Previously
The Tower Master arrives with a custom magic carriage, but his eccentric personality and rainbow hair clash with Duke Basilian and Sionel. Evgenia is shocked by the Tower Master's clownish appearance and his bizarre 'rocket-shaped' carriage design, which everyone finds absurd.
Naturally, the Tower Master jumped in shock.
Though my remark had been rather pointed, he found no reason to doubt me.
Seeing the Tower Master ask so dejectedly, wearing an uncharacteristically timid expression, made me swallow hard.
After all, this was our first meeting, and he was Euclid’s friend. Perhaps I had been too harsh. I felt a prick of guilt.
Ignoring his question about his hairstyle, I chose to share my thoughts on the carriage honestly, yet politely.
I intended to soften the blow, but even that seemed to stun the Tower Master. He swayed slightly, as though the words had struck him physically.
Still, there was no taking them back.
The rocket-shaped carriage was truly bizarre.
( ‘Perhaps if I were a child, I might have loved it?’ )
But I was no child, and to my eyes, an elegant, classic carriage was far more appealing.
Seeing the Tower Master mutter in such despair only made my guilt grow.
Even so, I could not imagine traveling north in that rocket carriage, nor could I ask Euclid’s friend for a refund.
The only remaining choice was to plead ignorance and ride with Euclid in his carriage, but Sionel’s earlier remark sprang to mind.
To be honest, I had been thrilled at the thought of spending two days in a carriage with my favorite on the way north.
Yet I realized I had been thinking only of myself. Euclid might find it awkward.
Moreover, while Grizel and the other escorts rode alongside on horseback, Anne, my other maid, and Euclid’s attendant would have to share the carriage with us.
Even inside a spacious, comfortable carriage, being cooped up with four unfamiliar people for two days would be stifling.
( ‘Besides, I need time to settle my own feelings.’ )
If I kept looking at my favorite up close, my heart might not survive.
After a moment of rational thought, a good idea occurred to me, and I spoke up.
I had assumed he would eagerly agree given his fondness for money, but it seemed he had a conscience after all.
His wavering tone hinted that he was not entirely opposed to the idea.
I nodded with satisfaction and turned to Sionel to confirm.
Since Sionel was the one who had brought up the issue in the first place, it seemed proper to seek his consent.
He answered promptly.
From the moment the new carriage was unveiled, Sionel had looked distinctly horrified.
When I mentioned it was embarrassing to ride in, his face looked as though he had committed an irreparable blunder.
Ah…
I had had a hunch, but now I was certain: Sionel was the one who had arranged the carriage.
Why hadn’t he boasted that it was his gift, then?
Perhaps he knew how uncomfortable I felt around him and had refrained from showing off.
At any rate, I had already received an ample dowry from the Basilian family. Whether Sionel gave me this gift or not made little difference to me.
Remembering how he had watched me with that cold, unreadable expression only made me more uneasy.
Quickly, I looked away.
Anxious that I might change my mind, the Tower Master hurriedly opened the door of his carriage for me.
Such unnecessary kindness…
I climbed into the carriage with Grizel’s assistance, but catching sight of Euclid’s startled face outside made me bite my lip.
Even if we couldn’t share the same carriage, I had hoped he would escort me and offer me his hand.
Instead, the Tower Master’s meddling had robbed me of that chance.
As I glared at the Tower Master, who was grinning beside his rocket carriage, a soft voice caught my attention.
We?
Surprised, I turned to see Euclid bidding farewell to Duke Basilian.
He had said ‘we.’
Most people wouldn’t think twice about it, but I couldn’t help reacting, having never heard him use such phrasing before.
Flustered, I stared at him until he turned around, and only then did I pull the door shut.
Soon, the carriage began to roll smoothly forward.
At last, we were on our way to the Duchy of Rodion.
In the square before the temple, where Lady Evgenia had departed, only Duke Basilian, Sionel, and the Tower Master remained.
Having finally come to terms with the reality of her marriage, the Duke and Sionel could not bring themselves to leave.
As for the Tower Master…
Unable to believe his windfall, he chuckled incessantly while admiring his newly acquired carriage. Yet, he tilted his head in confusion.
His muttering darkened Sionel’s expression.
A top-tier magic carriage had been commissioned for Evgenia, only to end up with an absurd design.
It was a relief that the situation hadn’t escalated any further. Sionel thought it fortunate things had been settled smoothly, even as he cast a sharp glare at the oblivious Tower Master.
Suddenly, a mage clad in black robes—evidently from the tower—dashed over, his voice frantic.
As the all-too-familiar chaotic bickering broke out, Duke Basilian shook his head and began walking toward the ducal residence with his son.
The Tower Master smiled smugly.
The mage froze in shock.
The Tower Master stiffened, his proud posture faltering.
As the Tower Master panicked, squabbling with the stubborn mage, Duke Basilian let out a quiet chuckle.
It seemed that the past month’s revenue of the Magic Tower had inadvertently ended up in Evgenia’s hands.