Chapter 224
“…Magic Tower master.”
Franz turned his head at the voice calling him.
At the entrance of the reception room, Arian was standing.
Arian was wearing light makeup as usual. However, such light makeup could not hide her dark circles and red, swollen eyes.
She must have had a lot on her mind during those three days, a time that could be considered both short and long.
Perhaps he should have listened to her story that day.
“It’s been a while. It’s nothing special, I just came because I wanted to talk.”
Arian silently took a step and sat across from Franz.
Her expression, serious yet dark at the same time, felt a bit awkward.
After all, she has always been smiling lately.
Soon, a steaming teacup was placed in front of her.
After the servant left, the two of them were left alone in the reception room.
“Could you tell me about what happened that day?”
Franz brought up the main point without bothering to delay it.
Arian picked up the teacup in front of her with slow movements.
She took a soundless sip of her tea, carefully set the teacup down, and met his eyes.
“It was around lunchtime. The Saintess came looking for you, Magic Tower master, saying she wanted to meet you. I told her to go back since you weren’t here, but the Saintess insisted she would wait until the end.”
Then she could have just told her to wait inside.
Franz thought so, but he didn’t bother saying it out loud. He just silently listened to her words.
“After that, we argued and our voices gradually got louder, and I said something I shouldn’t have to the Saintess. I mocked her by saying I kissed you, Magic Tower master.”
Was that really something worth mocking…?
He was incredibly bewildered, but given the atmosphere, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“After that, I started a physical fight with the angry Saintess, and it eventually escalated to the situation you saw, Magic Tower master.”
“I see.”
“I am truly sorry. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t said those words, it would have ended as a trivial argument as usual…”
Arian bowed her head.
Her weakly drooping shoulders held a faint tremble.
Don’t they say people become stingier with apologies and praise as they become adults? She must have agonized over this a lot and needed a lot of courage to say these words.
‘I’m just so awkward with this sort of thing…’
How many chances had he had in his life to have a sincere conversation with someone?
It was to the point where making an Artificial Mana Core would be much more comfortable.
Well, he had no choice but to answer sincerity with sincerity.
“Don’t worry about the Magic Tower master’s Office ending up like that. We can just buy the items again.”
Right, that was just a very trivial problem.
However…
“I would like it if you two got along, but if it’s too hard, you don’t have to force it. Just please don’t fight.”
It was better than their fighting, even if the Magic Tower master’s Office was smashed, no, even if the entire Magic Tower collapsed.
When he saw them sitting there in a complete mess, he didn’t show it, but his heart ached considerably.
“And don’t apologize to me, do it among yourselves.”
Tears rolled down Arian’s eyes as she silently listened.
Water droplets gathered at the tip of her chin, fell, and wet the back of her hand.
What on earth should he do with this fool?
With those feelings, Franz let out a sigh and stood up from his seat. Then he approached Arian and gently hugged her.
“Magic Tower master, I’m really sorry…”
“It’s okay. Don’t cry. Why is a grown woman crying?”
“I’m sorry for crying…”
Her body heaving every time she sniffled and her hand continuously wiping away tears, it was truly a pitiful sight.
They were the ones who fought, but knowing that he was in the middle of it, Franz couldn’t bring himself to feel at ease.
How much time had passed since then?
Arian’s tears gradually subsided and then stopped completely.
“Magic Tower master, do you remember when I acted cold and said mean things in the past…?”
Arian spoke quietly while being held in Franz’s arms.
“I remember. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t think I’ve apologized for that yet. I’m sorry, Magic Tower master.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t take it to heart anyway.”
Even though he got annoyed sometimes, he had never once thought she meant it.
Though he accepted it for now since she was apologizing.
Anyway, they had said everything they needed to, so there was no reason to stay any longer.
“Are you going to the Saintess now…?”
“I should.”
Arian opened and closed her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but then slowly shook her head.
What did she want to say?
Franz had that question, but he didn’t bother asking.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
Franz left the mansion, seen off by Arian.
The sky, which had been dyed with the light of the sunset, was already covered in indigo.
It wasn’t that late, so it probably didn’t matter much.
Snap-.
Franz snapped his fingers.
And so, he arrived in front of Saint Seraphia Cathedral.
When was the last time he came to meet Yusti-ah like this?
He had always just dropped by unexpectedly, so he couldn’t even remember anymore.
‘It’s quiet…’
Perhaps it was because it happened to be around dinnertime. There were only a few people sparsely offering prayers.
Franz, walking at a leisurely pace, passed through the back door of the Cathedral and was heading towards the living quarters.
“Franz…?”
Speak of the devil, as they say.
Right on time, Yusti-ah appeared before his eyes.
Yusti-ah, too, was not in good shape, just like Arian.
Her face was full of fatigue.
It was probably because she couldn’t take a break from the Cathedral’s work even while agonizing over things.
“Yusti-ah, are you busy by any chance?”
“I have time.”
“Then shall we talk for a bit?”
“All right.”
Franz walked alongside Yusti-ah.
They soon arrived at a reception room set up on one side of the Cathedral.
An empty space with no decorations, just chairs and a table.
An awkward air flowed between Franz and Yusti-ah as they sat facing each other.
“I came because I wanted to hear the story I couldn’t hear last time.”
“About what happened last time…”
Yusti-ah’s expression darkened even further.
A brief silence followed, and her mouth opened once again.
“I went to meet you that day too. But you weren’t there, and Miss Arian told me to go back. She said she didn’t know when you would return. I was foolish. I stubbornly said I would wait, acting as if the Magic Tower was my own living room.”
The story Yusti-ah told after that was the same as what he had heard from Arian.
I will wait and go back. After arguing over those two opinions, their voices grew louder.
And.
“The moment I heard she kissed… you, I lost my reason, even though I have no right to do so. At least Miss Arian made a promise similar to an engagement, but I… have nothing.”
I’m sorry, Franz.
Yusti-ah said so and politely bowed her head.
Franz was just at a loss.
Because the promise he made with Arian, similar to an engagement, was actually made without putting much meaning into it.
The kiss was also closer to something unilaterally inflicted upon him; his own will was nowhere to be found in it.
But that was ultimately nothing more than his own thought.
How they would interpret it was up to them to decide.
Anyway, sorting out the situation came first.
Clearing his thoughts, Franz looked at Yusti-ah.
She was wearing a sad expression, as if she had lost something precious.
“Yusti-ah, don’t worry about destroying the Magic Tower master’s Office. I’m fine.”
“But…”
“…I understand.”
Yusti-ah merely answered in a calm voice.
If she had just cried openly like Arian, he could have at least comforted her.
But he couldn’t exactly make her cry on purpose, so he was truly at a loss.
“Is the conversation over then…?”
“For now, yes, but…”
Franz trailed off and needlessly scratched his head.
He felt somewhat frustrated. He didn’t feel relieved at all.
“Then I should get going. You need to hurry and rest too.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Franz stood up. Together with Yusti-ah, who had also risen, he headed toward the entrance of the reception room.
Soon, Yusti-ah’s hand reached for the doorknob of the firmly closed door.
“Yusti-ah, wait a moment.”
“Yes…?”
Yusti-ah questioned him and turned her head to look at Franz.
At the same time, something touched Yusti-ah’s forehead and then pulled away.
“Well, anyway, yeah. See you next time.”
Franz gave a one-sided farewell and brushed past Yusti-ah, exiting the reception room.
And so, left alone, Yusti-ah stared blankly into the air and brought her hand to her forehead.
The soft sensation of something still remained vivid.
“Idiot… If you were going to do it, you should have done it on the lips…”
A faint smile spread across Yusti-ah’s lips.
* * *
Time passed, and it was the next day.
Around the time everyone finished their work and was leaving for the day, Arian entered the Magic Tower Lord’s Office.
“Magic Tower master, I’m sorry, but could I ask you a favor?”
“What favor?”
“Could you take me to Saint Seraphia Cathedral?”
There was no need to hear the reason; it was obviously to have a conversation with Yusti-ah.
Franz hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was really right to let the two of them meet right now.
But that was only for a moment.
“All right, let’s go.”
He decided to trust them and leave it to them.