On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 100

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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 100
The people who had been bowing straightened only after the Emperor and Empress took their seats at the head of the Banquet Hall.
“You’ve traveled far across the sea to celebrate the 3rd Princess’s betrothal. We won’t forget your kindness, and we hope you’ll bless the future of the 3rd Princess and the Tower Master.”
After the Emperor’s brief greeting, the Imperial Orchestra began playing a melodious piece.
The jewels adorning the walls of the Banquet Hall glowed with magic, and exclamations spilled from the guests’ lips.
A civil servant who’d been forced to rearrange the jewel decorations until just before the ceremony began seemed to tear up with relief.
I was responsible only for the magical beasts at the betrothal ceremony, though there were plenty of others who’d taken on preparation tasks.
‘It’s not even a wedding ceremony—a betrothal, and on this grand a scale for the first time. And it’s not even between members of the Imperial Family.’
A long white carpet stretched through the crowd of eager faces, beginning to shimmer and shine.
It was light announcing the entrance of today’s main subjects.
As attendants opened the doors, the 3rd Princess and the Tower Master appeared at the entrance to the Banquet Hall.
The brilliant jewels and lace adorning the Red Dress and Red Formal Attire paired together like a matched set.
‘……But it really doesn’t suit Cade at all.’
I muttered petulantly at the unfamiliar sight of Cade with his hair neatly pulled back.
Despite being dragged around all day yesterday, his face was clean and his posture rigidly straight.
The 3rd Princess seemed delighted with Cade’s appearance, smiling with satisfaction as she glanced at him.
She looked like a girl unable to tear her eyes from a newly purchased jewel.
‘Truly the 3rd Princess’s perfect ornament.’
Just as I was thinking this, Cade’s gaze touched mine for a brief moment before sliding away.
“……!”
The feeling that our eyes had met made my heart skip uncomfortably.
My thoughts probably hadn’t shown on my face.
‘I wonder what Tali will say when I get back.’
I thought about how long the Solinger attendants’ nagging disguised as comfort would last as I stroked the cloth covering the magical beast cage.
I needed to use Empathic Communication to keep the magical beasts calm amid the applause and cheers.
The 3rd Princess strode proudly toward the Emperor to show off her betrothed, and he laughed good-naturedly as he proceeded with the ceremony.
Unlike my worries, I sensed no suspicious behavior from the Grand Duke.
Whether it was thanks to the Crystal Whale Crystals dangling from the 3rd Princess’s ornaments, or because she’d brought separate crystals to conceal her own sinister nature, I felt none of the unsettling aura of Dark Magic.
Cade moved obediently according to the ceremony’s order. It felt unfair to have been so worried.
‘Could Ven have misunderstood something, or was he just being oversensitive?’
Since he didn’t seem likely to do anything wrong, I found myself puzzled, recalling what Ven had said yesterday.
Meanwhile, the civil servants bustling along the edges of the Banquet Hall worked diligently to execute their assigned tasks without fail.
Soon it would be my turn.
Now that the two main subjects had picked up their Champagne Glasses and turned to face the guests.
I pulled the thread embroidered in gold, and the Golden Cage covering was revealed.
When I opened the cage door, the small bird magical beasts lined up on the perches installed along the wall.
I’d dressed the sparrow-like beasts in thin white cloth, and the shimmering fabric draped like long tail feathers—they looked just like a chorus line of tiny birds.
Beside them, a large white magical beast walked gracefully to the end of the perch and settled.
It was the very white peacock-like beast that had been on display in the gardens of the Rose Palace.
Due to the 3rd Princess’s orders, a Magical Rope was tied around its ankle, but it was a beast without any inclination to fly away in the first place.
It simply looked up curiously at the open sky visible without bars, gazing only at the empty ceiling above.
The guests let out delighted exclamations, and the 3rd Princess, who hadn’t expected this sight, laughed broadly at how pleased she was.
‘This isn’t where it ends.’
I waited for the two of them to clink glasses and drink their Champagne.
Then the Emperor, still holding his Champagne Glass, looked back at the guests.
“Before we continue the betrothal ceremony……there’s an order of events we didn’t announce beforehand.”
Murmurs of confusion filled the Banquet Hall.
I wanted to believe it wouldn’t happen, but an uneasy feeling crept over me.
“While we’re aware this is unprecedented, to strengthen trust in the relationship with the Magic Tower we’ve been cultivating, we intend to conclude this betrothal ceremony with Oath Sorcery.”
“……!”
I hurriedly examined Cade’s expression. He didn’t seem to show any disturbance.
Whether he’d anticipated this happening or was merely feigning composure, I couldn’t tell.
‘What’s going on? Even if the Imperial Palace’s wizards lead the Oath Sorcery, the Grand Duke of Melgote, as Imperial Family, would be essential. But he’s in no state to properly use Magic.’
For days I’d been searching for reports on illegal whaling ships multiple times daily and watching the movements of Crystal Whale Investigators.
Anxious that the Grand Duke might recruit an Investigator capable of Empathic Communication with Crystal Whales, I’d even checked their work locations, but no Investigator had made contact with the Grand Duke.
And I hadn’t seen the Grand Duke use Magic today either.
Since no word of Oath Sorcery had reached me until the start of the ceremony, I’d thought the Emperor hadn’t given permission.
Flustered by how events were unfolding differently than expected, I stood dazed until Rene waved urgently, urging me to hurry.
Coming to my senses, I looked at the 3rd Princess and the Tower Master—the two were already clinking glasses and beginning to drink their Champagne.
‘Let me finish this part first.’
I sent the small bird magical beasts sitting in rows on the perches soaring into the air.
With their vigorous wing-beating, the white cloth I’d dressed them in naturally unwound and scattered as confetti throughout the Banquet Hall.
Guests reached out toward the shimmering confetti with joy. I could see Rene standing in a corner, applauding silently with happiness.
It was time to release the beasts that had circled the Banquet Hall once back into the sky.
‘You absolutely must not get caught by the 3rd Princess—you need to escape well.’
The moment I tried to direct the beasts on their path and attempt Empathic Communication.
‘……What?’
Something was wrong.
The Empathic Communication that had been flowing smoothly until just now began to stutter and creak.
My concentration hadn’t wavered. Someone seemed to be interfering with my Empathic Communication.
The magical beasts that had been trying to fly out through the open ceiling became disoriented and wandered here and there throughout the Banquet Hall.
Fortunately, it still seemed to appear to the guests as a performance using magical beasts.
‘What in the world is this about?’
I checked on the Grand Duke—the person I most needed to watch today—to see what she was doing.
But standing next to the Grand Duke, who was simply watching me, was a man in a deeply drawn Robe.
‘Could that person be……?’
At first I’d suspected the Grand Duke had brought a Dark Magic user into the Imperial Palace, but this wasn’t the aura of Dark Magic.
It was distinctly an Empathic Communication aura I’d felt before. Very close to me, in fact.
A cool breeze blew in through the open ceiling, rustling the hem of his Robe.
In that brief moment when his face was exposed, I was struck with shock.
His cheeks were hollow and the skin under his eyes had sunk from hardship, but it wasn’t a face I couldn’t recognize.
“Aster?”
Hearing my shocked murmur, Aster slightly raised his head and grinned at me.
“……!”
Only then did I remember the escape attempt from the Prison several days ago.
I’d heard it was quickly stopped and resolved.
‘It wasn’t stopped—the Grand Duke got him out.’
Not knowing what Aster might do, I desperately tried to send the magical beasts outside.
But Aster wouldn’t let them go.
Just as I’d once shaken his Empathic Energy, he now shook and tried to seize my Empathic Energy.
‘This can’t be. Aster’s Attunement Ability was never this strong.’
Contrary to my memory, Aster’s ability had grown stronger. I pulled up my own Empathic Communication to a higher level.
The moment I did, the magical beasts began to suffer. Two such powerful Empathic Communication abilities colliding caused immense pain.
‘This won’t work. They might all die……!’
As the magical beasts became unstable, about to plummet, I unconsciously loosened my Empathic Communication ability.
At that moment, the magical beasts, freed from my control, shifted direction and flew aggressively toward the 3rd Princess.

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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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