Under the Oak Tree



Chapter 36: Chapter 36

After a busy few days, the renovations finally came to an end. Maxi and the servants thoroughly inspected the great hall, which had transformed beyond recognition.

An enormous golden chandelier illuminated the once gloomy hall. Under it, a striking crimson and gold carpet covered the floor. A soft rug ran up the staircase to the second floor, leading to the lavish banquet hall that would have put even the royal palace to shame.

Maxi stood at the entrance of the spacious banquet hall and looked around in awe. Sleek marble tiles had replaced the stone floors, and three silver chandeliers shimmered below its high arched ceiling. The wall was adorned with a tapestry depicting Wigrew’s ascent to heaven, and deep burgundy curtains were draped over the windows. Chairs covered in silks and furs stood atop the dais, and on the terrace outside the window, a marble unicorn stood frozen mid-leap.

“Is everything to your liking, my lady?” Aderon asked apprehensively.

Maxi nodded, brushing her fingers against the glistening windows. Sunlight streamed in through the glass and illuminated the entire hall.

“I-It’s splendid.”

Seeing Aderon’s face break into a satisfied grin, Maxi found herself smiling as well. He had been a rather aggressive salesman, but he was also honest. He had procured high-quality goods for her at reasonable prices and supplied her with diligent workers.

To express her gratitude, Maxi instructed the servants to prepare a sumptuous dinner for the merchant. And Aderon, after feasting on wine and the chef’s specialty of roast deer, left the castle content. Maxi saw him off, watching from the entrance as his carriage grew distant.

“The castle is practically unrecognizable. Sir Riftan will be surprised when he returns.”

Maxi turned around to see Ruth walking down the stairs while scratching his unkempt ashen hair.

“D-Do you think R-Riftan will like it?” Maxi asked nervously.

“Why wouldn’t he? He was the one who asked you to redecorate the place.”

Ruth’s indifference did little to assuage Maxi’s worries. She looked at him resentfully as he gave an undignified yawn.

“W-Would it h-hurt you to give a c-compliment?”

“The place is so dazzling that I can hardly open my eyes! The splendor is enough to put me in a trance!”

Maxi glared at Ruth. Ignoring her, Ruth gave himself a good stretch before striding past her. Then suddenly, he came to a stop as if he had remembered something. He looked back at Maxi and the servants.

“This might be the perfect time,” he muttered, pulling out a small vial from his pocket. “I’ve just finished making the reagent for the tree. Would you like to test it out?”

“Th-That was q-quick!”

“I was so preoccupied with this that I haven’t been able to sleep for days.”

His appearance, however, clearly suggested that he had just rolled out of bed. And having regularly witnessed him sleeping on the library floor, Maxi was stunned by his brazenness. But knowing that he had been of immeasurable help, she simply nodded.

Ruth turned around to go outside. He walked straight to the large tree next to the pavilion and stood under its branches. Maxi watched from his side as he unscrewed the vial and poured its mysterious contents onto the roots of the tree.

“Oh, great merciful god of earth! We beseech you, stretch your healing hands and fill this humble servant with your power!”

Maxi rolled her eyes. Hierarchs had visited her countless times since childhood to heal her whenever she suffered her father’s cruel abuse. She was well aware that mages were able to use magic through simple runes or incantations, and that such lengthy invocations were unnecessary.

But when she noticed the servants looking on in awe, she suddenly understood Ruth’s intentions. He was trying to show that they had done their utmost to save the tree.

Ruth dramatically extended his arms toward the heavens as if he were being granted some special power, then lowered them again and clasped his hands in prayer. Maxi tried not to laugh at the spectacle.

Soon, however, she noticed a faint light collecting around Ruth. She stared in amazement as the light began to form a small sphere. With the exception of the hierarchs’ visits, she had never witnessed magic from such a close distance. The soft light flowing from Ruth’s hands danced in the air before enveloping the tree. And the ghastly tree slowly began to absorb the light.

Spellbound, Maxi reached out to touch the warm light. The moment her fingers made contact, the light began seeping into her hand. She pulled her hand back, startled. Ruth, who had seen the whole sequence, looked at her in surprise.

“That’s unexpected,” he said, lowering his arms.

The tree had finished absorbing the light. Ruth touched its trunk as if to confirm something before turning to look at Maxi again.

“It seems you have some mana affinity, my lady.”

“M-Mana affinity?”

“It’s the primary requirement for anyone who wants to learn magic.”

Maxi’s eyes widened in surprise. She blinked and stared at her hands. Did he mean to say that she had a gift for magic?

Ruth shrugged before adding, “It’s just the basic requisite, the way agile people are better suited for swordsmanship. That alone isn’t enough to make someone a sorcerer.”

“I-I see.”

Maxi’s shoulders slumped. Of course. How could she expect to be capable of such an incredible ability? Seeing her disappointment, Ruth smiled faintly.

“But it is a rare talent. You’re quite full of surprises, my lady.”

“W-What do you m-mean?”

“You’re surprisingly short-tempered, prone to exaggeration, competitive, and now, mana affinity…”

Maxi’s face flushed with embarrassment, but Ruth grinned and continued.

“I thought you were just a feeble, demure lady when we first met, but you’re proving to be quite interesting.”

“Th-That didn’t sound l-like a c-compliment!”

“It was,” Ruth said, a smug smile on his face.

Skeptical that a true compliment would sound so sardonic, Maxi began to prod the roots of the tree with her foot.

“A-Anyway, did we s-succeed in reviving th-the tree?”

“I can’t say for sure.”

“H-How can you n-not know?”

What had that grand display been for? Maxi scowled, but Ruth only shrugged.

“All I did was infuse the tree with the earth’s mana. We’ll have to wait for spring to see the results. If it starts to grow leaves again, it means the magic has worked. If not, then it means it’s hopeless and the tree should be cut down.”

Maxi looked up at the thin, densely overlapping branches of the tree and nodded. Surveying the bleak garden, she thought about the plans she had discussed with the gardener. If the tree was still dead come spring, she intended to replace it with bright flowers and a sapling, regardless of anyone’s objection.

***

With the renovations complete, winter preparations began in earnest at Calypse Castle. With barely a moment’s rest, servants covered the well with thick wooden planks to prevent the water from freezing, repaired the partitions in the stables, and stocked enough hay and firewood to last the winter.

Meanwhile, the maidservants washed linens and garments until their hands swelled, cleaned every room in the castle, and wove at the loom. They were tasked with finishing winter garments for the guards before the weather turned too cold.

Seeing the strain on everyone, Ludis cautiously suggested, “My lady, I’m not sure that we can prepare all the garments on time. May I suggest purchasing some of the fabric instead of weaving it ourselves?

Maxi readily agreed. She could see that everyone was overworked.

“H-How much sh-should I order?”

“About half the required amount. We’ve already prepared the rest.”

Maxi eyed the pile of fabric in the corner. If she failed to put in a precise order, she was sure to hear an earful from the meddling sorcerer. She grabbed a piece of parchment to calculate the total volume of fabric required for the guards and the quantity of fabric that had already been woven.

“W-Will this suffice?”

“Yes, my lady. And if we could also order more of the leather straps, thread, and needles…”

“M-My lady! I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have an emergency!”