My Husband Is Not the Magic Tower Master - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

The meeting place was a restaurant not far from the Stein Mansion.
Nestled between the Magic Tower in the Capital and the Countdom.
For someone who’d claimed to hate the meeting so much that she’d dumped a mountain of work on him that holiday morning, the Crown Prince apparently had some conscience after all.
‘I’ve been here a few times with Elline.’
His taste wasn’t bad. This place was famous among the territory’s residents for a reason—it was a well-known gem.
Bolstered by Elline’s melancholy encouragement, the carriage arrived at its destination.
“There’s still five minutes left.”
I stood stone-still in front of the restaurant where we were meant to meet.
I had no intention of going in early.
If anything, I’d rather breeze past two o’clock—the appointed hour—without a second thought.
Through the transparent glass window, I caught sight of a blond man seated inside.
“Blonde hair, blue eyes—yep, that checks out.”
Lucas. The male lead I’d memorized long ago.
Even at a glance, he looked as handsome as the rumors claimed. I’d already anticipated just how beautiful he’d be ages ago.
That’s precisely why I’d avoided meeting him until now.
No matter how handsome he was, he was destined to abandon me soon enough. There was no point in putting my heart through that kind of pain.
I’d rather become a tactless, impolite fiancée instead.
I slipped into a corner with a good view of the window and summoned a Magic Timer with my Mana.
One minute remaining.
“…I should walk in right at the hour.”
He gulped down water as if he’d been waiting there for ages, his shoulders tense.
His posture was more composed and dignified than I’d expected. I’d thought he’d be carefree and playful, but this was a surprise.
Then again, anyone might be nervous at a meeting like this.
When he set down his glass and spilled water all over the table, his hurried gestures waving off the server struck me as rather comical.
I let out a small, genuine laugh.
Right. He was an amusing person.
As the Magic Timer chimed the hour, I moved calmly toward the restaurant entrance.
The door opened, the bell chimed, and the man at the window lifted his head as if he’d been waiting.
I approached him and extended my hand briefly.
“Roze Stein. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure, yes… I’m Lucas.”
“I know. You’re the Crown Prince. I’d have to live under a rock not to know of someone so famous.”
Lucas nodded. He glanced down at my extended hand but ultimately didn’t take it.
Rude. Still, I appreciated his conviction not to hold another woman’s hand. That showed a certain integrity.
‘Elline, your boyfriend’s quite the romantic.’
I’d already known, but it was a relief nonetheless that he didn’t seem interested in me.
The Roze Stein of the Original Work had become jealous, engaged him, and harbored an unrequited infatuation.
But my eyes were already dead fish eyes.
As I withdrew my empty hand, Lucas’s expression darkened slightly.
Perhaps he felt bad about the rejection. Irritating as he might be, he was true to the male lead archetype—honest in conscience.
“Shall we order something to eat, then?”
I sat down and rang the call bell.
When the server arrived, I rattled off the menu without even looking at it.
“The tenderloin chop steak and shrimp gratin are excellent here. Two A-course meals, and two glasses of red wine for today’s selection.”
“Yes, of course.”
The server, who’d been jotting down the order, returned before long with an appetizer of fresh fruit.
“This is complimentary for our regular guests.”
Fresh strawberries drizzled with a special berry syrup.
My previously listless eyes lit up instantly.
“My, what a delightful touch… Thank you.”
“It seems your friend was busy today. Isn’t this the menu you and Miss Elline usually order?”
Right. She couldn’t come because of this meeting.
In fact, Elline had spent quite some time envying me, saying she was going to this restaurant that she loved so dearly.
As I chatted with the server, I stole a glance at where Lucas was sitting.
It was only after Elline’s name came up that I realized my mistake.
Of course, I had no intention of behaving with propriety—I’d simply been curious about his reaction.
But he merely sipped his water in silence.
His complexion looked better than when he’d ignored my handshake. Perhaps he was trying not to seem rattled.
I picked up my own glass with practiced calm. There were far more unexpected things about him than I’d anticipated.
‘He’s taller than I thought. And his shoulders look solid.’
I’d expected a sturdy adult male frame—the sort with lean muscle draped across a willowy build.
But he was larger than my mental image allowed.
He had a build similar to someone I knew.
‘There’s a resemblance.’
A face flashed through my mind at just the wrong moment, followed by a memory from inside the Sealed Warehouse, and I found myself frowning without meaning to.
Why had Carlo suddenly surfaced in my thoughts?
“Mm.”
Embarrassed by nothing in particular, I drained the last of my water.
Silence stretched until the menus arrived.
Since neither of us made any effort to continue the conversation, there was nothing passing between us at all.
‘Has he matured, then?’
In the Original Work, the male lead had been so talkative. Who would have thought he could seem this reserved? The world truly was full of surprises.
Once our food was set before us, I cut into a perfectly seared chop steak and brought a piece to my mouth.
In the meantime, he picked up the water pitcher and filled my empty glass to the brim.
I noticed only as I was chewing, and I nodded my thanks.
“Ah. Thank you.”
“…Yes.”
“And forgive me for asking out of politeness, but there’s nothing you’re curious about regarding me, is there?”
I set down my spoon mid-gratin and turned to him with the question.
Lucas seemed to hesitate briefly, then shook his head as if gauging my expression.
Instead, he simply slid the plate of gratin closer to me.
After some time had passed, the thing he asked in that grave tone turned out to be nothing much at all.
“Shall I peel the shrimp for you?”
“I’d love that, but shouldn’t you be doing that for someone else instead?”
I deflected with words even as my eyes lingered on the shrimp already being deshelled, my smile broad and unguarded.
What excellent taste he had.
At the sight of my honest face, he laughed for the first time—a short, genuine chuckle.
“There really aren’t any other customers here. This place usually has so many.”
“Even popular places have slow days.”
Lucas said this without expression as he sipped his wine.
Don’t lie. You rented out the entire restaurant for the day.
It was impossible for my favorite establishment to have no customers.
I feigned innocence, gazing around with wonder and exclaiming with admiration.
If it were fireworks, at least they’d be pretty. But this—my tax money burning for a moment like this.
‘I was right. We really aren’t compatible.’
I muttered to myself and took another spoonful of gratin.
“Mm!”
Oh no—the cheese stretched far more than expected. It felt as though I had molten lava in my mouth.
“Spit it out here.”
“…?”
“Isn’t it hot? Come now.”
Lucas was hastily extending his open palm directly in front of my mouth.
What is this? He’s not deliberately seducing me.
Flustered, I swallowed the scalding gratin in one panicked gulp.
“You could have spit it out, you know. Are you all right?”
All right or not, I had to swallow.
Such a reaction would have been far too much to bear.
‘…Why would he say something like that?’
He poured more water into my glass with genuine concern and handed it to me.
Watching him do this, I felt something strange. It was as if he truly cared about my wellbeing.
“I’m not trying to take it away from you. Just eat slowly.”
“No, I mean….”
As we finished our meal, he pointed out sauce at the corner of my mouth and drew out a napkin himself to hand to me.
Was kindness a habit for him? Or was he simply more interested in me because I’m a Water Mage?
‘Why is he doing this?’
Once or twice I could have let it pass, but the thought that he’d acted the same way toward Elline made my stomach churn.
I wiped my mouth roughly with the napkin and steeled myself. It was time to put up a wall.
“Shall we head to the theater once you’re finished? I’ve reserved Opera Tickets in advance.”
“I hate opera. The way the hall echoes—it makes my skin crawl.”
“Then, a play instead.”
“For a common play like this, should we really be dressed this way?”
See? The Crown Prince could never do something like that.
I unpinned the ornate Hairpin and shrugged off the expensive Tweed Jacket to refuse him.
Left in nothing but a plain-patterned blouse and skirt, I watched as he, for some reason, began removing his coat as well.
“…!”
He unfastened a couple of shirt buttons, then brushed his hair back with easy familiarity.
“Is this sufficient?”
“What—”
Within seconds, the man who had shed his princely air looked utterly ordinary as he extended his hand toward me.
“Come. Shall we go now?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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