Chapter 65
“At a Crossroads”
Calier looked straight into my eyes, which were shaking hard from surprise.
In his unwavering gaze, I could clearly see his sincerity. Because of that, it was me—not him—who looked away first.
“…”
My hands, resting neatly on the desk, were trembling noticeably.
Worried he might notice my agitation, I quickly lowered them under the desk and clasped them together, speaking in a casual voice.
“Walking is always possible, as long as it doesn’t strain your health, Your Grace.”
“So that means walking with me is fine, but dating me isn’t?”
I stayed silent, but he seemed to understand my meaning.
Calier fell quiet, as if lost in thought.
I watched his index finger tapping the desk—tap, tap—like a pendulum, until it suddenly stopped.
Our eyes met instantly.
“I want to tell you not to put too much weight on the word ‘date’…”
“Your Grace.”
“…but it’s hard to say that when the feelings I put into it aren’t light at all.”
“…What?”
There was no hint of teasing in his eyes.
Looking at me, unable to form a reply, he continued in a calm voice,
“Foolish people sometimes only face their true feelings when they’re standing before death.”
“…”
“They deny and refuse them, insisting it’s not true—until their final moments, when they finally admit what’s in their hearts.”
Then, the book he had brought into my room to “read together” but had never once opened in my direction, was closed.
He stood, slowly walking toward me. I couldn’t move, as if his gaze had me pinned in place, even as the distance between us shrank.
When he was just across the desk from me, he stopped.
Leaning forward, his red eyes looked down at my frozen form.
“Heidi.”
“…”
“Thinking about it now, I’ve probably been aware of you for quite some time. I only thought it was because, as my hostage, you might try to escape my sight.”
“…”
“Foolish of me.”
I felt my fingers tighten painfully under the desk.
I knew I shouldn’t listen to more. I knew this confession wasn’t meant for me, but for Heidi Eliana… and yet my heart was pounding loudly.
“But the moment I saw the Fenrir’s claws coming for me, what came to mind first wasn’t the peace of finally joining Shion, nor the anger of leaving my revenge against Delphian Zeros unfinished… it was wanting to see your face, one last time.”
“…”
“Foolish as I am, I only realized it then, Heidi.”
As his quiet confession reached me, another breeze came in through the open window.
Only then did I realize—
Ah… it wasn’t the wind warming my face.
It was me blushing.
* *
Allen thought these days were the Tower’s golden age.
After all, Laperre Wizard was a Tower Master with star quality.
His handsome looks and brilliant skills had earned him many admirers, both inside and outside the Tower. Because of him, the Tower had gained new mages and noble patrons alike.
His magical skill was not inferior to that of any former Tower Master—in fact, in pure talent, he might be the greatest in history.
Thanks to that, the Tower’s strength had risen to heights unmatched in any age.
The only problem? While the Tower and its mages were advancing rapidly, the Tower Master’s own motivation seemed to be doing the opposite.
Allen rubbed his aching forehead and looked at the tightly closed door.
‘I will find out today what the Tower Master is thinking.’
“Lord Laperre, it’s Allen.”
After introducing himself, Allen knocked and opened the door firmly.
But the man seated in the sacred ivory chair—where three Tower Masters before had sat—was slouching in the most improper manner.
‘H-how could he… in that chair of all places…’
Having served three Tower Masters, including Laperre, Allen shut his eyes tight at the sight. Laperre, watching a floating image sphere, said,
“It feels like it’s been a while, Allen.”
“…That’s because you’ve been absent from the Tower lately.”
“Shocking to learn you’ve been monitoring my every move.”
Allen felt tension crawl up the back of his neck.
No one could match Laperre in magic. The idea that anyone could truly “monitor” him was absurd. He knew Laperre was only saying it to provoke him.
‘…I might die of frustration.’
He took a slow breath to calm himself. If he lost his temper, the conversation would be over.
“Lately, I have no idea what you’re thinking, Lord Laperre.”
“You talk like you ever did, Allen.”
Still not looking at him, Laperre kept his eyes on the sphere. Allen’s patience thinned.
“What’s so important in that sphere?” Allen puffed his cheeks in annoyance. “Surely I know you better than anyone.”
“If you still think that, I pity you.”
“…What?”
“If you can’t stop me, then knowing a little more than others isn’t much of an ability—especially if your opponent is me.”
“…”
“Especially me.”
Finally, Laperre’s gaze shifted to him.
Allen thought, ‘He’s a master at getting under my skin—maybe more than he’s a master of magic.’
Seeing Allen’s long white beard tremble with irritation, Laperre chuckled again.
Maybe it wasn’t just Allen’s reaction that lightened his mood—maybe it was because it reminded him of someone else entirely.
‘Even the kindest saint in the world would get angry if you provoked her like that, Laperre.’
“Well, you’re not a saint anyway.”
“What are you talking about?”
Laperre just shrugged.
“I heard you’ve been busy with personal matters lately,” Allen pressed.
“…I have.”
“Are they resolved?”
“Resolved…”
“…?”
“I suppose we’ll see if they’re resolved or just beginning.”
“What?”
Laperre sighed dramatically and stared at the sphere.
Allen gripped his staff tightly, uneasy.
“You’re not doing anything strange, are you?”
“Strange?”
“You know—something that might cause conflict between nations, or put lives at risk!”
Laperre avoided his eyes. Allen’s mouth fell open.
His playful expression was gone—now he was evasive. Allen stepped forward, voice stern.
“Remember why the Tower is the Tower, Laperre.”
“…”
“It’s because we’ve stayed out of all conflicts, keeping peace, that we’re free to research magic as we please.”
“…”
“Even the free-spirited Tower Masters before you kept that rule, and—”
“I just hope I can at least keep one thing from the previous Tower Master—her.”
“‘Her’? What do you mean—”
Before Allen could finish, Laperre straightened in his chair, raised a finger to his lips, and said,
“We’ll finish this after I’m done speaking with my regular guest.”
A snap of his fingers—
And Allen’s surroundings changed.
Teleportation.
In this world, the only person who could teleport a high-ranking mage like Allen against his will… was Laperre.
