/
Back then, she found runes engraved on the moss-laden wall, on which she laid her hand.
And, as if she had gone through a gate… She went back to the Russell Marquisate.
To be precise, on Yves’ lap.
“……!”
Radis immediately shook her head in order to shake off her recollection of Yves’ appearance, and she hurriedly spoke up.
“Is it possible… even now? If someone knows how to use mana, can they travel through a gate or use a magic tool without any magic stones on hand?”
“I’m not quite sure. Perhaps it’s possible, but that person will need a lot of mana.”
“Then it’s likely…!”
After hearing Olivier’s explanation, Radis felt strangely relieved.
Olivier smiled lightly at her.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a clear answer. Ever since our Empire’s relations with Rafal were cut off, the Empire has been having a hard time when it comes to studying all things magic. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that our knowledge is diminishing, too. It’s a shame.”
“What is there to be ashamed about? It’s not your fault. By the way, there is a magic tower in Rafal, right? That happened because our two countries have been estranged.”
“But ignorance breeds fear.”
“……!”
Unknowingly, Radis stopped walking.
Because she had that experience, too.
A moment when she had been afraid of herself.
Olivier continued in a very soft voice.
“People are inherently afraid of what they do not know. Perhaps that’s why commoners are afraid of mages nowadays. Of course, there are rumors going around about the ‘dark mages’ that had seceded from the magic tower, and those rumors are likely the precursor to their fears, but… As a result, there seems to be a trend of people being exiled from their hometowns because they’re found out to have a talent in magic, or if they’re hiding it.”
Radis could understand what was going on in the minds of those commoners.
When she found out that she could transform mana from magic stones, she got terrified of herself.
When she died, she returned to the past. Then after regressing like that, she somehow absorbed mana from magic stones—which came from monsters. And, to top it all off, when she was in Monsterwood, she heard Arachne’s voice to boot.
After going through that entire process, how could she not feel as if she’d become a monster?
“In fact, they are the keys to seeking out the truth.”
Olivier looked back at her and smiled faintly.
“It all stems from a mistake that the Imperial Family had committed. It’s only natural that it’s something I should be ashamed of.”
Radis stared back at Olivier.
Thus far, they had met only a few times. They knew nothing about each other.
But then, how was it possible that he kept on saying what she needed to hear, and always during the perfect moment that she needed to hear it?
When they first met, and then now.
Radis restarted her steps, then she said,
“Lord Olivier, you’re a very strange person.”
“……?”
“You seem to have the power to read people’s minds.”
At this, Olivier’s eyes curved as he smirked mischievously.
“I truly wish I had that power. If I did, I would have chosen the hat that you fancied the most and give that to you as a gift.”
Remembering those five hats, Radis brought a hand to her forehead.
Olivier smiled cheerfully at her.
And, true enough, everyone on this side of the avenue seemed to have become completely mesmerized by his smile.
He was so handsome that Radis felt like her eyes were being blinded just by looking at him as he was standing still—what more when he was smiling so brilliantly like this? It’s as if her soul was being bargained away.
‘Well, whatever…’
Seeing that smile, Radis felt her stiff shoulder muscles unwinding.
Again, she wondered what would happen if there really was going to be a hole in the imperial family’s treasury.
Olivier was smiling so happily.
As he and Radis were walking side by side, they soon came upon some street stalls.
Looking through the various things that they were selling, Radis eventually excitedly asked.
“Is that candy?”
“Yes.”
“It was only once, but I got to see some candy before. It was on David’s tenth birthday, and a big party was held for him. All the nearby children were invited. At that time, a confectionery merchant also came to the mansion.”
That candy craftsman made various shapes with the candy by stretching sparkling rolls of candy, which sparkled like gold as they’re stretched to make them look like ribbons, or as they’re shaped through molds.
Radis smiled at the pretty confectionery.
“The candies back then weren’t as pretty as those. What’s handed out during that party was only black, stone-like candy.”
“Black and stone-like… What did it taste like?”
Radis shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“No matter how long I waited, my turn didn’t come.”
Now that she thought about it, the children who had been invited to David’s birthday party were all dressed in nice clothes.
Amidst them, Radis was merely dressed in David’s old clothes, and rather than looking like a guest or family member, she must have looked like one of the mansion’s servants.
Regardless of whether the confectionery merchant was kind or not, he wouldn’t have had any reason to give some candy to a servant.
But the twelve-year-old Radis didn’t know why she was the only one who wasn’t given any candy.
All she could do that day was gulp as her mouth salivated and, from afar, stare at those candies that glimmered dazzlingly under the candlelight.