Translator: Nox

My Nerdy Neighbor Is the Master of the Magic Tower

Chapter 2

“…….”

“…….”

I knew the wall connected directly to the neighboring estate, but I hadn't expected to run into anyone.

And for good reason—the owner of the house next door usually stayed in the Capital, leaving the place practically vacant.

Caught red-handed in the middle of a trespass, Cecilia hesitated before finally parting her lips.

“……Uh, hello?”

The man, stiff as a board, gave a silent nod.

‘Is he so shocked he can’t even speak?’

Assuming the worst, Cecilia hurriedly tried to explain away her unsightly behavior.

“The thing is, I’m not a suspicious person. I live next door. A cat made off with my bracelet and jumped over here. I was chasing it and just sort of… ended up here without thinking….”

“Ah…. I see.”

His voice was incredibly soft, almost like a mutter to himself. Yet, the clear beauty of his tone made her embarrassment flutter away like dandelion seeds in the wind.

Only then did Cecilia truly take him in.

The man was hunched over with his shoulders drawn in, yet he was remarkably tall and well-built. But that was it.

His eyes were fixed on the ground, the hem of his robe was stained with dirt, and in one hand, he clutched a gardening trowel.

He was clearly a shy gardener—in other words, a side character.

‘In romance novels, an unusual encounter like this usually leads to a miraculous meeting.’

Like stumbling upon a Crown Prince hiding from a power struggle, or a Grand Duke suffering under a curse—some kind of surprise event.

Reality, however, was harsh.

In the three months she’d been here, far from any fateful encounters, the only men she’d seen were priests who had devoted themselves to God, the estate’s servants, or the Marquis’s elderly guests. Cecilia quickly lost interest and lowered her expectations.

“By any chance, did you see a white cat? It should have passed through here.”

“I-I did see it heading toward the west garden….”

The man extended a long, slender finger, pointing toward a pathless area.

She didn't know where the west garden he mentioned was, but surely the cat couldn't have run off too far.

“Then, would you mind if I looked around for a moment? I’ll leave as soon as I find the cat.”

“I-if it isn't too much trouble, would you like me to guide you?”

Cecilia decided to slightly revise her first impression of him.

Instead of chasing out a trespasser, he was offering to help. He was undoubtedly a shy and very kind gardener.

“I’d appreciate that, then.”

When she gave a bright smile and a nod, the man’s shoulders gave a visible flinch. Then, he began to lead the way with hesitant steps.

After crossing a patch of grass that was far too unkempt to be called a path, the garden he spoke of soon appeared.

And right in the center of that garden, the white cat in question sat boldly.

It was rolling around shamelessly atop a flowerbed that had clearly been meticulously tended to.

“Oh my goodness.”

Cecilia gasped, covering her mouth at the horrific sight.

Those flowers flattened against the dirt were certainly never going to stand up again.

“What should we do? The cat ruined the garden.”

It wasn't even her cat, but seeing the man’s back, which seemed to have slumped in dejection, she couldn't help but feel guilty.

‘Will his employer scold him a lot?’

“St-still, if it’s a cat the owner of this estate keeps….”

“……It is a cat I have never seen before.”

‘Oh dear.’

His broad back seemed to shrink another inch.

Cecilia let out a fake cough and quickly scooped up the cat, which was still rolling around, oblivious to the atmosphere.

“Well, to be honest, it’s not my cat either. But I’ll make sure to speak to the owner myself and ask for their understandi— Ack!”

Before she could finish her sentence, the little troublemaker in her arms caused another accident.

As if it didn't like her touch, it struggled for a moment before lunging toward the man’s face.

The man instinctively caught the cat but lost his balance and fell onto the grass. The dirt-covered trowel tumbled to the ground, and his hood was knocked back.

“Ah.”

The gasp didn't come from the man.

Cecilia froze as she stared at his bare face.

‘Found him. My male lead!’

Jet-black hair contrasted with skin so white and translucent it was without a single blemish. Perfect features that looked like they belonged in a 2D illustration. And behind silver-rimmed glasses, violet eyes like wisteria blossoms that held her gaze captive.

Since there were countless black-haired handsome characters in the novels she’d read, she still didn't know which book she was in.

But one thing was certain: a man with such a radiant appearance could never be a mere side character.

‘He must be someone of high status in disguise.’

Whoever he was, Cecilia decided right then and there to make the man before her eyes her male lead.

Even if this wasn't a romance fantasy novel, and even if she wasn't the protagonist, it didn't matter.

‘From now on, any objections are overruled.’

With a firm resolve, Cecilia immediately reached out a hand toward him.

“Are you okay?”

The man’s eyes widened as if he were moved just by her reaching out, and then his cheeks flushed red.

“Th-thank you.”

A delicate beauty combined with such a cute attitude. The moment his robe fell off, the magic of his looks transformed his previously gloomy aura instantly.

‘Seriously, I could look at that face and never feel hungry.’

Having been confined to this small fief, she’d thought ‘Cecilia’s’ face was the most remarkable, but she had been a frog in a well.

‘Wait, could it be that the Capital is just crawling with faces like this?’

But then, thinking back to the noble guests and merchants who occasionally visited her father, that didn't seem likely either.

Regardless, Cecilia had no intention of missing this perfect opportunity to make Plan D a reality.

“I’m sorry. I should have held the cat tighter.”

“It is fine.”

Shaking his head flusteredly, the man carefully held out the cat.

Cecilia took the cat, which had gone limp like jelly, and casually added a few words.

“Thanks for your help. Since the house next door has been empty for so long, I actually thought no one was here. Did you just move in?”

“Yes. I—no, the master said life in the Capital didn't suit him, so we came down here.”

“Then you’ll be staying for a long time?”

“If you would allow it….”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, no.”

‘So for now, he’s staying next door, right?’

The way his voice trailed off was a bit strange, but the important thing was that she would have many chances to meet this man in the future.

Having made her judgment quickly, she readily brought up the name she had grown accustomed to.

“I’m Cecilia Weberdin. And you?”

“……I am called Lien.”

‘Yep, that’s an alias.’

From the subtle silence before he spoke to the awkward way he avoided her gaze.

She could have bet her own wrist that it wasn't his real name, but she pretended not to notice and offered him her hand.

“Well, let’s get along. As neighbors.”

Lien hesitantly took her hand. The tension from his large, warm hand was transmitted directly to her, and Cecilia couldn't help but let out another laugh.

* * *

Could a person’s mood really flip like a palm turning over?

Just this morning, she had been despairing over the failure of her plans.

Now, she felt like she could genuinely cherish this other world, even one without tteokbokki, ramyun, or iced americanos.

Inside a bedroom that was entirely white—from the wallpaper and window frames to the tapestries and furniture.

Cecilia, who was lying on an equally white bed, lightly lifted her hand.

The sapphire bracelet on her wrist sparkled under the light.

When she was about to leave after saying goodbye, the man had found it among the remains of the flowers and put it on her himself.

[I am glad we found the bracelet.]

And that face of his when he’d smiled faintly while saying it.

He was likely just being considerate because she was holding the cat and couldn't use her hands.

Regardless, as she recalled the man’s careful touch, a smile leaked out on its own.

‘Before the cat took it, it was just a piece of unnecessarily expensive mineral.’

Now, it felt like it would become a lucky charm.

‘No, maybe this cat is the lucky charm?’

The cat that had led her to this amazing encounter was currently "making bread" on a plush cushion placed at the foot of the bed.

Where on earth did this creature come from?

As soon as she returned to the manor, she’d asked the butler to see if any servant had lost a cat, but there had been no news so far.

“It didn't just fall from the sky.”

For now, she intended to take responsibility and protect it until its owner appeared.

She was gently scratching between the sleeping cat’s ears with a generous heart when she suddenly heard a knock.

It was her personal maid, Melanie.

“My Lady, your bath is ready.”

Melanie, who had been horrified to see her lady return covered in dirt after suddenly disappearing, had rushed straight to the bathroom to prepare it before she even had time to ask questions.

In the meantime, she seemed to have calmed down quite a bit as she calmly helped Cecilia up from the bed.

“Let’s get your clothes off first. Now, arms up.”

Cecilia, silently raising both arms, soon soaked her body in the warm, fragrant water.

The relaxation that made her go limp was short-lived.

Melanie, who was rubbing Cecilia’s skin with a soft cloth, suddenly spoke up.

“I was in too much of a hurry to ask earlier, but you’ll surely explain what happened to make you get so covered in dirt, won’t you?”

The corners of her mouth seemed to be twitching, but that must be her imagination.

“O-of course.”

She hadn't planned on hiding it in the first place. Since she intended to keep going through that hole in the wall, she wouldn't be able to keep fooling Melanie, who was by her side all day.

“Here’s what happened….”

Cecilia honestly told her maid the story of the strange cat and the man next door.

“I ended up going into the house next door while chasing the cat.”

“I see.”

“Yeah, and I met a man there, and as we talked….”

“Wait! A man? Are you saying you met a stranger and even had a conversation with him?”

Melanie, who had been listening relatively calmly, gasped and dropped the soapy cloth.

For some reason, her face looked even paler than when Cecilia had first appeared covered in dirt.

“Uh-huh.”

“What if you had been kidnapped?!”

As she launched into a passionate speech about the dangers of the world, Melanie seemed genuinely worried for her lady.

It wasn't exactly an overreaction.

And that was because….

‘Cecilia is the Saintess.’