On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 19

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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 19
When I checked the time, it was midnight. Far too late for inn staff to come calling.
No one was scheduled to visit, so I was puzzled—until a knock sounded at the door once more.
‘Who on earth is it? Could it be Cade…?’
Cade was the only person who’d appear at any hour without warning.
Wasn’t humiliating me in front of the observatory staff enough?
Or could he be here to apologize for that incident?
Either way, I had no idea how to face him, and that uncertainty gnawed at me.
‘Should I pretend to be asleep?’
The knock—not loud, not soft—persisted with stubborn rhythm.
After a moment’s hesitation, I threw off the blanket and stood before the door.
‘At least he’s knocking this time. I did tell him not to break in unannounced.’
As if sensing my presence, a voice came from the other side.
“Vivian Solling. It’s me. I need to talk to you.”
“…….”
My hand froze on the doorknob. My expression hardened of its own accord.
“Tomorrow. It’s late.”
“I have a field assignment tomorrow. Open the door.”
I released a silent sigh at his relentless insistence, wrapped my coat around myself, and opened the door.
Aster stood outside wearing an affable smile.
“I figured you’d still be awake.”
“I was about to fall asleep. What brings you here at this hour?”
My voice came out rough with drowsiness, my temper short—my words wouldn’t come out politely no matter how I tried.
Aster’s eyes widened as if my reaction was entirely unexpected.
“You’re angry with me? Why? Shouldn’t I be the one angry?”
“Just say what you came to say.”
“Out here?”
He glanced down the corridor and spread his arms wide. The hallway was still and quiet—perfect for eavesdropping.
‘If I leave him standing there, he’ll definitely start talking about Parachute Appointments again.’
I’d already suffered enough public humiliation, so I let Aster into my room.
“Now, speak quickly.”
Whatever he was about to say, I doubted I’d receive it graciously, so I hurried him along from the start.
Aster observed the room thoughtfully, then opened his mouth with a gentle smile.
“I want to know for certain what you meant.”
“……?”
“You said that if I succeeded in this task, I could become a Crystal Whale Investigator.”
“There’s no hidden meaning. I meant exactly what I said.”
“How is that even possible?”
“The Deputy Director promised that if I succeeded in retrieving the Magic Tower Master’s Seal, he’d transfer me to another department. When I leave the Crystal Whale Department, they’ll need additional staff, and you were originally supposed to be the next Crystal Whale Investigator.”
“Ah. Ahahaha!”
Suddenly Aster bent at the waist, laughing as if he’d heard the world’s funniest joke.
Even when I stared at him oddly, he paid no attention, just kept laughing—until he wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
“Goodness, Vivian. I have no intention of transferring to the Crystal Whale Department anymore. No regrets, no interest.”
“……What are you talking about?”
“I’m staying in the Land Monster Department. Moving to the Crystal Whale Department would’ve been nicer, but I don’t care.”
Aster smiled refreshingly, savoring the aftertaste of his joke, while I grew more bewildered.
Everything Aster had done to me up until now made his claim of having no attachment to the Crystal Whale Department seem impossible.
“Then what was it all for? Why have you been tormenting me this whole time?”
I genuinely felt sorry for standing in the way of Aster’s promotion, but becoming a Crystal Whale Ecology Investigator wasn’t a violation of imperial law by any means.
“I didn’t sneak in through bribes, and I didn’t force my way into the Crystal Whale Department. Coming all the way to Melgote just to make a fool of me—that was too much. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?”
“If it’s so hard, just quit. Why do you keep clinging to it?”
His casual retort hit me like a blow.
“……You want me to quit? I’m sorry, but I can’t. There are nobles in this world who can’t even maintain a single estate without working.”
“No. What I’m saying is—stop struggling so hard just to earn a bit of money. Get married instead.”
I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes widening, and he smiled wickedly before finishing his thought.
“To me.”
“……?”
“You’re pretty and reasonably intelligent, so you’d be useful in various ways. And I’ve been good to you all this time.”
His shameless words, uttered without hesitation, made my lips tremble. A kind of shame I’d never imagined flooded to the crown of my head.
It was true I was of marriageable age, but a daughter of a fallen baron’s house was essentially unmarriageable in practice.
The preference was far stronger for marrying into wealthy commoner families rather than impoverished noble houses that couldn’t afford to maintain their estates without labor.
And that wealthy commoner was Aster himself.
He’d humiliated me in public and then, at odd moments, sent expensive gifts quietly or approached me with sudden familiarity—I’d only found it strange.
I never imagined that whatever his reasons, this confused show of goodwill was charity born from the intention to marry me.
‘Is he pitying me? If he wanted a noble house, he could’ve aimed for a higher rank…’
As I stood there, unable to form a response, my mouth working silently, Aster let out an exasperated laugh.
“Lost for words? I understand the feeling. Too nervous to speak?”
“Understand what? I’m angry enough to break imperial law and possibly kill someone.”
“That was a joke.”
Aster shrugged and continued.
“You’d be relieved of financial worry. I’d gain a respectable bride. It’s a proposal where both sides win—I don’t see why you’re being so serious about it.”
“Get out.”
If this went on any longer, I really would break imperial law in a big way, so I shoved at Aster’s back.
He spun around and easily caught my wrist.
“Don’t be so emotional. Think rationally for a moment, Vivian Solling. You’re a smart woman. Let’s use each other’s reputations well.”
“You don’t need my reputation. Let go of me. Let go!”
Just as I yanked my wrist free and raised my voice—
The window, sealed tight behind the curtains, flew open with a violent gust of wind.
“Ugh, wh—what?!”
A stone hurled through the suddenly-open window struck Aster across the cheek, making him stagger.
Released from his grip, I jumped back against the wall in shock.
“Is this a typhoon?”
“What in—ow!”
Crack!
Lightning tore in through the window, and Aster leapt with a yelp.
I’d heard Melgote’s weather was rough, but never imagined it could be like this.
Wet newspaper, blunt twigs, a broken fishing rod, brick fragments, a broom—
All manner of debris poured through the window, and as thin lightning bolts streaked downward, Aster’s face contorted in panic. He stumbled backward.
His foot caught his own leg and he crashed loudly to the ground, then scrambled up in haste.
His clothes disheveled and his breath coming in gasps, Aster rushed from the room.
“That’s enough for today. Ugh, I have to get to the Magic Tower tomorrow, so I need to go now. This insane weather…!”
Even as he fled with his head covered, he couldn’t resist bragging that he alone had been chosen as an Attuner for the Tower.
The wind was so fierce that the objects flying through the window scattered down the corridor.
As my door slammed shut, silence fell suddenly.
‘Is this really a natural phenomenon? That makes no sense.’
I stood there bewildered by the strangeness of it all, then cautiously peered out the window.
There was no one outside, and the wind was indeed strong, but that alone didn’t explain everything. I whispered a name.
“Cade?”
“Did you call for our Tower Master?”
“Kyaaaaa…!”
I barely choked back a scream and my eyes went wide.
Rana, hanging upside down, had suddenly appeared outside the window.
“R—Rana?”
“Hello, Investigator?”
Rana flipped her body acrobat-style and tumbled into the room.
I looked back out the window in bewilderment, but no other wizard was anywhere to be seen.
Since she was still young, I worried the cold wind might harm her, so I closed the window and curtains first.
“Rana. What are you doing here? Don’t tell me—was it you who threw all those stones and things through the window?”
“That guy was being obnoxious. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important?”
“Not at all. Thank you for avenging me. I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”
Honestly, watching Aster flail around by himself was rather satisfying.
Still, I felt uncomfortable that I’d let a young wizard like Rana do such a thing on my behalf.
But since Rana herself seemed to have enjoyed it, I decided to let it slide.
“But what brought you here so late?”
“Oh! It’s an errand from the Tower Master.”
“……At this late hour? With you?”
“He said that at this late hour, it wouldn’t inconvenience me if I went. And I volunteered.”
Rana grinned widely and handed over a paper envelope.
The envelope, sealed with wax, bore the clear imprint of the Magic Tower Master’s Seal.
‘What is he trying to provoke me with 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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