The reason Embley chose Vasquez was obvious. Because Cordelia was his disciple and also a Vasquez.

People would not completely separate Dennis Vasquez and Cordelia Vasquez.

In other words, it meant that some of the responsibility for Maximilian’s escape would also be transferred to Cordelia.

It’s ridiculous, but that’s reality. It’s also why Leonard is trying to just cover up and move past this incident.

Weakness.

Anton seems to have noticed what his weakness is.

“Don’t worry. Your brother will just be questioned a bit and then released anyway.”

“…Is that really alright?”

“You said it yourself. That Vasquez was just made a scapegoat.”

Cordelia had little affection left for Dennis, but she didn’t hate him enough to want him to rot in prison for life for a crime he didn’t even commit.

“I’m sorry for making you worry needlessly.”

“Don’t apologize when it’s not your fault. More importantly, send an obituary to Abrams in advance. Along with the accident report from the security forces. That way there won’t be any gossip later.”

“When they receive the obituary, Abrams will be in an uproar. The Count died without an heir.”

“In other words, you’re completely out of their concern now. If there was even a little Abrams blood mixed in, like with Gerard Abrams, they would come running like a pack of dogs. No one will care about the former Countess. So just finish the funeral quickly and come back up.”

“Yes. I’ll do that. Ah, come to think of it, my surname will go back to Vasquez now, won’t it?”

Usually, even if the husband dies, the wife keeps his surname, but if there are no children and a distant relative inherits the family name, it’s different. Because of the potential for disputes, in such cases the wife returns to her original surname.

“To think I’d become Cordelia Vasquez again.”

“Why?”

“No, it just feels strange. When I first left Vasquez, I thought I would die as an Abrams. When I left to get married, my father told me not to come back even in death.”

“…Is that so?”

“That’s why I begged you so desperately to teach me magic. I had nowhere to go back to if Craig died, so I had to survive on my own somehow.”

“Now you have me.”

“Pardon?”

“A place to return to, I mean.”

Leonard spoke casually, but those words struck deep into Cordelia’s heart.

A place to return to.

When did Leonard become her place to return to? Just a few months ago, when she first met Leonard, this was unimaginable.

“Master.”

“What?”

“I’m just grateful. You happened to enter Craig’s body by chance, and that’s how I became a magician. If not for that, I’d still be living on eggshells at Abrams.”

“It’s fate.”

“Pardon?”

Leonard spoke quite seriously.

“Our meeting wasn’t chance, but fate. There’s a saying passed down among magicians that for a magician, there are no coincidences, only inevitable fate.”

“Ah, Maximilian said something similar before. Fate, fate, he said.”

The word ‘fate’ sounded unnecessarily romantic, and as Cordelia was savoring it on her tongue, Leonard stood up from his seat.

“Yes. The pitiful fate of taking on a stupid disciple and having to carry her for life.”

“…Did you have to add the ‘stupid’ part?”

“What? Don’t you like it? It’s a step up from extremely stupid.”

“Tch.”

Cordelia pouted her lips. He never lets anything slide.

“For the next few days, lock yourself in your room and do your homework. I’ll take care of the procedures, so try not to go outside as much as possible.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

Following Leonard’s advice, Cordelia stayed cooped up in her room for about two days, hardly coming out.

The news of Cordelia’s husband’s death must have reached Rosenblue as well, as she received a letter from him. To his kind condolences, Cordelia replied that they would meet after the funeral at Abrams.

Cordelia came out of her room for the first time in a while, wearing the mourning clothes Leila had prepared for her.

Having been inside the room all this time and coming out for the first time, all the servants’ attention was focused on Cordelia.

“Lady Cordelia. Are you alright?”

“I’m… fine.”

Cordelia put on the sorrowful expression she had been practicing hard for the past few days and lowered her eyes.

The Atilei servants had already been treating Cordelia with great care, but now they handled her as if she were a delicate glass sculpture. If Cordelia let out even a long sigh, they would become flustered and pace about anxiously.

“How are the preparations for going up to Abrams coming along?”

“All the necessary items have already been loaded. We’ve finished preparations so we can depart as soon as Lady Cordelia’s personal belongings are packed.”

“Thank you for your attention, Alex.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my duty. Is there anything else you need?”

“I’m planning to go out for a bit today.”

“I’ll prepare the carriage right away.”

Alex swallowed the usual question of where she was going and immediately called a servant to bring the carriage.

Cordelia boarded the carriage with her face covered in black lace.

The Horse’s Hoof of Ralls, where her brother was said to be staying, was in the middle of a street frequently visited by nobles. It was an elegant and clean inn.

“Welcome to the Horse’s Hoof of Ralls. Would you like to stay the night or have a meal?”

“I’m here to see my brother, Dennis Vasquez.”

“Ah. You mean Young Master Vasquez. I’ll guide you.”

Cordelia followed the employee’s guidance.

Taking a quick look around, everything from the stair railings to the wallpaper was made of high-quality materials, comparable to the townhouses of most noble families.

“How much does it cost to stay here for one night?”

“Including meals, it’s about two hundred linkit.”

“Two hundred linkit for one night?”

“Yes. Of course, for long-term guests like Young Master Vasquez, we offer a slightly lower rate.”

“Dennis is staying here long-term? How long has he been here?”

“As far as I know, he’s been staying for nearly twenty days.”

Four thousand linkit wasn’t an incredibly large sum, but it wasn’t an amount that could be easily spent given the Vasquez family’s financial situation.

Cordelia was filled with unanswered questions. How on earth could Dennis afford to stay at such a luxurious inn?

“This is the place. Just a moment. Young Master Vasquez. You have a visitor.”

No sooner had the employee finished speaking than the door swung open. Dennis’s face lit up when he confirmed Cordelia’s face.

“Sister! You’re here. Come in quickly.”

Dennis, seemingly accustomed to it, took out a ten-linkit coin from his pocket and handed it to the employee.

“Ah, thank you for your trouble.”

“Thank you very much.”

A generous tip. The employee left with a bright smile.

Cordelia passed by him and entered the room. It was slightly smaller in size but luxurious and comfortable. To be honest, it was better than the Vasquez main residence.

“Why did you come now? I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

“Have you already forgotten that my husband died?”

“Ah, right. That’s true.”

His insensitive attitude was astounding. He didn’t seem to notice at all that she was wearing mourning clothes. Instead of pointing that out, Cordelia sat on the sofa. Dennis hurriedly sat down across from her.

“Did you talk to Archduke Atilei about me? What did he say?”

“Before that, how are you staying here?”

“What do you mean, how?”

“Where did you get the money to stay long-term at a place that costs two hundred linkit a night?”

“Are you looking down on me for staying at a place beyond my means?”

Dennis shot back, not hiding his displeasure.

“I’m not looking down on you, I’m just curious. I know our family doesn’t have money, but you’re here.”

“Well. I get a salary from the knighthood and all.”

“How did you receive a salary when you’ve been in the knighthood for less than a month? And how did you get the armor and sword? Those aren’t cheap.”

“Why do you keep prying? I took care of it somehow.”

He kept avoiding the answer. That made Cordelia even more suspicious, so she persistently pursued the matter.

“Just a few months ago, Father was hounding me to send money… Then what did those words mean? About Father’s ankle.”

“Sister, do you really not know? That Archduke Atilei stepped on Father’s ankle and crushed it?”

“What?”

“And then he gave him a few coins as if he were giving alms. Ha. I realized after coming to the capital, but that man, it’s not for nothing that rumors call him a viper or whatever. You need to wake up too, Sister.”

“Why would Master do that?”

“If there was a reason, I could at least understand. There was no reason at all. He just took out his anger on Father and left.”

“That can’t be. Master isn’t that kind of person. Father must have…”

“Are you taking that man’s side now? Sister! It was Father whose ankle was broken. Not that man. Do you know what else Atilei said to Father? He told him not to approach you. Said he’d give money in exchange. Ha, does that man still seem sane to you?”

The more Cordelia conversed with Dennis, the more confused she became. She wanted to believe her brother was lying, but the evidence was clear.

“Master gave Father money in exchange for not approaching me?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…So you’re staying here now with that money?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if you’re staying at this inn with the money from the promise not to meet me.”

“…What are you talking about? I told you it’s my knighthood salary.”

Dennis avoided Cordelia’s eyes. That made her even more certain.

The Silver Deer Knights were famous, but as it was close to an honorary position, it was obvious what a “knighthood salary” meant.

Cordelia felt so many emotions rising at once that she couldn’t distinguish whether this was anger, disappointment, or shame.

“Where is Father?”

“Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to see Father? Are you crazy? I told you, you can’t meet Father!”

“Why not? Are you afraid Atilei won’t give you money if I meet Father?”

“That’s not it…”