On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 29

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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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Episode 29
Whoooosh—.
As I stepped out of the Mortuary, rain was falling.
Even though this place was warmer than Melgote, my shoulders trembled.
‘I left my overcoat back at the Magic Tower.’
The moment I thought that, an overcoat draped across my shoulders—placed there by Cade’s casual hand.
But looking closer, it was my own overcoat.
“How did you…?”
“The Magic Tower isn’t a lost-and-found.”
“I mean, when did you even…never mind.”
Of course he’d brought it using Teleportation. I’d asked a stupid question.
I fastened the overcoat properly and buttoned it up, and the warmth returned—my shaking stopped.
But I noticed Cade had been watching me with a peculiar expression for a while.
‘He probably thinks it’s ridiculous—saying we wouldn’t meet outside the Magic Tower, then suddenly asking him to come along.’
And dragging him out of nowhere to a corpse depository would make anyone uncomfortable.
‘Why does it seem like Cade only ever sees the worst side of me?’
I knew I owed him thanks, even if he was an infuriating man.
If not for Cade, I would’ve spent all this time tormented by the thought that the corpse might have been my father.
For some reason, unlike on the Sea, I could barely move my lips.
“Th-th-thank you. It might seem strange, but this was important to me.”
“…….”
“And I’m sorry for bringing you to a place like this so suddenly.”
Cade gazed at me silently for a moment, then finally spoke.
“Vivian.”
Before I could tell him not to call me that—
“Vivian Solling. I….”
He corrected himself, as if he’d gotten it wrong.
After a long pause, as if searching for words, he extended his hand.
“Should we go to the Inn?”
“Huh? Y-yes.”
Hesitating, I took his hand, and my body was suddenly pulled toward him.
The closeness caught me off guard.
During Teleportation, everything happened so fast I never noticed, but does it always require this much contact?
Cade gently stroked my trembling shoulders as they jerked.
And the next instant, we were in an inn room.
A precarious, unstable sensation.
Every time I experienced Teleportation, it felt like this.
My footing felt paper-thin while I had to land at the exact destination.
I could understand why Rana had said that only skilled practitioners could manage Teleportation with two people.
But even though we’d arrived in the inn room, Cade still hadn’t released me.
“……?”
I waited, rolling my eyes, but his grip on my shoulders didn’t loosen.
‘Why is he doing this? Worried I’ll get dizzy again?’
His robe was so close to my forehead it almost touched, and I could feel the whisper of his Mana and the cold scent of wind.
When my Incense Candle scent from the room mixed with his wind scent, something felt off.
My heart began pounding without reason, and I spoke with a slight quaver.
“Cade. I’m fine. Not dizzy at all.”
“I’m the one who’s dizzy.”
Startled by that confession, I lifted my head.
Our eyes met for just an instant before Cade’s expression wavered and he closed his eyes slowly.
‘Didn’t someone once say the coachman never gets motion sickness? What went wrong with the Teleportation?’
Being ignorant of Magic, I sensed his whisper of Mana but couldn’t tell what the problem was.
“Shouldn’t you sit down? Does just closing your eyes actually help?”
Thinking I should make him sit the way he’d made me sit, I tried to pull away from his embrace.
But the moment I tried to slip free, I found myself firmly pinned back against him.
“It should feel better soon. Just give it a moment.”
“…….”
Heat crept up my face.
Cade leaning on me unsettled me.
From him, I felt his warmth and breathing, his arms around my back, his hands at my shoulders, his solid frame. And….
“Vivian, just holding you makes me feel like everything will be all right soon.”
That whisper, too, was something I’d become far too accustomed to, something I’d grown far too fond of.
How could this man be so unbothered about what we were doing?
Could he have grown so numb that he only saw it as using my body to steady himself?
Even if it’s all in the past now, even if we’re nothing to each other, there are still things I can’t help but notice….
‘But then again. I was the one who was rejected, and he was the one who rejected. So of course we feel differently about this.’
I was grateful he didn’t regard me as a stalker.
He was someone who wouldn’t even stamp his Seal for an Official Document brought by his ex-girlfriend.
Only my heart was stirring, and that unfairness made me overthink.
Eventually, as his dizziness passed, Cade slowly released my shoulders.
The warmth that had pooled around me dissipated.
Unable to bear the awkwardness, I cleared my throat loudly.
“I thanked you for today, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on your Seal. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Want to hit me?”
“What?”
“You can hit me more if you want.”
As I was pondering his cryptic offer, Cade used Magic to brush the rain that had clung to me completely dry.
“Do you hate me?”
“I do.”
I ran my hands over my now-dry hair and clothes, then replied uncertainly.
“I hate you enough that my hand might bleed if I hit you.”
“Then want to stab me instead?”
Cade drew a Dagger and offered me the hilt.
I’d only ever held a table knife and a letter opener in my life.
When I startled at the sight of a “real blade,” he waggled the Dagger invitingly as if urging me to take it.
I stared wide-eyed, unable to hide my bewilderment, and asked.
“Is stamping your Seal on an Official Document I bring really harder than stabbing me?”
“Apparently so.”
He sheathed the Dagger and offered a vague smile.
“Is there anything else I can help with besides my Seal?”
“I only need the Seal. That’s all I need.”
At my firm answer, Cade gave me a suspicious look. Realizing what I’d said, I quickly added.
“The Teleportation too, I mean, well, I needed that.”
Then doubt suddenly struck me.
“But why are you suddenly trying to help? There’s no reason for you to. If it means giving up your Seal, you can’t.”
“I’m…more of a worthless bastard than you think. I know this kind of compensation doesn’t make up for it.”
The words were vague, but I could tell he’d become quite self-aware.
Of course he was worthless—he’d rejected me while keeping the flowers and not even giving back the Ring.
I laughed mockingly and teased him.
“Are you suddenly regretting dumping me? Feeling sorry?”
“Yeah.”
His response wasn’t what I’d expected, and I felt slightly flustered. Was he apologizing?
“It’s fine. It’s done. I’m not going to dredge up the past.”
Speaking such words after having just lingered in his embrace felt awkward.
Cade paused as if choosing his words, then finally spoke.
“It’s not because you’re the one who brought the Official Document that I won’t stamp it. It would’ve been the same no matter who came.”
“So you really won’t stamp it no matter what? The Magic Tower can’t keep ignoring the Imperial Government indefinitely.”
“Why do you want the Seal so badly?”
“If I can bring back your Seal….”
I hesitated, unsure if I could appeal to his emotions with personal reasons.
Maybe he’d listen if I told him.
“I was promised a transfer. Away from the Crystal Whale Department, to somewhere else.”
“Ah.”
Cade’s brow furrowed slightly, and he exhaled heavily, covering his eyes with a large hand.
Now he understood that I would never give up on the Seal.
When he lowered his hand from his eyes, brushing back his pale hair, his expression looked slightly troubled.
“Send a new Official Document. Something unrelated to Melgote, the Sea, or any other Wizards.”
“……What?”
“I’ll stamp any Official Document you bring, as long as the conditions are met.”
I stared at him in disbelief, unable to trust what I’d heard.
“You’ll stamp the Seal? Really?”
“Yeah. I will.”
“……!”
I held back a cry of joy and bounced on my feet. This was unexpected.
“Really? You’re not changing your mind?”
“Even if I did.”
“I can’t believe it. Are you swearing on the Magic Tower’s honor that you’ll really stamp the Seal?”
“The Magic Tower’s honor? Sure. I’ll swear it. On the Magic Tower’s honor, I swear I will absolutely stamp the Tower Master’s Seal.”
In an instant, Cade had turned his promise into an oath. He checked the time and took a step back.
“I should get going. I have things to do.”
“Yes. Thank you for today. I was able to make the trip on time because of you.”
Unable to hide my joy, I smiled broadly and saw him off.
‘He actually said he’d stamp the Seal himself. Maybe I should have asked him sooner?’
He watched me quietly for a moment, then smiled faintly.
That was the end. He vanished in an instant, leaving only fragments of light behind.
“Cade….”
Without thinking, I reached toward the space where he’d disappeared.
Even though he’d been smiling, he’d looked so sad.

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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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