panicked.

She thought it was a small house, barely the size of a studio, but it was a gigantic castle no less than a glass greenhouse.

Celine stared blankly at the antique staircase leading up to a place she did not know where. This place was never behind even compared to Bernoulli Castle. No, it had splendor added. Beautiful sculptures that could not be created without magic were shining all over the place.

Rose smiled softly at Celine, who was half stunned.

“Welcome to Flua. Everyone is surprised when they first come.”

“Where is… here?”

She was now convinced that Rose would not delay an answer to her question.

“This is the palace bestowed to the imperial wizards, Lute Celine.”

Celine wasn’t surprised. After all, since Rose was a wizard belonging to the Imperial Family, she naturally guessed that this place was also related to her.

“Why did we come here?”

“I thought that Lute Celine would want to meet us.”

“….”

Celine said nothing, but she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“I think that’s a yes.”

A small laugh escaped Rose’s mouth.

“Let’s go, everyone is waiting for Lute Celine.”

“Everyone… How many?”

“Um, mostly everyone?”

“…Mostly?”

Celine’s voice trembled as she thought there would be three or four at most.

“Why, so many people…”

“Because Lute Celine is worth it.”

Rose half pushed Celine on her back.

“Now, come all the way here and don’t freeze. Let’s go.”

As she walked, Celine prepared and cleared her mind.

It was because everything that had happened from the time the invitation arrived was a series of shocks, and her head froze. According to the story Leonhard told her, the Imperial Family kept wanting to attach a wizard to him. However, after the death of his close friend, Leonhardt rejected any wizard… until she appeared.

‘Is it just… curiosity?’

She bit her lip.

If they were simply curious, they could approach her in a better way than this. She wouldn’t have to bring her here by daring to get on Leonhard’s nerves and go right under his nose.

Eventually, Celine gave up on thinking.

She’d soon find out what their purpose was anyway and what they were proposing anyway.

Rose was not exaggerating when she said that most of the wizards belonging to the Imperial Family were gathered. The huge hall that Celine entered, along with Rose, was packed with what looked to be a hundred people.

The many eyes stared at her… Celine gulped.

“Now Rose, can you tell me what the offer was?”

Rose blinked her eyes, a little embarrassed.

“…That’s a bit hasty. Though okay, it’s urgent.”

She looked straight at Celine before opening her mouth again.

“Lute Celine, all of us here would like to thank you for helping Lord Leonhard.”

“That, that…”

“And, from now on, I will do my best to cooperate with you. That’s all.”

“….!”

Celine’s mouth gaped blankly.

Rose’s words were clunky and somewhat disorganized, but she wouldn’t distort any important meaning. They were thanking her for being by Leonhard’s side and declared that they would cooperate in the future.

Rose wouldn’t let Celine be absentminded.

“If you’re going to refuse, go back right away. Showing this place itself is a gamble for us.”

“…What is the price? What do I have to do?”

Rose snorted.

“The price? Aren’t you paying enough already?”

“What?”

A word full of bewilderment escaped Celine’s mouth. She couldn’t get an idea of it at all. In the first place, she had done nothing for them.

“You are fighting against black magic beside Lord Leonhard. What is the price other than that?”

“…Just for that reason, you will help me? With all these people?”

At that moment, a murmur suddenly erupted in all directions where there had been silent until now. Amidst the crowd, an elderly-looking old man walked out slowly.

“I’ll answer that.”