A complex emotion flashed in Alice's grey-blue eyes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, as if touching a long-forgotten memory.
“Linde,” her voice trembled slightly, yet remained remarkably clear.
“I never knew who my father was. My mother only told me that he was a nobleman, at least in terms of status, and not some… wild boy. She kept him very hidden, so hidden that I didn’t even have the desire to find out.”
She paused, her gaze drifting to the winter sky of Blackrock Territory outside the window, as if she could pierce through the clouds and see that distant academy, filled with magical radiance and undercurrents.
“Because of my mother…Lourie Erna,” Alice said, her tone filled with awe and a hint of barely perceptible pride as she mentioned the name.
"She is the dean of the Royal Academy of Magecraft, and is also known as the 'Witch of All Magic' in the eyes of many."
"The Witch of All Laws?" Lin De's eyes narrowed slightly; the name itself represented an extreme power.
“Yes,” Alice nodded. “She is the only archmage to date who is recognized as having truly mastered all schools of magic. Elemental magic, evocation, protection, prophecy, necromancy, illusion… In her hands, magic has no boundaries. This talent earned her the position of Dean, but it also made her a thorn in the side of some people.”
"The academy... is far from a pure land."
Alice's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
"It was overshadowed by royal power and served the war effort. The weapons developed under the mother's leadership were incredibly powerful, but they also made countless enemies."
The 'Crystal Dragon Breath Cannon' that changed the course of the battle on the battlefield of Fortified City was made by my mother.
It reclaimed vast swathes of lost territory for the kingdom, including Blackrock Territory, which you are now standing on.
But this immense achievement brought not only glory, but also overwhelming jealousy and naked hostility.
Alice's voice lowered:
“Those people, hiding in the dark corners of the academy, went from slandering her research as ‘blasphemous’ and ‘threatening the balance of the kingdom,’ to later… even escalating to threats.”
Threatening her position, threatening her safety, even... threatening me.
Linde's hands, resting on his knees, tightened slightly.
He could imagine the open and covert attacks a woman who wielded such terrifying power yet was at the center of a power vortex would face.
Alice, as her only daughter and potential weakness, is in an even more dangerous situation.
“Mother…she was scared.”
Alice's voice trembled slightly, but she quickly suppressed it with her stubbornness.
“It wasn’t that she was afraid of herself, but that she was afraid those people would harm me. So, she went to your father, Earl Bruce. A deal… or rather, a commission. Under the guise of ‘sending a private tutor to the Earl’s second son,’ she sent me to you, who was about to be ‘exiled’ to Blackrock Territory.”
"Nominally your teacher, but in reality... he's the one who sent me away from the eye of the storm at the academy, to seek refuge in the earldom."
Linde understood.
No wonder Alice became his teacher in that way, no wonder she possessed unfathomable magical knowledge at such a young age, and no wonder she was so secretive about the academy.
Behind all of this is a mother finding a lone boat for her daughter amidst raging waves.
“So,” Lind looked at Alice, his gaze deep, “you know this Carthus?”
Alice recalled for a moment and nodded:
“I’ve heard of him. Casas Weyland, he was indeed my mother’s student, or rather… he used to be.”
He wasn't considered a top talent, and he never managed to stand out in the highly competitive inner circle of the academy.
Later, it seems that I was assigned to the 'Department for Observing and Recording Spell Phenomena,' a department that is more clerical and far removed from core research.
His reputation is generally neutral, even somewhat mediocre; he has nothing particularly outstanding about him, and I haven't heard of any bad deeds or misdeeds.
"Ordinary? Mediocre?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Lin De's lips as he tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest. "These kinds of people are often the easiest to manipulate and the easiest... to betray in the power struggles."
His doubts deepened.
Alice's whereabouts are a closely guarded secret between the Earl's mansion and Dean Lurie.
Unless it was Dean Luli herself who, under extremely secretive circumstances, sent this absolutely trusted "mediocre" student to deliver a message or seek help, the fact that Carsas appeared in Blackrock Territory itself meant a huge problem!
More likely, Dean Luli's rivals within the academy, through some unknown channel (perhaps by monitoring the dean, or by infiltrating certain parts of the organization), learned of Alice's possible whereabouts and sent this seemingly inconspicuous and unsuspecting Carthus to "confirm" and "make contact."
As for what he planned to do after making contact? Forcibly take him back? Coerce him? Or something even more sinister? Linde dared not think about it, but murderous intent was already churning in his eyes.
“Alice,” Lind’s voice was firm and unwavering. He stood up, walked to Alice, and gently placed his hands on her slightly thin shoulders, his deep purple eyes fixed on her. “You are now my woman, one of the mistresses of Blackrock Territory. I will not let you suffer any harm, not even the slightest bit.”
His words were as firm as a rock, carrying the unique majesty of a lord and a deep protectiveness towards his partner.
“I will handle Carthus and his group. You should stay out of sight for now and continue your research. Just stay in the workshop tower and don’t go anywhere. I will have Nix keep an eye on their every move.”
A glint of light flashed in Linde's eyes. "With his talent, he's best suited for this kind of situation."
Alice felt the strength in Lind's palm and the determination in his words, and her unease gradually subsided. She trusted him, a trust that had long surpassed their initial cooperative relationship.
“Mm.” Alice nodded gently, her grey-blue eyes reflecting Lind’s image. “I’ll listen to you. But… Lind, what if… what if Mother really sent him? What if she’s in danger…”
“Don’t worry,” Lind interrupted her, his tone steady. “I’ll find out. If Casas really is your mother’s man, he’ll naturally produce evidence that only you and your mother know. If not… humph.”
A cold snort, containing unspoken meaning.
He leaned down and placed a soft yet powerful kiss on Alice's smooth forehead:
"Take care of yourself, my genius mage. Leave the outside world to me."
After calming Alice down, Lind turned and left the workshop tower, his steps steady yet swift.
“Nix!” Lind called softly from the shadows of the castle corridor.
"Meow?" A lazy response came as Nix's little head peeked out from Lind's shadow, her big green eyes asking questions.
"Keep an eye on those mages in blue robes in the guesthouse on the west side of the castle. The one in the lead is called Carthus."
Lind's instructions were clear and cold: "I need to know their every move, every conversation, who they've contacted, and whether they've passed any information out. Especially that Carsas, keep a close eye on him!"
"Meow~" Nix's little ears twitched excitedly, and her emerald green eyes flashed with a predator-like glint in the shadows.
Surveillance? That's her specialty! She nodded her little head, and her whole body silently melted back into the shadows, disappearing instantly like ink drops in water.
Linde stood by the high window of the castle, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction of the western inn. The winter sun cast shifting shadows on his face.
Carthus... Whether you come with good intentions or bad, stepping into my territory and coveting my people, be prepared to pay the price.
The next step is to personally meet this "ordinary" mage and see what he's really up to. The safety of Alice's mother, the undercurrents within the academy, and the mastermind behind Carthus… he'll expose them all!
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