IOBTML 37

“…Take a seat,” Penelope said with a sigh-laden voice.

Golden hair and light green eyes. A face so enchanting it seemed almost otherworldly, like a mischievous fairy.

‘So the original description was accurate after all…’

Penelope shook her head internally after a moment.

‘But it’s not soft platinum blonde. And his personality is awful.’

“What were you talking about?” Ahwin asked. Penelope, still in a daze, snapped back to reality.

“What did you just say to me?”

“I asked what you were talking about.”

Ahwin, noticing her lack of attention, pouted slightly. Even that expression was breathtakingly noble and beautiful.

No, this couldn’t possibly be her Mage Tower Master.

Penelope forced herself to regain focus and answered, “It was nothing important. Just, um, eat your meal.”

“Nothing important?”

Ahwin stared at her intently. Up close, his long eyelashes and jewel-like light green eyes stood out even more.

“Ugh…! Cough, cough.”

The wine Penelope had been swallowing nearly came back up her throat.

‘How on earth did the heroine reject this man? Someone this stunning?’

“Are you all right? Here, drink some water.” Ahwin offered her a glass.

Penelope hurriedly accepted it and gulped it down.

Someone else at the table was just as uneasy—Pablo.

‘C-could it be? T-the M-Mage Tower Master…!’

He had only seen him twice in passing, but Pablo was certain of his identity.

Anyone who had ever laid eyes on the Mage Tower Master would never forget him. His unparalleled power and beauty left an indelible impression on everyone.

‘The Grand Duke and the Mage Tower Master, together in one place. Why?’

Pablo’s curiosity burned, yet his instincts as a survivor screamed at him to let it go.

‘If I meddle with the Mage Tower Master, my neck might not stay attached. I know nothing! I’ll just mind my own business!’

Quick-witted as ever, Pablo swiftly decided to focus solely on his survival.

Meanwhile, Lianel, who had been quietly observing, dabbed his lips with a napkin in a refined manner.

‘As I thought, this is amusing.’

Although he had subtly provoked the situation, he hadn’t expected the Mage Tower Master to reveal his true appearance so quickly.

‘What about her could have dispelled the shadows that clung so persistently to that blind fool?’

In the end, this was what intrigued Lianel.

The Mage Tower Master, who once gazed at Elizabeth with unwavering devotion, had ultimately been rejected by her.

At that time, the Mage Tower Master had fallen into despair, seemingly beyond repair.

His love had been so pure, so wholehearted, that the pain of heartbreak had been equally profound.

But now, the Mage Tower Master had changed. He had crawled out of his cave and started looking at someone else.

It was astonishing. He seemed destined for eternal sorrow, trapped forever in the darkness.

Much like Lianel himself.

‘If I keep watching that woman, I might uncover the reason why.’

Lianel sipped the bitter wine, a quiet smile gracing his lips.

The next day.

The low-hanging, gloomy clouds cleared, revealing a bright and clear sky.

At long last, the relentless snowfall had vanished, leaving behind a crisp winter morning.

Construction workers brought in by Pablo joined the ongoing heating installation project at Halo Manor, significantly accelerating its progress. However, the inhabitants of the manor found themselves in a collective state of shock and confusion—for a very different reason.

“Who are you?!”

“W-what?! You’re the wizard?! Impossible!”

The servants, knights, and retainers at the manor were all in disbelief. Not a single person managed to remain calm.

Anyone who encountered Ahwin would first ask about his identity, and upon learning it, their jaws would drop. Without exception.

“How could you hide such a beautiful face so completely?” Giselle asked, her voice tinged with accusation as she tidied the table. Laura, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

“If I had a face like that, I’d be staring at myself in the mirror every chance I got. What could possibly be the reason? Some sort of emotional trauma?”

“….”

Penelope let out a sigh and set her pen down on her desk. The maids’ chatter had been distracting her from work since the morning.

Not that her own mind was any less chaotic.

‘Does this mean he’s openly revealing his identity as the Mage Tower Master now? Should I pretend to know, or keep quiet?’

She couldn’t stop wondering why Ahwin had decided to show his face at this point.

Halo was a remote estate at the northernmost edge of the kingdom, so for now, there was no one around who could recognize Ahwin. But eventually, someone was bound to realize he was the Mage Tower Master. When that happened, chaos would undoubtedly follow.

‘So the heroine was the one who rejected him, huh? I always wondered what kind of high-and-mighty woman could turn him down.’

With that fairy-like face and sweet words, he could melt anyone’s heart. How could she possibly have refused his confession?

In hindsight, the heroine must have had incredible mental fortitude.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Knock, knock.

“It’s me.”

“…Come in.”

The door to the drawing room opened, and in walked the current source of turmoil at the manor—Ahwin himself.

His beauty was so stunning that it was hard to believe, even after seeing it multiple times.

Penelope found herself more curious than ever about why he had kept his face hidden under all that hair.

‘Hiding a face like that should be considered a crime against humanity.’

Lost in thought as she stared at Ahwin, Penelope blurted out, “What brings you to knock today?”

“…I thought I’d try it once. You keep nagging me about it,” Ahwin replied.

“Really?”

Ahwin gave a casual nod before glancing at her and heading to the sofa. Even the act of sitting down seemed to exude elegance and refinement. His appearance was a testament to the power of beauty in elevating one’s presence.

The maids couldn’t help but let out quiet sighs as they watched him.

After surveying the office for a moment, Ahwin asked, “Aren’t you having tea?”

“If you want some, ask Giselle,” Penelope replied.

“And you? Aren’t you having any?”

Ahwin’s tone almost sounded like he was concerned for her. Almost. But Penelope knew better—his angelic appearance simply made everything he said seem meaningful.

“Giselle, could you prepare some tea? I’ll have coffee,” Penelope instructed.

“You already had coffee this morning. Another cup might—”

“Please. I’m especially tired today.”

“…Understood,” Giselle said with a resigned nod.

Watching their exchange, Ahwin chimed in, “I’ll have the same as Penelope.”

“A-ah, yes, of course!” Giselle stammered, her voice trembling—a typical reaction when faced with Ahwin.

Soon, Giselle returned with two steaming cups of coffee, her hands shaking slightly as she set them on the table.

Penelope sighed quietly and took a seat across from Ahwin. Without a word, she sipped her coffee.

Ahwin took a tentative sip and immediately scrunched his face. “Ugh! How do you drink this? It’s just bitter.”

The comment was so fittingly feline that Penelope almost laughed.

“Coffee isn’t about the taste,” she replied.

“Then what is it about?”

“You’ll understand once you start relying on it to function. Without coffee, you can’t get through the day.”

Ahwin’s expression turned skeptical. “You’re… a bit strange.”

“….”

Penelope found herself unable to respond. Criticizing that beautiful face felt like committing some grave offense.

Ahwin reached for one of the chocolate chip cookies that had been brought out as a snack. His eyes widened the moment he took a bite.

“Oh? What’s this? It’s delicious.”

“Eat as much as you like. They’re made with the chocolate Pablo brought as a gift.”

Pablo never arrived at Halo Manor empty-handed. This time, his gifts included chocolate and a set of cosmetics—popular items among the capital’s noblewomen.

Penelope had asked the chef to use the chocolate to bake cookies.

“Using such rare chocolate to make cookies?” the chef had remarked, baffled. But after Penelope provided a recipe, they had eagerly taken on the challenge.

“Strangely enough, the food I’ve had here is often more innovative and bold than anything I’ve had in the capital,” Ahwin mused, crunching on another cookie.

Penelope took another sip of her coffee, stealing a glance at him. Watching the stunning young man casually munching on a cookie felt almost surreal.

The thought crossed her mind: it was only a matter of time before Ahwin’s true identity was exposed.

‘I just hope he doesn’t start charging me Mage Tower-level fees. That would be a disaster!’