* * *
The rumors of the Fourth Prince subjugating the monster spread quickly.
Along with it, the news that I had accompanied him.
The Magic Tower had intervened in imperial succession conflicts before, but never in such an active or unexpected manner.
Some even speculated that this signaled a true alliance between the imperial family and the Magic Tower.
A ridiculous assumption.
A true alliance… in other words, marriage.
Me and Ateol?
Absolutely not.
I was just looking for a chance to escape.
And I certainly couldn’t push Yulie into marrying him either.
But the effects of the rumors were undeniable.
Ateol’s image transformed overnight from a reckless outcast of the frontier to the most promising candidate for the throne.
His past actions were even being reinterpreted in a more favorable light—as if he had always known he was destined to rule.
Ateol himself just shrugged at such claims.
The Emperor and Empress began visiting almost daily.
But no matter how many times they came, my response remained the same—I either said nothing or reiterated that my stance hadn’t changed.
They were clearly desperate.
Because of those constant conversations, my gauge fluctuated up and down, never quite stabilizing past the halfway mark.
I just wanted to reach a safe point already.
And then, an unexpected guest arrived.
“The Crown Prince?”
“Yes. He didn’t announce his visit in advance, so if you wish, I can send him away. What would you like to do?”
I hesitated.
One month since I had transmigrated (+ a little extra).
As someone who had spent 26 years in a democratic country, I still found the concepts of emperors, empresses, and crown princes intimidating.
Even if he had arrived unannounced, could I really just lie back and tell them to turn him away?
No.
“I’ll meet him.”
“Where should I prepare?”
“Do as you see fit, Cloden.”
When I finally stepped out, Cloden had prepared a spot in the back garden of the tower.
I smirked to myself.
The back garden—used for hosting guests of relatively lower status.
Even though there was an excuse that this shaded area stayed cool in the summer, it was clear that Caleus wasn’t in a good mood.
You had suddenly appeared, uninvited, and Cloden was the one making it obvious for you.
As soon as Caleus, who had been seated at the tea table, saw me, he stood up and greeted me formally.
Behind me, Serta and Cloden stood openly, while Bell stood behind Caleus.
Despite the situation, Caleus maintained a relaxed smile.
He really did resemble Ateol a lot.
He looked about ten years older than Ateol, but since he was actually twelve years older, it wouldn’t be surprising if this was what Ateol would look like in the future.
Hmm.
Though for some reason, I just couldn’t imagine Ateol getting even a little older than he is now.
Come to think of it, even six years later, he hadn’t changed much.
He should have looked different by then—he’d be in his thirties, after all.
Well, that’s not the issue right now.
“I greet the Master of the Highest Tower.”
Caleus spoke.
“What do you want?”
After Cloden pointed out my speech habits, I started using informal speech with everyone except the Emperor and Empress.
The Crown Prince was no exception.
In this empire, the only people equal to me were the Emperor and Empress.
“May I first have your permission to sit?”
“Oh, sure. Sit.”
I gestured lightly as I took my seat, which Cloden had pulled out for me.
Unarmed, Caleus still sat across from me with that ever-present smile.
While I ate cookies and drank tea, he didn’t seem particularly interested in the refreshments.
“You still enjoy that pastry, I see.”
That pastry?
I paused mid-bite and looked down at the cookie in my hand.
A baked cookie with jam in the center and coarse sugar sprinkled on top.
I did like them. But the way he said “still” made it sound like I had liked them for a long time.
Which meant that Yuri had always liked them.
After all, Caleus had known Yuri since he was young.
The Emperor and Empress wanted their heir and eldest son to be on good terms with the Tower Master.
“Do you remember? There was a time when you took me outside.”
Yeah, right.
Like I’d remember that.
It wasn’t even my memory in the first place.
And Yuri was much younger.
If anything, it was Caleus who must have taken Yuri outside, not the other way around.
What a peculiar way of speaking.
To avoid saying something unnecessary, I simply focused on my cookie.
“It was a good memory for me. Was it not the same for you?”
“Who knows? It was a long time ago.”
Yuri had become the Tower Master the moment he was born.
He was now around 23, with a twelve-year age gap between him and Caleus.
If it was an event from when he was old enough to take someone outside, it wouldn’t be strange if he didn’t remember it.
Still, Caleus openly showed his disappointment.
“Tower Master.”
He placed a hand on the table and leaned slightly toward me.
A subtle whiff of cologne drifted over.
As I blinked lightly, his long eyelashes fluttered.
Fair skin, golden hair, and deep-set eyes with double eyelids.
He was truly the spitting image of Ateol.
But while Ateol had a refreshing air, Caleus carried a certain weight to him.
The only reason he didn’t come across as overbearing was simply because he was too good-looking.
“To me, it was a cherished memory from my childhood.”
“……”
A soft voice.
Eyes that carried traces of bitterness and loneliness.
Fingers reaching ever so slightly toward my hand.
Even though I didn’t want to, I could tell immediately.
This man was trying to seduce me.
And, even worse, he seemed utterly convinced that I would fall for it.
Well, with that face and that status, has there ever been anyone who didn’t?
But I wasn’t just anyone.
Ugh.
Annoying.
I wanted to say something, but I was worried about my gauge decreasing, so I held back.
Damn it, when is that measly 1% going to go up?
Do I have to max out not just the special affinity, but also Siwoo’s affection?
Ateol’s was already completed, so how much more do I have to do to get this gauge to rise?
Annoying. And I can’t even say it’s annoying.
This is frustrating.
Absolutely frustrating.
Swallowing down the words rising in my throat, I finished my cookie.
After chewing thoroughly and taking a few sips of tea, I finally spoke.
“What do you want?”
Caleus gave a wry smile.
He had made me ask the same question twice.
He must have known just how rude that was.
“Well, actually, I came with a request, Tower Master. It concerns the monsters.”
I gestured for him to continue, and he obliged.
“There have been strange occurrences at the National Hospital lately.”
“The National Hospital?”
The National Hospital was under the Crown Prince’s jurisdiction and was one of the charity institutions run by the imperial family.
Because it was a charity institution, its public image was crucial.
If something strange was happening there, it could cause significant unrest.
And yet, instead of getting straight to the point, he wasted time with unnecessary chatter…
Seriously.
“Patients have reportedly been witnessing bizarre things. For now, the information is being tightly controlled, but if this continues…”
Ah. So basically, he wanted my help to gain merit, just like Ateol did.
It was so obvious that I had to wonder—was this blunt honesty refreshing?
Or did he just think I was an idiot?
Either way, there was no reason for me to help him.
“In that case, Ateol and I—”
Clang.
“……”
Ah, I forgot.
The gauge.
I had simply meant to say that Ateol and I would take care of it.
Right.
The correct move here was to offer my help to Caleus instead.
There was a big difference between solving the problem myself and simply assisting.
Given Caleus’s pride, that distinction mattered.
“…I’d like Ateol to come along.”
Fortunately, saying that didn’t decrease my gauge.
“Of course. If he joins us, I’d feel reassured.”
Hmph.
You don’t like it, but you sure know how to talk.
Now that we’re done, hurry up and leave.
“I’ll send the details via letter.”
“Understood… Tower Master.”
As I stood up, Caleus quickly followed.
I looked at him, wondering what else he had to say, and he suddenly knelt before me.
“May I kiss the back of your hand?”
No. Absolutely not.
But since it was a common courtesy, I had no choice but to offer my hand.
Caleus pressed a kiss to my hand and gazed up at me with that Ateol-like face.
“In the past and even now, I revere only you, Tower Master.”
Aaaaaah!
Aaaaagh!
Aaaagh!
Goosebumps shot up all over my body.
I nearly screamed but barely held it in.
I desperately wanted to snatch my hand away and scrub it furiously with a handkerchief, but I had to endure.
* * *
