On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 99

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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 99
The 2nd Prince, who was originally designated to become Grand Duke of Melgote, had passed away, and the 3rd Princess who was with him had lost her memory?
Moreover, the 3rd Princess had oddly been searching for the Grand Duke ever since that day. Even without her memories, couldn’t she be sensing something unconsciously?
Lost in such suspicious circumstances, I soon swallowed a sigh.
‘……But suspicion is nothing but circumstantial evidence anyway.’
In the first place, the Grand Duke’s objective had never been a title—it was the position of Tower Master.
Since I myself was aware that I’d lost objectivity about her, I tried not to judge hastily.
I said nothing revealing to Simona and smoothly changed the subject.
“How is life as a Dignitary attending the 3rd Princess?”
“Not bad. I’ve been running around managing precious connections and flattering people, so it’s getting tedious now. But I think I’ll be able to meet other Dignitaries at the Engagement Ceremony party and other occasions.”
I suddenly wondered where Simona’s networking ambitions ended. If it were her, she seemed capable of even meeting the monarchs of the Eastern Continent.
“Still, it’s nice to have many chances to see the Grand Duke when I’m with the 3rd Princess.”
“……Have you become much closer to the Grand Duke?”
“I’m not sure either. He’s kind when we meet, but it seems to be only because I’m the 3rd Princess’s friend. He doesn’t seem particularly curious about me.”
Inwardly anxious, I quietly sighed in relief and offered her comfort.
“It must be worrying for you—taking a carriage and traveling so far after so long, and Melgote is empty. But the Grand Duke and the Tower Master are both here.”
“That’s true. He seems tired whenever I see him, perhaps from meeting so many guests.”
“Really? Is something wrong with him?”
“Not exactly, but I heard that no one has seen the Grand Duke use Magic lately.”
“Ah…….”
I covered my face with my hand, pretending to tidy my hair so my relieved expression wouldn’t show.
It was just casual talk, but luckily I’d overheard information that let me piece together the Grand Duke’s situation.
If no one had seen him use Magic, it seemed he hadn’t yet captured a Crystal Whale from anywhere.
I couldn’t know how many crystals he’d received as gifts from the Dignitaries, so I couldn’t let my guard down completely, but at least I felt a weight lift.
“Sigh. If the 3rd Princess visited the Tower Master often, she’d stick to his side and watch. But she doesn’t even go to the Separate Palace.”
“Why the Separate Palace? They’re about to become engaged…….”
No one was poking at my mouth, yet somehow saying that single phrase felt awkward and difficult.
“Even if the Princess is known to be free-spirited among the Imperial Family, she’s still of royal blood. She knows that showing herself with a man she’s not formally engaged to yet would only invite gossip from the Dignitaries.”
“That could be true.”
Thanks to foreign guests coming and going from the Imperial Palace, it seemed I’d be spared the blood-pressure-raising scenes until after the Engagement Ceremony.
Thinking that way, I suddenly felt heat rise to my face, wondering what I was even worried about.
‘……Whether those two stick together or not, what does it have to do with me?’
I rubbed my face, muttering that it was all because I’d seen Cade’s Engagement Ceremony Formal Attire and Engagement Ring.
After such restless, quiet days, the Engagement Ceremony of the 3rd Princess and the Tower Master drew near—just one day away.
***
‘In the end, I haven’t been able to talk about it properly since then.’
All the way home in the carriage, my mind was filled with worries.
The Engagement Ceremony was tomorrow, and I was troubled both about whether I could handle the Magical Beasts as safely as I wanted and by the suspicious story about the Grand Duke that Simona had told me.
I tried to convince myself I was being overly sensitive and redirect my attention, but the thoughts kept returning, so I tentatively mentioned it to Cade as well.
When I did…….
“I’ll have the Wizards look into it. If I’m hearing it right, it does seem suspicious, and the Grand Duke is certainly capable of it.”
“Do you think the 3rd Princess was subjected to something like Hypnosis? If it really was the Grand Duke’s doing, I feel so sorry for the Princess.”
“The 3rd Princess…… Well. That’s outside my interest. If it bothers you, I can have them look into that too.”
“……It feels like I’m just using the Wizards for nothing.”
Though I gave a conscientious answer, my expression and tone were a perfect example of ‘not interested.’
And yet he spoke of discussing it more after the Engagement Ceremony—why did postponing the conversation sound so solemn? I couldn’t possibly refuse.
‘Besides, it’s odd that he said to talk to Ben if a problem comes up. Is he nervous about the Engagement Ceremony too?’
Cade, nervous? The image was so incongruous that I let out a hollow laugh, just as the carriage arrived at the Solling Residence.
“Let’s get down, Tris.”
[Ding!]
The moment Tris recovered his body, he abandoned Cade and followed me around again.
I wondered if that was alright, but Cade seemed to take it so much for granted that there was nothing I could say.
“Miss! Miss!”
The moment I opened the gate, Tali came running out as if she’d been waiting.
“I’m home, Tali. Nothing happened, right?”
“Something did!”
“Something happened?”
I stopped and turned back as Tali pulled me toward the house, nodding eagerly.
“A suspicious man came looking for you, saying he was your guest.”
“That mercenary from before?”
“No. A man I’d never seen before, and I told him firmly that you wouldn’t be receiving guests for a while, but then—kyaaaah!”
Mid-way through recounting her achievement with pride, the moment Tali yanked open the door leading deeper into the lobby, she let out a sharp shriek.
A man in a Robe was standing by the window.
“Y-you! How did you get in here?!”
“…….”
The man silently nodded in greeting toward me.
I stopped Tali, who was acting as though she’d summon the guards any moment.
“Tali. He’s my guest.”
“What? But you said the same thing when that mercenary came last time, didn’t you?”
“This time he really is my guest. Look—Tris is happy to see him too. It’s fine, so you can go. I’ll be in the Reception Room.”
Tali eyed the visitor suspiciously, but when she saw Tris wagging his tail as I said, she took a step back.
“Miss. If you need anything at all, just ring for me.”
“I’ll do that.”
I left Tali, who still seemed reluctant to leave, and approached the guest.
This time, it was truly a welcome visitor I hadn’t seen in a long while.
“Ben. What brings you all the way here?”
“Inspector. We need to talk.”
His expression looked grave, so I lowered my voice and led him into the Reception Room.
“Does the Tower Master know you’re here?”
“He doesn’t.”
“……I see. This way, please.”
The moment I closed the Reception Room door, Ben set up Sound-Blocking Magic firmly around us.
***
The next day.
The Imperial Palace was festive.
The Civil Servants had dark circles under their eyes from overwork, yet while walking through the Imperial Palace, they had to pretend it was a celebration and smile.
It was a day when even complaining was forbidden, since the Imperial Family’s Dignitaries could appear from anywhere.
I moved about the Central Banquet Hall, checking the Magical Beast cages arranged according to plan.
I’d already checked five times, but somehow I couldn’t sit still.
Rene seemed anxious too—abandoning her work, she came over and lifted the cloth covering the Magical Beast cages.
“Vivian. Are you really sure everything’s alright?”
“Yes. The movement patterns are perfect, and the Magical Beasts are all healthy. I won’t do anything to hurt them.”
“That’s not what I mean…….”
Rene hesitated before continuing.
“It’s just that you don’t look well, even though the work is going smoothly.”
“Ah.”
It seemed my anxious feelings hadn’t been hidden, and I’d made Rene anxious too.
There was so much to worry about, and on top of that, what Ben had told me yesterday…….
“It’s going too smoothly. Usually at a big event like this, something always goes wrong, but this time it’s strangely…….”
I lifted the tall cloth slightly and peeked inside.
Sitting quietly in the large cage was a pure white winged Magical Beast that had been on display in the Rose Palace gardens.
I’d persuaded the 3rd Princess to include it in the list of Magical Beasts to showcase at the Engagement Ceremony.
‘I can’t give it complete freedom, but at least for a moment, I can show it a sky without bars.’
As I lingered over the cage with a pitying heart, Rene let out a small scream.
“Don’t! Don’t say things like that—you’ll invite bad luck! It’s forbidden to say “peaceful” when there’s peace!”
“Ah, right. We can’t invite bad luck.”
Though I felt like laughing thanks to Rene, I answered with deliberate solemnity.
In truth, my anxiety hadn’t fully dissipated, but since everything had gone smoothly so far, I decided to focus on the task at hand.
Ding—dong. Ding—dong.
Soon the clear sound of bells rang out, and guests entered the banquet hall and took their seats.
It was time for the Engagement Ceremony to begin.

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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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