ITHTJ 29

Chapter : 29

A Troublesome Relationship (4)

“Ah, well, this is…”

Jade trailed off, subtly turning his head to glance at Eclipse.

Eclipse stared back at him steadily.

‘Don’t say anything.’

That powder was highly likely related to Elsie. He couldn’t let that fact slip out recklessly. Especially if it concerned Linetra.

“Hmm, it’s a secret.”

Noticing the silent sign, Jade brought his index finger to his lips and said playfully.

Linetra nodded with a look that said, “That figures.”

“Well, I suppose so. That magic tower is full of secrets.”
“Our young lady is so generous-hearted. No wonder I can’t help but like her.”
“Hmph.”

Linetra crossed her arms in annoyance and lowered her head.

“Anyway, what a coincidence. I happen to have some business here too.”

Linetra’s sharp gaze fell on Eclipse.
Eclipse met her eyes without flinching.

“…….”
“…….”

The two exchanged a silent stare, saying nothing.

“This atmosphere feels… strange. It seems a bit colder than before. Or maybe it’s just awkward.”

Jade, muttering to himself, stood and approached Silvern.

“Well, that’s settled, butler.”
“Yes, Master Jade.”
“I want to meet the new magic instructor in this mansion… where would they be right now?”

The moment he said that, the Ledeer siblings’ attention turned sharply to Jade.

“Huh, why all these intense stares?”

Blinking his eyes, Jade smiled enigmatically.

“Look at this… the reactions aren’t normal.”

Soon, a mischievous glint spread across his smile. Sensing danger, Eclipse quickly spoke up.

“Jade, handle your business through me.”
“Is that necessary? I can handle it myself.”
“This is the Ledeer Ducal Mansion, not your tower. Don’t forget that my command here is absolute.”

Jade fell silent for a moment.

“……Ah, I see.”

Then he nodded as if realizing something very important. Once again, Eclipse found Jade’s attitude extremely irritating.

“Brother is right. Uncle, what business do you have with our teacher?”

Just then, Linetra interjected appropriately, her guard clearly up.

“Could it be that your business is to meet Elsie?”
“Oh, so the name is Elsie.”

Jade pondered for a moment, then answered clearly.

“Yes. I came to see Elsie.”

“……What? Why would you? How do you know Elsie? What kind of business is this? Are you two acquainted?”

Linetra spoke in a flurry, clearly shocked. Eclipse decided to act before Jade could speak recklessly.

“Calm down, Linetra. Jade said he was curious about how skilled the person teaching you magic is, so I invited him.”

“Huh?”

“He wanted to see firsthand how talented Bloomhier is. Even if he seems like that, he’s the master of a magic tower.”
“Really…?”

Linetra still looked skeptical. Eclipse sent a silent signal to Jade.

‘Watch your mouth.’

He tapped his lips with his index finger and then lightly tapped his temple. More than “watch your mouth,” it was a gesture meaning “think before you speak.”

“Hmm.”

Jade, who had been quietly observing everything, smiled slightly.
He pushed a floating glass bottle into the sleeve of his robe.

“That’s right.”
“Ah……”

At the same time, Linetra’s sharp expression gradually softened.

“Why didn’t you just say so earlier? You had me all tense for nothing.”

The tense situation was barely diffused. Eclipse felt a quiet sense of relief. He hadn’t looked into Jade’s mind, but he guessed that Jade would probably find it more amusing to cooperate willingly.

“Well then, could you please call Elsie Bloomhier, Your Grace?”

Jade said with a bright smile. Eclipse decided to choose the lesser evil; his head ached.

“All right.”

Soon after, someone knocked on the office door. Everyone’s gaze naturally focused on that spot.

“Did you call for me, Your Grace?”

Elsie entered the office, looking somewhat bewildered.
Jade’s eyes suddenly brightened as he looked at her.

“Eclipse, this little one is…”
“Jade.”
“Oh, right. Sorry, sorry. My mouth runs away sometimes.”

Eclipse warned him in a low voice. Jade responded slyly, tapping his lips lightly with a finger.
He stared intently at Elsie, who was looking around nervously.

“Ho, I see.”

Jade, still looking at Elsie, smiled leisurely. Then suddenly:

“What exactly are you, little one?”

He stepped closer, bringing his face right up to hers.

“Uh, I…?”

I was flustered.
A man I had never seen before suddenly shoved his face close and asked me bluntly, “What are you?”

‘Who is this guy to act like this toward me?’

Normally, I would have gone out to the streets to get butter snow by now.
Silvern had urgently called me, so I hurried here wondering what had happened…

‘Looks like no sweets for me today.’

I gave up quickly and scanned the office to assess the situation.
Inside were just me, the Ledeer siblings, and this mysterious man.
And the mysterious man was standing right in front of me.

‘If he’s here, he must be one of Eclipse’s close associates. But who is he?’

I couldn’t figure it out. Hesitantly, I asked:

“Um… who are you?”
“Me? I’m someone curious about your identity.”

Usually, people give their names in situations like this.

“Oh… okay.”

Apparently, he had no intention of telling me easily. I decided to call him “the strange silver-haired man” for convenience.
The silver-haired man, studying my wary expression, seemed to think for a moment.

“Hmm… there are too many eyes here. Well then…”

At that moment, the silver-haired man, muttering to himself, smiled.

“We can just change locations.”

Snap. He flicked his fingers lightly, and everything around us turned pure white. Everything vanished.

“……!”

I realized it immediately.
This white space was created by the silver-haired man’s magic.

‘That man… is a magician.’

And a magician of incredible skill…!
I quickly guessed his identity.

‘A silver-haired magician with purple eyes, close to Eclipse…’

The vague image of the man’s identity became clear.
I spoke the name that came to mind.

“Could it be… Jade Caron?”
“Ho, you know me.”

The strange silver-haired man, Jade, smiled as if intrigued.

‘This is the Jade Caron? The master of the magic tower in the Hern Mountains?’

The fact that the silver-haired man was the master of a magic tower made the already confusing situation even more incomprehensible.

“I don’t think I’ve formally introduced myself, but it doesn’t matter. I’m quite famous, you know.”

Excuse me? Quite famous? You are extremely famous!

‘The master of a magic tower and Eclipse’s ally—you couldn’t be unknown!’

Yes. He was Eclipse’s reliable ally, the supporter behind the story’s ultimate villain.
Long ago, when the Hern Mountains’ magic tower was in danger for various reasons, Eclipse had just become the Duke of Ledeer.

‘The first thing Eclipse did was to support Jade’s magic tower.’

The nobles criticized Eclipse for helping a crumbling tower.

“The magic tower in the Hern Mountains… you always pick places similar to your own situation. How do they not see their future, it’s exactly the same.”
“That’s the limit of commoners. Do you think that commoner realizes he is ruining his own family?”
“No, of course not. Lacking the intellect for the position, he made such a foolish choice.”
“Well, we just watch. If they destroy themselves, we can simply observe peacefully, ha ha ha!”
“Ho ho, indeed, that’s true.”

Yet Jade’s magic tower miraculously revived.
Not only that, the forces that had threatened Jade’s tower were actually rival towers, and it was revealed they had used forbidden magic.
Jade crushed the rival tower with his skill, elevating the status of the magic towers in the Hern Mountains.