ITHTJ 31

Chapter : 31

A Relationship That Bothers Me (6)

A voice full of unwavering conviction echoed through the office.

I stared at him, mouth agape, completely dumbfounded.

“Hmm?”

Jade blinked in confusion as well.

No way… could this really be happening?

‘Is he doing this to make sure I’m not taken away?’

Eclipse, who had never reacted even when I made bold advances, was saying something like this.

My heart swelled at the thought—it was a situation I could never have imagined.

Was it really, as Penny and Ash said, that I had completely captured his heart?

“So, give up.”

Eclipse’s expression as he said it even looked confident, almost as if he were saying, “I’m the one chosen, not you.”

The slightly raised chin and the corner of his mouth lifted conveyed an inexplicable sense of ease.

“Lifetime?”

Jade tilted his head as if he couldn’t comprehend.

“You’re not even a slave, though?”
“Yes.”
“Did you say that yourself?”

Eclipse silently nodded.

Jade, after a moment of thought, quickly accepted it.

“Right. His Highness the Archduke wouldn’t even think to say such a word.”

Jade’s violet eyes fixed firmly on me. When our gazes met, he smirked.

“How interesting.”

I really had no idea what he was thinking. How could he find this part interesting? I suppose to become a great mage, you need to be missing a screw or two.

I tore my gaze away from smirking Jade and shot Eclipse a look of silent plea.

‘I’m really confident I can do this, Your Highness! So please get rid of this weird tower lord! I don’t want to be an experimental subject!’

Maybe he read my eyes. Eclipse immediately spoke.

“Jade, let’s talk for a moment, just the two of us.”
“Just the two of us? Fine.”

As soon as the conversation started, the surroundings fell silent.

It seemed Jade had activated that spell from earlier.

Lynette, still holding me, grumbled softly.

“I don’t like this. My mouth moves but I can’t hear anything. It was like this when you were talking to the teacher and that man earlier too.”

From the outside, it was indeed strange. They were talking right in front of me, yet I couldn’t hear a thing.

“It feels like I’m being left out. Like a bunch of obnoxious socialites gossiping behind my back.”

I nodded instinctively at the very specific example.

“Yeah, it does feel like that.”
“Right? Anyway, I don’t like it.”

I looked up at Lynette.

She glared at the two men, sulking.

‘Hmm, now that this is happening… maybe I should eavesdrop a little.’

I made a rather bold decision and started concentrating on the magical energy surrounding the office.

As expected of a tower lord—the area around them was wrapped in powerful magical energy.

‘If I focus a little more, I think I can penetrate it.’

Just as I focused on the flow of magic, I caught a faint sound.

“…Even more remarkable…”
“…Impossible.”

It wasn’t clear, complete sound, but I could hear snippets of their voices.

I perked up my ears and concentrated again.

“You’re skilled enough to give me trouble.”
“Right? Honestly, I was surprised too. I poked a little and… wow, you’re amazing.”

The “skilled person” they were talking about was clearly me.

I felt a little guilty eavesdropping, but…

‘Who cares about guilt? As Lynette said, it’s just eavesdropping on gossip.’

Besides, it’s about me, so it doesn’t matter if I listen, right?

I focused all my attention on their conversation.

“That’s why I want you even more.”

At that moment, my eyes met Jade’s.

‘…!’

My entire body felt icy cold. My eyelids trembled from shock.

‘Did he… catch me?’

I held my breath and tried to act casual. Fortunately, Jade looked away. I let out a small, relieved sigh.

“Phew.”

Of course, I couldn’t move much because Lynette was still holding me.

She spoke to me after noticing my sigh.

“Ah… sorry, Teacher. Am I holding you too tight?”

Startled, she seemed to think my sigh was because of her.

I shook my head and smiled gently.

“No, it’s wonderful being held by the Saint. It’s so cozy and warm… I wonder if my mother would have held me like this too.”

I couldn’t say it felt that great, but Lynette’s embrace was indeed warm and comforting.

After all, I had hardly felt anyone else’s warmth in the past 19 years.

Of course, in my previous life as a high schooler, I did have parents.

‘But it’s too vague to remember.’

That was 19 years ago.

Perhaps because a new 19 years had been added on top, most memories from my previous life were not vivid, except for a few specific situations.

‘I wonder if anyone held me back then.’

Honestly, I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure about my relationship with my parents or my peers…

Anyway, my life as Elsie Blumheier now was far more precious than memories of my past life.

‘More importantly, I need to eavesdrop on their conversation.’

I cast aside my past emotions and focused again.

“Anyway, your prediction was right, Your Highness. Shall I return it now?”
“Not here.”

Eclipse stopped Jade from searching his sleeve.

“Give it to Silbern.”
“Fine, if that’s your wish.”

At that moment, the magical barrier around them vanished.

I realized something important from their conversation.

‘Jade, the tower lord, truly desires me…?’

He called me a “skilled person,” said I was incredible…

If even the tower lord sees it that way, how strong must my magic really be?

Ah, I’m scared of myself. I’m too good; people will surely want me!

‘What if, as Ash said, I become a huge figure?’

I’ve already decided on a lifetime contract, yet he’s already making advances.

‘No. I’ve decided to spend my life in the Archduke’s house.’

Moreover, Eclipse had stepped forward seriously. Even mentioning the lifetime contract meant he took my proposal seriously too.

‘Hehe, I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but it’s thrilling.’

Being flattered from all sides made me giddy. I smiled to myself, basking in pleasant daydreams.

After finishing his talk with Jade, Eclipse turned to me and Lynette.

“Lynette, let go of Blumheier now.”
“……”

But Lynette didn’t respond.

‘Oh, right… they haven’t reconciled yet.’

I was pondering how to mend the relationship between these siblings.

“Then I’ll be going back now.”

Jade’s lively voice came from behind.

As I twisted to turn, Lynette gently released me.

Now free, I waved to Jade and bowed.

“Goodbye.”

Since he looked favorably on me, I had to make a good impression.

I was only nineteen, and I couldn’t afford to be disliked by a tower lord.

Jade looked at me with a face full of fascination.

“See you next time, Blum.”

…Next time, huh?

I gave Jade a polite smile, promising to meet again.

“Take care of our little ones at the Rdear house too.”

The boldness to call the Archduke and the Saint “little ones”… Only someone audacious could be a tower lord.

‘He really is extraordinary.’

A massive magic circle appeared beneath Jade’s feet and then vanished.

“He’s finally gone.”

Lynette, standing beside me, seemed calmer.

“Teacher.”
“Yes, Saint.”
“That man… may be a bit off, but his skills are undeniable.”
“I felt the same way.”
“And yet he set his sights on you, even tried to scout you.”
“Did… he?”

Her bringing it up suggested she, too, was secretly concerned.

I glanced at Eclipse talking with Silbern and said:

“Don’t worry too much. I told you before, I’m not going anywhere.”
“……”
“And as Your Highness just said, I’ll have a lifetime contract, and I’ll stay here forever. My dream is to live as the Saint’s teacher forever.”