City ​​of Witches 1008

## Chapter 1008 – #242_Magic University Tycoon (3)

#1002

1.
Late at night, even the plants were quietly asleep.

But for a witch who didn’t need sleep, the night was a time for research, a time to immerse herself in magical studies in a tranquil atmosphere.

“Hmm….”

‘The Alchemist Witch,’ Baroness Louisa Moirety, stretched after organizing the data she had obtained from today’s experiment.

“Has it already gotten this late…?”

The clock hand she glanced at was already pointing at 3 AM, and Moirety sighed deeply at the lack of progress in her experiments.

Even after dedicating over a hundred years to magical research, there were days like today when she felt her motivation plummet due to a series of lackluster results.

With the ‘Regular Presentation,’ where research results were announced at the castle every quarter, just two weeks away, the psychological pressure and the persistent frustration made her heart pound unpleasantly.

“Is this a slump…?”

Louisa tidied up the alchemy tools used in the experiment and left her workshop.

Despite being a member of the prestigious Meigas-class academy, of which there were only ten in the Emerald Tablet, her workshop and mansion were located in the pear orchard on the outskirts of the castle.

She disliked crowds and preferred a pastoral lifestyle, so the castle, with its high population density, was a place she wanted to avoid.

As she walked along the path leading from her workshop to her mansion, she pondered various things, but no clear solution came to mind.

There was no other way.
She would have to get through this regular presentation formally and then make a fresh start next time.

Even the moonlight illuminating the path seemed to exude a gloomy weariness.
Upon entering her mansion, Baroness Moirety was surprised to hear something unexpected from the head maid waiting at the front door.

“My Lady, Baron Shin Siwoo has come to visit.”
“What? Baron Shin Siwoo?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he now? Why didn’t you contact me?”
“I was told that you were in the middle of research, so he said he would wait in the drawing room.”

Originally, she had planned to enjoy a bath with some wine and go to bed for a good night’s sleep.
She was that tired.

But as soon as she heard the head maid’s words, her fatigue and drowsiness vanished.

It was already 3 AM.
If they were close, there wouldn’t be a problem with visiting at any hour, but conversely, if they weren’t close, it was a time when one shouldn’t visit.

However, instead of feeling displeased, a sense of curiosity and a certain anticipation began to bubble up.

“Ah, I see. Tiffany, please tell him to wait a little longer, and then prepare some clothes for me to change into?”

There were no witches who dressed up like flowers and did research in their workshops.
Moirety’s current attire was a white gown with her hair roughly tied up in a messy bun.

Moreover, though it might not be important, her underwear was mismatched.

“Ah, please prepare the underwear as well.”

The head maid, startled by the request to prepare even the underwear, lowered her head and asked discreetly.

“Is he perhaps your boyfriend? He was incredibly handsome.”
“Oh, you’re being silly again. Hurry and prepare it.”
“Yes, I will prepare the most sexy underwear and clothes.”
“Tiffany!”

The head maid, who had been giggling at the Baroness’s stern tone, straightened up and lowered her head again.

After cleaning herself with cleansing magic, rushing to the powder room to do her makeup, matching her underwear, putting on the revealing but not excessive dress that Tiffany had prepared, and slipping into high heels, Louisa rushed to the drawing room.

Of course, she had no intention of forgetting her duties as a Baroness.

She had no intention of showing a cheap, excited appearance at the sudden visit.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long. If you had given me notice beforehand…”

She tried to maintain her dignity and act like a host welcoming a sudden guest, but…

“…I apologize for the sudden visit at this late hour.”

As soon as she saw him sitting on the sofa, she couldn’t continue her words.

The last time she had been with him was at the ball just two days ago.
Baron Shin Siwoo from that day, who had given her an unforgettable waltz, was literally like a graceful, rising noble.

It was an impression so intense that it couldn’t be compared to his visit to her home.
His eyes were full of passion, and she felt the spirit of a young lion ready to fight against any danger.

“Are you alright?”

But now, he looked like a wounded beast.

His white shirt was crumpled and disheveled, his lips were dry and cracked, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
On the drawing room table, there were cigarette butts piled up in the ashtray and empty bottles scattered around.

He looked extremely tired and worn out.

“I’ve shown you an unsightly side.”
“Ah, no…! You don’t look unsightly at all.”
“……”

Was it okay for her to sit next to him?

Baroness Moirety hesitated slightly before sitting on the same sofa as Siwoo.

Although his image had been maliciously portrayed by Dandelion, Louisa didn’t think he was such a bad person.
It wasn’t like the gossip magazines hadn’t exaggerated rumors before, and above all, his charm was undeniable, wasn’t it?

Even in this disheveled state, he was somehow sexy.

And secretly, she felt good.

They said that men were creatures with terribly strong pride and didn’t like to show their weak side, didn’t they?
But the fact that he was honestly showing his weak side made her feel like she was receiving special treatment.

“Did something happen?”
“It’s nothing. I thought about it while waiting… but I don’t think it’s something I should tell Baroness Moirety.”

Shin Siwoo shook his head as she asked cautiously.

“I’m truly sorry for the intrusion. I hope I can visit again next time.”
“W-wait a moment.”

Siwoo, with a forced smile, got up from his seat.
Baroness Moirety unconsciously grabbed his sleeve.

She was curious, but also, she felt a sense of regret at letting him go like this.

“Tell me slowly. We haven’t known each other for long, but you still came all the way here.”
“But…”
“I have time anyway, so I can listen.”

Moirety coaxed Siwoo back into his seat, filled an empty glass with wine, lit a cigarette for both of them, and put it in her mouth.

This might be a really bad thought…

She liked Shin Siwoo now more than the dignified and imposing Baron.

Back then, she had felt a strong sense that he was somehow unattainable.

In the witch society, Moirety, who had a long lineage, had an overwhelming advantage in terms of honor and trust, but in all other aspects, wasn’t he a rapidly developing promising star?

But now, and this was a really bad thought…

Perhaps, if she played this situation well, she could get even closer to him? She couldn’t help but consider the possibility.

“Actually…”

But at his words that followed, Baroness Moirety couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of guilt.

He said that he had met with Count Cagliostro and received a proposal.
It was a toxic treaty that would allow him to intervene in the management of the Hessed Academy in exchange for helping with its operation.

Shin Siwoo had refused.
Count Cagliostro had immediately responded with a show of force, and as a result, the banquet for the heads of minor academies that he had ambitiously prepared today had ended with the heartbreaking result of zero attendees.

“That happened… I can’t imagine.”

Selfishness was selfishness, and human compassion was compassion.

Hearing an episode on the level of no one coming to a birthday party that he had prepared, she could understand why he was so distressed and why he had hesitated to tell Moirety about it.

After all, Moirety was also a member of the castle.

In fact, such political maneuvers were commonplace even in Gehenna.

However, Baroness Moirety was a witch who was a pure scholar type, devoted to her studies, so she learned about such an incident for the first time through Siwoo.

“I don’t think he did anything wrong. If there’s anything I can do, I should do it. It’s also true that I was inadequate in my response.”
“Still, I think it was too much. An academy that hasn’t even started yet…”

Siwoo bowed his head and rubbed his face with his hands.
Louisa swallowed hard and stroked his back.

Even though she wasn’t directly involved, she was still part of the same organization.
She felt a strong sense of guilt.

Moirety said something she wouldn’t normally say.

“Shall I talk to the headmaster? I have some say, you know.”

In fact, it wasn’t that significant compared to her position, but Baroness Moirety was trying to bluff.

“No, that’s not why I came to see you, Baroness Moirety.”

Contrary to her expectations, he rejected her offer outright.

“It was something I had to be prepared for from the moment I decided to lead the academy. It’s late, but that resolve hasn’t faded. Even if I’m in this situation now, I will one day stand proudly before Count Cagliostro with my own strength.”

Moreover, even in his still haggard state, his eyes showed a steadfast spirit.

“How… admirable…”

Moirety wasn’t a fool either.

From the moment he had come to visit at this late hour, and from the moment he had confided his troubles, there was something that had bothered her.
Wasn’t it possible that Baron Shin Siwoo was trying to ask her for a favor to overcome his difficulties?

No matter how much she liked him, if he had only shown a desperate appearance, she would have lost interest.
It was difficult to have feelings for someone who only approached her with a calculating perspective.

But look at how he calmly rejected her offer to help.
It made her want to help him even more.

“I’ll help too.”
“No, I think I said something unnecessary.”

“No, it’s not like that. Of course, I’m part of the castle, so you might not trust me easily…”
“That’s not it.”

Siwoo, cutting her off firmly, looked directly into Moirety’s eyes.
And then, the final blow.

“I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
“Ah…”

Anyone in a difficult situation would want to take advantage of others.
But he had overcome even that temptation and was worried about Moirety.

“It’s not difficult to provide information, even if it’s not much. It’s not dangerous either. But instead…”

Now she really understood.
Why the most powerful great witches had become his lovers.

“Could you call me Louisa instead of Moirety?”