Louis was the least tolerable of her cousins. But in the Kingdom of Magicos, only men could inherit titles, and as she was unconscious and unmarried, it was inevitable.

But then… 

Lariette asked quickly.

“Did that scoundrel Louis throw me out of the Siloe family estate?”

The tower master froze for a moment, seemingly surprised by her outburst. 

‘Did I overreact?’

Lariette cleared her throat awkwardly.

“I’m sorry for shouting.” 

“No, it’s fine. You have every right to be angry.” 

The Tower Master continued calmly.

“To be precise, he didn’t kick you out. Instead… he intended to marry you off to an older baron while you were still in that state.”

“What?!” 

Lariette let out an incredulous, bitter laugh. 

‘That’s even worse than trying to throw me out.’

Anger surged through her, bubbling uncontrollably.

For some reason, she felt far more emotional about this than when she’d first heard of her parents’ death. Instead of accepting it with a detached calm, as if it were someone else’s story, she was genuinely angry – this was personal. 

‘This… feels more like me.’

As her anger flared, the strange unease she’d felt before finally disappeared completely. 

The Tower Master continued his explanation. 

“I happened to hear about the situation and took you away from Baron Louis.”

“Why?” 

“Because you’re Faelin’s friend.”

“Ah…” 

Lariette made a sound of embarrassment. Princess Faelin. Despite their vast difference in status, they had become friends after a chance meeting during the Founding Festival. 

But she had never expected the Tower Master to know of their friendship. In her memory, the Tower Master and Princess Faelin didn’t seem particularly close. 

‘Could it be that Princess Faelin learned of my situation and asked the Tower Master to intervene?’ 

Just then, as if reading her thoughts like a fortune teller, the Tower Master spoke. 

“Faelin didn’t ask me to. I don’t see her often, but every time I do, she talks about you. That’s why I remembered you.”

As Lariette nodded slowly, the Tower Master gave a faint, bittersweet smile.

“Anyway, that’s why I took you in and treated you myself. After all, you didn’t exactly have a good relationship with…” 

He trailed off, but the implication was clear. 

“Anyway, that’s why I brought you here and treated you myself. I figured you wouldn’t want to stay at the Baron’s under a cousin you don’t get along with, especially now that he’s the head. Besides, I wanted to do something for Faelin. She’s been badly injured.”

“Princess Faelyn… injured? I thought she was in her villa… Oh, was she injured while I was unconscious?” 

“No, it happened before that. She had a riding accident. The story about her staying at the villa was a cover-up by the royal family to hide her injuries. At the moment she’s also here in the Mage Tower, being treated by me. But unlike you, she hasn’t regained consciousness yet.” 

“I see…” 

A heavy shadow fell over Lariette’s face. Princess Faelin still hadn’t regained consciousness. She had been injured before Lariette’s own accident, and yet…

She was deeply saddened. Princess Faelin had been such a good friend to her. 

‘I hope she recovers soon.’ 

Lariette lowered her eyes and said a sincere prayer in her heart. 

Then she turned her attention back to her own reality. Her parents were gone, the Baron had been taken over by her insufferable cousin Louis, and though she had survived thanks to the Tower Master’s kindness, she had nowhere to go. 

Much as she appreciated the Tower Master’s help, she couldn’t bring herself to impose on him now that she was awake. 

Lariette folded her hands neatly and spoke to the Tower Master.

“Master, thank you for rescuing me. I’ll always pray for Princess Faelin’s speedy recovery. This may be a shameless request, but… could you lend me enough money to return to the Kingdom of Magicos?”

“You want to go back to the Kingdom of Magicos?” 

“Yes? Well… shouldn’t I?” 

At the Tower Master’s question, Lariette tilted her head and asked back.

“Do you have a place to go back to when you return?”

“…”

The Tower Master looked at her for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.

“Stay here. In the Mage Tower. I’ve already prepared a room for you.”

“But I’m not a mage…” 

Her voice trailed off, uncertainty clouding her tone. 

“It doesn’t matter. Not everyone here is a mage. You can do simple clerical work or learn the skill of extracting mana from mana stones. There are many jobs you can do. So take some time to relax and think about what you’d like to do.

“Can I really… stay here?” 

“Of course. But in return, I’d like you to visit Faelin from time to time. Talk to her, tell her stories. It might help her wake up sooner.” 

“Absolutely! Thank you, thank you, Master!” 

Lariette beamed and bowed her head deeply. 

She had been so worried about having nowhere to go, and now she had a place to stay – here in the Mage Tower. 

Not only that, but the Tower Master had even offered to teach her skills so that she could support herself.

It was like a dream come true.

To be honest, returning to the Kingdom of Magicos had felt overwhelming and uncertain. She didn’t know what she would do if she went back. 

Lariette was truly happy. So much so that she did not notice anything. 

For a fleeting moment, a deep sense of guilt shadowed the Tower Master’s face. 

But when Lariette looked up, he was smiling. 

“I was worried it might be too much for you, but it looks like you’re doing well.” 

“Yes, and it’s all thanks to you, Master.”

Lariette replied softly, her own smile lighting up her face. Then she let out a low hum, a hesitant sound. 

“What is it?” 

Lariette hesitated, glancing sideways, unsure if she should say what was on her mind. 

The Tower Master, sensing her reluctance, gently encouraged her.

“It’s all right. If something’s bothering you, just say it. Be honest.” 

Lariette looked away from him slightly as she spoke. 

“Ah, it’s really nothing… But I’ve noticed a smell, like geraniums, coming from over there… So I thought there might be geraniums in there… I’m sorry, it’s a bit random of me to say that.”

Lariette trailed off, feeling awkward, and let out a small, self-conscious laugh as she turned her gaze back to the Tower Master. 

But his expression was strange. 

He looked at her with a startled, almost bewildered expression, before exchanging a serious look with the red-haired man nearby. 

The atmosphere between them had suddenly become tense, unnerving. 

“Did I say something wrong…?”

Lariette asked hesitantly, backing away slightly. 

The Tower Master shook his head quickly. 

“No. It’s just… surprising.” 

“Surprising?”

The Tower Master didn’t answer her question right away. Instead, he turned and walked to the cupboard she had pointed to. Opening it, he took out a silver tray and carried it back. 

As he approached, the scent – reminiscent of geraniums, fresh yet deep – grew stronger. 

As the Tower Master placed the silver tray on the bed, Lariette immediately recognised the source of the scent. 

It came from the mana stones arranged on the tray. 

Each stone emitted a similar scent, though the depth and intensity varied slightly. 

‘But… do mana stones normally have a scent?’

Her curiosity was quickly answered by the Tower Master. 

“The scent you noticed – it is the scent of mana. More specifically, the mana inside these stones.” 

“The smell of mana?” 

‘Is this… even a thing?’ 

Lariette looked at him, confused. 

Lariette didn’t know much about magic. The Tower Master picked up one of the mana stones and began to explain.

“Mana has a distinctive smell, similar to geranium herbs. In fact, most people who aren’t mages don’t even know about this smell. Mana stones don’t give off the scent in their solid state – it only comes out when the stones are melted to extract the mana.”

Lariette’s gaze shifted to the solid mana stone he was holding.

‘But this stone doesn’t look melted at all

“But… this mana stone doesn’t seem to be melted…” 

“You’re right. It hasn’t been melted. These mana stones are from an ancient dungeon I explored, so I’ve kept them separate in their raw form.”

“Gasp. Then they must be really important, right?” 

“They are. Their value? Enough to buy an entire royal palace.” 

With this incredible statement, the Tower Master extended the mana stone towards Lariette.

“Ah!”

Lariette jumped in surprise and raised both hands in alarm.

She was afraid that her hands would accidentally touch the mana stone.

Hadn’t he just said that the stone was worth as much as a royal palace?

She had to avoid it at all costs.

She couldn’t risk even touching it.

Especially now, when she didn’t have a penny to her name.

But the Tower Master brought the mana stone even closer to her.

“Master… if you do that, this precious mana stone might touch my hand…” 

Her eyes silently begged the Tower Master to take the mana stone from her. But as if it were no big deal, he calmly placed the stone in her hands. 

Finally, the mana stone touched her hands. 

Lariette froze like a statue, her body stiff with tension. 

The Tower Master spoke calmly,

“There is no need to be so nervous. Ordinary people can’t break mana stones – they’re harder than diamonds.” 

“Oh…” 

Only then did Lariette’s body relax. 

The Tower Master asked her.

“And now? Does the smell seem stronger?” 

“Pardon? Oh! Yes. Actually, the scent has become stronger since you took out the mana stones earlier. But what’s fascinating is that although it’s the same scent, each mana stone has a slightly different depth to it.” 

“Different? How so? No, wait – can you arrange them in order of scent strength?” 

The Tower Master’s voice came quickly, and for the first time he sounded a little rushed, as if he’d just made an exciting discovery. 

Beside him, the red-haired man, looking very different now, watched them with an intense, almost heavy gaze. 

‘It feels like something… important is happening… but it doesn’t seem to be bad?’

Following the Tower Master’s instructions, Lariette placed the four mana stones on the silver tray in order of scent strength.

“The one on the right has the strongest scent. And then… the others decrease in intensity, one after the other.”

The difference was subtle, but she could sense it.

Lariette added this quietly.

For a moment there was silence in the room. The Tower Master and the red-haired man said nothing, their eyes fixed on the arrangement of mana stones Lariette had just placed.