The clever Larisa, when William set out to teach her, memorized all 28 letters and vowels in just one day, and after a few days, she began to read, albeit haltingly.

Larisa was so happy after reading a fairy tale book on her own that she ran to Guinevere’s study. After knocking firmly, Guinevere opened the door.

“You’re here again?”

“Yes, Mother. I can read all the letters now.”

“Is that so?”

She already knew. The maids had praised her, saying she must be a prodigy, but for Guinevere, who had a son who taught himself to read at age two, it was merely an “I see” moment.

‘But it seems she wants to be praised?’

“You’ve done very well.”

At this, Larisa hugged the picture book she had brought, as if unable to hide her happiness. With eyes sparkling with expectation, Larisa asked:

“Shall I read the fairy tale to you?”

Guinevere was busy. As she glanced at the time reversal magic sphere, she was about to refuse when-

“Ah… You’re busy, aren’t you?”

Larisa was a perceptive child. Children from poor neighborhoods were usually quick-witted. They had to be to survive. This aspect reminded Guinevere of her own childhood.

Impulsively, Guinevere said:

“Come in.”

She was just a small girl. Not that bothersome. Guinevere pointed to an empty chair and said:

“Sit there and read.”

“Yes!”

Larisa began reading the fairy tale aloud. Guinevere dipped her quill in ink to continue her work. She was in the middle of finishing the equation she had been drawing when-

“Then the frog said, ‘Now let’s sleep together.’ The princess, too disgusted, cried out, ‘No!'”

It’s the Frog Prince story. Guinevere disliked that tale.

“The princess threw the frog. The frog hit the wall and turned into a handsome prince.”

Thud.

Guinevere put down her pen. Turning around, she saw a startled Larisa looking at her with wide eyes.

“That story.”

“Yes?”

“Do you like that story?”

“Yes.”

Larisa answered with an innocent face.

“Why?”

Larisa hesitated for a moment. Should she answer honestly?

“Because the princess is cool.”

Guinevere was taken aback by the unexpected answer.

“Which part?”

“The part where she throws the frog.”

Guinevere wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not at Larisa’s answer. Larisa, not understanding the meaning of Guinevere’s contorted expression, remained silent.

“I hate that story.”

Guinevere said.

“That story is about a shapeshifting wizard taking advantage of an innocent young princess.”

“…Pardon?”

“That pervert of a frog demanding to sleep together just for retrieving a ball should be punished. But why did the princess marry the frog prince?”

“Why… is that?”

“Because the very fact that a strange man was found in the princess’s bedroom would be a fatal flaw for her.”

Larisa was left somewhat dazed.

“So the lesson of this story is, don’t make promises carelessly. And for girls, be wary of men, even if they look like frogs. Understand?”

“Yes…”

Guinevere felt satisfied. She thought she had given proper sex education to her future daughter-in-law. She didn’t realize she had just destroyed a child’s innocence.

With a gloomy face, Larisa closed the book and asked:

“So that’s why William said we shouldn’t sleep together.”

“What?”

“But it’s okay since I’m going to marry William anyway, right?”

Now it was Guinevere’s turn to be flustered. She didn’t expect Larisa to readily agree to marry William. After all, she was only seven years old. So she couldn’t help but ask:

“You’re going to marry William?”

“But you told me to give you a baby, didn’t you? Don’t you have to get married to have a baby?”

Guinevere felt like a completely shameless person. Come to think of it, she was trash for demanding such an unreasonable price from a seven-year-old girl.

No wonder William had a fit. One often doesn’t realize when spouting nonsense themselves. Hearing it repeated by the innocent Larisa made it hit home.

“Well… You don’t necessarily have to do that.”

“Pardon?”

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to get married. You don’t have to have a child.”

“What?”

“The promise I made with Marina was just to do my best to protect you so that you can live happily for a long time.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Your mother wouldn’t have handed you over on such conditions.”

Larisa didn’t fully believe Guinevere’s words, but she believed in her mother. Because her mother had told Larisa to live the life she wanted.

“Then what about the baby?”

“That, that’s just my wish.”

Larisa burst out laughing at the sight of Guinevere stumbling over her words. She felt like she had become a little closer to the terrifying archmage.

*

While Guinevere was engrossed in the time reversal magic, even cutting back on her sleep, Hedel had once again firmed his resolve.

Knock knock.

Guinevere could now tell it was Hedel just by the sound of the knock.

“Go away. I’m in the middle of research.”

“I’m leaving for real this time.”

“Alright.”

He had said that many times before, but never actually left. Angered by Guinevere’s indifferent response, Hedel kicked the door and shouted:

“I heard Larisa came and went yesterday! Why won’t you let me into your study!”

“You’re a magician.”

“Master! What am I to you, really!”

Hedel asked himself. What was Guinevere Rodante to him? Born an orphan, he showed exceptional talent as a magician and received Guinevere’s sponsorship when he was 14.

Thanks to Guinevere, he was able to enter the academy, and thanks to Guinevere, he graduated and was able to make a stable living.

Thanks to Guinevere, even if overshadowed, wasn’t he Hedel, who would be called a great magician if he went anywhere alone?

But what was he to Guinevere?

“That damned research secret! Do you think I want to steal such a thing? Why do you make a person so miserable!”

Hedel was proud of Guinevere. He believed that even though she seemed cold on the outside, she must have warmth inside. After all, a person who takes in an orphan and sponsors them without conditions couldn’t be without affection.

But all of that changed in an instant when Larisa arrived. His master was capable of being so kind to someone. And Hedel was nothing. In his bitterness, Hedel thought:

‘What could that magic be?’

He was curious, true, but he had absolutely no intention of trying to steal and learn it. It was magic that required such powerful magical energy that he wouldn’t even dare to attempt it.

Yet Guinevere treated him like a potential thief and prevented him from entering her study.

He was dumbfounded by this treatment, but he had tried to endure it all this time because at least Guinevere was equally cold to everyone.

“Master! Answer me! What makes me inferior to Larisa!”

Hedel cried out, filled with resentment. No, he was just crying. He felt pathetic, whining to his master while crying at the age of twenty-nine.

But Hedel knew she wouldn’t change no matter what he did. He let out a dejected sigh.

“I… I still… thought of you as a mother. I at least want to say goodbye face to face. Please open the door.”

Guinevere’s study is not locked. But Hedel pleaded pitifully. Because if he just opened the door, Guinevere would surely throw him out the window without even listening.

Click.

Startled by the suddenly opened door, Hedel took a step back.

“You thought of me as a mother?”

“Pardon?”

“You?”

“…”

“Me?”

“Ahem, yes.”

Then what else would he think of her as? Seeing the question rising in Hedel’s eyes, Guinevere sighed.

“I didn’t know… you thought of me that way.”

Hedel felt awkward. After wiping his tears and snot with the hem of his robe, he bowed his head.

“Anyway, I’m really leaving now. Farewell.”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you leaving?”

“Pardon?”

“You should at least give a reason. Why so suddenly?”

Hedel got angry again. He had been explaining all this time, and she didn’t know the reason?

“You treat me like a complete stranger who might steal your research secrets anyway. So what reason do I have to live in someone else’s house? It’s not like I lack ability!”

“That’s…”

Hedel is an excellent magician. He might not realize in a day or two, but after a few days, he would figure out that the magic sphere was a rubbing of time reversal magic.

Then Hedel would be in danger too. Guinevere’s instinct was whispering this to her.

How could she explain that?

‘Still, there’s 65 years of affection, I can’t let him be in danger. Maybe it’s better to let him leave here…’

As Guinevere was thinking this, Hedel sighed and said:

“It’s fine. It’s just time for me to be independent. I’ll be going now.”

However, Hedel didn’t miss Guinevere’s trembling eyes as he said this. When else would he have a chance to shake Guinevere like this?

“I’m truly grateful for taking me in and raising me this far.”

Guinevere’s eyes began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck. Hedel inwardly gloated.

“Since it’s the last time, may I call you mother just once?”

Was that too much? Guinevere regained her composure and said:

“Enough. Just as you know me well, I know you well too. You’re trying to tease your master.”

“Tch.”

Hedel grumbled, but he didn’t say he was leaving again. Instead, he waited for Guinevere’s answer. He really wanted to hear her true feelings.

“I… never thought of you as a son.”

‘Well, that’s obvious.’

In fact, Hedel had never truly thought of her as a real mother either. To him, she was always just his respected and awe-inspiring master.

“But you were my only disciple.”

She felt she should say something more impressive, but she didn’t know what to say. If only she could at least clear up the misunderstanding Hedel had before he left.

“Taking you as my disciple was an impulsive decision, but I never regretted it. You always exceeded my expectations. If you had been even slightly lacking, I wouldn’t have cared if you sneaked into my study. But you… you’ve grown to the point where I have to be wary of you now.”

Contrary to Guinevere’s regretful inner thoughts, Hedel was now shedding tears.

It was because he was so moved.

‘For Master to speak this long…!’

Guinevere spoke in a casual tone:

“Now leave.”

“Pardon?”

Hedel, who had completely forgotten about leaving, asked stupidly.

“I said you can go now.”

“Ah, yes… Pardon?”

“Leave quickly. I need to continue my research.”

And then the door slammed shut. Hedel, who had been shedding tears, was bewildered.

Guinevere had hurriedly closed the door to avoid showing her own teary face, but Hedel didn’t know that.