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n“Gilead,” after glaring at Lovellian, Tanis turned to her husband. “We don’t really need to take Eward back home with us, do we? Eward isn’t… he hasn’t truly dabbled in black magic. He just made an attempt, that’s all.”

n“…,” Gilead remained stonily silent.

nTanis pleaded, “Since he knows that he’s made a mistake, he won’t do something like that again. If we treat this as a lesson, then he might even work harder from now on. So can’t we just…?”

nTanis couldn’t help but feel desperate. Cyan and Ciel were waiting for them at the main estate. While Eward was off in Aroth, Cyan and Ciel were busy winning the approval of the members of the main family. It was impossible for the eldest son, who had returned after causing a scandal, to obtain the main family members’ approval at this point.

nThat was why Eward had been sent to Aroth in the first place. Since he couldn’t receive any recognition by staying at the main estate, Tanis had wanted him to win the approval of others in Aroth. She had hoped that by becoming the disciple of the Red Tower Master and interacting with other outstanding wizards, he would be able to form bonds and obtain power that wouldn’t be available to him at the main estate.

nShe needed for Eward to somehow remain in Aroth. If he were to become Lovellian’s disciple, he could use the Archwizard’s support to further develop himself. This scandal would also become just a trivial matter to be overlooked.

nTanis attempted to persuade Gilead, “If he has the right conditions, Eward can do better. He has the talent for it. You know that too, right dear? Eward has always been fond of books and magic ever since he was young—”

n“Enough,” Gilead was tired of listening to such talk.

nHe was well aware of how Eward had spent his days in Aroth. The results of Eward’s four years here were futile and worthless. Although he had been granted every convenience and received plenty of support, Eward’s magical abilities hadn’t surpassed the Third Circle.

nConsidering that he had been trained in controlling mana ever since he was young, this was an appalling level of skill. He could barely even be called a Third Circle wizard; in terms of both his understanding and his skills in magic, he was actually much worse than that.

nIn a pained voice, Gilead remarked, “…In over three hundred years of the Lionheart clan’s history, there has never been a single member of the main family who became a black wizard.”

n“This is… it’s just a folly of youth,” Tanis’s eyes wavered as she feebly tried to convince herself and others.

nInstead of answering immediately, Gilead exchanged looks with Eugene, “…I’m sorry, Eugene. Could I ask you to step outside for a minute?”

n“Yes, sir,” Eugene was just as reluctant to keep listening to such a difficult conversation.

nAs Eugene got up, Tanis turned to glare at him, “…I told you to get along with Eward. Even though I asked to take care of your big brother—!”

n“Tanis,” Gilead’s eyes snapped open to glare at Tanis. “Eugene has done nothing wrong. So why are you taking this out on him?”

nTanis argued, “That brat could have just stopped Eward…! But instead of taking care of the issue before then, he just quietly waited and allowed things to get to—!”

n“Don’t say another word!” Gilead suddenly roared.

nAlthough Eugene, who had been standing there patiently, wondered whether or not he should say something to Tanis, in the end, he didn’t dare to do so and just bowed his head.

n“I’ll take my leave now,” Eugene said as he turned to leave.

nStaying here just to act as the target of Tanis’ hatred would be an exhausting affair. After Eugene had left, Tanis glared at the closed door and took a deep breath.

n“…I may have made an improper remark,” Tanis admitted. “But Gilead, please reconsider.”

n“I will not change my decision. Even though Eward is my son, what that child has done has tarnished the clan’s name. I cannot possibly allow the boy to remain in Aroth,” Gilead stated.

n“But what place is left for our child at the main estate?!” Tanis no longer begged her husband and instead vented all her feelings of resentment and frustration at him, “You’ve done nothing to secure Eward’s position. Instead, you’ve only listened to every demand of that damned Ancilla and her children, as well as that adopted child who doesn’t even share a single drop of blood with you…!”

n“…Do you really believe that?” Gilead asked quietly, losing his anger. He looked at Tanis with disappointed eyes and said, “I have given my children everything they have asked for. I sent Eward to Aroth because he wanted to learn magic—”

n“If that really was for Eward’s sake!” Tanis leaped out of her seat with this loud outburst. As she gasped for breath, she alternately glared at Lovellian and Gilead. “Then you should have made sure that Eward became Lovellian’s disciple, no matter what…! And if you were truly worried about Eward going wrong, you should have sent someone to monitor and control that child…!”

n“Please, just stop,” Gilead let out a long sigh and dropped his face into his hands.

nMonitor and control? Wasn’t it because Eward had hated such restrictions that he had left the main estate and gone to Aroth in the first place? Gilead had placed his trust in his eldest son. Since Eward had been constantly monitored and burdened with expectations all his life, Gilead had believed that once he got to Aroth, he would be able to enjoy a better life, living by himself.

nThe rumors about Eward getting close to succubi and demonfolk — Gilead had already been aware of them. But if that was all there was to it… Gilead could still allow it.

nHowever, black magic and drugs were going too far.

n“Please don’t bring any more shame onto the Lionheart clan… and to myself,” Gilead pleaded.

nTanis shrieked, “Shame? Don’t be ridiculous. If he returns to the main estate like this, I’ll be the one who can’t bear the shame of it all. I would much rather die than see that happen.”

nGilead attempted to persuade her, “I don’t believe that remaining in Aroth will be good for Eward either. If he still has any desire left to learn magic, then at the main estate, we can—”

n“If you’re determined to take Eward back with you, then I will take Eward back to my family’s estate,” Tanis refused to give in.

nIf they returned to the main estate like this, all of her plans would be messed up. Eward would be pushed out of his position by the twins, and Tanis by Ancilla, turning them into a pair of figureheads.

n“I will definitely never allow Eward to remain trapped at the main estate. I would rather have him stay at my family’s home, where he can learn magic without fear of being oppressed,” Tanis said, her words showing utter sincerity.

nTanis had no desire to receive Ancilla’s ridicule, and there was still time to decide who the next Patriarch would be. As such, no matter how, Eward needed to develop enough strength to solidify his bid for the position. If he just returned to the main family like this, it would be impossible for him to turn the tables on his siblings.

n“…If that’s what you desire,” Gilead sighed as he closed his eyes. He couldn’t decide which course of action was correct, so he gave in, “…As long as Eward agrees, you may do as you please.”

nThat was the only thing he could say.

n* * *

n“Sir Eugene Lionheart,” Balzac greeted Eugene from where he was standing on the other side of the corridor.

nAlthough the man had left the room first, he hadn’t departed immediately and had instead chosen to wait for Eugene.

n“Under the circumstances, we weren’t able to speak comfortably despite this being our first meeting,” Balzac observed.

nEugene bluntly replied, “I have no desire to have a comfortable conversation with you, Tower Master.” .

nInstead of bowing his head in greeting, Eugene tilted his head away at an angle as a way to overtly show his displeasure. Seeing this reaction, Balzac just grinned.

n“It looks like you don’t like me very much,” Balzac pointed out.

n“It’s not just the Black Tower Master I dislike; I despise all black wizards,” Eugene admitted.

n“Is that so? I can understand why. Although three hundred years may have passed, the public’s perception of black magic still isn’t very pleasant,” as he said this, Balzac shrugged. “As a black wizard myself, I can’t help but feel that it’s unfortunate. Although it might seem unreliable coming from my own lips, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

nEugene countered, “Even if the Black Tower Master himself hasn’t done anything wrong, aren’t there a lot of black wizards going around doing evil deeds?”

nThis was an undeniable fact. Unfortunately, there were still a lot of black wizards freely wandering the world, violating the ban on human experimentation. Though the laws of Aroth and the Black Tower of Magic severely enforced this ban, there were plenty of places for black wizards to escape from these strict laws in this wide world.

n“But the black wizards aren’t the only ones, are they?” Balzac pointed out as he bared his teeth in a smile. “People like wizards can easily sacrifice something like morals for the sake of satisfying their own curiosity and desire. Or, to put it in simple terms, there are many times more aberrant ‘wizards’ than there are aberrant black wizards.”

n“Well, you might be right about that, but….” Eugene hesitantly agreed.

n“Isn’t Eward one such example? He is just a ‘wizard,’ not a black wizard. He was only trying to use black magic as a means to achieve his own ends. Although it might not have worked out… this affair with Eward didn’t begin because of black magic, but because of his own desires.”

n“What exactly is it that you want to hear from me?” Eugene asked impatiently.

n“I just hope that you’ll agree to not transfer your dislike of black magic onto me,” with a chuckle, Balzac walked over to Eugene and offered his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Sir Eugene. Your performance in the Bloodline Continuation Ceremony has been famous for several years now… and I’ve also heard that recently you’ve shown a few great accomplishments in magic as well.”

nEugene frowned, “I don’t think I’ve done anything that can be considered ‘a great accomplishment.’”

n“Didn’t you get the Red Tower Master to write you a letter of recommendation for Akron?” Balzac raised a brow. “That alone must mean your achievements were great enough to deserve such recognition, Sir Eugene.”

nEugene refused to take Balzac’s extended hand. While casually lowering his hand back down, Balzac stared at Eugene. He then changed the subject, “Although I wasn’t able to tell you this inside the room, part of the ‘responsibility’ that I’ve decided to take for this incident also involves you, Sir Eugene.”

n“…What do you mean by that?” Eugene asked cautiously.

n“It will be difficult for you to qualify for admission into Akron with just a letter of recommendation from the Red Tower Master. Because unfortunately for you, Sir Eugene, the other tower masters and wizards involved in making the decision will reject you on the grounds that you lack the necessary qualifications.”

n“So what? Are you saying that you will write me a letter of recommendation as well, Head Wizard Balzac?”

n“I hold a great interest in your talent Eugene. And, well, that’s not the only factor….” Balzac glanced at the closed door before continuing to speak, “Another factor is that I don’t have the best of relationships with Head Wizard Lovellian. While I don’t hold any bad feelings towards him, the Red Tower Master dislikes me just because I am a Black Wizard. On top of that, I feel like I may receive the Lionheart clan’s enmity because of this incident….”

n“So because of that, you’re saying that you’ll write me a letter of recommendation?”

n“Yes. Honestly speaking, even if I do write you a letter of recommendation that supports Head Wizard Lovellian’s proposal…. Well, I don’t expect that alone will be enough to make you like me, but won’t it at least reduce your dislike of me? It will also show my sincerity to get along with the Lionheart clan.”

n“If you are offering to write one for me, I will gladly accept your help,” Eugene replied with a frown.

nAlthough he disliked black wizards, that didn’t mean he believed that his dislike should extend to the gifts that they offered.

n“But even if I do, I can’t promise to be friends with you, Head Wizard Balzac,” Eugene warned.

n“As long as you don’t dislike me as much as you do now, that will be enough.” With a broad smile, Balzac stepped back, allowing Eugene to leave, “That’s all that I wanted to say. My apologies for keeping you here.”

n“Did you really have nothing to do with my older brother’s issue?” as he passed Balzac, Eugene decided to openly ask this question.

nAt these words, Balzac burst into laughter.

n“I take great pride in being a black wizard,” he said, the eyes hidden behind his glasses sparking. “The existence of an incompetent black wizard is just a disgrace to black magic. Even if he is the eldest son of the Lionheart family, as long as he doesn’t possess astounding talent, I would never consider offering him a chance to join us. Is that enough to answer your question?”

n“Yes, it is.”

nEugene clicked his tongue as he recalled the sight of Eward trembling as tears poured down his face.

nPathetic bastard.

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n𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮

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