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Chapter 09
“Lady Rosia Levian, is it?”
The moment the man called my name, I was able to move again.
I barely recalled that the Magic Tower stood on the border between the Empire and the Kingdom and functioned as an independent institution — even the Emperor was said to show formal respect to its Master.
“Good day, Tower Master. My apologies for the delayed greeting. I am Rosia of House Levian.”
As I spread my skirt and curtsied, he approached me with a bright smile.
“I’d like to gift you a dress, my lady.”
“…Pardon?”
“Well, I… ended up destroying something that might have inconvenienced you, so I wanted to make it up to you.”
“The Tower Master wronged me? I’m not sure what you mean, but there’s no need to offer a gift.”
“Oh, please. You must accept it.”
The man tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes. His overtly playful gaze was unsettling, and I wanted to leave, but he stepped in front of me as if reading my mind.
Then, waving his long, draping sleeves in a mock plea, he said,
“You’ll accept it, won’t you? If you don’t, my conscience will torment me so much that I’ll lose sleep every night… and perhaps waste away and die.”
“My lady, whatever mistake the Tower Master made, please forgive him. Yes?”
“Hearing that the Tower Master might fall ill pains me.”
It was the first time I’d met the Tower Master, but one thing was clear — this man had an infuriating personality. He was deliberately cornering me in a place full of people who’d side with him, forcing me to play along so he could get what he wanted.
“Thank you, Tower Master. Since you insist, I’ll accept the dress with gratitude. However—”
I stepped closer and whispered so only he could hear.
“I’d like to know exactly what it is you did wrong.”
“Why?”
“So I can file a proper claim for damages.”
In other words, he shouldn’t think a single dress would settle this.
“Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”
After laughing heartily for a while, the Tower Master suddenly leaned down and brought his lips close to my ear. Someone nearby screamed, “Kyaaa!”
“My lady,” he whispered.
Hot breath traced down my neck.
“As compensation for interfering with your affairs, I’ll let you live this time.”
What? When had I ever done anything to offend this man? No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of a single thing. This was the first time I’d ever encountered him — directly or indirectly.
“I was going to gift you a burial shroud,” he said with a smirk, “but this is more fun, so I’ll make it a real dress instead.”
A faint scent of ashes clung to him. Perhaps it came from burning materials during magical experiments — but what if it didn’t?
I happened to see the Information Guild building burning on my way to the salon.
“How… delightful.”
I smiled brightly at the Tower Master as he stepped back. His sky-blue eyes widened, as if saying, “I just told you I nearly killed you — how are you fine with that?”
Well, I’d already died dozens of times. And unless it was the day described in the original story as “the day the villainess Rosia dies,” nothing could kill me.
If I were to die now — on a day that wasn’t written — it might actually be a relief.
When I smiled even wider, his blue eyes flickered with shock.
“If possible, may I also request an opportunity to debut the dress you’ll be gifting me?”
“…Are you asking me to be your partner?”
He pointed at himself with a long, elegant finger.
“I’m glad you caught on so quickly.”
“Hahahahaha!”
The Tower Master doubled over, laughing like a madman. When he finally wiped the tears from his eyes, the polite demeanor from before had completely vanished. He spoke to me as though I were beneath him.
“Fine. Then choose the party where you’ll wear my dress and let me know.”
“How should I contact you — a few days before the event?”
“Hmm…”
After thinking for a moment, he handed me a piece of parchment and a fountain pen.
“Just write it here, at least an hour in advance. Whatever you write with this pen will reach me.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re really an unusual woman, you know.”
He smiled brightly, and the women around us squealed.
“You’re my type.”
The gazes directed at me turned faintly hostile, but I lifted my chin proudly.
“Hey, make sure this lady gets the most extravagant dress in the shop. I like things flashy.”
With a flick of his hand, a heavy-looking pouch appeared in midair. He handed it to Madam Anthe.
“If it’s not enough, charge the rest to the Tower. And don’t forget — it has to be extravagant. Got it?”
“Yes, Tower Master.”
“If it isn’t flashy enough, I’ll blow this shop to ashes.”
Ignoring Madam Anthe’s horrified expression, the man vanished without a sound.
“Madam, I don’t have much time,” I said.
If I stayed, everyone would bombard me with questions. Sensing my impatience, the madam hurriedly led me to the lounge.
The Tower Master, huh…
This man, newly introduced in this life — I needed to learn more about him.
“My lady, do you know the Tower Master personally?” asked Cassie.
“Cassie, do I look like someone who knows him well?”
“No, not at all.”
Like the other women, Cassie couldn’t stop gushing about his looks.
“You two looked so good together, though. You’re the most beautiful lady on the continent, and the Tower Master — I’d heard rumors, but I didn’t realize he was that handsome…”
“Lady, this way please,” interrupted Madam Anthe, thankfully cutting Cassie off.
“Fortunately, the size fits perfectly! You truly have flawless proportions, my lady.”
Chattering excitedly, Madam Anthe called for more dresses to be brought in.
Since I’d needed a gown urgently for the Duke of Lysiancius’s gathering, I’d planned to buy something ready-made — but it looked like I wouldn’t need any adjustments after all.
“And you’ll be ordering a new one as well, yes?”
“Because of what the Tower Master said, Madam? What is he like, really?”
I feigned ignorance to draw out more information about the man absent from my memory.
“He’s said to be eccentric — terrifying, even. What if he truly burns down my salon?”
Despite running one of the capital’s most famous salons for years, Madam Anthe was visibly trembling.
“My lady, what about this one? It’s the quickest to prepare.”
“If you say so, Madam. You know my style — choose what’s best.”
At my approval, color returned to her face.
“I’ll make sure it’s the finest dress you’ve ever worn!”
She practically glowed with excitement, promising to finish the alterations and deliver the gown to my estate by tomorrow.
When I stepped outside, Dame Mary — who had been waiting — approached.
“My lady, I have gathered the information you requested.”
“What’s the situation?”
“The fire wouldn’t go out easily. They even called a mage to help, but it burned for quite some time.”
“Is it extinguished now?”
“Yes. There were no injuries… but it’s believed that there were several fatalities.”
Could the Guild members from the Spider’s Web have been among them?
“One strange thing,” Mary continued. “Only that one building burned. The fire didn’t spread to the surrounding area.”
“I see. Thank you, Dame Mary.”
She bowed smartly and stepped back.
“I’ll visit a nearby café with Cassie, so you and the coachman may rest for a while.”
“My lady—”
“If you intend to guard me, you may follow me inside the café.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Dame Mary fell into step behind me.
The shopping district was full of cafés, but we headed for Jenna’s Café, the one closest to the burnt building.
What remained of the structure was ghastly — blackened, collapsed, still cordoned off by guards. There could hardly have been any survivors.
“My lady, must you really go there?” Cassie asked anxiously.
I gave no reply. Instead, I stepped through the café door.
