My Husband Is Not the Magic Tower Master - Chapter 63

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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 63

“Let go of me!”
When spring faded into the bitter cold of winter, Stein was dragged away by force and made to wear a Wedding Dress.
The man could not save her.
One who had been born with magical power similar to theirs had invoked against Stein the rare ability of Binding—a blessing granted only once in a lifetime.
He was none other than the founding king.
Delpid, the First Grand Sorcerer of Wind.
“Understand this, you who possess Immortality. How could one who has lived an endless, meaningless existence ever comprehend the thirst of finite time?”
The king laughed coldly, his magical power ensnaring Stein as he held her forcibly at his side.
“Undo this right now. Release me, Delpid!”
“I love you too, Stein.”
“No—that could never be love.”
It was only the possessiveness of coveting even the magical power I held.
Stein struggled against Delpid, against the king himself, but the Binding was shackles.
For even the Grand Sorcerer who had commanded the long centuries of magical history, the magic of Binding was a lethal poison, a curse from which there was no escape.
The Grand Sorcerer who could “destroy” Binding had gone into hiding to avoid their three-way conflict.
“Free Stein. She is my beloved. Please….”
“The moment you take even one step closer, I will sever her life with my own hands.”
Oh, merciful God.
For the first time, he sank into profound despair.
Delpid, the First King of the First Magic Kingdom, had yearned for Stein, and at last he had taken her from him.
“If you refuse to marry me, then obey my command instead.”
“Yes, I accept. Rather than spend my whole life with a man I don’t love, I would sooner cast myself into the fires of hell.”
She broke it then.
It was the price of defying the magic of Binding and choosing to dissolve the betrothal.
Stein was immediately exiled to the Demon Realm, and she swore an oath with the king that she would spend her life there, her fate bound to the subjugation of Demon Beasts.
The man said farewell to her for the first and only time.
“Don’t worry. Even if I die… I will find you again.”
“When? When will you come find me?”
“Before it’s too late. In a moment that feels familiar.”
The precarious boundary between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm.
With tears gathering in her eyes, Stein wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes with her own hands and smiled brightly, as she always did.
“I will remember you, I swear.”
….
“I will remember you, Carlo.”
When their eyes finally met, he began to weep.
“I’m sorry, Carlo.”
“I’ll wait. I promise.”
Carlo pressed his lips to hers slowly, gently, just as he had when he’d promised her a lifetime.
He watched Stein fade into the Demon Realm, stepping backward across the boundary line.
“Humanity has fallen too far. Now it needs true balance.”
She smiled at him and waved her hand tenderly.
“I’m going to meet the Demon God I made a contract with. If I can meet him, I’ll ask him something for sure. I know he must….”
Know a way to break this rusted chain.
* * *
When I awoke, I was sitting on a Garden bench with my head resting against Carlo’s shoulder.
‘Sigh.’
To have lost consciousness twice within the Royal Palace.
How much time had passed?
‘More than that….’
I had dreamed a truly strange dream.
My mind was muddled, yet nothing came clearly into focus—a bizarre dream where nothing would solidify.
As I blinked my eyes open and tried to compose myself, Carlo spoke.
“You have been waiting a long time.”
“…Why the sudden question?”
“Even while sleeping, you pinched my arm over and over.”
“I suppose I was reluctant to let go. I understand—there was always something important I felt I was missing, all along.”
Perhaps I wanted to hold onto it, even in dreams.
When I opened my eyes, the sun had already set, and dusk had settled over everything.
Clinging to the last traces of scarlet twilight, I nestled against Carlo with my head resting on his shoulder.
“…I’m cold.”
“I’ve already draped my coat over your shoulders.”
“Sometimes, more than that—sometimes a person’s warmth feels better, you know?”
This was precisely such a moment.
I glanced around to confirm no one was passing by, then pressed myself more firmly against Carlo’s arm.
Soon enough, each time my hair stirred in the breeze, I felt his shoulder flinch beside me.
The more I saw of him, the more endearing he became.
After a brief hesitation, I felt him slowly raise one arm around my back.
He seemed to have taken my complaint about the cold at face value and moved to embrace my shoulders.
Among all of Carlo’s many virtues, I adored this tender side of him.
“Why did it take so long? I’ve been waiting.”
I asked petulantly.
“…There was something I needed to attend to.”
“Oh, the Protective Magic you placed on me last night—I broke it myself.”
I was simply too curious about what was happening outside.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s no matter.”
Carlo answered readily and nodded.
“The Rose I know has always been fiercely independent, so I rather expected as much.”
Then what was the point of casting such magic on me in the first place?
‘Was it really just a temporary measure?’
When I said nothing for a moment, Carlo added quietly.
“I didn’t want to be separated from you.”
His answer was simple.
“If I cast magic this way, even just a little… I thought perhaps you might think of me.”
That was rather obsessive of him.
Yet I found his earnest response endearing, so I allowed a faint smile to play at my lips.
I often thought it—he had the kind of presence that suited a gentle autumn evening perfectly.
Strangely, even though I usually disliked the cold, whenever I was with Carlo, I felt heat rising in my chest, as if my very skin tingled with warmth.
I lifted my head from his shoulder and let out an embarrassed cough.
“You already occupy my thoughts quite enough as it is.”
“…I wonder if what I feel can truly be called love.”
“If my heart remains the same even after we’ve completed the wedding ceremony, would I be allowed to answer you then?”
Carlo slowly raised his head.
For once, his expression was genuinely flustered.
I reached down toward his trembling hands beneath the bench and squeezed the back of his hand firmly in mine.
“Don’t be late next time.”
“…I won’t.”
“Thank you for saving me earlier. I’m still not sure how you found me, though.”
And what else had he said?
As I fumbled through my hazy memories, Carlo immediately continued.
“Yes, anytime…”
I will protect you.
His confession of love was stiff to the point of awkwardness, yet it had a peculiar gift for making the listener smile.
I gazed at him as he nodded earnestly and gave a soft laugh.
Then, slowly, I rested my head against his chest once more.
‘Ah—’
It felt good, and yet my heart was heavy.
It was difficult to properly explain what this emotion stirring within me truly was.
‘I keep feeling sorry.’
Was it guilt? My wedding with another man was fast approaching.
The feeling Carlo inspired in me was undoubtedly a familiar comfort, yet today it felt strangely foreign.
Just because the ending was drawing near didn’t mean this world would stop turning.
And yet, contradictorily, I felt my heart racing with a sharp, nervous tension.
‘Even now, am I still hoping for something?’
I told myself it was simple excitement.
I murmured the words with my eyes squeezed shut.
I really do love this man.
‘Tomorrow, our wedding….’
So much so that I wanted to call it off.

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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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