Chapter 43
Maia, snapping out of it, tried not to fall for Lihi’s tricks. But the excitement of seeing the Magic Tower she had admired since childhood with her own eyes made her forget reality once again.
After wandering through a garden overgrown with all sorts of strange plants like a maze, she came upon a dim corridor where the massive bones of a magical beast she had never seen before were on display.
“…!”
Bad memories surged.
Maia trembled as she recalled the terrifying scene of grotesque monsters slowly approaching her, accompanied by the chilling laughter of a woman that still rang in her ears.
“……”
Lihi, glancing at her reaction, lightly waved his hand in the air.
At once, a black shadow enveloped the beast’s bones, making them vanish from Maia’s sight.
…Did he do that for my sake?
Maia felt strangely moved, even as she found her own relief laughable.
“What kind of magical beast are those bones from?”
Beside the bones was a small nameplate. From what little she could make out, it was a name Maia had never seen before.
“One of the twelve ancient magical beasts. Now extinct.”
Lihi looked back at the nameplate Maia was pointing to and answered.
Wow… Since this is the place where Hyperion Ruarr, the Emperor’s companion, resides, it’s no wonder they have such rare artifacts.
Maia was reminded of just where she was standing, and her heart thudded with awe.
Next came a hall covered in mysterious, giant magic circles of unknown purpose.
Clink. Every step she took bumped into the jars that densely filled the floor.
“…What is all this?”
“Knowing might hurt you.”
“…What the hell does that mean.”
Even beyond that, the tower seemed endless, and Maia had the feeling Lihi was only showing her secluded areas where no other mages were present.
After finishing their tour, they headed to the topmost floor of the tower.
There, with nothing between them and the vast sky, was the very peak of the Magic Tower.
“……”
Maia leaned on the railing, gazing up at the sky.
Her black hair fluttered gently in the pleasant breeze.
Beside her, Lihi—though she didn’t notice—watched her with eyes full of deep affection.
“Do you like it?”
With no subject or object, the vague question made Maia fall into thought.
Even when living with her maternal family, they were nobles who ruled a regional estate. She had never lived poorly.
When she moved to the capital to live with her mother, her life became even more luxurious.
Then, after marrying the Duke of Western, she became the lady of a grand mansion whose opulence dwarfed all she’d known before.
Now, seeing the Magic Tower stripped of myths and admiration, it looked…
“It’s not flashy. It’s rough.”
But—
“But the heavy ornamentation doesn’t suffocate you. It’s open and expansive, and there’s something refreshing about not feeling trapped.”
Maia turned and smiled softly at Lihi.
He looked at her with an uncharacteristically neutral face—perhaps his pure, unmasked expression.
“So, the conclusion is—I like it. I really like it.”
Maia returned her gaze to the sky.
“You’ve been living in a place like this all along.”
It felt like she was finally seeing Lihi’s life clearly.
The distance that had always been between them seemed to melt away, becoming almost imperceptible.
They stood there quietly, overlooking the wide plains, enjoying a moment of peace.
“Lu— I mean, Lihail!”
The silence ended with Hael’s voice. Maia and Lihi turned around.
“Um… Sorry to interrupt, but the imperial party has arrived. Seems they quickly recovered and traveled here using teleportation, thanks to the mages you sent.”
Maia’s group had arrived.
“……”
“D-Duchess…”
“I sincerely apologize! I’ve committed an unforgivable sin!”
The memory was still vivid.
As Lekasa approached the carriage, the maids of the Duke of Western’s household hadn’t even waited for their mistress to step out—fleeing in panic, skirts flying, forgetting all protocol.
Because of that disgraceful history, the maids now busied themselves with apologies, visibly uneasy.
Of course. Typical.
Maia looked at them with scorn, then suddenly remembered.
Oh no—I got so caught up touring the tower that I forgot! The Count of Polaris! And the Empress!
“That bastard, Lihi…!”
“B-Beg your pardon, ma’am?”
“Don’t go anywhere. Stay right here.”
Maia clenched her fist and stormed up the tower stairs.
She clearly remembered seeing it while touring—the door with a golden nameplate reading [Lihail Earith].
“Found it.”
Maia had located the office.
Click—
Her eyes lit with fury as she turned the doorknob and threw the door open.
At that exact moment, both Maia and the person inside reacted the same way.
“……?”
“……?”
Who is this?
Papers piled on the desk, pens floating midair scribbling signatures on their own—and amidst it all, a man with golden eyes and long gray hair blinked at her in confusion.
At a glance, he resembled Lihi. But unlike Lihi, who had a delicate yet seductive air, this man’s sharp and quiet aura set him apart. It wasn’t hard to tell the difference.
Still, who is this guy?
Maia stared at him blankly.
“…I don’t know who you are, but how did you come in here?”
He looked obviously flustered as he opened his mouth to speak.
Maia snapped out of it at the sound of his voice.
The nameplate had definitely said Lihail Earith. Maybe she misread it… But how could she?
Maia frowned.
Either way, this man clearly wasn’t Lihi. I must have made a mistake.
“…I’m sorry. I must have entered the wrong room. I thought this was Lord Earith’s office…”
“It is.”
“…?”
It is?
Maia blinked, stunned, staring at him.
Then why are you in here?
As the strange, tense moment dragged on, a humming voice called out.
“Our dear Tower Master~ Are you finished with your work? Lord Terzen sends his gree—whoa!”
Suddenly pushing the half-closed door open, Hael Terzen stepped in.
“D-Duchess of Western?!”
He froze like he’d seen a ghost.
Maia, too, was shaken.
Because—
“Our dear Tower Master~”
Hael had just called that man… the Tower Master.
Then that means… That man is actually Hyperion Ruarr?!
Maia looked back at him.
For some reason, Hyperion Ruarr also looked shocked, just like Hael.
His golden eyes trembled as they locked with Maia’s.
Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it echo in her ears. Finally, she managed to speak.
“Is… Is that man truly Lord Hyperion Ruarr?”
“U-Um…”
Hael looked overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, Hyperion Ruarr was glaring at Hael with a look that said: Say something now, or I’ll drive this pen through your face.
Hael looked thoroughly defeated.
Locking eyes with Maia, he quickly opened his mouth.
“Y-Yes! Lady Maia, this is your first time meeting him, I presume? This man is indeed! The great Lord Hyperion Ruarr! The master of our Magic Tower! The exalted hero who founded the Empire alongside His Majesty the Emperor!”
“……”
Silence fell.
Hyperion Ruarr stared at Hael with a face that clearly had a lot to say.
It sounded like familiar swearing echoed around him—but surely, such a noble transcendent being would never utter such vulgarities. It must’ve been Maia’s imagination.
Hael, meanwhile, forced a bright smile and looked down at Maia.
The atmosphere was clearly strained, but Maia didn’t notice—she was swept up in emotion.
This was the person she had respected so deeply. The hero whose name appeared in every history book. The great Transcendent.
Now standing before her, meeting her gaze.
So this is Hyperion Ruarr. Lihi’s master is this man…
Hyperion Ruarr met Maia’s sparkling gaze, then slowly raised his hand to cover his eyes with a sigh of fatigue.
“…I’m in the middle of work. Hael, please escort her out.”
At his command, Hael quickly grabbed Maia’s arm and opened the door.
“Haha… The Tower Master’s a bit sensitive right now. Best if you leave.”
“Ah… Okay.”
Even as she followed Hael out, Maia couldn’t take her eyes off Hyperion Ruarr.
Until the door shut, he kept his face covered with both hands, so she couldn’t see him anymore.
Tap, tap.
Now walking outside, led by Hael’s hand, Maia still felt like she was in a dream.
In a dazed voice, she asked:
“That man… Is he really Lord Hyperion Ruarr?”
“…Y-Yes, he is.”
Hael replied, his voice trembling.
Maia’s heart pounded again.
It was the thrill of meeting someone she had admired for so long.
…But something struck her as odd upon reflection.
“Then why was Lord Ruarr working in Lihi—Lord Earith’s office?”
“…!”
Hael’s expression visibly stiffened.
Maia looked at him with suspicion. Hael started to avoid her gaze as he replied.
“Well… Our Tower Master is, shall we say, eccentric. When he tires of his own quarters, he sometimes borrows his vassals’ rooms. Ha… Haha…”
…What kind of weird habit is that?
The Tower Master’s abnormal behavior left Maia momentarily expressionless.
But soon she accepted it. After all, this was the man who clearly had a major influence on Lihi’s arrogant speech and behavior.
He must be someone with a deeply flawed personality.
