Aunt Margaret's Test and Two Hundred Gold Coins

Letters sent to the Northern Territory were like stones dropped into the sea, with replies taking at least ten days to half a month. Elisa's coming-of-age ceremony, however, loomed like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, with the date drawing closer each day. Leon maintained the facade of daily training at the City Guard barracks (though Captain Hans still treated him with indifference, and the training left him feeling like a dead dog each time), and without fail, he would sneak into Elisa's room at night for his unique "pillow cultivation method." Yet, his anxiety grew with each passing day.

Money was the most realistic hurdle before him. Without money, he couldn't afford a decent gift, nor could he maintain basic dignity at the ceremony. Waiting for Karl's remittance was too passive. What if his brother was busy with military affairs and delayed, or worse, wrote back to scold him without sending money (though unlikely, it wasn't impossible)? He would then bring utter disgrace upon the Hohenzollern and Windsor families in front of all the nobles in the Imperial Capital.

He needed a backup plan.

After much thought, it seemed only one person could be the subject of this backup plan—his aunt, Countess Margaret von Strauss.

Borrowing money from his aunt required immense courage. Aunt Margaret was unlike his doting mother or his strict but ultimately affectionate brother. She was calm, rational, unfathomable, and her attitude towards Leon had always been one of distant "guardianship" rather than unconditional affection. More importantly, she was incredibly wealthy. As the Empire's top Grand Archmage and the head of the Royal Academy of Magic, her sources of wealth were numerous: imperial stipends, the conversion of magic research results, and the Strauss family's own industries. Two hundred Gold Rolands might be a mere drop in the bucket for her.

But the crux of the matter wasn't whether his aunt had the money, but whether she was willing to lend it, and... what price Leon would have to pay.

Asking directly? Acting spoiled and petulant like he did with the original owner's parents and brother, or demanding it outright? That would be utter humiliation. A single cold glance from Aunt Margaret would be enough to make him swallow his words.

He had to be strategic.

Leon carefully recalled every moment he had spent with his aunt, analyzing her personality. What did she value? Order? Strength? Or... some kind of investment value? Her taking him in at the Count's mansion, besides their blood relation, was there also an element of observation and... "waste utilization" to some extent? After all, a scion of the Hohenzollern family, no matter how useless, could sometimes be a useful pawn.

Could he, then, display a sliver of potential worth "investing" in? Even a minuscule one?

This opportunity unexpectedly arrived a few days later, one evening.

Leon, dragging his leaden legs, returned to the Count's mansion after a day of "torment." He didn't go straight to his room but, on a whim, detoured to the small garden behind the mansion, which was kept perpetually spring-like by magic. He needed a tranquil environment to calm the dual exhaustion of his body and mind.

The garden was quiet, with only the gentle murmur of a magically driven fountain. Beneath the white pavilion in the center of the garden, he saw Aunt Margaret. Unlike her usual habit of handling official duties or reading magic scrolls, she was rarely sitting there, a delicate white porcelain tea set before her, seemingly enjoying her evening tea alone. The afterglow of the sunset cast a soft golden light on her stern profile, but her aura of unapproachability remained powerful.

Leon's heart skipped a beat. Opportunity!

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, adjusted his slightly disheveled robes from training, and tried to look less disheveled before walking towards the pavilion.

"Aunt," he stopped outside the pavilion and bowed respectfully.

Aunt Margaret raised her eyes, her ice-blue gaze sweeping over him. She seemed surprised by his presence but showed no displeasure, merely giving a faint "Mm."

"I just finished training and thought the scenery here was nice, so I wanted to get some fresh air. I didn't expect to disturb your peace, Aunt," Leon explained, his tone as natural as possible.

"It's nothing," Aunt Margaret gestured to the stone bench opposite her. "Sit."

Leon obeyed and sat down. A Magic Puppet silently glided over and poured him a cup of steaming hot black tea. The aroma of tea wafted up, mingling with the fresh scent of flowers and grass in the garden, and the atmosphere seemed to lighten.

They silently drank a few sips of tea. Leon's mind raced, searching for an opening. Bringing up borrowing money directly would be too abrupt; it needed a lead-in.

"Aunt," he put down his teacup, his gaze falling on a magical plant outside the pavilion emitting a faint blue glow. He brought it up casually, "Recently... I've been training with Captain Hans. Although it's tough, I feel my body has indeed become stronger than before."

Aunt Margaret didn't respond, merely watching him quietly, as if waiting for him to continue.

Leon gritted his teeth and pressed on, "It's just... sometimes I feel that just tempering the body isn't enough. The situation in the Imperial Capital is complex, like that earthquake incident last time. I feel there are many unseen dangers." He cautiously mentioned the earthquake, trying to elicit his desire for power.

"There are many forms of strength, Leon," Aunt Margaret finally spoke, her voice calm and unwavering. "The strength of muscles is but the most basic. Wisdom, connections, resources are also forms of strength, sometimes even more important."

Here it comes! Leon's heart stirred. His aunt's words perfectly aligned with his thoughts!

"You are right, Aunt," he immediately agreed, then changed the subject, a well-timed expression of awkwardness and difficulty appearing on his face. "It's just... to gain these connections and resources, sometimes... you need some basic things to support it."

He paused, as if finding it hard to speak, and finally, as if making a decision, he looked up, his gaze honest as he met Aunt Margaret's eyes. "Aunt, I... I want to borrow some money from you."

Aunt Margaret's hand, holding the teacup, froze. Her ice-blue eyes focused on Leon's face for the first time, with a hint of scrutiny and... amusement? She seemed to have expected Leon to have a request, but not this.

"Borrow money?" she repeated, her tone inscrutable. "How much? And for what?"

Leon's heart pounded in his chest. He knew the most crucial moment had arrived. He couldn't lie, at least not about the main purpose, as it would be too easy to expose.

"Two hundred Gold Rolands," Leon stated the amount. This was slightly less than he actually needed, making him seem less greedy and leaving room for negotiation. "The purpose... is mainly for Elisa's coming-of-age ceremony next month. I need to prepare a suitable gift for her and also get myself a proper outfit. This... this concerns the reputation of both the Hohenzollern and Windsor families. I cannot... be too disrespectful."

He elevated the reason to the level of family honor again, the most legitimate and hardest to refuse.

Aunt Margaret remained silent, her eyes, which seemed to see through people, quietly gazing at Leon. The air in the pavilion seemed to freeze, with only the sound of the fountain's water.

Leon felt sweat breaking out on his back. He forced himself to meet his aunt's gaze, trying to appear sincere and earnest, not guilty or calculating.

After what felt like an eternity, Aunt Margaret slowly put down her teacup, leaned back slightly, and tapped her fingers rhythmically on the stone tabletop.

"Two hundred Gold Rolands... is not a small sum," she said slowly. "Even for your Hohenzollern family, it's not something to be squandered. Are you sure this money will all be spent on what you said? And not end up in the pockets of 'Canaries' or some casino?"

Her question was sharp and direct, ruthlessly exposing Leon's past indiscretions.

Leon's face burned, but he knew he couldn't back down or argue now. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Aunt, I promise you! This money, every copper coin, will be used for matters related to the coming-of-age ceremony. I can... I can provide you with a detailed budget! I was foolish in the past, but this time is different. I absolutely cannot mess up Elisa's coming-of-age ceremony!" His tone carried a rare firmness.

Aunt Margaret's gaze lingered on his face for a long time, as if assessing the truthfulness and determination in his words.

"Even so," she changed tack, "why should I lend it to you? The Hohenzollern family isn't short of money. You could just ask your parents or brother."

Leon had anticipated this question. He lowered his head, his voice growing a little deeper, with a touch of well-placed "embarrassment." "I... I already wrote to my brother Karl. But the Northern Territory is far, and he's busy with military affairs. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it won't be in time. Besides, always asking the family for money... I... I feel ashamed. Aunt, you are in the Imperial Capital, and you are the elder I can rely on the most right now." He strategically played the "family card" and the "time crunch" card.

Silence fell again in the pavilion. Aunt Margaret's fingers stopped tapping. She looked at the young man before her, who, despite his noble status, showed vulnerability and pleading, and a complex emotion flickered in her ice-blue eyes. There was scrutiny, consideration, and perhaps a trace of... extremely faint, almost imperceptible... interest?

"Two hundred Gold Rolands, I can give it to you," Aunt Margaret finally spoke, her voice still cool, but Leon's heart skipped a beat!

"However," the following turn of phrase made Leon's heart leap again, "it's not a loan, it's a gift."

A gift? Leon was stunned. Free money? Was there such a good thing in the world? There must be conditions!

As expected, Aunt Margaret continued, "But, I have one condition."

"Please tell me, Aunt!" Leon quickly said. As long as it wasn't too excessive, he could accept it.

Aunt Margaret's gaze deepened. "After Elisa's coming-of-age ceremony, the Imperial Capital's Academy of Magic will offer a three-month 'Basic Magic Training Course' for noble children, taught by several Archmages. I want you to enroll, persist until the end, and not drop out midway. The final assessment... must at least be a pass."

The condition was completely unexpected for Leon! He had originally thought it would be some sort of restriction on his freedom or a task that would embarrass him. He never imagined it would be... to study magic? And to officially enroll in a study group at the magic academy?

This... this was like a pie falling from the sky! It perfectly matched his secret plan to cultivate magic! Moreover, with his aunt's "request," his magic studies would become legitimate. He could openly access information and ask questions without having to sneak around anymore!

Suppressing the elation in his heart, Leon put on a suitably surprised and... slightly "troubled" expression. "The magic academy? Aunt, I... I know nothing about magic, and I've heard the entry requirements are very high. I'm afraid..."

"This is precisely the condition," Aunt Margaret interrupted him, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You can choose to refuse, and the matter of two hundred Gold Roland will be dropped. Or, you can accept. I will have a puppet bring the money to you immediately, but you must persist in the study group. This will not only temper your character but also... give you an opportunity, a chance to perhaps shed the name 'waste.' Of course, if you ultimately prove yourself incapable, then it's none of my concern, merely proof that you are indeed not worth any investment."

With things put that way, how could Leon possibly refuse? This was clearly his aunt giving him a leg up!

He immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Aunt Margaret, his voice filled with "gratitude" and "determination." "Thank you, Aunt! I accept! I will definitely not fail your expectations and will study hard in the study group!"

Watching him feign a "sudden awakening and aspiration for self-improvement," Aunt Margaret's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, a hint of an unreadable smile flashing across her face before quickly disappearing. She waved her hand, and a Magic Puppet slid away silently. Moments later, it returned carrying a heavy velvet money pouch.

"Here are two hundred Gold Roland," Aunt Margaret gestured for the puppet to hand the pouch to Leon. "Remember your promise. Regarding the gift, you can ask Elisa to help you choose; she has good taste in magical items. As for the specifics of the study group, you will be notified later."

"Yes! Thank you, Aunt!" Leon took the heavy money pouch, feeling as if he were dreaming. Not only was his urgent financial need met, but he had also gained an opportunity to study magic openly! This aunt, who seemed indifferent on the surface, was actually... unfathomably deep.

After bowing again, he left the pavilion with excited yet complex emotions.

Watching his retreating back, Aunt Margaret picked up her now slightly cool teacup, her ice-blue eyes lost in thought.

"Weak magic talent, yet abnormally sensitive to elemental perception... The speed of his Spiritual Power growth is also rather interesting..." she murmured to herself. "This Hohenzollern boy seems to have some secrets. Two hundred Gold Roland and a spot in the study group, let's see how far you can go. Perhaps... you might bring about some unexpected variables?"

She took a gentle sip of her tea, her gaze drifting towards the setting sun slowly sinking below the horizon, her expression profound and unreadable.

Meanwhile, Leon clutched the money pouch tightly, feeling a brand new path slowly unfolding before him. His financial difficulties were temporarily resolved, and a greater challenge and opportunity – the magic academy's study group – awaited him ahead. He had to seize this chance.