Chapter 10

After finishing breakfast, the sound of a bell announcing a visitor rang through the mansion.

Laila, who had been exploring the mansion, was caught by Vernele and told to go to the parlor, where she waited with Julius, who had also been summoned.

The door to the parlor opened, and Vernele entered with a tall woman.

"I have kept you waiting. ... Laila, allow me to introduce you. This is Helka, an employee of the Magic Research Institute."

"I am Helka Salmiainen. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The woman, who had bowed with a slightly low, lustrous voice, let her silky platinum blonde hair flow from her shoulders.

The robe she wore had the same design as Vernele's usual attire, but the fabric was white, accentuating her slender waist and ample chest.

She had a slightly cold beauty, with brown eyes that slanted upwards, giving her a determined look. Even without makeup, she would have been quite beautiful, but her neatly made-up face was so stunning that even Laila, a girl, was captivated.

(A beautiful woman... She's about the same age as Julius and Vernele, right?)

Laila was momentarily entranced, but Vernele's exaggerated cough brought her back to reality, and she hurriedly stood up from the sofa and returned the bow.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Laila Kilka."

"Thank you for your polite greeting. However, from now on, you can treat me the same way you treat Vernele, as I will be taking care of you."

"Um, that's a bit... "

"What do you mean by 'that,' Laila?"

"Ah!"

Laila flinched as Vernele immediately and unhappily pointed out her mistake, but Helka, glancing at Vernele, chuckled softly.

"... Oh, Laila, who is to become Julius's wife, you seem quite afraid of him. Is that really okay?"

"Shut up, Helka."

Vernele turned away with a click of her tongue, but Helka continued to giggle, looking at Vernele's profile.

(... Hmm? Since they are both employees of the Magic Research Institute, I thought they were good friends...?)

As Laila watched, Vernele coughed again and told Laila to sit down.

"Julius has also been away for a while."

"Yeah, Helka has been transferred here, and I really appreciate it. Laila, it's a relief to have a woman around, isn't it?"

"Ah, yes. ... Um, you have work at the Magic Research Institute, yet you are here to help me... Are you sure it's okay?"

When Laila asked, Helka, who had lightly brushed the hem of her robe, smiled. When she was serious, she looked a bit intimidating, but when she smiled, it was like a rosebud blooming.

"Yes, this is also an order from the director of the Magic Research Institute. Lady Isabella, Julius's aunt, serves as a board member of the institute. Julius's health greatly affects the future magic research of the Rendia Kingdom. Therefore, I, who was originally a liaison officer, have been given the role of taking care of Julius's fiancée."

"Ah, I see. I understand."

When Laila said this with a slight puff of pride, Helka chuckled and said, "There's no need for such formal language..." and Vernele, who had been silently sulking, nudged Helka.

"Hey. Do you have the item from the director?"

"Would I forget something? Of course, I have it."

Helka said this with a huff, pushed Vernele's shoulder, and placed a large cloth bag she had at her feet on the table.

From the bag, she took out two wooden boxes. One of them contained a square device that Laila recognized.

"Ah, that's a magic power meter, right?"

"Yes. Laila, you should have been measured once within a year of birth and once before starting school."

Laila nodded at Helka's words.

In the Rendia Kingdom, all children are required to have their magic power measured at least once. In rural areas, it is often done only once at birth, but in the capital, like Laila, it is done again before starting school.

At Helka's prompting, Laila placed her hand on the top of the device.

On the side of the device was a meter, and the needle would move according to the measurer's magic power, indicating the latent magic power. However—

(Well, it's zero, right? I knew it!)

The needle didn't budge, and Laila smiled.

As a child, she had harbored a faint hope that she might be able to use magic when she grew up. When she learned that the ability to become a magician was determined by birth, she had cried a lot.

This result was expected by all three, and they murmured, "Of course," and "I knew it," and Helka quickly put away the meter.

The second box was thinner and longer than the one containing the meter. When the lid was opened, a row of beautiful gems on a white cloth base was visible.

There were five stones, arranged neatly in a row. The gems, which glowed in red, blue, yellow, and other colors, looked like works of art just by being placed there.

"... Laila, I will now conduct the next test. If you feel unwell or uncomfortable at any point, please let me know immediately."

"Y-Yes."

"... If everything goes smoothly, it won't hurt or be scary, so please don't worry."

Following Helka, Vernele offered words of encouragement or perhaps a threat.

(... But that means there's a possibility I might feel unwell, right?)

Thinking this, the five gems that had seemed beautiful a moment ago now looked ominous, and Laila couldn't help but look away from the box.

"Laila..."

A gentle voice called out, and a bony hand was placed on Laila's shoulder.

"Don't push yourself. If you don't want to, just say so. But... I think you'll be okay."

"Julius..."

Turning to look, she saw Julius, his gaunt cheeks relaxed in a smile.

When he said, "You'll be okay," it somehow made her feel that way. Perhaps, as a magician, he had cast a spell in his words.

Laila swallowed and turned back to the gems. The five stones, each a different color, gleamed proudly and looked up at her.

"... I'll do the test. Please proceed."

"Thank you, Laila. First, please pick up the white stone on your left."

"Yes."

The names of the characters in this work are taken from Finnish and Czech. There is no deeper meaning.