My Husband Is Not the Magic Tower Master - Chapter 51

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

Episode 51

But before doubt could take root, my parents were already pressing Lucas to join us for dinner.
It was remarkably swift.
“You’ve finished your tea—wouldn’t it be lovely if you joined us for the evening meal?”
“That would be most welcome.”
Why is he agreeing so readily?
“Lucas? All of a sudden—”
“Ha! Then let us step inside!”
I called out to him in confusion, but Father’s interruption severed the conversation cleanly.
Oblivious to my suddenly serious expression, Father laughed heartily and rushed to usher him into the manor.
It made no sense whatsoever, yet somehow the atmosphere rendered it perfectly sensible.
‘This is actually working.’
All of this unfolded in barely ten minutes.
Mother’s endless procession of dishes and Father’s limited but vigorous courtesy had transformed the dining table into a clamorous affair.
I found myself little more than a supporting player, brightening three others’ evening.
Why did they get along so well?
I nearly choked on my rice.
When Father picked up his wine glass as usual and called for a toast, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I approve of this marriage!”
Oh no.
“Father, please.”
Please, stop. What nobleman speaks to a crown prince in casual speech?
I watched the scene through splayed fingers, my mouth clamped shut in distress, but Lucas said nothing.
Despite a situation that called for sheer panic, he smiled quietly in that infuriatingly serene way of his.
He seemed to be enjoying this atmosphere.
The man has no sense of appropriate reaction whatsoever.
‘He could at least say something.’
In front of Elline, he’s this charmingly romantic prince—clever and silken-tongued—but the moment we’re alone, he turns to stone, utterly expressionless and withdrawn.
‘How is this even possible?’
How could one person be so contradictory?
It wasn’t as though we were hiding our identities or committing fraud.
And I disliked—intensely—that my parents were treating Lucas with such warmth, when they hadn’t been satisfied with Carlo alone.
When had they ever given the impression they wanted me with Carlo?
Do my mother and father welcome every man I bring home?
But this time was different. This one was no ordinary suitor—he carried the blood of the Delpinia Royal Family, a direct heir.
The only son of the current king, whose family had once pursued serious marriage negotiations with Stein in the past.
‘Thank goodness Mother managed to avoid marrying the king. Otherwise our lineage could have become a tangled mess.’
The thought alone was horrifying.
Yet now, casting aside whatever old feelings they’d harbored, my parents fawned over Lucas with genuine warmth. I couldn’t comprehend it.
‘Clearly…’
They’d seemed far more interested in Carlo as a prospective son-in-law.
I felt an inexplicable unease settle over me.
Had I known things would unfold so unexpectedly, I would have sent Lucas home before tea time.
I’d naturally assumed my parents—who despised royal blood—wouldn’t spare him a glance.
That’s precisely why I’d brought him along so freely.
Unfortunately, I’d only shot myself in the foot.
Lucas seemed unbothered by the atmosphere; he answered my parents’ attentive hospitality with steady smiles.
What was there to enjoy about this? Was he truly planning to execute a flawless marriage to me?
I rested my chin on the table and let out a weary breath, as was my habit.
After an afternoon of swimming at the Lake Shore in less-than-ideal condition, my body had become rapidly exhausted.
I had no use for blind dates or any of this nonsense—all I wanted was to lie in bed and rest.
“Is something troubling you?” he asked quietly.
“I’m just tired. It’s getting late.”
“Then I should take my leave.”
Lucas nodded and accepted his coat from an attendant.
Just then, the laundry from the third-floor drying room had finished, and his clothes were being delivered one by one.
The Coat and Shirt.
And as the Weight Reduction Magic in his pockets came undone, women’s Earrings and Hair Pins spilled onto the floor along with my own clothes.
“Oh—”
My eyes widened in an instant.
‘Those….’
They were all mine.
Recognizing the Earrings and Hair Pin at a glance, I found myself grasping his hand without thinking.
When our eyes met, the blue gaze fixed upon me wavered slightly.
“This is, well—”
I studied him carefully as he fumbled for words.
Only then did I understand something I hadn’t noticed before.
‘It’s different.’
Both last time and now, Lucas’s clothing was different.
The Shirt he’d worn at our first meeting, the one with the pocket where he’d cast Weight Reduction Magic to keep my jewelry, had a design quite unlike what he wore today.
So I began to wonder.
‘Could he have been carrying them inside all this time?’
Every single time we met, two times, three times, every visit?
The thought struck me as almost touching—so much so that I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.
‘Really, you….’
Just who are you?
You didn’t seem like the Lucas I’d known until now.
The devotion was genuinely touching, and the attentiveness was so unbelievable that I was left speechless.
Finally, as the magical function faded from the Shirt’s pocket, it shrank in size and spilled my Coat onto the floor with a rustle.
It was only natural for the Weight Reduction Magic to come undone—the light-natured Fire Magic had been soaked in heavy water.
Still, the fact that the Mana had lasted nearly several weeks was considerable.
Well, he wasn’t called Magic Tower staff for nothing.
“Right, then—”
“….”
“Thank you for coming.”
My admiration was brief; I quickly bent down and began gathering up the Hair Pin and Earrings from the floor.
I’d forgotten about them for so long, and it was perfect timing.
Now that things had come to this, I’d found my reason to send Lucas off, so I asked him promptly.
“You’ve finished dinner, haven’t you?”
“I have—”
“It’s gotten late, so I’ll see you to the door.”
It was now nine o’clock at night.
This arranged meeting was over.
* * *
“I’ll just say goodbye to Lucas at the Main Gate and be right back.”
“Do we really need to skip going together?”
“You’ve both already exchanged farewells inside. It’s a long journey to the Magic Tower. Last time, you only used Transfer Magic to skip across three fiefs.”
Rose said this expressionlessly while calculating magical formulas before her eyes.
“At night, mages use relatively less Mana, so if we’re lucky, he’ll arrive in just under an hour.”
Unlike her body, which stood facing her parents, her gaze was fixed entirely on the Magic Circle.
Perhaps it was her unwavering resolve to send off her guest safely—Rose’s eyes gleamed sharp with purpose.
Precise design and efficient distance calculation.
Since becoming a mage, Rose Stein had paid attention to and been drawn to many things.
Money, honor, love.
‘Most people say one of those three matters most.’
But our daughter valued health, independence, and survival above all.
Rostiha sometimes found herself thinking that Rose was a peculiar sort, despite having birthed her herself.
There had been a time.
While most people needed to learn ten things to awaken to one, she had begun building her own understanding independently, and had grown before anyone knew it.
The delicate and temperamental princess of the Stein household had vanished at some point, and in her place stood a daughter who had become an adult far too quickly.
As a mother, Rostiha should have been proud—but there were times when it had hurt her deeply.
“…Carlo has been managing well, I hear?”
“Rather, I’d like to ask you both many things.”
“Ha. So would you?”
Yet the sight of Rose shaken by a single man’s name was nothing if not unexpected.

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