Translator: Cinder Translations
...
The white waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, while flocks of seagulls searched for food between the sky and sea. This was an ordinary morning at Frand Port.
A passenger ship slowly entered the harbor, docking steadily at the pier with the help of a tugboat.
Passenger ships had recently become popular as the movement of people between the Northwest Bay and various trade points surged. The previously used cargo ships could no longer meet the demand, as they were primarily designed for transporting goods, leaving little space for passengers and resulting in poor accommodations.
As a result, several shipping companies began to launch dedicated passenger ships.
Considering that typical passengers lacked the agility of sailors, the method of boarding the passenger ships had improved from a rudimentary plank to a gangway with guardrails on both sides.
A tall, beautiful woman stepped down the gangway and onto the dock, her waist-length emerald green hair swaying gently behind her as she walked.
"Sevya Asitini?"
Not far ahead, a woman with chestnut brown hair caught her attention and surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
Ladia Setia approached her and asked the sorceress.
Sevya offered her a faint smile.
"I've been waiting for you at the dock every day; you said you would return around this time."
However, Sevya's expression quickly shifted to one of confusion.
"Where's your Earl?"
"What do you mean, my Earl?"
Ladia's reaction startled Sevya; it was tinged with a hint of embarrassment, as if something sensitive had been touched.
In Sevya's impression, Ladia was supposed to be calm and collected.
She must be facing some situation by returning alone, Sevya thought to herself.
"I mean... where's Lord Grayman? Shouldn't you have returned with his fleet?"
Ladia's gaze dimmed. "Plans change. Lord Grayman needs to stay in Crystal Glare for a while. I have a pile of official duties to handle, so I returned as originally planned."
Sevya pressed on, "What happened? Why does he need to stay in Crystal Glare?"
Ladia turned her head away. "Paul Grayman is now a son-in-law of the royal family! Hmph~"
Though the final "hmph" was barely audible, Sevya still caught it.
"What... what?"
Sevya Asitini was shocked!
"Grayman is marrying into the royal family? Ladia Setia, how could you let it come to this?"
"What do you mean, how could I let it come to this? Can I control that?"
"My heavens! You're so close to him every day..."
Sevya became a bit anxious but quickly realized that the bustling dock was not the place to discuss such matters.
"Come with me!"
She pulled Ladia along to an alchemy shop not far from the dock area, established by sorcerers fleeing from Horns Bay.
In a room in the backyard, Sevya began to question Ladia.
"Lady Setia, why, after all this time, have you not captured Earl Grayman?"
"What do you mean?"
Ladia raised an eyebrow and retorted harshly.
"Alright, alright! Let me rephrase that! Why hasn't Earl Grayman captured you? He's a powerful lord! You're so beautiful; how can he resist?"
"What do you mean 'capture'? Let me clarify again! Paul Grayman is my lord, and I am his loyal subject, that's all!"
Faced with Sevya's bluntness, Ladia rarely raised her voice.
Feeling she had been too hasty, Sevya sighed and softened her tone.
"Sigh, Lady Setia! Can you swear on your honor and with sacred magic that you have no other feelings for Earl Grayman?"
"I..." Ladia was left speechless, a faint blush appearing on her fair face.
Sevya asked, "Which princess from the royal family is Earl Grayman marrying?"
"Catherine Rodney!"
"That princess? Oh, this is troublesome. With her status, the support she brings to the Grayman family will be immeasurable."
"I know that without you telling me."
"So what do you plan to do in the future?"
"I plan to apply for a transfer away from Alden Town to take up a position as a principal... or even a teacher—after all, I pledged my loyalty to him."
Ladia's expression was one of unspeakable melancholy. "I've told myself countless times that if I were to become involved with him, it would only bring him disaster. So I should just smile and watch him find a suitable partner and settle down. But when that day really comes, it still feels a bit difficult. So I will retreat and find a place where I won't see him, serving Alden in silence."
"No!"
Sevya suddenly raised her voice.
"Why not? This is my own business!" Ladia was somewhat annoyed.
Sevya calmed down and said earnestly, "Lady Setia, if you're so close to Earl Grayman, why not take advantage of that?"
"Earl Grayman is already the most powerful lord in the Northwest Bay, and he is tolerant towards us sorcerers. Just imagine, if his first wife were a sorceress, it would further improve his view of sorcerers. How much could that help our fellow sorcerers in the Northwest Bay?"
"I don't want to be that wicked witch who enchants men!"
"Normal feelings between men and women are not enchantment. How is that evil?"
Ladia shot back sarcastically, "Is that so? You're not bad-looking either. Why don't you try it yourself?"
"Ahem, you're joking. I can't compare with your beauty. In any case, I urge you, even if you can't become his wife, please stay by his side as his assistant, as a bridge between us sorcerers and the rulers of this land."
"Why?"
Sevya said earnestly, "I know you are a kind person. As the most powerful sorceress among us, you are our natural leader. Don't you feel some obligation to your fellow sorcerers? Even just a little."
"Earl Grayman does not oppress sorcerers!"
"But he still has some wariness. Don't you acknowledge that? If you, the only current link, choose to self-exile, who knows if his attitude will change someday."
Ladia fell silent, her face showing signs of conflict.
The person before her moved, and Ladia looked at Sevya in surprise.
This proud sorceress actually knelt before her on one knee.
"There needs to be someone by Earl Grayman's side who can represent us, and that person can only be you, Lady Ladia Setia."
She lowered her head, her tone filled with anxiety, as if afraid Ladia would say no.
The green-haired sorceress stared at her compatriot, unable to utter a word.
The two remained motionless, time passing in a silence that felt endless.
"Sigh!" Ladia bit her lip, "Alright, I'll stay in Alden Town."
"You agree?"
Sevya raised her head, and Ladia then noticed that tears glistened in her eyes.
Suddenly bound, she was tightly embraced by the other.
"I sincerely thank you on behalf of our fellow sorcerers, Lady Setia. If you need us for anything, please don't hesitate."
Ladia's tone returned to calmness. "Don't speak of need or command. Since we are both strangers in a foreign land, helping each other out is only reasonable. By the way, what were you waiting for me at the dock for?"
"I wanted to give you some advice..."
"What advice?"
"Actually, I already hinted at it earlier."
"Hmm?"
"You'd best develop a closer relationship with the Earl."
"Don't overstep!"
(End of the Chapter)
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