Chapter – 07
The Mysterious Classroom
“So? Is staring at something like this really that fun?”
Alverio sneered, his lips curling into a mocking grin.
The corners of my mouth twitched.
“Lilietta, you’re such a little kid.”
(Y-You’re really the one saying that?!)
The thought flashed through my mind, but of course I kept it to myself.
It seemed the boy was far more calculating than he’d first appeared.
When I glanced around, searching for one of his family’s servants, his expression instantly transformed back into that sweet, innocent smile.
“Don’t rat me out. Everyone knows me as ‘the cute and kind Young Master Al.'”
He lowered his voice.
My cheeks twitched again.
“Then at least keep pretending around me too!”
The complaint escaped before I could stop it.
Alverio blinked in surprise before frowning.
“You and I are the same age, and our families are about equal in status. Do you know what that means?”
“…What?”
“It means we might end up getting married someday.”
Married.
(…Married?!)
My mind froze.
Seeing my stunned expression, Alverio looked at me as though I were hopeless.
“If you might end up marrying someone, isn’t it unfair to hide your real personality and just act nice all the time?”
He had a point.
If marriage was even a possibility, it was certainly more practical to show your true self from the beginning.
He wasn’t wrong…
Butā
(N-No way! I refuse to marry such a two-faced little brat!)
I screamed internally.
Judging by my face, the thought probably showed.
Alverio, however, couldn’t have cared less.
Casually twirling a red rose petal with his fingertip, he grinned.
“Nice to meet the real you, Lili. Oh, and call me Al.”
That was how Alverioā
Alā
and I first met.
From that “first visitor” onward, my world gradually became much larger.
Well…
Only within the mansion, at least.
As long as I was accompanied by my parents or a servant, I was now free to enter any room instead of being confined to the nursery.
Pretending to be an innocent, curious child, I explored every corner of the estate.
I really was curious.
After all, this world was completely different from my previous life.
I wanted to learn more about it.
But above all else…
I was searching for clues about magic.
Every new person or object I encountered in this world represented another opportunity to understand magic.
When Duke Forsten and his son had visited, I’d carefully observed both of their magical powers.
Even the sword hanging from the Duke’s waist had contained magic, so I’d made sure to examine that thoroughly as well.
(Now I just need the theory to explain what I’ve been seeing.)
That wish was finally granted within the mansion itself.
“Wooooow!”
The moment Father led me inside, the cry escaped my lips.
The mansion had an entire building devoted solely to books.
A library.
It was an adorable three-story cylindrical building made of red brick, standing between the main residence and the west wing.
Inside, the center was open all the way to the ceiling.
The circular walls surrounding it were completely covered with bookshelves.
“Are… are all of these books?”
“They are. Those shelves contain stories, those hold natural sciences, and over there is history…”
As I bounced excitedly from foot to foot, Father smiled warmly while pointing each section out.
Standing beside him, seemingly having appeared from nowhere, was an elderly man with a long white beard.
“And who are you?”
Tilting my head, I looked up at him.
Father introduced him with a rather complicated expression.
“This is Master Caleb, the librarian.”
“It’s nice to meet you! I’m Lilietta!”
“I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day you would visit, Young Lady.”
Master Caleb smiled kindly, the wrinkles on his face deepening.
Inside his chest…
I could see a brilliant white jewel.
(A mage!)
By now, after observing everyone in the mansion, I’d already discovered that only about twenty percent of people possessed the jewel of magic within their chest.
Far fewer than I’d expected.
What’s more, many of those with magical talent had never learned magic and didn’t even realize they could use it.
Several servants possessed jewels but had never cast a spell.
Their jewels contained only a small amount of magic and were covered by dull gray stone, like unpolished gemstones.
But this old man’s jewel was different.
Like Father and Mother’s, it had been polished to a brilliant shine.
It sparkled beautifully.
Its magical power even appeared greater than Mother’s.
“Heh heh heh…”
“You seem to have exceptionally sharp eyes, Young Lady.”
His raspy voice made me jump.
Until now, neither Father nor Mother had noticed.
I’d naturally assumed it was best to keep silent.
(He knows… He knows I can see the jewels?!)
As my eyes widened in shock, Master Caleb’s smile deepened.
“Your Grace, may I take charge of the young lady?”
“Isn’t it rather early?”
Father’s expression stiffened again.
Apparently he’d intended for us to meet much later.
“It seems the young lady possesses extraordinary sight and hearing. I believe it’s best that she receives the proper knowledge sooner rather than later.”
“…Very well.”
After thinking for a moment, Father nodded deeply.
“Then… I’ll leave her in your care.”
“Leave everything to me.”
After that meaningful exchange, Father gently stroked my head.
“Master Caleb was my own teacher of magic.”
“And not just mine.”
“He taught my father.”
“My grandfather.”
“My great-grandfather.”
“And every Duke before them.”
So I’d been right.
He wasn’t merely the mansion’s librarian.
Still…
(Wait… my grandfather… and great-grandfather… and before that…?)
Even by the simplest calculation…
He had to be well over a hundred years old.
The realization sent a slight chill down my spine, and I instinctively squeezed Father’s hand.
Besides…
(I’m happy to meet a new teacher, but…)
Father noticed my troubled expression.
“What is it, Lilietta?”
“I thought… you were going to teach me magic.”
“Hahaha… Is that so?”
I’d always believed Father would teach me himself when the time came.
Learning that the family’s tradition was to entrust every child’s magical education to this old man left me feeling just a little disappointed.
(I wanted Father to teach me that lightning spell… and Mother her shadow magic too…)
Father gently patted my head again.
“Magic is difficult to control.”
“The first stage of your education is extremely important, for the sake of both your body and your heart.”
“It must be entrusted to a true professional.”
Master Caleb was clearly that professional.
“When you’re older, I’ll teach you my own magic as well.”
“But for now, study diligently under Master Caleb.”
“…Yes.”
Though Father himself looked reluctant to leave, he bowed respectfully to Master Caleb before departing.
It seemed my lessons would begin immediately.
“Now then, Young Lady.”
“Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“There are too many eyes here.”
He was right.
There were more than a dozen people inside the library.
“This library is open to members of the ducal family, retainers, and servants alike.”
“There are always people upstairs.”
As he spoke, Master Caleb took my hand.
We walked through a narrow gap between towering bookshelves into a room beyond.
This room, too, was packed with books.
But between the shelves stood an enormous stone door covered in magnificent carvings.
“Beyond this point, only I and the direct bloodline of the ducal family may enter.”
With a heavy groan, the stone door slowly opened.
Beyond it stretched a staircase descending underground.
As soon as the doorway opened, lights began illuminating the stairway one by one.
I swallowed nervously.
At the bottom lay a small room.
Like every other room, its walls were lined with bookshelves.
Several more doors stood hidden among them, suggesting additional chambers beyond.
In the center sat a massive tree stump serving as a table.
Beside it were two chairs.
More than anything else, though…
I could feel something strange rising from beneath the stone floor.
It resembled magical power…
Yet wasn’t magic itself.
It felt warm.
Comforting.
Almost nostalgic.
I stared silently at the floor.
Master Caleb smiled again.
“Now then…”
“Let’s begin with some tea.”
The moment we sat at the stump-table…
A complete tea set appeared out of nowhere.
Steam rose gently from the teapot.
“Once we’ve had something to drink…”
“We’ll begin your very first lesson.”
Stroking his white beard, Master Caleb gazed directly into my eyes.
“Everything spoken within this classroom…”
“Cannot be repeated to anyone outside that door.”
“A spell ensures it.”
“Though, to be honest, it’s ancient magic.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea how it works.”
This classroom was incredibly old.
So old that believing it had existed since ancient times felt entirely natural.
An air of mystery permeated every corner.
“Here…”
“There is no need for secrets.”
I nodded.
If Father trusted this man completely, then so could I.
“Then…”
“Let’s begin with your true age.”
The first lesson held within that classroom resembled an interrogation far more than a lesson.
Oddly enough…
I didn’t dislike it.
I told him everything.
That I remembered my previous life.
That I could see the jewels inside people’s chests.
That every compliment increased my magical power.
Everything.
As I spoke, I realized something.
Keeping secrets all alone was far more exhausting than I’d ever imagined.
By the time I’d confessed everything…
I felt lighter.
“So that’s how it is…”
“I see…”
Master Caleb smiled happily after hearing my story.
Then…
He tilted his head with an oddly troubled look.
(Hm?)
Something seemed off.
“I’m afraid…”
“This is beyond my ability to handle.”
He said it with a bright, cheerful smile.
“…Huh?”
I promptly fell right out of my chair.
