Chapter 31 – A Relationship That Bothers Me (6)
A voice filled with firm conviction rang through the office.
I stared at him blankly, my mouth hanging open.
“Huh?”
Jade also blinked in confusion.
Wait… could this be—
Did he just say that so he wouldn’t lose me?
Eclipse had always remained indifferent to my bold attempts at appeal.
But now, words like that had actually come out of his mouth.
My chest swelled with excitement at this unimaginable situation.
Could it really be true, what Penny and Ash said? That I’ve captured his heart completely?
“So give it up.”
Eclipse’s expression as he said that was brimming with confidence.
It was like he was declaring: She chose me, not you.
The tilt of his chin, the slight curl of his lips—it all carried a strange ease.
“Lifetime?”
Jade tilted his head, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.
“She’s not a slave.”
“Correct.”
“She agreed herself?”
Eclipse gave a silent nod.
Jade thought it over, then quickly accepted it.
“Well, I suppose with our Archduke’s personality, there’s no way he would use such words otherwise.”
Jade’s violet eyes fixed directly on me.
When our gazes locked, he grinned.
“That makes things even more interesting.”
What the heck.
How does he find that part interesting?
Do you need to be missing a few screws to become a tower master?
I tore my eyes away from his smile and sent Eclipse a desperate look.
Your Grace, I promise I’ll do my best! So please, get rid of this weird tower master! I don’t want to be someone’s lab rat!
Maybe he read my plea, because Eclipse immediately spoke.
“Jade, let’s talk privately for a moment.”
“Privately? Sure.”
The moment their conversation began, the surroundings fell silent.
Jade must have cast that same magic again.
Lynette was still holding me tightly, grumbling.
“I don’t like this. Their lips are moving, but I can’t hear anything. Same thing happened earlier when Teacher and that guy were talking.”
From the outside, it did look strange.
They were clearly talking right in front of me, but not a single sound reached my ears.
“It feels like I’m being left out. Like when those obnoxious kids in society whisper behind your back.”
Her oddly specific example made me nod in agreement.
“Yeah… it does feel that way.”
“Right? I don’t like it at all.”
I tilted my head up at Lynette.
Her cheeks were puffed out as she glared at the two men.
Well then… maybe I should try eavesdropping a little.
I made a daring decision and began to focus on the magic barrier that wrapped around the office.
As expected of a tower master, the two were encased in dense, tightly woven mana.
If I just concentrate a little harder, I might be able to break through…
Just then, faint fragments of sound reached me.
“…even more impressive…”
“…can’t be helped.”
The words weren’t clear, but it was enough.
I perked up my ears and focused even harder.
“For someone to give even you trouble…”
“Exactly. Honestly, it surprised me too. I only tested her a little, but she turned out to be far stronger than I expected.”
…Judging from the context, that “skilled one” they were talking about had to be me.
My conscience prickled a little for eavesdropping, but—
So what? Like Lynette said, it’s basically overhearing gossip. No big deal.
Besides, it was about me. Surely I was allowed to know.
I shut away any lingering guilt and focused everything on their voices.
“That’s why I want her even more.”
At that exact moment, Jade’s eyes flicked toward me.
Our gazes met.
“…!”
A chill ran through my entire body. My eyelids twitched in shock.
He caught me…?
I froze, holding my breath and pretending to be calm.
Thankfully, Jade soon looked away.
I let out a weak sigh of relief, clutching my chest.
“Whew.”
Of course, Lynette’s tight embrace still had me immobilized.
Hearing my sigh, Lynette spoke up.
“Oh… sorry, Teacher. Am I holding you too tightly?”
She must have misunderstood my reaction, thinking it was her fault.
I shook my head and gave her a small smile.
“No, it’s not that. Honestly, I really like being hugged by you, Saintess. You’re so warm and soft… I can’t help wondering if my mother might’ve held me like this too, if I’d had one.”
Truthfully, being squeezed like this wasn’t all that comfortable.
But her embrace really was warm.
After all, for the last nineteen years, I’d hardly ever felt another person’s touch.
Sure, I’d had parents back in my past life as a high schooler—
But those memories are so hazy now.
Nineteen years had passed since that life.
Another nineteen years had piled on top of it.
Aside from a few flashes, my past life’s memories weren’t very clear anymore.
Back then… did anyone ever hold me like this?
Honestly, I couldn’t remember.
Whether I got along with my parents, what my friendships were like—who knew?
What mattered more now was living as Elsie Bloomhire.
Still, more important right now is what those two are saying.
I shook off the wandering nostalgia and refocused.
“…Anyway, you were right, Your Grace. Oh—should I return it now?”
“Not here.”
Eclipse stopped Jade, who was reaching into his sleeve.
“Give it to Silbern.”
“Fine, fine. If that’s what you want.”
At the same time, the mana shrouding them dispersed.
And I realized something important.
Jade really does want me for himself…
Calling me a “skilled one,” saying I was stronger than expected—
if even a tower master saw me that way, just how powerful was my magic?
Ugh. I’m scaring myself now.
I’m so amazing that people everywhere are eyeing me greedily!
What if Ash is right, and I end up becoming some kind of great figure?
But no, I couldn’t.
I’d already decided to sign a lifetime contract.
Besides, Eclipse himself had stepped in to protect me—
even using the word “lifetime” in front of Jade.
That meant he was taking my offer seriously.
Hehe. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help being excited.
Everyone was praising me so much, I couldn’t stop smiling, silly and happy.
Once Eclipse finished with Jade, his gaze fell on me and Lynette.
“Lynette, let Bloomhire go now.”
“….”
But Lynette didn’t respond.
Oh right… these two still haven’t made up, have they?
Her silence in the face of Eclipse’s order said it all.
I was busy racking my brain for ways to reconcile the siblings when—
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
Jade’s cheerful voice came from behind.
As I squirmed to turn around, Lynette slowly released me.
Now free, I bowed politely to Jade as he waved.
“Goodbye.”
Better to stay on his good side.
I was only nineteen—I couldn’t afford to make an enemy out of a tower master.
Seeing me, Jade’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“See you next time, Bloom.”
…There’ll be a next time?
I forced a stiff smile in reply.
“Take care of our Ledaire kids too.”
He had just called the Archduke and the Saintess “kids.”
The sheer audacity!
I guess you need that level of nerve to be a tower master.
He really is extraordinary.
A massive magic circle rose under his feet, and then he was gone.
“At last.”
Lynette, standing beside me, seemed calmer now.
“Teacher.”
“Yes, Saintess?”
“That man… maybe a little crazy, but his skill is undeniable.”
“I felt the same.”
“And he wanted you. He even tried to scout you.”
“…He did, didn’t he?”
Bringing it up like that, she must’ve been bothered too.
I glanced at Eclipse talking with Silbern, then told her:
“But you don’t need to worry. I told you before, didn’t I? I’m not going anywhere.”
“….”
“And just like His Grace said earlier, I’ll sign the lifetime contract. I’ll live here forever. My dream is to be your teacher for the rest of my life.”
