“Jared Murphy. Thank you for applying for the Secretary Officer position. Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you for having me.”
After confirming Ernesta had sat down, Jared attempted to offer her some tea, but she politely declined. Was she not planning to stay long, or did she want to get straight to the point? According to her file, Ernesta was a user of Wind Elemental Magic, much like her older brother. While not on Barnabas’s level, she was recorded as being exceptional even among the elite magicians of the Mage Corps. Though she held no specific title, it was mentioned she had led small units during times of crisis.
“Um…”
Jared, attempting to proceed with the interview, found himself at a loss for words and fell into silence. Ernesta, being the one being interviewed, was waiting for Jared to speak, and thus remained silent as well. It was awkward. Deeply awkward. Perhaps if she had glared at him with hatred in her eyes, it might have been different, but as it stood, no ill feelings were conveyed.
He had expected to be hated, having taken her family. To his surprise, he felt a sense of relief. More than anything, he was aware of his own relief. After a prolonged silence, Jared, unable to bear the quiet any longer, finally resolved himself and spoke.
“Ernesta Kaif. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I should have– I should have introduced myself to you and your family sooner. I sincerely apologize for constantly avoiding you.”
“No, please don’t worry about it. I’m aware that Master Murphy was told by the Mage Association to refrain from contacting us.”
Ernesta lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked up, her blue eyes meeting his, a sad expression forming on her face.
“Having just lost my older brother, even if my head understood that Master Murphy wasn’t to blame, my heart likely wouldn’t have. I’m glad we didn’t have to meet under those circumstances.”
“…Thank you.”
There was no need to ask. The bereaved family understood intellectually that what Barnabas had done was a crime, and that Jared had stopped him by taking his life. At the same time, they could not forgive it in their hearts. While his method of revenge was wrong, revenge itself was not inherently evil. What was unforgivable was his brute force approach, his intent to simply take a life, and his involvement of innocent bystanders.
Even if Jared hadn’t intervened, the Court Mages, or perhaps the Royal Palace Mage Corps that Ernesta belonged to, would have eventually acted. However, in the end, it was Jared who killed Barnabas. It was understandable that the family’s emotions would be directed towards Jared. He had no way of knowing her current feelings, but there was something he had to ask.
“Please tell me. Why did you apply for the Secretary Officer position?”
He couldn’t bring himself to ask if she didn’t hate him. He felt that if he asked that question, she might leave immediately.
“As I am a Magician belonging to the Royal Palace Mage Corps, I fully understand what my brother did. Furthermore, I was kindly informed by the Mage Association why my brother acted in such a way.”
“–What? Is that so?”
She knew everything. That Barnabas had been framed, and as a result, he couldn’t become the Court Mage he was supposed to be. And that this drove him to seek revenge.
“However, I don’t have the skill to be chosen as a Court Mage Candidate, let alone a Court Mage. Therefore, I can’t even understand what my brother was thinking or how he suffered.”
“I don’t know if this is my place to say, but I believe Barnabas’s suffering was something only he could understand.”
“I suppose that’s true. Nevertheless, I dislike the thought of my memories of my brother fading away while I remain ignorant. That’s why I want to be by your side, Master Murphy, who was chosen as a Court Mage Candidate like my brother, and unlike him, has been chosen to become a Court Mage, to learn.”
“I don’t want to say this, but I don’t think being near me would allow you to understand his feelings. Even I could understand his reasons for revenge, but not his heart.”
If he had truly empathized with, understood, and shared Barnabas’s inner turmoil, Jared probably wouldn’t have stopped his revenge. Of course, something like that was impossible. One couldn’t possibly understand the inner workings of anyone else, not even family.
“I understand that! –Ah, I’m sorry. As Master Murphy said, I realize I can’t possibly understand everything about my brother. That’s precisely why I want to know what kind of people Court Mages are, and how high the goals my brother aimed for truly were.”
Ernesta raised her voice, but quickly regained her composure and revealed her true feelings. Listening to her, Jared was in a quandary. Remembering what Tres had asked of him, her position was far from ideal. However, he had been told that this interview alone would help her recover somewhat. Jared, who had no particular expectations from the Mage Corps, couldn’t grasp what she was thinking or what was happening to her, but based on Tres’s words, he wanted to help her in some way. He felt that much of a debt.
“Wouldn’t it be painful for you to be with me? If you wish, I can ask Tres or Adelina to–”
“No! I absolutely refuse that!”
Her clear refusal cut off his words, and he fell silent. Realizing she had interrupted him, Ernesta immediately apologized. When he told her he wasn’t bothered, a look of clear relief washed over her face.
“I’m so sorry. They have been very kind to me. My family was also saved thanks to the protection of two Court Mages. However, I can’t forgive those who were the root cause of my brother’s demise — not yet!”
The ultimate cause was Count Brauer, Tres’s father. Adelina had been threatened with the endangerment of her future, and Tres himself had known nothing. Of course, the two of them didn’t believe such things were excuses. Jared knew they intended to bear all of Ernesta’s and the bereaved family’s resentment. Regardless of whether they were hated or despised, they would atone for driving Barnabas to his ruin.
“Then I am the same. I, Jared Murphy, killed Barnabas Kaif, your brother.”
