51 Chapter 14

One year has passed since Ziel worked at Duke Hazell's residence. Duke Hazell and his wife treat him very well. Not much has changed since then. During this year, there have been no attack incidents as before. Thus, everyone in Duke Castilene's residence could feel relieved and live peacefully without thinking about the dangers threatening them.

Clara has been practicing magic diligently for the past year, and Beatrix is ​​still suspicious of Ziel. Sometimes she invites Ziel to practice with Clara. Since she also knows swordsmanship, she thought teaching them simultaneously would be fine. Of course, Ziel had to accept it because it was difficult for him to refuse Beatrix.

Ziel started practicing swords with Beatrix in the last half-year. He always pretended to lose every sparring with her. Beatrix had a keen intuition, so she must have sensed something was wrong in their matches. But Ziel ignored that and continued to act weak in front of her.

Currently, Beatrix is giving magic training to Clara in the back garden. Ziel was also there as Clara's butler and watched what they were doing. Besides them, Duke Hazell and his wife were also observing their daughter's training while drinking tea and eating snacks.

"Congratulations. You've officially become a senior mage. You're great, Clara." Beatrix smiled and said to Clara, after seeing the girl cast four magic circles.

"Hehe... Thank you, Auntie. It's all thanks to the training you gave me. Otherwise, becoming a senior mage might take me a few more months." Clara answered happily because she got praise from her teacher.

"Because you are a smart student, you quickly understand what I teach you. But you can't be arrogant. There are people out there who are the same age as you and have become magic masters." Beatrix stroked Clara's head and reminded her. She didn't want her student to be arrogant.

"I understand, Auntie! I will train hard so that I can become stronger quickly." Clara clenched her little fists and said it with determination.

"Yes, but remember that you can't push yourself." Beatrix chuckled and flicked Clara's forehead.

"Ugh! It hurts, Auntie! Of course, I'll do it to the best of my ability! But don't treat me like a child!" Clara was in pain, holding her forehead while puffing her cheeks. Duke Hazell and his wife laughed when they saw their daughter's adorable behavior.

"Thank you for teaching our daughter for the past year. She wouldn't have progressed this fast if it weren't for your teachings." Duke Hazell and his wife got up from their seats and thanked Beatrix.

"You don't need to thank me. Clara is also my niece, and she is a smart girl. I enjoy being able to teach her magic." Beatrix smiled at Duke Hazell's words.

"Hehe..." Clara smiled shyly under Beatrix's compliment.

"But are you guys going to leave this mansion that soon?" Eleanor suddenly remembered something, and her face became sad.

"Yes, we have to leave asap since it's three more days before the academy's registration opens. We have to get there before then." Beatrix said helplessly when she saw Eleanor's expression. She knew how her friend felt.

Beatrix and Clara will leave for Vittoria City tomorrow to register and take the Piqmentia Grand Academy's entrance examination. It took them one day by horse-drawn carriage from Moissan City to Vittoria City. Therefore, Beatrix decided to leave early so Clara would have more time to prepare for the exam.

"But..." Eleanor was still unwilling to be separated from her daughter. Since childhood, Clara has always been pampered and close to her. Eleanor would feel lonely if they suddenly separated. Thus, she didn't want that to happen and was reluctant to let go of her daughter to attend the academy.

"Honey... Didn't we talk about it before?" Duke Hazell reminded Eleanor when he saw the mood had turned sour. He felt the same way as his wife, but he couldn't be selfish by keeping his daughter with them. Besides, Clara is all grown up now and has something she wants to achieve.

"But, honey..." Eleanor wanted to say something, but Clara interrupted her.

"Mom, I just went to attend the academy. It's still in the Neigal kingdom. So Mom and Dad can still visit me, or I will visit you on vacation." Clara held Eleanor's hand to calm her down.

"You have to pass the exam before you can say that." Beatrix's words were like pouring cold water on her. Clara Castilene had received an invitation from the Piqmentia Grand Academy, but whether she could attend depended on her abilities during the exam.

"Auntie, you should encourage me instead of making me insecure and pessimistic." Clara complained and puffed out her cheeks after hearing Beatrix's words. Duke Hazell and Eleanor laughed after seeing it. Clara's behavior had lightened the heavy atmosphere in the place.

"Yes, I understand. At first, I thought it would be easy to accept that when Clara told me she would enroll in the Piqmentia Grand Academy. But now my heart feels heavy to part with him. It was probably because of my selfishness. I'm sorry, honey." Eleanor stroked Clara's cheek and pinched it.

She didn't forget the first time her daughter heard the news about the academy from her father. Clara was very motivated after learning about the purpose Five Kingdom Project. She said she should attend the academy and she would become a great mage by studying there.

Besides, Clara would make lots of friends her age at the academy. Seeing her determination, Eleanor had to support her daughter by asking Beatrix to train her. The academy will hold entrance exams to screen talented students regardless of status. So the nobility and royalty would be useless there as what mattered was ability.

"Argh... what are you doing, Mom!? Ooh, I forgot to ask this to you. How about Ken if I go to the academy? Isn't his job here as my butler? If I weren't there, would Ken..." Clara asked with a worried face. She thought that Ziel would be fired from his job after she went to the academy. Clara is afraid that she will never see him again.

"About that... I've already discussed it with Ken. His job here is to serve you as your butler and guardian. That's why he will also enroll in the academy with you." Duke Hazell had talked about it with Ziel a month ago.

At that moment, Duke Hazell thought about Clara's academy life in Vittoria City. He worried about his daughter's safety as he imagined she would be alone there. Duke Hazell doesn't know what kind of friends she will have as there are no girls of Clara's age in his mansion, and she rarely mixes with other noble children because she is very shy.

When he saw Ziel, Duke Hazell suddenly remembered that his main duty was to be Clara's guardian. Ziel's age is also the same as his daughter's. So, he's eligible to enter the academy. After discussing this with him, Duke Hazell didn't expect Ziel to accept it immediately. Since then, it was decided that Ziel would go to Vittoria City with Clara and enroll in the academy.

"Dad? So Ken will go to the academy with me?" Clara looked so happy after hearing her father's words.

"Of course, he will be your butler and guardian there." Duke Hazell nodded slightly at Clara's enthusiasm.

"YAY!!" Clara subconsciously jumped up and shouted with joy. But then, she realized everyone was looking at her.

"Em... ah... I mean, that's good! At least I'll have friends I know at the academy." Clara turned her blushing face away.

"Hehe... Is that so? So you'll be lonely without Ken?" Eleanor didn't miss an opportunity to tease her daughter.

"Hmm... I already expected it. That's why I asked Ken to accompany you there." Duke Hazell joins in on teasing Clara with his wife.

"Thank goodness. You're not going to part with him, Clara" Beatrix dealt the finishing blow. The three of them smiled meaningfully at her. Clara blushed up to her ears when she heard their words and secretly glanced at Ziel. When their eyes met, she finally reached her limit.

"Aaah... You're bullying me!!" Clara shouted and ran inside the mansion. Everyone laughed when they saw her behavior, and only Ziel was silent in that place.

***

The next day, a luxurious carriage was parked in front of the gate of the Duke of Castilene's residence. A lot of people had gathered at that place. They were Duke Hazell, his wife, and Raven. They had come to see Clara and the others depart for Vittoria City.

"Clara, you have to listen to what Aunt Beatrix says. You have to be low profile there and be careful about making friends. If you want to go somewhere, try to ask Ken to accompany you. Don't hang around at night. Don't..." Eleanor gave Clara lots of advice and held her hand as if she didn't want to let her go.

"Honey... If you hold her hand tightly and talk at length, they might leave for Vittorian City tonight." Duke Hazell sighed heavily and reminded his wife.

"I understand, honey." Eleanor said with a sad face and removed her hand from her daughter. But then he hugged Clara tightly.

"Please take care of your health after I'm gone, Mom." Clara hugged her back.

"Yes, you also take good care of yourself at the academy." Eleanor said and then removed her hug from Clara.

"Beatrix, Ken. Please take care of Clara." Duke Hazell smiled at the exchange of his daughter and wife, then looked at Beatrix and Ken in front of the carriage.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of her at the academy." Beatrix answered. She will be a teacher at the academy, but she can check on Clara sometimes.

"Yes, Sir." Ziel answered briefly.

"Well, now it's time for us to go. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to get to Vittoria City in time." Beatrix called Ziel and Clara.

"Dad, Mom, I have to go now." Clara waved her hand to her parents. She got into the carriage, followed by Ziel and Beatrix. Afterward, the horse carriage departed after they all entered.

"Be careful on the way!" Eleanor shouted and waved her hand. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the carriage slowly disappear from her view. Duke Hazell hugged his crying wife to comfort her. Then he brought her into the mansion.