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Chapter 33
A brief but suffocating silence fell over the laboratory.
Rose and Marin stared wide-eyed at the two of them.
Riman’s expression, caught in Silia’s grip, grew paler and paler. Silia lowered her eyes and asked quietly,
“So, I’ve been tolerating this much for your sake. How is it? Does it feel nice to be the center of attention?”
Riman trembled, forgetting even how to refute her. His face had gone completely white. Silia stifled a sigh as she watched him. In the end, she’d taken a childish tantrum too seriously. But still—
“Why do I have to put up with this?”
She’d been dragged into this situation herself. Was she also supposed to endure someone else’s whining and venting?
“People who can’t tell front from back and act on their moods like that— they’re the ones who end up getting others hurt on the battlefield.”
Silia detested that type.
In her previous life, she would’ve simply looked down on such people, not actually gotten involved with them.
Now that she had, it was exhausting. She was just starting to curse everything that had driven her to this point when a ridiculous thought crossed her mind—
“Maybe I should learn magic to cause baldness, not cure it…”
“Now, now. You shouldn’t be fighting with your peers.”
The next moment, a golden light flooded the laboratory.
Rose and Marin jumped back in alarm as a glowing magic circle bloomed beneath their feet.
The lively light danced about, forming into the image of Archla, the Tower Master.
“You should get along nicely.”
“……”
‘This is your fault!’
Silia bit back the urge to retort.
Archla hadn’t exactly interfered in her and Riman’s relationship—if anything, he’d egged it on.
He’d deliberately praised Silia in front of Riman, all while watching how she’d handle the situation.
Meeting the Tower Master’s gaze, Riman squirmed as though desperate not to look weak before him.
Silia finally released him.
Even then, Riman’s face flushed red—whether from rage or embarrassment, it was unclear.
“Are you crying?”
“I am not!”
Riman yelled in denial, and Archla laughed brightly.
“If you really must fight, then do it the Tower’s way.”
“Eh?!”
“Tower Master!”
Rose and Marin both cried out in shock.
‘What on earth is he planning now?’
Ignoring them, Archla raised his voice:
“Hear me! From this moment forth, by the authority of the Tower Master, I declare a Research Presentation Contest!”
“A research presentation?”
Archla smiled cheerfully.
“You may present a magical study of your choice… or, if you prefer—”
His meaningful gaze shifted toward Silia.
“—demonstrate the magic yourself to prove its success.”
“So all I have to do is cast it?”
“Exactly.”
That actually worked in her favor.
If she could crush Riman in this competition, maybe she’d finally be free of all this petty nonsense.
“That’s all? Easy.”
“What do you mean, easy?!”
“When dragons fight, it’s the lion that gets trampled!”
“Once the Tower Master declares a research event, every researcher in the Tower has to join in! It’s mandatory!”
“This is all your fault, Riman!”
“I… huh?”
“Aaaah!”
Amid Rose and Marin’s shrieks, Silia smiled sweetly—like an angel.
“I’ll gladly participate.”
“Truly remarkable, as always.”
Roihan murmured admiringly as they walked.
“It’s been nearly ten years since a Tower-wide competition was announced by the Tower Master himself. The news is already spreading through the social circles.”
“Why the social circles?”
“Because the noble families of the kingdom—those with magician lineages—are paying close attention.”
He paused, then added,
“And since you’re at the center of it, my lady, the nobles will follow suit. The Duke of Heinz’s family, in particular, may take notice.”
That part caught Silia’s interest.
“I was planning to throw something together casually…”
But now it seemed she’d have to show something impressive.
If this went well, Heinz might finally take an interest in her—and that meant a higher chance of meeting Ilrod.
A wry, defiant smile tugged at her lips.
“Maybe I should use one of his spells.”
Perhaps, upon seeing her cast his own magic, Ilrod would feel jealous enough to reappear and reclaim it himself.
“In any case, you truly are gifted,” Roihan said with a shrug.
“Even the heirs of the Phillips family and others like them are desperate to beat you.”
“By the way,” Silia said, tilting her head, “why exactly am I here?”
It was her first day off in ages, yet Roihan had dragged her out to the commercial district that morning—with poor Flier tagging along as well.
“Why, to help me pick out a gift for Miss Margaret, of course.”
“And you needed me for that?”
“Please, just this once. I’ll repay the favor.”
Silia turned toward Flier—only to freeze when she met his eyes.
…Those pitiful, puppy-like eyes.
He looked so forlorn that she couldn’t bring herself to just walk away.
Roihan seized the moment.
“Please, just this once…”
“Is that really all you need from me?”
“Well, that, and…”
“And?”
“I might also need a little help with someone.”
Roihan subtly glanced at Flier.
Flier gave an awkward smile.
“Please, pay him no mind.”
“My cousin here was kind enough to play matchmaker—”
Crunch.
Flier quietly gripped Roihan’s shoulder.
“Ack.”
His forearm muscles bulged, and Silia smiled approvingly.
“Worth it, giving him a Swordmaster instructor.”
She’d successfully requested Swordmaster Ozka as her fencing instructor—and even got Flier into the same class.
He’d promised to make her proud and had clearly been training hard; his physique had improved noticeably.
“Feels good to give back after what Diamand did for me.”
“Keugh…”
Still, Roihan’s face was turning blue, so it was time to intervene.
Silia sighed softly.
“Fine. Show me which shop you picked.”
If it turned out to be a terrible choice, she planned to scold him for it.
“Then again, I don’t love the idea of him buying something too nice for Margaret, either.”
Roihan scratched his cheek.
“That’s the problem. I’d like to buy her something good, but…”
“But?”
“You said she doesn’t like anything too extravagant.”
That had been a random excuse she’d made up just to deflect him.
“The thing is, I have no idea what counts as ‘too extravagant’ for a commoner.”
“……”
Annoying as he was, he wasn’t wrong.
Roihan had been born into luxury—everything he owned was of the highest quality.
“How’s someone like that supposed to find something that looks refined, isn’t too expensive, but is still good quality by commoner standards?”
That was like asking for milk tea without milk.
And to be fair, Silia’s sense for such things wasn’t great either.
She was the opposite—always pinching pennies and choosing the cheapest options.
She smiled faintly.
“We’re doomed, then.”
“Please don’t give up already…”
Flier stepped in to smooth things over.
“Actually, we’ve already found a shop. A servant recommended it.”
To their surprise, it was a lovely store—classy but not over-the-top, filled with well-made trinkets and accessories.
“Your servant has good taste.”
“Right? Oh, this one looks nice. What do you think?”
“Hmm.”
Silia only half-listened while glancing around, but soon found herself absorbed by the cute little items on display.
Without her realizing it, Flier had come up beside her.
“Silia. What do you think of this?”
He held something out to her.
“It’s nice.”
It was a pendant decorated with a red ruby—elegant but not flashy.
“Then, I’d like you to have it.”
“Me?”
“I told you before I’d buy you a new one.”
He meant the tourmaline necklace she’d given to Crondel.
When she said she’d lost it, he’d insisted on replacing it. Apparently, today was the day.
The pendant’s design was sleek, stylish enough to wear without being inconvenient.
The gem shimmered, shifting hues slightly under the light.
“Please consider it a gift from House Diamand,” Flier said with a smile.
No real reason to refuse. But then—
“Wait! If you’re giving it, she needs the chain too!”
Roihan suddenly cut in, thrusting a necklace chain toward them.
Before Flier could react, Roihan attached the pendant and handed it back.
“And since there’s a mirror right here, she should try it on to see if it suits her!”
“Silia, would you—”
“She can’t do it alone! Help her!” Roihan barked.
“Here.”
Silia lifted her hair slightly to let Flier clasp the necklace.
His ears reddened as he stepped behind her. The chain trembled faintly in his hands.
In the mirror, the pendant matched her hair perfectly.
Silia offered a polite smile.
“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it. I heard gems like these hold magic inscriptions well.”
Judging by its quality, it could probably handle a fairly high-tier spell.
Flier’s eyes sparkled.
“Whatever spell you inscribe, I’m sure it will suit you perfectly.”
“Whatever spell, huh?”
Silia repeated his words slowly.
It reminded her of Ilrod, who used to carry countless magically engraved gems.
She remembered him in his white ceremonial armor, draped in jewels of every color, wielding awe-inspiring magic.
“Especially that one…”
A thought struck her—a spell that might actually draw Ilrod out.
“His signature spell.”
Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
Flier, unaware of its meaning, only smiled back even more gently.
