Blair didn’t try to win their favor or pay attention to their reactions, but perhaps due to understanding her position, there was caution in her actions.

As if she were a guest in someone else’s house.

Mason, too, initially had some reluctance when welcoming her as the hostess, but over the past few months, watching her closely, he seemed to comprehend.

He understood Esmeralda’s feelings, who had raised the daughter of the static.

How could one not find charming a child who diligently learns and strives, genuinely delighted by even a single compliment?

Blair resembled Esmeralda, who had nurtured her with her heart, more than her biological mother.

To others, it might be laughable, but to him, who had gracefully transcended adolescence, Blair seemed unaffected by the world’s biases.
Since the covenant was made before the gods, he hoped that she would adapt well not only to the Duchy but also to his master.

“Madam, you are the mistress of Delmark. There is no place in this mansion that you cannot go, and there is nothing you cannot use.”

As if trying to reassure Blair, he added, “His Excellency has not mentioned anything special about the study.”

Upon hearing this, Blair, along with Mason, headed straight to Herdin’s office. However, as soon as he entered the office, he regretted it.

The office, which had been a mess just ten days ago, was now neatly organized, as if asking what had happened. Blair’s face flushed.

Blair quickly averted his gaze, feeling embarrassed.

Mason, puzzled, asked, “Madam? Why are you like this?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

For a while, Blair shouldn’t come near the office…

With that thought, Blair followed Mason. The passage leading to the private study was on the right side of the office.

“If you need anything, please call.”

Mason guided them there and withdrew.

Upon opening the door, a view of a large room surrounded entirely by bookshelves unfolded.

The study seemed clean at a glance, as it was spacious and secluded, but upon closer inspection, there were unorganized books scattered throughout. Since Herdin was the only one who used this study, those must be the books he had been reading.
“I thought I would like everything to be neatly organized.”

Surprised by the unexpected sight, Blair, who was exploring the study, found a bookshelf gathering history books from various countries. There, she found the books she was looking for.

While picking up a few and searching for more to read, she noticed the adjacent bookshelf.

“What kind of books are on this shelf?”

Usually, the middle of the bookshelf indicates the classification of books, but this one had nothing written on it, arousing even more curiosity.

Blair moved to that shelf. There were many books written in an unfamiliar language.

Blair recognized the language at a glance.

“Ancient language?”

Books written in ancient languages are usually spellbooks. That meant all the books on this shelf were spellbooks.

“Come to think of it…”

Suddenly, she remembered his appearance during the New Year’s ceremony. The image of him handling both a sword and magic.

Those chosen by mana from birth learn magic through spellbooks and become true wizards. Since Herdin is both a swordsman and a wizard, he must have studied spellbooks like any other wizard.

Blair once again realized that he was the Empire’s only magical swordsman with overwhelming power. At the same time, she became interested in the spellbooks in front of her. It was a sudden resurgence of childhood dreams when she didn’t know that not everyone could become a wizard, and Blair wanted to become one.
Because becoming a wizard seemed to grant any wish, even those physically impossible.

So, once, Blair diligently read the spellbooks in the Imperial Palace library. Believing that by learning spellbooks, one could become a wizard, she struggled with interpreting the incomprehensible ancient language using dictionaries.

Although she never became a wizard in the end, it allowed her to interpret the obscure ancient language to some extent.

While examining the bookshelf full of spellbooks, Blair found a spellbook placed on top of other books.

Blair took out the spellbook. It seemed to have been left in that state for quite a long time, as white dust piled up on the book, causing her to cough when she brushed it off.

Blair cleared her throat and, after dusting off the dust, examined the book cover.

Unlike other books with titles written on them, the black cover had only one small symbol drawn on it – a symbol representing infinity.

“Infinity? What kind of magic is written in a book with such a cover?”

With curiosity, she turned the cover, revealing the first page of the book. On the faded paper, written in ancient language, was proof of the book’s age.

Blair, recalling memories from her childhood, interpreted the characters.

“Magic… of Time.”

What kind of magic could be related to time?

She barely managed to read the title of this spellbook, but it only made her more confused.

It was precisely when Blair was about to turn to the next page.