Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 21: Me, My Big Mouth, and a Mysterious Mage

Chapter 21: Me, My Big Mouth, and a Mysterious Mage

Katherine sat in her elegantly furnished receiving room, setting down her quill after reviewing the last section of her business draft. Just as she leaned back to stretch her fingers, she heard approaching footsteps.

The door opened, and an attendant dressed in blue temple robes embroidered with silver stepped inside, carrying a small satchel. His movements were quiet, precise—almost hesitant, as if he wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

"My lady," he greeted, bowing respectfully.

Katherine smiled warmly, motioning toward the chair near the window. "Welcome. Please, have a seat."

The attendant remained standing, his grip firm on the satchel as he set it on the table. Katherine noted his reserved demeanor, an air of caution lingering around him. Still, he seemed polite and professional, so she didn’t press him.

She unrolled the parchment he had brought, her gaze scanning its contents with practiced ease. "Let’s see... Ah, yes. I’ll need preservation stickers that last at least a month to prevent spoilage, along with some aging stickers—two hundred of each. Will that be possible?"

The attendant nodded. "Yes, my lady. We can have them delivered as early as tomorrow."

Katherine smiled, pleased with the efficiency. "Perfect. Now, The Maestro mentioned these are one gold each?"

"That is correct," he confirmed.

Her lips curled upward slightly. "Then consider this payment for the trial products your master sent me yesterday," she said, placing a small pouch of gold coins on the table. "And here—" she pushed another pouch forward—"take ten gold for yourself as a delivery fee."

The attendant’s eyes widened slightly before he quickly lowered his head in gratitude. "Thank you, my lady," he said with quiet sincerity.

Katherine studied him for a moment, her curiosity piqued. She had seen him running errands for The Maestro before, always dressed in the same blue temple robes. There was something youthful about him—his posture, his mannerisms—that made her wonder.

As her gaze flickered over him, she caught a glimpse of his ears peeking from beneath his hood. They were subtly pointed.

Ah. So that’s what’s different.

"Are you an elf?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

The attendant stiffened, his hand instinctively adjusting his hood as if to conceal his ears. "Oh—my lady, I—" He hesitated, his voice carrying a hint of unease. "I apologize if—"

Katherine waved off his concern with a light chuckle. "No need to apologize. I was just curious. I’ve never met an elf before."

The young man hesitated before finally replying, his voice quieter than before. "I... I’m a half-elf, my lady."

Katherine’s brows lifted slightly. "Really? That’s fascinating. I’ve read about elves, but I’ve never actually met one—or a half-elf, for that matter."

His posture remained guarded, as if he were expecting something—perhaps judgment. "Most humans aren’t fond of half-elves," he admitted.

Katherine hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I’m not most humans," she said simply, offering a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to be so tense around me."

Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe even relief. "You’re very kind, my lady."

Katherine waved off the compliment. "Can I know your name?"

The attendant hesitated before answering, "Devrien, my lady."

"Devrien," she repeated with a nod. "It’s nice to meet you."

She leaned forward slightly, still studying him with open curiosity. "By the way, if you don’t mind me asking—how old are you?"

Devrien blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "I... I’m twenty, my lady."

Katherine stared at him. "Twenty?"

He nodded.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined his youthful features. "You’re joking," she said flatly.

Devrien’s face turned slightly pink. "I... I guess I look younger than I really am," he admitted, lowering his gaze.

Katherine leaned back with a sigh, shaking her head. "I seriously thought you were, like, twelve." Then, with a chuckle, she added, "I almost thought The Maestro was keeping a child as an assistant. I was about to file a complaint."

Devrien’s expression twitched—he looked as if he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be horrified. "No, my lady. I assure you, I am not a child."

Katherine laughed, genuinely amused. "Good to know. That would’ve been awkward."

Devrien coughed lightly, shifting in his seat.

Still grinning, Katherine rested her chin on her palm. "So, what exactly do you do for The Maestro? I’ve seen you running errands for him, but it seems like there’s more to your job than that."

His expression softened slightly. "Master has been very kind to me," he said, his voice carrying quiet gratitude. "He took me in when others wouldn’t... because of my heritage. I’ve always been interested in magic, but no one took me seriously. Master allowed me to stay, and he lets me read magic books in his office. My tasks are light so I can focus on my studies."

Katherine listened carefully, her gaze thoughtful. "That’s rare," she said after a moment. "Not everyone gets that kind of opportunity."

Devrien nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. Master is the only one who’s ever believed in me."

Katherine smiled back, reaching for a small jar on the table. She pushed it toward him. "Here. I sent two of these to your master and the other attendant, but I wanted to give one to you personally."

Devrien hesitated before accepting it with both hands. "Thank you, my lady. I don’t deserve such kindness, but I truly appreciate it."

Katherine arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean you don’t deserve it? You work hard, don’t you? You should be rewarded." Then, with a playful grin, she added, "Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll have a powerful half-elf wizard owe me a favor."

Devrien’s eyes widened before his lips quirked into a small smile. "I will do my best, my lady."

Katherine chuckled. "I’ll hold you to that."

As Devrien made the necessary notes for her order and promised to return with the items the next day, Katherine leaned back in her chair, her thoughts drifting.

"The Maestro is really something. Having a half-elf apprentice..." She tapped her fingers on the armrest. "This wasn’t in the novel. I didn’t even know elves existed here. I wonder if there are dwarves and centaurs too? Maybe even fairies or dragons?"

She paused. "Wait... I talked way too much to that kid—" her lips pressed into a thin line, "—who is older than me. He might tell The Maestro..."

She buried her face in her hands with a groan. "Me and my big mouth again."

As she let out a deep sigh, her thoughts took an unexpected turn.

And speaking of him...

Her thoughts lingered on Eldritch. That man...

I wonder how The Maestro is doing?

He seems dangerous. Calculated. The type of person who saw the world like a chessboard, moving pieces as he pleased. But at the same time, he was intriguing. The way he wrote in his letters—formal yet oddly warm—made her wonder what kind of person he truly was.

She recalled their last meeting. His crimson eyes sharp yet composed, his voice rich yet laced with something unreadable. His presence was commanding, almost suffocating.

And yet, she found herself drawn to it.

He’s the kind of man you should be careful around. The kind who could shatter a person’s world without blinking.

...But he’s also the kind who might be lonely.

Katherine pursed her lips. That was dangerous. If she let herself think too much about him, she might start romanticizing him. And that was a terrible idea.

Still, she couldn’t shake the thought.

"I wonder if we’ll meet again?" she murmured.

Katherine sighed, rubbing her temples as she leaned back in her chair.

This wasn’t good.

Why was she thinking about Eldritch so much? She barely knew him—well, not really. She had met him only a handful of times, and yet, here she was, wondering about him.

She sat up and slapped her cheeks lightly. Focus, Katherine.

There were more important things to do than daydream about some overly mysterious, questionably dangerous, but admittedly very handsome magician.

Like, for example...

Her gaze drifted to the parchment on her desk—the business draft she had just finished.

Right. Work.

But before she could fully shake off her thoughts, a knock came at the door.

"My lady, the person just now left a letter for you," one of the household servants called from the other side.

Devrien left a letter?

Katherine straightened, curiosity sparking in her chest. "Come in."

The servant entered, carrying a small envelope with a wax seal—one she recognized immediately.

Black wax. A crisp, formal seal. The unmistakable insignia of The Maestro.

Her heart did an odd little jump.

Speak of the devil...

She took the letter, dismissing the servant with a nod before carefully breaking the seal. Unfolding the parchment, her eyes scanned the elegant handwriting.

---

"Lady Katherine,

I expect you have received the trial products by now. If you find them satisfactory, I will arrange for further orders.

If you require anything urgent, direct your requests to Devrien. He is quite capable.

—E."

---

Katherine stared at the letter.

That was it?

She narrowed her eyes at the neatly penned words.

That man was so cold in writing. His letters were always polite, perfectly professional—but somehow, she could feel there was something else beneath them. Or maybe she was imagining it.

She tapped the edge of the parchment against her palm.

Maybe she should send a reply.

Maybe she shouldn’t.

Maybe she should stop thinking about a man who was probably stuck in a tower drowning in magic requests.

She exhaled, folding the letter carefully before setting it aside.

"I really need to get out of this room," she muttered, standing up.

She had work to do.

And she was definitely not thinking about him anymore.

...Probably.

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