The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 38 (Part 2):

We entered the terrace.

“Wow! It’s truly beautiful!”

This was my first time seeing the terrace too.

It seemed that the architect who planned this place had meticulously calculated everything, from the stars visible in the night sky above to the night breeze that settles here.

At the center of the terrace stood a statue taller than a person, with water flowing from it to form a small waterfall.

“Please, have a seat here.”

The Count personally pulled out a chair.

Lisa slowly walked over and sat down, then patted her knee.

“Ran.”

“I’ll be too heavy. I can’t sit on Your Highness’s lap out of consideration for your knees.”

“How cute. Then can you at least stand close by my side?”

As I was about to say something again, Count Furst glared at me.

I had no choice but to stand next to her, and she half-embraced me with a rough touch.

“You’ve definitely grown a lot. You used to fit perfectly in my arms before, but now it’s not so easy. Still, I like it.”

She brought her cheek to mine and rubbed them together.

When I sighed, the Count glared at me again.

I get it, okay?

After rubbing her cheek to her heart’s content, Lisa rested her chin on my shoulder and said to Count Furst,

“Well then, Count. Shall we get to the main point?”

Saying that, Lisa raised her right hand and gently pinched my cheek.

***

The conversation went smoothly.

Despite the Count’s somewhat demanding requests, Lisa accepted them as they were without much concern.

To be more precise, she seemed uninterested. She wasn’t really focusing on the Count’s words, often asking him to repeat what he had said.

It seemed like she had come just to play with my cheek.

In less than an hour, Lisa was visibly showing signs of fatigue.

The contract that Count Furst had prepared in advance was signed without any modifications.

Lisa openly yawned repeatedly, then quickly retreated to the guest room. With a parting word to meet again tomorrow morning.

As the guest room door closed, two knights stood guard in front of it. The other two seemed to be resting in another room.

Count Furst followed me to my room, quietly closed the door, and said,

“What did you think?”

I replied bluntly,

“She seemed completely uninterested.”

The Count tilted his head.

“Right? I thought it would be an intense debate, but now I regret all the worrying I did.”

I sat in a chair and said,

“Honestly, I don’t even understand why she came in person. Do you think she has some other motive?”

Count Furst stroked his chin.

“Because we’re from different countries, the contract wouldn’t be valid unless it was signed in person. So she had to come here to finalize the contract.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“More importantly, Ran. How exactly do you know Princess Elisabeth?”

I shrugged.

“I didn’t really know her until we met. I was too young to remember. Well, honestly, we weren’t that close. Lisa was just one of many princesses I knew. But now…”

“She’s become a big shot that even the King of Franche can’t easily deal with.”

“It’s strange.”

“Could she be a mage?”

I shook my head.

“I had that suspicion too. But she didn’t have any magical power. She did have a relatively high level of dignity, but… that can’t be attributed to magic. She’s a princess after all.”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s fortunate that things went smoothly. But somehow, I feel like my head is even more complicated now.”

Count Furst was silent for a moment, then said quietly,

“I know what you mean.”

“Let’s just keep watching for now. She said she’ll stay for three more days, so we can see if she has any other motives by observing what she does during that time.”

“Alright, I understand. Thank you for today, Ran.”

“It’s nothing.”

Count Fruits left.

I was left alone in the room.

“The world is wide and treasures are many. That’s the first maxim of mages. Therefore, we can’t be certain of anything.”

Lisa might have a treasure that hides her magical power. Or she might have learned concealment magic.

“It’s strange. As soon as Lisa touched the bridge of my nose, I suddenly remembered her. It could be a real memory, but…”

I usually don’t forget things I’ve seen once. If we were as close as Lisa said, there’s no way I wouldn’t have remembered.

Psyche can manipulate memories with magic. If she used a similar magic?

Or maybe I just forgot.

“It’s still strange. I need to confirm this. Hmm. She said she’d tell me about my family tomorrow, right?”

I jumped up from my seat.

Then I left the mansion.

The night air was quite chilly.

After riding a horse for an hour.

The Sangria port at dawn had a different atmosphere from its daytime self.

While everything belonging to the sunny side slept, things of the shady side filled the streets.

Without bright lights to illuminate them, unsightly things had no hesitation in revealing themselves.

I quickly passed through the town.

And sat in front of the fountain in the square.

How much time passed? A few thugs who seemed to think I was some rich young master whispered among themselves, licking their lips.

Some of them grouped together and approached me.

I took out my staff and glared at them.

“I don’t need your services. So go and call the jester.”

They froze in place.

Looking at each other, they seemed to gain unnecessary courage and pulled out sharp weapons.

This is why the difference between recklessness and courage is intelligence.

I raised my staff, and one of their bodies floated up.

If I dropped him now, he’d break at least a leg, but I gently lowered him back down.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“I won’t be lenient anymore. I’ll say it one last time. Go and bring the jester. I mean the leader of the Assassin’s Guild.”

They were flustered, then quickly retreated.

I made a pillow with my arms behind my head and lay down on my side.

As I looked up at the night sky like that, suddenly a clown face appeared from one side.

“Good evening, Mage Ran. You were looking for me?”

Honestly, I was surprised.

I didn’t notice until he got this close.

To think he could be so stealthy as to deceive even a mage’s senses with mere techniques.

Fortunately, I didn’t show my surprise outwardly.

As if I had known all along, I calmly turned my eyes to meet his.

“Did you find any good information about the Prejean family?”

The jester smiled, his mouth stretching from ear to ear.

Dangun

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