Ch. 57 - Weinberg Territory
On the western coast of the continent, within the territory of the Terran Empire.
"It says 'Weinberg Territory products—guaranteed excellent and innovative'...
So we shouldn't have taken the wrong road, right?"
Looking at a simple, moldy wooden directional sign with an advertising slogan carved into it, along with the words [Moonlight Keep] and [Greystone Village].
Geya Yuexi and her junior Suwen exchanged glances, roughly confirming their direction:
"Then I'll head to Moonstone Keep first. It shouldn't take too long. Meet you at the tavern afterward?"
Suwen's gaze remained fixed on Geya's profile.
He was thinking that legend told of a goddess who once presided over 'worldly beauty.'
She had unified aesthetics and even shaped the very concept of 'beauty'—
Could Senior Geya be the first 'doll' that goddess had molded, making everything about her so perfect?
"Junior Suwen?"
Geya didn't look directly at him, instead pretending to gaze expectantly at the distant black castle—
It wasn't that she looked down on this junior.
As long as someone's gaze wasn't vulgar or lewd, she welcomed their appreciation.
She even preferred showing off her left profile, ideally with a few strands of hair falling down, which made her look even better.
The second gentle call brought Suwen back to his senses, and he nodded repeatedly:
"Oh—yes, Senior. I'm actually going to the Moonstone Village tavern for my 'duty week,' which should take some time..."
Geya smiled and patted her innocent junior's shoulder:
"Of course I know you're going for 'duty week'—you've already repeated it many times along the way.
Don't worry, I know you have work obligations and aren't following me just to chat me up.
In fact, having your company along the way has kept me from being lonely."
Geya chuckled and winked her left eye. Her eyes were like a sea surface bathed in dawn, rippling with shimmering light.
"I'll head off first. See you at the tavern!"
After Geya turned and left, even walking a good distance toward the castle,
Suwen slowly came back to his senses.
Did Senior Geya just... wink at me?
So, is there a possibility that...
She's interested in me!?
"Do I have a chance?"
Suwen couldn't contain his wildly pounding heart and couldn't help but jump up. Even on the road to Greystone Village, he bounced along cheerfully.
But the departing Geya had already dropped her business-like smile, pinching the bridge of her nose with some exasperation:
"Sure enough, traveling alone is much easier."
As her fingers gently rubbed, she raised her eyes toward the increasingly close destination—
It was a towering, austere ancient castle built from dark gray stone.
[Weinberg Territory] was built against the mountains. The mineral [Greystone] from the mountain range was the main resource here. Thanks to its alchemical properties, it was as hard as steel.
The castle was shielded by courtyard walls of the same gray tone. One could only see dark green vines climbing the stone walls, with buds of deep blue and dark purple flowers about to bloom.
Those were [Moonvines], typically used for dyes or fragrances. They bloomed year-round but only blossomed under the cold, damp night. Large patches of them grew by the lake beside the ancient castle.
When sunlight remained, they would always lower their heads like shy maidens.
When moonlight spilled across the lake surface, the lakeside flowers would reflect and compete with the moonlight—a sacred place where lovers often met.
Ancient, austere, elegant.
The style of [Moonlight Keep] seemed to represent the temperament of the [Weinberg] family to some extent.
Standing before the matte black, exquisite wrought-iron gate connecting to the outer wall, peering through the gaps between the railings, she couldn't find a single servant tending the garden.
Just as she hesitated about how to greet the castle's master, a black-haired, black-eyed long-haired young woman dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit came walking over, bypassing the central gray stone statue.
Her face was cool and composed, showing little expression.
But Geya thought that if a goddess had truly shaped the concept of 'beauty,' she must have been given a share as well.
Especially the black scales faintly visible on her neck, which made her temperament all the more aloof...
It was said that the blood of Weinberg Territory contained the magic of ancient black dragons, so that occasionally a few [Dragon Sorcerers] would awaken in this territory—
Even so, they remained obscure.
After all, every noble of the Terran Empire possessed spellcasting power.
They were either sorcerers who inherited their ancestors' blessings or wizards who excelled in arcane research.
This was an empire ruled and governed by 'wizards.'
"Hello, I'm a temporary teaching assistant from [Wandering Song Academy], Geya Yuexi."
She lifted the gift bag in her hand.
"Commissioned by my instructor 'Ulasan' to visit my junior, 'Tang Qi Weinberg,' to understand his current situation."
This was a task the instructor had suddenly assigned several days ago after seeing what was written on that Forgotten Monument.
Now Geya finally had time to visit.
But the maid's expression still showed little emotion.
She first lifted her skirt and performed a noble courtesy, then hesitated for a moment before responding:
"Tang Qi... I'm sorry, there doesn't seem to be anyone of that name in the household.
Why don't you tell me—what number child of my father is he?
Perhaps I can search through the *Parent-Child Register* and help you find his address."
"Ah—your father?"
Geya blinked.
"You are..."
"Yenai Weinberg. At my father's request, I currently manage all affairs of Moonlight Keep. You may address me as you wish."
"So, Miss Yenai, your younger brother doesn't live in Moonlight Keep?"
"In fact, many younger brothers live in the household. But this 'Tang Qi'... I've never heard his name.
Because my father only allows a select few children with spellcasting talent to remain at home and receive proper education."
This was a rather euphemistic way of putting it.
Father's actual words were, 'Moonlight Keep is not a garbage dump.'
Clearly, if Tang Qi had any talent at all, he wouldn't have been casually thrown into Poet's Academy and cut off.
This wasn't particularly unusual—
After all, sowing seeds extensively and then selecting children with spellcasting ability from among them was one of the ways Terran nobles maintained their family prosperity.
Of course, the price was that bloodlines would be severely diluted.
So much so that most descendants might master a few cantrips but could spend their entire lives never finding the path to mastering a first-circle spell.
"I see. Then please check for me, if you would."
"One moment."
She hurried away and back.
"According to Father's *Parent-Child Register*, the Tang Qi Weinberg you mentioned is Father's sixty-sixth child and should currently be studying at [Wandering Song Academy]."
"He hasn't come back?"
"It appears not."
Geya froze for a moment.
Oh no.
Could this junior of hers have actually followed the instructor's advice and gone off to seek his poetry and distant horizons?
He was so wooden. Now, after being lost for a year with no news,
Could he have already died on the road?
She sighed, neither particularly pleased nor upset, since her relationship with this junior couldn't be called close.
She only knew he was the one man who wouldn't actively curry favor with her.
His wooden nature made it impossible.
That being the case, there was no reason to stay long:
"Then I sincerely apologize for the intrusion. Please accept these—"
Geya observed full etiquette as she offered the gift bag.
Yenai had no reason to refuse. She snapped her fingers lightly, and a translucent, slender blue hand flew through the wrought-iron gate and took the gift.
[Mage Hand] was spellcasters' most capable companion.
"I'll tell Father these are consolation gifts sent by Geya Yuexi from Poet's Academy."
"May prosperity always accompany you."
The beautiful half-elf maiden didn't linger.
After she departed, Yenai examined the consolation gifts in the bag with an expressionless face—
Inside were exquisite quill pens, fragrant ink, and fine-quality scrolls.
All were products from famous families within the Empire, each quite expensive.
Clearly, this half-elf maiden had done her homework.
[Weinberg Territory] couldn't claim any reputation throughout the Terran Empire—middling to lower, barely maintaining expenses through the output of [Greystone] and [Moonvines].
The writing materials at home had never been particularly high quality.
Sending writing materials in the name of Poet's Academy was neither conspicuous nor made the nobles feel looked down upon—
*Ulasan's One Thousand and One Praises* taught not just flattery, but the methodology of pleasing nobles.
"Good stuff."
The Empire's academies had always required students to provide their own paper and pens to generate revenue.
And once students were required to provide their own supplies, it often fueled competitive showmanship among them.
As nobles, using overly cheap items would invite mockery.
Surely those younger brothers and sisters at home enjoying educational privileges would also eagerly anticipate receiving such fine pens, ink, and paper.
And Father would certainly distribute them that way.
So...
Yenai murmured expressionlessly:
"Won't tell.
They're all mine now."