CH 3.3

“If you allow me, I’ll escort you to the carriage.”

“Isn’t Lord Schudermel here because he doesn’t have an umbrella?”

He waved his hand in the air without saying a word.

A stream of air moved and created a large curtain in the air. The raindrops that were blocked by the curtain of air bounced outward. Unlike the umbrella, it was a large curtain that seemed to cover all the hems of Lihen’s dress.

“Ah, without a spell.”

Lihen said in surprise.

There are three basic things a magician needs to manifest magic. Magic circles, catalysts, and spells. The magic circle forms the environment, the catalyst interferes with the environment, and the spell activates the magic.

If an appropriate environment is provided, the magic circle can be omitted, and the attribute you have would make it possible to omit the catalyst. However, spells cannot be omitted. As far as she knew.

At her inadvertent words, Schudermel smiled.

“Do you know anything about magic?”

“Ah, no. Just…… I just heard a little bit.”

Magicians are rare, and the opportunity to study the theory of magic is even rarer. Even more so if it was outside the tower. Lihen knows the basics of such magic only because her daughter learned it.

Schudermel just nodded at Lihen’s words. The need for a spell for a wizard to use magic was not like any vision, it was one of those things that were relatively close to common sense.

“Because I’m a wind attribute magician, it’s easy to do simple magic on a day like this.”

Saying so, he held out his hand.

Lihen flinched for a moment. Is it okay to receive this much favor? She wondered why Schudermel volunteered to be her escort.

As she knew, Duke Sagna had a cold temperament. He was not harsh on others, but he was not equally interested in anyone. People said that great magicians were like that, and even that kind of character is the object of admiration.

“Shall we?”

But he was reaching out his hand. Lihen bit her lip from the inside and placed her hand on his hand to hide her agitation. There was no reason to refuse, and she didn’t feel like it. This, too, may also be one of the series of good fortunes that accompanied the small joys of returning to the past.

She was prepared to get wet at the hem of her dress, but the ground was dry under her feet. The dryness ranged from just under her feet to the outside, about ten centimeters from the dress. The wind that had been blowing enough to shake the large branches became soft and weak like a breeze, and gently brushed her forehead.

“Oh my.”

Lihen looked down at the ground in surprise, and again at the leaves that were falling in the wind. Schudermel said calmly.

“Because I handle a little bit of water, too.”

“It’s amazing.”

She knew he was a double attribute, but drying the ground so quickly and gently changing the wind on a rainy day would not be possible unless it was Schudermel Laft.

At Lihen’s small admiration, Schudermel smiled faintly.

“The young lady is not surprised.”

“I’m surprised.”

“It doesn’t look like it.”

Perhaps less of a surprise than anyone else, Lihen thought. She already knew that he possessed two attributes, and that he was an amazing magician. So Schudermel’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Rather than surprise, her emotions were more of admiration.

“Where are you going?”

“I’d like to ask you to go to the carriage stop, please.”

Schudermel placed her hand on his arm and led her gently.

Everywhere her feet touched, the ground was dry, and even if a fierce wind blew, all that touched her cheeks was a gentle breeze. If the sky was dark and the raindrops in front of her were getting thicker and not enough to dig up the soil on the floor, there would be fresh air around her that felt like she was taking a walk in good weather.

Lihen laughed.

“I feel like I’m inside the magic. Ah, I’m really inside the magic.”

“I know that the ‘magic’ that the young lady is talking about means ‘magic that comes out of a fairytale’. It’s not even wrong. Extremely advanced magic isn’t much different from fantasy.”

It wasn’t too far from the carriage. As Penny unfolded a large umbrella and got out of Viscount Copland’s carriage, she shouted in surprise when she and Schudermel approached without an umbrella.

“Miss!”

“Ah, Penny. It’s alright. I didn’t get rained on.”

From the feet of the two of them, a large space appeared around the carriage, just as dry land spread. It was clear that this was Schudermel’s consideration to keep Lihen’s clothes from getting wet until she got into the carriage.

Lihen removed her hand from Schudermel’s arm and bowed her head politely.

“Thank you for escorting me, Lord Schudermel.”

“Don’t mention it. Go ahead. It’s getting cold.”

It was normal to say goodbye once more here and then part. If not, be more proactive in expressing your gratitude.

Lihen took a deep breath without realizing it.

<If you live again, confess. Who knows? Maybe it will work out?>

Her daughter’s words came to mind.

Succeeding. That would never happen. The other person was the future Duke of Sagna and the great magician Schudermel Laft.

With this coincidence of today, she would have been able to color the memories of her first love with a variety of colors.

Nevertheless, her heart skipped a beat. It’s a new life that she has gained in a long time, isn’t it good to try something she has never done before in her life?

She already knew that the world would not change so easily and her life would not be ruined even if she ventured as boldly as she could within her limitations.

And rejection and failure were not as embarrassing as she thought as a child. This was especially true if the other person was the Duke of Sagna.

“That, Lord Schudermel.”

“Yes?”

As he was about to turn around, he stopped at Lihen’s words in surprise. Lihen placed her hand in front of her chest.

She should say it. She wanted to leave a memory of how courageous she was. Instead of starting with resignation without being able to speak properly by making excuses that he was out of reach, she wanted to be someone who had the courage to confront and be broken.

She already knew that rejection was in order, and that in the future she would only add one word to her daughter, ‘I confessed, but I got dumped.’

Still, her heart was beating like crazy, and it really took her the courage to say this.

“If you don’t have a prior engagement on February 20th next year.”

She bit her lower lip. That was the date of the ball on the first day of the annual academy graduation party.

“Would you be my partner?”

“…….”

It took courage not only to hear the answer, but also to look at the cold face of Schudermel.

But before she could raise her head, the answer came back.

“I am willing if the Viscountess allows it.”

“Yes?”

Lihen raised her head in surprise. Schudermel had the same serious face as the first time. However, there was a slight warmth in his pale blue eyes.

“Then, I look forward to hearing from you.”

He lowered his head lightly. And beckoned her to get into the carriage.

Penny tugged at Lihen’s arm, unable to hide her surprise. Lihen said goodbye to Schudermel in bewilderment and climbed into the carriage, dragged by Penny’s arm. The coachman closed the door.

“Miss, Miss! Oh my God, did he request to be Miss’ partner?”

“Huh? Uh, yes.”

“Oh my God! Wow! Miss! Uwaa!”

There was no sense of reality. Penny made a fuss and hit Lihen on her arm.

Lihen stared blankly at Penny, then opened her mouth wide and blocked the scream from coming out with her hand.

The sound of raindrops falling on the ceiling of the carriage grew louder.