Episode 53
Jade stared at the flower for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze toward Miel. The rigid expression on his face softened the instant he saw her.
He couldn’t take his eyes off Miel, who was looking up at him.
The magic garden, cloaked in the twilight darkness, was enough to stir anyone’s emotions.
‘No… Is that really all it is?’
Jade questioned himself. It wasn’t just the mood or the setting that had his heart pounding so wildly.
His deep crimson eyes carefully traced every detail of Miel’s face—her well-shaped eyebrows, the thick lashes beneath them framing those dreamy golden eyes, the soft curve of her nose, her always-rosy lips, and her fair cheeks.
Without realizing it, Jade raised his hand. But he quickly caught himself and lowered it again.
“…Master?”
Miel, sensing something odd in Jade’s prolonged stare, finally called out. Jade replied, pretending as if nothing had happened.
“Ah, I thought something was on your face—but it seems I was mistaken.”
Hiding his expression and the rapid thumping of his heart, Jade quickly looked away.
‘I almost reached out…’
He’d nearly touched Miel’s face. Fortunately, he stopped himself in time.
“Anyway, get some rest in your room, Miel. We’ll be heading to the northern border tomorrow.”
At his words, Miel tilted her head slightly. Was her master joking?
“I’m going to the border too?”
She didn’t know many advanced spells yet. Miel doubted she would be of any real help at the border.
“Yes.”
Jade turned to face her again. The flustered look from earlier had completely vanished.
“I’ll personally go to the northern border. You should come too—observe and learn. There’s a big difference between seeing large-scale magic and never having seen it.”
Miel hesitated. Did she really need to study grand-scale magic?
‘It’s not like I plan to become a Grand Mage.’
But who could defy her master’s command? With no other choice, Miel nodded obediently.
“…Alright.”
“Good. Then go get some rest.”
As soon as she left, Jade clenched his fist tightly without realizing it.
‘All this time, I thought Miel was the only one who had feelings for me.’
He had believed she harbored a one-sided crush, even though he knew how she felt.
‘But now…’
His heart was racing again. Miel was always cute and beautiful—but tonight, she was even more dangerous to his composure.
‘Damn it. I guess I really have to admit it now.’
That he had fallen for her deeply.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
Jade was still under a very big misunderstanding—
He thought Miel had a hopeless, unrequited crush on him.
—
“Yawn…”
Miel let out a loud yawn as she left the magic garden and returned to her room.
“Miel! Where were you?!”
The moment she entered, Koseliko’s voice rang out. The small bird, who had been resting inside earlier, flapped her wings in alarm.
“Coco, you’re awake?”
“Of course! You disappeared and I couldn’t see you—I was so worried!”
“Ah, I just had to talk to someone.”
Miel gently smiled at Koseliko, then entered the bathroom to quickly wash up.
“What’s going on?!”
Koseliko flapped her wings, flying up to Miel’s shoulder, and asked.
“The Crown Prince came by earlier. Apparently, there’s been a sudden spike in monster activity along the border.”
“?”
“They said it increased by 1.5 to even 1.7 times compared to before.”
Miel explained as she sat down on the bed. Koseliko’s expression grew serious.
“That many monsters?”
“Yeah… Monsters aren’t just creatures that feed on mana. Though, as far as I know, they’re born from corrupted magic…”
Miel muttered the information she knew about monsters. Koseliko flapped her wings and fluttered down from her shoulder to settle on Miel’s lap.
“That’s right. But you know… monsters all started from one magician.”
Miel’s eyes widened in shock at Koseliko’s serious tone. She thought she had misheard.
“What? A magician? A magician created the monsters?”
Startled, she asked again, and Koseliko nodded firmly.
“Well, technically, they’re the product of dark magic.”
“Dark magic…”
It was one of the most powerful types of existing magic—but it drained the life force of its user. That was the defining trait of dark magic.
Among its spells were many that used living creatures.
“If monsters are a product of dark magic… I think I understand now.”
Miel nodded slowly as she absorbed this.
Koseliko stretched out on her lap.
“Well, I don’t know the full origin of monsters either. But at the very least, I know they were born from dark magic.”
“I see…”
“Actually, very few mages know this. It’s an ancient tale.”
Koseliko blinked slowly from her spot on Miel’s lap. She looked sleepy.
“I’m sure only a handful of the old magic towers even know about it. Yaaawn…”
Miel carefully picked her up with both hands and lay down with her on the bed.
She placed Koseliko next to her pillow.
“Good night, Coco.”
—
The next morning, Miel got up early and began moving busily. She washed up, went to the dining hall, and had a hearty breakfast prepared by the tower’s cooks.
Then she returned to her room and placed Koseliko on her shoulder.
“Are you coming too, Coco?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to let the daughter of Liad travel far alone.”
“But Master is going too.”
“Still—I want to stay close to you~!”
Miel laughed softly at Koseliko’s cheeky response. Then, a thought crossed her mind.
‘Lately, I’ve found myself genuinely smiling a lot.’
Until recently, she’d been busy handling commissions and didn’t have many reasons to laugh. Of course, it wasn’t like that when she lived with her father.
‘I used to think I wasn’t a very emotional person…’
But after spending time with these people, it turned out that wasn’t true at all.
“Miel. Let’s go. It’s time to leave for the northern border.”
Jade’s voice came from outside. Miel left her room. When she arrived at the tower gates, several skilled magicians were already gathered.
The first to approach her was Sella.
“Miel! You’re coming too? Where are you assigned?”
“Sella. I’m going north—with Master.”
“Ohh, right, with the Tower Master.”
As the two chatted, Jade came out of the tower.
“Everyone’s here. Follow your assigned instructions and depart accordingly.”
With his usual cold expression, Jade issued orders. His commands were absolute within the Tower.
“Yes, Tower Master!”
The mages bowed and began boarding the prepared carriages. Then Jade approached Miel, who was left standing alone.
The moment he saw her, his cold face disappeared and a faint smile spread across his lips.
“Let’s go, Miel.”
He led her to the exclusive carriage for the Tower Master—the same one they always used when setting off on journeys.
They both boarded.
At that moment, Koseliko poked her head out from her hiding spot.
Jade’s brow furrowed slightly at the feisty bird, but looking at Miel eased his mood.
“You’re bringing this bird too, Miel?”
Jade asked, and Miel nodded.
“Yes. Coco didn’t want to be apart from me.”
“Hmph. Whether I stick to Miel or not—what business is it of yours, food man?”
“…Master.”
Miel suddenly called him. A smile naturally spread on Jade’s lips.
“Yes, Miel?”
“Do you… know anything about the origin of monsters?”
At her question, Jade gently brushed his own silver hair back and answered.
“…No. I don’t.”
