Extra Story 5: Story of A Certain and His Servant (1/2)
A young boy, who was the owner of this elegant room, mumbling uncomprehendingly as he was looking at the necklace on the table. Occasionally, he would glance back and forth between the grimoire and the necklace in his hands, before placing his small palm on the necklace and chanting the spell that was written in the grimoire.
”…What are you doing, Lord ******?”
The servant boy, who had been silently watching his master, asked in an indifferent voice to keep his dismay at bay. And the boy who had been staring at the necklace turned his head and looked back, in return.
”The teacher from basic magic class today told me that a spirit has resided in the necklace I've got from my mother.”
”Yes, I've heard Lady Irene has a good aptitude for magic and made a contract with a high-ranking spirit.”
”Then, won't my grandfather would be pleased if I could do the same thing as my mother?”
The boy's sky-blue eyes gleamed, leaving his servant in complete loss.
Oh, why is my master so dull-witted?—Hiding his thought, the servant quietly told him the cruel reality.
”I doubt your grandfather will be pleased.”
”Eh?”
”To contract a high-ranking spirit, you must have the same aptitude with the spirit you will make a contract with. But, Lord ******, you have different aptitude with the spirit Lady Irene had contracted with, so it can't be achieved.”
In the first place, making a contract with a high-ranking spirit requires a huge amount of mana and the ability to understand magical formulas. The servant boy was inwardly exasperated, thinking why did he say that when he should have been taught this subject in his class.
The boy hung his head down dejectedly, staring down at the necklace. That sight made the servant let out a sigh inwardly. After all, he didn't want to make his master sad.
”Lord ******, could you give me a moment?”
”…?”
The servant flipped open his own jacket and pulled out a book that had been tucked on his back.
Grownup people would have been able to sneak a book under his jacket, but the servant was a boy not much older than his master. So, the only way to bring in a book without the adults finding out was to hide it in his jacket, tying it to his body.
”Here, take this.”
The boy's eyes lit up when he saw the title of the book the servant held out to him.
”It's an astronomy book by Mary Harvey, the [Star Oracle Witch]!”
”I've been hearing you mention of wanting to read this book.”
”Whoa! Thank you! I've been wanting to read that for ages!”
The boy hugged the book to his chest and jumped in delight, expressing his joy with his whole body. Normally, he would scold his master for his ill-mannered behavior, but, only for this time, the servant boy feigned ignorance.
The boy—master of the servant boy—had taken an interest in the stars in the night sky. However, the grownups always tried to keep such books away from him, saying that astronomy was not necessary for his future. That was why the servant boy had secretly procured the book—only to please his master, nothing more.
”You know, the [Star Oracle Witch] is one of the Seven Sages, in fact, she's an amazing prophetess who can forecast the future of the country by watching the movement of the stars! It said there are many fortune tellers in this country, but the only person who's been titled as the ”prophetess” was the [Star Oracle Witch]. Many said the color of the stars and the number of times they blink are important, considering that the color of the stars directly indicates the lifespan of the star…”
”I regret to inform you but we should postpone this discussion until later. I believe the daughter of Marquis Shellbury should be arrived by now, so we should get ready.”
At the servant boy's words, his master pouted.