Chapter 11 Part 3

The two knights kept their promise and finished moving all the luggage in just two trips. There were more bundles than I could count, and if it had been me, I would have needed to make at least a dozen trips back and forth. Watching them stack the bags like a mountain, I marveled at their efficiency, and before I knew it, the task was done. Once again, I was reminded that being a knight was no small feat.

Ah, I was full. Uncomfortably so. I had eaten so much at dinner that my stomach felt heavy. Layla, concerned that I wasn’t eating enough, had rallied the children, who were eager to pile food onto my plate. Unable to refuse their heartfelt gestures, I had ended up eating about twice as much as usual. If I got on the carriage like this, I was sure I’d feel nauseous.

Leaving the children to their games, I decided to take a short walk to settle my stomach. I didn’t venture far, just circled the yard a few times.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

I remembered a friend once telling me that back on Earth, light pollution from neon signs and street lights made it hard to see the stars. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it. But now, standing in a world free from any light pollution, I finally understood. The stars filled the sky, their brilliance overwhelming. It felt like being dwarfed by nature itself, a sense so awe-inspiring that I couldn’t help but let out a breathless exclamation.

“Good evening, my lady.”

The voice broke the stillness, startling me. I spun around, scanning my surroundings. Who was it? The source of the voice sat atop the monkey bars, shrouded in shadow. The darkness obscured his features, making it impossible to identify him. One thing was certain, though: no one in Tornado had a voice quite like his.

“…Who are you?”

“He watched me as I cautiously backed away, showing my wariness. Or at least, I assumed he was watching—I could only guess his face was turned toward me, as the moon was hidden behind clouds.

“No need to be so tense. I’m not here to do anything bad.”

“And why should I believe that?”

Not knowing who he was, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. I quickly calculated whether my running speed could outmatch his. Thankfully, I wasn’t wearing heels today.

“Hmm. That’s a good attitude, though—don’t trust strangers so easily.”

“…”

“I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Carib, the Master of the Tower.”

Carib? The Master of the Tower? I took a closer look at him, more cautiously this time. Just then, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting light on him. The moonlight illuminated his head, revealing water-colored hair swaying neatly at his shoulders. Though the shadow of his eyelashes concealed the color of his eyes, the hair color matched the description of Karib I had heard before.

“The Master of the Tower…?”

As if to prove his claim, he vanished in an instant, reappearing on the wooden swing nearby. A faint shimmer of mana lingered in the air, glowing softly around him.

“…Are you here to take the children?”

My voice wavered slightly despite my best efforts to keep it steady.

As soon as I confirmed he was indeed the Master of the Tower, my wariness heightened even more. My heart began to race. This was supposed to be the period where he was wholly focused on Daisy Queenie. I had assumed he wouldn’t have the attention to spare for anything else, so why was he here? And how did he know there were children in this place?

“What? Haha!”

Contrary to my spiraling thoughts, he burst into laughter as if watching a startled kitten. His expression, tinged with mischief, made it clear he thought my words were a joke.

“No way. That’s quite an amusing idea you’ve got there.”

“If the Master of the Tower suddenly shows up in a place like this, anyone would think the same.”

“Hm, I suppose so. Well, the truth is, I sensed mana and decided to take a look.”

“You…Mana?  sensed the children’s mana?“

“That’s right. After all, I am the Master of the Tower.”

He put subtle emphasis on the title Master of the Tower. It didn’t feel like pride but rather as if he found the title burdensome. Was that just my imagination?

“Oh, by the way, I’m also quite interested in the necklace you’re wearing. It’s a piece from Carlyle, isn’t it? I’ve wanted to retrieve it for the Tower, but I couldn’t afford it.”

“…Afford it?”

“It was an unexpected statement. Was the Master of the Tower really short on money? In the novel, the Tower was always depicted as a grand and magnificent place. I had vaguely assumed it was a treasure trove filled with jewels. …Looking back now, I realized how materialistic that thought was—equating grandeur and beauty to wealth.

“Of course. If I had money, I wouldn’t have let children blessed with mana wander the streets like that.”

“…”

“I apologize for suddenly showing up and startling you. I sensed a gathering of children with mana and worried they might be in the hands of a trafficking ring or something similar. That’s why I came to check.”

There was genuine sincerity in his voice and tone. From his unwavering authenticity, I could sense his concern, his worry, and a faint trace of fear. I shook my head firmly.

“This isn’t a place where children are trafficked.”

“Of course not. Children wouldn’t be smiling in a place like that. This is a space solely for the children, isn’t it? From the structures here to the atmosphere itself.”

He swung his legs like a child, the swing creaking softly with each motion.

Gradually, the thought that he might not be a bad person gained ground in my mind. So far, he hadn’t tried to force me into anything. His gentle tone and demeanor held no trace of menace. And above all, he had no reason to explain himself to me. That lengthy explanation was purely an act of kindness on his part.

“You’re doing something I couldn’t, my lady. That’s impressive.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“No, I’m not. It’s rare to find nobles who don’t harbor resentment toward mana.”

“…”

“Do you know that nobles are the ones who interpret history in the narrowest way? The more they’re consumed by their sense of entitlement, the more afraid they are of breaking away from it. That’s why their perspectives haven’t changed—for 200 years now.”

“If others heard you say that, they’d be wary of you.”

“I know, of course. But you won’t, will you?”

There was a gentle warmth in his tone. Even without seeing his face, I could sense the goodwill behind his words.

“You’re the first person who didn’t shun those children, but instead created a home for them like this.”

“…”

“I was one of those kids too. The moment it was known I was chosen by mana, I was cast out onto the streets.”

“But you’re… the Master of the Tower?”

‘The only reason I’m sitting here now is because the previous Tower Master took me in. It was pure luck that I happened to be on the street he passed by that day.

His gaze moved past the swing I was sitting on, drifting to the seesaw, the monkey bars, and finally the sand. The feeling of my efforts for the children being observed by the Master of the Tower felt… odd. Perhaps it was because I’d never imagined meeting someone like him here.

“Just not rejecting mana is already remarkable, I thought. I still think so now, but…”

A faint trace of pain crossed his face. …Why was he making such an expression? Curiosity sparked, but I didn’t voice it aloud. Bringing attention to it felt like it would shatter the light atmosphere between us.

“Hmm, have I been talking too much about myself?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Thank you for taking care of the children.”

“…I don’t need your gratitude.”

I immediately drew a line. Establishing the orphanage had been about fulfilling my unachieved dreams, not about receiving thanks from him. While I couldn’t stop him from reflecting on his past as he looked at the children, I couldn’t let him subtly establish a connection to them either. Especially when I was already under the scrutiny of the imperial palace; raising more suspicion would only invite trouble.

“Hmm, that’s a bit too harsh, don’t you think?”

“It wasn’t my intention to embarrass you. But, you know, there were a lot of restrictions when setting this place up.”

“Ah, well, I can see that.”

A light laugh passed between us. His smiling eyes seemed to brighten the moment as the moonlight slowly receded from his face. I gazed at his silhouette in the dim light.

“Well, now that my curiosity’s been satisfied, I should probably head back.”

The sound of sand and grass being crushed underfoot echoed. The soft, rustling noise grew louder as he approached. Just as his presence felt almost too close, his cold fingers gently grasped my hand, opening it. The icy touch made my hand instinctively flinch, but he firmly placed something in my palm. A faint weight.

I rubbed it lightly, realizing it was a ring.

“This is a gift.”

“I have no reason to accept something like this.”

“Don’t be so quick to refuse. It’s nothing extravagant.”

Call me when you feel like it, and I’ll come—just once.

He left behind those bombshell words before disappearing. It was as though he had never been there, his exit perfect and seamless. If not for the faint glow lingering in the air and the ring in my hand, I might have thought it was all a dream—or a figment of my imagination.

As the moonlight once again illuminated the ground, I looked up. The sky was now completely clear, not a single cloud in sight. It felt as though the endless darkness from just moments ago had been a lie.

From afar, I could hear the voices of the escort knights calling for me, but I felt no urge to respond. I stood there in a daze, clutching the ring in my hand. It was proof that the encounter just moments ago had not been a dream.