Luzia crossed her arms, tilting her head as she shot Ramiro a raised brow. "Now, can we have breakfast before you leave?"
Ramiro's lips twitched, a smirk forming. "I suppose we could, but don't you need to get dressed first?"
"Oh." Luzia glanced down at her rumpled nightgown, flushing a bit. "I completely forgot."
Ramiro chuckled, the sound surprisingly light. "I've decided to leave early, so I can return by evening."
Luzia crossed her arms. "If you're using teleportation, why leave so early?"
Ramiro sighed. "Because I prefer to, Luzia."
She placed her hands on her hips. "And yet, you'd leave without breakfast? What if you faint mid-teleport and end up stranded?"
"That's not how teleportation works," Ramiro muttered, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Great, so we're having breakfast!" Luzia declared, already spinning toward the stairs.
"Wait for me—I'll get ready in a flash." With that, she dashed off, her bare feet padding softly against the floor.
Ramiro watched her retreating figure, the hint of a smile softening his stern expression.
Beatriz leaned in, her tone dry. "You see, my lord, communication is the key. The young lady is wise beyond her years."
Ramiro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I suppose I was being a bit foolish."
"A bit?" Aurelio quipped, arching an eyebrow.
Ramiro's smile vanished as he shot a sharp glare at Aurelio. "Watch it."
Aurelio smirked unapologetically. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking."
'This damn old man,' Ramiro thought irritably, his jaw tightening as Aurelio's smirk widened. Before he could respond, a quiet chuckle escaped Beatriz. Esteban followed with a low, amused hum, clearly enjoying the moment.
Ramiro shot Esteban a look. "Glad to know my staff finds me so entertaining."
Beatriz covered her mouth, stifling her laughter, while Esteban simply shrugged. "It's hard not to, my lord. You've been providing quite the show this morning."
Ramiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I really need that breakfast,' he thought grimly.
After a while, Luzia descended the staircase, fully dressed in a simple yet elegant gown, her hair neatly tied back. She moved with confidence, her sharp gaze sweeping the room. Elena followed behind her, expression calm and composed.
"I'm ready," Luzia declared as she approached Ramiro, tone leaving no room for doubt.
Ramiro looked her over and nodded with a faint smile. "Good. Let's have breakfast, then."
Luzia tilted her head, eyeing him skeptically. "You're not going to rush off the moment I sit down, are you?"
Ramiro blinked, surprised. "Of course not. I said we'd eat together."
"Hmm." Luzia hummed, narrowing her eyes like she was trying to catch him in a lie. "Good."
With that, they made their way to the dining room.
After breakfast, Ramiro stood, adjusting his coat as Esteban stood nearby, ready to leave.
Luzia followed them to the entrance hall, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You're sure you don't need luggage?"
Ramiro smirked faintly as he tugged on his gloves. "It's just a visit, Luzia. And I said I'd return by evening. Now stop fussing."
'I completely forgot he said that…' she thought.
"I'm not fussing," she shot back, crossing her arms. "I'm making sure you don't leave something important behind. But since it is just a visit, then I guess there's no need."
Ramiro shook his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone softening. "Aurelio and Beatriz are in charge of things here, Luzia. I'll be back by evening."
Luzia sighed. "Alright."
Ramiro let go of her shoulder, stepping back and gesturing for Esteban to join him.
With a low hum of energy, Ramiro raised his hand, and a golden magic circle appeared beneath them, the air around them shimmering with faint golden light. In the blink of an eye, the teleportation spell activated, and the two vanished, leaving behind only a faint ripple of magic.
---
A while After Ramiro's departure, Luzia was in the library, idly twirling a quill between her fingers. With her father gone, the mansion felt quieter—too quiet. She eyed the pile of books left on the table and sighed.
"Too boring...why did I bring so many books?"
She then perched herself by the window, watching the estate's gardens below. Her sharp eyes tracked the gardeners trimming the hedges and the guards patrolling the grounds, their movements routine and predictable. She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I bet I could sneak past them if I really wanted to," she mused aloud.
Of course, she had no intention of sneaking out—she was a lady of the house, after all—but planning it out was an excellent mental exercise. Luzia began mapping escape routes in her head, weighing which corridors would provide the least resistance and how many steps it would take to reach the stables unnoticed.
Before she could finish her elaborate scheme, Aurelio's voice broke her concentration.
"Lady Luzia, I see you're deep in thought," he said, approaching with his usual composed smile. "Might you be devising an escape, my lady?"
Luzia turned, unbothered. "Not at all, Aurelio, I was just thinking while admiring the garden."
Aurelio raised an eyebrow. "Just thinking. Does it involve avoiding today's lessons, by any chance?"
Luzia gasped in mock offense. "Me? Avoid my lessons? How dare you accuse me of such a thing!"
Aurelio smirked knowingly and set down a small tray of tea. "Well, my lady, I believe your thinking is about to face a new challenge." He stepped aside, gesturing toward the doorway where a tall, imposing figure stood.
Maestro Gregorio Velandris.
Luzia blinked at the man who entered the room with the air of someone who had no time for nonsense. He had green hair and amber eyes with glasses, he is dressed in an impeccably tailored dark robe adorned with embroidered magical sigils, he carried a leather-bound tome that looked like it had survived a war—or caused one.
"Lady Luzia," Aurelio said smoothly, "may I present Maestro Gregorio of House Velandris—renowned scholars and advisors to the Magic Tower. He has graciously accepted the position as your personal tutor."
Luzia eyed Gregorio with cautious curiosity, straightening in her seat. "House Velandris? The ones who create magic formulas for the entire Magic Tower?"
Gregorio nodded stiffly, adjusting his spectacles. "Indeed, young lady. And if you are diligent, you may yet grasp a fraction of our knowledge."
'He was only talked about briefly in the novel...after Luzia's death.'
Luzia tilted her head, offering an innocent smile. "So you're saying I could potentially learn enough to correct the formulas used by mages?"
Aurelio stifled a chuckle. Gregorio's brow twitched. "With years of dedicated study, perhaps," he replied, tone clipped. "For now, we shall focus on building a foundation."
Luzia leaned back in her chair, twirling the quill again. "And what if I don't like your methods?"
Gregorio met her gaze without hesitation. "Then I shall adjust them until you do. Education is not a privilege for you, Lady Luzia. It is a responsibility."
For the first time in a while, Luzia found herself at a loss for words. She studied Gregorio, intrigued. Finally, she let out a soft hum.
"Alright, Sir Gregorio. Impress me."
Gregorio exhaled, looking at Aurelio. "She is... spirited."
Aurelio grinned. "You have no idea."
Gregorio set his book down with a decisive thud. "Let us begin."
"Well then, I will take my leave." Aurelio bowed and turned to leave.
Gregorio adjusted his spectacles, his sharp eyes studying Luzia with an appraising gaze. "You have not shown signs of having magic," he stated plainly, his voice steady and authoritative. "That is what the duke told me."
Luzia blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line. "So?"
"So," Gregorio continued, clasping his hands behind his back, "I won't teach you anything related to magic just yet."
Luzia's brow furrowed. "That's rather presumptuous of you, Sir. Just because I haven't shown signs doesn't mean I don't have potential."
Gregorio's expression remained unmoved. "Potential means little without proof, Lady Luzia. The study of magic requires discipline and a foundation in many other subjects. If your magic has yet to manifest, then your focus should be elsewhere for now."
Luzia huffed, crossing her arms. "And what do you suggest I focus on instead?"
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Gregorio's lips, as if he had been expecting the challenge. "History, philosophy, logic, mathematics—areas that will sharpen your mind and prepare you for the complexities of magic should the time come. Knowledge is the root of all power, magical or otherwise."
Luzia tapped her fingers against the armrest, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Sounds like a roundabout way to stall me," she muttered.
Aurelio, who had been observing quietly, cleared his throat. "Lady Luzia, my methods are proven. House Velandris has trained countless scholars and mages alike."
Gregorio inclined his head. "Indeed. And you will not be an exception to the process."
Luzia exhaled through her nose. "Fine. But if I start showing signs of magic, I expect immediate lessons. No delays."
Gregorio nodded solemnly. "I wouldn't dare delay a prodigy, should one emerge. "
Luzia stared at him, trying to decide if he was being sarcastic. "Alright then, Sir. Let's see what you've got."
Gregorio opened his tome, flipping through the pages with practiced ease. "We begin with the history of Evorian Empire."
'Why history of all subjects?'
Luzia groaned inwardly but straightened her posture. She would prove herself—magic or not.