Chapter 4

　　While Astina was touching the hearts of mages in the reception room of Count Nordo’s annex, Mikhail was in the bustling commercial district of Olgen. Eonora had accompanied him on a mission from Astina to procure fruit. At her brother Hingis’s request, she had tagged along to ensure the selection was perfect, as it was destined for a person of great importance in Dresden.

　　Unable to simply watch Mikhail haphazardly pile fruit into a large basket, Eonora finally stepped in. "If you pack them like that, the ones on the bottom will be crushed," she chided gently. "They’ll be rotten before they even reach Dresden."

　　Worry creased Eonora’s brow, but Mikhail simply grinned and shook his head. "It will be fine. They’re for someone to eat tonight."

　　Eonora paused, mulling over his words, before she began helping him arrange the fruit. "Is it teleportation magic?"

　　"Something like that."

　　"I knew it." A knowing look entered her eyes. "Lady Astina is the Tower Master, isn’t she?"

　　"How did you figure that out?" Mikhail asked, surprised. "Most people don’t believe it, even when we tell them."

　　"I suspected as much when I saw my foolish brother, who thinks of nothing but magic, serving her with such reverence. Besides," she added, "golden eyes are exceptionally rare."

　　After Hingis had left for the Magic Tower, Count Nordo had treated him as a son he no longer had, but Eonora had felt differently. She had always been close to her eldest brother and eagerly followed any news that trickled out from the distant Tower. She knew that a young, golden-eyed Tower Master had saved the Dresden Empire, and that Hingis had been instrumental in her success. It had not been difficult for her to deduce Astina’s identity. Nor was it hard to guess who would be receiving this basket.

　　"I hope Her Majesty the Empress enjoys the fruits of the Gail Kingdom," Eonora said, artfully placing three ripe lemons atop the pile. "If a trade agreement could be established, it would benefit both our nations."

　　Mikhail watched her, impressed. Her mind had leaped from identifying Astina to envisioning an international trade deal. In its own way, it was a remarkable talent. He studied her light brown hair, neatly tied up, and her keen, light green eyes, before asking with feigned ignorance, "Wouldn’t a fruit trade be difficult? You just said they would rot before reaching Dresden."

　　"There are many fruits that can be stored for over a month," she countered smoothly. "And it would be even better if we could use teleportation magic."

　　"Magic for trade?"

　　"If you can hire a mage, it’s certainly not impossible."

　　Mikhail stared at her, his eyes wide, before bursting into laughter. The idea of hiring a mage for a merchant guild was unheard of. Mages were considered a strange breed, hermits who dedicated themselves to what the world saw as useless research. But the mages of the new Magic Tower… it was an idea with merit. Since meeting Astina, they had begun to emerge from their seclusion and engage with the world. Mikhail chuckled, already thinking of a few who might jump at such an offer.

　　Unaware of his thoughts, Eonora pouted slightly and withdrew her hands from the finished basket. "You must think me a naive noble lady, spouting childish fantasies."

　　"Not at all," Mikhail said, his smile genuine. "I was marveling at your business acumen, my lady. It’s a shame the House of Berhi doesn’t have its own merchant guild. I would have recommended the Countess hire you on the spot."

　　At his words, Eonora’s expression flickered with disappointment. She quickly masked it, but her voice was laced with regret as she murmured, "I’m disappointed to hear that, too."

　　Not wanting to pry, Mikhail simply picked up the enormous fruit basket.

　　***

　　When they returned to the Nordo estate, Astina was waiting in front of the annex. A group of mages stood with her, a familiar magic circle glowing on the ground at their feet.

　　"Mikhail, you’re back!"

　　"Yes, Countess. Are you leaving now?"

　　"I am. I want to make it a quick trip. Wow, that basket is huge." Astina’s eyes sparkled as she admired the gift for her sister, but then she pursed her lips and took a half-step back. Tucked in a corner of the basket were the three lemons that had delivered such an unforgettable, face-puckering sourness. She hated the thought of giving such a treacherous fruit to Brillin, but she could not make a fuss in front of Eonora and Hingis. I’ll just have to remove them when we get to the palace, she resolved.

　　"Are they coming with us?" Mikhail asked, nodding toward the mages.

　　"No, they’re just seeing me off," Astina replied, glancing at the mages huddled together like chicks around a mother hen. They had decided to remain at the Nordo estate, a decision born from Theo’s suggestion that there was safety in numbers and Hingis’s kind offer of lodging. Though they could not follow her to the Imperial Palace, their expressions pleaded for her swift return.

　　Astina took Theo’s hand and stepped onto the magic circle. Mikhail followed, hefting the fruit basket that was nearly as large as he was.

　　"Safe travels, Tower Master," Hingis called out.

　　"I’ll be back soon," Astina promised. A moment later, the three of them vanished.

　　They arrived at the Imperial Palace in an uncharacteristic hush. As they walked toward the main building, Astina turned to Theo. "Who do you think it is? Why would anyone kidnap mages?"

　　"The culprit is likely a mage themselves, or at least someone with a deep knowledge of magic," Theo replied grimly.

　　"What?" Astina stopped in her tracks. "A mage kidnapped other mages?"

　　A shadow flickered in Theo’s clear, sky-blue eyes as he nodded. Someone had abducted eight mages. It would have been impossible for a person ignorant of magic, no matter how powerful. It could be a dark mage, one who had secretly amassed power, or it could be one of the very mages they had just met—someone wearing a mask of fear while searching for their next target. That was why he had suggested they stay together. As long as they were all watching one another, the culprit would not dare make a move.

　　The implication of Theo’s fear dawned on Astina. "Is that why you didn’t want to take them to the Magic Tower? You thought the culprit might be among them?" Only a short while ago, she had suggested the frightened mages stay at the tower for safety. Theo had quietly shaken his head, and knowing he would not object without reason, she had let it go. She had nearly endangered her own colleagues. "Why didn’t I think of that? If it weren’t for you, something terrible could have happened."

　　As she lowered her head, her voice thick with self-reproach, Theo’s large hand came to rest on her hair, stroking it gently. "I am merely a suspicious person. It’s more likely the culprit is not among them."

　　"I hope not," she murmured. "They all seemed genuinely terrified."

　　"I’m sure they were," Theo agreed softly. As he continued to stroke her hair, she leaned into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his broad back.

　　"I’m so glad you’re by my side, Theo," she whispered into his chest. "You seem to know everything. It makes me feel so safe."

　　He held her tightly, moved by her lovely, artless words. Astina was right about so many things, but this time, she was wrong. The one who knew everything was not him; it was her. Astina understood how people should live, the difference between right and wrong. It was not knowledge learned from books; it was an innate, pure understanding. And to act on that knowledge, to live by one’s convictions, was an incredibly difficult thing. More than that, she possessed the strength to defend those beliefs. Compared to her, he was just a cowardly, cynical man who could not bring himself to trust anything easily.

　　"No matter how much I pretend to know, Tina, you are the one who is truly right," he murmured against her hair. "You will never know how grateful I am just to be by your side."

　　If Astina had not been this person, if he had not fallen in love with this version of her… Theo feared he might have become a monster far worse than Varius. It was by her side that he had learned how ugly the lust for power could be. A gentle, profound smile touched his lips.

　　Still in his arms, Astina tilted her head back, resting her chin on his chest. Her eyes were wide and curious. "What does that mean? What is it I don’t know this time?"

　　Theo chuckled, loosening his embrace. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "I mean that you will never know just how much I love you."

　　"That’s not true," she said with utter confidence. "I do know. It’s as much as I love you." She loved him as much as it was possible to love anyone, so his heart must be just as full.

　　At her certainty, Theo’s smile widened, and he let out a laugh. As always, she was right. His cheerful laughter was infectious, and Astina found herself smiling shyly in response. With a grin still playing on his lips, Theo held out his hand. She took it, and they began walking once more.

　　"Let’s go back quickly. I’m worried about Hingis."

　　"Yes, Tina. We’ll deliver the fruit to Her Majesty and return at once."

　　"Okay!"

　　As the two chatted happily, Mikhail trailed forlornly behind them, clutching the fruit basket, a silent witness to the entire exchange.