Chapter 23
“If you gain enough skill later, even if you’re not recognized as the Tower Master’s daughter, you’ll be able to make a name for yourself and stand on your own. Hm, and if you serve me faithfully until then, I might even help you.”
It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to her about a “future,” let alone with hope in their words. Jayna just stood there, dumbfounded.
In my past life, I couldn’t even dream of studying—forget an academy, I didn’t even have money for practice workbooks.
Now, hearing encouragement while picking out study materials together, she had no idea what kind of expression she should make.
Michael silently watched her for a moment, then reached out as if to pat her head—only to mess her hair up completely.
“Lord Michael!”
“That’s my point. Work hard. Answer me, brat.”
Jayna opened her mouth to respond when—
Bzzzt!
A small bird made of cotton flew in and landed on Michael’s shoulder. It was one of the magical birds used for communication inside the Tower.
“What the hell? I was enjoying some rare quiet time with the kid.”
Michael scowled deeply and looked at the bird. After listening to its chatter for a while, he let out a long sigh.
“Phew.”
“Kid, did you know? My parents died young, so even though I’m the son of a duke, I ended up stuck in this Tower.”
Jayna shook her head like it was new information, but in truth she already knew it—from the original novel.
“And I don’t really think of anyone as family, so why all of a sudden is ‘family’ paying a visit?”
“Family… is visiting?”
Wasn’t the Tower supposed to be off-limits to outsiders? Jayna looked puzzled, so Michael began explaining.
The Mage Tower was one of the most closed-off groups on the continent, originally prohibiting outsiders entirely. Despite its grandeur, little was known about it because all internal information was treated as top secret.
However, thanks to persistent lobbying by some mages, exceptions were eventually allowed. A select few mages could receive visits from family.
“Of course, it’s merit-based. Only three or four people here, myself included, qualify.”
He explained that achieving groundbreaking research results, displaying overwhelming magical prowess, or completing highly dangerous missions would earn you “points.” With enough points, a family visit was permitted.
“Obviously, I’m one of those annoyingly talented mages who qualified for a ‘Family Visit Pass’…”
Michael trailed off, arms crossed. His handsome face, shadowed with gloom, looked dazzling—like a rose drenched in rain.
“Is something wrong?”
“Well…”
Just as he was about to explain, the cotton bird on his shoulder opened its beak.
—Hello, Brother Michael. It’s been a while.
The bird seemed to act like an intercom, carrying someone’s voice.
“Don’t call me ‘Brother.’ You’re too weak, and it pisses me off.”
Michael snapped sharply, and Jayna’s eyes widened.
—Yet in front of Moben—no, that bastard—you were happy enough to call me ‘Brother,’ weren’t you?
—Huh?
—If calling me that keeps others from bothering you, maybe you should keep doing it. Your choice.
He forced me to call him ‘Oppa’…
Jayna didn’t know who the boy was, but the way Michael treated him was clearly different from how he treated her.
“Your mother’s one thing, but you acting all chummy makes me sick.”
Sick?
It was the kind of word that would sever ties instantly if the other person heard it.
Hearing Michael’s venomous tone again made Jayna realize anew—he really was showing her special favor.
“Are you deaf? Get lost already.”
—Mother was curious, you know. She wondered how the suit Michael made just once in his life, for his ‘beloved younger sister,’ ended up ruined beyond repair before the ball even began.
“…”
—She wanted to come herself, but I volunteered. Should I turn back instead?
His voice was polite yet never submissive. The boy said everything he wanted to, unshaken by Michael’s pressure.
—I’ll follow whatever you decide, Brother.
“Argh!”
Michael groaned, running a hand roughly through his golden hair.
“Damn it. Get in here before I change my mind and kill you.”
Reluctantly, he traced a sigil of acceptance on the bird. With a fwwip, it flew back up into the air.
To stand toe-to-toe with Michael, who’s infamous for his temper… and even coax him like that?
Jayna was quietly impressed. What kind of upbringing does it take to be that confident? Judging by the voice, he’s about my age…
Wait. If he calls Michael ‘Brother’… then…
“Looks like you decided to let me into the Tower after all?”
Michael frowned at the young guest standing before him. Arms folded tight to seem intimidating, he stared down at the boy. But the child showed not a hint of fear.
“We’re not exactly the type to greet each other with smiles, are we?”
“Harsh. I came a long way to see you, you know.”
The boy’s gentle smile only made Michael run a frustrated hand through his golden hair. But the boy didn’t stop smiling.
Wait… this kid…
Jayna studied his familiar face carefully.
Isn’t he the one who draped his cloak over me in the marketplace?
It had been such a chance encounter that she never expected to see him again—least of all here, as Michael’s relative.
“Huh?”
The boy seemed to recognize her too. His eyes widened, and he hurried over.
“You—you snitching… what the—?”
As the two drew close, Michael stopped mid-sentence, baffled.
“Haven’t we met before? That cloak…”
“Yes. You remember?”
“How could I forget such a cute young lady? Glad to see you’re using the cloak I gave you. Makes me proud.”
“Yes, it’s very comfortable.”
Jayna quickly started to take the cloak off to return it, but the boy—Rozian—gently held her hand to stop her.
“Keep it. It was a token of gratitude to my benefactor.”
His dazzling smile sparkled. Truly, no one could mistake him for anything but Michael’s kin—he was strikingly handsome.
He might even surpass Michael someday…
His overall features were neat, but the curve of his eyes and the beauty mark near them gave him a unique air. If he was already this charming as a boy, how stunning would he be as he grew older?
Yes, Rozian—that’s what he said his name was.
Rozian bent his knees a little to meet Jayna’s gaze, then smiled softly.
“Now that I think about it, I never asked my benefactor’s name.”
“Ash… no, I’m Jayna.”
“Jayna, huh? Lady Jayna…”
He repeated the name a few times, then smiled, saying it suited her perfectly.
“Jayna. Somehow, it feels like a name I’ll never forget.”
“Huuuh?”
Michael could only stare in disbelief at the cozy exchange.
He came here saying he wanted to see me, his cousin—and now he won’t even look at me?
Annoying didn’t begin to cover it. And being overly friendly with his little brat? Infuriating.
That kid doesn’t even know anyone here besides me and the other Tower mages—he’s been with the dragonfolk since birth! And yet…
Michael’s irritation boiled over.
“Hey! Did you two forget I’m standing right here? No manners at all.”
“Lord Michael.”
“Drop the ‘Lord’ and call me something else.”
Some brat had the nerve to call him “Brother” without permission, while another wouldn’t call him “Brother” even if he allowed it. Everything was going wrong.
I shouldn’t have let it slide back then.
As his expression darkened, Rozian tilted his head curiously.
“Then should I just call you ‘Mage’? Or something like that?”
“Don’t butt in when you don’t know a damn thing.”
Michael snapped at him, and Jayna felt uneasy.
I grew up rough, so I can handle it, but speaking like that to his own cousin… isn’t it too harsh?
But Michael’s temper only worsened as time passed.
“Hey, brat. How do you know him? You two should never have even crossed paths.”
“Well…”
Rozian cut in before Jayna could answer, raising a finger to his lips with a mischievous smile.
“It’s a secret.”
“What?”
“Haven’t you heard? People say you shouldn’t meddle in things between a man and a woman.”
“Whaaat?!”
Michael shrieked, leaping back in shock at the phrase “between a man and a woman.”
“Are you insane? You’re just a kid—what crap are you spouting?!”
Furious, he lunged, but Rozian didn’t flinch. Calmly, but loud enough for Michael to hear clearly, Rozian smirked.
“Look at you, getting worked up over something a kid said.”
“What?! What did you just say?”
“Hm? Did I say something?”
Rozian’s innocent look only made Michael’s rage tremble through his whole body.
“You’ve really lost your fear, haven’t you? Want me to personally drag you crawling out of this Tower?”
“That would be great, actually. Then I could skip the sword training Mother ordered. Sounds perfect.”
“Oh, hiding behind your mommy now? Scared little princeling.”
What began as banter was quickly turning deadly serious.
