Side Story 1 – Chapter 12

 

* * *

 

“Take it, Magician Evan. All men are just big cowards who need excuses.”

Evan looked back and forth between Claude and the lace gloves he offered.

“…Master Claude.”

As he reached out to accept them with trembling hands, Claude briefly withdrew the gloves.

“But when these gloves were in my youngest sister’s hands.”

The gentle look that had been on Claude’s face until now was completely gone.

Evan was reminded that he was a brother who harbored immense love for Loretta.

“If she were still like she was then…”

“…”

“I truly won’t let you off easy. Magician Evan.”

After finishing his words, Claude offered the gloves again.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Master Claude.”

By the time Evan accepted the gloves with an immediate answer, Claude’s usual smile had returned.

 

* * *

 

Evan sent letters to Loretta almost every day, requesting a meeting.

He found it unbearable to even wait for the letters to be delivered through the post office, so he would personally bring them to the Duke’s mansion whenever he had free time.

But he never received permission to visit, nor did any reply from Loretta ever arrive.

As the time they couldn’t meet grew longer and longer, Evan would sometimes mutter, “I miss you,” into the empty air.

His condition worsened to the point where he even absentmindedly said, “…I miss Lady Loretta,” during a meeting.

If Echo, who happened to be sitting on his lap observing the meeting, hadn’t nudged his thigh in surprise, he wouldn’t have even realized he made such a grave mistake.

Evan tried to focus when he was working, but it was proving difficult.

Only his longing for her deepened with time.

“I apologize, Magician.”

And today, once again, Evan heard the same words from the Duke’s gatekeeper.

“The Lady says she’s very busy this week as well.”

The gatekeeper apologized as he delivered the news, feeling sorry for Evan who had been visiting almost every day.

“I see.”

“Well… Mrs. Baldwin said we should treat you with courtesy and answer properly, instead of leaving you standing at the gate.”

“No.”

Evan shook his head.

The first time he came to return the gloves, he had barged into the mansion without permission, but after that, he had decided never to cause such a nuisance again.

The burden of even coming to the gate was enough.

“I came here because I want to see Miss, not to be treated with courtesy. Then, I’ll be going.”

“Will you come again tomorrow?”

“Yes, I’ll be a burden to you, Gatekeeper, but would it be alright? Just being able to see the mansion from afar… makes me so… happy.”

“Well, do as you please.”

Evan smiled faintly, clutching the iron bars of the Duke’s gate, and turned away.

The gatekeeper waited until he was far enough away and took off his helmet.

“Miss, even if you promised me lifetime employment, you can’t make the coachman do the gatekeeper’s job.”

When he grumbled, Loretta peeked out from behind the gate’s brick wall with a pout.

“…That’s why I’m asking you as a special favor.”

“I thought it would be over after a couple of times. Do you know how heavy the gatekeepers’ clothes are?”

“S-sorry.”

When Loretta apologized, her face flushed red, the coachman chuckled awkwardly.

“Well, who else would listen to Miss’s secret requests if not me?”

“Yes, I’m always grateful.”

Loretta placed her hand on the iron bars Evan had been holding.

The bars were freezing cold in the winter weather, but the spot he had touched still held a faint warmth.

“He could have at least had some tea and left on such a cold day. What if Evan catches a cold coming here every day…”

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you serve him tea yourself, Miss?”

“N-no way!”

“Why are you so embarrassed?”

“I’m not embarrassed! I’m angry! He even told me he wants me to stop liking him!”

“What?!”

The coachman feigned surprise and responded.

“What kind of a jerk is that? I thought he was a good guy, but I’m really disappointed!”

“…”

“He’s the worst! We should ban him from coming near Miss.”

“Don’t badmouth Evan.”

“Then you want me to speak well of someone who said that to you? I can’t do that.”

“It couldn’t be helped. I’m sure Evan didn’t want to say that either.”

The coachman finally relaxed his expression and grinned.

“As expected, Miss’s strength is in relentlessly focusing on the positive.”

“…Is that really a strength?”

Evan seemed to find that side of Loretta annoying.

“It’s the best strength, no matter what anyone says. If he doesn’t recognize that, the Magician is the biggest fool of the century.”

“I told you not to badmouth Evan. It makes me sad.”

“Don’t worry.”

The coachman put on his helmet, which he had taken off for a moment, and smiled.

“From what I see, he seems to be the one who understands your strengths best. He’s a genius of the Magic Tower, succeeding Master Jeremiah after all.”

Loretta couldn’t help but smile at the mention of Evan being a genius, but she quickly hid her expression and hung her head when she made eye contact with the coachman.

 

* * *

 

When Evan returned to the Magic Tower, dejected, Jeremiah was waiting for him.

Of course, Jeremiah, who was away on a business trip, couldn’t have returned already.

It was his magic that greeted Evan.

 

[Evan.]

 

Evan rushed to the large letters written in green light in mid-air.

“Teacher!”

The green light scattered in all directions, forming new sentences.

 

[Sleep and meals?]

 

It was almost a tradition established by the former Tower Master Owen. Jeremiah always worried deeply about Evan’s basic well-being.

“I’m doing well… in my own way.”

 

[In your own way.]

 

Evan chuckled awkwardly as Jeremiah pointed out the important part. He felt embarrassed having this kind of conversation when he was no longer a child.

 

[Sleep and meals are important, regardless of age. Make sure you take care of them properly.]

 

The letters of light, filling the air at a rapid pace, appeared and disappeared in an instant.

 

[Loretta sent me a letter.]

 

“…”

 

[She wrote that she would like me to come to the regular experiment instead of you.]

 

“Th-that’s…”

Evan hesitated, unsure of how much he should tell Jeremiah.

“I apologize for troubling you, Teacher.”

 

[It’s not troublesome, I was just worried.]

 

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

 

[It’s my privilege to worry about you. So, what are you planning to do?]

 

Evan raised his head towards Jeremiah’s writing.

“I have nowhere else to retreat to. Please allow me to go, Teacher.”

 

[I knew you would say that.]

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

[Why apologize?]

 

Evan recalled Jeremiah’s advice from before.

 

“I believe you know what the right path is.”

 

For a magician to approach a physis was never the right path academically.

“You must have different expectations for me, Teacher.”

 

[Walk the path you believe is right. I’m tasked with protecting you so you can do that.]

 

“…Teacher.”

 

[I’ll leave the experiment to you as well. You remember what I taught you about cherishing your test subject, right?]

 

“I remember everything. Everything you taught me.”

 

[And, Evan.]

 

“…Yes.”

 

[Loretta Baldwin is much stronger than you think. She’s also smart, and really cute.]

 

Jeremiah seemed embarrassed by his own honest feelings that slipped out and scribbled over the “really cute” part.

 

[Anyway, a proper experiment is impossible without perfect trust and reliance between the magician and the test subject.]

 

“I’ll keep… that in mind. Thank you, Teacher.”

 

[Then I’ll be waiting for your report.]

 

With that last sentence, the light forming the letters scattered and faded, falling around Evan’s hair and shoulders.

“…Teacher.”

Jeremiah captured the last remaining light in his hand and gently pressed his cheek against it.

The warmth he felt from the magic, which should have no warmth, was probably because Jeremiah’s sincerity had been conveyed along with the light.

 

* * *

 

“You had to call for Jeremiah, who’s busy away on a business trip, for the experiment?”

On the morning of Loretta and Melody’s regular experiment, Ronny visited Loretta early and grumbled.

“I-it couldn’t… be helped.”

Loretta blushed and hung her head.

During experiments, she inevitably had to expose her wrist or forehead to the magician.

‘It’s embarrassing to do that with Evan. And if he finds out I still like him…’

“S-so Jeremiah is coming today, right? Right?”

Loretta asked earnestly, clasping her hands together.