Chapter 34
“…”
“You haven’t spoken to them at all?”
“There’s nothing to say. Tristan looks at me like I’m an insect.”
Saville slammed his fist against the wall, cursing under his breath. Those damned Straduvans.
“Not a single crack?”
“None. The slave is more dense than I expected. Annoyingly, she’s naturally gifted, which is the problem.”
“What does His Majesty see in such a simpleminded woman?”
Julia fell silent. There had to be another reason, but the Emperor refused to reveal it.
All that seeped from behind the tightly closed doors were Jia’s moans and screams, offering no clues.
Except…
“That slave is certainly useful. She possesses both magic and divine power, and it’s the power of light.”
“A slave, nonetheless.”
“Indeed.”
Furthermore, she had black hair and black eyes, a rare combination in Erendia. And whenever she accomplished something or saw something new, she reacted with the wonder of a child experiencing the world for the first time. It wasn’t just because she was a slave; she behaved like a child taking in everything for the first time. Even for a slave, it was strange that someone born with both magic and divine power would remain unknown…
“Julia, my dear sister.”
“Yes.”
“I have faith in you.”
“…Yes.” Julia replied belatedly, lost in thought. Jia. Gentle and naive, not a bad person. Perhaps too kind for her own good. A strange tightness gripped her chest.
…Still, she was a Distevan. She wouldn’t forget that.
***
“How about practicing in a more open space today?” Julia suggested as Jia headed towards the Guinaicheum. Jia nodded weakly.
They arrived at the atrium of Ervallen Castle, the residence of the nobles. The Imperial Palace was divided into separate buildings for the royal family and the nobility, and this was Jia’s first time in the nobles’ quarters.
Several nobles were gathered in the spacious atrium, and some acknowledged Julia and the two Straduvan brothers. Jia instinctively hid behind them. But one noble approached her.
“Greetings, Lady Jia. I’ve been hoping to meet you, and I’m honored by this chance encounter.”
The man’s voice was smooth, almost unctuous. Jia finally noticed his hair and eye color. They were identical to Julia’s.
“Ah, my name is Saville Distevan. Julia Distevan’s brother, as you can see.”
“Ah…”
Despite their similar appearance, their demeanor was so different that she hadn’t recognized the connection. Jia glanced nervously at Julia, Tristan, and Ethan. The Straduvan brothers’ expressions were grim.
“…Hello.”
Saville extended his hand. Jia hesitated before shaking it.
“Up close, your eyes are like stars in the night sky.”
Jia’s eyes widened. It was a blatant flirtation. Yet, Saville’s affable smile made it difficult to discern whether he was sincere.
“His Majesty might not appreciate that, Duke Enedius.”
“Ah. Is that so, Duke Tristan?”
Saville, still smiling, stepped back. Jia let out a breath and instinctively moved closer to Julia.
“I’ll hope for another chance encounter. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Jia. And you as well, Dukes Straduvan.”
“…Yes.” Tristan and Ethan replied curtly. Saville soon departed the atrium with another noble.
Tristan clicked his tongue softly. Jia, sensing the tension, spoke up. “I, I’ll practice now.”
Her words cleared the air, but even she, oblivious as she often was, could sense the animosity between the Distevans and the Straduvans.
Thanks to Julia, Jia’s magic practice became more in-depth and comfortable. Though their attributes differed, it was interesting to compare their distinct styles.
Julia’s water magic was diverse and captivating. Jia was awestruck when Julia conjured a whale-shaped droplet of water in mid-air.
Despite the enjoyable moment, the memory of the previous day’s events intruded whenever she used her magic, disrupting her flow of power.
“I’ll, I’ll focus.” She forced a smile, pretending to be fine, but she wasn’t.
“Please, kill me…” The voice echoed in her ears. Jia tried to ignore it, gathering her magic.
“Kill me, kill me, kill me.”
“You’re doing well, Lady Jia! Now, imagine gathering it into a single mass, and try to draw in as much magic as possible.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll… try.”
“Aaaaagh!”
Jia desperately focused on her sister, recalling happy memories they shared. She remembered sitting on the living room sofa with her sister, sharing snacks and watching TV. They’d chatted about the show, imagining themselves in the scenes.
“Let’s go there on vacation.”
“Should we? Summer break would be perfect.”
“Great! Let’s heal ourselves by the sea!”
The sea…
The word banished the memory of her sister, replaced by the Emperor’s eyes, which she had once thought resembled the pale blue of the ocean.
Unable to contain it any longer, Jia screamed.
“Haaaagh!”
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