“I apologize for showing you such an unsightly scene.”
“No, please don’t worry about it.”
Jared replied meekly to Therese Alway, Conrad’s mother, who was apologizing while wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
Jared and his companions sat on chairs prepared by the household staff, watching Conrad meditate.
The Duke was not present, having been taken away by an agitated knight.
Unable to think of anything witty to say to the Duke’s wife, whom he had just met, Jared endured the silence. He breathed a sigh of relief when Therese, having stopped crying, finally spoke.
“Murphy-dono, thank you so much for everything for my son this time. I express my gratitude once again.”
“I myself was interested in Conrad-sama, so I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t mind too much.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. So, I would like to ask, what is your impression of Conrad, Murphy-dono?”
“As I mentioned earlier, he has talent as a Fire Attribute Magician. I had him use other magic to investigate the potential for composite magic, but it’s still fire attribute. To be precise, it would be best to nurture him as a practitioner of release magic and convergence magic.”
If Jared’s misunderstanding was not mistaken, Conrad was particularly specialized in convergence.
When he conveyed this to Therese, she rejoiced as if it were her own good fortune.
“Does specializing mean that while it may not be the best way to put it, I can consider him exceptionally talented?”
“Yes… it’s true that in terms of convergence, he deviates from the average magician’s ability. Whether to utilize or waste that talent depends on Conrad-sama’s own efforts.”
“How can we make the most of Conrad’s talent?”
Jared was troubled by such a difficult question.
Of course, the individual’s effort is essential, but it is also desirable to have an ideal magic master if possible. Everyone must learn magic through trial and error at first. While it is not impossible to learn alone, having just one person to guide you can change the outcome. It is even more desirable to have someone who can strictly point out your mistakes.
As Jared conveyed his thoughts, Therese suddenly bowed deeply.
“—What are you doing!?”
“Murphy-dono. Would you please become Conrad’s master?”
“The Duke also asked me to consider it, but I cannot give you an answer so suddenly. No, please raise your head first. I implore you!”
After much pleading, he managed to get her to raise her head.
Jared couldn’t help but feel there was a reason why she was fixated on him. Although the Duke had asked him to entrust Conrad to someone reliable, that alone did not explain Therese’s persistent attitude.
“The Duke has indeed asked me. I understand his desire to entrust Conrad-sama to a magician he can trust, and well, I am also aware that Conrad-sama admires me. However, for what reason do you insist on someone like me?”
“That is—”
Therese’s anxious eyes flickered as she looked at Conrad.
However, Conrad continued his meditation, as if unaware of the commotion.
“Conrad-sama cannot hear our voices. I guided him to meditate deeply, so could you please speak?”
“If possible, I would prefer you not to tell him.”
“I promise.”
Therese slowly began to speak.
“I married into the Alway Ducal Family as a consort through my older brother, who was close to the Duke. However, I came from a viscount family, and among the consorts, I had the lowest status. As I was the last consort, my position was never a good one.”
Therese, with sad eyes, continued her words as if reminiscing.
“When I first came to the mansion, I was constantly harassed. Even the mansion staff looked down on me, and I lamented my marriage. My husband tried to be considerate of me, but that probably only fueled the harassment. The harassment directed at me intensified. It was then that Hannelore-sama helped me.”
“—Huh?”
Jared, who never expected Hannelore to come up, involuntarily raised his voice.
Realizing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but Therese smiled.
“Please don’t mind. I am aware that Murphy-dono is living with Hannelore-sama as Olivier-sama’s fiancée. As you live together, you understand, but she is a friendly and good person, isn’t she?”
“What can I say, she truly is.”
“Hehehe, I’m relieved to see you haven’t changed much. Encouraged by Hannelore-sama, I spent my days. Fortunately, I was blessed with a son, and I will never forget how Hannelore-sama rejoiced as if it were her own when I gave birth to Conrad. With that in mind, it was natural for Conrad to become fond of Olivier-sama. It’s probably because my son calls Murphy-dono ‘older brother’ that he wants to be close to Olivier-sama again.”
He learned one more thing about Olivier and his kin.
Still, while having consorts was said to be a noble’s duty, he was fed up with how difficult it became with higher aristocratic titles, with consorts like Therese facing harassment and Hannelore being targeted for her life.
“Like myself, Conrad has no desire for the family inheritance. While he certainly wishes to be of service to the Alway Ducal Family, it’s not as if he can do nothing if he doesn’t become the Duke’s successor. However, other consorts do not seem to think that way, and they all compete to have their own children become the successor.”
“Does the Duke know?”
“Yes, he does. My husband also seems to be having various troubles, but because the Main wife, Hannelore-sama, has no children, everyone is desperately trying to get their own child recognized. When Hannelore-sama was still living in the mansion, there was no competition for succession. Some of the mansion staff even spoke of how the talented Olivier-sama should inherit the family headship. However—”
“So, Hannelore-sama and Olivier-sama moved to a separate residence.”
“That’s right. Even before that, I knew someone was trying to harm Hannelore-sama. It pains me that because of that, Olivier-sama became suspicious and even distanced himself from Conrad.”
Therese seemed to know that Hannelore was being targeted.
No, she surely must have known. It was a major incident for the main wife of a ducal family to be targeted by a consort, but it was not uncommon throughout history.
She likely didn’t know that they were hiring Waalthe or adventurers to try and take her life, but as long as she lived in the mansion, information would reach Therese.
“I don’t know who is planning such a thing. However, I can state with certainty that it is not me. I swear on my beloved son, I would never try to harm Hannelore-sama, who is my benefactor.”
“Yes, I understand.”
It was precisely because the Duke understood this that he met Conrad with Jared.
“Thank you. I am glad that Murphy-dono, as Olivier-sama’s fiancée, believes me. My position is still weak, and I am causing Conrad unnecessary hardship. He is diligently learning swordsmanship only for my sake, following my husband. It’s understandable. If he were to become the heir to the Alway Ducal Family, learning about estate management would be more beneficial than swordsmanship. Other consorts and their children are doing just that. Some even mock Conrad, who is engrossed in swords, by saying he is desperately trying to win his father’s favor.”
“…That’s too…”
He hesitated to say “cruel.” He didn’t know who might be listening.
There was a possibility that his words could cause trouble for Olivier and the others.
“Of course, Conrad loves his father, and his father dotes on him. However, he genuinely enjoys swordsmanship. I’m sure he’s had painful experiences that I’m unaware of. It was then that we discovered he had magic power. But, honestly, I hesitated to judge whether this was a good thing or not.”
“Other people’s jealousy?”
“Yes. There are no children with magic power in the Alway Ducal Family currently. My husband also lacks magic power, so he was very pleased. However, it seems others saw Conrad as having an advantage due to his magic power. The harassment intensified and became more extreme.”
Indeed, individuals with magic power are rare. It is not uncommon for nobles to be drawn to them.
However, having magic power does not necessarily make one superior. There should be many more prerequisites for becoming the head of a ducal family.
Even an outsider like Jared could grasp this much. Then why did the consorts and other children envy Conrad simply because he possessed magic power?
Perhaps, as someone with magic power himself, Jared could not understand the feelings of those who lacked it.
“I don’t mind the harassment, but it pained me to see Conrad suffering because he happened to possess magic power. However, according to the magicians in the mansion, he lacks talent and is unlikely to become a magician. Then, he was ridiculed for being a waste of talent. I became indignant. But Conrad did not give up on wanting to become a magician.”
“And so, you came to me?”
“The magicians in this mansion are to some extent influenced by the other consorts. If they were instructed beforehand to say he lacked talent, they would do so. Therefore, I asked my husband to find a magician he could trust.”
