Chapter 13

‘I’ll apologize for teasing him that day, and plainly congratulate him on his wedding. If he feels better, maybe he’ll tell me who the young lady is? Then I can ask what kind of gift he’ll need?’

Even if the mysterious young lady didn’t like his promiscuous childhood friend, as the lord he’d served for years, she could give him a nice retirement gift.

Thinking so, Avgenia sipped her tea and watched Alexei. He, too, seemed to be looking at her, but quickly turned his head away.

‘He doesn’t even want to make eye contact…?’

That was annoying, but at least it let her study his face freely. The brow at the top of his straight forehead, the long nose below, the profile like a carved statue—all were sunk in deep worry.

Yes. Not tired, but worried…

With the trip unexpectedly extended, he’d go even longer without seeing his beloved, and being stuck with the boss he was trying to escape from must also be frustrating.

But did he have to show it so plainly?

If so, he could at least make the tea carelessly.

All these mixed feelings made her annoyed again, but Avgenia calmed herself.

No. This is a good opportunity.

So let’s think only of good things.

Not as a boss who makes s*xual jokes, but as childhood friends who spent warm days together, she’d wrap things up.

‘Later, maybe we could have a private tea time and talk.’

But things weren’t so simple.

“I hope you had a peaceful night. You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you?”

As Avgenia steeled herself, picturing a beautiful reconciliation with Alexei, the Mage Tower Master appeared after his meeting, wearing his usual charming smile and apologizing again.

Still, he didn’t spare a glance for Alexei.

“I’m truly sorry. If you give us a week, the teleportation circle in the small tower should be fully repaired.”

“Then, what about the schedule?”

“I’ll stay at the tower, but both the Treasurer and the Administrator are earth mages, so they’ve been sent out. We’ll only be able to hold meetings after they return…”

The Master’s eyebrows drooped dramatically. Not knowing Alexei found that satisfying, Avgenia asked again.

“So today’s conference will be held at least a week later?”

“Yes. I’m very sorry. If you’d like, we can contact the Imperial Family to apologize on your behalf.”

“Please do.”

Avgenia quickly accepted. The Princess’s face, usually so sly, now showed a hint of blush, making the Master’s brows twitch slightly.

Normally, Avgenia would have noticed the change in the Master’s face, but she was too excited thinking this was truly a good thing.

So, she really had time to properly settle things with Alexei.

While Avgenia secretly clenched her fist, the Master gestured to a mage at the door to use the communication orb to contact the Imperial Palace.

“You’ll be quite bored staying at the tower for several days…”

The Master glanced out the window. With the area below flooded and rain continuing, guests were stuck inside.

“So, Your Highness.”

The Master, still treating Alexei as invisible, came close to Avgenia. Lowering himself to her eye level, his black hair, glossy as the night sky, cascaded down.

“After you enjoy lunch, why not spend the day touring the tower with me…”

He lifted Avgenia’s hand, gently pulling her toward him. As she naturally accepted his escort and stood up—

“And how about spending the night with me as well?”

Alexei’s expression cracked.

* * *

Alexei couldn’t tell if this was a good thing or bad.

He’d first thought it wonderful that the Master, who kept excluding him and flirting with Avgenia, was now in trouble.

And it was better for the rain magic to work too well than not at all. With the rain easing and mages responding systematically, things were looking up…

Anyway, Avgenia’s project would finish well, and that pretty b*stard would be left frustrated.

It was inconvenient for the trip to be extended, but since Avgenia had brought a maid, Alexei didn’t have to attend her directly, which was a relief.

This was the first time a trip involved overnight stays. And as an adult, the only time he’d entered Avgenia’s bedroom was to silence the men who’d spent a night with her…

‘Hopefully, that won’t happen this time.’

But when the Master asked Avgenia to spend the night with him—when another man asked his liege for the night—

Alexei truly felt like the sky was falling.

This was a bad thing.

A seriously bad thing.

He’d already decided his future, and knew he should care even less about Avgenia’s nights.

But.

How could he not care?

That night, with just a wall between their rooms, Alexei paced twice as much as he normally walked in a day.

Sometimes, he had the urge to press his ear to the wall, even though he knew it was soundproofed, and that eavesdropping on his beloved with another man was not only creepy but just made him feel miserable.

But just because a man and woman are alone in a room doesn’t mean anything always happens.

‘There’s no shaman, so maybe nothing will happen.’

But no one had ever spent a night with Avgenia without something happening.

No, anyone in the world, with Avgenia Ronchilati e Gronov in bed, would be as desperate as a dog in heat. Not because of rewards, but… those eyes shining brighter than any jewel, those fresh cheeks, lips so sweet they made his tongue tingle just to look at, that pale skin below her neckline…

Thinking that, Alexei unconsciously ran his hands over his face again and again.

Really, did he have to come on this trip and see this? He’d get furious, but then, having missed his last chance to be seen as a man by Avgenia, he accepted that he was destined to always be left out…

After all this turmoil, Alexei spent his first night in nearly twenty days without comforting himself, but he still slept poorly.

She never took the same man twice, so even if something happened, tomorrow it would be over…

Clinging to that one mental victory.

“Um, Young Master?”

But even that didn’t last long.

“I have something to ask Her Highness in private.”

“Yes, Lexie. Please do.”

The next day, on the third day at the tower, the Master finally acknowledged him first, as if issuing a dismissal.

“So, Maid…”

“Rozie.”

“Dame Rozie has agreed to help our Mage Tower staff deal with the beasts for the time being. As I mentioned, the displaced mountain beasts have become aggressive, and with all our fire mages away, we desperately need a Swordmaster’s help.”

“So, that maid is…”

“Yes, Lexie. She’s actually my secret bodyguard. That…”

Avgenia rolled her beautiful rosy eyes, speaking quietly.

“It’s a secret from the Duke. You know?”

So, the Mage Tower Master, who had only spent one night with Avgenia, knew about her secret bodyguard—a fact even Alexei, who had been with her for nearly twenty years, hadn’t known.

Had something happened last night…?

Not knowing what kind of icy layer formed in Alexei’s blue eyes, the Mage Tower Master continued with that sly smile.

“But with only male servants in the tower, I may have to personally attend to you, Your Highness…”

“No.”

Alexei’s reply came out as a reflex.

“That’s my duty.”

And he immediately regretted it. If he had to take over the maid’s job, he’d be serving Avgenia up close—the very thing he’d tried so hard to avoid. He was putting himself in a situation he both desperately wanted and dreaded.

Besides…

If Her Highness was truly that close to that handsome b*stard, shouldn’t he just let go?

Had he let everything slip away while hesitating?

Even Alexei was confused by his own words, his face frozen between stubborn resolve and the urge to immediately take them back. The bewilderment over what to do and the realization that his last bit of hope had vanished left him feeling lost…

So he didn’t notice.

“…As you wish.”

The Mage Tower Master gave Avgenia a meaningful look.

And neither did he notice what kind of expression Rozie, meeting him properly for the first time today, wore.