Chapter 59
Chapter 59: What Do You Need a Fool For? (2)
As soon as the wizards left, Gillian turned to Ghislaine.
“Your Highness, what do you mean by ‘exclusive mage’? Didn’t you originally intend to hire just wizards?”
Thanks to the vague plan Ghislaine had explained to them before, Belinda and Gillian were aware that hiring a mage was in the works.
But they never anticipated it would actually succeed.
“Well, it’s a little bit of both. I couldn’t even gather ten wizards, you see.”
“From what the elder says, it doesn’t sound like he’s that remarkable; he seems more like someone who does menial work. Is he really suitable?”
“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine. It all depends on how you utilize a person.”
With Ghislaine’s firm statement, Gillian decided not to press further.
The way one uses people is up to the lord, and there was no need for the vassal to give unnecessary opinions. He just hoped the new guy wouldn’t be a liability.
Meanwhile, Kaor wore a peculiar expression after hearing the explanation.
Receiving one maid in place of four inadequate wizards was, at the very least, a bad deal.
Especially claiming to make her an exclusive mage; where in the world was there a noble who would appoint a maid from the Mage Tower as an exclusive mage?
‘Goodness, I have no idea what they’re thinking.’
In fact, whoever the employer chose as an exclusive mage mattered little to Kaor, even if it ended up being a loss.
Sure, he was curious about the reasoning, but Ghislaine had no obligation to explain herself.
Still, there was one point he felt needed confirming.
“Your Highness, are you really hiring the mages in preparation for territorial wars?”
“Yeah, just to be sure. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
“Even if we keep it a secret about the Mage Tower background… shouldn’t we at least disclose that we’ve hired mercenary mages? With our runestones, if we say we’re significantly training soldiers, no one would dare meddle with us.”
Kaor had a point. Sometimes showing strength could deter wars.
However, this time, that logic didn’t hold up.
Duke Delphine would inevitably attack Perdium. Even a handful of hired wizards wouldn’t intimidate them.
Rather, if they didn’t mock them, it would be a blessing.
Perdium still lagged behind the enemies in every aspect, so they needed to hide their strength to secure victory.
“I’d prefer to keep it as hidden as possible for now. Kaor, you have to keep it a secret too.”
“Well… if you pay me enough, I could even tell you the color of my wife’s underwear.”
Ghislaine chuckled at his cheeky response.
Soon, Hubert and the elders entered with a group of wizards.
Six confident-looking wizards clad in splendid robes strutted in.
And standing behind them was one young woman, fidgeting.
‘Finally met her.’
Ghislaine’s face lit up at the sight of the woman.
She appeared to be in her early twenties.
Her dark reddish hair was wildly tangled, and her robe was different from the other wizards—worn and shabby.
With an anxious and nervous expression, she glanced around, making it painfully obvious how mistreated she had been at the Mage Tower.
Hubert smiled and introduced the wizards to Ghislaine.
“Here, these are the wizards who will assist you for the next year. They were instructed to keep secrets, so you need not worry.”
One young man stepped forward from the six to introduce himself.
He seemed quite skilled, naturally leading older wizards behind him.
“I’m Alfoy. I’ve taken on the responsibility of leading these wizards. By the order of the Tower Master, I shall serve you wholeheartedly, Your Highness.”
His words were polite, but his expression was far from it.
It felt like he was just going along with orders from above.
Alfoy sneered, looking down at Ghislaine as if he were looking at a country bumpkin.
Although it was an annoying expression, Ghislaine didn’t mind. After all, he was merely a temporary recruit.
“I am Ghislaine Perdium. I look forward to working together. It’s amazing that you’re a 3rd Circle Master at such a young age.”
Hubert cleared his throat and replied on his behalf.
“Well, it’s not a boast, but… he is one of the most promising prodigies at our tower. There are probably very few of his age who surpass him. I put in quite a bit of effort on this one.”
An elder chimed in from the side.
“Alfoy is the Tower Master’s disciple. You could say he’s the heir to our Mage Tower. What do you think? We tried our best.”
In truth, they had no trustworthy mages available, so they had no choice but to scrape the bottom of the barrel for their precious heir, but they intended to make it sound impressive.
“Is that so? I never expected you’d send me the Tower Master’s disciple.”
Ghislaine responded with a smile, but she didn’t genuinely feel admiration.
After all, there was a different person she desired.
Still, she offered Alfoy some compliments. Compliments don’t cost anything, after all.
“To have the Tower’s heir with me, that’s very reassuring. I have high hopes.”
Alfoy naturally bowed his head in response.
“Feel free to speak comfortably. The Tower Master instructed me to do my utmost to serve you. You’re a very important guest for our Mage Tower.”
He was deliberately fawning, emphasizing how much Hubert cared for Ghislaine.
It was his own way of pleasing upper-tier figures while showing respect to guests.
Hubert’s face lit up with satisfaction. Alfoy, too, felt pleased with himself.
However, Ghislaine lived in a different world from them.
“I understand. I look forward to working with you. You have plenty to do in the territory. Don’t let your guard down from now on.”
As Ghislaine immediately spoke informally, Alfoy’s expression shifted dramatically.
Usually, when someone adopts a humble demeanor, it’s customary for the other person to respond in kind.
No one had ever dared to treat him, the heir to the Mage Tower, so casually.
Yet this scruffy fellow before him showed no respect whatsoever, treating him like a subordinate.
He had no intention of giving him any courtesy.
‘Th-this ignorant country bumpkin… doesn’t even know his place!’
Alfoy silently grinded his teeth in humiliation, but he couldn’t let it show on the surface.
He merely hid his flushed face, pretending to bow his head in anger.
‘This contract is important, so I’ll endure for a year. But… I’ll see if I can still endure when I become the Tower Master.’
While Alfoy gritted his teeth, the other wizards stepped forward one by one to greet Ghislaine.
After all six had finished their greetings, the woman who had been standing at the back fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to do.
An elder pushed her forward with irritation.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and greet His Highness! I thought you were smarter than this.”
Suddenly pushed, the woman couldn’t hide her frightened expression. She stammered, opening her trembling mouth.
“I-I… I greet you, Your Highness. I’m V-Vanessa.”
Ghislaine reached out with a smile for the intensely anxious woman.
“I’m Ghislaine Perdium. I look forward to working with you.”
Vanessa, flustered, rubbed her hands on her robe before shaking his hand.
She kept bowing her head, prompting Ghislaine to smile and add, “You don’t have to be that tense. You’ve heard the detailed explanation from the Tower Master, right?”
Vanessa trembled and shook her head.
“I… I haven’t heard anything. I was cleaning and…”
She trailed off. Ghislaine frowned at Hubert, silently asking what had happened. Hubert scrambled to make an excuse.
“I couldn’t relay the message since we rushed to bring you here. Vanessa, you will now leave the Mage Tower to serve His Highness. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes?”
Vanessa looked stunned as she stared at Hubert and the elders.
She had expected to be abandoned someday at the Mage Tower, but she never thought to receive such sudden news.
“M-Master told me to stay in the Mage Tower…”
Vanessa protested with a quivering voice, but Hubert shouted sternly.
“Ah! Ronato is already dead. Are you saying you’d defy the Tower Master’s orders?”
“B-but…”
Hubert glanced at Ghislaine, whose expression was strange, and then quickly shifted his tone to a friendly whisper.
“It would be a good opportunity for you. Wouldn’t it be better to serve the Prince as an exclusive mage than do menial work here?”
“B-but I can’t use magic properly…”
“Ugh! Why are you arguing so much?!”
Hubert panicked at the thought of Vanessa’s inability to use magic becoming exposed and interrupted her.
Vanessa looked lost as she nearly cried. One of the elders beside her spoke in a solemn tone.
“Didn’t we feed you for years when you were an orphan? You must serve the Prince well, even to repay that kindness. Do you understand?”
Vanessa bowed her head deeply.
Tears almost welled up at the realization that she had indeed been abandoned.
After her master’s death, she had constantly worried about when she’d be thrown out.
She had only ever lived in the Mage Tower; suddenly being thrown into the outside world, what could she even do?
She had been more than willing to play the maid role to stay in the Mage Tower, but it had all been useless.
Vanessa shyly stole a glance at Ghislaine before quickly lowering her head again.
‘S-so scary.’
Not understanding why he wanted her, she couldn’t help but feel fear over her uncertain fate.
‘Ugh, I really wanted to become a wizard… I tried so hard…’
Tears involuntarily glistened in her eyes.
Ronato, in his admiration for Vanessa’s intelligence, had taken her in as a disciple and taught her magic.
But no matter how hard she tried, her body was unable to store any mana.
She mastered all the spells mentally, but without mana, casting magic was impossible. Her master had lamented over it but found no solution.
Left alone after his passing, she was treated like a pest in the Mage Tower.
Still, she never gave up. She cut back on sleep to find the cause and diligently studied spells.
She never lost hope that one day, she could also use magic.
‘I don’t want to go…’
If she followed this prince, she would no longer be able to study magic.
Although she was treated like a maid, she could still continue her studies at the Mage Tower.
But at a noble’s home, she would truly become a maid.
Hubert shouted in frustration as Vanessa struggled to respond.
“What are you doing! Hurry up and greet His Highness!”
He had barely reduced the number of wizards by trading Vanessa’s departure, and it was evident that if she stalled, Ghislaine would change his mind, causing him one headache after another.
In the end, growing impatient, he couldn’t help but let his temper show.
“Do you think if you don’t listen to me, you’ll still be able to keep practicing magic here?”
Startled by the loud voice, Vanessa flinched.
The elders threw in their harsh words one by one.
“It would be better for your future to go while His Highness wants you to.”
“Your talents are far too great to be wasted here, so take this opportunity while you can.”
“You’ve been cared for all this while, so at least have some decency!”
Under the heavy atmosphere, Vanessa’s complexion turned pale.
It was already decided that she would follow Ghislaine. She had no position to refuse.
The sentiment in her heart that she had to repay them for their kindness was also correct.
“Ah, I understand…”
Though she understood in her head, her voice got caught in her throat, and she ultimately ended up shedding tears of sorrow.
Unable to bear it anymore, Ghislaine let out a deep sigh and stepped forward.
“If you all speak so harshly, won’t this person get scared? You should speak gently.”
“Cough cough…”
Hubert and the elders averted their gaze, clearing their throats.
They simply wished he would hurry and take Vanessa away.
Ghislaine patted Vanessa’s shoulder and said, “I need your help. I truly want you to be my mage. Will you come with me?”
Vanessa looked into Ghislaine’s eyes.
In his gaze, there was warmth, as if meeting a friend after a long time.
In that warm voice and gaze, Vanessa felt a flicker of hope. She asked in a trembling voice,
“If… if I refuse… what will happen? Can I… stay here?”
“Really? You won’t regret it?”
“Y-yes…”
“You will.”
Ghislaine suddenly dropped his smile and answered firmly.
“If you stay here, you’ll die.”
