Father, I Won’t Do Anything

* * *

“Speaking of this necklace, it’s extremely popular among women these days.”

An elegant design, with small but beautifully set gemstones.

It did catch the eye, suggesting the claim of popularity wasn’t a lie – yet it didn’t satisfy Rosian’s standards.

“I came to buy something that’s hard for just anyone to have, rather than something everyone has.”

“Oh my, is that so? Then this way…”

“However.”

In contrast to the shopkeeper’s fuss, Rosian spoke leisurely:

“Since you say this necklace is popular too, it would be a shame to miss out. I’ll take both.”

“As expected, an excellent decision. You’ll be a beloved boyfriend!”

Rosian cleared his throat awkwardly.

“A-A beloved boyfriend…? Ahem.”

“Of course, with such good taste!”

These days, Rosian was truly feeling what happiness was, day by day.

It felt like he was floating on air.

After his seemingly hopeless confession to Jaina, whom he had loved unrequitedly, succeeded and he became her boyfriend, he felt overwhelmed as if he had gained the whole world.

Of course, being perceptive, Rosian knew.

That Jaina’s feelings for him weren’t the same as his for her.

That the difference in their feelings was so great it was almost embarrassing to lump them together under the category of ‘love.’

But isn’t it said that starting is half the battle?

In any case, she had accepted him, and since she didn’t dislike him, their feelings would gradually build up.

‘I just need to do better from now on.’

He had made another date with Jaina today.

Thinking about Jaina all day made it hard to focus on work, so he had left the imperial palace earlier than their appointment time.

‘I should pick out a gift while waiting for Jaina to arrive.’

Now that he was her boyfriend, he could be more proactive than when he was just an outsider.

As it happened, the item the jeweler recommended was a sapphire necklace as blue as Jaina’s eyes.

“You truly have good taste. However, this one is a bit expensive…”

“That’s fine. I have that much money. By the way, is this necklace part of a set?”

“Yes, it is. It comes with earrings and a ring.”

“A ring? Hmm, hmm hmm.”

Suddenly, Rosian’s face began to flush.

‘Isn’t it too early for a ring…?’

While Rosian wanted to give Jaina everything beautiful, he had to consider her position too.

‘Right, how long have we been dating… Jaina might find it burdensome.’

But the sapphire ring looked so much like the color of Jaina’s eyes.

It seemed to sparkle as if begging to be bought, so Rosian finally made his decision.

“Then with the necklace from earlier, I’ll take the set…”

“No, that can’t be.”

Hearing a voice from behind, Rosian quickly turned around.

“Who’s there!”

Few people could approach without being noticed by Rosian, who had keen senses, so he was very tense.

But contrary to his expectations, it was someone very familiar to Rosian.

Rosian greeted him politely.

“It’s been a while, Tower Lord.”

However, Diamid spoke to the jeweler as if Rosian wasn’t even there:

“I’ll buy these.”

“Y-Yes, sir?”

The jeweler was shocked not only by someone suddenly appearing out of thin air but also learning his identity as the Tower Lord.

As the jeweler reflexively took the money Diamid held out, Rosian’s eyes narrowed.

“I was going to buy that for Jaina.”

“I can buy things like this for her.”

Diamid’s sharp gaze fell on the accessory set, especially the blue sapphire ring. He smiled crookedly.

“You don’t know your place.”

“No, it’s because I know my place that I’m trying to be better for Jaina.”

Crackle.

Sparks flew between the two men.

While remaining polite to Diamid, Rosian didn’t stop saying what he wanted to say.

“Isn’t that how I can become someone worthy of being Jaina’s boyfriend?”

“Who’s a boyfriend? I never gave permission.”

For a moment, the tension surrounding the two men subsided. It was because Rosian blushed as if embarrassed.

“I apologize, but Jaina, the person involved, herself has accepted me.”

“…”

“Of course, I understand your concern, having such a lovely daughter as Jaina, but I…”

“You dare say Jaina is lovely in front of me?”

However, the tension that had momentarily eased began to rise again, even more fiercely than before.

“Ugh, uuugh…”

While the two men were engaged in a battle of nerves, the innocent jeweler groaned, almost in tears, crouched on the floor.

“Break up.”

“I’m sorry, but that seems difficult.”

Diamid frowned fiercely at the answer that came without a moment’s hesitation.

Of course, he wouldn’t have been pleased even if Rosian had immediately agreed to break up.

“Do you think you can be my match?”

“Are you saying you’ll kill me if I don’t break up?”

“You don’t back down at all.”

“If I just listen quietly, you’ll dislike me for lacking spirit, won’t you?”

“Fine, let’s see how long you can keep talking with that spirited mouth of yours.”

Generally, if a swordsman and a magician fought at close range, it would be absolutely disadvantageous for the magician.

Because a swordsman’s blade is faster than the time it takes for a magician to chant a spell and cast magic.

That’s why magicians fight from the rear during battles.

But…

If that magician is Diamid Bellafanian, it’s a different story.

‘When did he-!’

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Dozens of magic arrows appeared in the air in the blink of an eye and shot towards Rosian.

Rosian spun his mana-infused sword, easily destroying the incoming magic arrows.

Clang!

Both the speed at which the magic arrows flew and the mana contained in each one were far from ordinary.

“Eek…!”

Rosian glanced at the jeweler still lying face down, then quickly ran out of the shop.

However, he couldn’t shake off Diamid, a wind-wielding magician.

“It’s useless to run away.”

Diamid calmly drew up his mana without hurrying.

With a simple flick of his hand, sharp winds chased after Rosian at a terrifying speed.

Whoosh!

The wind cut through everything in its path like a sharp blade.

Boom!

The tree that had been hiding Rosian fell with a thunderous noise. People’s eyes widened at the sudden gust of wind.

“What’s this, why is the wind suddenly so strong?”

“Didn’t you hear something just now?”

Rosian, who had cut down the tree with his sword, smiled at Diamid.

“Do you know? This sword was made from Jaina’s tooth. I didn’t expect her to give me such a precious gift.”

Those words further ignited the fire in Diamid’s chest.

Rosian tried to lead Diamid to a place with as few people as possible.

Diamid was even more displeased to see him paying attention to the surroundings even while fighting.

“This isn’t the time to be leisurely.”

As the wind Rosian had evaded soon dissipated, Diamid prepared his next spell.

Whoosh!

Magical chains shot out to restrict the opponent’s movements.

Rosian quickly swung his mana-infused sword to strike the chains. But the chains only paused for a moment before writhing and reaching out to Rosian again.

Whoosh!

In the end, Rosian had no choice but to cut the chains with his mana-infused sword.

But his opponent was Diamid. He wouldn’t give Rosian time to rest.

As soon as he cut the magic chains, several chains burst out from that spot as if multiplying.

‘To be able to summon such high-intensity magic chains one after another…! Is this what it means to be the master of the Magic Tower?’

Though Rosian had moved far enough to be out of sight, distance wasn’t very important to Diamid. He had summoned the chains in the first place to create a momentary opening.

Baaang!

A dazzlingly bright lightning bolt split the sky and struck down at Rosian. It was such tremendous power that all the previous spells seemed like mere jokes in comparison.

Rosian managed to avoid the lightning that struck down in an instant, but he couldn’t avoid the surrounding residual electricity.

“Ugh!”

Even though it was just a glancing blow, Rosian’s brow furrowed.

If he had been hit directly, he might have died on the spot.

‘This is no joke…’

But Rosian neither cowered in fear nor ran away. He only stared at Diamid with lively eyes.

‘He won’t submit to this much? He’s stronger than I thought.’

A normal person would have felt their life threatened and surrendered.

“Crown Prince, you’re not attacking me. Closing the distance would be the way to gain the upper hand in a battle with a magician.”

If he was concerned about collateral damage, he should have closed the distance even more. That would narrow the range of magic.

He didn’t seem stupid enough not to know this, so why?

However, Diamid was taken aback by the answer that followed.

“I know Jaina would dislike it if her father got hurt.”

Father?

“Just now, to me…”

“How could I dare to point my sword at Jaina’s father?”

Those words once again set Diamid’s heart ablaze.

“You seem to think you could actually wound me? Let’s see how long you can remain so leisurely.”

“What…!”

Poof!

In an instant, white smoke filled his vision.

‘I let my guard down…!’

Rosian felt a moment of shock as he collapsed.

* * *

Jaina stared endlessly at the water gushing from the fountain.

Shwaaaa!

The water spraying into the air was very beautiful, but it didn’t satisfy Jaina’s heart.

“This is strange…”

She was sure they were supposed to meet here, but even though the appointment time had long passed, there wasn’t even a message.

‘He would have contacted me if he was going to be late.’

She had thought he might be a little late, but at this point, something must have happened.

‘Could Father have…?’

Just as Jaina was about to move, she heard a commotion nearby.

“It’s a pig! There’s a baby pig here!”

Jaina tilted her head in confusion.

A pig in the square?

“It’s a pig but really small. Must be a piglet!”

“Why is there a piglet here? Did it lose its mother?”

“How does a pig cry? I should try hitting it!”

“Oink oink!”

The piglet’s small voice cried pitifully.

It was a sound only Jaina could hear with her sensitive ears.

‘Could it be…’

With a strange premonition, Jaina headed towards the source of the sound.