Chapter 36: A Tense Reunion with the Bucklin Family

“The carriage has arrived.”

The carriage came to a smooth stop.

Just like when it set off, there wasn’t a single sound of the wheels scraping against the ground.

“Oh.”

Elin instinctively turned her head to look out the window and flinched.

“They’ve all come out to greet us.”

Nia, along with a line of neatly arranged servants, stood waiting.

“Wow… Do all nobles do this?”

Anne clicked her tongue and opened the carriage door.

Nia, who had been waiting, greeted them with a gentle smile and a polite bow.

“Welcome, Lady Elin of the Bertein family, the pillar of the empire’s center, hailing from the Bucklin family of fearless mages.”

The welcome was so refined and eloquent that it was hard to believe it came from someone just 14 years old.

“Uh…”

Elin hesitated and glanced at Luke.

Her eyes seemed to be asking, Don’t I have a fancy greeting like that too?

Luke shrugged and answered with his eyes, You’d need to meet someone first to practice a greeting.

Understanding his silent response, Elin pouted slightly.

“…Hello, Lady Nia,” she said, her greeting coming out short and sullen.

Perhaps it was because she looked so adorable in that moment.

Nia let out a soft laugh.

“Welcome. Lady Bena is waiting for you inside.”

Nia began to lead the way gracefully, and Elin trailed behind with clumsy steps, whispering to Luke.

“Why didn’t you teach me something like that? Shouldn’t that be part of etiquette lessons?”

“The Duchess did teach you, but perhaps you’ve forgotten?”

Was he right? Elin pressed her lips together tightly in frustration.

“I’ll teach you next time,” Luke said, patting her cheek to coax her back into a good mood.

By the time her spirits lifted again, Elin looked around and murmured, “They’ve gone all out with the preparations.”

From the main gate to the mansion’s entrance, servants lined up and bowed in unison.

“It’s been a while, Young Master.”

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting your return.”

“You’ve grown so much since we last saw you!”

The servants warmly welcomed Luke back.

But then, something odd caught his attention.

“…It’s been a while.”

He waved awkwardly, brushing off the strange comment he thought he might have misheard.

All the servants here were familiar faces to him—or rather, to the “Luke Bucklin” whose memories he now held. It was difficult to interact naturally when the feelings were borrowed.

After the greetings, the servants dispersed seamlessly to return to their duties.

“Wow… I knew it, but still, this guy lived in luxury,” Anne muttered, her jaw practically on the floor as she jabbed Luke in the side.

“And yet you were so desperate to win sparring matches just to get lunch from me? Was the Young Master of a noble house really that eager to mooch off a commoner?”

“Please lower your voice.”

Luke reminded Anne of their current location, where she was no longer just a fellow academy student but a guest in a noble household.

“Yes, yes, how could I ever defy the noble Young Master’s orders?” Anne teased, grinning before walking a few steps ahead.

Feeling a pang of injustice, Luke closed the gap between them.

“For the record, I’ve never beaten you in those sparring matches.”

“True, because you were weaker than me.”

In their frequent magic duels, where only body-enhancing spells were allowed, Luke had never won even once.

“…So I was always the one paying for meals?”

“Yep. I just found it annoying. A highborn Young Master betting with a commoner to take their money—it rubbed me the wrong way.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

The only reason he’d bet was because Anne wouldn’t agree to duel otherwise.

If he had really wanted to win, he wouldn’t have limited himself to using only body-enhancing magic.

“So if you had won, you wouldn’t have let me treat you?”

“No, I still would’ve taken it.”

“See? You were trying to squeeze money out of a poor commoner!”

“The world of competition is inherently harsh, isn’t it?”

As Luke tried to defend himself, Elin tugged at his sleeve.

“Where are we going now?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure.”

“…?”

Even under her skeptical gaze, Luke wasn’t lying—this was his first time actually visiting the Bucklin estate.

“It’s been so long that I don’t remember the layout clearly.”

But of course, he couldn’t admit the full truth.

Instead, he offered, “If you’re curious, you could ask Lady Nia directly.”

“Huh? Like, ask her what?”

“…O…”

Ahead of them, Nia turned back with a smile.

Elin instinctively hid behind Luke, peeking out cautiously.

“Ahaha, I don’t bite,” Nia said with a playful laugh, her expression akin to someone trying to coax a wary kitten.

Elin barely peeked her face out, looking every bit as cautious as a small cat.

“So, where are we headed? We’ve just been walking forever…”

“Ah, my apologies. I forgot to explain,” Nia said, placing a hand over her mouth as if it had slipped her mind.

“I noticed we passed a room labeled ‘guest room’ earlier,” Elin pointed out.

“You’ve got sharp eyes. That’s right, we passed the guest room. We’re headed to the VIP quarters now.”

“The VIP quarters…?”

Nia explained that the Bucklin estate had two types of reception rooms: one for merchants or regular guests and another reserved for distinguished visitors.

The latter was only opened for high-ranking individuals, such as members of renowned noble houses.

“Am I really that important?”

“Huh?”

Nia blinked, genuinely confused.

“Of course. You’re Lady Elin of Bertein, the heir to a family renowned for spatial magic.”

Spatial magic. Bertein. Heir.

When broken down, each aspect made it undeniably clear how special Elin was.

Nia chuckled as if Elin’s question were a joke, but the query had been entirely sincere.

For someone like Elin, who had spent 12 years suffering abuse and had her self-esteem crushed, the idea of being “special” was utterly foreign.

“We’re here. This is the VIP room.”

Nia gestured toward an ornate door.

Knock, knock.

“I’ll come in now, Lady Bena.”

“Y-Yes, come in!”

The sound of a chair scraping and hurried movement came from inside.

As the door opened, a stiff and nervous Bena stood in perfect posture, waiting to greet them.

“W-Welcome, Lady Elin, Lord Luke…!”

“…?”

Wasn’t Bena a guest too? Why was she standing there like a prisoner?

“Did you scare her or something?” Luke asked, half-joking.

“No, I’ve been telling her to relax, but she insists on being like that…” Nia replied with a helpless smile, the expression of someone who had tried everything.

Of course, Bena’s feelings were understandable.

Being invited to the Bertein exchange as a promising mage was one thing, but now being a guest in the prestigious Bucklin family’s estate was a nerve-wracking experience for a baron’s daughter.

“I’ve missed you, my lady…!”

It seemed that meeting Ellin had eased her tension slightly.

Bena chuckled awkwardly and bowed her head.

“Did you bring all the dolls?”

Elin toddled over and plopped down beside Bena.

Perhaps it was the bond they had formed over the dolls last time, but she looked far more comfortable than she had with Nia.

“Of course! I even made new ones that didn’t exist before…!”

“What? That wasn’t necessary—”

“No, no…! How could I come empty-handed when I promised to show you a puppet show? I prepared enough to perform for three days and nights…!”

A spark of madness flared in Bena’s eyes.

Hot air puffed out of her nostrils with vigor, closing the distance between her and Elin in an instant.

“…You’re only staying here for the day, but you prepared for three days?” Elin asked, stepping back cautiously.

“Ah!”

Nia’s words prompted Bena to retreat to a safe distance.

“Phew.”

Elin, who had been caught in the blast of hot breath, sighed in relief.

“S-Sorry… I got carried away and overstepped…”

“No, it’s fine! If you don’t get to show it all today, you can save some for next time.”

Nia nodded, and Elin quickly agreed.

“Next time? Will there really be another opportunity like this?”

“Of course. There will be more chances for visits in the future. After all, Lady Bena is an excellent magician, isn’t she?”

“Ah…”

Tears welled up in Bena’s eyes as she covered her mouth, overwhelmed.

“Thank you… for such wonderful people to say that about someone like me…”

If left alone, she seemed ready to ascend to the heavens.

Nia, not wanting to witness the promising young baroness of the Bucklin family pass away prematurely, quickly changed the subject.

“Still, could we postpone the puppet show for now? Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Yes, of course!”

Bena, who had been about to summon a horde of dolls, hastily lowered her hands.

“And, brother.”

Nia turned to Luke.

“Hmm?”

“They’re calling for you in the study.”

The words struck like a bolt of lightning.

“Right now?”

“Yes, immediately.”

“Do I really have to go?”

“Don’t you think it’ll only make things harder for you if you don’t?”

She wasn’t wrong.

Luke closed his eyes, resigned.

Well, there was no avoiding it now that he’d come this far.

Though he’d evaded it for four years, he couldn’t avoid meeting his family in this world forever.

Luke placed a resolute hand on Anne’s shoulder.

“Please take care of the young lady.”

“Why do you sound like you’re going off to your doom?”

“If I don’t return today, please see to her bedtime.”

“Always so dramatic.”

Leaving Anne, who refused to humor him, behind, Luke headed toward the study.

He deliberately walked slowly.

Having come this far, he decided he might as well memorize the mansion’s layout.

Not because he wanted to delay his arrival at the study.

“Whew.”

Even though he took his time memorizing every detail, he soon found himself in front of the study.

Raising his hand to knock, he hesitated.

Who would be inside?

Mother?

Father?

Whoever it was, it would be awkward.

Bracing himself, he knocked.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

A man’s voice came from inside.

It was far too young to belong to his father.

Could it be…?

“This is Luke Bucklin,” he replied, carefully masking the tremor in his voice.

“Come in.”

The reply came after a long pause.

Opening the door cautiously, Luke stepped inside.

“…!”

Seated at the study’s desk was a man whose eyes met his instantly.

It was undoubtedly their first meeting, yet something in Luke’s instincts stirred, pulling memories from deep within.

Before he realized it, his head bowed, and his hands folded respectfully.

Without knowing why, Luke assumed a posture of reflection.

The man opened his mouth as if Luke’s reaction was only natural.

“It’s been a while, little brother.”

This was Victor Bucklin, the eldest son of the Bucklin family and Luke’s elder brother, who had been designated as the next head of the household.

“I apologize, brother,” Luke said immediately, bowing deeply.

It was as though every cell in his body screamed that he must do so.

“I told you to return home every holiday.”

Victor stood, dragging his chair back with a scrape.

He approached Luke with slow, deliberate steps.

“And yet you’ve only come back now, after graduating.”

“…I have no excuse.”

“Good. You shouldn’t have any. If you did, I’d have to snap your neck.”

The cold threat silenced Luke.

“And not only that, but you didn’t even return of your own will after graduating.”

“Look at me.”

Luke straightened his back and raised his head.

“Only after meeting Nia do you finally come home…”

Victor’s golden eyes blazed, making Luke’s skin crawl.

“Explain yourself. No contact for four years, and now I hear you’ve been working as a tutor in Bertein? How did this happen?”

Victor’s quiet fury washed over his younger brother, who had disappeared from home for four years without a word.