Chapter 19

“How many magic formulas can you currently use?”

At Roseanne’s question, Enria thought back to the spells she’d learned from Rahar and replied.

“Four, I think. The earth magic barrier, the water summon, the wind summon, and the ability to pour holy power into a summoning circle to call forth a monster that has absorbed divinity.”

“Oh, I heard about that from my brother. Apparently the ones you summon are quite adorable?”

“Yes. They’re small and cute… and not very strong.”

Enria gave an awkward laugh and scratched her cheek with her finger. Roseanne, however, told her confidently not to worry.

“That’s only because the amount of divine power you can channel into the circle is still limited. But don’t worry, Enria. The divine power you possess is nearly infinite, and you naturally have the ability to infuse it into magic circles.”

She smiled. “Before long, you’ll be summoning something tremendous.”

Then Roseanne added, “And it’s not just your summoning circles—every single magic array you use is probably infused with a trace of your divine power.”

“Ah…”

“In any case, it’ll be fun to see you summon something incredible and use it to give that wicked Tower Master a proper beating.”

Roseanne’s bright laugh made Enria smile awkwardly.

Truthfully, she’d only ever wanted enough power to protect herself; she’d never imagined being part of a group aiming to defeat the Tower Master.

Roseanne went on to say that if Enria developed her powers further, she could become a major asset to their side—and that she would help her however she could.

Enria blinked rapidly at that.

Indeed, as she listened, something in her heart shifted.

Until now, she hadn’t cared about the empire’s safety. But thinking of Hayden—who would have to live in this empire—she realized they needed to stop the Tower Master and the fire spirit, Panz, from turning the entire land into a realm of monsters.

“Why did that fire spirit side with the Tower Master in the first place?” Enria asked carefully.

She had the ability to summon any spirit whose name she knew, and the thought that she might accidentally summon Panz made her cautious.

“I’m not exactly sure,” Roseanne said. “My best guess is—it has something to do with spirit stones.”

“…Spirit stones?”

“Yes. Right now, because of humans, monsters can only survive within the Monster Forest.”

“Ah…”

“So I think the fire spirit wants to turn this whole world into a monster’s land, to make collecting spirit stones easier. Maybe I’m wrong, but that seems like the most likely reason. Spirits, after all, are lazy by nature. The only reason they bother making contracts with summoners is for those stones.”

“…”

“Spirit stones are technically magic stones that let spirits grow stronger—but in truth, they’re monster hearts.”

Roseanne explained that spirits who consumed those hearts gained greater mastery over their elemental powers.

That was why many sought out sorcerers who had learned their respective elemental magics—to form contracts and grow stronger together.

Even the laziest spirits would overcome their distaste for effort if it meant gaining more power.

Enria thought to herself that every living being, it seemed, had its own reason for seeking greater strength.

She didn’t have any grand ambition to “save the empire,” but she still needed power—power to protect herself and Hayden.

And to protect Hayden, she had to protect the empire he would grow up in.

Wiping away the hesitant expression she’d worn until moments ago, Enria looked at Roseanne with bright, determined eyes.

“I’ll help you, Roseanne. For Hayden’s sake—for a world where he can live happily.”

Roseanne smiled warmly. “Then I’ll do my best to help you too, Enria.”

“Has the misunderstanding been cleared up?”

Caldeon arrived not long after Roseanne left, looking at Enria as he spoke.

At his question, Enria recalled the conversation she’d just had with Roseanne.

—What do I think of Caldeon? Hmm… can I say this? You won’t tell him, right?

— I won’t.

— A handsome jerk.

— …

— I mean, look at him. That face could probably charm every woman in the empire, but the personality? Terrible.

— Ah.

— You agree, don’t you?

— Pfft.

Having grown close to Roseanne after spending time together and even adopting nicknames for each other, it had become easy for Enria to talk about Caldeon openly.

— Oh, really? You thought I’d fall in love with Caldeon?

— Yes.

— Wow, Enri, your imagination is impressive.

— Huh?

— I mean it’s shockingly impressive.

— …What?

— I’m sorry, but I have absolutely zero interest in Duke Jupiter. A man isn’t good just because he has a pretty face.

In the original story, Caldeon and Roseanne had loved each other so deeply they would have died for one another. But the Roseanne before her now declared firmly that she could never love someone with such a vile temper and selfish disposition.

“If I were to fall for one of my brother’s friends,” Roseanne had added lightly, “I’d choose Lord Tearen instead.”

Tearen, she explained, was the only illusionist in the entire empire.

If she were ever to fall in love, she thought it would be with someone like him.

After hearing that much, Enria realized there was no misunderstanding left to have about Caldeon and Roseanne’s relationship.

When Caldeon now asked, Enria just looked up at him, her heart pounding wildly.

She finally understood that he had been searching for her all along—and that she hadn’t truly been abandoned.

Though part of her still felt uneasy, remembering the original novel’s “romance” between Caldeon and Roseanne, she was overwhelmed with joy knowing that the affection he’d shown her had been sincere.

Then maybe… there’s no reason to keep Hayden’s parentage a secret anymore.

Roseanne had said she was only acting as the Grand Duchess for now—that she would step down once the Tower Master and Panz made their move.

If that was true, then perhaps Enria could become the real Grand Duchess in time.

She wasn’t qualified now, of course. But if she worked to save the empire and it became known that Hayden was Caldeon’s son, then maybe her efforts would earn her a noble title—raising her from Saintess to a noblewoman in her own right.

“Is the misunderstanding not fully cleared? Should I bring the Duchess here so the three of us can—”

“N-no, it’s cleared up. It’s just…”

“Just?” Caldeon pressed when she trailed off.

Enria looked up at him again.

‘Should I tell him? Yes… it’s better to say it now.’

Until recently, she’d feared that if Caldeon learned the truth, he might take Hayden away and raise him with Roseanne as their child.

But now that she knew that wasn’t the case, she felt she should tell him everything—and give Hayden the rightful position of heir.

“Caldeon, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s about Hayden’s father. The truth is… it’s…”

“Hm?”

“Hayden’s father is actually—”

Her expression suddenly stiffened.

No sound came out. Her lips wouldn’t move.

— I’ve sealed the mouths, hands, and feet of everyone who knows who Hayden’s father is. If any of them try to speak or write it, my spell will stop their voice and freeze their body temporarily.

It was Silri’s magic.

Realizing that the reason she couldn’t say it was because of that silence spell, Enria’s face twisted in frustration.

[You called me to the North for this? If it’s something trivial, I’ll be angry, Enria.]

Appearing once more as the white cat from before, Silri greeted her with the same words she’d used the first time.

“Yaaang, yaaang!”

From Enria’s arms, Hayden reached out with both hands, flailing excitedly at the cat.

[Oh, Hayden. You’ve grown quite a bit.]

Silri leapt lightly onto the table, then hopped onto the sofa beside Enria.

When she lowered her head for Hayden to pet her, she purred happily under his tiny hand.

“It’s about that spell.”

[Hmm?]

“The one that keeps me from saying who Hayden’s father is.”

[Ah.]

As if remembering, Silri nodded once, rubbing her face against Hayden’s little hand again.

[What about it?]

“Please undo it. I think it’s time he knew the truth.”

At that, Silri froze, mid-pat.

Looking troubled, she averted her gaze and rubbed her cheek against Hayden’s grasping hand before finally muttering,

[Can’t.]

“Why not?”

[Because I can’t.]

“I’m asking why you can’t.”

Enria explained that while she’d once agreed it was safer to keep Hayden’s father secret, she’d since realized it would be better for Hayden to grow up knowing the truth.

Silri listened quietly, then turned around, presenting her tail and back to Enria while letting Hayden tug at her fur.

[Because I don’t know how to undo it.]

Enria’s eyes widened. “What…?”

[I never learned the reversal. It wasn’t even originally my magic. I picked it up for fun from a previous spirit summoner…]

“What?! Then why would you use something like that so carelessly?!”