SOLIRF~62

Chapter 62

Visit to the Magic Tower

“I have never met the Crown Prince before, so it’s difficult for me to say anything, Your Majesty.”

“I suppose so. I should introduce the two of you sometime. Take a look and judge for yourself.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s mischievous teasing finally ended only after the Duke cut in with a voice sharp enough to kill. The Emperor then closed the conversation by saying he would seriously consider using this case as a test—if we secured the Magic Tower’s cooperation.

“My head is still spinning.”

Even as we walked out of the audience chamber toward the Concealment Department, I felt completely drained.

“He has a rather eccentric streak. Be careful not to get swept up.”

In my mind, I filed him away as a self-indulgent, unpredictable, sly veteran politician. Perhaps becoming Emperor truly wasn’t something just anyone could do.

“You two seem close.”

Even though both were of imperial blood, the Emperor spoke to the Duke as casually as an uncle would to a nephew. The Duke didn’t deny it.

“My father and His Majesty were close. Since I was young, I often came to the palace to play.”

“Then you must be close with the Crown Prince as well.”

At that, the Duke’s temple twitched into a deep cross-shaped crease.

“Well. He and I never got along.”

My eyes widened at the blunt answer. I expected a polite yes, of course.

“There’s no reason to pretend we’re close when we’re not.”

In a way, he acts surprisingly straightforward…

I always thought he was just a conservative hardliner, but now he was becoming a curious subject of observation. Maybe he seemed more interesting simply because he was handsome. Is a good face the ultimate narrative logic?

We were walking side by side toward the Concealment Department when he suddenly stopped and turned to me.

“Your Grace?”

His expression was grim.

“If His Majesty ever tries to introduce Lawrence—the Crown Prince—to you, tell me immediately.”

“…May I ask why?”

“Getting entangled… would not be good.”

He looked at me with an expression that suggested he didn’t fully trust me to avoid trouble, then resumed walking.

Fortunately, the Magic Tower sent a reply saying they were willing to meet and discuss the matter. I had worried they might reject us outright.

Surely it wasn’t Aidan… right?

He didn’t know about the project. Anything still in planning required the Emperor’s approval before it could be revealed, and was classified as confidential. It was more likely the Tower Master who read the proposal and responded.

The Duke quickly assembled a group to visit the Magic Tower.

“We will send Diplomat Simon, Secretary Cornelia, and myself.”

It made sense—the proposer of the system, and someone skilled in external communication.

The Magic Tower… what kind of place will it be?

If I had to name the greatest difference from my life in the modern world, it was that magic was more advanced than science. The Tower was the headquarters of that power. The thought alone made my heart race.

Would it be a skyscraper-like tower reaching endlessly into the sky? I imagined something like Jack’s beanstalk—soaring to the heavens.

On the day of the meeting, we used the palace gate to arrive near the Magic Tower, where two mages came out to greet us.

“Welcome to the Magic Tower.”

They all wore black robes marked with the tower’s insignia—and all looked extremely introverted. Their voices were so quiet I had to concentrate to hear them.

“Wow…”

The Tower before us shattered every expectation. It was tall and slender—but it was floating. The surrounding forest and waterfall floated with it. Strangely, the waterfall’s water fell downward but never reached the ground. It simply circulated in midair.

“This way.”

One mage touched the empty air, and a magic circle appeared; with a flash of light, we rose upward in an instant.

“Incredible…”

I had never experienced magic this directly. It was nothing short of amazing. One of the guides noticed my awe and smiled shyly. Embarrassing.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Simon seemed familiar with the place, as if they’d visited before.

“No matter how many times I come, I can’t get used to this,” Simon muttered.

“Get used to it,” the Duke replied dryly.

“…Yes, sir.”

The stern rebuke of a superior left the poor middle-aged diplomat unable to argue.

Just then, someone came running down the stairs from the second floor.

“Cornelia!”

A beautiful man with shimmering light-purple hair—Aidan. He completely forgot this was a formal business meeting and rushed toward me for a hug—

—only to be stopped.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

The Duke had grabbed the back of his robe. Aidan, however, was undeterred.

“So you’re the one visiting from the palace?! I’ll show you around the entire Tower!”

“We’re not here for sightseeing. We’re here to see the Tower Master.”

Dangling from the Duke’s grip like a caught cat, Aidan still radiated his usual enthusiasm. He looked like an excited puppy.

“I’ll guide you! Let go, Duke!”

“Promise you’ll behave.”

“What just happened was a mistake! I won’t do it again! Sorry, Coco.”

“Please be careful next time,” I said.

Only after his surrender did the Duke release him. Aidan was tall, but the Duke lifted him as easily as a feather. The funny part was that Aidan’s pride didn’t appear wounded at all.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Aidan snapped his fingers with a bright smile, and the surroundings instantly changed.

“Hoho, welcome.”

An elderly man greeted us warmly—no introduction needed. His long white beard reminded me of a mountain spirit. This must be the Tower Master.

This is him… the boss of the magic world…!

To me, he felt more impressive than the Emperor. He had risen not by bloodline, but by pure magical skill.

After brief greetings, he moved straight to the matter.

“I read the request thoroughly. The idea of ‘Magic Tower Certification’ gave me some pause, but I understand its necessity. The reasoning is sound. However, it appears that regular visits from Tower personnel will be required for certification and inspection. The problem is… we have no suitable candidates.”

Simon blinked in confusion.

“With so many mages in the Tower, not a single candidate?”

“Hoho, there were plenty of volunteers—but none qualified. The certification will carry the Tower’s name. It requires powerful magic. If it can be broken easily, it’s meaningless. I am too old and weak to travel, so it must be someone among the high-ranked mages. But they are strong-willed and refuse to be forced.”

It made sense. Mercenary mages could break the certification spell if it were weak; we needed someone exceptional.

“My students have their own worlds. They don’t see the value in this matter,” the Tower Master sighed.

Well… nobles suffering isn’t really their problem.
Maybe Tower mages were the ultimate “office worker mindset.”

“May we try persuading them?” Simon asked.

The Tower Master only chuckled as he stroked his unnecessarily long beard.

“Hoho… I doubt it will change anything…”

The stalemate stretched on—when suddenly Aidan shot his hand up.

“I’ll do it!”

The Tower Master’s eyes flew open.

“You, Aidan?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious? You refused the moment I mentioned it before.”

“It sounded boring. But now it sounds fun!”

“Fun?”

Aidan skipped over and plopped down beside me, looking perfectly at home—more so than in the Marquis household.

“Yep! My friend Coco is here! I have to help her!”

Every gaze in the room—Tower Master, Duke, Simon, even the mages who guided us—turned toward me.

“Friend?”

I hurriedly corrected him.

“N-no, not exactly. Lord Aidan is just comfortable around me. I once worked as Lady Kiara of House Aurelius’s aide, so he and I came to know each other.”

The Tower Master let out a weary sigh, as if he’d figured out the situation.

“Why… of all people… did it have to be this brat…”

“…Pardon?”

“You will find him exhausting.”

“Haha… that’s already…”

Was that a look of pity? Probably. Everyone in the Tower surely knew Aidan’s personality.

Aidan was already behind the Tower Master, hugging him tightly and rocking him back and forth like a rhythm.

“Well, if the conditions are met, then. We accept your request. I’ll send him to the palace soon, so please take good care of him.”

He looked noticeably older than he had minutes ago. Whether he knew or cared, Aidan only grinned brightly at me.

“We’ll see each other a lot now, Coco!”

While I was still wondering what to do about this overly innocent older child, the Duke suddenly rose from his seat.

“Thank you for agreeing to our request. Unfortunately, there is a matter that requires urgent attention at the palace, so we will have to take our leave.”

I tilted my head.

Urgent matter…? We don’t have anything urgent, do we?