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Honestly, I couldn’t comprehend it.

It was due to Francesca’s act of calling the Duke “Grandmother.”

“Gr-Grandmother?”

The most respected mage listed among the top five in the world.

A brilliant general who led the army to victory in a challenging war by bombing the Holy Land.

The symbol of a glorious magical society that ended the age of barbarism.

Freedom fighter, war hero, sage, politician, diplomat, advisor to the Emperor, matriarch of the royal family, and so on. The titles that adorned her were as numerous as grains of sand on a white beach, shining brighter than the stars in the night sky.

A figure acknowledged not just as a prominent person in the Empire but as a global luminary. Alexandra Petrovna was such a person.

Regardless of my feelings toward the Empire, the Duke truly deserved respect.

In terms of age, status, and accomplishments, Alexandra Petrovna was someone who should be treated with utmost reverence wherever she went.

Yet calling her “Grandmother”?

“……”

I stared at Francesca with wide eyes.

No matter how much of a descendant of the Archmage she was, referring to the Duke so casually was simply wrong.

Perhaps if it were her ancestor, Archmage Ranieri, things would be different. But Francesca was in no position to address the Duke like that.

However, as with everything in the world,

Accidents come unannounced, and surprises are always lurking.

“Why, were you surprised by my sudden call after having no word from me for so long?”

The Duke responded to Francesca’s words as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

—

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

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The moment one faces an incomprehensible situation, human thought tends to freeze.

It was the same when I received a call from the personnel office during my vacation saying that Kim Jong-il had died and I had to return to base immediately, or when I heard about the canceled flights back home due to COVID.

But reality always goes beyond expectations.

“Let me introduce you. This is Alexandra Petrovna, Duke of the Kien Empire, founder of the Primordial School, and the first president of the society.”

Francesca introduced the Duke in a calm tone. The Duke was a globally renowned figure, but it was only natural since we had not officially met her.

However, the introduction didn’t end there. Francesca added matter-of-factly.

“And to me, she is my grandmother.”

“Grandmother…?”

Camila’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Francesca and the Duke.

“Uh, were you related?”

“Not at all.”

Francesca corrected the misunderstanding with a gentle smile.

—

In this world, while there are numerous magical families, the “real deal” is something different.

The great Archmage who led the war between the Magic Tower and the Cult.

The direct descendants of that Archmage.

A prime example is the Rysidike family, known for leading the Magic Battalion of the Magic Tower in the North.

Such families are regarded as the heirs of the magical society in the world.

It’s only natural for the achievements of ancestors to be passed down through generations, hence the lineage of those who inherited the achievements of their founding ancestor holds legitimacy representative of the magical society.

Thus, the descendants of Archmage Sulaiman, who had erected the Ivory Tower after returning home post-war, were considered a representative family of the magical society in the Mauritania Continent.

The Ranieri family shared a similar fate.

Although they lost their might due to the coup and the civil revolution that turned Patalia’s modern history upside down, the members of the Ranieri family are respected by mages and maintain deep ties with other magical families.

This was precisely why the Patalia government kept a tight lid on the Ranieri family.

Meaning that it is perfectly natural for Francesca, whose great-grandfather was an Archmage, to have connections with the Duke, as they were on friendly terms.

“Alexandra Petrovna and I aren’t relatives. However, since the Duke had ties to Count Ranieri, my great-grandfather, we have had frequent exchanges since childhood.”

Francesca started speaking in her usual tone.

“I’m able to call her casually because of our past connection; she isn’t truly my grandmother.”

“That is correct.”

The Duke, with a warm smile, chimed in on her behalf.

“Francesca has been a child close to me for a long time. Though we cannot say we frequently see each other due to my busy schedule, how could I not treasure the child of my friend?”

The Duke affirmed their closeness without a hint of doubt. There was no room for skepticism. The old man’s words held a weight that couldn’t be dismissed lightly, far beyond that of an ordinary elder.

If it came directly from her, what could we, third parties, say? It just seemed to be how it was.

While it was a kind explanation, it was hardly an easy concept to grasp.

No matter how much we live in a century where people reach 100, how could one easily believe that a centenarian and a woman in her twenties could be friends?

Thus, even Camila, with her open-mindedness, struggled to accept the situation before her without any resistance.

“What…?”

Camila looked back and forth at Francesca and the Duke with a face full of disbelief.

It was hard to understand how a grandmother maintained the appearance of someone in her early thirties, and then to think that this grandmother had been friends with a girl in her twenties? It seemed her brain had short-circuited.

Seeing the two that seemed to hint that they were wondering if there was any problem with her, Camila couldn’t hide her embarrassment and poked me in the side for help.

“Say something… please…”

Though she pitifully sought assistance, there was nothing I could do to help.

I too was struggling to comprehend the situation.

“Uh, um…”

I quickly wracked my brain, pondering how to accept this peculiar situation.

They say there are many quirky mages. Is an age gap of around 80 years something they can just easily overlook?

No matter how much I thought about it, it just didn’t add up.

What even was this, some untouchables? How could a 100-year-old and a twenty-something become friends? In terms of age, status, and accomplishments, Francesca and the Duke did not seem to belong in the same equation at all.

But almost as if to mock my expectations, the two began having an easygoing conversation, just like old friends reuniting after a long separation.

“Have you been well?”

“Would there be any troubles for an old man commuting between the palace and the fortress? You needn’t worry about me, child.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I heard Lord Evangelos is still in the North; did you happen to meet him?”

“The child from the Rysidike family? I met him already.”

I was worried about whether the frail child, who had been sickly since emerging from my mother’s womb, could adapt to the harsh northern environment. It seems my fears were unfounded.

The Duke conversed with Francesca as if nothing were amiss.

Considering that Evangelos, whom they mentioned earlier, was a descendant of the Rysidike family, it was evident that the Duke, like Francesca, had some connection with him.

From the Duke’s attitude towards the staff of the Magic Tower and the way he treated the Archmage’s descendant like a grandchild, I was reminded of how high a status she held in the magical community.

“I received a letter from the child of Sulayman. Recently, I heard you met Niazi?”

“Are you referring to Professor Niazi? Yes, I saw him in Patalia. Speaking of which, how has Mayor Hussein been lately?”

“The child of Sulayman has always been well.”

The Hussein they mentioned was someone I knew as well.

Hussein bin Abdullah Sulayman was a politician serving as the mayor in the capital of the Republic of Tisfon on the Mauritania Continent.

People might say, “What is someone from a magical aristocracy doing as a mayor?” but that would only be the perspective of those unacquainted with Tisfon politics.

The Republic of Tisfon is a nation that overthrew its royal family in a revolution. The mayor’s position in the capital, having lost a substantial amount of territory due to civil war between the coup, royalists, and citizen soldiers, is politically very significant.

Just as the Mayor of Seoul is often discussed as a leading candidate for the presidency in South Korea, the mayor of the capital in Tisfon holds immense potential to be a future Prime Minister.

Even though rumors of a recent constitutional change towards a presidential system are circulating, the mayor of the densely populated capital carries endless possibilities to become either Prime Minister or President.

In other words, Mayor Hussein was a potential leader of the country at any moment.

Moreover, having served as the Minister of Land, he had overhauled the entire urban planning of the capital, which established solid political foundations for him. If he were to be mentioned as a Prime Minister candidate, he would likely win against any opponent.

But Francesca and the Duke spoke of such a politician as if he were an old neighborhood friend from their childhood.

“I heard he’s been having power struggles with the defense forces’ leadership, yet he seems to be fine.”

“Of course! He’s not the kind of child to back down that easily.”

Francesca and the Duke continued chatting for quite a while.

After a long time apart, they began asking about mutual acquaintances, like old classmates asking, “What’s that guy up to these days?”

Aside from the fact that those acquaintances occupied prominent positions, they appeared to be quite fond of one another. It looked that way from an outsider’s perspective and it was indeed the case.

“I was surprised that you suddenly showed up at the Cult without notice. What brings you here today?”

“You say there was no notice? That’s quite disappointing to hear. I had sent an owl ahead with a letter.”

“Yes, I received that letter just before Grandmother arrived in Lateran.”

“The owl must have been tardy. I certainly dispatched the letter before my departure. That rascal was probably off munching on some bugs and got delayed.”

Hearing the mention of an owl, I suddenly recalled the owl that flew into Francesca’s hotel room. It must have been the Duke’s messenger.

I wondered what era we were in that he still insisted on such archaic methods, but my curiosity didn’t linger long.

Francesca abruptly fired a question at the Duke.

“By the way, what was the reason you called us here today?”

That was the most crucial question.

*

Francesca spoke up.

“You didn’t even send a congratulatory message for the canonization of Saint Veronica, but you personally attended this ceremony. I recall you had never paid any attention to the Holy Land in your life.”

“That is true.”

“I found it puzzling that you had been reclusive even while something happened in the north, and yet you suddenly appeared after it was resolved….”

Rich, purple silk cascaded around her as she tilted her head curiously, looking bewildered as she asked, “What wind blew for you to show up here?”

It didn’t take long for an answer to come.

The Duke calmly opened his mouth, addressing our doubts.

“I have a matter to discuss with you.”

“A matter?”

“To be precise, it is about a reward.”

We had played a role in resolving the conflict with the demons in the north. Although the Imperial Army led the actual resolution of the conflict, we were the ones who laid the foundation for the offensive and dealt with the demons.

The royal family appreciated our contributions highly enough to award us medals.

The highest order medals were awarded to my companions, while I received a friendship medal usually granted to ambassadors from allied nations. Even Camila received an additional reward.

As far as I knew, the Duke himself had a direct hand in that honor. It seemed he thought that a mere medal wasn’t enough.

He indicated that he wished to grant us additional rewards, within his capacity.

“I am well aware of what you did in the north. Although I failed to perform my duties as a Duke, you resolved the situation in my place, so it is only right that I reward you.”

“Um… Is that all? Are we done here?”

“Not quite. I also need to find someone suitable for a significant task. I came here as there are many matters to address within the Cult.”

It seemed he was quite busy. For the Duke to be personally involved meant that something rather important had arisen.

At that moment, the Duke added, “I also have a matter to discuss with that child.”

Pointing in the direction he indicated stood Camila.

“…Are you referring to her?”

Camila pointed to herself with her finger, and the Duke nodded.

“Um… What business could you possibly have with me…?”

“It’s not anything difficult, so there’s no need to feel burdened. Just listen comfortably.”

To ease any potential anxiety or worry, the Duke waved his hand dismissively.

Then, in a noticeably serious tone, he began to speak.

“My child, would you be interested in learning magic from me?”

It was a proposal for a mentor-mentee relationship.

 

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