Chapter 131:
"It's, it's magic!"
Some of the nobles forgot to save face and shouted. Even if they knew that there were magicians their entire life, they only thought it was part of their knowledge. It was a moment when they witnessed such magic before their eyes so it couldn't have been less surprising.
"......!"
"Heok."
The magician, who gradually revealed herself wrapped in the wind with azure mana, was dressed in a robe. The robe almost covered her face, barely showing her lower lip. However, when they saw the part that was only slightly exposed, they knew at once that the magician was a woman.
"It's a human."
"Of course, it will be human. The magicians aren't of any other race."
"It looks like a woman, right?"
"It's amazing...... I can't believe I've seen a magician show up casting magic spells with these two eyes."
The nobles belatedly realized that they were frivolous and coughed in vain. Even though they tried to pretend now, their unsophisticated appearance had already come into Ethan and Sarah's eyes.
"It's only natural for you to be amazed. Where is the presence of magicians so common?"
"Ehem!"
At Ethan's words with a subtle smile, the nobles let out an uncomfortable cough and looked away. It was something that couldn't be acknowledged by their noble pride. Ethan was accustomed to seeing the attitude of the nobles and beckoned to the Imperial Knight who was opening his mouth blankly at them. He was the guy who had escorted Sarah the other day.
"His Majesty's messenger is here."
"Ah, yes!"
Only then did the Imperial Knight come to his senses. He was here today to convey the Emperor's will. His duties were briefly disrupted by the advent of the magician, but the Imperial Knight soon took the Emperor's edict out of his arms to carry out his orders.
"His Majesty asked Magician-nim, who was willing to step up for her friendship with Cromwell, to tell her himself."
At the words of the Imperial Knight, all the nobles bent their knees and bowed their heads.
"......"
Among them, the only person standing upright was the magician. But no one could tell her to show her respect. No matter which empire the magician went to, she could receive treatment close to that of a semi-emperor. Nevertheless, the magicians chose to be confined to the magic tower. They were people living in a different world from those who were tainted by power and greed. To such magicians, what could the Emperor of the Crombell Empire mean to them?
"......Crombell said that we will actively cooperate with the magic tower and look forward to a relationship that can share such an eternal friendship in the future."
The Imperial Knight narrowed his eyebrows slightly when he saw the magician with an unknown expression standing upright, but he read all of the Emperor's edicts without hesitation.
"His Majesty talked to the magic tower?"
"That's great. His Majesty's power extends to the magic tower......"
The nobles gently straightened their backs and looked at the Duke of Ambrosia.
"I wondered why Duke Ambrosia himself moved into this dangerous incident...... That's how it was."
"It's a chance to build a relationship with a magician, and I would do the same."
"Why would you volunteer now?"
"If His Majesty only allows it, of course, we should. However, you wouldn't be able to even get close to the magician."
Words of regret came and went busily in a very small voice. Some had a look of yearning, jealous, bounding.
"It's time to go."
Sarah alternately looked at Ethan and the nobles and held Claude up with a big smile on her face. Then she approached Ethan step by step.
"Say goodbye to Duke-nim, Claude-nim."
"......"
Sarah asked him to say goodbye, but Claude pouted and dazed. The child was heartbroken at the fact that he had to be away from Ethan for a long time. Claude said, looking eagerly at Ethan in Sarah's arms with tearful eyes.
"Can't I follow you too?"
"No, it's dangerous."
The answer came from Sarah, not Ethan. Sarah's words, which cut out Claude's grumbling with a soft but strong voice, were quite harsh. Claude had already learned that Sarah should never say something like this.
"......I know."
Claude bowed his head sullenly, then buried his head in Sarah's shoulder, unable to hide his disappointment.
"That."
Seeing Claude like that, Ethan clicked his tongue and laughed in a low-pitched voice. Then he stretched his arms out toward Claude and said.
"So you're not even giving me a hug."
"......!"
At Ethan's words, Claude raised his head and looked at his father. He could see a friendly smile, two arms open toward him, and a wide chest between them. How tightly his father's arms hold him. How warm and reassuring they were. Claude knew it all too well. So, the fact that his father going out for a few days, or maybe months, was even more disappointing and sad.
"......Huu."
Claude eventually stretched his arms toward Ethan, shedding tears that he had held back.
"Haha."
In the end, Ethan, who took Claude with a smile, hugged the child he was holding with all his might. Ethan gently stroked Claude's back, whispering to the child, knowing that the ring that Sarah had supplemented her powers was vibrating subtly.
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Really ?"
"Yes, it's not easy for me to leave you alone."
"......Yesss."
Claude sobbed softly at Ethan's words and buried his face on his shoulders. Ethan stroked Claude's hair, vividly feeling the dampness of his shoulders. Sarah, who was looking at the father and son, felt emotional and brought her hand to her chest, and her eyes lit up like lanterns. It was really a beautiful sight.
'I can't believe those two became so close.'
On the first day of her visit to Duke Ambrosia's family as a nanny, Ethan's face, which turned pale just by Claude's approach, was still vivid. Claude, who had stiffened like a piece of wood in his father's arms, was also still clearly in her memory.
'I really worked hard......'
It was a change that Sarah brought about. It was so obvious that she pressed down on her overwhelmed heart to calm down.
"Claude-nim, come back to me. Duke-nim has to leave soon."
"Uh um......"
Claude clenched Ethan's hem with an unbecoming childishness. Thanks to Claude rubbing his face while sniffing, the hem of Ethan's shoulder was getting wet by anyone who could see it. Sarah let out a small sigh when she saw Claude who didn't seem to let Ethan go so easily.
"I'll dry your clothes later."
"It's fine."
Ethan smiled, carefully wrapped Claude's back with his big hand, and fixed the child a little more in his arms.
"I think my son is very upset. I'll give you a hug right before we leave."
"......!"
Claude raised his head with his wet eyes wide open. Ethan wiped the tears from the boy's soft cheeks and pulled the corners of his beautiful lips into a smile.
"I can't believe I'm seeing you being so bitter like this. If I say I'm happy, am I such an ugly father?"
"No, no you are not!"
At Ethan's words, Claude shook his head vigorously. For Claude now, Ethan was the best father. He was always a wonderful, strong, and reliable father. There were times when he thought he hated and detested him. But Sarah told him. She said that when people had something precious, they were afraid that they would lose it. She said his father was afraid because he cherished Claude so much. From the moment he realized it, Claude liked his father as the best in the world.
"I like Father."
Claude said so and fell back into Ethan's arms. Sarah, who was watching the two of them, pouted her lips as if she was upset, and spread her arms.
"What about me, Claude-nim? Aren't you going to hug me?"
"Ack......"
At Sarah's words, Claude fluttered into her arms again. Then he whispered in a very small voice in Sarah's ear, who might have been upset.
"I like Sarah, too. You know that, right?"
"I know. I'll miss you, too."
Sarah snuggled up to Claude and gave Ethan a quiet wink. Ethan also nodded slightly and slowly turned his back.
"Let's get going."
At Ethan's command, Ambrosia's carriages and knights moved in unison. Now it was time to leave for the Alton Estate.
"I'll escort you."
Ethan said so and held out his hand to the magician who had been standing still for a long time. Then the magician, who was hard to recognize the expression on her face because of the robe, turned her head slightly and looked to the side where Sarah and Claude were.
"......"
Then, after a while, she grabbed Ethan's outstretched hand and climbed into the prepared carriage.
"Have a safe trip!"
Sarah smiled brightly at the back. When she couldn't see Ethan in the carriage anymore, she shook Claude's hand instead of crying and greeted him brightly.
"Nanny isn't going?"
"Shhh, Claude-nim. I told you it was a secret."
"Ah! That's right."
Claude covered his mouth involuntarily and looked around. Fortunately, everyone's eyes and attention were on the magician, so Claude's small voice could not be heard.
"I can't help it because I have to give the impression that I'm left in the mansion. I'll be moving over there soon, so please don't worry about me even more."
"......I'm already upset!"