ALL NOVEL Chapter 47
How did she know?
Rakrensius truly felt as if his heart had dropped. He shuffled through various excuses in his mind to evade the situation, but…
“You’re not denying it?”
Selleana wrinkled her nose and laughed.
Ah.
The moment he hesitated to respond, he had confessed everything. That all of Selleana’s guesses were correct.
“…I was just so surprised.”
“Is that so?”
“That joke was… too much.”
His belated objection did nothing; it was already too late. But he couldn’t just admit it.
“I don’t quite understand what Lady is talking about.”
“Master of Tower.” Selleana laughed softly. “It’s okay. I won’t hold it against you for deceiving me all this time. I just thought it was cute how you were trying to disappoint me with your strange acting yesterday.”
“No, that’s not what, I…”
“So what about it,
huh
?”
Selleana smiled broadly and tilted her head, her close-up smile making Rakrensius’s face turn bright red.
Ah, look at that.
The sight of his handsome face blushing with shyness made Selleana’s heart flutter significantly.
This must be what my ancestors meant when they said about feeling full even without eating…
Perhaps because she had become more accustomed to this side of him from her visits to the tower, Selleana found Rakrensius’s silver hair and blue eyes, a mix of innocence and mysterious allure, to be very appealing. Indeed, she had spent more time mingling in the tower than that one night, so it was only natural.
“Putting all that aside… What’s with the talk of marriage and contractual relationships?”
In the meantime, Rakrensius continued his attempt to persuade her. “You know, as an Elard, getting involved with me benefits neither of us.”
“Why not?”
Selleana’s brows furrowed. She was annoyed, recalling her brothers, who would get angry about her getting involved with him.
“Master of Tower.”
Selleana leaned forward, resting her hands on the desk. As her face got too close, Rakrensius slightly sunk deeper into his chair.
“You like me, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Is it no?”
“Me?”
“Right?”
“
Heh
, really.” Rakrensius turned his head away as if in disbelief, chuckling hollowly.
Selleana giggled to herself. This man had no idea. In a situation that should have warranted a dismissal as nonsense, he simply wore the face of someone caught off guard.
Selleana smiled contentedly and stepped down from his desk. “Well, I didn’t think you’d accept that easily.”
Selleana propped her chin and hands on the desk. The enchanting woman who had been captivating him moments ago was now replaced by the visage of a strategist who could manipulate the social circles.
“First, the financial approach.”
“
Ah
…”
To think he would hear this.
“Becoming my lover would significantly raise your status in society, right? It would improve the magic tower’s perception, attracting many sponsors. Marrying me would allow for beneficial transactions between Elard and the magic tower.”
“I do receive a generous pension from the imperial family.”
“I’m talking about the magic tower, not Master of Tower personally. And the physical approach…
Hmm
, it might be difficult since you’re a wizard.”
“It sounds like I would have suffered at the hands of Elard’s knights if I weren’t a wizard.”
“Suffer? I was thinking more along the lines of engaging in in-depth conversations in a somewhat restricted freedom.”
“Really now…”
“And as for the psychological approach, well, as I said.” Selleana smiled. “Because you like me. Right?”
Rakrensius, outwardly laughing in disbelief, struggled internally to control his wildly beating heart. The embarrassment and shame of being exposed, the thrill of being proposed to in romance and marriage by Selleana, and the sorrow of not being able to accept it…
Beyond that complex turmoil, a persistent sense of resentment slowly emerged. Because Selleana’s words sounded too light as if all of this were just a joke…
Rakrensius suddenly felt wronged. “Is it all that easy for you?”
“What?”
“About love or marriage… Is it all easy for you?”
Hadn’t he also imagined such things? The boy who thought meeting the girl who used to shout in the palace gardens at a tea salon was fate dreamed every night of reuniting with her. He planned to seek her out once he left the imperial palace for the magic tower, and if she was single, he would court her sincerely. Wouldn’t the title of tower master and the nominal domain of Ansi seem impressive? Even when they reunited at the Victory banquet, he thought the situation wasn’t too bad, though things were a bit off track.
But the moment he learned the angel who visited the magic tower was Lady Elard, he had no choice but to give up everything. The despair was great, but the resignation came swiftly, for he was all too accustomed to suppressing his desires.
Yet, the woman before him, the angel he had cherished all his life, so easily stirred up the desires he had tried so hard to ignore. If she acted this way, all he wanted was to follow her lead…
“Why do you do this to me? It’s not me who makes life difficult for the Master of Tower, but the imperial family.”
Rakrensius knew. His resentment was misdirected. He should have, as always, pretended not to care, pretended to want nothing… but he inadvertently showed his emotions. He wished Selleana would understand his wavering heart.
“So, quickly, okay?”
“…”
Why does he always end up wanting something when involved with Selleana?
Their conversations. Time. Breath. He wanted everything, unwilling to give up anything.
But…
Suppressing the inexpressible frustration, Rakrensius barely managed a response. “… It’s dangerous. Because I am the fifth prince whom the imperial family is wary of.”
“Which is why Elard will protect you. Such dangers…”
“No.” He spoke with as much firmness as he could muster. “I’m talking about you.”
It was the only truth Rakrensius could utter.
* * *
Ha… he’s not an easy man, after all.
That night, Selleana lay in bed, reflecting on her interactions with Rakrensius. When she realized that Collin was Rakrensius in disguise, she was surprised she didn’t find it unpleasant at all. Instead, she felt refreshed by how the puzzle pieces fit together despite him having lied to her all along. The conclusion was clear.
I like the tower master.
In retrospect, she had spent more time thinking about Rakrensius than Collin. Going to the tower after being scolded by her father at the Rondel party, not being too disappointed by Collin’s rude behavior… It was all because she had already been smitten with Rakrensius. She had intended to ignore it all since finding Collin was a priority, but with both men being the same person, everything became too convenient.
Should I call him now?
It was when Selleana chuckled, toying with the locket necklace Rakrensius had given her.
“What’s so funny?”
“Thinking about the tower master.”
“…Milady, you’re seriously ill.” Michi shook her head, causing her thick golden bangs to sway. Despite pretending to scold Selleana, Michi’s reaction to the whole affair was, ‘I knew it would come to this.’
I started noticing it when she talked less about Collin.
Michi thought things might get complicated, but to think they were the same person.
Well, he’s a bit cheeky to have accepted such a large deposit from Lea… but he must have had his reasons.
Michi always thought well of the tower master, who tended to lose to Selleana, considering him a good-hearted person. The thought of exaggerating this story to her friends soon brought her joy, and she couldn’t help but smile slyly as she sipped her wine.
“You were rejected, weren’t you?”
“Well, yes.” Selleana grinned. “But it’s not the first time I’ve been rejected by the tower master, Right?”
“True.”
“Give up? I will never do that.”
* * *
A few days later, an interesting rumor spread through the capital social circles. There were whispers about whether the Lady of Elard’s mention of a lover at the emperor’s birthday celebration was true and that she was pursuing him aggressively. The rumors were specific.
“All the blue gemstone cufflinks have been swept away from the jewelers. Apparently, the man has blue eyes?”
“She’s buying up all the blue ties, too.”
“And strangely, she only buys indoor slippers or loafers for shoes…”
At men’s tailors, men’s accessory boutiques, and shoe workshops. Everywhere, there were talks of the Lady of Elard making rounds, sweeping from ‘here to there.’ The rumor eventually reached the magic tower after a few days.
“Another gift arrived?”
“Yes. This time, it’s handkerchiefs.”
“I heard Lady Elard has been shopping around town lately…”
“It all seems to be for this…”
The recent influx of gifts to Rakrensius matched the items mentioned in the rumors.
“…This is really driving me crazy.”
[You really got yourself in a mess,
huh
?]
Today, looking at the pile of gift boxes in his office, Rakrensius sighed deeply.
[Since it’s come to this, why not just fulfill your first love?]
“…Di.”
[I know I’m your biggest weakness, but still.]