매지스터에게 필요한 것

사랑하는 언니에게,

오랜만이야 언니, 언니한테는 꼭 고맙다고 말하고 싶었어! 언니가 해 준 조언은 완벽했어. 돈을 써서 몇 가지 소문을 퍼뜨렸을 뿐인데, 금세 민라투스의 모든 사람이 퀴리누스와 내가 아주 무시무시한 경쟁 관계라고 생각하던걸. 덕분에 잠깐이나마, 그 남자의 끔찍한 가족들에게 방해받지 않고 연애를 즐길 수 있었지.

슬프게도, 퀴리누스는 그리 완벽한 남자는 아니었어. 걔가 몰래 바람을 피우고 있던 걸 나한테 들켰지 뭐야. 그것도 소포라티 따위랑 말이야. 나로서는 별수 없었어. 말다툼 도중에 그놈 얼굴에 끓는 물을 확 끼얹어 버리는 수밖에. 상처에다가 소포라티 애인의 뽀뽀라도 받으라지.

걔는 지금 집구석에 찌그러져서, 결투하다 다친 척하고 있어. 틀림없이 복수하러 올 거야. 걱정하지 마, 언니. 그 부분에 대해서는 미리 대책을 세워 놨으니까. 아무한테도 말하면 안 돼! 사실 내 스승님이 날 안전하게 지켜줄 몇 가지 비밀을 가르쳐 주셨어. 그 의식 때문에 저택의 주방 노예가 하나 죽긴 했지만. 이름이 레나였던가? 하지만 이제 퀴리누스는 나한테 손끝 하나도 건드릴 수 없을 거야. 주방 노예는 시장에서 얼마든지 살 수 있으니, 손해라고 할 만한 것도 없고 말이야.

언니, 나 지금 기분이 너무 좋아. 올해 겨울끝절에 집에 안 올래? 그때까지 언니가 제일 좋아하는 레몬 케이크 만드는 방법을 새 노예에게 가르쳐놓을게. 분명 완벽할 거야.

—축복의 시대 8:65년, 매지스터 델핀이 언니 올리아에게 보낸 편지 

 

Dearest sister:

It's been an age since I've written, but I simply had to thank you! Your advice was perfect. Just a few gossips bought with gold and everyone in Minrathous thought Quirinus and I were the most dreadful rivals. It let us indulge our little love affair without his wretched family interfering, if only for a little while.

 

Quirinus himself sadly turned out to be less ideal. I caught him carrying on behind my back, with a soporati of all things. Can you imagine? There was nothing for it. During the quarrel, I threw boiling water in his face. Let his soporati kiss the scars better.

 

He's cowering in his mansion now, pretending he was hurt in a duel. No doubt he'll want revenge. Don't worry, dear sister. I took precautions. Don't tell anyone, but my master taught me a few secrets that should keep me safe. The ritual cost me the mansion's kitchen slave. Lenna, I think she was called? But I've enough power now to keep Quirinus from trying anything foolish. Kitchen slaves can be bought by the dozen at the market, so there's no harm in it.

 

I feel wonderful, dear sister. Won't you come for Wintersend this year? I'll have my new slave trained to make your favorite lemon cakes by then. It'll be perfect.

 

—Letter from Magister Delphine to her sister Aulia, 8:65 Blessed