Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 131

Translators – LN & LL

After that day, Riftan made no comment on her learning magic. In addition, he stopped visiting the library from time to time. However, Max felt uneasy about the change in his attitude. Riftan appeared to be attempting to ignore the fact that she was learning magic.

She didn’t understand why he didn’t like it so much, but Max was optimistic that he would naturally change his attitude if she could do even one magic that is useful. That’s why no monarch in the world would not welcome the increase in the number of wizards under his command, even the royal princess worked hard as a wizard and was recognized for her talent.

Even if she is not as great wizard as the Princess Agnes, if she can do the magic of healing properly, she will surely be able to help Anatol a lot. Then Riftan will recognize her.

Max nervously turned over the pages with wrinkled brows. She wanted to learn magic as soon as possible, but she felt impatient because there was little progress in studying.

“Don’t be so nervous. You’ve only just learned the basic theory. It takes a lot of time to learn magic.”

Ruth, who was sitting across from him and recording something on the map, suddenly opened his mouth. Max looked at him with a dutiful look at him. ‘Does he have an eye at the top of his head?’ The wizard immediately noticed and warned her in this way, even if her concentration was a little distracted.

She grumbled with discontent, putting her hair flowing down her forehead behind her ears.

“B-but... still, y-you know how to do it, even if you..you know nothing.”

“I can’t help it. Learning a theory doesn’t mean you can use magic. If you don’t collect enough mana, it’s no use.”

Max shut her mouth when he pointed out where she was lacking. As he said, she had not yet been able to gather enough mana. Rather than gathering mana, she was struggling even in training to detect mana. ‘In what time will I be able to do magic?’ Max drooped her shoulders in a mood that seemed to wear out her confidence.

“Every day, I’m practicing, holding a mana stone. Well, it didn’t work out...”

“Maybe it’s because the Mana Stone of Fire and the Mana of Nature are not very good.”

Ruth narrowed his eyes, fiddling with the git pen as if he was lost in thought. Max gave an anticipated look that he might find a solution. Ruth opened his mouth after a long time.

“Why don’t you change the location? There is a difference in concentration depending on the location of Manna. It could be much better just by practicing somewhere else.”

Sounds like a lame suggestion, Max squinted.

“Oh, w-where do you like?

“It doesn’t make a big difference. Manna’s concentration is high in places where vegetation, wind, soil and water are abundant.”

At his words, Max turned his head and stared out the window. A pale winter sky unfolded over the mahogany window frame, which is jolting in the wind. Max had an unwilling look on her face in the chilly sky light that made her feel creepy just by looking at it.

“Hey, i-it’s cold. You want me to go outside?

“You don’t freeze to death just because you’re out for a while. Think of it as a walk-in support. In fact, you’ve only been in the castle lately.”

“Ru- I don’t want to hear that from Ruth.”

Ruth was more stuck in the library than she was. At least Max toured the castle once a day to supervise the servants, while he was really stuck in the library all day. He doesn’t know if he even walks 20 steps a day.

As she narrowed her eyes looking at his slender limbs, Ruth frowned and defensively crossed his arms against his chest.

“I can’t leave the room even if I want to. I want to split my body into two to work on the elemental weapons protecting the walls, as well as to investigate the migration of the beasts.”

“Again, y-you are m-making e-elemental weapons?”

“That’s right. The creatures climbed through the walls of the castle, taking advantage of the previous foggy dawn. To prevent that from happening again, we would like to build elemental weapons in a place where the spells often appear. We’re still in the planning stage, but....”

He squeezed the back of his neck and yawned until his mouth was torn. Only then did Max look sorry when she found the black shade under Ruth’s eyes. Because she was anxious to learn magic, she couldn’t check his situation.

“T-This time, I, I don’t have to help you? I-If it’s enough to organize the formula, I, uh....”

“I feel like a chimney, but I’m afraid not this time. I am under the eye of Lord Calypse for teaching you magic at will. And if you’re going to be an assistant, he will not let me go.”

She shuddered as if he was horrible just imagining it. Max felt uneasy again about the exaggerated response. As expected, Riftan seem to be displeased with her learning magic with others. She became depressed for nothing and felt awkward, but Ruth continued with a lighter tone.

“Anyway, thank you for your words. But please focus on learning magic now. You’re much more helpful than helping me with my work.”

“Oh, I got it.”

She no longer said anything and picked up the magic book she was studying. Ruth, who sat a little away and was sewing quietly followed, and picked up his luggage. Max glanced back at him as he walked to the door with his maid.

“Well, then... Tha-thank you.”

Ruth shook his hand dryly.

“Yes, I want you to enjoy my share of the refreshing feeling.”

“We’re going to gather mana.”

Max grumbled out of the library. Rudis followed and quickly put a cape around her shoulder.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Would you like to stop by your room and change into thicker clothes before you go outside?”

“Oh, no. This is enough. I’d like to go out like this, but can you bring the book to my room, please?”

“I’ll take it with me.”

“Well, you don’t have to. I, I’m just going to walk along the promenade.”

“But....”

“And when I’m alone, I can concentrate well.”

When she spoke more strongly, Rudis took the book and bowed her head as if there was no other choice.

Max turned quickly and walked out of the hallway. Bright sunlight was pouring in on the wide stairs with red rugs. She gazed up at the white shining window with her squinted eyes as she ran down the stairs. The castle was several times colder than usual, perhaps because of the ventilation.

Max turned to the kitchen because she thought she would enjoy the heat of the fireplace. It will be less cold if she sits in front of the fire, warm her body, and go outside. Curled up to her knees, she walked past the hall with quick steps.

However, when she stepped into the heated kitchen, the idea of resting for a while and leaving, faded. Max stood at the entrance and looked through the crowded kitchen. Usually, double servants were working frantically, grooming food ingredients, setting fires, and moving water bottles from place to place.

“Are you trying to turn all the bread into a lump of charcoal?! Come on. What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Two red-faced boys received a loud roar from the chef who pulled out a brown bread the size of a pumpkin from the oven with a large flipper. At the opposite table, eight maids sat around the table, filling the white dough with minced onions, chopped sausages, and various spices to form a small half-moon-shaped pie, while they piled up the bread on a clean woodblock.

Five pots were boiling inside the fireplace, and the servants continued to make meat on the charcoal fire, make turnips salad, boil potatoes and eggs, and fill it with a large wooden bowl.

As the meal time approached, the kitchen was always hectic, but today, the kitchen seemed to be busier than usual. Looking at the chef with a half-sick face, Max sneaked up to the chef and asked.

“D- do you happen to have a job that the Lord ordered you to do?”

“Oh my God. You’re here? I’m sorry My Lady, I couldn’t say hello in advance.”

Then the chef bent down hurriedly as if he had noticed her existence. Max waved his hand in the sense that she was okay.

“Oh, no. You...you look busier today.”

“Yes, the lord said he would train cavalry this morning and ordered us to prepare more food than usual.”

“Ca-cavalry training...?”

“All the knights will gather in the field, ride horses, and do mock combat training. It’s a magnificent sight.”

The chef, who had a bright smile on his wide face, pulled out a crispy fried pie from the oil cooker with a loud noise. Then he quickly looked back at her with a sorry look, spraying cinnamon powder and molasses syrup on top of it.

“I’m sorry about that, My Lady. If we make a little delay, we won’t be able to use precious ingredients because it will burn black, so I can’t stand still for a moment.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry to talk to you while you’re busy. D-don’t mind me. Y-you should continue.”

“Are you here for business?”

“Oh, no, just...just passing by.”

In a hectic time, Max went straight out through the back door because she didn’t want to bother him while they’re busy. In the open garden, five or six workers took axes and split firewood into small pieces and piled them up on carts. They took off their hats and bowed their heads then Max waved one hand to respond and began walking straight down the promenade.

As she walked a little from the Great Hall, a calm air surrounded her. Max looked around, raised her head, and inhaled deeply into her nose. The pale sunlight of winter was pouring through the branches of the trees. The wind was so cool that her skin was sore, but the day was rarely sunny.

After only smelling the quizzical wood in the gloomy library for a while, she enjoyed the chilly winter air and felt refreshed.