Chapter 3.1

Some say this:

While Cecilia’s brilliance and achievements are undeniable, there was no denying her that her striking appearance played a major role in doubling the number of her followers.

A face both elegant and proud.

Flawless, porcelain-smooth skin.

Eyes so clear and blue they rivaled even the finest aquamarines…

And that radiant silver hair, a mark of her powerful magical presence as an archmage.

She was beautiful, without a single flaw.

“Lady Cecil…”

One apprentice finally mustered the courage to speak.

“Are you really leaving?”

Cecilia tilted her head.

She’d planned to depart quietly. How had word spread so fast?

Who was it?

‘Whoever let it slip, they’re lucky.’

Cecilia was the type to repay every slight in kind.

‘If I weren’t in such a hurry to leave, I’d track them down and twist their tongue into a knotful mess.’

She smiled sweetly, the apprentices completely oblivious to the thoughts she was harboring.

“Yes. It’s time for me to go,” she confirmed softly.

Chaos erupted once more, this time with cries and wails of protest.

“How can you leave us so soon, Lady Cecil?! Please, just a few more years…”

“W-WAAAAH!”

“With your skill, you could become the Master of the Tower any day now! Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already surpassed Master Branto—”

Just then, a booming voice rang out.

“Well said!”

It belonged to none other than Branto, the Master of the Guardian Tower.

All the apprentices froze in unison.

Branto had recently celebrated his 100th birthday but still brimmed with the vigor of a man half his age.

His thunderous voice echoed through the entire tower.

“So you covet my title, Cecil?! Is this your ploy to seize the tower by threatening to leave? What a nasty little scheme, but alas, time waits for no one. There’s nothing that can be done!”

Cecilia stared at her master, exasperated.

She was no fool.

In fact, her sharp mind pieced it together instantly.

This scheming old man just wants to dump all his tedious responsibilities onto me so he can laze around!

And just as she expected,

“I’ll hand the tower over to you and retire to the south for a quiet, comfortable life—”

“I refuse.”

Cecilia cut him off without hesitation.

“…Refuse?”

This time, it was Branto who found himself speechless.

Though not for long.

“Why?! You would dare reject this glorious Guardian Tower?! This bastion of magic is older than the history of Mezina itself!”

“I have my reasons.”

Cecilia stood her ground.

“Training day and night, completely cut off from the outside world. Not even allowed to tell your family whether you’re alive or dead… Is that any way to live?”

Six years ago, at just nineteen, Cecilia Ceres had discovered her fate.

She would be forced into becoming the empress of the tyrant, the Emperor of Rynek, and to die a miserable death.

To escape her destiny, she married the Duke of Ceres, but the emperor pulled every string he could to claim her right back.

In the end, Cecilia filed for divorce just to flee from his reach, eventually knocking on the doors of the Guardian Tower.

She thought she’d be lucky if they even took her in as a maid. So when she discovered she had innate magical powers and could train as an apprentice, she was overjoyed.

But that joy was short-lived.