Book 10: Chapter 4: Encounter with Bartholomew Alexander (1/2)
Speaking of education, magic was a part of mandatory education. While people were not demanded to have practical experience, they were at least required to have a minimum of knowledge of it.
In fact, it would only be inconvenient for Duke Crockford if the boy can use them. So the boy was told to keep his hands off from practicing magic, but strangely enough, the more things that are prohibited, the more people want to touch them.
More than anything, the boy had magic that he really wanted to use. Magic to make a contract with a high-ranking spirit using a spirit stone.
The boy had studied magic on his own to achieve this before finally, he'd succeeded in doing so.
—Are you my new master?
Upon successfully completing the magic, a spirit appeared in the form of a young man with light blue hair. His features were neat and tidy, but his thin presence made him seem almost ignorable. While his eyes were pale in light blue, its color was paler than the aquamarine of the contract stone.
So, the boy smiled faintly and spoke.
”Spirit Wildeanu. I need your help to make my wish come true. I believe this wish should be appropriate to be fulfilled by you, a former servant of Queen Irene.”
—What is your wish?
The spirit asked in a faint voice, to which the boy replied with a very thin smile and eyes… that driven by obsession.
”I want to shine a certain star in the night sky.”
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The vibrations brought his consciousness back to reality, and he remembered that he was in a carriage.
As Felix was lightly rubbing his eyes, he heard some joyful voices coming from right next to him.
”That's unfair, I certain you've done something to the card…”
”I really haven't done anything to the cards. You're just too bad at playing card games.”
”Just to let you know, I even had done like this before…”
”Okay, it's my win.”
”Ah, wait…!”
Glenn turned over the cards in his hand to reveal his hand, and Eliane scattered her own cards in her lap and squealed in frustration.
The cards they were using had illustrations and letters on them. It was probably a game that was popular among common children.
”Good morning, you look like having fun.”
When Felix called out to her, Eliane jerked her shoulders up and hid her card in a panic as she looked at him.
”G-Good morning, Lord Felix. I'm so sorry for making such a racket…”
”No, don't worry about it. By the way, what kind of game is that?”
”I-I was doing this as a part of my social studies to understand the current trends of common people…”
Eliane seemed uncomfortable with the fact that she was playing the games of ordinary folks.
But Glenn didn't seem to mind as he collected the cards and said.
”It's a game that's popular among common folks these days. You have to collect four cards of dragon claws, scales, wings, and eyes, and the first one to complete the dragon wins. The type of dragon you complete depends on the type of parts you have, and the stronger the dragon, the higher your score. By the way, the strongest dragon is the black dragon…”
He could understand how well-designed the game was after listening to Glen's explanation. Although the rules were simple enough for a beginner to understand, the game involved a lot of strategies and was surprisingly deep.
Perhaps this game was designed to help people learn about different types of dragons through playing.
‘That sounds interesting,' said Felix with an innocuous comment, and Glenn smiled, showing his white teeth.
”President, would you like to join in this round?”
”I would love to, but I think we are about to reach the mansion.”
As Felix looked out the window, the driver added, ”Yes, we are almost there.”
Glenn regretfully collected the cards and put them in his bag. In addition to the cards, the bag was filled with what looked like playthings and dried fruit for snacks. The fact that there was nothing that would be useful for the escort mission was very much like him.
By the time they arrived at the Duke Rehnberg Household, the sun had completely set.
The group was greeted by an earnest-looking middle-aged man with neatly stroked grayish blond hair.
”My name is Peter Sams, and I will be taking care of you for the next few days. If you have any requests, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Hmm, Felix cocked his head.
Felix was vaguely remembered with Peter's face.
”I think I have seen your face before. Haven't you been at your grandfather's house before?”
Peter's eyes widen in surprise at Felix's words.
For a moment, a bitter expression of anxiety appeared on his face. Peter quickly regained his composure and bowed his head like a servant.
”It is an honor to be remembered by His Highness. Indeed. I used to be a servant of Lord Crockford.”
Duke Crockford and Duke Rehnburg have a deep friendship, so having a servant presented to another family is not uncommon.
However, the look of anxiety that Peter showed for a moment bothered Felix.
Maybe he had done something poorly in the Crockford family and was sent to another family. Or maybe he was a liaison between Duke Crockford and Duke Rehnberg.
Deciding that it was probably not something to bring up at this point, Felix put that thought away.
”Well then, I will be in your care from today… I was just wondering, has Lady Everett arrived yet?”
”Yes… oh, speak of the devil.”
There were two figures walking towards them from the back of the hallway. A small figure wearing a hooded robe holding a staff in her hand, and a tall young man.
The small figure was wearing a hood so tightly to even hide her face from view. However, the dark blue robes and long staff that only the Seven Sages were permitted to wear indicated that this person was the Silent Witch that Felix had admired.
But instead of the Silent Witch, whom Felix longed to meet, he was drawn to the man standing beside her. Felix had met this man once before.
His black hair was slightly unruly, his eyes were golden and sharp. The man who wore an old-fashioned robe when he met before was now dressed in the kind of neat clothes you would expect an attendant would wear.
”You are…”
Eliane and Glenn looked at Felix in curiosity, who could not hide his surprise.
The dark-haired man grinned and opened his mouth.
”Oh, I remember, I met Your Highness once.”
”…it's been a while, Bartholomew Alexander.”
When Felix mentioned the name, the dark-haired man puffed out his chest with pride.
”Indeed, I am Bartholomew Alexander, servant of the Silent Witch.”
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Monica was so surprised that she thought her heart would jump out of her mouth.
Waitwaitwaitwait!????
Monica tugged on the hem of Nero's shirt and moved to a corner of the hallway. Felix and the others were looking at the exchange curiously, but Monica was no longer in the mood for that.
”Oh, what's the matter, master?”
Monica pressed closer to Nero, who was smirking at her, killing her voice.
”H-H-H-How did you know His Highness, Nero?”
”Hmm? I haven't told you? I encountered him when I carried Chilly Guy to the boys' dormitory.”