Avoid The Lead!

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Arch Grand Mage Soren was known as a ground breaker, as for the last hundred years or so, he was the only known mage to achieve Arch Grand Mage level... The level above Grand Mage!

There were rumours that King Vien was on Arch Grand Mage level, but as the Royal family members were never ranked, only Arch Grand Mage Soren held the title.

Arch Grand Mage Soren was also the previous Palace Grand Mage, and was the Late Queen's godfather, making him the closest thing Taze had to a grandfather.

'No wonder Taze could sneak in and out so easily!' Celia thought.

This must be the 'Powerful Mage' he had mentioned, and she wondered why she never considered who it was in the original life!

But as the applause continued, another flash of memory made Celia freeze.

'He'll die in three days!'

In the rewritten lives, news of Arch Grand Mage Soren's death always coincided with news that Elfsworth Academy was choosing a new principal, just three days after its graduation ceremony.

She now realized why, and as Arch Grand Mage Soren began his congratulatory speech, she furiously searched her past memories for any information or clue she could get...

After the Queen's death, Arch Grand Mage Soren retired from the palace. He vanished from the public, and no one knew where he went, till now...

Celia wasn't sure how he died, but she knew one thing for certain.

Whoever could kill such a powerful being was no joke...

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After the graduation ceremony, Celia stood in a quiet spot with Carla, who was wailing in her arms.

"Come now, we both live in Blixia!" Celia said, patting her back.

"It's not the Saaaaaaame!" Carla wailed, messing up her rouge without the littlest regard. "You plan to work in the Palace! That's like School all over again! You'll only be let out on weekends! Even then, we'll have to set dates and align schedules! And who knows when marriage will set in?!

"But here we were in the same class and could even meet in the dorms! I ask you. How is it the same?!"

Celia could only pat her some more. "There there..."

It was true. She planned to work in the Palace.

In previous lives, this was merely because she had done it in the fake first life, and felt like she had to continue that way to remain near Vitav.

This time, she had another goal... To heal Taze no matter what!

But first, she needed to take care of Novia.

After parting with Carla, Celia went to greet Master Sylva, who patted her shoulder.

"You're the best student one could have!" He said proudly. "But don't forget, your studies don't end here!"

"Yes Master!" Celia replied with a curtsey.

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The ride home made Celia anxious.

She had spied on Novia and Lady Garrett for years, and even noted which maids or servants they had gotten close to.

But she didn't fool herself. People as insidious as Novia and Lady Garrett might find ways to slither around her defenses.

"Butler Gray, do you have the things I asked for?" Celia asked once the ride started.

"Yes, my Lady." Butler gray replied, and he handed her a small tin box.

Within it were roughly scribbled notes and several letters, all with signatures and thumb prints.

Celia smiled. "Thank you, Butler Gray."

"It's my pleasure, my Lady!"

For a while now, Celia had been sending instructions to Butler Gray through Sara, and more recently, she had sent him to find a few people...

This little tin box didn't seem like much, but with it, she could confidently set her plans in motion!

Still, she worried...

Novia or Lady Garrett might make their own moves, and then there was Taze to think about.

"We've arrived, my Lady." Butler Gray informed, then alighted to assist her in coming down.

But once Celia's feet touched the ground, she felt a familiar wave of pleasant prickles, and her stomach did a funny little tumble as she glanced around.

'Taze is here!'

~"Celia!"~ Taze's voice entered her mind, and she swivelled to a spot on the grounds, drawn to a small copse of shade trees.

In the shadows, she could barely make out a large outline, which was certainly Taze's plant-clone butler.

~"Taze!"~ She said.

"My Lady, is anything the matter? Butler Gray asked, and Celia turned to leave.

"Ah, no it's fine."

~"Wait!"~ Taze's voice stopped her. ~"I'm grounded for a while..."~ He sounded downcast. "But I wanted to warn you. Vitav is here!"~

~"Ei?!"~ Celia mentally exclaimed, as she followed Butler Gray.

She sighed. ~"I'll deal with him! More importantly, Arch Grand Mage Soren might be in danger! In my past lives, he dies in three days! His death is suspicious!"~

it was Taze's turn to sigh. ~"I understand."~ He replied, and his aura suddenly vanished, making Celia feel a bit regretful.

"My Lady, will there be anything more?" Butler Gray's ever-polite voice cut into her thoughts, and she beamed at him.

"Not at all, Butler Gray. We have a guest." She said, as Novia hurried out to meet her.

"Sister!" Novia ran out to great her. "Sister, it's been so long! I've dearly missed you...missed having another young lady around!"

Celia played along. "Elder Sister! The winters were colder without you! How have you been faring? I hear you're quite the sensation!"

This was partly true. Novia was a dark and sultry beauty, and safe under the Scarlett family's name, she had a few suitors of her own.

"Sister! You jest!" Novia dimmed her voice to a whisper. "I hear both the Crown Prince and the First Prince are asking for your hand! You're making me embarrassed!"

Celia's eyes widened slightly. "Shhhh! That's a secret!" She forced a grin.

The students at Elfsworth would forget Taze, thanks to the Principal's spell, and the King would certainly suppress all such rumours in the Capital, so the no one else at the Academy would say anything.

But her father might have complained at home, and one of Lady Garrett or Novia's spies had certainly eavesdropped...

How else could Novia know this?!

"His Majesty, Prince Vitav is here for a visit, and he awaits you, My Lady." Another servant informed Celia with a curt bow.

Celia resisted an urge to glare at him... He was one of those close to Novia and her mother.

"Sister, let's hurry! We can't keep his highness waiting!" Novia said, lightly tugging her arm, and Celia resisted another urge to glare at her.

"But sister, you're quite popular!" Novia whispered again. "Prince Vitav is here to propose to you, and you're entangled with the Crown Prince?!"

"Shh!" Celia quickly patted her hand. "It's a case of mistaken identity! I think Prince Vitav heard the Scarlett daughter was pretty. He must be looking for you!"

"Hmph! Don't be modest, sister!" Novia patted her hand as well. "I have a common kind of beauty, whereas you look like a rare treasure!

Celia allowed Novia guide her into the mansion, but when a line of servants bowed and curtseyed to them, she used the opportunity to unlink her arm from Novia's. "Sister, you go ahead! I need to greet a few people first!"

Novia sent her a curious look, wondering why she would greet servants before going to greet a Prince, but when Celia remained unmoving, she quietly left.

As she turned her back to Celia and climbed the steps, her smile vanished, replaced by a hateful sneer.

'I'm the first child, and yet you get all the good things! Not for much longer!'

Meanwhile, Celia watched Novia go up the grand staircase and waited till she was out of sight, before letting out a pent-up breath.

"My Lady!" The head maid greeted, boldly pulling Celia into a hug! How could you return home for only a few weekends?!"

Celia patted the woman's back. "Mrs Ameli, I apologize! I'm back now! I'm back!" Mrs. Ameli usually went to see her own family on the weekends, so she hadn't seen Celia in a goodly while!

Sara attacked her next, and after a tearful reunion, the other servants crowded around to find out how Celia had been, and to congratulate her on graduating at the top of Elfsworth, making the Scarlett household proud!

But after some minutes, Celia had to tear herself away and hurry upstairs, and then braced herself before stepping into the sun room.

But as she entered and sank into a perfect curtsey, She felt the coldest glare directed at her.

'So cold!' She thought.

Novia might be flawless in acting, but Celia was too sensitive to her hateful emotions.

She put them aside, as her eyes met Vitav's...

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