Translator: Cinder Translations
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When Duke Cabre first laid eyes on the red-haired lady, he was taken aback by her beauty. His wife, Helen, hailed as the pearl of the Horns Bay, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, yet this lady named Marianna was equally stunning, perhaps even possessing a more compelling aura.
When he locked eyes with her, instead of the timid and evasive gaze typical of someone meeting a ruler, he felt a strange power emanating from her eyes that somewhat subdued him.
Indeed, there was a force in her eyes that seemed to directly influence the hearts of others. People often describe bright and spirited eyes with phrases like "eyes like torches," but Marianna's pupils burned a deep crimson. The moment Duke Cabre looked into those eyes, visions of flames, magma, and lightning flashed in his mind.
She must be a woman of firm conviction and strong will, he thought to himself.
"Your Majesty, this is my mentor. She just returned to Horns Bay not long ago," Helen introduced her husband to the red-haired lady, showing her utmost respect.
"Your Majesty Cabre, it's an honor to meet you. Please forgive my ignorance of court etiquette," Marianna said, giving a slight nod to the Duke as a form of greeting.
"Not at all! Since you are Helen's mentor, you are naturally my elder, and there's no need to adhere to such formalities. Please, take a seat," Cabre urged, eager to show respect, not only because of her relationship with his wife but also because she was key to rescuing Eaton from its current crisis.
He quickly asked, "Exchanging pleasantries won't help us. So, Lady Marianna, let's get straight to the point. You're aware of Eaton's precarious situation; what can you do to assist us?"
Marianna glanced at her student, Helen, and slowly replied, "Magic."
"Magic?" Duke Cabre, along with his wife, was taken aback.
Helen whispered, "Marianna, do you mean… to use our abilities to stealthily infiltrate the enemy camp and assassinate their high-ranking officials? That could work, but my husband won't allow me to do it. He fears for my safety…"
Could she really let her mentor put herself in danger for her sake?
"No!" Marianna firmly denied. "What I mean is to defeat the Protectorate army on the battlefield using magic."
The Duke's hands trembled. "Th-this… this…"
He couldn't form a complete sentence.
Duke Cabre was the ruler of the Duchy of Eaton, a top noble family with a lineage spanning several centuries.
And what is magic? For thousands of years, it has been considered unnatural, a force contrary to divine teachings, one that shouldn't exist in the world—evil and corrupt.
Even though the Duke had married a spellcaster and loved her deeply, to him, this was a testament to the power of love. He believed love was inherently irrational and ineffable, something more profound and powerful than magic. In this young Duke's somewhat naive perspective on love, loving someone meant accepting all of them, including their flaws, even if it meant loving a witch who was said to defy the natural order.
Because of his long-term relationship with his wife, he held a tolerant and sympathetic view toward spellcasters. Over time, he understood that not all spellcasters were evil; many were kind and experienced the same joys, pleasures, pains, and sorrows as ordinary people.
However, even so, it was challenging for the Duke to suddenly accept magic as a normal occurrence, a legitimate means, and a form of power that did not contradict the chivalric code, to use it openly and boldly to defeat enemies.
And what about Duchess Helen? She grew up in a noble family, spoiled and cherished, and lived a carefree life. From a young age, she was a well-behaved girl who, by chance, embarked on the path of a spellcaster. Magic offered her novelty, excitement, and a sense of forbidden pleasure. She learned and studied magic because it gave her a feeling unlike the toys she could easily obtain. As a woman perceived as delicate, she wielded such immense power, a contrast that captivated her. Being a spellcaster was merely one of Helen's labels, not an exclusive attachment.
Moreover, her mentor Marianna had taught her to hide, hide, and hide some more. The mentor repeatedly reminded her that magic should never be displayed in public, that using it openly could lead to terrible fates if others discovered she was a witch. This instilled in Helen a mindset that magic and the presence of others were mutually exclusive. Unless it was with someone who knew her well—like her husband or her fellow spellcaster sister—or an enemy she could confidently eliminate without being recognized, she should never cast spells.
However, primarily due to her limited understanding of magic at this stage, she could not comprehend the extent to which this power could impact a large-scale battle. Her greatest assumption was that it could be used for assassination, to steal vital information, or to create misjudgements among enemy leaders through unnatural means.
For all these reasons, Duchess Helen was equally shocked to hear her mentor proclaim she could defeat an army on the battlefield using magic.
Seeing the astonishment of the Duke and his wife, Marianna smiled gently, a smile that briefly aligned her image with that of the evil witch in popular perception.
Of course, this was only for a moment; the red-haired lady quickly resumed her dignified and deeply respected mentor persona.
She opened her crimson lips and spoke slowly and softly, "I know there's a deep-rooted prejudice in the world against magic and us spellcasters. It is indeed difficult to accept suddenly. But since you have spent so long with my lovely student, then…"
"Tell me, Elliot, what do you think your wife is like?"
(End of the Chapter)
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