Chapter – 43
“Hello, Rosia. It’s been a while, Marchioness.”
The Master of the Magic Tower placed his right hand over his chest and his left behind his back, giving a light bow.
When he straightened, a bouquet had somehow appeared in his left hand.
“Oh my, how magical.”
“It is magic.”
Smiling brightly, he handed me the bouquet. The buds were lush, crimson roses.
“They reminded me of your eyes, Rosia.”
“My, how romantic,” Mother exclaimed, blushing on my behalf.
Encouraged by her reaction, the Tower Master exaggerated even more.
“You didn’t come to see me, Rosia, so I came to see you first. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”
“You came to visit me when I was ill.”
That was only two weeks ago.
“I thought you would naturally call for me again the next day. Or invite me as your partner to a tea party. But you didn’t contact me at all, as if you had forgotten me….”
He slumped his shoulders and lowered his gaze, pretending to be heartbroken. Mother seemed completely taken in by his performance and reacted more dramatically than usual.
“Oh my, Roa. How could you commit such a discourtesy?”
Resisting the urge to smack him in the face with the bouquet, I put on my society smile.
“It’s not as though one must bring a partner to every gathering.”
“That doesn’t mean there’s a rule saying you mustn’t have one either.”
He spoke as if my seat beside me were already reserved for him. Was this how he intended to make my life troublesome in exchange for sparing it?
“That’s true. If the opportunity arises, I’ll ask for your escort, Tower Master. Then—”
“Tower Master, would you care to stay for dinner?”
Just as I was about to send him off, Mother eagerly extended the invitation.
“Would that be acceptable, my lady?”
“Of course. If you join us, I’m sure it will be an even more delightful meal.”
Mother clasped her hands together as if in prayer, her eyes sparkling far too brightly.
She was undoubtedly imagining something like ‘a gathering of a daughter of marriageable age and her suitors.’
“Then I shall gladly accept.”
With a smile, the Tower Master offered Mother his escort, and she happily took his arm.
They moved together as though they had known each other for ten years. I quietly let out a sigh.
After signaling a maid to take the bouquet, I headed to the dining room with Lexian.
I took the seat of honor.
Originally, Mother should have sat to my left, but Lexian took that seat. Across from him—on my right—sat the Tower Master, and Mother seated herself beside him.
Mother’s position was perfect for observing me and the two men.
The sharp gleam in her eyes made me feel as though she were watching a play.
Fortunately, despite the addition of two more people, the appetizers were quickly served. We were told the entrée would take a little longer.
“How did you and our Roa come to know each other, Tower Master?”
“I had business in the Empire and happened to see Rosia. I lost my heart to her at first sight.”
Even his table manners were perfectly Imperial.
The fact that he had concealed every trace of rudeness and mastered noble etiquette showed just how meticulous a man he was.
“Please, call me Sila, my lady.”
“Oh my, is that truly acceptable?”
“Of course. Rosia and I share a special bond.”
Mother and the Tower Master dominated the conversation.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it, Tower Master.”
“Rosia, that hurts.”
He winked and made a writing gesture in the air with his long fingers.
It seemed he was referring to the magical parchment and pen he had given me when he swore not to take my life.
“You’re the one who likes me unilaterally, Tower Master. I don’t act to win your favor.”
Even at my rather impolite remark, he simply smiled as though pleased. It truly seemed he liked me.
He might not kill me—but I had considered the possibility that he might harm my family or loved ones to torment me instead.
From the look of things, however, that didn’t seem likely.
“Rosia, I saw you training earlier. Is it going well?”
Lexian, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
“Yes. Thanks to Kal looking after me. Kal is an excellent knight, so if he’s watching over things, there’s no need for you to check, Lexian.”
“For the time being, perhaps. Still, I think it’s better if I oversee it myself.”
Lexian glanced at the Tower Master. His expression looked normal at first glance, but I knew better.
He was displeased.
It was both adorable and worrisome—the way he subtly guarded against another man.
The flimsy emotion he wrapped in the guise of familial affection might shatter at any moment.
If Lexian realized his feelings and began approaching me openly, that would be troublesome.
“Wow. You call the Knight Commander by his name, but I’m ‘Tower Master’? When will you call me by my name, Roa?”
“Why would I call you—”
Then it struck me. The Tower Master was a man. A man I had met for the first time in this life and who had been nothing but an inconvenience—completely outside my plans.
But if it was that man, who so enthusiastically welcomed my madness…
“All right, Sila.”
When I smiled sweetly, Mother’s eyes sparkled. At the same time, Sila’s eyes curved into crescents—and Lexian…
His hand, holding his fork, froze.
I didn’t dare look at his face. His eyes would look like shattered blue diamonds.
“So this is how it feels to hear my name from Roa.”
Blushing, Sila propped his chin on his hand and gazed at me. His dreamy expression made him seem anything but normal.
“But ‘Roa’ doesn’t suit you, Sila. If I call you Sila, then please call me Rosia.”
“Mm. No.”
I nearly wanted to splash soup in his face but restrained myself and kept smiling.
Lexian was someone who loathed causing harm to others.
If he believed I harbored feelings for someone else—and that person returned them—he would never reveal his own heart.
If we drifted apart like that, Lexian would be safe.
In this life… would I not have to see him die?
“Entrée—veal braised in Burgundy wine.”
I had no intention or plan of developing anything romantic with the Tower Master.
But if growing closer to him—even pretending to—would help me discover a sure way to die and save Lexian, then I would not hesitate.
The thought of pushing Lexian away made my chest feel as though it were being torn to shreds.
But if it meant saving him, I would do anything.
I would never again allow you to be hurt or die in my place.
The image of the Crown Prince kicking Lexian’s corpse made my teeth grind.
“Why do you look like that, Roa? Are you cold in this weather?”
“No. I was just reminded of the accident at the gathering a few days ago.”
“The incident at Swan Lake? I heard about that as well.”
Thankfully, Mother took interest and steered the conversation away. Sila, who observed proper manners in front of others, did not press further.
“My lady, the master has returned.”
Just as we were finishing the entrée, a servant announced Father’s arrival.
“Oh… there are quite a few guests.”
When Father entered the dining room shortly after, he looked somewhat displeased—perhaps he had not been informed.
“Father, we can rearrange the seats—”
“It’s fine. You’re already eating. No need to trouble yourselves.”
Without hesitation, Father took the seat beside Mother.
He exchanged greetings with Lexian and Sila, though his complexion was less than bright.
No sooner had an appetizer been placed before Father than Calvin appeared.
“Oh? Everyone’s gathered here? The Commander’s here too.”
Calvin saluted lightly, and Lexian responded with a small nod.
My younger brother took a seat beside Lexian. His expression as he looked at Lexian and Sila resembled Father’s.
If the Crown Prince joined us as well, all the male leads would be assembled.
“His Majesty the Emperor has hinted that he will soon select a Crown Princess.”
As if reading my thoughts, Father spoke.
That wretched Crown Prince truly appeared everywhere.
My throat prickled, and I took a sip of water.
When the Crown Prince began showing interest in Merina, the Emperor—unable to overlook the growing ties between the Marchioness’s younger brother and son—decided to begin searching for a suitable Crown Princess.
But the selection wouldn’t begin for at least another two months…
