KTYLBH 15

Chapter 15

Now that Marilyn had disappeared, this was the perfect opportunity. My heart raced.

“Do you know how to write?”

Tara widened her eyes at the sudden question but nodded her head.

“That’s great.”

I placed a pen and paper on the table.

“If you write the time, date, and place, you should be able to meet him, right? I can deliver the letter for you.”

There was a lot left unsaid in that sentence.

“Just like the boy in the novel who returned home.”

“Young Lady, you don’t mean…”

I raised a finger to my lips.

“No one else must know. Not even me.”

Tara wiped her hands on her skirt and then picked up the pen and paper. The only sound in the room was the scratch of the pen moving across the page.

What I was delivering to her father Eaton wasn’t just Tara’s letter. I planned to send a letter I had written as well. Part of it was from the goodwill of helping Tara, but ultimately, I wanted help from her too.

‘Eaton is going to confront Eon?’

Of course, that would be like throwing an egg at a boulder. I never intended for that to happen. Eaton was simply a connection to someone who could really help me.

‘Karina.’

In my letter, I asked Eaton to arrange a meeting with Lieutenant Karina of the Military Police. The only person who might stand against Eon was the protagonist of the novel.

---

After sending Tara off, morning had already arrived. Holding her letter in my pocket made me want to dash into the city immediately.

‘Wouldn’t it look suspicious to go out the very day after all that chaos?’

Despite my worries, my feet naturally carried me to the stable.

There was no coachman in the Magic Tower. Eon had said that the horses fed with magic stones would automatically take you to the city’s transit station. Fortunately, it seemed I was the first to use the carriage today.

‘Do I just get on and go?’

I was looking around when I spotted Eon walking from a distance. Good thing I hadn’t climbed into the carriage yet. I averted my gaze from it and started walking as if I was just out for a stroll.

The distance between us quickly closed.

“Are you feeling well?”

I was about to nod but remembered that Eon disliked nonverbal responses and opened my mouth.

“Thanks to you, I’m fine.”

“I was worried it might have been too much of a shock. But as expected of Miss Selenia.”

I didn’t know what exactly was “as expected,” but praise like that didn’t make me happy at all. The only reason I remained sane after what happened was because I knew worse things would come if I lost control now.

“It’s quite chilly this morning. You’ve come out?”

“Yes, staying in the room actually felt more suffocating.”

“I see. Still, wouldn’t it be better to remain indoors? Rather than riding the carriage out of the tower or wandering the city?”

Such a specific example. It was as if he already knew what I intended.

‘Could he be trying to stop me from leaving?’

It was probably best not to even think about plans in front of Eon. I quickly changed the topic.

“Staying in the tower just keeps reminding me of yesterday. What if another maid attacks me…?”

I feigned fear, letting my shoulders tremble. I wanted to appear like someone who was simply frightened, without deeper thoughts.

“No maid would dare attack you again, Miss Selenia.”

“I didn’t think I’d be attacked by one in the first place.”

Neither of us mentioned why Marilyn did what she did. Bringing it up might expose that I had broken the tower’s rules. Eon’s avoidance of that topic hinted that he too had his own reasons for staying silent.

As I passed him, I asked,

“And Marilyn…?”

“As I said yesterday, she was expelled.”

I paused. Surely it was more than just a simple expulsion. But prying wouldn’t benefit me. Besides, talking about expelled people was against tower rules.

“And the maid who collapsed?”

I grew nervous when Tara was brought up.

“She’s physically fine. But she was quite shocked, so she should rest for a while.”

“You seem to care for her.”

Truthfully, I hadn’t had much connection with Tara before coming to the tower. I just trusted her because I knew her background.

“Wasn’t there a rule not to talk about life before entering the tower?”

Eon let out a small laugh. It was as if he found my pretense laughable.

“You noticed she was being controlled rather quickly.”

“Anyone would have. Her tone and expression changed in an instant. Was it mind-control magic?”

“Yes.”

“High-ranking maids in the tower really are something else. Using such magic so casually.”

The sarcasm slipped out before I realized it. I glanced at Eon. Thankfully, he didn’t seem offended.

“It’s a long-standing tradition of the tower. For efficient operation.”

More than just unoffended, he seemed proud. The reason became clear soon after.

“In fact, that magic was invented by Selli.”

“Ah… Selli.”

That name again. I didn’t want to be tangled up with it, yet there it was.

“She used that method to manage staff when we were together.”

Eon’s voice carried a faint nostalgia, as if recalling fond memories. But there was nothing romantic about using mind-control magic on your employees.

‘I thought she was just a victim… Maybe she wasn’t so ordinary either.’

Realizing Eon was watching my expression, I quickly forced a polite smile.

“Come to think of it, are you also out for a walk, Tower Master?”

“No, I have some business outside.”

Eon gestured toward the carriage with his eyes.

“Would you like to come with me?”

Once again, I had the feeling he already knew I intended to go out.

“No, as you said, I should rest in my room. There’s no one left to attack me, after all.”

Go out with Eon? No matter how urgent things were, that was absolutely not an option.

---

The next day, I finally left the tower under the excuse of needing synthesis materials. Coincidentally, Karen also had errands to run and rode the carriage with me. Her presence felt very intentional.

In the carriage, Karen asked if the tower food suited me and whether I had any inconveniences. But she didn’t mention Tara or the Marilyn incident. Perhaps that was only natural.

“I think I’ll be done around three. If the timing works, would you like to return together? We could meet at the transit station.”

She asked as we neared Bainan city.

“Hmm, I don’t know when I’ll return. We might miss each other, so let’s move separately.”

“Alright, got it.”

She nodded obediently, then added a statement that felt like a warning.

“Don’t forget to return by five.”

Watching me head for the main street, she asked,

“Oh, are you going that way?”

“Yeah, I need to buy materials from Kiena Jewelry.”

Karen looked visibly disappointed. It was obvious she was trying to monitor me.

“So your materials are actually gemstones today?”

“Why? Do I need to report that in advance too?”

“N-No, not at all…”

 

Kiena Jewelry was the most luxurious in Bainan, frequented by nobles in dazzling dresses.