Chapter 170 - A Proposal to a Friend
Volf returned to the temple and asked a priest to summon Marcella.
Once they had moved to a small room available for family members accompanying patients, Volf activated a magic tool to prevent eavesdropping and got straight to the point.
"Marcella, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I want you to serve my family as a knight to protect Irma's life."
The request was phrased less like a question and more like a plea, causing his friend's tawny eyes to widen. A moment later, Marcella turned a bewildered expression toward Volf.
"If it means keeping Irma safe, I'll gladly accept. But as a knight, I'm not exactly well-versed in etiquette, and I don't really know how to use my magic properly. Will I actually be of any use?"
"I want you to leave the Courier Guild and work on a temporary assignment as a bodyguard for Dahlia, the head of the Rossetti Company. I trust you, and you have both physical enhancement and earth magic. You'll probably have to undergo training, but we couldn't ask for a better candidate for the job. That said, being a bodyguard is by no means safe."
"I'm nothing but grateful for the offer. And I think you're under a bit of a misconception. The Courier Guild isn't always safe, either. Depending on what you're carrying, you can get into trouble. Deliveries to nobles or major merchants sometimes make you a target, so I've had my share of rough encounters. Oh, and keep that between us. Don't tell Irma or Dahlia-chan."
Marcella had returned to his usual smile. Volf nodded and continued.
"Also, I've heard that children born with high levels of magic can become targets or suffer harassment. So, once your child is born, I want you to tell people that it has been decided that they will attend the Royal Academy, become either a mage or a magical toolmaker, and work for House Scalfarotto. The child can decide for themself whether they actually want to work for us once they're old enough."
"Understood. I appreciate you looking out for us. But I see. Since they can determine your magical capacity during the entrance examination, I suppose things like that can happen. My magic manifested later in life, so I was able to keep it hidden…"
Even with magic that had manifested late, having earth magic at level fourteen would have given Marcella opportunities to market his talents to merchants and nobles. He could probably have secured a good adoption offer or even an advantageous marriage proposal.
He had chosen not to pursue any of those opportunities because Marcella had treasured the life he already had and had never wanted to make a living by using his magic.
Marcella worked for the Courier Guild and had Irma as his partner. Even without using his magic, he seemed perfectly happy.
Volf was reminded that the proposal he was making might destroy that quiet, happy life.
But to save Irma and the child, neither Marcella, nor Volf, nor Dahlia could afford to back down.
"One more thing. And, well, I'm sorry to ask, but could you enter into a temple contract pledging to obey House Scalfarotto and Dahlia, and never cause them harm?"
"Of course. There's no need to apologize for that."
Marcella smiled without the slightest hesitation. Volf was a little taken aback by how readily he agreed.
"I'm sorry, Marcella. You'll have to give up a workplace you're attached to. And I understand that serving a friend's family might not be a particularly comfortable arrangement."
"All I can think about is how grateful I am that you're helping us. Or is it that, if I start serving your family, 'Volf,' you'll find it hard to think of me as a friend anymore?"
"No, not at all. I won't change. And I'm sure Dahlia won't, either."
For a moment, he thought of Jonas, who was always at his older brother's side.
His brother had introduced Jonas to him as a close friend first and a retainer second.
Jonas spoke politely whenever Volf was around, but the two were close enough that Jonas addressed his employer, Volf's brother, by name alone.
Thinking about it that way, perhaps Marcella's relationship with them would not change all that much after all.
Of course, that might simply have been wishful thinking on his part. He wanted things to stay as they were.
"What's the problem, then? Sounds like things won't be much different from how they are now."
Marcella's casual remark echoed Volf's own thoughts almost exactly.
Relief washed over Volf, and he found himself laughing.
"I'll tell my brother that you've agreed. Then I'll go request that Irma-san receive the spell she needs as soon as possible. After that, I'll head over to where Dahlia is with her magical toolmaking instructor."
"Magic tools, huh… I'm grateful, of course, but please tell Dahlia-chan not to push herself too hard."
"That… I can't tell her that. Dahlia is a magical toolmaker. If it's for Irma-san, she'll make it even if she has to push herself beyond her limits."
"Volf."
"She did the same thing for me."
The lenses of the fairy-crystal glasses in his hand glimmered with a faint bluish light.
They were a disguise magic tool that concealed his conspicuous golden eyes, making them appear a calm shade of green instead.
Making them had been grueling, draining her physical strength, magic power, and mental energy alike. And yet Dahlia had handed them to him with a smile.
"Dahlia pushed herself to make these glasses for me. Thanks to them, I was finally able to walk freely around the royal capital on my own for the first time. She gave me back so many things I'd given up on. And it wasn't just these glasses. She's made plenty of other magic tools for me, too. I've seen how difficult they are to make, how dangerous some of them can be, and how exhausting the process is."
"Then all the more reason to stop her from overdoing it! Irma is certainly the most important person in my life, but if anything happened to Dahlia-chan… Volf, you're the only one who can stop her before that happens!"
"Dahlia, as a magical toolmaker, wouldn't want that."
No matter how difficult making this particular magic tool might be, if he tried to stop her, she would refuse to listen and might even get angry with him. Volf knew that perfectly well.
"If there's a magic tool that can help Irma-san, Dahlia will put her whole heart into making it. She has a skilled magical toolmaking instructor, Ivano, me, and my brother to support her. If she becomes exhausted, we'll give her potions. If she runs low on magic, we'll provide magic potions. Whatever injuries she suffers, the temple can heal them. I'll stop her if her life is in danger, but otherwise, I won't stand in her way."
As though trying to convince himself as much as Marcella, Volf finished speaking and stood up.
"Marcella, all we can do this time is support them and tell them to do their best."
"Irma has to get through her pregnancy, Dahlia-chan has to make a magic tool, and all I can do is sit around and wait… Damn it, this is frustrating."
His friend wore a troubled expression as he rose to his feet after Volf.
"I'm going to the main temple to pray for a bit. This is exactly when you need to ask the gods for help, right? Want to come with me, Volf?"
"…Yeah."
His response came a beat late, but he nodded to Marcella.
The main temple was just nearby, so it would not take long. There was no reason he could not stop there before visiting his brother.
There was just something about the main temple that made him uncomfortable.
Perhaps it was because someone had told him that his golden eyes were a blessing rather than a curse. Or perhaps it was because he had gone there after his mother died and cried his heart out. His memories of childhood were hazy, but for whatever reason, the place had never felt comfortable to him.
Even so, today he would pray sincerely alongside Marcella.
He would pray for Irma and her child to be safe, for Dahlia to succeed, and for the day when the four of them—and the one more who would soon join them—could sit around a table together and laugh.
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