Side Story 4. Saints and Wizards (1)

 

Kyle froze momentarily at Owen’s candid confession before nodding in understanding.

Until recently, Kyle had been in a similar situation.

If he had been in Owen’s shoes, he would’ve had nothing holding him back either.

The position of Mage Tower Lord?

It was only valuable in the eyes of others. To Kyle, it meant little.

Honor? Wealth?

All of it was like paper. Things that could be rebuilt elsewhere or lost in an instant.

“I see.”

But now, things were different for Kyle.

If he left this world, he would lose people he could never see again.

Bella. Owen.

The thought of leaving them behind would weigh heavily on him.

“Yeah.”

At Kyle’s response, Owen didn’t elaborate further, his gaze shifting to the window.

The afternoon sky was beginning to take on a reddish hue, signaling the approach of sunset.

“Time to go.”

“To escort the Duchess?”

“Yeah. Time to pick up Lucia.”

Owen pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time before standing up.

His teacup was half-empty.

“Don’t need me to see you off, right?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

The first few times, Owen had needed guidance, but now he had no trouble finding his way.

Exchanging brief farewells with Kyle, Owen left the office with a faint smile.

* * *

Leaving the tower, Owen headed toward the temple.

After Bella’s return, she had become quite proactive.

She had insisted on offering blessings at the wedding herself and had made an effort to befriend Lucia.

Lucia, initially wary of Bella’s warm and friendly demeanor—so different from the ‘Bella’ she remembered—gradually began to open up to her.

Soon, the two were regularly exchanging invitations for tea parties and picnics, appearing like close friends to outsiders.

“Hey, Owen.”

Not long after Owen arrived at the temple, Lucia’s voice called out to him.

He looked up from the book he had brought with him to see her approaching.

Lucia was dressed in a white gown accented with sky-blue, the colors symbolizing the temple’s sanctity.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Not really.”

Exchanging casual conversation, the two climbed into the carriage.

As the black carriage began to move, Lucia, seated on one side, glanced back toward the temple.

“Owen, I think Bella might have found someone she likes.”

Lucia’s voice was serious, catching Owen’s attention.

‘Kyle, probably.’

It seemed the most plausible answer based on ‘The Flower of the Empire’.

Of course, this wasn’t just a novel but a real world.

Even so, Bella’s interactions and circumstances pointed to Kyle as the only likely candidate.

“I mean, she asked me about it—said she thinks someone has feelings for her and that she doesn’t dislike the idea. But she doesn’t know what to do next.”

Lucia recounted her conversation with Bella, and Owen stiffened momentarily.

‘If she thinks someone has feelings for her, that means she knows, right?’

If Bella had mentioned it, she must have been confident enough in her perception of that person’s feelings. And there was only one person Bella could have in mind.

‘It’s Kyle, isn’t it?’

The only person who openly and unmistakably showed affection toward Bella—so obvious that everyone around them noticed—was none other than Kyle.

“Did she say who it was?” Owen asked, trying to confirm his hunch.

“She didn’t explicitly say a name, but… it’s obvious.” Lucia’s response was vague, but the implication was clear. Bella wasn’t skilled at hiding things, whether it was the truth or even a simple lie.

This felt strange. Not long ago, Bella seemed like someone who wore a meticulous mask, keeping her true thoughts and feelings hidden. Yet now, she acted as if she’d undergone a complete transformation overnight. The once guarded silver eyes, which had been so difficult to read, were now bright and transparent.

She approached with the pure intent of making friends, declaring openly, “I want to get closer to you!” Her change was so stark that it made Lucia feel silly for doubting Bella’s intentions at first.

Despite initially pushing Bella away, Lucia found that the distance between them had grown smaller over time. Still, there were moments when she wondered.

‘Hey, Lucia. What would you do if you realized someone close to you liked you?’

The memory of Bella’s hesitant question during tea resurfaced in Lucia’s mind. Bella had fidgeted with her teacup handle, looking uncharacteristically unsure.

‘I think someone near me might like me… That’s why I’m asking. There’s someone who makes an effort to meet me, even setting aside time to do so.’

‘If someone went out of their way like that, I’d say the chances are high. I’d probably try to confirm it, though. Dragging it out too long is just tiring.’

‘But what if… the person doesn’t even realize they like me?’

‘Doesn’t realize it?’

‘Yes, I think they might not understand their own feelings. They’ve lived isolated for so long. Not because someone forced them, but by choice. They’ve only recently started making friends…’

It wasn’t hard to deduce who Bella was talking about.

Someone who had lived in self-imposed isolation for years, only recently forming relationships, and was frequently in Bella’s orbit? That could only be Kyle, the Mage Tower Lord.

“The Tower Lord. He’s the only one who’s lived that way,” Lucia said with a knowing look.

“…Ah.”

Owen let out a sigh at the obvious deduction. Kyle wasn’t the only one terrible at hiding things; Bella was equally transparent.

It seemed neither of them was any good at romance—or lying, for that matter.

“Honestly, I’ve been thinking the same,” Owen admitted with a small sigh. “That Kyle might have feelings for the Saintess.”

“I’ve heard similar rumors,” Lucia agreed, nodding.

The social circles were abuzz with tales about Bella and Kyle: their interactions, Kyle’s frequent visits to Bella, and the growing connection between them. While gossip often mixed truth and fiction, Lucia was skilled at picking out the plausible details.

Her findings aligned closely with what Owen had observed.

“They seem to like each other,” Lucia said with confidence, looking at Owen with a glimmer of interest in her crimson eyes. It was rare to see her so engrossed in a romantic tale, and Owen silently took in the sight.

“Who knows when the Tower Lord will realize it, though.”

“That’s anyone’s guess,” Owen replied, though his expression betrayed a hint of concern.

Kyle was only now beginning to understand friendships, let alone love. Relationships, romantic or otherwise, were unfamiliar territory for him. It would likely take a lot for him to recognize his feelings.

“Maybe Bella should make the first move,” Lucia suggested thoughtfully.

“Which is why I told her exactly that. She should approach him directly.”

* * *

“Tower Lord.”

Kyle nearly jumped out of his skin when Bella unexpectedly appeared at the Mage Tower.

In his flustered state, he hastily tidied up his office and guided Bella to the seating area. She settled onto the sofa with a composed demeanor.

‘For someone who doesn’t understand love, guiding them to realize it is the surest way,’ she recalled Lucia’s advice.

Bella, who had no experience with romance, wasn’t sure how to respond to someone who liked her. She wasn’t oblivious—she could tell someone cared for her—but she didn’t know how to handle it.

She didn’t dislike it, though. In fact, it made her happy. She could feel the sincerity in their actions, and the care they showed often made her heart flutter unexpectedly.

‘If guiding them is too hard, take the initiative. Visit them, talk to them, and ask directly if you must,’ Lucia had advised.

Bella had decided to follow that advice, coming to the Mage Tower without hesitation despite her attendants’ attempts to dissuade her.

“This is an invaluable piece of advice,” she had told them firmly. “I can’t ignore it.”

Now, sitting before Kyle, Bella took a slow breath, trying to calm herself before speaking. She carefully picked up the teacup in front of her, letting the warmth soothe her tension.

“Tower Lord, I came here because I have something to ask you.”

“Me?” Kyle’s voice came out strained as he visibly tensed, unsure what to expect from her serious tone.

“Yes, you,” Bella replied, meeting his nervous gaze head-on.

“Please, go ahead.” Kyle swallowed hard, waiting anxiously for her question.

Bella locked eyes with his trembling blue ones and, summoning her courage, asked directly:

“Do you… have feelings for me?”

 

 

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