chapter 38
“Oh dear, I shouldn’t have brought that up.”
Count Lanilda, who finally realized the mood in the room, gave Marquess Ingda an apologetic look.
It was useless, though—everyone nearby had already picked up on the awkward atmosphere.
In the end, Marquess Ingda and Josephine stood up in a fluster.
“Ah, something urgent has come up—we’ll have to take our leave now.”
“So soon? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”
“No, not at all. We’ll just… be on our way. Come, Josephine.”
“Y-yes, Father.”
The two left as though fleeing. And once the people in question were gone, the whispers grew louder.
“They were acting so high and mighty just a minute ago…”
“Honestly, Lady Ingda isn’t all that clever after all, is she?”
“What kind of father takes pride in his daughter stealing someone else’s man? You can’t call that love.”
* * *
Pale snowflakes scattered faintly in the wind.
A cool breeze drifted in through the open carriage window.
I shivered slightly as I gazed out at the dry winter fields.
“Melanie, you should close the window.”
“Yes.”
At my awkward answer, Father flinched slightly, then quickly added,
“I’m not saying that because I’m cold—I just don’t want you to catch a chill.”
“Oh… I know.”
I thought he was still angry with me over the trading company incident. I thought he was disappointed in me.
Since then, I hadn’t had the courage—or the right—to speak to him first.
Even on the way to today’s gathering, a heavy worry sat deep in my chest.
But Father had stood by my side then, and even now, he continued to worry for me.
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence filled the carriage.
“Ahem…”
A forced cough to break the tension.
It seemed like Father wanted to say something to me, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to.
What could he be thinking right now?
Still, I couldn’t find the courage to speak first either.
I just kept my eyes fixed out the window.
‘At least… he doesn’t hate me.’
Those words—that it didn’t matter what I achieved—I’d never forget them.
Even though the silence lingered, even though our conversation never resumed…
Somehow, the quiet didn’t feel entirely bad.
* * *
Traveling by carriage is never easy for me.
So, before setting out today, I made sure to rest plenty.
Last time, the gathering had been near the capital. This time, though, we were going quite far—an actual long-distance journey.
Of course, there were teleportation gates along the route, so it wasn’t as exhausting as the distance would suggest.
“Tower Master Damian.”
The one accompanying me this time wasn’t Father, but Damian—the head of the Magic Tower.
“Welcome, Madam Representative.”
Even though the person beside me was a man, not my father, our conversation flowed naturally throughout the ride.
“The home theater project has been such a hit—even those high nobles who once dismissed the viewing stones as a passing fad are all captivated now. Even His Majesty the Emperor asked about installing one in the palace.”
“I’m glad to hear the business is going smoothly.”
But there was a problem.
The trend was thriving in the capital, but in the provinces—where transportation was more difficult—the fervor of The Black Moon hadn’t quite reached.
We’d considered solving the delivery issue, but it felt like more trouble than it was worth.
“Plus, there aren’t as many people outside the capital who enjoy cultural activities to begin with.”
“Then maybe we could target just that smaller audience…”
That was how the idea came up—to create large public viewing halls, like cinemas, where people could experience the home theaters together.
But before setting any plans in motion, we decided to tour the southern region to get a sense of things firsthand.
Our current destination was deep in the empire’s south, far from the capital.
‘The others will handle the other regions just fine.’
I wanted to check everything myself, but my health had been poor lately—it wouldn’t have been wise to overdo it.
As our business discussion tapered off, the conversation wandered elsewhere.
“It already feels like spring here.”
Even though this was a work trip, I couldn’t help feeling excited.
It had been so long since I’d left the capital.
I gazed eagerly at the scenery—the rolling mountains, the oddly shaped hills—things unseen back home.
Gone were the dry fields and melting snow near the capital. The air here was warm enough that I didn’t even need a coat.
The sweet scent of spring.
Flower fields painted in dazzling colors.
It was as if they had all agreed to bloom brightly at once.
‘Wow… I didn’t come here for fun, but this is kind of thrilling.’
Maybe it was because some part of me knew—I might never get to see such scenery again.
Watching the landscape, I suddenly asked,
“Tower Master Damian, do you enjoy traveling?”
Pink-blossomed trees stretched endlessly beneath a bright blue sky.
My voice was light, brimming with excitement.
“It’s been so long since I’ve ridden in a carriage this long—honestly, even though this is for work, I’m thrilled. The last time I went on a real trip…”
I blinked slowly, trying to recall distant memories.
“…was when I was very young. Before my mother passed away.”
“Where did you go back then?”
“Have you heard of Kellinid Island? I only remember fragments, but it was beautiful. I’ve always wanted to go again. It’s in the south too, right? The weather’s warm even in winter.”
“Ah, yes—I’ve heard that.”
But Damian didn’t seem very familiar with the island.
Considering it was one of the most popular resort spots among nobles, I’d assumed he’d been there at least once.
“Actually, I’ve never really traveled anywhere.”
“Really? Not often?”
If he wasn’t sickly like me, why wouldn’t he? What a shame.
“Not even once?”
Again, Damian said nothing.
His brows furrowed slightly, as if digging through old memories.
“Well… I suppose leaving my family to go to the Tower could be considered a journey of sorts.”
He gave a faint, bitter smile.
“But it wasn’t a pleasant one.”
I didn’t press him further.
A young boy’s path to the Magic Tower couldn’t have been easy—especially for someone like Damian, who so clearly carried himself like a nobleman.
I froze, momentarily speechless.
‘So he’s really never gone anywhere? Not even as a child?’
I could understand if he hadn’t traveled after joining the Tower—he must have been busy.
But not even during his time with the Veldart family?
“It was just… the kind of household we were.”
While I fidgeted, worried I’d overstepped, Damian answered calmly.
Still, I couldn’t help my surprise.
‘But Polius told me he and Lady Mila used to travel all the time.’
He’d bragged about it constantly to me, knowing I couldn’t travel due to my health.
Perhaps Damian thought my silence meant I was uncomfortable, because he added gently,
“My mother was often ill. That’s why.”
I only replied inwardly.
‘If your mother was sick, couldn’t you have gone with your father? Polius said he used to go on trips alone with Count Veldart…’
What a stark contrast.
Why was it always the main wife and her child who had to suffer?
A sudden surge of emotion tightened my chest.
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have brought the topic up.
I wasn’t that insensitive normally.
I swallowed once, then said quietly,
“Um… then how about thinking of today’s trip as a kind of travel?”
The moment I said it, I wanted to bite my tongue.
‘Why am I making it sound like going out with me is such a big deal?’
I didn’t dare meet his eyes directly, only sneaking a glance sideways.
But to my surprise, Damian didn’t look dismissive at all.
“Travel, you say.”
His expression went a little blank, as if he hadn’t expected the suggestion.
“You’re the first person who’s ever invited me to travel with them, Representative Clotilde.”
“Really?”
“Assuming, of course, that you weren’t merely being polite.”
“N-no, I wasn’t just saying it.”
“Is that so.”
He nodded, then smiled softly.
“Then it seems my first trip will be with you, Madam Representative.”
A gentle spring breeze swept through, ruffling his hair.
And in that light, easy warmth of the season—
—I found myself quietly watching the unguarded, softer side of Tower Master Damian.
