“I’ve tried every possible medicine, but there’s no sign of improvement.”

“And?”

“So I thought if I learned healing magic myself and used it on my father, he might get a little better.”

“Hmm.”

“My mother passed away without even being able to try anything. I can’t, hic, I can’t lose my father like that too…”

Despite being a story that should redden the eyes of anyone with a heart, Leonard remained indifferent.

“It’s disgusting, so wipe your tears and speak honestly.”

‘This man has no blood or tears!’

Cordelia realized that emotional appeals had no effect on this man whatsoever.

It would be better to give up on pretending to be pitiful and shedding tears in front of this man.

She immediately wiped the tears that had formed in her eyes and straightened her back. Cordelia’s face had already turned cold.

“Fine. The truth is, I want to escape this tiresome reality.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Couldn’t you just get divorced and be done with it? Why do you want to learn magic? You’ll go back to being a Vasquez after the divorce anyway, right?”

“I won’t go back to being a Vasquez even if I get divorced.”

“Why?”

She couldn’t tell him that it wasn’t that she wouldn’t go back, but that she couldn’t go back, that her father had told her to die here even if he died.

She didn’t want to give him any more weaknesses.

“Do you think I’d want to go back to the house that sold me off?”

She spoke with an unconscious sneer.

She couldn’t forget her father’s cold eyes that she saw for the last time on the day she left home.

The words that they wouldn’t even accept her corpse here stuck like thorns.

So she decided. She would never go back there again.

“I’ll be honest. Originally, I was planning to find some pretext for divorce, get alimony, and then open a shop that appraises magical items.”

“Magical items?”

Cordelia said while tapping her eyes.

“I can see magical power. I’d check if magic is properly cast on magical items, or if there are any curse spells on objects. But if I could also do some minor auxiliary magic, it would be much better.”

“Ha, so you want to become a magic appraiser?”

“Yes. I’m not asking you to teach me anything extraordinary. Just a few moderate auxiliary spells would be enough.”

She spoke earnestly and desperately. She had no desire to become a great magician anyway.

However, Cordelia’s words seemed to sound different to his ears. Leonard’s lips curved up crookedly.

“No.”

“Why? Why not?”

Cordelia protested vehemently. Leonard snorted while crossing his arms.

“I absolutely refuse to see you learn one or two moderate spells and then go around boasting that you’re my disciple. Besides, an appraiser? Are you joking? The disciple of Leonard Atilei doing mere appraisals? Even the dogs on the street would laugh.”

“I promise I won’t tell anyone I learned from you.”

“How can I trust you?”

“I’ll stake my family name…”

“The fallen Vasquez has no name worth staking.”

“…”

Cordelia was left speechless by his scathing words.

She considered threatening to run to Maximilian, but she felt she might really be silenced with death if she did that.

So she forced her lips into a smile.

“Trust can be built over time, right?”

“That’s just your opinion.”

“But how can I build trust if you don’t even give me a chance? Shouldn’t you at least give me a minimal opportunity?”

“That’s not my problem.”

The argument had gone on longer than expected. The sun had already half set, with the sunset light streaming into the room.

Leonard was still glaring at her with eyes full of distrust. At this point, Cordelia decided to take a step back.

After all, today wasn’t the only day.

“Oh my, it’s already gotten so late. Get some rest. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Don’t come. It’s annoying.”

“By the way, I heard from the maid that you left a lot of food. Does it not suit your taste?”

“What’s that got to do with you?”

“Should we change the cook?”

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?”

“How can you not say even one word.”

“What?”

“Did you hear that? At least your ears seem to be working fine. That’s a relief.”

Leonard glared at Cordelia with an incredulous expression. She stood up from her seat with a bright smile, not even blinking.

“Then I’ll really leave now. See you tomorrow.”

* * *

She’s quite a persistent woman.

Only after the door closed and he confirmed that she had completely left did Leonard relax his body. Then his whole body shook as if having a seizure.

This useless body seems to have already run out of strength just from using those few spells.

His stomach churned, making him feel like vomiting, and his head throbbed as if nails were being driven into it.

He endured the pain with a deeply furrowed brow.

“Cordelia Vasquez.”

From beginning to end, everything about this woman is suspicious.

She claims to have figured out that he was Leonard Atilei with just a few clues, but it’s hard to believe.

“Is there someone behind her?”

But she seems too clumsy and amateurish to have been sent by Maximilian.

The situation was already confusing, and now with Cordelia’s sudden appearance, his head was in a mess.

“Damn it. Just from using this trivial magic.”

The trembling in his hands still hasn’t stopped. The smooth hands of this man, unlike his original self, felt alien.

A self-deprecating laugh escaped him at the ridiculousness of his fallen state.

This is all because of that bastard.

“Maximilian.”

The hateful name slipped out without him realizing. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

There were times when his younger brother annoyed him, but he never considered him a rival.

More accurately, he wasn’t even worth considering as an enemy. Leonard’s only competitor was Leonard Atilei himself.

Some might consider it arrogant, but Leonard believed this was natural from birth.

“I’ll definitely kill you.”

The boiling hatred made him overcome even the pain.

He couldn’t forget the cold blade that pierced his stomach when he was trapped and couldn’t move. At the same time, Maximilian’s face, full of ecstasy, was clearly recalled.

If it weren’t for the soul transfer magic he cast just before dying, he would have had a hard time surviving.

“You must be laughing. Fine. Laugh all you want. Until I tear you to pieces in the most glorious moment.”

He muttered ominously.

Finally, the sun beyond the window fell to the ground.

* * *

“How can I persuade this man.”

Although she didn’t expect to succeed in one try, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Magic isn’t essential to work as an appraiser, but learning it would certainly be a huge help.

After all, there’s a world of difference between an appraiser who can use magic and one who can’t.

Moreover, meeting a magician and learning magic is an opportunity that won’t come again. Perhaps this could be the day that changes her life.

Cordelia returned to her room and sat at her dressing table, pondering for a long time.

The maid urged her to eat, but she refused and wracked her brains.

At least confirming that the one who entered Craig’s body is really Leonard Atilei is a big achievement.

“Somehow, I must learn magic from that man.”

Everything was unfolding differently from Cordelia’s expectations.

Craig, who she thought would die, came back to life, and the soul of a great magician dwells in the body of her husband, whom she thought was an idiot.

It might be a desperate situation for some, but she welcomed all these moments.

For the first time in her life, where she had to live passively, something appeared that she could decide for herself.

Just that made her fingertips tingle and her blood boil.

‘I absolutely can’t miss this opportunity.’

Perhaps the star protecting the Vasquez family finally decided to take pity on her.

It felt like receiving all the backed-up birthday presents at once.

Cordelia fell asleep with a happy smile she hadn’t worn in a very long time.

* * *

No one visited the room of the count who had become an idiot. Only his wife, Cordelia, did.

All the servants praised her modesty in unison, but the reality was different from their assumptions.

“Good morning.”

“Aren’t you tired of this?”

“How could seeing my husband’s face be tiring?”

Cordelia smiled brightly as she took her usual seat next to him.

Since that day, she has been visiting Leonard every day, attending to him in a way that wasn’t really attending.

“Look, no matter how much you beg, what’s not possible is not possible. Do you think learning magic is like learning history from a tutor? If anyone could learn it, the country would be overflowing with magicians.”

“I didn’t say anything though?”

“Haa.”

Leonard found her burdensome, tiring, and annoying.

If it had been his original body, he would have just ignored her, but in this situation, he couldn’t ignore her or drive her away easily.

Moreover, the fact that she knew Leonard’s true identity was very unsettling.

“You haven’t eaten yet, right?”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“I haven’t eaten either, so let’s eat together. I changed the cook, I hope you’ll like it.”

“Your ears seem to selectively hear only what you want to hear. How convenient.”

Despite Leonard’s sarcasm, Cordelia remained steadfast. He couldn’t help but admire her shamelessness.

Just then, Emily came in pulling a trolley with food. Cordelia moved the plates to a tray and then personally scooped up a spoonful of stew.

She didn’t forget to blow on it gently in case it was too hot.

“Just try one bite. The cook prepared it specially.”

She said with a kind and thoughtful smile.

“I said I don’t want to eat, why do you keep bothering me?”

“Ah! Young Mistress.”

Leonard spoke curtly and swatted her hand away. As a result, the contents of the spoon spilled onto Cordelia’s hand.

The maid who was standing a little distance away approached in surprise.

“Oh no. Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh dear. It’s turned red.”

The maid’s lips quivered as she wiped Cordelia’s hand. Though she couldn’t say it out loud, her eyes were filled with reproach as she looked at Leonard.

“Give that to me and go out.”

“Yes, Young Mistress. Please call if you need anything.”

Cordelia silently rubbed her reddened hand.

Even though the burn must be painful, she didn’t even glare at Leonard, but smiled and cleared away the plate.

That irritated Leonard greatly.

“How are you feeling today?”

“You. Why do you keep annoying me?”

Her daily visits with a bright smile and attempts at conversation kept getting on Leonard’s nerves.

“Pardon?”

“I said it’s annoying so don’t come. How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?”

“I just… feel comfortable here.”

“How many times have we met for you to say you’re comfortable?”

“At least you don’t call me a useless leech that just sucks up money.”

“…”

“And you don’t get drunk and cause trouble, or bring mistresses and flirt in front of me.”

Leonard was left speechless by Cordelia’s calm words.