Chapter 114
Entering the room, Franz still thought it was a bit early, but he changed his clothes according to Arian’s words. He had planned to change later anyway, so if moving the time up a bit could quell Arian’s complaints, it was a cheap price to pay.
The clothes Franz chose were, naturally, the ones Arian had picked out for him some time ago. Or rather, it was more accurate to say they were the only ones he had; most of the clothes in his closet were unsuited for formal occasions.
'Should I buy some more clothes…?'
Until now, he had been acting as the Magic Tower Master, so he hadn’t particularly needed formal attire. No one would say anything about a Mage wearing Mage-like clothes. Besides, he had always been far removed from bustling gatherings like banquets.
But the situation was a little different from then on. He was the Magic Tower Master, but simultaneously a Duke. With more eyes on him, he had to pay attention to his attire.
'I should ask Arian later.'
Arian, the Young Lady of a ducal family, would surely know well.
What was the point of having good connections? It was considered good because it helped in situations like this.
Franz, standing in front of the mirror, was thinking this and adjusting his attire.
Suddenly, Arian’s voice rang out from outside the door.
“Magic Tower Master, are you taking a long time?”
He had been planning to go out anyway, but how long had it been since he entered the room for her to be rushing him already?
Franz let out a short inward sigh and took a step outside.
Soon, as Franz stepped out, Arian and Hera slowly looked him up and down and spoke.
“It really suits you well.”
“My thoughts are the same as Arian’s.”
What’s gotten into them?
Franz was a bit flustered by the sudden praise. But praise was praise, after all. Naturally, he didn’t dislike it.
Anyway, what kind of preparation were they offering to help with? If they were telling him to change clothes this urgently, it surely wouldn’t be an ordinary matter.
While Franz was harboring such doubts, Arian spoke.
“But that’s exactly it. It suits you well. It doesn’t make you feel like the main character of the banquet.”
Wasn’t just that much enough? There was no need to go out of his way to become the main character of the banquet and draw attention.
Franz inwardly hoped so, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have been conveyed.
“Try sitting here. I’ll style you perfectly.”
“It’s fine. Just like this is enough.”
When Franz refused, a long sigh escaped Arian’s lips. Following that, with her arms crossed, she explained while making a click-clack sound with her heels.
“Magic Tower Master, the world of nobles is colder than you think. If you’re looked down upon, you immediately become prey. Do you understand? Considering you’ve just become a Duke this time, right? They’ll definitely be going crazy trying to tear you apart from all sides.”
If they tried to tear him apart, couldn’t he just rip them to shreds? Well, he could, with this and that magic.
Such a thought popped into Franz’s head, but he didn’t bother voicing it. If he said something like that now, Arian’s lecture would likely grow longer.
“Anyway, it’s better to make a solid first impression.”
“Is that so…?”
Franz was somewhat reluctant, but he decided to trust Arian for now. He might know magic, but when it came to high society, she was the expert. He figured there had to be a reason for her to insist so actively.
As Franz took a seat on the sofa, Arian stood behind him.
“Then stay still.”
As Arian said this, various tools were already in her hands: hair ties, hairpins, combs - tools related to grooming.
Checking them out of the corner of his eye, Franz realized something had gone wrong, but it was already too late.
“Hera, do you want to join in?”
“Huh? Is it okay if I join?”
“Of course. If not at a time like this, when else would you repay the Magic Tower Master?”
“If that’s the case, well…”
Hera, who approached hesitantly, and Arian began to fiddle with Franz’s hair.
The only fortunate thing was that they didn’t have scissors.
Anyway, since when did these two get along so well? To Franz, it was a truly ironic turn of events.
* * *
While Franz was suffering at the hands of those two on one side, Yustia was engrossed in something inside a running carriage.
'Would this much be enough for this part…?'
A thick book was held in Yustia’s hands. It was none other than the holy book containing the doctrines of the Goddess Church.
She was organizing it once more in advance before teaching it to Franz, who had become a Saint.
She had taken on a role somewhat similar to a teacher, and if she made a mistake, she would lose standing.
Furthermore, since she had promised to teach Franz simply, she needed to extract the important parts.
'It would be good if he learned it in detail, but…'
Weren’t doctrines the foundation that made up a religion? Honestly speaking, learning them simply was wrong to begin with. Followers didn’t come out to the Cathedral every day to receive teachings for nothing. They did so because it was that important.
However, Franz’s case was a bit special, so she had no choice but to tolerate it. He hadn’t become a Saint because he wanted to, so if he were forced to memorize a thick holy book on top of that, anyone would first feel an aversion to it.
If she were to hold onto any hope, it was just that he might want to receive teachings on his own if he gained interest while learning the doctrines this time.
'Come to think of it, I didn’t want it either.'
Feeling a sudden sense of unfairness, Yustia pouted her lips and closed the holy book.
Turning her head to look out the window, she saw a high-soaring tower not far away. Needless to say, it was the Magic Tower where Franz was.
As she looked at it like this, it really did soar high. Thinking that she had been all the way to that peak made her feel a bit amazed.
'Anyway, it won’t look weird, right…?'
Yustia needlessly examined the hem of her skirt this way and that. As she did, the hem of the pure white dress fluttered lightly.
Perhaps because it was her first time wearing such clothes, she felt nothing but anxiety. She was worried that it might not look good in other people’s eyes.
Especially Franz, or the Magic Tower Master, or the Saint.
Continuing her worries like that, Yustia soon let out a short sigh.
'I’m being stupid…'
Who was this one man that she was caring so much for? In the first place, there was no reason for her to walk on eggshells around him. She had just worn the clothes she wanted to wear, after all.
Well, it would be nice if he looked upon it favorably.
…And if not, whatever.
How much time had passed while Yustia was lost in her thoughts? The carriage gradually began to slow down, and before long, it came to a complete stop.
Soon after, Yustia stepped out of the carriage. Before her eyes was a large and high tower, which was, naturally, the Magic Tower.
At first, it had just been fascinating, but perhaps because she had come here so often lately, it felt a bit familiar.
At that moment, the Paladin who had accompanied her spoke.
“Saintess, will you really be alright?”
In truth, the Paladins were only accompanying her up to this point, and from here on out, Yustia planned to move alone. Asking Franz to teleport them one by one with magic would be a nuisance to him, and bringing knights to a banquet hosted by the Imperial Family was not good manners.
So from his perspective, he couldn’t help but be worried. He was sending the Saintess out alone without an escort, after all.
However, Yustia’s decision did not change.
“It is fine. I will be moving together with the Saint from now on anyway.”
“But there is always a 'what if.' What if a group of Cultists were to attack…”
“Then it will be a day when countless sinners atone.”
She couldn’t imagine Franz, of all people, falling to a mere Cultist attack. Rather, the Cultists would be massacred.
Did Yustia’s firmness get through to him? The Paladin seemed to have given up now.
“…Understood. Then I will be heading back.”
“Yes, thank you for your service.”
With that greeting, the Paladin drove the carriage away.
Left alone, Yustia did not delay and took brisk steps toward the Magic Tower.
Before long, Arian came down to the first floor of the Magic Tower to bring Yustia up.
Yustia, who had inwardly hoped Franz would come, felt a bit disappointed, but she didn’t bother voicing it. There was no point in needlessly fighting with Arian. That was especially true in the Magic Tower, even if it might be different elsewhere.
While walking down the corridor leading to the Magic Tower Master’s office, Yustia spoke.
“Did something good happen?”
She asked because when she first faced Arian today, she had been smiling as if in a good mood.
At that, Arian seemed to ponder for a moment, then soon answered with a smile.
“Yes, I suppose so. Something incredibly joyful happened. The Saintess will probably find out soon too.”
Find out soon? What in the world did that mean?
Yustia had such a question, but fortunately, she was able to get the answer not long after. The scene she faced when the door to the Magic Tower Master’s office opened was that answer.
“Magic Tower Master, I brought the Saintess.”
Arian acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, but Yustia simply couldn’t do the same.
It was because Franz was right in front of her eyes, his hair tied up like a sprout.
“Franz, what in the world is going on…?”
At Yustia’s question, Franz’s gaze naturally turned toward her. Following that, he let out a long sigh and answered.
“Do you want to sit down first?”
He didn’t show it, but Franz was incredibly glad to see Yustia.
He would finally be able to escape from this prank.