114 – mature as much as it hurts – 1

***

After the party, the rest went to rest, but Lucille couldn’t.

That would be about the head of the Ain tribe, or their representative.

There, key figures from principalities and city-states attended the party.

It is not easy to get together like this, so it would not be strange to have a meeting about the future of the continent.

but. The unfortunate thing is that you yourself have to attend there yourself.

It was a natural duty as the queen’s heir.

“For Master…”

Lucille looked around. Among the crowd leaving the party, he saw his teacher.

At the party earlier, Lucille spotted him walking out while hiding the gorgeous clothes that attracted everyone’s attention with a white robe. Urgently asked Lukell.

“Mage Lukell. Master…”

“Hmm. This time the sage won’t have to participate. It’s also a meeting related to the kingdom’s policies.”

“However…”

“You can’t rely on the wise man every time. He’s the princess’ teacher, not her substitute.”

In addition, the sage is friends with each city-state, aristocrats, and demi-humans.

Didn’t you see it at the party the night before yesterday?

Starting with the sage’s suggestion, the subhumans and nobles who believed in him and were indebted to him tried to give away their valuables without any hesitation.

As such, even if the sage participated in this meeting, it was unlikely that he would make a statement for the royal family.

He always tries to stay neutral in these things.

“…still.”

“Don’t worry too much. The meeting won’t be too long.”

“What are you doing?”

I heard the queen’s voice. Unable to wait any longer, he smiled bitterly at Lucille.

“Come on. Let’s go. Princess.”

“yes…”

I couldn’t complain any longer. Aren’t you the disciple of that great sage?

He must show the appearance of a successor who will lead the kingdom.

Because that would make Master’s reputation shine even more.

But the sadness was unavoidable.

Today, the wise man faithfully escorted himself as a partner.

The sweetness is like a dream, so facing the reality like this makes my body feel sweet

So, after telling the wise man to see her later, Lucille reluctantly followed the queen.

Again, the meeting was quite boring.

If it was a problem that could be solved simply with goodwill, the content itself couldn’t be interesting as it had to think about the benefits between races along with the budget.

“Whoa. Then let’s finish here for today. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have another meeting tomorrow. Is there anyone who can stay until tomorrow?”

Some stayed and some said they would send someone later.

As the meeting was about to end, Lucille tried to get up quickly.

“And that’s what we talked about yesterday. You know that mace.”

Everyone who was about to leave was immediately seated. Unlike before, everyone was excitedly trying to express their opinions.

Except for Lucille.

“Ah. Lucille. It’s okay if you’re out. This is the story of the Tribal Federation.”

“Ah yes!!”

How long have you been waiting for that word?

Quite a bit of time has already passed. What if Master is sleeping?

I got out of the conference hall and moved to the annex building.

The sound of bugs is good, and the night air is cool.

The starlight is beautiful, and the voices of the maids and attendants whispering in the garden sound like songs.

‘Happy…’

The more I head towards the annex, the more I breathe with anticipation.

Before attending the party earlier, when the queen was waiting with the sage, she kept thinking about the story she shared.

mother.

The Queen of this country proposed to the Great Master to enter the royal family.

That means, after all, he thinks of Master as his mate.

Anyone of the royal family, especially the royal family of the queen’s heir, cannot even marry.

This is because it is necessary to maintain the noble lineage and ensure the legitimacy of the kingdom.

However, a sage whose lineage is not even sure is chosen as the husband of a royal family?

It couldn’t have been a truly unconventional proposal.

It was a testament to how great the wise man was.

Ahh. Also, Master.

You are truly wonderful.

I am so happy to be your disciple.

To be able to have a deeper relationship with you…

A wedding is pictured in my mind.

Master and I in white wedding dresses and fancy suits.

They ruled the country together, had two sons and two daughters.

Children who are wise but not greedy like wise men will become a happy family that does not give in to any hardships and adversity without being greedy for the throne.

Afterwards, the eldest son became the proud heir, and succeeded to the throne after marriage.

After becoming a king who bestows serenity, wouldn’t the queen and grandchild come to me and the retired master?

And I will hug my grandson, love him, and try to decide on his grandson’s name with my respectful husband.

The time when my head became hazy at the thought of living happily until old age with the teacher I love so much.

Lucille stopped and took a deep breath.

I felt the soft and warm hope freeze at once.

“Ahahaha!! Dance properly!”

“Are you dancing perfectly right?”

A bright and lively voice, a voice full of joy that accepts it.

Lucille, who had been staring blankly at the two men and women, stumbled and leaned against a large tree as if to hide herself.

oh

The magic is gone.

The magic that can monopolize Master is limited to birthdays.

The birthday had already passed.

I actually knew.

“Ahahaha! Hyeonu! Try your best! Try it like before! You danced so well when you were with the princess.”

“It’s because you can’t.”

“You said you couldn’t do it?”

“No, but I can’t do that much… Aww!!”

“What did you say?”

“Is this stepping on your feet on purpose?! Go a little faster!”

“Kyaaak!”

I knew the truth.

“Ahahaha~! It’s hot. Dancing is actually a lot more fun than I thought~?”

“Heh. Then Cardinal. How about dancing a song with me?”

“Um. That’s right! Marquis Lacey. Hyeonu. Can you play for me?”

“That’s it.”

Lucille knew it would be like this.

“Uhahaha! Sage! What is that?!”

“Heh. How is it?”

“Puhahaha!! Hey! Sage. Shall we play an ensemble? Shall we play an ensemble?”

“Ha… ha… Ah. It’s fun. Sage! Make me some cocktails.”

“Wait. Let’s see~ Where is the liqueur~?”

It’s something I’ve noticed since I went to Raidin.

I’ve just been ignoring it until now.

Lucille leaned her back against a large tree, slowly hiding herself in the shadows.

That he is more energetic when he is outside than when he is teaching himself in the palace.

Rather than teaching himself in the royal palace, when he is with adventurers, he shines more brightly than his master.

and.

than yourself.

Cardinal Veronica.

That I got along better with Master.

than yourself.

Even that Cardinal Veronica could make Master happier.

So Lucille closed her eyes.

I close my eyes to hold back the pain in my chest.

I hold back the tears that seem like they’re about to burst out.

Aren’t you different from before?

Isn’t the me now different from the me then, when I was trapped in my own world, obsessed with qualifications and jealousy?

So be patient.

“..hahaha…”

Lucille barely swallowed her tears and moved on.

You shouldn’t cry.

I am the one and only disciple of the great sage.

So never be weak.

You have to be patient.

You have to be patient.

As such, it should become stronger.

So that. Master is satisfied.

In the end, Lucille couldn’t bear to go to the side of the bright wise man and had no choice but to return to Baekam Palace.

“Princess?”

“I’m sleepy. I’ll sleep first.”

“…Yes.”

The lady-in-waiting did not say that she had to remove her makeup or change her dress.

I just calmly turned off the light, closed the door, and left.

that care.

Even though I saw that my hands were clenched so tightly that they turned white, I am so grateful that they did not ask me anything.

Only after being alone like that did Lucille loosen her grip.

Knock. Knock.

Are your nails damaged?

Drops of blood similar to the color of your hair fall instead of the tears you are holding back.

Lucille, who stared blankly at it, saw something soaring.

Maybe jealousy, maybe shame.

maybe envy.

Substituting himself in Veronica’s place, he gulped down the trivial delusions he enjoyed.

It shouldn’t be like this.

should not be shown

Even when there were difficulties or problems, Master never showed any concern or concern about them.

So, as his disciple, I must do the same.

Lucille lay on the bed and closed her eyes, feeling that the negative emotions that held her in the past would rise if she was a little vigilant.

please.

I hope this night passes quickly.

The night that was so ecstatic and dream-like magic ended.

Lucille was sick.

That’s how much I became an adult.

“…ah.”

It was early morning when I woke up, as always.

Is it because I fell asleep without removing my makeup yesterday?

Fortunately, I didn’t shed any tears, but my skin was quite torn.

Lucille trudged and sat down in front of the dressing table, since the maid-in-waiting had a face that would make her sigh.

The red-haired girl in the mirror was really messed up.

The makeup smeared around her eyes, and the rouge on her lips stained red.

Is that all? The drug that revitalized the skin had lost its effect, making Lucille in the mirror more dull.

Messy, messy hair.

dull skin.

A barely smiling face.

It was a mess, like when I was afraid of the world and wished I was alone in this room.

But why?

The more I looked at the pathetic and low self-esteem girl’s face reflected in the mirror, the more I laughed.

The reason why he is not miserable even in this appearance is because, unlike then, a large pillar remains by his side.

“…Let’s wash.”

She called the head lady-in-waiting to take a bath, put on a simple make-up to make sure her ugly appearance was erased, and then headed to the annex.

“…ah.”

The garden of the annex is nothing short of a mess.

No matter how much they ate, drank, and played yesterday, not only the adventurers, but also the Marquis Lacey, the beast tribe chief Leo, and the mayor of Dwarven City, Marax, were asleep hugging their bottles.

“…none.”

If you meet now, you honestly don’t know if you can hold on or not.

Cardinal Veronica, fortunately, was not here.

Did you go to pray at dawn?

no maybe…?

It reminds me of Veronica’s face, who laughed brightly and talked while facing the wise man last night.

Good-looking men and women enjoy the night festival.

After drinking a lot, I went to my room…

“…I don’t think so.”

I don’t know about other people, but Master is not the kind of person who moves so impulsively.

After trying to calm down, we arrived at a corner of the garden.

The place where he always took classes was very clean, as if it had nothing to do with the mess earlier.

and in the center of it.

As usual, a man was meditating cross-legged.

“…hahaha.”

That’s right too.

A laugh came out.

Master. you are always the same

You don’t know how much it reassures me.

“I’m here?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t been able to attend class because I’ve been dancing so far, so I’m going to start class properly from today. Let’s start with meditation.”

I knew what to do.

Lucille, who walked slowly, was not next to the wise man who always sat.

He sat down in front of him.

Now, it’s time to face him.

“…what?”

As he looked at him in puzzlement, Lucille gulped.

I feel like I’m going to throw up at any moment because of the tension.

what you need to do now.

It’s about knocking on a cracked shell.

You may be more hurt in the process of breaking out of your shell.

And you may suffer even more than you do now.

However.

It should change.

You have to grow up.

“Master.”

My voice trembled.

The eyes that looked at the wise man, the teacher, and the person he had a crush on were full of affection that seemed like honey would drip.

“I love Master.”

“Is that so?”

Despite the girl’s lifelong confession, the wise man was as relaxed as always.

I’m so envious of that composure, and I’m so sorry.

“Would you date me on the premise of marriage? Marry me. Will you rule this kingdom?”

It was the first confession of my life.

My hands are shaking, and my heart is beating like crazy.

Even so, Lucille did not avert her gaze.

The wise man met those serious and straight eyes.

“sorry.”

Likewise, he answered honestly and honestly.

oh

It was tea.

okay. It seemed like a car.

Is it because you already expected it?

The wound wasn’t as big as I thought.

However, it remained so deep that it could not be recovered forever.

What he paid in return was a single tear he had been barely holding back until now.

“…Master always looks straight at me. Even when I refuse…”

“I’ve never turned a blind eye to you. Anyway, you are my only disciple and will be my only disciple.”

The wise man already knew that the special position of a lover was not his.

that’s why i had to

this egg.

The bird, who was holding its breath here, had to break out of its egg and establish its relationship with the sage.

“…will you never accept disciples again?”

“okay.”

“really?”

“If you want, you can even swear.”

I was happy to say that.

No matter how much he grows and changes, he will maintain the relationship of only one teacher and disciple.

That belief broke the egg and raised Lucille, who was in an unstable state.

“…Then. Should I be proud of being Master’s disciple?”

“Sure.”

“…thank you.”

Lucille laughed.

Anxiety that even this might be rejected.

A sense of hope.

The emotional remnants of the misery were now completely gone.

Lucille, who came out of the egg and became an adult, looked squarely at the one and only teacher in her life and spoke confidently.

“Thank you, Master. ‘Master’s only disciple who cherishes and loves the most’ will start training right away.”

“…yes?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Uh. No. I’m not wrong. In the first place, I cherish and love you the most, and you are my only disciple…”

“Isn’t that true?”

You have to be bold.

You must not back down.

Even if it is your own teacher.

Because that would be what Master wants me to be.

“… Ha. This is a one-way trick. Yes. You’re right.”

When the bewildered wise man laughed, Lucille closed her eyes with a mischievous smile.

***

“The ‘teacher’s most cherished and beloved disciple’ will start training right away.”

“…yes?”

What else is he talking about?

Lucille laughed at the absurd me.

So natural, so comfortable.

The confusion and anxiety she had so far seemed to have completely disappeared.

“Am I wrong?”

“Uh. No. I’m not wrong. In the first place, I cherish and love you the most, and you are my only disciple…”

“Isn’t that true?”

under. what the.

You’re making me speechless.

“… Ha. This is a one-way trick. Yes. You’re right.”

Lucille closed her eyes and started meditating with a smirk and a nice smile.

Be parentheses.

Growing up to the point of leaving me speechless in just one night.

Awesome. Lucille.

If you have that much mentality, you can do anything by yourself now.

Now, if you help me learn the ultimate skill, which is a graduation gift and the last lesson.

I laughed at the new message that popped up in the achievement window.

[You have achieved the S-class teacher achievement.]

I can leave without worry