The atmosphere changed in an instant. The same arches faced each other in the hall structure, but it was clearly different than before—calmer, cleaner, not a speck of dust in sight.
“Good job, Lord Roderick Kellar.”
Hayden admired the clean interior.
“It gets fresher every time I visit.”
“Thank you for noticing. I’ve been researching cleaning magic daily. I’m considering focusing a bit more on heavy lifting magic now.”
“Ah, planning on fixing the broken parts? I’ve been concerned about that too.”
“One can’t solely rely on the Emperor’s grace. Shouldn’t the tower mages be responsible for restoring the tower?”
Roderick Kellar seemed overwhelmingly positive and cheerful. Even his steps as he passed the central arch were lively and vigorous. Lu somehow envied his demeanor.
“The Tower Lord is waiting for you inside.”
“Really?”
At Hayden’s question, Roderick sneakily turned his head.
“No… Actually, Garnet and I have been telling Tower Lord Ophelia for days now that you would come. We woke her up multiple times this morning too…”
“Being a disciple isn’t easy.”
“I’m not sure if Lady Ophelia considers us disciples.”
The previously upbeat man chuckled weakly for the first time.
“So many people have passed through here. To her, we might just be passing winds.”
“Disciples who love all studies are precious to mages.”
Quietly responding, Hayden passed by bookshelves and shelves that were emptier rather than full, and went further in.
There were increasing signs of habitation. Considering the size of the tower, a ridiculously small space seemed to be in use, but it couldn’t be helped with only three people here.
“I know I’m busy, but I also know that both of you are putting in the effort. How could the Sage not know?”
Hayden said firmly, standing in front of a thick oak door.
“Your Grace, please wait here.”
“Yes.”
He knocked on the door, and the moment the sound of the door unlocking was heard, he promptly went in. The heavy door slammed shut.
“Sir, you were with the Imperial Knights, right? How are things there nowadays?”
Roderick cautiously asked. Lu looked at him and then bowed her head.
“I don’t know. I left the Knights four years ago.”
“Why?”
“Just because.”
She smiled. It was self-mocking, but she couldn’t help but give a hollow laugh.
“Did Emperor Kaleta do something to Lady Gennes?”
Hearing the voice full of rage, Lu looked up. A wave of anger crossed Roderick’s previously cheerful face. He definitely seemed to know something.
“…Even Lord Kellar?”
There’s no reason Lu would be the only victim. She looked at Roderick in disbelief.
“No, I’m not a remarkable enough existence to meet his high standards.”
He frowned and mumbled.
“He sets high standards and only those who fit are put on his display shelf. He ties our hands and feet, making us unable to do anything.”
“I’ve seen such people.”
Lu looked at Roderick stiffly.
“Yes, I’ve seen them.”
He quietly responded and looked at the firmly closed oak door, as if such a person was behind that door.
“I can see why His Majesty brought you here.”
“Could it be…”
An enormous hypothesis suddenly popped into her head, making Lu dizzy.
“Sir Kellar, I’ve only been in Perseta for eight days, so I know less than what I don’t know. All I know is that there are Sages in this country and they’ve helped the current Emperor ascend the throne.”
If her sudden hypothesis was correct, she needed some basic knowledge beforehand.
“Didn’t His Majesty explain?”
“Did he not?”
“…I know nothing more than the sage in the east being called Dragonlord.”
Ah, what a situation. Rodric Kellarhan sighed.
“You do know that Ferzeta and Caleeta used to be one nation, right? Yes, well, let me start from there. Originally, Ferzeta has five sages. They are remarkable people who have far exceeded the human lifespan.”
With a mutter, he spread his large, pudgy, and thick hand to guide Lu to a seat prepared by the window.
“Those sages maintain the balance and protect the various regions of Ferzeta. There’s one each in the west, north, east, south, and center. As you know, the sage of the east is Dragonlord, and the sage of the west is Matopzu Ophelia, who resides within me.”
This was the basic information Lu desperately needed. She listened attentively, her eyes even sparkling.
“And according to tradition, the Emperor of Ferzeta always takes on the role of the sage of the center.”
“It’s an honorary position, then.”
“A lifetime honorary position.”
Rodric Kellarhan solemnly nodded. He clasped his hands together and placed them on his lap. When his calloused hands, which seemed heavily worn, became covered by the long sleeves of his robe, Rodric looked more like a scholar who adored academia than a knight.
“Although the five sages have maintained the balance and preserved Ferzeta for a long time, several positions have been vacant for the past few centuries. All of it is the doing of Carlos Arthur Ingram, the Emperor of Caleeta.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
