My Husband Is Not the Magic Tower Master - Chapter 32

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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 32

“Act befitting a crown prince. Don’t let idle sentiment sway you.”
Elineh wiped her eyes roughly. Permission had been granted; there was no need to linger here any longer.
Two days had already passed since she’d learned of the Security Division’s accident on her way back from the Demon Realm.
For Elineh, it had felt like an eternity.
Her one and only friend had nearly died, and the thought that she’d been used as a scapegoat in her place was enough to drive her mad.
She had to see Rozé.
Now, she had to choose. One of them had to be let go.
“Listen carefully, Your Highness.”
Elineh took a step back from Lucas and hardened her expression.
“I’m sick of surveillance and control. Stop it now.”
“Technically speaking, it’s protection.”
“Whether it’s protection or love or whatever else—do you think I’m grieving without understanding anything about both their situations?”
She knew that Lucas and Rozé shared no real emotion between them.
‘But….’
Rozé wanted to marry him.
‘Elineh’ and ‘Lucas’ were merely one step, one fragment among the countless paths she needed to take to achieve her goal.
Like someone perpetually fleeing from pursuers, Rozé wanted to leave this place.
‘I know it all already.’
Anxiety was always shadowed by something darker still.
She, who had struggled against such shadows her whole life, could not have missed the shift in Rozé’s state.
From some point on, Elineh had to pretend not to notice and protect her.
Love could be forsaken too. If this was one of the goals that would make her happy.
“Don’t run away. Promise me you’ll marry Rozé with a sense of responsibility.”
“….”
“I’ll hold her down by any means necessary.”
Just as she had been strength for Elineh, Elineh wanted to be strength for her.
Elineh turned and immediately pulled the study door open.
‘Wait just a little longer, Rozé.’
I’m coming to where you are.
I want to stay, even as you crumble.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside a regular café in Serenenti.
After diligently finishing off all those desserts, I gazed out at the street with leisurely contentment.
The time was four o’clock in the afternoon.
“The sun’s already beginning to set.”
“Half the day has passed.”
“Exactly. My memories are fuzzy, and what a shame it is.”
Though I did manage to get some quality sleep out of it, admittedly.
I sighed with genuine regret.
How long had it been since I woke this morning? Already that golden afternoon was slipping away.
All I could remember was waking up this morning, eating a simple meal, and heading out.
Ah.
‘My day off. My freedom.’
I’d wanted to do something special to mark this commendation leave, but for some reason my energy kept draining away.
The accumulated stress and fatigue had apparently been considerable.
‘My eyes are even starting to close.’
The air hung loose and suspended in that ambiguous hour.
And the lukewarm, gentle breeze was just the right temperature to enjoy on the café terrace.
Carlo observed the drowsy look in my eyes and slowly began organizing the teacup before me.
“Don’t fall asleep on me.”
Clink.
At the crisp sound of glass, I pretended to be awake and freed my chin from my hand.
As I lifted my head, which had drifted for a moment, I found the table neatly tidied around me.
“I wasn’t asleep.”
“Let’s head back to the estate.”
“I’m not tired at all. I could walk more.”
“…Is that so.”
I apologized, and without meaning to, I yawned as the words left my mouth.
The moment my eyes welled with tears, he immediately pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and handed it to me.
It was the same familiar handkerchief I’d received when we first met.
“Oh. That’s all right.”
I shook my head and fumbled for a napkin to dab the corners of my eyes.
As we left the café, he still held the handkerchief in his hand, but I deliberately didn’t borrow it till the end.
‘Last time I joked about asking for it, and he became so serious that I couldn’t ask again.’
So he was willing to lend it when needed, but on his own terms.
It seemed like a precious thing with memories attached for Carlo, so I’d long ago stopped showing interest in it.
I understood his feelings well enough. As you go through life, there are things you naturally grow attached to, things that catch your eye.
In my past life too, I’d invested meaning in small objects and treated them specially.
Because it let me hold onto even the smallest hope.
It seemed I’d done it because there was something I wanted to protect, once upon a time.
“It’s still early for evening. You don’t mind coming back a bit late, do you?”
“How much later?”
“Just an hour or two. The fireworks start right after the sun sets.”
Though it was a place I could come anytime, having come here together for once…
‘It felt wasteful,’ I suppose.
Or perhaps insufficient.
Instead of answering, Carlo matched his stride to mine, walking slowly beside me.
I’d learned, at some point, that this was his way of saying yes.
“You really are kind, Carlo.”
“You sometimes make requests with your eyes, Rozé.”
“Me? I don’t.”
“You do.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
“If there’s something you want, that’s a request.”
Heh.
I turned my head away from him, suppressing the soft smile that nearly curved my lips.
It was a mercy that we were both walking forward instead of looking at each other.
Truthfully, he’d struck a nerve.
‘How did he know?’
I realized I’d wanted to see the fireworks with Carlo.
Because after today, there’d be no more chances for us to be alone together.
“When are you scheduled to return?”
“I can leave tonight if needed.”
“Already? We’ve been through so much together, and…”
“The Special Management Division called me back.”
“…I see.”
At his matter-of-fact tone, I said nothing more.
Lucas really had no conscience.
My parents had told me I wasn’t to leave Stein under any circumstances and was to rest, but I hadn’t realized Carlo was an exception.
Of course, I knew he was strong—made of steel, able to handle endless all-nighters without flinching.
Still, I was taken aback.
“Wait, does that mean I’m the only one resting?”
“You should focus on recovering your mana.”
“…What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
I didn’t believe him.
How many people who say they’re fine actually are?
‘…That’s a lie.’
There’s no such thing as voluntarily forfeiting a commendation leave.
No matter that he’d been assigned to the Special Management Division until last year—the tower had worked him hard.
In an instant, I looked up at him with eyes that couldn’t hide my disbelief, and Carlo glanced sidelong to meet my gaze.
He just smiled lightly, his expression unchanged.
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
“…What is it?”
“Do you enjoy plays?”
“Plays?”
We were discussing work when he suddenly brought this up.
I paused a moment, then shook my head.
“Not particularly, no.”
Theater-going was a personal hobby I’d enjoyed in my previous life, if I’m being honest.
Even now I attend shows often enough with Elineh, or alone—I didn’t care to go with Carlo.
If he meant to invite me to see a play, I’d prefer to do something else.
‘Besides, I’ve seen recent productions already. Nothing about them stirs me much anymore.’
That’s why I’d declined so quickly—
“So you don’t care for them?”
“That’s right. But why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
Carlo cut the conversation short, his answer clipped. His expression seemed oddly cast down.
What was he making that face for?
‘Did he have leftover theater tickets or something?’
I was still pondering it when the sun began to dim.
As dusk crept in, magical flares erupted here and there across the city.

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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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