Chapter 9: Caspiel's Plan (III)

I tried to process Caspiel's words carefully. He. Wants. To. Make. Me. Countess. Evington.

"Does that mean I have to marry you?!" I exclaimed. He smiled in response to my question. Just yesterday, he changed after meeting his fiancée, and now he's saying he'll marry me?! Years of being in the mansion seem to have made this man lose his mind.

"My Lord!" I yelled again. Slowly, gradually, I steadied my breath to regain composure. "With all due respect, my lord, I truly wish to return to my home."

"I shall make Evington County your home," he replied, his sweet smile still intact.

'This man is utterly mad.'

"Alright, I know you're still in shock so we won't discuss this further for now. Tomorrow there will be a welcoming party for me, and I will invite some nobles. At that time, I will introduce you to all of them."

"I don't want to."

"Hm? I'm not offering you something, Celine." He stood up from his seat and walked towards me. His hand gently toyed with the strands of my long hair that cascaded nearly to my waist.

"This is a command," he stated, kissing my hair. My cheeks flushed, and I brushed his hand away before departing.

As I made my way back into the mansion, I encountered Arthur. Today, his attire was notably more refined. He greeted me with a smile, mirroring my own.

"Good morning, Miss Celine!" He greeted me. Usually, he wore plain shirts without any embellishments, but now he seemed to be wearing a vest and a suit jacket accompanied by some brooches on his chest. Among them, I spotted an emblem depicting a sea dragon with three heads.

""Oh? Are you unfamiliar with Royal Family crest? This brooch was bestowed upon me directly by His Majesty King Leviathan, in recognition of my status as the most brilliant magician in Craenitus," Arthur explained, his chest swelling with pride. Honestly, I thought he was just a nerdy antisocial.

"Wow! I didn't expect you to be that smart Lord Arthur. Congratulations! By the way, where are you headed in such finery?" My inquiry caused his smile to falter slightly, replaced by an expression of reluctance.

"Well, Caspiel asked me to be his secretary and there's no need to be too formal, Miss! Just call me Arthur."

"Very well, then consider me Celine!" After exchanging smiles and a handshake, Arthur embraced me like an old friend.

"Today will be quite busy for everyone, Celine. So, you're likely to find yourself bored! I could persuade Caspiel to allow you a stroll in the forest near the mountain. Since it's winter, you'll encounter plenty of rabbits, deer, and snow leopards roaming about. Don't fret! They won't pose a threat unless provoked. What do you say?"

Arthur's offer was enticing, considering I'd been confined to this place for months. Even though I've been here for quite some time, I haven't had the chance to wander around and enjoy the vast landscapes of Craenitus.

After agreeing, Arthur strolled towards Caspiel's room. A few minutes later, 5 guards and a horse-drawn carriage were ready for me.

"If anything happens to Celine, it's better for you not to return than to return and face my wrath. Understand?!" Caspiel ordered his subordinates to take care of me. I felt it was unnecessary to go to such lengths, considering the location wasn't too far away.

On my way through the town in the morning, I saw people bustling about in the market. Some children were running around and playing near the fountain, while the men were carrying wooden crates toward the center of the square.

"I can't wait for the celebration tomorrow!" A little girl shouted excitedly, which was met with enthusiasm by her friends.

"This will be my first celebration! Mother said the last one in Evington, twenty years ago, was when Countess Anita was pregnant!"

'Oh, so the celebration mentioned by Caspiel is also enjoyed by the townsfolk?'

I couldn't help but smile. The joyful atmosphere enveloping the entire County brought me joy too. It felt akin to eagerly preparing for the annual festival in Reckon City. Speaking of which, I wondered how long I'd been absent from Illuxar. Had anyone noticed? I doubted it.

The scenery changed to snow-covered trees. Some still had leaves on their branches and some didn't. The trees were spaced far enough apart to let sunlight in. Below them were some white bushes. The sound of snow being crushed by the horse reminded me of the crispness of matcha ice cream that I always ate in winter.

The carriage stopped, and there was a frozen river stretching from west to east. I could see white rabbits darting around through the bushes. White-furred deer gathered as if providing warmth. More sunlight entered this place, making the snow look radiant.

"We've arrived, Miss."

I was excited and couldn't wait to hug those fluffy balls! I opened the carriage door and felt the sunlight piercing my eyes.

'It's so dazzling.'

Expecting to see the scenery I saw behind the window, but what I saw now was different from what I expected.

Tap.

Right after I stepped on the ground, everything around me changed. What I saw was an old building made of stone and resembling a temple. Some parts of it were already crumbling, with some blue roses adorning its courtyard.

"Celine." A man's voice called out to me. I turned and found a man with eyes and hair as white as snow, smiling at me.

'Wait a minute. Silver hair and silver eyes?'

"You...? Lucy?" Without answering, the man ran towards me and hugged me tightly. He indeed looked like Lucy, but how could he grow into an adult man so quickly?

I pushed the man away, startled. With a puzzled expression, he looked at me.

"Celine, do you not remember me?"

"Who are you?!"

He chuckled before answering.

"It's me, Lucy!"

II took a step back from the man claiming to be Lucy. How could someone grow so rapidly? Though, upon reflection, the events unfolding here defied logic as well. I looked around. The trees here are very dense, unlike the forest I visited. I guess now I'm very far from the mansion.

"Celine, do you remember when I went berserk in your room because a servant wanted to feed me? I was too scared that the food might be poisoned, so I had no choice but to spill it on the floor."

'No one knows about that except Emily, me, and Lucy!'

"So I cleaned up the scattered food, and you cleaned up the broken plates because you were afraid I might get hurt." His soft voice lowered my guard, he walked closer and extended his hand.

"Forgive me for suddenly hugging you. We've been apart for half a year, I thought I would never see you again..." His face changed to a sad expression. When I saw that, I remembered the expression of young Lucy who told me about his life on the streets. Now his face looks familiar.

"Lucy...? What happened to you? How can you now be, an adult man...?" He burst out laughing at my question. After wiping away the tears at the corner of his eyes, he asked me to sit on the stone chair there.

"I just drank a lot of milk!" He answered with a laugh.

"Wait a minute, Lucy, do you know why I'm here? I felt like I was in a horse-drawn carriage earlier... and when I stepped on the ground, everything around me changed!"

"Hmmm?" Lucy held his chin, looking thoughtful, "Oh! Have you ever heard that forests have souls?"

"No?"

"Really? Even I, who lived on the streets, know it. I think you teleported because of the magical anomaly in the forest of Celine!"

"Ahh...." I slumped to the ground. On my first day out of the mansion, and now I'm in a strange place. How can I go home?! There's Lucy, but he himself is also strange staying alone in this almost collapsed temple. While I was lamenting to myself with my hands wrapped around my shoulders because of the cold, Lucy walked towards me and knelt.

"Celine, do you want to learn magic?"

.

Meanwhile, in the Evington mansion, the atmosphere was bustling with activity. Madam Lysa, the head servant, had mobilized all the staff, including the gardeners, to modernize the outdated mansion in preparation for an upcoming event. Typically, preparations for a party would take a week or even months, but their master insisted on having everything ready within a single day. This caused a mix of stress and excitement among the workers.

"The invitations have been sent to Duke Ivvete, Duke Ernoldus, Marchioness Evans, and Marquess Redmond. I'll personally visit the other Counts to deliver the good news. And, oh, Caspiel, should I invite the Crown Prince and Princess of Craenitus?" Arthur, adjusting his glasses, read aloud the list of guests for the following day. Caspiel sat before him, puffing on a cigar.

"No need. Ugh, damn, what's so good about this cigar? It tastes bitter." He tossed the cigar out the window, coughing from the smoke.

"Really? I heard they're supposed to be sweet," Arthur commented, retrieving his coat from the sofa and putting it on. Caspiel smiled, the word 'sweet' reminding him of someone.

"When is Celine coming back?"

"Come on, buddy, the sun isn't even overhead yet." Arthur removed his glasses and headed towards the door.

"Arthur, please prepare another horse-drawn carriage. I want to go to the palace." Caspiel brushed off the remaining ash from the cigar on his clothes, then stood up and put on a dark brown coat, slipping black gloves onto his hands.

"Alright, Count," Arthur replied sarcastically.

"Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Caspiel followed Arthur out to the mansion's courtyard. After confirming a few details with Madam Lysa about the event the next day, Caspiel entered a luxurious carriage and settled into its plush seat. His aim in visiting the palace wasn't to invite the Crown Prince and Princess to his party the next day but to propose something to King Leviathan. It was a bold move, but Caspiel knew the old man had his eye on him since he was a child. That's why he was originally betrothed to Princess Astarte.

Caspiel alighted from the carriage in front of a grand staircase leading to the palace entrance. The stone statue of Lucifer that once stood there had been replaced with one made of gold. Lucifer was the first king of the Craenitus kingdom. Some said he hadn't died but was merely in a deep slumber as his magic waned over time. This was supported by the fact that after giving his prophecy, he vanished suddenly and couldn't be found anywhere.

'His prophecy must be what's making King Leviathan need me,' he thought.

Welcomed by several guards, Caspiel walked through the palace's spacious and opulent corridors adorned with portraits of the royal family from the first generation. When he reached the portrait of Lucifer, he stopped.

"If his hair was silver, why do the second generation onwards have red hair?" he muttered.

"Caspiel?" A man with red hair like crimson roses approached him.

"Caspiel Evington greets His Highness Prince Azoth Craenitus, the Little Moon of the Empire." Caspiel bowed with his right hand over his chest. Of all the people in the palace, why did he have to run into the Crown Prince? Caspiel wondered.

"Congratulations on your title as Count!" Like an old friend, the Crown Prince slapped Caspiel's back and smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Caspiel replied. Not getting the response he wanted, the Crown Prince decided to tease Caspiel further.

"Astarte isn't here today. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your illicit activities in the garden with her!" he whispered in Caspiel's ear. Caspiel's eyebrows furrowed, but he forced a friendly smile on his face.

"Thank you for your graciousness, Your Highness. I apologize, but I am in a hurry."

"Oh! Pardon my lack of self-awareness. Please, Count Caspiel, carry on with your business." Caspiel didn't bother to bow to the Crown Prince before leaving, heading straight for the audience hall. He should have requested an audience, but with his father's ring, he was sure to be allowed in. And indeed, after showing his father's ring, the guards let Caspiel in without further ado.

In the throne room sat an old man with a youthful appearance. His hair and eyes were also red, but older due to his advanced age.

"Caspiel Evington greets His Majesty King Leviathan, The Moon of the Empire." Caspiel bowed, paying his respects to King Leviathan.

"Rise," the king commanded.

"Caspiel, or should I call you Count Caspiel? You've used your father's authority to meet with me. I hope what you have to say is important enough for you to do so."

"Forgive me for disturbing your time, Your Majesty. Truthfully, I don't wish to waste any time in conveying something important for our noble kingdom. Therefore, I dared to take the risk of boldly meeting you without sending a formal request for audience days in advance." Caspiel was not adept at dancing around words, but to get what he wanted, it needed to be done.

"Something useful for my kingdom? Speak."

"As you know, Your Majesty, I suffered from a rare disease that even the kingdom's best physicians couldn't cure. However, nine months ago, a physician came from my servant's family and began treating me. I don't mean to compare the kingdom's physicians with my own, but within just three months, I was cured after suffering from the disease for fifteen years."

"Is that so? Who is this physician?"

"She is the daughter of a famous bard in Evington, Your Majesty. After her father passed away, she sought employment as a servant because of her craftsmanship and diligence. Coincidentally, my father met her when she was helping workers in the market skinning deer. Initially hired as a cleaner, she suddenly claimed to have medical knowledge. It was Arthur who confirmed her knowledge."

"The best scholar? I don't think I need to doubt his judgment. Healing my future son-in-law is the best achievement one could make. Tell me, Count Caspiel. When can I meet this physician? I want to reward her." King Leviathan started to become interested. Not to give a reward, but to monopolize the physician from the Evington family. Hearing the King's response, Caspiel hid his smile.

"Unfortunately, Your Majesty, I must apologize as the physician must stay by my father's side, who is currently ill, for 24 hours. However, I represent the physician and wish to request Your Majesty."

"Speak."

"Because of her humble origins, she's regarded as a commoner despite her exceptional talents. Granting her a noble title would not only open doors for her employment but also uphold the kingdom's reputation," Caspiel proposed. King Leviathan's face turned sour at Caspiel's request.

"I cannot give noble titles casually even though I have the right to do so. One must achieve great feats that benefit the entire nation, not just Evington region." King Leviathan flatly rejected Caspiel's request. Little did he know, Caspiel wasn't finished with his negotiation.

"In that case, what if I, Caspiel Evington, offer myself to be the chief commander of the holy war that will take place in a few months? I will also deploy all of Evington's forces to be on the front lines." Caspiel's offer was surely irresistible to King Leviathan. The Evington family was known for their cunning strategies, excellent sword skills, and strong physique.

Since the kingdom's inception, the Chief Commander of the royal army had always been held by an Evington. However, ever since Derrick became the head Count, the position of Chief Commander was taken by Duke Ivvete because he was a relative of the Queen. As a result, during the 15 years of fighting against barbarian tribes in the continent located northeast of Illuxar, they only wasted the lives of soldiers.

King Leviathan smiled broadly, an intimidating aura filling the room, causing Caspiel to fall to his knees on the floor. His legs were too weak to stand. After emitting a thunderous sound, King Leviathan descended from his throne and lifted Caspiel's body to stand.

"Would the title of Marchioness suffice?" King Leviathan inquired.

.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Celine reached the gates of the Evington mansion. Earlier, when she vanished, her guards reported glimpsing her frolicking with rabbits, never once losing sight of her.

'Is this the power of magic?' she wondered.

Celine's meeting with Lucy was a genuine surprise. Lucy guided Celine in mastering the manipulation of mana within her, transforming it into snow rabbits and more. Additionally, Lucy instructed Celine to focus mana flow within her body to revive wilted flowers. Furthermore, Celine learned teleportation magic from Lucy, eliminating the need for rubies. However, this comprehensive training came at a cost, as Lucy requested regular weekly meetings as payment for her magical tutelage.

"You have arrived, Marchioness. Lord Caspiel is waiting for you in his study," one of the servants greeted her.

'Marchioness? Isn't that a noble title? Is there someone else named Celine here other than me?' Celine looked around, but there was no one else. Just her and a few servants.

"Welcome back, Marchioness!" The man mentioned by the servant approached Celine with a wide smile on his face. He reached for Celine's hand and kissed it like a prince kissing a princess's hand.

'Oh God. What else has Caspiel done?!'