“Of course, I do. It’s the emotion I feel most towards you, Master.”

“What is it?”

“Gratitude. You know I’m always grateful to you, don’t you?”

Of course.

The last glimmer of hope that Leonard had been harboring completely faded away.

But it’s too early to be disappointed. Cordelia is Leonard’s only disciple. There’s plenty of time to move her heart. Besides, who is he?

Leonard Atilei.

He first manifested his magical power at five, became the youngest Sirius at eighteen, and is also the head of the Atilei family. On top of that, his appearance is quite handsome.

It’s just that Cordelia doesn’t fully understand his charm yet; it’s only a matter of time before she confesses her love to Leonard.

‘When we get married, it would be good to have two or three children. Too many would be stressful for Cordelia. I should tell the head butler to prepare a new room for her. Ah, when should the wedding be….’

In Leonard’s imagination, he had already married Cordelia and had two sons and a daughter, or perhaps one son and two daughters.

If he had a bit more time, he might have even named all the grandchildren.

“But even if I want to go, I can’t right now.”

“Why? What do you have to do here?”

Cordelia’s words brought Leonard back to reality in an instant.

“It’s not that I have something to do, but Lord Rosenblur hasn’t fully recovered yet. I can’t just leave a guest behind.”

“Rosenblur? Blaze is here? Still?”

Leonard had briefly heard from Beluce that he had come here, but he didn’t know he was still at the Abrams mansion without leaving.

“Yes. He caught a severe cold and was sick for a while, but he just regained consciousness a little while ago.”

“A cold, you say? That mighty Rosenblur?”

“I think it’s because he’s been through a lot of emotional distress.”

“Sounds like you heard the story from Blaze.”

“Yes. About Lydia’s news, right?”

The two naturally left the reception room and headed towards the room where Rosenblur was staying.

“I couldn’t believe it even as I heard it. If it was a kidnapping, they should demand money or something material, but there’s none of that. And if by any chance she left on her own… There’s no reason for that, is there? Lydia could have anything she wanted just by pointing at it.”

“There are things that money can’t buy.”

“Like what?”

Leonard was about to give the example of the love he had just realized, but he held back.

“There are. You’re still young, so you wouldn’t know.”

“Young? I’ve experienced marriage and widowhood. I’m quite mature for my age.”

“That’s not all there is to life.”

“Come on. You haven’t even been married.”

“That’s why I’m thinking of trying it once.”

“Trying what?”

“Marriage.”

Cordelia stopped abruptly. Leonard, in turn, halted his steps. She looked at his profile, a bit flustered.

“With whom?”

“Why? Curious?”

“Of course I’m curious! Just a month ago, you said there would absolutely be no marriage in your life. Who is it? Is it someone I know? Don’t tell me it’s Lydia?”

“Ah. It’s someone you know well.”

Thinking it was just a joke, Cordelia became even more flustered when she heard “someone you know well.”

Marriage? Master getting married?

She tried to imagine some unknown woman standing next to Leonard. It felt very awkward and strange.

“Master. I know from experience, but marriage, that thing? It’s really not great.”

“Just because your marriage wasn’t great doesn’t mean my married life will be too. I’ll treat my wife very well.”

“Well, that’s true, but still.”

She couldn’t think of anything to refute. Her mind was very confused.

By then, they had arrived at the room where Rosenblur was staying. After knocking and hearing permission, they entered.

“Leo.”

“Seeing you lying down, you look like you’re about to die.”

Leonard immediately threw a sharp remark upon seeing the gaunt Rosenblur. Knowing that this was how the two expressed their friendship, Cordelia just smiled.

“Have you eaten?”

“No. I’m not particularly hungry.”

“Even if you don’t have an appetite, you should eat something. That’s how you’ll gain strength to find Lydia.”

“That’s right. Hurry up and eat something and get out. What’s with this inconvenience in someone else’s castle?”

“Master, why are you being like this to a sick person? Lord Rosenblur, please don’t mind him and rest well. Don’t listen to this mean master of mine.”

“Of course he should listen. Because of you, Cordelia can’t even leave for the capital.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry. You were planning to leave for the capital?”

“Yes. I thought it would be better to leave before the new count is decided. But please don’t worry about it and just focus on recovering.”

“I’m just causing trouble for Cordelia.”

“Trouble? Please don’t think of it that way. I consider both Lydia and you good friends.”

She smiled brightly. The word ‘friend’ particularly stuck with Rosenblur. For some reason, Cordelia and Leonard, who seemed especially close today, also bothered him.

“I don’t think of Cordelia as just a friend.”

“Oh, ah… I’m, I’m sorry.”

Cordelia’s face instantly turned red with embarrassment. Leonard immediately changed to a fierce expression and glared at Rosenblur.

“Can’t you watch what you say? Can’t you distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said?”

“I think we’re much more sincere than that. The word ‘friend’ can’t fully contain that emotion.”

“Ah.”

“Cordelia is someone who stayed by my side when I was struggling.”

Rosenblur smiled at her with sincerity. Suddenly, he noticed the blue bruise mark on Cordelia’s wrist.

“Oh my. You got hurt because of me.”

At first, he didn’t notice because he had just woken up and was disoriented, but it seemed he had grabbed her wrist quite forcefully.

He got up from the bed and moved closer to Cordelia.

“It must have hurt a lot.”

“Huh? Ah.”

Just like Leonard had done, a brief light emerged from Rosenblur’s hand, and soon the mark on Cordelia’s wrist faded.

Honestly, it didn’t hurt much, so treatment wasn’t really necessary, but she still expressed her gratitude.

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

“You did this?”

“Yes. Cordelia kept nursing me by my side, and I must have grabbed her thinking she was Lydia.”

“Nursing? She nursed you?”

Leonard glared at Rosenblur with eyes full of irritation and jealousy.

It was already annoying enough that he was constantly trying to make Cordelia his disciple, but now he even received nursing care that Leonard himself hadn’t gotten. On top of that, it was ridiculous that he was treating the wound he had caused himself.

To be honest, everything just irritated him.

“We’ve said our greetings, so let’s go now.”

“Oh, already?”

“What do you mean already? We’ve seen his face, that’s enough.”

At Leonard’s urging, Cordelia obediently followed her master’s words.

* * *

Two days later, Rosenblur fully recovered and got up. Before leaving, he thanked her once again and headed south.

Cordelia, Leonard, and Beluce also prepared to leave for Yebo Delim. In fact, there wasn’t much to prepare. They had already packed their belongings before, but just lacked the courage to leave.

Before leaving the castle, there was a tearful farewell. Emily was surprised to learn that she was a magician and Atilei’s disciple, but congratulated her.

“I knew my lady would become great! You studied hard every day after the count woke up. To think it was magic studies. It’s really amazing!”

“Thank you, Emily. Take care. I’ll miss you a lot.”

“Me too. Thanks to you, I was able to marry Kevin safely. I was happy serving you.”

Why did those sincere words touch her heart so much? Cordelia bit her lip hard, trying not to cry, but eventually, sobs escaped through her teeth.

“Sob, you must be well, Emily. I, I’ll be staying at Atilei’s, so if anything happens, contact me there. Understood?”

“Yes. I understand. Don’t cry, sob, don’t cry, my lady. I was trying so hard not to cry. Sob, my lady. Farewell. You must become even happier than you are now.”

It was a hellish place, but she suddenly realized that there was at least one person who cared for her here. In this place where she thought she had no allies.

Cordelia hugged Emily tightly and shed about a plateful of tears before getting into the carriage. She waved to Emily through the carriage window.

As Beluce set off first, the carriage began to move with a jolt.

Cordelia wiped her eyes with her sleeve while sniffling. She naturally expected her master sitting across from her to click his tongue in disdain, but surprisingly, he only handed her a handkerchief.

“If you’re so reluctant to part, just take her with you. It’s not like bringing one maid will change anything.”

“Emily has lived here all her life. Her husband, parents, and even grandparents are all here. I can’t selfishly separate her from her family.”

“Just bring them all.”

“Come on.”

His casual remark, as if asking what the problem was, quickly dried her tears. Cordelia chuckled and said,

“It’s really okay. Emily has her own life too.”

Cordelia looked at the receding Abrams Castle. As spring flowed away, the early summer breeze tickled her cheek.

Cordelia Abrams, who used to cry secretly from her husband’s neglect, mother-in-law’s scolding, and sister-in-law’s insults, is now gone. Only Cordelia Vasquez remains.

When Leonard first opened his eyes in Craig’s body, when she learned magic from him, when she went to the Magic Association and met Maximilian, when she nearly died in Diloana’s territory. And when she finally killed Craig.

Cordelia didn’t regret a single moment.

Although she doesn’t know what awaits her ahead, one thing is certain.

Whatever hardships she may face on this path she has chosen for herself, Cordelia will gladly accept them. Even if it kills her.