On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 79

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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 79
Even while eating with Cade, I found myself rubbing my chest out of habit.
Relief washed over me at the thought that the stone hadn’t fallen into the lake.
He moved his fork a few times, then glanced at me sidelong and opened his mouth.
“You should be able to transfer departments now.”
“……Oh.”line>
The words caught me off guard, and I let out something foolish in response.

I’d come to Melgote in the first place for a department transfer, yet I’d completely forgotten about it.
How could I have forgotten?
“Vivian?”
Cade called my name, tilting his head in confusion.
“Oh, right. I was going to ask to transfer to the Land Beasts Department.”
I snapped back to attention and answered him.
“That said, I’ll stay with the Crystal Whale Department until this matter is wrapped up. I’m an advisor to the Acquisition Investigation Team, after all.”
“Right. Once things are settled, stop by the Magic Tower sometime. Since you’re an advisor and all.”
“……?”
At his words, I lifted my fork but then set it down again without taking a bite.
“Once things are settled and I transfer, I’ll hand over the advisor position to someone else anyway. Why would I come back here?”
“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll never come back.”
“Do I have any reason to come back?”
“…….”
This time, Cade set down his fork.
He stared at his half-eaten meal for a moment before lifting his gaze.
Between the dry-leaf and earth scents of a coniferous forest, his bluish eyes—bearing the hue of Melgote’s wind—gleamed with a sharp, cold light.
Wondering if I’d said something I shouldn’t have, I tensed. But he answered casually.
“Tris and Lana will be disappointed.”
After building up the tension that much, the answer was anticlimactic.
Though it was a point that did weigh on my mind.
I thought I’d miss seeing Tris and Lana too. They were the lifeblood of the Magic Tower, which otherwise maintained an individualistic atmosphere unless something urgent came up.
The kind gentle magical beast that would hop onto my bed at night and curl up snugly against my side to sleep.
And the young wizard who cheerfully prattled on about strange new words and funny rumors she’d heard from friends at school.
When I thought about not seeing them anymore, I felt the sting of it too.
‘I’ll miss Lana’s mischievous pranks.’
There would likely come a day when I missed Ben and the kitchen staff, and the other wizards—all those who’d looked after me in so many ways.
So it would be unfair to both of us to flatly cut ties with the Magic Tower.
But letting my emotions sway me for Cade—or rather, for my own feelings—had to stop here.
After Cade rejected me, what I’d felt acutely was that there was nothing you could do about missing someone except to miss them.
If I missed Tris and the Magic Tower, I would simply miss them.
“When this is all over, I won’t see you again. I don’t want to.”
The clear light in Cade’s eyes wavered slightly.
“……Because of my past?”
“No, your past has nothing to do with it. You were young and a victim, that’s all.”
“Then why?”
“Why? Because we’re not that kind of people to each other. If I’m stationed in Melgote again, we might run into each other by chance, but I don’t intend to meet you privately.”
Cade stared at me blankly for a moment, then parted his lips.
“We could become that kind of people, couldn’t we? If we just stayed in touch. We’re already getting along well enough―.”
“Cade.”
I cut him off and spoke firmly.
“I haven’t forgiven you, but since we’ve agreed to work together for the sake of the nation’s stability, I want us to part ways ‘cleanly’ this time. Don’t make it complicated.”
“…….”
I’d learned by now that the more I tried to understand his intentions, the more confused I became.
I didn’t want to leave any room in my heart for his actions to shake me, whatever his intent.
Once the quiet meal ended, Cade took me back to the Magic Tower.
A bedroom where, after tonight, I would never again need to sleep.
The thought that Cade would be the last guest in this space made it feel strange to be alone with him here.
Before the awkwardness could deepen further, I decided to usher him out.
“Tell the kitchen staff the last meal was delicious.”
At my subtle hint to leave, Cade let out a soft laugh.
“Looks like you’re planning to slip away quietly tomorrow.”
“I was never a welcome guest at the Magic Tower anyway. There’s no need for a grand farewell.”
“…….”
Lost in thought, Cade stood motionless before suddenly lifting his head.
“Vivian.”
His eyes were darker and deeper than in the forest, and I swallowed dryly without meaning to.
Why did he call my name like that, as if he wanted something, with eyes like those?
‘I really just want to leave this place without anything else happening.’
His resolute demeanor made it seem like he was about to do something, and it made me uneasy.
“I’m tired. I’d like to rest―.”
“You said you wanted to part ways ‘cleanly’ with me and that I shouldn’t complicate things.”
As I stepped back, he stepped forward and cut off my words, gently taking hold of my hand and lifting it.
“I want you to be confused.”
“……?”
Before I could even ask what kind of nonsense that was, Cade’s lips descended onto the back of my hand.
The kiss began light and ticklish, like falling petals, then grew warm and heavy as his lips pressed firmly against my skin before it ended.
Stunned by the sudden gesture, I stared at him blankly, then looked down at the back of my hand.
No mark was left, but the sensation of where his lips had touched remained vivid.
“……!”
I gasped, hiding my hand behind my back as if I’d been burned.
Cade finally smiled, looking satisfied.
“Farewell, Vivian. Until we meet again.”
Then, in a flash of white light, he vanished instantly.
I sank to the ground, hand pressed to my mouth to stifle what would have been a cry.
‘What? What just—crazy, was that crazy? Why in the world……?!’
My face burned so hot I thought it might combust, and my mind filled with warning bells and question marks.
The stone I’d been trying to avoid tumbled into the lake after all.
***
Early morning.
The moment dawn broke, I slipped quietly out of the Magic Tower, leaving only a note in my room.
It was earlier than I’d originally planned, which meant I didn’t encounter anyone on my way out.
A consequence of not having slept at all.
‘……What did I do wrong to deserve this?’
All night, I’d obsessed over Cade’s impulsive act, and my head throbbed for it.
By now, I resented the world itself.
Why did it have to introduce me to such a reckless man who kept confusing me to the very end……
I rubbed my tired eyes and boarded the carriage laden with my belongings.
It would take about four days by carriage to reach the Imperial Capital, so I thought I might finally have a chance to read deeply for a while.
If I could focus on the text, that is.
‘What was he thinking? What kind of person does that?’
I’d resolved not to try to understand Cade’s intentions, yet here I was, sleepless and resentful about it.
I’d spent the night debating whether I should march into his office and confront him.
I’d turned back at least four or five times—reaching the office door only to retreat.
The reason I never knocked was that I was afraid of what might happen if I faced Cade in that moment, something I wouldn’t be able to handle.
‘……I wanted to leave the Magic Tower without anything happening. Will I be able to pretend nothing did?’
I pressed my forehead and sighed, then shook my head.
At this rate, I’d be thinking about Cade all the way to the Imperial Capital.
‘Let me get some fresh air and clear my head.’
I drew back the curtain and opened the window, and a cold, biting morning sea breeze from Melgote poured in.
It was chilly enough to make my shoulders tremble, but my mind felt refreshed, and that suited me fine.
Then something flickered in my field of vision.
‘Hmm? What is that?’
Colorful petals were fluttering down from the sky.
I heard the carriage driver gasp in wonder from his seat—these were real flowers, not a illusion.
The slowly descending petals danced on the wind, swirling and sweeping like a curtain of an unfinished flower garden.
‘Wow. Beautiful.’

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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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