IDWP 17

Chapter: 17

Leonard let out a sigh as he recalled the day he became entangled in this troublesome affair.

It wasn’t unusual for Pellion to leave the Mage Tower without a word. Despite holding the position of Deputy Tower Master, he paid more attention to matters outside the tower than within, so no one found it strange.

Even so, he had once given Leonard a magical device, telling him to contact him if anything ever happened, since he was his guardian. Yet the two had never once used it to communicate, to the point that Leonard had even forgotten the device existed.

That was why Leonard had been so shocked when Pellion suddenly contacted him through it.

No one knew that it was possible for the two of them to communicate like that.

And what Pellion said when he contacted him so abruptly felt like an exceedingly cruel request.

“Could you coax that child a bit and help her leave the Mage Tower? I think it might work better if someone her age tries to persuade her.”

The voice that sighed, saying she wouldn’t listen to him, was clearly filled with worry despite his claim that it was a bother.

Since it was the first favor ever asked of him by the man who had brought him to the Mage Tower, Leonard agreed without hesitation. Still, to be honest, he was irritated.

If that child hadn’t suddenly shown up claiming to be his daughter, there wouldn’t have been all kinds of scandal spreading through the tower, nor would his reputation have been damaged—or Leonard forced to deal with something this annoying.

Ophelia—the small, fragile-looking girl—had an unpleasantly prickly personality to match. She could smile warmly one moment, only to harden her expression the instant someone said something she disliked.

And it wasn’t as though she was doing well on her own, either.

She’d been barred from using all the facilities, subjected to malicious harassment, and even had absurd accusations posted claiming she wasn’t actually Pellion’s daughter. Watching her cling stubbornly to the tower despite all that made Leonard frown without realizing it.

If she weren’t really his daughter, would the Deputy Tower Master be watching over her like this from the shadows?

Every time they spoke, Pellion would ask about her condition, whether she had left the Mage Tower yet. Leonard was reaching the limit of his patience just listening to those questions.

Maybe he wouldn’t have been this annoyed if Pellion hadn’t cared so much in the first place.

How childish.

It wasn’t as if he were an eldest child jealous of a younger sibling monopolizing their parents’ affection. Thinking that made him feel ridiculous.

He’d assumed she would give up on her own if things got too hard, but no matter how the harassment continued, she didn’t shed a single tear and endured stubbornly. Annoying as it was, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He’d even left an extra lunchbox in front of her door, worried she might starve, and when he heard rumors that some aggressive members of the Research Division were looking for a chance to harass her, he’d lingered nearby, watching from afar.

And sure enough, something happened today.

Ignorant fools who don’t even know a mage’s honor.

It was fortunate he’d been watching—otherwise, Ophelia could have been seriously hurt.

And in the midst of it all, she’d been more worried about the shattered window than her own body, which was frustrating beyond words.

He made sure to remember the faces of the ones who’d pretended kindness while intending to hurt her.

Even so, it wasn’t enough to put his mind at ease. He couldn’t sleep.

Something sweet might help.

Thinking she must have been badly shaken by what happened today, he’d gone to her room intending to comfort her, at least with a warm drink—but the lunchbox was still there, untouched.

Panicking, he knocked, but there was no response from inside. He’d been run ragged searching for her, trying to figure out where she’d gone.

“Haaah…”

Unable to hold back his rising irritation, Leonard grabbed his hair and sighed.

“If I’d known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have said I’d help.”

And the way he talked, like the Tower Master was about to harm her at any moment—it was strange. His eyes didn’t look normal either.

He had no idea what kind of trouble she might get into, but since he’d warned that it was serious enough to summon Pellion here, he needed to inform him quickly.

“So why won’t you answer?”

The problem was that Leonard hadn’t been able to contact Pellion for days now.

With another sigh, he gripped the magical device and poured mana into it.

Hoping that his message would reach him before it was too late.

Pellion quietly watched the man sitting across from him, leisurely sipping his tea.

Neatly combed dark blue hair, sharp silver-gray eyes like Ophelia’s, thick brows, a faint crease between them, and tightly pressed lips. Even dressed properly in formal attire despite being at home, the Duke of Hexwood looked just as he always had—only older. Pellion clicked his tongue inwardly.

She really does look more like me.

Compared to the broad, thick-set figure across from him, the resemblance leaned more toward himself.

No—rather…

“It’s not easy to see your face these days.”

The Duke of Hexwood—his older brother, Roger Hexwood—broke the long silence as he set his teacup down.

“It must be the end of the world tomorrow. You contacted me first and asked to see me.”

“We can’t go on living like strangers forever, can we? I heard you’d come to the imperial capital, so I was simply curious about how you’ve been.”

He spoke kindly, trying to carry the conversation forward.

“They say Singletia tea is all the rage in the Mage Tower these days. I prepared some for you.”

But Pellion ignored every word of pleasantry.

“Time really is frightening. For you to say things you don’t even mean, just to cater to me—it’s unlike you.”

Whether Roger tried to be friendly or not, Pellion had no desire to engage with him unnecessarily.

“We’re not close enough to sit down and chat face-to-face. Let’s get to the point. Why did you call me here?”

“How cold. That hurts, you know.”

“I don’t like repeating myself. I’ll ask one last time. Why?”

At Pellion’s icy attitude, the slight curve at Roger’s eyes snapped back to neutrality.

“You really haven’t changed—still as hot-tempered as ever. You’re no different from a childish brat.”

“A flattering compliment. Still better than someone who summons me and then disappears for three days without a word.”

At the pointed remark, Roger let out a low hum.

Of course, it was an act.

The more his heart leans, the more patient he becomes. That hasn’t changed. In the past, he wouldn’t have even accepted the invitation, let alone waited three days.

Seeing Pellion calmly wait for him to speak, Roger decided it was finally safe to bring it up.

“Did you know you have another niece or nephew besides Nathaniel?”

At those words, Pellion fell silent.

So this is the point he dragged out for three days.

Just as Roger knew Pellion well, Pellion knew the duke just as well.

Still annoyingly cautious as ever.

But this moment was precisely why Pellion had come to the imperial capital, so he swallowed his irritation.

To confirm whether Ophelia truly was the lost daughter of House Hexwood, he needed to visit the ducal estate. He’d also expected there to be a reason she’d come to the Mage Tower instead of the Hexwood household.

When he learned that the duke and his heir had secretly left their seats, he’d realized they’d discovered Ophelia’s existence.

Disguising himself with the pretense of an assignment, he chose to wait quietly until the duke invited him himself.

Until the overly meticulous elder brother had completely let down his guard.

“I’ve lived with my ears shut to family news, so I wouldn’t know. Did you summon me just to introduce a niece I’ve never even seen?”

“If only it were that simple.”

Roger lowered his eyes, adopting a sorrowful expression. What followed was an explanation almost absurd in its scale.

“So you’re saying that niece was born with the power of a mermaid, was kidnapped by a greedy wet nurse who coveted it, and has been missing ever since? That you thought she was dead, but then received a letter from a child who knew nothing?”

“Yes.”

He nodded heavily.

So Ophelia was telling the truth.

That child really was his niece.

Given how much she resembles us, it would’ve been hard not to believe it anyway…

Unaware of Pellion’s thoughts, Roger noticed emotion surface on his usually impassive face and seized the chance.

“No matter how much you turned your back on the family, don’t you feel sorry for a niece who grew up abused, never even knowing her parents’ faces?”

“It seems you want me to find that child for you.”

“Yes. For the sake of the family—”

But before Roger could continue, Pellion cut him off with a sneer.

“For the sake of the family.”

Any trace of his earlier, faintly positive attitude vanished as Pellion quietly stared at the teacup on the table.

“You told me to drink the tea, didn’t you? Why should I? How would I know what you’ve put in it?”

“Pellion.”

Roger called his name at the cold response.

“I’ve collapsed before after drinking unidentified tea. Do you think there could be any trust left after that?”