* * *
My doubts extended to my past life.
I turned my gaze to Ateol.
Where had he found Siwoo, and how did he know that the memory-lost Siwoo was truly Yuri?
…Or did he not know yet?
No, he probably didn’t know.
At least, that’s what the favorability gauge and Ateol’s attitude suggested.
Seriously… It was frustrating that I couldn’t ask Ateol about the past life.
Besides, there was a six-year gap between then and now.
Maybe it would take Siwoo six years to regain his memories.
Or perhaps some kind of special ritual was required.
Even though Siwoo had appeared now, if it still took him six years to reclaim his magic from me, that meant I had six years to spare.
In those years, I could gather wealth diligently and make my peaceful escape.
But… wasn’t that too optimistic?
Ever since I got close to Ateol, events around me had already started diverging from my past life.
So, it wouldn’t be strange if Siwoo’s return had been pushed forward by six years.
Maybe everything was already set in motion, and the Grand Duke had sent Siwoo to the capital in advance to tie up loose ends.
But what about the memory loss?
Would there really be a need for such an unstable setting that risked exposure?
Siwoo’s speech and etiquette were clearly awkward. It was hard to believe he had once lived as the master of the tower.
If he claimed to have lost his memories, it was at least a plausible explanation.
And his magical presence—there was none at all.
But… hmm. But… again, but…
My head was about to go on strike. I gave up and simply said:
“Make yourself comfortable. The Grand Duke rarely sends guests, so even the Fourth Prince will treat you well.”
I glanced at Ateol as if asking for confirmation, and he merely lifted his brow slightly.
“Th-Thank you, Tower Master. Um… I don’t know if I should ask this, but…”
Siwoo hesitated, looking at me.
Whenever someone started a sentence like that, it was usually something they shouldn’t ask for. Ateol also frowned.
For Siwoo to even use the word ‘request’ with me from his position was already rude.
“I just feel at ease when I see you, Tower Master. So, um… would it be possible for you to visit often? I heard I can’t freely enter the tower…”
See? His etiquette was lacking.
Ateol’s brows furrowed.
Why do you think you can’t enter the tower freely?
Because you’re not supposed to.
And yet, he was telling me to come and go at his convenience?
That took some nerve.
Ateol’s expression turned cold, and my own stiffened as well.
Realizing he had made a mistake, Siwoo quickly bowed his head.
“I-I’m sorry. I haven’t… properly learned court etiquette yet. If I was disrespectful…”
But etiquette aside, wasn’t it common sense across all worlds that you shouldn’t summon someone of high status at will?
Did he forget even that due to memory loss?
Ateol quietly spoke.
“The Grand Duke sent a kid who doesn’t even know basic manners as his representative? Why? It’s not like he regularly attended banquets either.”
Siwoo was so flustered by the anger in Ateol’s voice that he nearly knocked over his teacup before barely managing to answer.
“T-That’s actually because… I pestered him to let me come to the capital.”
At those words, both Ateol and I turned to look at each other at the same time.
He… pestered the Grand Duke? And the Grand Duke actually agreed?
“I read in books that the capital has summers, bright sunshine, and is a dazzling place. I heard the sky is especially beautiful right after the rainy season, so I really wanted to see it for myself.”
Siwoo’s face lit up as he spoke.
It was the same expression I had back when I dreamed of visiting a European city I had never been to.
Now, here I was in a world no different from that dream city, while Siwoo stood there, gazing at the sky he had always longed to see.
For some reason, I felt complicated.
“So, how is it? Is it beautiful?”
“Yes!”
“Then that’s all that matters.”
[Affection Level: Siwoo
15% ]
Siwoo thinks of you as ‘S■■■■■■■■…….’
… S? …What? Is he calling me a piece of sh—?
Now they’re censoring it down to just the first consonant?
How creative.
And why is it so long?
What is this system’s deal?
Is it just trying to piss me off?
Stress me out until my lifespan shortens?
“Alright. You should go rest now.”
Ateol abruptly wrapped things up.
Once Siwoo bowed and left, disappearing from sight, Ateol led me into his room.
And the first thing he said upon entering his bedroom was:
“Now that the kid is gone, shall we spend some time as adults?”
“…….”
Forget how cringe that was—who’s the kid and who’s the adult here?
“I mean, Siwoo and I aren’t that different in age.”
Siwoo couldn’t be older than twenty-three or twenty-four at most.
But at my words, Ateol’s eyes widened.
What’s with that look? Want me to stab you?
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Well… I suppose that’s possible.”
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he saying I looked old?
Feeling irrationally offended, I glared at him, but without a word, he suddenly yanked back my hood and stared at me intently.
“There certainly are some similarities in your faces.”
Similarities? We practically looked identical.
Down to the gloomy aura.
“A little while ago, one of your close aides visited Grand Duke Roanes. Did he say anything in particular?”
“Nothing. I asked again, but he just said the usual—he’s busy. Oh, and that he’s raising an animal or something.”
“An animal? That ice-cold bastard? How unexpected.”
“I thought so too… Hey, where are you touching?”
“Your thigh.”
“That wasn’t a question.”
“Then what was it?”
Even as he spoke, his hand was slowly creeping further up my inner thigh.
So, he wanted to do it again?
But my body was too damn honest to reject him.
I pretended to back away, but I didn’t actually resist.
Then, out of nowhere, Ateol’s hand suddenly stopped.
“Do you know Grand Duke Roanes?”
“Of course I do.”
“How?”
“What do you mean, how?”
Ateol tilted his head slightly as he looked down at me.
“The Grand Duke isn’t well-known, so I’m curious—how does someone like you, a self-proclaimed fake Tower Master, know him?”
“……”
For a moment, I was speechless.
One problem with being around Ateol was that I couldn’t gauge my progress.
Even if I acted differently from my past life, he wouldn’t notice right away.
Back then, I should’ve only barely known Grand Duke Roanes by name.
I hesitated briefly before quickly coming up with an excuse.
“I studied.”
“Studied?”
“It would be strange if I didn’t even know what kind of person the Archduke is.”
“Hmm… I see. So, you’ve been working quite hard to deceive those around you.”
The wording was a bit off, but it wasn’t wrong.
“Then, shall we continue?”
“Continue what…!”
At my words, Ateol simply smiled and was about to let his hand slide again when—
A hurried knock on the bedroom door made both of us freeze.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Resa, Your Highness. An urgent report has arrived.”
Ateol let go of me and walked toward the door.
His attendant knight, who had spotted me, immediately knelt.
“I greet the master of the highest tower.”
I glanced at Ateol.
He helped her up and asked about the report.
Resa answered with a complicated expression.
“An oracle has descended upon all the temples across the nation at the same time.”
“What…?”
“……It commands the Emperor to abdicate.”
The room fell into an eerie silence, as if cold water had been poured over it.
“What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden?”
“I do not know. As Your Highness said, this truly came without warning. Even the imperial palace has only just received the news.”
I was just as dumbfounded.
Abdication?
Without any prior signs?
From every god at once?
That meant all the gods had spoken in unison: “We do not approve of the current Emperor.”
Ateol looked at me, as if suspecting my involvement.
I shook my head.
No matter how powerful I was, I couldn’t meddle with the temples so easily.
* * *
