Scene 023# Practice
*
The next day dawned.
When Wendy returned to the mansion from school yesterday, it was already night.
Since then, she had been deep in sleep, unable to wake up until now.
It must be due to magical exhaustion.
Given her stamina, she would likely be out until tomorrow.
I sank into the chair in my office.
And one by one, I looked at the books laid out on my desk.
They were books on ancient magic borrowed from the Wall of Truth yesterday.
“It’s time for practice.”
I closed my eyes.
First was magic detection.
Energy that exists in all things and the ingredient that causes miracles, magic.
I imagined.
I visualized the magic around me.
Adding the knowledge learned through greed, the concept of magic became clearer within me.
I closed my eyes.
Then, the magics around me began to shine.
From the desk in front of me to the pen, wallet, watch, books, all these things had their magic faintly glowing.
It was magic.
Among them, I focused on the faint light surrounding the books.
“Done.”
I connected my body’s magic with that of the books.
The magic was warm.
Like blood vessels, it was deeply rooted in every corner of the objects.
And those blood vessels were also connected to me.
Now, I decided to lift one of the books in front of me.
Using only the magic surrounding the book.
At first, it was awkward, but I was gradually getting used to handling the sensation of magic.
“… Hmm.”
However, I couldn’t lift the book.
The book was heavy.
It was as if trying to lift a heavy object with a single thin thread, unstable.
The reason was clear.
The magic possessed by the book was far too insufficient.
“I need more magic…”
To move objects with magic, like an ordinary magician, simply using the magic contained in the object is not enough due to the lack of magic.
That’s why one uses the magic within their body.
A human’s body is like a spring of magic that continuously flows as long as the heart beats.
I decided to change my approach.
There’s no need to only use the magic contained in the book to move it.
I took a deep breath.
I tensed every nerve in my body.
As if my body had become a transparent mirror reflecting the world.
The motif of moon magic is a mirror.
I became a mirror and reflected the outlines of the objects around me.
Magic started to gather in an instant.
For a brief moment, warm blood rose within my body.
I didn’t miss that moment.
“…!”
The book gently floated up.
But it was only for a brief moment.
Thud!
The book fell to the floor powerlessly.
I had used up all the gathered magic just to lift the book.
As my concentration wavered, a slight sense of fatigue came over me.
“Phew…”
There was progress.
For the first time, I used a magic that felt quite magical.
Even if it was just lifting a thick book.
I could also see my limits.
Neither Tristan’s body nor my mind had been accustomed to absorbing magic, making delicate manipulation difficult.
Thus, there was a limit to the amount of magic I could handle.
Well, it’s something that can be gradually improved.
The more it is polished, the more the mirror shines brightly.
I will polish myself to reflect the magic that exists in all things.
I focused my mind again.
Just like when I felt the magic around me a while ago.
Then, my senses expanded.
Even though I couldn’t see it with my eyes, I could feel the magic.
If I continue to detect magic from time to time, the amount of magic I can handle will also increase.
I checked the remaining days.
[351 days until the service starts]
There’s still time.
I will train this body as much as I can until then.
I looked in the mirror.
The more I looked, the more villainous the obese nobleman, Tristan, appeared.
In any story, such a character would almost certainly be a villain.
But, I had glimpsed Tristan’s past in the space of trials.
Perhaps it was before he became corrupt.
Back then, he was a pretty boy to my surprise.
Well, his father, Millium, was also quite handsome.
It would be strange if his son, Tristan, wasn’t handsome.
“It’s troublesome, but it can’t be helped…”
Knowing this, there’s no choice.
I caught a glimpse of hope that Tristan could be completely turned into a new character, so all that’s left is to act.
I stretched my body and left the room.
*
“What’s next?”
“Hmm… The next candidate is Duke Wallace. He has an estate in Szjaal and is 30 years old this year.”
“He’s too old. Rejected.”
Bella spoke while half-burying her face in the bed.
“What about Count Spread?”
“Too ugly. Rejected.”
“How about Baron Vivès?”
“Too poor. Rejected.”
“Then… what about Baron Lihan? He’s not too old, not ugly, and his family’s finances are solid.”
“He’s too short. Rejected.”
“My lady…”
Bella looked up, and there stood a woman with a cold demeanor.
“When it’s just the two of us, you can call me Bella. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“It’s work hours. My job is your knight, so I must use honorifics.”
“Alright… that’s so you, Blanche.”
Blanche, the woman addressed, swept her neatly tied black hair back.
Then, her long eyelashes revealed eyes as cold as ice.
“I’ve told you about all the men who have proposed to you. Isn’t there a man among them who catches your eye?”
“Then they’re all rejected.”
Bella turned her body away indifferently on the bed.
Recently, the number of nobles proposing to her had noticeably increased.
Naturally, this started after the rumor spread that her engagement with Tristan was broken.
They were all the same, those who hadn’t dared to even speak to Bella while keeping an eye on Tristan.
Whether they thought they now had a chance with her, they sent letters and gifts several times a day.
For Bella Izarkhel, it was an incredibly tiresome affair.
Due to her personality, responding to each one and rejecting their proposals was exhausting.
Yesterday was the limit.
Bella didn’t want to get out of bed today.
She wouldn’t respond to anyone today.
That’s what she resolved.
But then she thought, ‘But this is too strange…’
Surely, she should be happy to escape the clutches of that wicked man.
Ironically, she found herself missing the days when she was his fiancée.
Bella muttered thoughtlessly.
“Ah… how come they’re all worse than that man…”
“That man, you say?”
Oops.
Blanche’s gaze felt heavy above her head.
Ignoring that gaze, Bella deflected.
“… You must’ve heard wrong.”
“No. You definitely said that man.”
“Your ears are really sharp. Our Blanche.”
“No, I disagree.”
“…What do you mean by disagree all of a sudden?”
“That man is not an option.”
Bella sat up in bed and faced Blanche.
Her knight, also known as the Iron Blooded Blanche, a tall woman, looked down at Bella expressionlessly.
“… Why not?”
“You already know, don’t you
?”
“I don’t quite understand. Could you explain? Our Blanche.”
Chuckling, Bella faced Blanche, who responded with her usual unflustered demeanor.
“Count Tristan has a bad reputation. He is always angry, bullies his servants, and thinks he can buy anything in the world with money. Besides…”
Blanche hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Luelberta is one of the most dangerous families in this country. It’s best for you to keep your distance from him.”
“Hmm…”
It was a sound argument.
No, Bella already knew these facts.
Luelberta already possessed too much power for a mere noble family.
And the depth of Tristan’s darkness, which Bella had seen firsthand, she knew its dangers.
Bella buried herself in the bed again.
‘But…’
The Tristan she saw recently was somewhat different.
No, his arrogant personality was the same.
Even on the day they went to paradise, he left her behind and returned to the mansion.
He hasn’t even responded to the letter she sent in protest.
Clearly, something was off.
He no longer seemed obsessed with Bella, nor did he seem to have any lingering feelings.
‘When were you ever so eagerly following me around… Was your love only this much?’
It felt like her pride was crushed.
That’s right! This must also be what Tristan intended.
Not content with humiliating the Izarkhel family, he seemed to be testing and insulting her pride like this.
Truly a genius of wicked deeds.
Bella writhed in bed with the thought that she had been played by him.
Because of this, she completely missed the dangerous look in Blanche’s eyes.
Thanks for the chapter 😁