On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 43

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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 43
My voice trembled, but I forced each word out as clearly as I could.
“I’m not waiting around for you to stamp it. I’m heading back to the Imperial Capital, so just seal that document and send it to the Imperial Government.”
In the meantime, Cade had read through the official document, and his expression hardened as he spoke.
“Did you actually read this? Marry the Third Princess? Are you serious?”
“It doesn’t deviate from the conditions you set.”
…….
He let out a hollow laugh as if utterly taken aback.
“What if I can’t stamp it?”
“Do whatever you want. I’m sick of groveling to someone like you for a stamp anyway.”
“So you’re giving up on the department transfer?”
“Are you trying to blackmail me with my weaknesses? That’s contemptible.”
I thought there was nothing left to disappoint me, but now it was my turn to be appalled.
“I know exactly what kind of man you are. Rather than grovel shamefully at your side, I’ll change professions entirely.”
I hurled those words as a parting shot, left without waiting for a response, and walked out of his office.
The cold wind stung my eyes, and the tip of my nose began to ache.
It wasn’t until I’d climbed into the carriage and drawn the curtains that the tears finally came.
‘How could you do this to me…….’
Even as I clenched my lips and balled my fists, I couldn’t stop the tears from pooling in my eyes.
Those two years with Cade felt like they had been nothing but deception and lies, and I couldn’t forgive myself for failing to see it until now. I felt stupid and pathetic.
I hadn’t even realized I was being toyed with—that I’d genuinely cared for him.
I had believed that if I loved him so completely, he must have loved me just as sincerely.
……That I still harbored lingering feelings for such a man.
‘He’s terrible. Really terrible.’
I buried my face in my hands and wept, finally breaking down completely.
I had denied it for an entire year, but by now I couldn’t help but admit the truth.
I had never forgotten Cade.
I could conjure up his soft beige hair and those translucent, water-blue eyes at will whenever I wished.
The gentle way he’d say my name, the quiet vibration that would travel through our bodies when he’d hold me close with that low laugh—I remembered all of it vividly.
‘How absurd I must seem to Cade.’
Unlike me, he had never been sincere with me from the start.
I resented my own foolishness, and I felt tremendous sorrow for his dead fiancée.
By the time the carriage reached the inn, I had resolved once more.
‘I need to leave Melgote as quickly as possible.’
***
The moment I opened my eyes the next morning, I sent a letter to the Director saying I would return to the Imperial Capital.
I didn’t want to stay any longer in Melgote, where the Magic Tower was located, and I didn’t want to care about anything. I wanted to leave for the Imperial Capital that very night.
But practically speaking, that wasn’t possible.
Every matter had its proper procedure.
‘Even if I resign, I can’t cause trouble for others.’
The observation station had become quite busy because monster beasts had washed up to the harbor. I couldn’t simply vanish without notice in such circumstances.
‘Thanks to Cade, I’ve learned how important it is to part ways without hurting each other.’
I reported to the observation station and informed Administrator Yukel that my dispatch assignment was ending.
It would have been better to give more notice, but the dispatch work had always been meant to be temporary.
“What? You’re returning to the Imperial Capital?”
“Yes, that’s how it’s turned out. Today is my last day. Thank you for everything.”
“I knew you wouldn’t stay long since it was a short-term dispatch from the beginning, but I’ll miss you.”
I felt uncomfortable at the administrator’s regretful tone.
The other staff members all seemed sorry to see me go, but Simona was different.
“Good. Go to the Imperial Government. I like that there are people I know well in the Imperial Palace Bureau.”
“Senior, you’re too kind. I really can’t thank you enough. It would have been so much harder to adapt to the observation station without you.”
“Don’t mention it. I had fun with you here too. This place is a bit stagnant, so we need fresh faces to visit sometimes, or we’d go crazy.”
Simona spoke as though my departure didn’t bother her in the slightest, yet she kept slipping candies and caramels into my pockets.
“The journey is long, so eat these on the way. Don’t take a cushion with you. Your bottom needs to be a little uncomfortable so you’ll regret going all the way to the distant Imperial Capital—and think of me.”
Her childish and mischievous words made me laugh. My tightly wound heart seemed to loosen just a bit.
“Now you’re smiling. Anyone who sees this would think you were being dragged off to trial in the Imperial Capital.”
“Ah…….”
I smiled awkwardly and rubbed my cheek.
“I think I’ll miss you a lot, senior. When I’m in the Imperial Capital, let’s definitely meet.”
“Of course we will.”
After noticing how my pockets were now bulging, Simona finally stopped shoving candies in and chuckled.
“So if you’re heading back to the Imperial Capital, that means you managed to get the Tower Master’s seal somehow, didn’t you? Does that mean you’re moving departments now?”
“Mm.”
I shrugged as if to say I didn’t know and turned away, saying I should head back to the office.
He had such a beloved fiancée—Cade would never agree to marry the Third Princess.
I had promised to stamp any new document unconditionally as long as it met the conditions……but.
Given how erratically and recklessly Cade had been behaving, nobody would suspect me of lying.
‘The department transfer is off the table.’
If I’d known this would happen, I never would have agreed to the proposal in the first place—to bring back the Tower Master’s seal.
If I return like this, I’ll have to keep working as a Crystal Whale investigator.
“Father, you’re spending more and more time out at sea. What if something happens to you out there?”
“Vivian, are you worried that I won’t come home?”
“Yes. I’m scared.”
“I’m not scared at all. Even if I disappear in the sea, you’ll come find me.”
…….
A childhood memory suddenly surfaced, and my mood sank.
‘How could I find someone who disappeared in the sea? I’m not a Crystal Whale.’
Working as a Crystal Whale investigator while hating Crystal Whales was something I couldn’t justify to them.
As an Attuner, I had to read the Crystal Whale’s emotions while I worked, and my own resentment could affect how I did this job.
‘I really do have no choice but to resign.’
Even so, my circumstances were different from before I became a civil servant.
Unlike then, I now possessed the Monster Empathy Ability, so I could find any job related to magical beasts easily.
‘Once I quit, let me rest at the estate for a while.’
I couldn’t even remember when I’d last had a peaceful, restful time.
I wanted to erase everything that had happened in Melgote from my mind and spend my days in peace and idleness.
***
The day before leaving Melgote, I visited the Melgote Duke’s Residence, and on impulse, I sent word to Simona asking if she’d like to come with me.
I had sent a letter saying I wanted to pay my respects at the duke’s residence, and it turned out I had been invited to dinner that evening.
‘Simona would probably enjoy an occasion like this. Considering how much I’ve relied on her, this much of a gift is only proper.’
As expected, a prompt reply came back in the affirmative.
「Vivian. You’re the best fake parachute.」
Simona arrived to pick me up in front of the inn, and I climbed into her carriage while she wore a beautiful dress and a warm-looking shawl draped over her shoulders.
“Senior, you didn’t come straight here from work, did you?”
“I did.”
“How did you……?”
“People like me—flatterers—are always ready to dress up at a moment’s notice.”
……Now that I thought about it, she had also attended the Third Princess’s banquet right after work, and she’d worn a dress instead of her uniform and looked polished then too.
I had no idea how such preparation was possible, but I decided not to ask.
“Since you’ve been working in Melgote for a while, do you know the Grand Duke?”
“Well, I know him. The Grand Duke is quite an impressive person.”
Simona spoke in admiration, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“He was originally supposed to become a prince consort of the Eastern Continent, but when his powerful magical power manifested, he became the Grand Duke of Melgote instead.”
“I’ve heard that story.”
“It happened so suddenly that he must have struggled to adapt to his magical power, but he didn’t neglect caring for his domain either. That’s why most people in Melgote love him.”
Simona’s words seemed to be true.
Everyone I’d met during my stay at the inn had only spoken well of the Grand Duke.
And at her next words, I was genuinely taken aback.

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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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