Chapter 73
The Magic Tower was unusually quiet today.
Normally, three crazy lunatics would come running in, causing a commotion and making it impossible to think. But today… for some reason, they left me alone. It felt strangely unfamiliar.
I walked slowly, then stopped in my tracks.
Along the wide corridor, orbs of magical light illuminated the otherwise dark tower. Today, my gaze lingered on them more than usual.
The reddish glow, somehow dangerous-looking, stirred a familiar feeling in me.
“…Hah. It’s unsettling because the mad dog is quiet.”
Naturally, I thought of Ethan, then shook my head, trying to push the thought away.
But no matter how hard I tried, the thoughts I had been suppressing kept slipping out.
“What could Ethan be doing right now…”
It had been several days since Ethan had left, having said something enigmatic before abruptly departing. Yet I still hadn’t unraveled the mystery he left behind.
“He was upset because it seemed I had caused him trouble.”
“Why Ethan? It has nothing to do with him. Even if it did… it’s not something he needs to worry about.”
“Nothing to do with him… yeah. It has nothing to do with me either. But…”
“…”
“Hearing it from you directly… why does it feel even worse? Huh, Yunice?”
Somehow, dealing with Ethan had become more difficult recently.
From the very first meeting, when he threatened me with magic, I understood exactly what he wanted from me, which ironically made him easier to handle.
But these days, he seemed to be hiding something significant, rarely revealing his true intentions. And yet, when he dropped cryptic remarks as if urging me to understand, I found myself frustrated to the point of madness.
“I thought that if I pleaded desperately, he’d at least spare my life… that our relationship was that level of trust.”
Even someone as cold and emotionless as Ethan might develop a faint camaraderie after enduring hardships together, I had thought.
“So you mean… the feelings I’m experiencing are just shallow camaraderie, born from a few trivial incidents?”
“And you expect me to graciously accept such nonsense and even thank the Master of the Magic Tower?”
…Ethan seemed offended simply by the thought that I might think that way.
Yet, he refused to reveal what he kept hidden in his heart, leaving me completely powerless.
“…Our Ethan has changed.”
He wasn’t the kind of mad dog to take such an ambiguous stance before.
Thinking it was just a playful quirk, I shook my head.
“What on earth is Ethan thinking?”
I couldn’t resolve the frustration in my chest, but the person who had stirred these feelings remained absent. And yet, I didn’t have the courage to find him myself… so we simply maintained our distance.
“Haah…”
I let out a sigh of frustration and reached toward one of the glowing magical orbs.
As if responding to my magic, the red light intensified as I approached.
It reminded me… of Ethan, reacting fiercely even when I merely got close.
Without noticing the growing power of the orb, I slowly extended my hand as if entranced.
Just a little closer…
“Miss Servita!”
…If not for the voice that intervened, I might have grasped the powerful orb.
A sudden hand grabbed mine, pulling me back.
I had been the one in danger, yet the startled expression was on the man instead.
“That was extremely dangerous, Miss. What on earth were you thinking?”
“Ah… Ah. Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
“You know that these orbs, used as lighting, contain strong power loosely bound. Approaching them carelessly is hazardous.”
Only then did I look at Julius with clear eyes.
He really was a magician—it wasn’t a lie.
Julius exhaled with relief, glad that I had regained my senses.
“I approached because I saw you standing there, but I didn’t expect you to act so recklessly.”
“I… was lost in thought for a moment. My mind must have wandered.”
“You were thinking of Duke Clovis, weren’t you?”
“…”
His uncanny ability to read minds no longer surprised me. I merely looked at him, not replying.
Julius released my hand lightly and stood beside me. Then, as if gazing at some distant mountain, he spoke casually.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Duke Clovis around lately. I thought he always followed you everywhere.”
“Ha. The passing dog would laugh. Who’s following whom?”
“At least from what I saw in the Magic Tower. Whenever he tried to approach you, he shot such fierce glares.”
“Hmph. Is that so? I wouldn’t know…”
“Tsk. Leaving your precious fiancée so defenseless.”
“Excuse me?”
Julius interrupted my words for once, muttering something incomprehensible.
I was still trying to read his mind when he suddenly turned to me.
“You’ve been acting as if you’ll never let anyone near you, but now, leaving yourself so carelessly open…”
“…”
“I won’t let this opportunity pass.”
Again… again.
That dangerous tone I had heard before, the heavy touch.
Back then, I hadn’t thought of escaping his reach. And now, if I stayed still…
Thud.
“That’s enough, Your Highness.”
…This might not work.
Just like Ethan once did, I lightly pulled away from Julius’s hand.
“If you come any closer, it could get really dangerous.”
Not the Crown Prince, me. I added a brief clarification.
Julius looked slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to resist.
Seeing him, who always treated me gently, now flustered, even seemed pitiful.
But that was as far as it went.
“Your Highness, if you make such a sad face, it pains me too.”
“…”
“The person whose hand I should hold is someone else.”
No matter how cranky the mad dog was…
Even if he had become somewhat prickly in a different way lately, making things difficult…
“If I hold Your Highness’s hand, Ethan might get angry.”
The person I needed to be beside right now was Ethan.
Even if our connection was purely out of necessity, devoid of emotion.
‘Even if Ethan doesn’t know my feelings and falters, I have to help him through it.’
‘I’ll stay by your side.’
‘I won’t leave you alone. Let’s get through this together.’
At least until the promise with him ended.
Thinking this, the burdens that had weighed on me suddenly felt lifted.
I smiled gently at Julius, feeling lighter than before.
“Thank you, Your Highness. You’ve made me feel a little at ease.”
“Miss Servita.”
“Just… just a moment. I think I need time to think. For both of us.”
So for today, I will take my leave.
Having said that, I hurried away.
‘Perhaps… Julius is far more dangerous than I thought.’
Julius watched Yunice leave, standing in place.
Her words lingered in his mind:
“Thank you, Your Highness. You’ve made me feel a little at ease.”
“I think I need time to think. For both of us.”
He began to understand Ethan Clovis’s feelings a little.
‘Is she truly oblivious, or just pretending?’
Either way, Yunice wouldn’t yield so easily.
Julius laughed wryly, unable to gauge her lighthearted exterior.
‘As expected, I’ll have to see this through to the end.’
He didn’t take his eyes off the spot where she had stood.
His silence was interrupted by a familiar voice from behind.
“It’s inappropriate for you to linger here, Your Highness.”
A cold, emotionless voice lightly reproached him.
Julius turned slowly, showing no sign of surprise, and the cynical green eyes that met him reflected the same unreadable intentions.
‘The same goes for them, then,’ he thought.
“Oh? I didn’t know the Master of the Tower enjoyed peeking about so gloomily.”
“The Magic Tower is essentially in my hands. Observing its state is also the master’s duty.”
“So you overheard my secret conversation with Miss Servita?”
“Let’s say it was discovered by chance. I have no desire to know the Crown Prince’s sordid thoughts.”
When Julius did not respond, Teodor stepped in.
“I merely allowed the Crown Prince to observe the Magic Tower, not to meddle with my people.”
“Ho. I thought you were aligned with me, Master.”
Julius’s sharp remark went unchallenged by Teodor.
“You wished for Miss Yunice Servita to defeat Duke Clovis, did you not?”
“I think you’re mistaken, Your Highness.”
Teodor, unusually stern, cut off Julius.
“What I wished for was Yunice’s happiness. To that end, I intended to protect her by opposing the Duke.”
“Hm.”
“But if Yunice chooses to find happiness beside the Duke, I might even side with him.”
Strictly speaking, he would side with Yunice at the Duke’s side, Teodor added briefly.
Yet all he received in return was a light laugh.
“Hahaha. You were watching Miss Servita, but apparently not so closely.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you had seen the expression on her face as she pondered earlier, you wouldn’t have said that.”
Teodor fell silent at Julius’s light tone—not because he agreed, but because…
“I’m telling you this for that reason.”
“Excuse me?”
“The feelings that only Yunice doesn’t know… you also understand them, don’t you? Isn’t that why you’re anxious?”
Teodor jabbed Julius sharply, maintaining a composed expression.
For the first time, Julius broke his infuriating poker face and looked slightly uncomfortable.
Satisfied, Teodor passed by without further argument.
“If only those feelings returned so easily…”
“…”
“I wouldn’t have given up so easily either.”
