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Chapter: 10
Scenes from my past flashed before my eyes.
People hurling curses at me, looking at me with contempt, threatening me—
and those who cheered at my death.
A horrific ringing filled my ears, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
I don’t want to hear it!
“Huh? What’s wrong with you?”
Without realizing it, I must have brought my hand to my throat. When I snapped back to my senses at the feeling of someone shaking me, I found him gripping my wrist.
Perhaps he noticed the change in my eyes, because he asked in a worried voice,
“Are you okay?”
Was my mind unstable? His voice overlapped with memories from the past.
Hey, are you alright?
It was a very old memory.
The day I became a probationary maid, my joy had been short-lived. After being viciously scolded by a senior maid, I cried for the first time at the Archduke’s estate.
Believing I couldn’t let anyone see me cry, I hid in the stables at dawn, desperately holding back my tears.
I don’t know what’s upsetting you, but just cry it out. You’ll feel better.
The comfort from a stranger was rough around the edges, yet gentle, breathing warmth into my lonely heart.
If you’re going to cry, why are you smiling? You’re a strange girl.
His voice, laced with laughter, had sounded unbelievably pleasant.
Still, you look better when you smile.
He stayed by my side without a word until I had completely stopped crying and calmed down.
It was too dark to see his face, yet I fell for him at first sight.
But that first love could never come true.
Because he was Elodie’s man—someone far beyond my reach.
I had folded my feelings away neatly and cheered on my friend’s love.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Barely regaining my composure, I nodded with effort. My head, however, was busy grasping the current situation.
He looked younger and smaller than in my memories, but his appearance and aura were unmistakable.
Leonard Crent.
In the future, he would be known to everyone as a commoner, but in truth, he was the sole heir of the Grand Duke Crent—someone who should have been residing at the ducal estate right now.
Why is the young duke here?
“Why is the daughter of the Vice Tower Master this weak?”
Since I failed to answer properly, distracted by my thoughts, he clicked his tongue and complained bluntly.
My stomach churned as his mocking face overlapped with the memory of him handing me poison, sneering.
I can’t let myself look strange.
I knew it logically, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The nausea became unbearable, and I clamped a hand over my mouth.
When I bent forward, unable to endure it any longer, my body began to tremble.
Calm down. You were bound to meet him someday. You even decided to use him—so how can you act this pathetic!
No matter how much I tried to scold myself, I couldn’t calm down.
“Ugh, what a pain. Hey, follow me.”
Instead of leaving me behind in annoyance, he roughly grabbed my hand and dragged me somewhere.
I didn’t even have the strength to resist. As I let him lead me, the noisy sounds that had been swirling around us gradually disappeared.
In the sudden stillness, I slowly lifted my head.
Unlike the scene from moments ago, we were standing in the middle of a garden lush with all kinds of plants.
“Get a grip already, will you?”
At his gruff voice, I took a slow, deep breath.
A faint breeze from somewhere unknown and the sound of sprinklers watering the plants brushed past my ears.
The suffocating feeling faded. The air around me felt lighter, and a fresh scent enveloped my body.
After several deep breaths, I finally calmed down enough to properly look at the person who had brought me here.
Instead of the rough, vicious man from the future, a boy still full of youth—the future King of Mercenaries—stood before me.
His sharply lifted eyes looked more cute than frightening, creating a striking disconnect with his reputation.
Thanks to that, my heart settled even more.
This isn’t the future. He doesn’t know me.
“Thank you for helping me.”
At my words, his expression relaxed slightly.
“So now you finally say thanks? I thought I’d never hear it in my lifetime.”
My body stiffened at his sarcastic tone. Despite having helped me, his voice was cold.
“You’re the Vice Tower Master’s daughter, right? But you’re shocked by simple levitation magic? Doesn’t that seem ridiculous?”
Behind his mocking words, I sensed jealousy and envy.
“Honestly, I’d suit being the Vice Tower Master’s child more than someone like you.”
It was only a few words, but I could clearly feel how much he admired the Vice Tower Master.
His unexpectedly childish behavior felt strangely different from the man I knew.
Thanks to that, I was able to fully escape my panic and return to reality.
Who would’ve thought the future King of Mercenaries used to be a mage at the Magic Tower?
Once my rationality returned, my thoughts became calmer.
It’s a good thing I didn’t go straight to the ducal estate.
Who could have imagined I’d meet the young duke here?
“…Ignoring me?”
I hadn’t answered because my thoughts hadn’t stopped.
And frankly, I didn’t feel like responding to such a low-level provocation.
“Hah.”
A hollow laugh slipped out from between his twisted lips.
“I’m Ophelia.”
“At a time like this, you suddenly introduce yourself?”
“You like my dad so much—what’s your name?”
“So you think saving you makes us close now? Suddenly speaking casually? There’s no reason for me to tell you my name.”
“You look younger than me, though.”
“Ha! Who are you calling young? How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
At my answer, Leonard parted his lips, then firmly shut them.
Like I wouldn’t know your age. You’re one year younger than me.
I smirked at his reaction, and he immediately pointed at me in protest.
“Where do you look fifteen? Anyone would say you look twelve at most!”
I know I’m small for my age, but twelve is a bit much.
By the end, his voice had grown loud enough to echo throughout the greenhouse.
Yeah. For kids this age, age is a sensitive and important issue.
More than anything, Leonard—despite being younger—was taller and more solidly built than me. No wonder he felt wronged.
He probably thought I was lying or teasing him.
“What? You’ll call me ‘older sister’ from now on?”
Instead of soothing him, I deliberately continued with an odd line of conversation, watching his reaction.
“Who said I would?”
Unlike the future King of Mercenaries who ignored pointless chatter, this young Leonard flared up easily. He was definitely still immature.
I might be able to get information through him.
“Then instead of calling me that later if you feel like it, why don’t you help me a little?”
“Why would I?”
“It’s my first time at the Magic Tower. There’s so much I don’t know. I need a senior’s help.”
“Hah! You think flattering me as a ‘senior’ will make me answer? And who’s your senior anyway? You’re not even a mage of the tower—do you think I’m crazy enough to—”
I didn’t have the patience to respond to every complaint.
“Why does the Tower Master hate my father?”
“What kind of random question is that?”
“I just met the Tower Master, and he said my father doesn’t acknowledge me, so he wants me expelled from the tower.”
“…So?”
“He said he’d become my guardian instead. But if he truly liked my father, wouldn’t he have respected my father’s decision?”
“…Don’t tell me you agreed.”
“He asked me to think about it.”
At my words, he visibly relaxed. But when our eyes met, he quickly straightened his expression and glared sharply.
“What do you think?”
At my question, he hesitated—then answered instead of ignoring me.
“The Tower Master doesn’t welcome the Vice Tower Master. He thinks his position could be taken at any time. Even though the Vice Tower Master isn’t interested at all.”
“Really?”
“So he might be trying to use you to drive him out.”
He hadn’t explicitly told me to stay away, but the meaning was clear enough.
“But my father has left the tower, and I’m all alone. Can I really reject the Tower Master’s offer?”
I sighed, wearing a worried expression.
Startled by my face, he flinched and furrowed his brow.
“Whether you’re really his daughter or not isn’t my problem. Do whatever you want.”
With that, he coldly turned around and disappeared.
Watching his retreating back, I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
As expected, he’s not easy to deal with.
Still, I was glad I talked to him.
At first, facing Leonard had been uncomfortable, but perhaps because he was still young, the revulsion wasn’t as strong as I’d feared. If anything, the conversation was helpful.
So the Tower Master is desperate to protect his own position.
Was that why he wanted to research the Mermaid’s Tears?
To prove his greatness to the world?
Whatever the reason, he’s not a good person.
I recalled Leonard, who had just left.
He felt less repulsive only because he looked younger than in my memories. Still, he was the man who had once tried to kill me.
So I should stay close—but keep my distance.
I might need his goodwill, but I could never give him my heart.
Well, it’s not like there’s any heart to give.
I scoffed at the absurd thought.
I didn’t know why he had hidden his identity and entered the Magic Tower, but since he was destined to leave and become the King of Mercenaries, I needed to be cautious.
He’s someone I can’t fully gauge—so I must stay careful.
A relationship that was neither close nor hostile.
That was exactly the right distance.
